Chapter 5 - Checkmate!

Pippin decided to go with his sisters into town; Pearl hardly let him out of her sight. She made him stand still as she measured out a length of cloth to sew a new pair of breeches for him. "Quit fidgeting, Pippin! I can't get a good measure unless you stop!"

Pippin stood still only long enough for his sister to get what she needed then walked out near the road to separate himself from the "women folk".

"Don't wander too far, Pippin--Pim and I still have more to purchase! And stay out of trouble!"

Pippin gave his sister a sharp look. "Merry's not with me, remember?" Pearl only shook her head.

Pippin walked slowly; watching all the hustle and bustle of the market. He noticed one particular Took Booth and went over to the merchant who sold his father's crops, "Hullo, Mat!"

"Hullo, Master Peregrin!" Mat smiled, "And how are ye doin' this fine day?"

"Pippin, if you please, Mat!" Pippin was having difficulties with adult hobbits addressing him so formally. He leaned onto the booth and surveyed all the various vegetables and fruits his father recently harvested and was now selling. "How are sales going?"

"Oh, the same as everyday, Master Pippin!" Mat leaned against his cane, "I suspect the same will be said later today when I close up shop!"

Pippin grinned at the elder hobbit, "That good, eh?" Still gazing at all the surrounding activity he added, "Perhaps as summer wears on and the harvest becomes more plentiful, more hobbits will be purchasing from the market."

"More than likely, laddie."

Pippin decided that watching Mat sell vegetables wasn't as exciting as he thought it'd be, so he moved on walking around the market center. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, Goodness! I've got to find some shade and cool off! He noticed a huge oak tree just beyond the Oak Leaf Inn, and walked in that direction. As he approached the Inn, he noticed a group of tweens playing a game of Chess outside and stopped to watch it. He looked on as no one made a move for several minutes. "Whose turn is it?"

"Shhh!" Said one lad; Pippin guessed him to be around Merry's age. "Move along little laddie--this is no game for you!"

Pippin ignored the older boy and continued to watch the game. Finally one player made his move, and the other laughed nervously, "Ye think ye've won this game, Harmin?"

The first player looked at the second, "I will soon enough, Rob!"

Pippin sat down and winced as he watched the lad named Rob open up his queen for a kill by Harmin's rook. Well, perhaps this wasn't a game for Rob!

A few other tweens came up to watch the game as well, and sure enough, a few moves later it was check-mate for Rob's king. "Can I play against you Harmin?" Pippin asked.

"No! You're probably still playing checkers with your baby sisters!"

"I don't have a baby sister! And yes, I do play checkers--and I could probably win against you!"

The boys all laughed, though Harmin wasn't amused, "Get going, you little slacker!"

"It's my game, Harmin!" Rob answered. "What's yer name, laddie?"

"Pippin."

Rob eyeballed the newcomer, "How old are ye?"

"Twelve."

Several of the tweens laughed; "Run Harmin! This little laddie is going to win against you!"

Not wanting to look threatened in front of his friends, Harmin gave in. "All right, laddie--but if you so much as whimper, cry, or even water your eyes up, I'll run you all the way home!"

Their eyes locked momentarily as Pippin scooted over to where Rob previously sat. He let Harmin set up the board so as not to be accused of cheating; Pippin had a fairly good idea of who was going to win this game...him. Not only did Pippin have a competitive spirit, but he also regularly played others who were further advanced, and less antagonistic than Harmin. He didn't win every game against Bilbo and Frodo, yet he considered them, along with his own father, far superior players than himself. He missed playing against old Bilbo; he was his favorite.

So the game began. "Come on, laddie! Don't be afraid!" Harmin laughed with his friends. Rob quietly watched the board.

Pippin made the first move, and over an hour later, Harmin's brow was furrowed in concentration; Pippin just killed his queen, and all Harmin had left was a rook, two knights, and his king. "I can still win!" He snapped.

"You think so?" These were the first words Pippin uttered during the game, and his attention went immediately back to the game.

"What do you mean, 'think so'?" No longer focused on the game, Harmin recklessly moved one of his knights down the board to try and kill Pippin's rook...and let go of it. "No! I didn't mean to move that knight! I meant to move the other one!", and he proceeded to move his first knight back to it's previous position.

"That's too bad, Harmin! Move it back!"

"It stays where I put it!"

"You're cheating!!"

Harmin reached over the chessboard and grabbed two fistfuls of Pippin's shirt, dragged him across the game and scattered the pieces. "Are you calling me a cheat?"

Pippin tried to wriggle out of Harmin's grasp, "I'm calling you every bloody thing under the sun! You ass--you just ruined the game!"

"You know, for a little pisser, you have quite a mouth!", then he shoved Pippin up against the side of the Inn. Pippin sat up, though dazed, then Harmin jerked Pippin up by the arm. Pippin felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. He slowly stood upright, with eyes on Harmin, he put up both of his fists.

The older boys hooted at the sight of a young boy against a tween. "Aw, let the little squeaker run home to mummy!"

Harmin was surprised at Pippin's resilience. He none too gently tapped Pippin's cheek, "Go home, lad." But Pippin made no move; fists still clenched for a fight. Finally, Harmin backed away, "come on, lads--let's go inside the pub", leaving Pippin outside frozen in a defensive stance.

Rob got up and picked up the pieces to his game. Pippin slowly relaxed and started to walk back towards the market; Pearl was probably looking for him anyway.

"Pippin!" He turned and saw Rob look at him, "Come back again! But first when yer grown six inches!"