Disclaimer: I own a LotR boxed set of books. They are the reason for my existence. My sister owns my soul, and it is currently up for sale on E-bay. My mother owns the both of us, and the computer I type on. Tolkien owns LotR. And Nestle owns the Butterfinger company.
A/N: I know it took a long while, but here I am, and I'm posting new chapters! I'm really happy I'm putting up an actual Chapter 2, 'cause no matter how much I try, my stories never seem to get written. But this one is fighting for itself! Never say die! With any luck, I'll finish it. Not saying when, because if I do, you might quote me...
As I was typing, I began to think of a song that I happen to love, called "Dark of the Night." Tell me, aren't the lyrics perfect for this chapter?
"You saved my soul / In the dark of the night / When I was lonely / Your body touched mine so gently / Stay, in the dark of the night / 'Cause your love only can make me feel safe forever..."
This chapter is for everyone who reviewed, especially Lula!
And now, onto the fic!!!
Summer
By: Allaya Cooks (aka Aruraya)
~*~
After some discussion, the four hobbits decided to take their dinner at the Green Dragon Inn that night. The room was brightly lit and not too crowded, so they had no problems finding a comfortable table for four near the fireplace. A young barmaid sashayed over to the table, notepad in hand. She winked at the diners as she perched on the edge of the table.
"So what'll it be boys?" she asked, smiling flirtatiously.
"Stew for me and a round of ale for all," Merry ordered, grinning back at the waitress. "Alright, sweetie. What do the rest of you want?" she said, gesturing to the group. She took notes on her small pad as Sam asked for stewed chicken, Frodo ordered potato soup, and Pippin settled for whatever the special was. He really didn't care about food. He wanted Merry. Pippin glared daggers as his cousin returned the barmaid's look. He knew Merry sometimes flirted with pretty girls when they went out, and that it was never serious. He had done the same until he realized his feelings for the hobbit. Pippin had hoped Merry would stop flirting, but if anything, his cousin had been more active. It must be all the pressure his parents are putting on him to get married, he reasoned. Merry was probably just being a flirt in order to make his parents happy. He knew his cousin didn't want to get married yet. Still, it broke Pippin's heart to see his beloved acting so freely with those girls the way he never could with him. Oh, how he wished he could be one of those lasses Merry flirted with so easily. He wanted the older hobbit so much that it hurt. Around him, his friends laughed, but Pippin didn't feel like smiling. Will I ever be able to tell him how much I love him?
Just then, the waitress came back, balancing a tray with their drinks on it. "The food's not quite ready, but I thought you might want these anyway." She set the four mugs on the table, giving Merry one last, long look before walking away, swinging her hips as she went. Sam took a sip of his ale and grinned.
"I think she likes you, Mer."
Frodo glanced nervously at Pippin, who was tracing the rim of his mug with his finger. He looks positively miserable, Frodo thought helplessly. And Sam doesn't know a thing. He's just rubbing salt into the wound...Poor Pip...
"Eh, she's ok," Merry said. "But she's not my type." Isn't that the truth, Merry thought. The girl was pretty, but he was saving himself for someone much more beautiful, more precious than any lass could ever be. He was saving himself for Pippin. He didn't know if the younger hobbit had any feelings for him, but Merry refused to throw away any chance he might have on a flitty barmaid he didn't like. Almost as if reading his thoughts, the girl in question came back around to the table to deposit their meals. Merry pushed his thoughts aside and the talk at the table started up over the sound of silverware on dishes.
Pippin, however, didn't join the conversation. Pushing away his plate, he picked up his mug and took a sip. First one, then another. Pippin wasn't usually such a heavy drinker, but anything was better than listening to this talk of lasses. He refilled the tankard with the pitcher on the table, making short work of that one too. His cousins continued to talk, but about what, he could no longer tell. He no longer cared. The alcohol would let him forget his pain, at least for a little while. He reached for the mug again as the world grew fuzzy around the edges. There was no point in fighting anymore. Screw the girl. Screw Merry. To hell with it all. "Pippin?" he heard faintly as consciousness slipped away from him and everything went black...
Merry looked up in time to see his younger cousin go slack and slide out of his chair. "Pippin!" he shouted as he jumped to the hobbit's side. Frodo and Sam got up as Merry put a hand to Pippin's forehead. "No fever," Merry said with relief, although his voice was still shaking. "Just had a bit too much to drink. I'm taking him home." Frodo left some coins on the table as Merry scooped Pippin up and left.
The hobbit was tortured with thoughts of his cousin as he ran to Bag End. Pippin had looked miserable as they sat and ate, and Merry wondered at the frequency with which he reached for the pitcher of ale. The usually cheerful hobbit rarely drank to the point of passing out; when he did, he was incredibly sad or depressed. But he hadn't said anything to Merry; what could he possibly be so upset about? Maybe Frodo knows, Merry reasoned. Frodo had always been a source of calm for everyone he knew to open up to. He was wise and non-judgmental, and Merry had often found him a soothing presence from the days they both lived in Buckland. If anyone knew why Pippin was upset, it would be him.
Merry finally reached Bag End and turned the handle on the door, Frodo and Sam not far behind. He laid Pippin gently on the bed in the room they shared, unbuttoning his cousin's vest and dropping it on the chair by the door. Undressing quickly, he crawled into bed with the unconscious hobbit, tucking them both underneath the blankets. Merry lifted a hand and softly stroked Pippin's cheek, running a finger over his high cheekbones and smooth complexion. He sighed and turned over to turn out the bedside lamp. "Good night, Pip," he said, almost expecting a response. Of course there was none, and he soon fell into a dreamless sleep.
~*~
Merry awoke hours later to find a small hand searching frantically for him. There was no light, and he could easily tell that it was not quite dawn. "Merry! Merry!" Pippin's voice cried out into the darkness. The older hobbit gathered his cousin into his arms and slowly rocked him back and forth. "Shh...I'm here," he whispered soothingly. "It's ok."
Pippin's eyes fluttered open and a look of relief crossed his face as he recognized Merry's features. He burrowed down into the warmth of the blankets, still sobbing gently. "Don't leave me, please..." he begged. Merry stroked Pippin's forehead, wondering what was bring on these untamed emotions. First the alcohol, now nightmares. Merry couldn't figure it out. He spoke quietly to his cousin, attempting to calm his nerves. "I'm not going anywhere, Pip. Don't worry. Just tell me what happened so I can help." The frightened hobbit shuddered, remembering his nightmare.
"I really don't know, Merry. Don't even know why I'm having such horrible dreams all of a sudden. Must be the ale..." he groaned. Merry realized what a hangover his cousin must be having and sat up, trying to make him more comfortable. Pippin grabbed his shirt. "Don't leave," he whispered. "I won't," Merry said soothingly. "Now tell me about this dream of yours."
"Well, it was you and me, see," Pippin started. He paused, glancing over at Merry, who patiently waited for him to continue. "And we were at a party, just like the ones they hold every year around Harvest and the like. I turned around to look at one of the booths, and when I turned around again, I was alone. So I began looking for you, and when I finally found you, you were talking to that girl from the bar. I called out your name, but you just looked at me. And then you disappeared. I thought you had left me forever."
Pippin looked up at Merry, eyes gazing deep into his own. "Promise me something, Merry," he said solemnly.
"Anything."
"Promise you'll never leave me, no matter what." Merry stared at his cousin a moment, shocked, then pulled him closer. "Oh, Pip," he whispered. "I would never leave you, not for anything. No one could keep us apart." Merry was surprised at the fierceness behind his words, but he knew he meant them. That scared him most of all. Too many feelings were welling up inside of him now, and he was afraid to say something neither of them were ready for.
"Merry?" Pippin called, much more relaxed and half asleep in his arms.
"Yeah?" Merry answered. He studied his cousin's face, relaxed and sweet.
"I love you."
"Love you too, Pip. 'Night."
Merry felt Pippin tense in his arms. "No, Merry. I really mean it. I love you. Like...like a lad's 'sposed to love a lass."
Merry opened his mouth to speak and found his throat had gone quite dry. Pippin's eyes met Merry's, the green depths traced by fear. "Do you love me?" he asked. Merry sighed and traced the outline of Pippin's cheek. "I do love you." he breathed. "More than the world could know." Merry leaned in for a kiss. He pressed his lips gently against Pippin's, and the younger hobbit gasped, evidently not expecting this new contact. Merry took advantage of this and ran his tongue just along the inside of Pippin's mouth, savoring the taste. It was spicy and sweet, all at the same time. Just like Pippin, Merry thought absently, so lively and vibrant, but somehow innocent and sweet. They pulled apart, smiling, knowing that this was exactly what they had wanted, that they were now complete with each other's love. Pippin rested his head in the crook of Merry's neck, completely at ease with the world. "I love you," he whispered. "I love you too, Pip," Merry said, hardly able to believe what had happened as they drifted off to sleep in each other's arms.
~*~
Pippin awoke the next morning to find himself cuddled up to Merry, who had thrown a protective arm over him in his sleep. The young hobbit smiled and sat up slowly, careful not to wake his beloved but not quite avoiding his hangover. His head swam, but even the hangover was not enough to dampen his spirits. He could still feel Merry's lips against his, and Pippin's heart beat faster as he licked his lips. Merry was still sleeping, and Pippin leaned in slowly, breathing in his cousin's familiar scent. Pippin loved the way he smelled. Merry's scent reminded Pippin of everything good in Middle-Earth. Merry was fresh laundry and spiced cider. Merry was warm sunshine and flowers. But there was also something else, something completely indescribable. Pippin couldn't place it. It was just...Merry.
Pippin moved closer to the sleeping hobbit until he could feel Merry's warm, even breaths on his lips. How could I have lived without this? Pippin thought dreamily as he brushed his lips against Merry's own. He was surprised to feel the "sleeping" hobbit responding, and he pulled back. Merry looked surprised too.
"I thought you were sleeping," Pippin said, smiling. "Me too," said Merry, and they grinned. "But it looks as I've found something better to do." Merry leaned over and caught the younger hobbit's mouth in a kiss. He slipped his tongue into Pippin's mouth, and he could feel his cousin's eager little tongue tasting his own. Merry couldn't believe that this was truly happening. He pulled away to look at Pippin, lips swollen from the pressure of the kiss.
"I was so afraid I'd wake up and find this was a dream," he said.
"Not me," Pippin said decisively. "This is better than any dream I've ever had."
"Even the one with Belba Sackville-Baggins?" Merry joked.
"Especially the one with Belba Sackville-Baggins."
~*~
In the kitchen, Sam was busy preparing a breakfast tray. On it were four cups of herbal tea, a plate of eggs, another of toast, and another of bacon. He picked it up and called to Frodo, who was reading a book at the small kitchen table.
"Come along, Mr. Frodo. I'll be takin' those two cousins of yours something to eat now, and you haven't eaten all mornin'. Beggin' your pardon, but you're looking a mite thin, Mr. Frodo. Folks are goin' be saying your Sam doesn't feed you right."
Frodo smiled. "Don't worry, Sam. I'll make sure everyone knows how well you take care of me." They both blushed. "Um, you go ahead. I'll be there in a minute."
Sam sighed. "Alright, but if you're not there in five minutes, I'm gonna come get you myself." Frodo turned the page in his book. "No need to threaten me," he grinned. "I'll be along in a minute."
~*~
Sam made his way down the hallway, thinking of Frodo. Not for the first time, Sam wondered if anything could ever happen between them. He just wished he knew someone he could talk to about it. Someone who was in the same position as him... Sighing, Sam pushed open the door with his foot.
And found Merry and Pippin kissing on the bed.
Sam gave a little yelp of surprise and the cousins sprang apart, blushing and looking more than a little guilty. "I-uh-well-no idea-uh-sorry...I made you breakfast," Sam stuttered out. He dropped the tray on the table before he turned and ran.
Merry...and Pippin? Sam thought. I always thought they liked, well, girls. But then, he reasoned, they're together so often it just seems...natural. Natural. Sam's head spun with that word. This new relationship, and the one he hoped himself to have with Frodo, went against everything his Gaffer had taught him about nature. It was wrong, he had said. But how could something so natural be wrong? Sam entered the kitchen and found Frodo still reading.
"Frodo, can I talk to you a moment?"
~*~
Back in the bedroom, Merry and Pippin stared at each other, silent, then burst out laughing. They knew it wasn't really a laughing matter, but the look on Sam's face had been so precious (haha, I said "precious") that they couldn't resist. When he had caught his breath, Pippin leaned against Merry.
"Well, that's it," he said.
Merry put his hands on his cousin's shoulders. "No, Pip," he said quietly, "that's not it. It's perfectly safe for Sam and Frodo to know about us, and as soon as we see them, I intend to make sure they know about each other. But—"
"What?" Pippin was shocked. "Did Sam talk to you about Frodo? I mean, I knew he loves him – it wasn't hard to figure out – but he told you?"
"No," Merry laughed, "he didn't tell me. But it's perfectly obvious to anyone who isn't Frodo. I intend to make it clear."
"Won't they be angry with you?" Pippin asked.
"If they're even half as happy as I am with you, I'm sure it won't be a problem." Merry smiled lovingly and began poking the contents of Sam's tray. "Hungry?"
"Always," came the steady reply. Merry laughed and passed his cousin a plate piled high with toast, eggs, and bacon.
"Hey, Merry?" Pippin managed through a mouthful of toast. "What were you going to say earlier?" Merry sighed. He didn't see any reason to upset Pippin, especially not when he looked so happy...
"Nothing, Pip, nothing at all."
~*~
A\N: So? You like? I happen to like this chapter. I didn't wanna end here, but the chapter was getting a bit wordy, I really wanted to update, and then the plot bunnies stopped biting. Oh, well. Next one will be out as soon as inspiration strikes! All reviews (except flames) are welcome! Bye!
~Aru-chan 3