Chapter 9 - My Mug Runneth Over

Pippin watched as Merry lay next to him in silence, cradling his hand on his chest. He got up and went to the table and mixed some of Donnabelle's concoction in a large mug and took it to Merry, who swallowed several mouthfuls. "It tastes worse than it smells!", he coughed.

Pippin placed the mug on his bed table and climbed back into bed, "Merry--let's not wager against one another anymore; you against me, nor me against you, all right?"

"What are you getting at?"

"Well...I made a large error today. I told you and everyone at the breakfast table that I could get along better without you--that I would be able to stay out of trouble if you stayed away from me."

"And?" Merry was still holding his hand, looking at the ceiling.

"And I found that....", Pippin spoke sadly, "I found that nothing is fun without you. All day long I had no one to jest with, no one to tell my stories to--and no one would listen to me like you always do. They all laughed at me and called me names--saying I'm a child."

Merry turned his head towards his cousin, "You are a child, Pip!"

"But you never laugh at me! You always listen to what I have to say, and let me do things with you." Pippin became solemn again, "I found something else, too. I know you're my cousin and all, and I've always thought of you as.... well, like a brother. But after today, Merry, I've found out that....", he paused, "you're my best friend."

"What do I say to that, Pippin?", Merry was feeling strange; the brew Pippin had fed him was taking effect. "I think I made a grave error myself this morning--I should not have accused you of being the epitome of trouble. I believe that when I did that, it sort of made you want to separate yourself from me, did it not?" Merry licked his lips--they felt numb.

Pippin thought about Merry's words, "Perhaps, and perhaps my jesting about getting into trouble only when I was with you was out of place." Then he reached over for the mug and sipped some of the concoction. "Do you have fun when we're together, Merry? I do, but I think its because you do tend to keep me out of trouble...and I think we make a great team."

Merry turned to face his cousin, "Yes, I think so, too." Merry took the mug and swallowed another mouthful of the mixture. "And to tell the truth; I do have fun when I'm around you. So, I guess that makes you my best friend as well!" He smiled, "Now, Cousin, tell me your tale before we drink too much!" He passed the mug back to Pippin.

"Well, it was my own fault, I guess--I happened upon a game of chess...and I almost won, except for that Harmin fellow--he ruined the game." Pippin sipped the liquid.

Merry closed his eyes tight in anticipation of his cousin's next words, "Oh, Pippin! You didn't lose your Took temper, did you?"

"I couldn't help it, Merry! He scattered all the pieces everywhere because he was losing!" He drank again and handed the mug to Merry.

"Pippin! You should have ignored him; he was being a complete ass!" Merry swallowed another draught.

Suddenly Pippin burst out laughing; "That's exactly what I called him! An ass!"

Merry burst out laughing as well; "No, you didn't!!" Pippin nodded in assent. Merry looked at Pippin's shoulder, "And I can see that went over well with him!"

Pippin could barely speak because he was laughing so hard, "Then he...called me...a little pisser!" He was still laughing as he wiped the tears from his eyes.

Merry and Pippin were in the midst of a laughing fit when the door opened up and in walked Pearl and Donnabelle. Still laughing, Merry turned and swung back towards his edge of the bed to see who the intruders were; he over compensated and fell out of bed--mug and all--and was lying on the floor still howling with laughter...