*smacks forehead* Forgot a disclaimer in the first chapter, and since I
don't want to edit it more than I have to...
Disclaimer: Do you really think I'd be here if I owned this stuff? Nope, not mine, just the plot, which I doubt anyone would want. ;)
I got reviews?! *gasp* *shock* *dies* :P
Carolyn: Thank you!!! I'm told I write a lot of cute fan fiction; must be my calling. ;)
monet: Thanks! Yeah, that was one of the things I wasn't satisfied with in the first chapter (it wasn't my best work, but definitely not my worst, thankfully). And for this and the first chapter, Goldilocks is 11, and Faramir is 12. And since I don't think most of the ages are mentioned in this chapter - Frodo - 19, Rosie - 17, Merry - 15, Pippin - 13, Goldilocks - 11, Hamfast - 10, Daisy - 9, Primrose - 7, Bilbo - 6, Ruby - 4, Robin - 2
shirebound: Thank you thank you thank you! Yeah, I've also wondered that, and it just fit as a convenient beginning to this story, so I thought why not? ;)
Herald7: *phew* BIG thank yous! I was so worried that I wasn't getting the hobbit characterization right, so I'm really glad you liked it!
Cass: Thanks! "Hobbity", eh? Yipee! Again, I was really worried that I wasn't getting the hobbit feel right, so - VERY glad you liked it!
*bounces* People actually like it! *distributes chocolate* Thank you all so much for reading! Okay, this next chapter I'm not entirely sure of... it's either horrible, or pretty good. :P I wanted to use this chapter as a way of showing how - in my opinion - the younger members of the Gamgee family must have acted around each other under stressful circumstances. After all, you've got a dozen kids, there *has* to be some tension there at times. ;)
A Little Change of Heart
Chapter 2 - Stress and Tears at Dinner
*~*~*
"Gently now, easy does it..."
Goldilocks often murmured such things to herself when working in her father's garden, a place she took great care not to disturb with her trademark clumsiness. In fact, Goldilocks was the only one who didn't notice the almost graceful skill with which she tended the plantlife at Bag End, one of the many traits she had inherited from her father.
Though Samwise insisted his children were much too fair to take after him in appearance, several of the Gamgee siblings shared his face and build, but none moreso than Goldilocks. She had her father's soft brown eyes and good-natured face (with a more feminine look, of course), as well as skin that had seen plenty of sunlight. But unlike her father, she had a slender figure, as did most of Sam's children (with the exception of Rose and Hamfast, who were a bit on the heavy side). Of course, the biggest difference between father and daughter were the golden tresses Goldilocks had been named for; it was rare in the Shire to begin with, and Elanor and Primrose were the only other Gamgee children with such a feature. Goldilocks was almost thankful to have such a distinguishing feature - anything that would let her stand apart from most of her many siblings made her quite happy.
She was reminded of this somewhat comforting fact when a light breeze blew a lock of curly hair in front of her face. She was also reminded of Elanor, off in some faraway land that Goldilocks longed to see. Her thoughts went back to the morning Elanor and her parents had departed for Gondor, and her sister's words to her:
"You'll see it one day, Goldi, I just know it." She had laughed, a clear, merry sound that Goldilocks had always loved to hear. "I doubt the king himself would be able to stop you in the end!"
Just as Goldilocks's mind was beginning to wander to shining towers and white trees, Rosie came outside and informed her that dinner was ready. She reluctantly followed her sister inside and found that most of her family was already seated around the table. As Goldilocks took her seat, Rosie was counting faces. When Frodo came in with a plate in each hand, he spoke to Rosie.
"Who's unaccounted for?"
Rosie thought on it for a moment. "Merry, Pippin, and Bilbo."
In the eleven months since their parents and Elanor had departed for Gondor, Frodo and Rosie had adjusted quite well to being in charge at Bag End. They both had started out the year being extremely flustered, especially after having to deal with their mischevious brother, Pippin. Their Aunt Marigold and Uncle Tom had spent many months at Bag End to help Frodo and Rosie with the management of their siblings; but now they barely had to stop by to check on things as Frodo and Rosie eventually settled themselves and the rest of the Gamgee children into a more or less orderly routine. Still, to make it to the last meal of the day without incident was considered a feat worthy of praise to the two elder children.
Now it seemed that Rosie was desperately hoping that day would be a praise- worthy day. She went outside in search of her wayward brothers while the rest of the family settled into their evening meal.
Frodo was making a show of his seemingly infinite patience while coaxing Robin into eating some vegetables when Rosie returned, dragging Merry and Pippin in by the ears. Bilbo was trotting behind, carrying what looked to be a sack full of pipeweed.
"...time and time again, I've told you two, you're not to be in Father's pipeweed supply! And now, you drag poor little Bilbo into it?!"
It was at Rosie's last accusation that Bilbo decided to speak up. "Didn't *want* to help them--"
"No one asked you!" Rosie snapped at him over her shoulder.
As Bilbo's bottom lip began to quiver, Rosie promptly released the ears she had been holding and rushed to embrace her little brother. "Oh, Bilbo! Don't you pay any attention to what I say! I've just been in such a horrid state lately!"
While rubbing his sore ear, Pippin muttered under his breath, "It's only because of that lad you've been seeing in Bywater."
Merry, who was also rubbing his ear, snorted. "That's not really an excuse to--" He froze for a moment, then looked sharply at Rosie. "Lad, what lad?"
Rosie rolled her eyes as she carried Bilbo to his seat at the table. "Not that it's any of your business, but there's a young hobbit in Bywater who seemed to be attracted to me." She wrinkled her nose. "Apparently, I was mistaken." After putting away the bag of pipeweed that Bilbo had carried in, she turned to Pippin with furrorwed eyebrows. "And may I ask how you came across this information?"
Not one, but four voices spoke the same name at the same time. "Primrose."
Seven-year-old Primrose had slouched down in her chair as far as she could without being entirely under the table. Rosie moved to stand behind her sister, putting her hands on the young hobbit's shoulders.
"Primrose, darling," Rosie said in a suspiciously sweet voice. "Do you remember that little talk we had about 'silence', and how it is sometimes a *good* thing? I know that may be difficult for you to grasp..."
"Well, Rosie, you know how hard it is to keep secrets in this family, and, well, Daisy and I were talking, and she said something about you acting strange, and, well, I couldn't keep myself quiet for more than a second or two, but I really didn't mean to tell her, or Frodo, or Pippin, or Hamfast, or Aunt Marigold--"
"Primrose!" her sister cried. "How many hobbits have you told?!"
"Well, first there was Daisy, then Pippin, then Hamfast and Frodo at the same time, then Aunt Marigold and Unlce Tom at the same time, then Diamond and Estella not too long ago--"
"Primrose!" Rosie cried out again. No one was surprised by the tears that were welling up in the extremely sensistive hobbit's eyes. "How *could* you?! You promised you wouldn't breathe a word of it to anyone!"
Primrose was nearing a panicked state; no one liked being responsible for Rosie's tears. "I didn't mean to, and I didn't want to, it just sort of slipped, it was like I couldn't stop myself, and by the time I realized I needed to stop talking, it was already out! Please don't cry because of me, Rosie!"
Pippin, who still looked a bit miffed from Rosie storming in on whatever scheme he had conjured up, scowled at his older sister. "I wouldn't worry, Prim. We all know those tears are just a pity ploy."
More than one jaw dropped at that statement. Even Pippin was shocked by what had escaped his own mouth.
There was a moment of stunned silence before Rosie burst into outright sobs. "It's not a pity ploy!"
Merry whirled on Pippin, his eyes ablaze. "Now look what you've done!"
Pippin winced. "I'm sorry, Rosie. I didn't mean to--"
Rosie fought back her sobs long enough to get a reply out. "Just like you didn't mean to tell everyone about Drego?!"
All eyes were now on Rosie. At least four voices cried out in amazement and disdain, "Drego Bracegirdle?!"
Rosie turned to glare daggers at Pippin. He held up his hands in an almost defensive pose. "Don't look at me, you got yourself into that one!"
In response, she put her head in her hands and proceeded to sob hysterically. Pippin threw his hands into the air in frustration.
"Why is it that I can never say or do anything right?!"
"Perhaps this is a sign that you should say and do less," Merry said, his voice filled with irritation.
Pippin glared at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Sighing, Frodo stood up. "All right, that's enough," he said as gently as possible. "Why don't we all just--"
"No one asked you, Frodo!" Merry snapped.
Frodo's eyes widened for a moment. He was obviously taking great pains to keep his face as neutral as possible. "Merry, I don't think you have any right to tell me when I can't speak, seeing as how *I* am the one who is in charge here. And I say you both need to calm down."
Merry and Pippin declared in unison, "WE ARE CALM!"
At their outburst, Robin, who was already on edge from Rosie's sobs, was startled into tears of his own. He dropped his spoon and let out wails that rivaled his sister's. Ruby, sitting next to Robin, had already been whimpering. At the sound of her brother's cries, she began to let out her own. Bilbo slid off of his chair and practically leaped into Daisy's lap, where he too began to cry.
Frodo clenched his teeth and fists. When he spoke it was slowly, carefully, and to no one in particular. "Don't make me lose my patience."
Daisy, who looked as though she had been fighting an outburst of her own, finally succumbed. "I wish Mum and Da were here!" She then buried her face in Bilbo's curls and sobbed.
Frodo whirled around to glare at her with wild eyes. He didn't shout, but his voice was that of a hobbit on the edge. "Daisy! You're nine years old! Buck up and set an example, *please*!"
Daisy gave him a nod that was more of a spasm and bit her lip to help fight back the sobs.
"Oh, Frodo, leave them out of this!" Rosie pleaded with her brother from behind her hands.
Pippin scowled at her again. "Why, so we can pay more attention to you?" She responded with yet another sob.
As Merry launched into another verbal attack at his brothers, Primrose looked over at Hamfast and Goldilocks, who had stayed quiet throughout the entire exchange. "Should we say something? I think we ought to. I ought to, at least, since I was the one--"
Hamfast held out a hand to silence her. "Just..." He sighed. "Just keep quiet and let them have at it."
Daisy, looking fairly panicked, also spoke to Hamfast. "But what if they start throwing things?"
"Then duck," he said wearily, putting his head in his hands.
But his words were to no avail; Daisy, Primrose, and even Bilbo soon became involved in the argument, which went on for a good twenty minutes.
"...Just because our parents favor you and Elanor and Frodo doesn't mean you can just--"
Rosie had finally ceased her sobbing and was doing her best to defend herself. "They do not favor us! They simply enjoy the fact that *we*, unlike some of their children, know how to behave ourselves most of the time!"
Hamfast couldn't hold his tongue any longer. "For some of us, misbehaving is the only way we'll get noticed."
Frodo gave an exasperated sigh. "You're in a family with twelve children, do you really think it's easy for any of us to get noticed?"
"Fine for you," Merry said to him. "You don't care if you're not noticed. And besides, I never asked to have so many siblings!"
Hamfast rolled his eyes. "Well, I suppose we're just lucky to have such caring older brothers."
Rubbing his temples, Frodo said, "I'm sure Elanor didn't ask for so many younger siblings, but she got them, and she puts up with us all. So why can't we just--"
Pippin was the next to roll his eyes. "Could we *please* not bring Perfect Elanor into this?"
Rosie, who was very close to her oldest sister, narrowed her eyes at Pippin. "What do you mean by that?"
Pippin returned her glare. "You know exactly what I mean. In the eyes of our parents and the entire Shire, Elanor Gamgee can do no wrong." He snorted. "It's just like what Ham said. The rest of us aren't nearly so blessed as you, Elanor, and Frodo in looks, minds, and friendly dispositions."
As Rosie and Frodo both began yelling at the same time, Goldilocks muttered under her breath, "Oh, for goodness sake..." She turned to look at Robin, sitting beside her, whose tears had finally subsided. "Do you think anyone will care if I leave?" When Robin yawned, she nodded. "Didn't think so." With that, she stood and, putting as much distance between herself and her warring siblings as possible, made her way to the front door.
*~*~*
Disclaimer: Do you really think I'd be here if I owned this stuff? Nope, not mine, just the plot, which I doubt anyone would want. ;)
I got reviews?! *gasp* *shock* *dies* :P
Carolyn: Thank you!!! I'm told I write a lot of cute fan fiction; must be my calling. ;)
monet: Thanks! Yeah, that was one of the things I wasn't satisfied with in the first chapter (it wasn't my best work, but definitely not my worst, thankfully). And for this and the first chapter, Goldilocks is 11, and Faramir is 12. And since I don't think most of the ages are mentioned in this chapter - Frodo - 19, Rosie - 17, Merry - 15, Pippin - 13, Goldilocks - 11, Hamfast - 10, Daisy - 9, Primrose - 7, Bilbo - 6, Ruby - 4, Robin - 2
shirebound: Thank you thank you thank you! Yeah, I've also wondered that, and it just fit as a convenient beginning to this story, so I thought why not? ;)
Herald7: *phew* BIG thank yous! I was so worried that I wasn't getting the hobbit characterization right, so I'm really glad you liked it!
Cass: Thanks! "Hobbity", eh? Yipee! Again, I was really worried that I wasn't getting the hobbit feel right, so - VERY glad you liked it!
*bounces* People actually like it! *distributes chocolate* Thank you all so much for reading! Okay, this next chapter I'm not entirely sure of... it's either horrible, or pretty good. :P I wanted to use this chapter as a way of showing how - in my opinion - the younger members of the Gamgee family must have acted around each other under stressful circumstances. After all, you've got a dozen kids, there *has* to be some tension there at times. ;)
A Little Change of Heart
Chapter 2 - Stress and Tears at Dinner
*~*~*
"Gently now, easy does it..."
Goldilocks often murmured such things to herself when working in her father's garden, a place she took great care not to disturb with her trademark clumsiness. In fact, Goldilocks was the only one who didn't notice the almost graceful skill with which she tended the plantlife at Bag End, one of the many traits she had inherited from her father.
Though Samwise insisted his children were much too fair to take after him in appearance, several of the Gamgee siblings shared his face and build, but none moreso than Goldilocks. She had her father's soft brown eyes and good-natured face (with a more feminine look, of course), as well as skin that had seen plenty of sunlight. But unlike her father, she had a slender figure, as did most of Sam's children (with the exception of Rose and Hamfast, who were a bit on the heavy side). Of course, the biggest difference between father and daughter were the golden tresses Goldilocks had been named for; it was rare in the Shire to begin with, and Elanor and Primrose were the only other Gamgee children with such a feature. Goldilocks was almost thankful to have such a distinguishing feature - anything that would let her stand apart from most of her many siblings made her quite happy.
She was reminded of this somewhat comforting fact when a light breeze blew a lock of curly hair in front of her face. She was also reminded of Elanor, off in some faraway land that Goldilocks longed to see. Her thoughts went back to the morning Elanor and her parents had departed for Gondor, and her sister's words to her:
"You'll see it one day, Goldi, I just know it." She had laughed, a clear, merry sound that Goldilocks had always loved to hear. "I doubt the king himself would be able to stop you in the end!"
Just as Goldilocks's mind was beginning to wander to shining towers and white trees, Rosie came outside and informed her that dinner was ready. She reluctantly followed her sister inside and found that most of her family was already seated around the table. As Goldilocks took her seat, Rosie was counting faces. When Frodo came in with a plate in each hand, he spoke to Rosie.
"Who's unaccounted for?"
Rosie thought on it for a moment. "Merry, Pippin, and Bilbo."
In the eleven months since their parents and Elanor had departed for Gondor, Frodo and Rosie had adjusted quite well to being in charge at Bag End. They both had started out the year being extremely flustered, especially after having to deal with their mischevious brother, Pippin. Their Aunt Marigold and Uncle Tom had spent many months at Bag End to help Frodo and Rosie with the management of their siblings; but now they barely had to stop by to check on things as Frodo and Rosie eventually settled themselves and the rest of the Gamgee children into a more or less orderly routine. Still, to make it to the last meal of the day without incident was considered a feat worthy of praise to the two elder children.
Now it seemed that Rosie was desperately hoping that day would be a praise- worthy day. She went outside in search of her wayward brothers while the rest of the family settled into their evening meal.
Frodo was making a show of his seemingly infinite patience while coaxing Robin into eating some vegetables when Rosie returned, dragging Merry and Pippin in by the ears. Bilbo was trotting behind, carrying what looked to be a sack full of pipeweed.
"...time and time again, I've told you two, you're not to be in Father's pipeweed supply! And now, you drag poor little Bilbo into it?!"
It was at Rosie's last accusation that Bilbo decided to speak up. "Didn't *want* to help them--"
"No one asked you!" Rosie snapped at him over her shoulder.
As Bilbo's bottom lip began to quiver, Rosie promptly released the ears she had been holding and rushed to embrace her little brother. "Oh, Bilbo! Don't you pay any attention to what I say! I've just been in such a horrid state lately!"
While rubbing his sore ear, Pippin muttered under his breath, "It's only because of that lad you've been seeing in Bywater."
Merry, who was also rubbing his ear, snorted. "That's not really an excuse to--" He froze for a moment, then looked sharply at Rosie. "Lad, what lad?"
Rosie rolled her eyes as she carried Bilbo to his seat at the table. "Not that it's any of your business, but there's a young hobbit in Bywater who seemed to be attracted to me." She wrinkled her nose. "Apparently, I was mistaken." After putting away the bag of pipeweed that Bilbo had carried in, she turned to Pippin with furrorwed eyebrows. "And may I ask how you came across this information?"
Not one, but four voices spoke the same name at the same time. "Primrose."
Seven-year-old Primrose had slouched down in her chair as far as she could without being entirely under the table. Rosie moved to stand behind her sister, putting her hands on the young hobbit's shoulders.
"Primrose, darling," Rosie said in a suspiciously sweet voice. "Do you remember that little talk we had about 'silence', and how it is sometimes a *good* thing? I know that may be difficult for you to grasp..."
"Well, Rosie, you know how hard it is to keep secrets in this family, and, well, Daisy and I were talking, and she said something about you acting strange, and, well, I couldn't keep myself quiet for more than a second or two, but I really didn't mean to tell her, or Frodo, or Pippin, or Hamfast, or Aunt Marigold--"
"Primrose!" her sister cried. "How many hobbits have you told?!"
"Well, first there was Daisy, then Pippin, then Hamfast and Frodo at the same time, then Aunt Marigold and Unlce Tom at the same time, then Diamond and Estella not too long ago--"
"Primrose!" Rosie cried out again. No one was surprised by the tears that were welling up in the extremely sensistive hobbit's eyes. "How *could* you?! You promised you wouldn't breathe a word of it to anyone!"
Primrose was nearing a panicked state; no one liked being responsible for Rosie's tears. "I didn't mean to, and I didn't want to, it just sort of slipped, it was like I couldn't stop myself, and by the time I realized I needed to stop talking, it was already out! Please don't cry because of me, Rosie!"
Pippin, who still looked a bit miffed from Rosie storming in on whatever scheme he had conjured up, scowled at his older sister. "I wouldn't worry, Prim. We all know those tears are just a pity ploy."
More than one jaw dropped at that statement. Even Pippin was shocked by what had escaped his own mouth.
There was a moment of stunned silence before Rosie burst into outright sobs. "It's not a pity ploy!"
Merry whirled on Pippin, his eyes ablaze. "Now look what you've done!"
Pippin winced. "I'm sorry, Rosie. I didn't mean to--"
Rosie fought back her sobs long enough to get a reply out. "Just like you didn't mean to tell everyone about Drego?!"
All eyes were now on Rosie. At least four voices cried out in amazement and disdain, "Drego Bracegirdle?!"
Rosie turned to glare daggers at Pippin. He held up his hands in an almost defensive pose. "Don't look at me, you got yourself into that one!"
In response, she put her head in her hands and proceeded to sob hysterically. Pippin threw his hands into the air in frustration.
"Why is it that I can never say or do anything right?!"
"Perhaps this is a sign that you should say and do less," Merry said, his voice filled with irritation.
Pippin glared at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Sighing, Frodo stood up. "All right, that's enough," he said as gently as possible. "Why don't we all just--"
"No one asked you, Frodo!" Merry snapped.
Frodo's eyes widened for a moment. He was obviously taking great pains to keep his face as neutral as possible. "Merry, I don't think you have any right to tell me when I can't speak, seeing as how *I* am the one who is in charge here. And I say you both need to calm down."
Merry and Pippin declared in unison, "WE ARE CALM!"
At their outburst, Robin, who was already on edge from Rosie's sobs, was startled into tears of his own. He dropped his spoon and let out wails that rivaled his sister's. Ruby, sitting next to Robin, had already been whimpering. At the sound of her brother's cries, she began to let out her own. Bilbo slid off of his chair and practically leaped into Daisy's lap, where he too began to cry.
Frodo clenched his teeth and fists. When he spoke it was slowly, carefully, and to no one in particular. "Don't make me lose my patience."
Daisy, who looked as though she had been fighting an outburst of her own, finally succumbed. "I wish Mum and Da were here!" She then buried her face in Bilbo's curls and sobbed.
Frodo whirled around to glare at her with wild eyes. He didn't shout, but his voice was that of a hobbit on the edge. "Daisy! You're nine years old! Buck up and set an example, *please*!"
Daisy gave him a nod that was more of a spasm and bit her lip to help fight back the sobs.
"Oh, Frodo, leave them out of this!" Rosie pleaded with her brother from behind her hands.
Pippin scowled at her again. "Why, so we can pay more attention to you?" She responded with yet another sob.
As Merry launched into another verbal attack at his brothers, Primrose looked over at Hamfast and Goldilocks, who had stayed quiet throughout the entire exchange. "Should we say something? I think we ought to. I ought to, at least, since I was the one--"
Hamfast held out a hand to silence her. "Just..." He sighed. "Just keep quiet and let them have at it."
Daisy, looking fairly panicked, also spoke to Hamfast. "But what if they start throwing things?"
"Then duck," he said wearily, putting his head in his hands.
But his words were to no avail; Daisy, Primrose, and even Bilbo soon became involved in the argument, which went on for a good twenty minutes.
"...Just because our parents favor you and Elanor and Frodo doesn't mean you can just--"
Rosie had finally ceased her sobbing and was doing her best to defend herself. "They do not favor us! They simply enjoy the fact that *we*, unlike some of their children, know how to behave ourselves most of the time!"
Hamfast couldn't hold his tongue any longer. "For some of us, misbehaving is the only way we'll get noticed."
Frodo gave an exasperated sigh. "You're in a family with twelve children, do you really think it's easy for any of us to get noticed?"
"Fine for you," Merry said to him. "You don't care if you're not noticed. And besides, I never asked to have so many siblings!"
Hamfast rolled his eyes. "Well, I suppose we're just lucky to have such caring older brothers."
Rubbing his temples, Frodo said, "I'm sure Elanor didn't ask for so many younger siblings, but she got them, and she puts up with us all. So why can't we just--"
Pippin was the next to roll his eyes. "Could we *please* not bring Perfect Elanor into this?"
Rosie, who was very close to her oldest sister, narrowed her eyes at Pippin. "What do you mean by that?"
Pippin returned her glare. "You know exactly what I mean. In the eyes of our parents and the entire Shire, Elanor Gamgee can do no wrong." He snorted. "It's just like what Ham said. The rest of us aren't nearly so blessed as you, Elanor, and Frodo in looks, minds, and friendly dispositions."
As Rosie and Frodo both began yelling at the same time, Goldilocks muttered under her breath, "Oh, for goodness sake..." She turned to look at Robin, sitting beside her, whose tears had finally subsided. "Do you think anyone will care if I leave?" When Robin yawned, she nodded. "Didn't think so." With that, she stood and, putting as much distance between herself and her warring siblings as possible, made her way to the front door.
*~*~*
