Brightest Star Ch8 Keeping Up Appearances

(A/N: I really wish I could be updating as often as possible, but damn my junior status at college. Teachers have this fetish for dumping midterms and papers on you right before Spring Break(how I love thee)...as if we're gonna get wise or rally against them just because we got a week off :P Thanks for all your support, my readers! Send in those reviews :) )


Are you sure you haven't gotten into the ale yet, Pippin? Frodo asked jovially, waving a mug around in front of his face, Cuz you're acting awful strange this evening. You ought to be jumpin on tables and singin' already. His words were almost drowned out by the alcohol-induced conversations and ditsy chattering going on around them.

Pippin rolled his eyes as Frodo took another big gulp of ale, leaving a foamy mustache under his nose. Pippin decided to take this free moment to ask a burning question. Frodo why are you so drunk? he asked bluntly.

Hold on a second, Frodo answered, holding Pippin's shoulder to keep himself steady as he made a giant burp. There, that's better, he said, then his face lit up and he laughed, I thought you weren't going to show! And I thought, everyone's gonna wanna talk to me and Sam and Merry about our good friend Pippin and I really didn't know what was goin' on or where you were, so we all snuck to the back of the room and voted to-- we wanted to... er, um...

A sullen look dragged on Pippin's face. Get smashed, he finished for him.

YES! Thank you, he said, swaying even as he sat down, Cuz nothing could be so horrible as Pippin missing out on his engagement party! Ha ha!

Pippin slumped into the chair beside him and patted his back as he drank even more. You have no idea, he said quietly.

Sam suddenly came staggering over to them and held his arms out. Gimme a hug, Peregrin Took! he said, nearly falling on top of Pippin in the process. After he thoroughly squeezed the life out of him, Sam sat next to him and threw one arm around his shoulders. Ahh marriage will do ya some good, Pip, wait and see. That's a good lass you got there, too, he added, joyfully slurring every word, Did you know she can cook up a storm?!

Really now? Pippin said in monotone.

Bugger, she can whip up some good sweets lemme tell ya! Sam continued, You really oughta try some of those cream puffs over yonder, boy oh boy...

As Sam raved about Daisy's cooking, Pippin spotted a cheerful Rosie walking up behind them, looking thankful for finally locating her husband in the throng. She came right up to them, but Sam did not seem to notice, as he was intoxicated with more than ale.

...simply the sweetest honey bread in Hobbiton, no doubt about it.

We're in Tookland, Sam, Pippin said.

Yeah and what about her cake? Frodo added, pointing at the food on the tables. I think I ate a week's worth in two minutes.

Oh what a treat! Sam agreed, I've never had carrot cake so good in my life!

Pippin winked at Rosie, nudged Sam in the ribs and asked, But what about Rose's carrot cake? I thought you said it was perfect. He thought he might as well get some enjoyment out of being taken away from Azaelia.

Sam knocked back the remainder of his ale and shook his head, waving off Pippin's comment. Now, there's nothing truly wrong with Rose's carrot cake, he said, as Rosie crossed her arms and stood silently behind him, expecting a slip of his tongue at any moment. He leaned in to whisper to Pippin, but his voice never got any lower. But it's definitely no where near as moist as Daisy's.

My cake isn't moist enough for you, Samwise Gamgee? Rosie said smugly, forcing herself not to laugh at Sam's cluelessness.

Her voice had Sam sobered up in half a wink. He shut his eyes and gulped, fearful of facing her.

I'll give you moisture, Rosie said before she grabbed Frodo's mug and dumped the ale over Sam's head, sending a shiver through him as the cold liquid dripped over his face and shoulders. She politely handed the mug back to Frodo and patted Sam's soaking hair. He finally looked up at her, and his expression of regret was enough to make her smile. That'll wet your whistle for a while.

Sam took a deep breath, swallowing his pride as Rosie walked away. No more ale for me.

I must agree, Pippin laughed, slapping him on the back. Better go make amends, my moist friend.

Sam rushed after his wife as Pippin turned back to Frodo, who was hysterical with a bout of silent laughter that brought him to tears.

You better calm down, Frodo, Pippin said, You've got that laugh only dogs can hear.

PIPPIN, DAAAAAHRLING!

Pippin's blood suddenly ran cold.

Pippin, sweetie honey buns, Daisy continued, squeezing through her relatives to lay her hands on him, I hate to interrupt your hilarious conversation with Mr. Frodo here-

Did you SEE what Rosie's did with my ale?! HAHAHAHA-

YES that was all very funny, Frodo, dear, she broke in, But I simply must tear Pippin away from you for a moment.

Daisy I-

MUST tear you away! she said, tightening her grip on his arm and whipping him out of his chair.

Dragged all the way through the dining hall, Pippin found himself thrown into the powder room where Daisy locked the door behind them. It was lit by a single taper, and the silence was eerily romantic. Pippin dreaded whatever would come next. Please be gentle with me, Daisy. Don't force me into anything... unnatural.

Daisy knelt down to where he lay on the floor and cradled him motheringly. Oh Pippin, you poor sweet fool, she said, her words as highly sugared as her tone, We had a talk about this a week ago, muffin. I thought I was level enough with you, but you obviously could not move on quite yet.



she said, placing a finger over his lips. It's okay to feel this way, babe. After all, one cannot expect you to get over losing Daisy Barrelcracker very easily, but if you must hear this from anyone, it's best you hear it from me.

Pippin rolled his eyes, remembering why he wanted to leave her in the first place. He opened his mouth, but she quickly slapped a hand over it.

No, I have to tell you Pippin... I'm no longer in love with you, and I'm sorry, but nothing you do can win me back. I know I had your hopes up for a couple minutes there when I took your ring and told everyone how much I loved you, but I must confess-

I'm not in love either! he yelled through her fingers.

-it was all for sh- she stopped, looking down to actually see his impatient expression. Her voice shifted. You're not in love anymore?

Pippin shrugged. Well, not with you, he corrected.

Daisy dropped him from her embrace and stood up, moaning. Oh THANK ELBERETH! she exclaimed, I didn't know how much longer I could keep up this charade.

Rubbing his head from its collision with the floor, Pippin sat up and laughed. You really had everyone going, Daisy... well everyone except me.

If you knew why didn't you tell me?! You weren't supposed to be here in case you haven't deduced that much!

This new tone of hers was unexpected. Oh well, I kinda guessed that far, but I dunno why Merry was so upset. He looked like he actually believed you would prefer me over him.

That's because I didn't inform him about our little talk, Pippin! He doesn't know that I'm unofficially unattached! Ugggghhhh! I had this all harmoniously arranged! You understand how Merry's logic works... Your absence was supposed to motivate him to propose!

Pippin had not heard such a stream of vocabulary since he rode to Minas Tirith with Gandalf, and he was not sure what he wanted to say.

Daisy finally sighed and threw her arms down in annoyance. Well, what are you doing here anyway?

I'm here because my engagement party is in the next room, he admitted as he got up took Daisy's hand and pointed at the ring she had taken, And I haven't actually been able to propose to her yet. I had it all planned out to have this ring on top of her favorite cake, but then I forgot to give the chef the ring and I ran into the kitchen and then Merry came through the door and before I knew it-

You stepped into more of a mess than you intended, Daisy said with a smile, You do have a proficiency for that.

Pippin nodded, thankful for her civility. You're a lot sharper than you act, he said, When we were courting, you were never this...

she said with a nod. Yeah well, I'm not a homemaker by instinct. I've always found that lads prefer the most effeminate girls, so I just pretended to be more normal. Merry was the only one who figured me out and said he really loved that I'm more likely to have my nose in a novel than a cookbook.

But Sam's such a fan of your cooking! Pippin chuckled.

Daisy blushed. I never said I wasn't good at it, she laughed, tickling Pippin's stomach. He gave her a hug, ever so happy he got to the root of the confusion.

Still friends? she asked, smiling.

Still friends, Pippin confirmed, All is well between us.

They took a deep breath as they faced the door. Both of them just stood for a moment, contemplating the difficult task ahead of them. By the end of the night, dozens of Hobbits would either be at their throats or singing their praises.

This can't be as hard as saving Middle Earth, Daisy assured.

Pippin shook his head. Nope... it's gonna be a lot harder, he said, and they had that last laugh before they began to devise a plan...