The next day, Pippin was restless as he took tea with Sam and Frodo. His brazen edge had gotten dull, and it was all he could do to keep from quivering with nervousness. As he strapped up his pack, his hands kept slipping, or he would tie something in the wrong way, and have to do it all over again. He didn't notice the constant stares he received from the other two. Having finally gotten the job done, he piled it on top of the other two sacks and left it on the porch. He took a deep breath, crossed his fingers, tried to cross his toes but ended up with a really bad cramp in his foot, and escaped down to the garden, where he knew Diamond would most likely be on a day like this, which promised for a clear, starry night.
Diamond happily paced along the worn garden path. The sun was sinking into the west, and she knew that the stars would be bright tonight. She gracefully scooped up a few flowers and put them randomly in her slightly wavy, yet not quite curly hair, which was down and splayed around her shoulders. She reached the small garden fence and leaned up against it. She heard something behind her. Upon turning around, she discovered Pippin.
"Pip! I didn't think you'd still be here! Aren't you supposed to be on your way to Crickhollow with Frodo?"
"Not yet. I just wanted to take a walk before we left."
She smiled, but noticed that he seemed a little beside himself. Pippin's stomach writhed, and he almost threw up from the nervousness. Suddenly, he felt some sort of resolve. He shoved down his fear all the way down into nothingness. His boldness came back. It was either now or never.
"Pip? What's wrong?"
Pippin turned around and leaned his stomach against the fence and she did likewise. He looked at her for a moment, staring into the bluish green pools of her eyes.
"Last night, at Frodo's farewell dinner.....they talked about settling down. And, well, I thought about it....and it gave me almost a sort of peace. The thought made me happy."
Diamond listened to Pippin attentively, trying to see what he was getting at.
"And...well...I...."
Pippin started to falter but he wouldn't allow himself. He slowly took her hand in his and looked at her for a little while before continuing.
"And, I know now, from the time we've spent together, only one more thing that could make me happier than that."
Diamond now knew what he was coming around to. A sudden wave of anxiousness and fear washed over her. She felt nervous, afraid. She desperately wanted to pull her hand out of his....but...yet, she didn't want to. Then she noticed how intently Pip was staring at her. She couldn't think straight.
"Pippin...no...don't...we----"
She was cut off abruptly as he leaned in and kissed her. Her mind was like a whirlpool. She was incapable of thinking. She only went by some inner instinct. He continued to lean into her and pull her closer, but she was pushing him. She only knew that they had to stop and stop now. She freed her arms from his embrace, refusing to return the kiss, and used all of her strength to push him. Pippin obviously took the hint, because he immediately broke away. Diamond kept her hands on his shoulders, just to keep some distance between them.
"Pippin....what do you think you are doing?"
Pippin looked like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Diamond, I have loved you since the moment I clamped eyes on you! What could be more logical than to marry you?"
"I...We....We can't!"
"Why not? It makes perfect sense!"
"Pippin, can you imagine us living together?!?! We're both incredibly, obnoxiously, ridiculously, stupidly bull-headed, especially you. We would murder each other!!"
Pippin laughed and shook his head.
"I don't care about that! I only know that I want to be with you. We could find a small place near Brandy Hall...or maybe even by Crickhollow. The point is, we could find someplace away from Hobbiton. We'll be out of the eyes and ears of all those gossipy hens that have talked about you your whole life. You won't have to write to escape anymore, Diamond, we'll just have each other."
He had been coming progressively closer, so Diamond gently pushed him again.
"But....I'm not cut out for you Pippin! You need someone who can take care of you. Someone who can actually cook. I burn water, Pippin! Do you want to marry someone who can burn water?!?!"
Pippin smiled and put his hands on her face.
"I only know I want to marry you."
Diamond couldn't seem to get ahead. She was almost to the point of terror.
"Pippin....please. Don't choose me," she whispered pleadingly.
There was a change in Pippin's countenance. He had been slightly smiling, but now the smile vanished. He withdrew from her and leaned against the fence, turning his head. Diamond now knew that it was her turn to talk. She had to give a reason; she could think of none. She moved closer and put her hand on his shoulder, but he quickly shrugged it off.
"Pippin....I do care about you. I love you; you're my dearest, dearest friend. But, Pippin, I can't just go and be your wife. We're not even of age yet."
But Pippin didn't listen. She knew that he was trying his best to not let his emotions overcome him. Diamond tried to put her hand on his shoulder again, but now he moved away. The movement was more violent than subtle. He turned to her, constantly blinking back that which he refused to call tears.
"Diamond, you're all that I know."
Now Diamond had to blink back tears.
"Peregrin, please...."
"No, Diamond, I'm leaving. Thank you for-for-for making me believe that we could have had something."
She grabbed his arm in a last attempt to keep him there, but he pulled away, not caring to hide his anger in the action. He walked away from the garden, forcing himself to put on a masked expression for Frodo and Sam.
Diamond slid down onto her knees beside the fencepost. He was gone now. Gone. She tried to snap out of it. He was only going to Crickhollow and back, a journey of only a few mere days. But something deep within her told her that his journey would be longer, much longer than expected. She knew that he may not be back for a very long time. She buried her face in her hands.
Above, there were no clouds in the sky.
The first star came out.
________________________________
Wow...I could just leave it off right here......
No, I wouldn't be as cruel as that. I have big plans for the rest!
Hopefully, the next chapter will be up soon.
