The Brightest Star Ch. 5 Time Capsule
Author's Note: The song quoted here is a translation of Viva la Vida from the awesome movie Frida, by Elliot Goldenthal and Hernan Bravo Varela
More than lavender floated on the air... something sweeter and far more enchanting. As the sun was embraced by the valleys of the hills, throwing its passionate red hues over the grass, the moon poured its silvery blue paint across the sky, blanketing everything in a purplish glow. As she sat beneath the old oak tree at the top of the Featherdown's home, Azaelia began picking little white daisies that sprouted up around the edges of her skirts. Their tired petals just started to fold up for the night, and she idly wove them together in her lap.
As Pippin silently walked up the side of the hill that made up her family's Hobbit-hole, he found himself too mesmerized by Azaelia's gentle singing to interrupt her right away. He shoved his hands in his pockets and stood still for a moment, breathing the song-tinged wind.
Long live the life that left us yesterday
Long live the shadows of my voices crying from afar...
... Despite the sadness of the song she so often found herself humming in the past, Azaelia could not help singing it still, although its sentiments no longer applied to her fear of hopelessness for the Shire before the four heroes returned.
Many an occasion one could find her sitting under the family tree, plucking the grass or wild blooms in anxiety or nervousness, feeling the comfort and value of things that lasted beyond time. As a child, she understood the tree to be very old, ancient, and timeless perhaps, as it never seemed to change. For hundreds of years, young Hobbit lads and lasses played around its roots, climbed and crawled on its branches, slept thousands of carefree naps in the shade of its leaves.
Happiness... What does it matter now?
When I only sing to the light of your shadow?
So many summers and winters spent being chased up and down that hill by a naive little Took that chased her for a chance to touch the hair he secretly coveted. Azaelia remembered a lot, especially since that particular Took revealed himself to be more than the trouble maker of his childhood. Some things were not as constant as the old oak, but were better for their changes.
She found her hopes lying in the heart of Pippin's newfound love. Judged by his courtship behaviors over the past months, she knew his affections could be fleeting. But after considering the disillusionment of Daisy's proposal, Azaelia realized the blow Pippin had taken in the name of marriage and love, and it was clear he was wiser because of it. She was correct in assuming Pippin would no longer take deeper emotions and connections for granted, especially not the well-established one of their friendship that finally cemented.
Azaelia wove her flowers, and realizing not all of her song was irrelevant, a smile crept upon her lips as she sang.
Long live the dreams that never awoke, my love...
... Pippin watched as her hands came up and placed a circle of daisies upon her head, just as she did when they were but children. Her hair was darkened black under the moonlight, and the florescent white petals popped out in contrast. The faint scent of those plucked daisy stems reached him and he knew this was real.
Azaelia slowly turned her head and met his gaze, and they smiled in unison.
Spying on me, Pip? Azaelia said softly, grinning. I hate to blast your hopes of seeing me nude... You'll have to sneak to the window of my room for a peep show.
Oh darn, Pippin said, slapping his forehead, I knew I was doing something wrong. Sauntering over to her spot, he casually sat down behind her, slipping his arms around her middle and hugging her close. Azaelia laughed and turned her head to kiss him once on the mouth before slumping into his embrace. She fidgeted a little as she settled into his arms like he was an old cushy chair. He sniffed the flowers in her hair, then rested his cheek on top of her head, burying one side of his face in her curls.
I love you, Lia, he whispered, finding her hands and tickling each white finger. And I know that's the wisest thing I'll ever know.
This made her blush, and she grabbed his fiddling hands and brought them to her face, holding them on her warm cheeks. The next wisest thing you'll ever know is that I love you back.
I dare not forget that, he added, Or I'm likely to get more food thrown at me.
You seem to enjoy getting food thrown at you, Azaelia laughed, I'll just have to keep you fed so you won't change your mind.
I don't think I could, Pippin said, shaking his head. He stroked her hair and she looked into his eyes. A single white petal fell onto her cheek and he gently blew it away, nuzzling her nose. It would be impossible.
Azaelia beamed, overcome with pride at Pippin's hidden maturity. You're not gonna be this grown-up all the time are you? she asked, giggling a little.
Pippin gave her a questioning look. I thought you always loved responsibility and wisdom and all that such stuff in a suitor.
But I've always had this soft spot for playfulness and adventure, she said, her eyelashes batting seductively.
His eyes grew wide as a funny smile spread across his face and he said, I don't mean to be a braggart, but in that case, you've picked the right Hobbit! Suddenly Azaelia yelped with giggles as he started tickling her voraciously. They fell flat on their backs, rolling in the grass as they tried tickling each other to death. Pippin even managed to sneak in a couple little kisses on her neck.
Pippin Took, I'm gonna strangle you when I get the chance, Azaelia yelled as she got up and ran behind the tree to hide herself. Pippin followed and they ran circles around the thick trunk, stepping lightly over the bulging roots, faster and faster.
Azaelia leapt over the biggest root and would have fallen if it was not for the big notch in the tree's bark she grabbed. Pippin caught up and held the same crack to keep himself steady as he leaned in and held her against the tree, kissing her deeply.
Breathlessly, Azaelia drank his kiss, smelling the mustiness of his old scarf and the saltiness of fresh sweat from the chase, and she got excited as she recalled her desires a night ago when Pippin attempted his petting. Swept up in passion, she led his usually polite hands down the length of her body, and although he responded with some reluctance, he began to give in to his own yearning.
A tangle of sighs and kisses, Azaelia whipped her hand out of the fray to find the notch in the trunk again, anchoring them in one place. The fingers of one hand gripped Pippin's scarf and held him close while the other felt something strange lodged in the tree, and her eyes shot open at the realization of what it was.
Oh Pippin! she gasped.
Oh Lia! he replied.
Hold on a minute I wanna show you something!
Pippin paused in surprise. Out here in the open?
Yes, of course, why not? Azaelia said as she twisted around in his arms.
His jaw dropped in astonishment. For once in his life, he felt his reputation for audacity threatened by this bold lass' actions. he drooled, You're incre-
she squeaked as she turned and held up a small wooden box. The look on Pippin's face was somewhat disappointed, but soon more inquiring than upset at his own misinterpretation. Are you okay? she asked upon seeing this colorful mix of emotions wash over his features.
Pippin shook away his confusion. I'm fine, he said merrily, Just wondering what that is.
Azaelia laughed as she opened his hand and placed the box in his palm. I had my Pa paint it with sealant so as to keep out the weather, she explained as she watched his fingers trace the pretty grains.
What's in it, love? he asked, shaking it beside his ear, And how do you open it? There doesn't seem to be a lid.
Oh you silly, she said, grabbing it from him, Ever heard of these? She pushed her thumb against one side and a small panel slid off. She turned it over and dumped its contents into Pippin's hand. There you go.
Pippin stared at the tiny silver ring that sat upon a pile of thin silver chain as it shone a bit in the moonlight. He was instantaneously reminded of Frodo's ring and how he wore it for many months, but pushed it out of his mind.
Azaelia was too happy at her unexpected discovery to notice Pippin's little reverie. It's my baby ring, she said softly, in a reverie of her own. My Pa made it for me before I was born and I always wore it around my neck because it was too big when I was little. All my friends and my sisters and brothers tried to take it from me because I was the only one who had a baby ring, so I decided to hide it one day... In the safest place I knew. She patted the old tree with a smile. I thought I'd save it for someone special when I grew up.
The feeling of true love was never more evident to Pippin than it was just then, and his gratification was never more obvious to Azaelia. He wanted to offer it back to her, as it was plain that it meant a lot to her, but to part with it was more than just the giving of a gift, but a gesture of her loyalty. With his heart ready to burst, he leaned in and kissed her lips, then looked into her eyes... and kissed her two more times. You're incredible, Azaelia, he whispered as he linked the chain around his neck and touched the miniature ring that hung high on his chest. I wish I had something for you...
She sighed at his chivalrous tendencies. I don't need anything, Pip-
No wait! I do have something! he exclaimed as he rooted in his pocket and held up his hand, catching her attention before opening his fingers.
Oh Pippin, Azaelia gasped, almost speechless at the perfection of the craftsmanship in his Elven leaf. She had heard of the gifts the heroes had received from Galadriel in Lorien, but never in her life dreamed of having one of the brooches. No, not that, it's too valuable, too beautiful-
Are you kidding? Nothing's more valuable to me than you, Lia. You'd keep it more safe than I ever could, he said, pinning the shiny silver-veined leaf on her collar. He grinned at her reaction to his gift and realized how wonderful it was to see her whole face light up.
she sighed clasping her arms around his back, Remember what I said about giving you the ride of your life?
Pippin swallowed hard, bracing himself for the unseen wonders of her promise. You bet, he said.
She snuck her arms down and got a handful of his butt, and just as fast as her fingers gave a good squeeze, she began to skip away, taunting him to follow suit, but he was too inebriated by her boldness to move. He stood under the tree with a dumb smile and dreamy eyes, staring at her as she made her way down the hill.
Azaelia yelled over her shoulder, Come on inside and I'll fix you dessert!
Zero point two seconds was all it took for his reaction to her offer, and he nearly killed himself running as fast as Hobbitly possible to her front door.
