Merry and Pippin
Note: Ok, just to let you know, Legolas and Aragorn visited more than just the princess people that I mentioned last chapter. I skipped down the list some, but I'm going throw in some references to some other ones as well. So don't yell at me because I didn't have them before.
~Chapter XI- Protectors of Trees and Rocks~
Merry opened his eyes to see his brother hovering over him.
Pippin, you're all right!
"Merry, you're all right!" they both shouted simultaneously. The two brothers hugged, and Merry wiped the tears away from Pippin's eyes. After a few moments of silence, both hobbit lads stood up. For the first time, they noticed a scrap of paper lying on Gollum's table. It read:
' Dear Merry and Pippin, The spell was a success, as you have doubtlessly noticed. It will probably be springtime before you get this; I had to put a sleeping spell on you to make sure you rested until you regained your energy. Don't worry about finding your way back home- you'll find that friends are nearer than you think.
~Galadriel
P.S. Tell Arwen hello for me.
P.P.S.-You might want to stay away from Fairytale Lane. It's rather frightening, to be frank, and you've been through enough as it is.'
"Well, Pip, shall we get started?" Merry asked.
"Of course, Merry! After we get a bite to eat." Pippin stated, staying true to his hobbit-ity. "My sentiments exactly!"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Remind me why I want to get married again, Legolas." Legolas sighed.
"Three reasons, Aragorn. We've been through this already. One: You need a wife. Look at you! You're a king, and you're dirty and sweating and running all over the country. Maybe a woman can get you to settle down some, or at least bathe. You look terri."
"Hey! It's not my fault I don't like bathing. You wouldn't be so keen on it either, if you had had the experiences I've had. Last time I went into a river, I came out half dead and even dirtier than I was went in."
"Aragorn, it doesn't count as bathing when a warg drags you off of a cliff and into the water."
"Well, it wouldn't have happened if SOMEONE had been there to help me!"
"I APOLOGIZED FOR THAT ALL READY!" Legolas yelled, finally losing his composure. Why did Aragorn have to keep bringing that up! "Aragorn," he said, calming down some, "bringing that up isn't going to get you out of finding a queen."
'Drat!' thought the king. 'I almost had him there!'
"Even if you don't get married for yourself, there's still reasons two and three. Reason number two: Gondor needs a queen. The people need a role model, a motherly figure that they can take pride in."
"The people have gone without a queen for years, and they've been perfectly fine." Stated Aragorn, though anyone could see he was weakening in his argument. He could be stubborn about personal issues, but he always put his kingdom before himself. True, he had been reluctant to take the position as king, but now that he had it, he took it very seriously.
Even though Aragorn wanted the best for his people, Legolas knew better than anyone else that it would take more than that to get his best friend to settle down. He got ready to use his ace-in-the-hole, the one thing that could truly convince Aragorn that he needed to wed. Frodo. Aragorn's heir and adopted hobbit son. Though they had no blood relation, no father could have loved a son more that the king loved Frodo. Aragorn had always given Frodo everything he could. No matter what was going on in Gondor, he always made time for his son. Aragorn had provided the hobbit with everything he could ever want, but he couldn't give the lad the one thing he truly lacked.
"Frodo needs a mother." The third argument. In truth, Legolas could have skipped the other two reasons. Frodo was enough.
Aragorn sighed. "Ok, mellon, you win. But how are we going to find a good queen. You have to admit, these ones we've seen so far are strange."
Aragorn remembered the interview with the Arabian girl.
~~Cool Flashback-y Type Sequence~~
"So," said the girl with a chipper voice. "You're not REALLY a king, are you? You're a street boy dressed up as royalty, right?"
"Actually, I am the High King of Gondor." Aragorn told her, sounding a tad bit confused.
"Oh." Was all she said. Her eyes flashed disappointment, and considering they took up half of the surface area on her face, it was quite obvious.
"Is that your genie?" Jasmine asked as she pointed to Legolas.
"What!" shouted Legolas angrily. "I'll have you know, I'm an elf! And not just any elf, either. I'm a PRINCE of Mirkwood. And I in NO way resemble any type of genie!" With that outburst, Legolas stormed out of the palace in Agraba. Who said elves couldn't be as stiff-necked as dwarves at times?
Aragorn made his exit a few moments later, after Jasmine asked if she minded having his pants chewed on by her pet tiger. Aragorn just smiled and nodded and high-tailed it out of there. It was very apparent that looks aren't everything, and that that Jasmine character was just a few sand grains short of a desert, if you know what I mean.
~~Un-Cool Flashback-y Type Sequence~~
Needless to say, the two royal friends were now headed toward the Shire.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Merry and Pippin wondered through the woods, bellies filled with mushroom doorframes and bits of mushroom walls. They had absolutely no idea where they were going, so they decided to use their tracking skills.
"See the moss on that tree, Pip. That way's north."
"Which direction are we trying to go in, Merry?"
"I'm not sure."
"Great. Why don't we climb one of these trees and see if we see anything familiar." Pippin suggested. The two young hobbits scrambled up the tree. They looked around to see. Nothing!
"Where are those friends Galadriel said were near?" the younger hobbit asked.
"Hey! Is anyone out there? We need your help!" Merry called into the wilderness.
"Welcome, young Halflings. Haroomm, haroomm." Boomed a deep voice underneath them.
Now, Merry and Pippin often used to say in just that the only things in the Shire were trees and rocks. Now, this is not entirely true. Along with trees and rocks come things to protect them. Merry and Pippin just happened to find themselves climbing onto the head of one of the cellulose-filled champions of the trees. Over all, they overcame the initial shock of the situation rather well.
"It. it. it's.t-t-talking, Mer-mer-merry!"
"Let's get out of here, Pip!"
"Now young hobbits," said Treebeard, lord of the ents, slowly, as he scooped up two very frightened Shirelings with his branchlike hands, "Don't be hasty! I am Treebeard, and I have come to help you."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The high king of Gondor was lost in thought. What if he couldn't find a bride in the Shire? He really didn't want to marry the candidates he had seen so far. He supposed that if he had to choose any, it would be the famed 'sleeping beauty'. As far as he knew, she was indeed humanoid (a few of the princesses weren't, to Aragorn's dismay), and had no odd personality quirks. However, there was one major drawback-the spell. She was under an enchantment to sleep until kissed by her true love. How could she love Aragorn if she'd never met him? And a queen that was magicked asleep wouldn't solve any of his problems. Aragorn found himself despairing as he remembered the bachelorette he thought second only to the fox-Ariel.
~~ Second Cool Flashback-y Type Sequence~~
" You know, Aragorn, you really need to lighten up more."
"Legolas, did you not see her? She was a FISH!"
"Mermaid, actually."
"Whatever! The point is, people and mermaid/fish people DON'T get married."
"Yes, I suppose it wouldn't work. I mean, there's not an ocean within a fifty mile radius of Gondor, and they say those long distance relationships never work out." Legolas joked with a chuckle.
"Is this all a big game to you, elf? Does my torment amuse you?"
"This wouldn't be so bad if you had a better attitude about it."
~~Un-Second Cool Flashback-y Type Sequence~~
Aragorn had tried to enjoy the trip, he really had. But there was a fear growing in his mind. How could he be sure that when (of if) he found his bride, she would love him for who he was? There were many maidens who would doubtlessly pretend to care for Aragorn to get a place on the throne. Would his future wife love Aragorn the man or Aragorn the king? How he despised his title! And how he despised dragons, for abandoning his at his time of need!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"So, Treebeard, did Lady Galadriel ask you to help us?" Merry asked from his perch on the ent's broad shoulders. Pippin was still a bit scared, and had been uncharacteristically silent as Treebeard carried them through the woods. He said he was counting ent-strides, but Merry knew he was really frightened.
"Yes, she asked, but I would have helped anyways. I've been watching you young lads for many years now."
"Why? I mean, why would you help us?" Merry remembered all the branched that had broken off of trees that he and Pippin had climbed. Visions of his brother and himself throwing rocks at trees danced in his head.
" You've always cared for the trees. True, you have been a bit rough with them at times, but you make the trees feel like they are appreciated. Especially you, little one." Treebeard said gently, pointing a twiggy finger at Pippin.
"Wh-what?" the poor hobbit stuttered.
"Ah, yes, ho hum. I saw you carrying huge buckets of water from the river so all of the thirsty trees could drink during the bad drought two years ago. The trees were very thankful. They don't have voices that other creatures can understand, so they are often overlooked. It is a rare thing to find someone who truly cares for the trees. I have been on your side because you have been on my side."
Pippin smiled, and didn't look quite so afraid anymore. The great branch hands reached up and lifted the hobbits to the ground. There was a winding path, with a fork in the middle.
"I will go no further than this today, little hobbits. I have trees to attend to in the north part of the forest, and you are headed south. I've asked the trees to guide you. Follow the path, and look to the trees for guidance if you get lost. And don't go on Fairy Tale Land; strange folk travel that road. Farewell!"
"Ha! I know we were going south!"
"No you didn't, Meriadoc!"
The two hobbits stared down the path. There was a tree in the middle of where the path branched off into two directions. Merry stepped up to it.
"Excuse me? Do you know which path leads back to Bag End?" he asked politely. One of the roots that had been sticking up out of the ground just a little broke free of the soil completely and pointed left.
"Thank you!" Merry called, as the brothers headed down the left path.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Merry and Pippin were completely and utterly stumped. They had followed the path, asking trees for directions when they needed them. (A/N- some of you might think that it's impossible for them to ask for directions, because they're male, but they're hobbits, not humans. Also, if any guys happen to read this-see, stopping and asking for directions isn't that hard.). Some trees had pointed their branched in the right directions. Others used their roots. One particularly nice apple tree had dropped two ripe apples down on the correct path, much to the joy of the Halflings. But now there weren't any more trees. There was a river.
HaHHH "How are we supposed to get across this?" Pippin asked, falling back onto his habit of asking questions that really didn't need to be voiced.
"Never fear, lads!" came a deep, rumbling voice from behind. It almost sounded like Treebeard, but when they turned around, they saw a much different figure- a dwarf.
"My name is Gimli. And to answer your question, you won't be going across it; we're going under it."
Although a bit gruff, Gilmi seemed to be friendly enough, so Merry and Pippin followed him. He whispered the password to a stone, which opened to reveal a dark stone tunnel. Sure enough, it led downward, under the raging river. The three short beings descended the damp corridor of the underground bridge.
"Did Lady Galadriel ask you to come and bring us under the river?" inquired Pippin with his usual, insatiable curiosity.
"She did. She even offered to repay me with a lock of her hair. *sigh* I count myself blessed to be able to serve her, she who is fairest of all. But I would have helped you even if SHE hadn't asked."
"Really?" asked Merry, also curious.
"Yes, Merry. I've seen you collecting rocks before, although you never saw me. One so young usually isn't able to appreciate the beauty of a stone. You are a jewel among hobbits."
Merry blushed at the complement. Yes, he loved looking for pretty rocks, but he had never been called a jewel for it. "I don't really. I mean.I don't.I'm not really anything special. I just pick up stones that I like."
"Well take this one too." Gimli said, handing him a smooth brown stone. He slipped a similar one into Pippin's hands. Both were carved into the shape of a mushroom.
"Thank you, Gimli." They both said. The end of the tunnel was near, and both hobbits blinked from the bright light.
"Goodbye, hobbits. You should be able to find your way from here. There's only one more fork in the road, and both ways will get you back to Bag End. The path to the right takes longer, and it had some pretty tough terrain. The left path is shorter and easier, but I strongly advise you to go to the right."
"Why? What's to the left?" Pippin had to ask.
"The left path leads to Fairy Tale Lane."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Don, don, don! Ahhhh! Fairy Tale Lane! Moral of Chapter 11- Respect nature, and it will respect you.
Sorry it took so long to get this up. This is my longest chapter yet, and it took a while to type. Anyways, I've been brainstorming a new story for when I finish this one. What would you people say to a LOTR version of Snow White and the 7 dwarves? Tell me in your reviews (yes, review, so you can find out about FAIRY TALE LANE quicker. And get this-I am going to go against my nature and put in some romance between a certain king and a certain she-elf.)
Remember kiddies: Mr. Fork and Mr. Electrical Outlet can't be friends. If someone gets electrocuted, they can't review!
~Jenova
Note: Ok, just to let you know, Legolas and Aragorn visited more than just the princess people that I mentioned last chapter. I skipped down the list some, but I'm going throw in some references to some other ones as well. So don't yell at me because I didn't have them before.
~Chapter XI- Protectors of Trees and Rocks~
Merry opened his eyes to see his brother hovering over him.
Pippin, you're all right!
"Merry, you're all right!" they both shouted simultaneously. The two brothers hugged, and Merry wiped the tears away from Pippin's eyes. After a few moments of silence, both hobbit lads stood up. For the first time, they noticed a scrap of paper lying on Gollum's table. It read:
' Dear Merry and Pippin, The spell was a success, as you have doubtlessly noticed. It will probably be springtime before you get this; I had to put a sleeping spell on you to make sure you rested until you regained your energy. Don't worry about finding your way back home- you'll find that friends are nearer than you think.
~Galadriel
P.S. Tell Arwen hello for me.
P.P.S.-You might want to stay away from Fairytale Lane. It's rather frightening, to be frank, and you've been through enough as it is.'
"Well, Pip, shall we get started?" Merry asked.
"Of course, Merry! After we get a bite to eat." Pippin stated, staying true to his hobbit-ity. "My sentiments exactly!"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Remind me why I want to get married again, Legolas." Legolas sighed.
"Three reasons, Aragorn. We've been through this already. One: You need a wife. Look at you! You're a king, and you're dirty and sweating and running all over the country. Maybe a woman can get you to settle down some, or at least bathe. You look terri."
"Hey! It's not my fault I don't like bathing. You wouldn't be so keen on it either, if you had had the experiences I've had. Last time I went into a river, I came out half dead and even dirtier than I was went in."
"Aragorn, it doesn't count as bathing when a warg drags you off of a cliff and into the water."
"Well, it wouldn't have happened if SOMEONE had been there to help me!"
"I APOLOGIZED FOR THAT ALL READY!" Legolas yelled, finally losing his composure. Why did Aragorn have to keep bringing that up! "Aragorn," he said, calming down some, "bringing that up isn't going to get you out of finding a queen."
'Drat!' thought the king. 'I almost had him there!'
"Even if you don't get married for yourself, there's still reasons two and three. Reason number two: Gondor needs a queen. The people need a role model, a motherly figure that they can take pride in."
"The people have gone without a queen for years, and they've been perfectly fine." Stated Aragorn, though anyone could see he was weakening in his argument. He could be stubborn about personal issues, but he always put his kingdom before himself. True, he had been reluctant to take the position as king, but now that he had it, he took it very seriously.
Even though Aragorn wanted the best for his people, Legolas knew better than anyone else that it would take more than that to get his best friend to settle down. He got ready to use his ace-in-the-hole, the one thing that could truly convince Aragorn that he needed to wed. Frodo. Aragorn's heir and adopted hobbit son. Though they had no blood relation, no father could have loved a son more that the king loved Frodo. Aragorn had always given Frodo everything he could. No matter what was going on in Gondor, he always made time for his son. Aragorn had provided the hobbit with everything he could ever want, but he couldn't give the lad the one thing he truly lacked.
"Frodo needs a mother." The third argument. In truth, Legolas could have skipped the other two reasons. Frodo was enough.
Aragorn sighed. "Ok, mellon, you win. But how are we going to find a good queen. You have to admit, these ones we've seen so far are strange."
Aragorn remembered the interview with the Arabian girl.
~~Cool Flashback-y Type Sequence~~
"So," said the girl with a chipper voice. "You're not REALLY a king, are you? You're a street boy dressed up as royalty, right?"
"Actually, I am the High King of Gondor." Aragorn told her, sounding a tad bit confused.
"Oh." Was all she said. Her eyes flashed disappointment, and considering they took up half of the surface area on her face, it was quite obvious.
"Is that your genie?" Jasmine asked as she pointed to Legolas.
"What!" shouted Legolas angrily. "I'll have you know, I'm an elf! And not just any elf, either. I'm a PRINCE of Mirkwood. And I in NO way resemble any type of genie!" With that outburst, Legolas stormed out of the palace in Agraba. Who said elves couldn't be as stiff-necked as dwarves at times?
Aragorn made his exit a few moments later, after Jasmine asked if she minded having his pants chewed on by her pet tiger. Aragorn just smiled and nodded and high-tailed it out of there. It was very apparent that looks aren't everything, and that that Jasmine character was just a few sand grains short of a desert, if you know what I mean.
~~Un-Cool Flashback-y Type Sequence~~
Needless to say, the two royal friends were now headed toward the Shire.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Merry and Pippin wondered through the woods, bellies filled with mushroom doorframes and bits of mushroom walls. They had absolutely no idea where they were going, so they decided to use their tracking skills.
"See the moss on that tree, Pip. That way's north."
"Which direction are we trying to go in, Merry?"
"I'm not sure."
"Great. Why don't we climb one of these trees and see if we see anything familiar." Pippin suggested. The two young hobbits scrambled up the tree. They looked around to see. Nothing!
"Where are those friends Galadriel said were near?" the younger hobbit asked.
"Hey! Is anyone out there? We need your help!" Merry called into the wilderness.
"Welcome, young Halflings. Haroomm, haroomm." Boomed a deep voice underneath them.
Now, Merry and Pippin often used to say in just that the only things in the Shire were trees and rocks. Now, this is not entirely true. Along with trees and rocks come things to protect them. Merry and Pippin just happened to find themselves climbing onto the head of one of the cellulose-filled champions of the trees. Over all, they overcame the initial shock of the situation rather well.
"It. it. it's.t-t-talking, Mer-mer-merry!"
"Let's get out of here, Pip!"
"Now young hobbits," said Treebeard, lord of the ents, slowly, as he scooped up two very frightened Shirelings with his branchlike hands, "Don't be hasty! I am Treebeard, and I have come to help you."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The high king of Gondor was lost in thought. What if he couldn't find a bride in the Shire? He really didn't want to marry the candidates he had seen so far. He supposed that if he had to choose any, it would be the famed 'sleeping beauty'. As far as he knew, she was indeed humanoid (a few of the princesses weren't, to Aragorn's dismay), and had no odd personality quirks. However, there was one major drawback-the spell. She was under an enchantment to sleep until kissed by her true love. How could she love Aragorn if she'd never met him? And a queen that was magicked asleep wouldn't solve any of his problems. Aragorn found himself despairing as he remembered the bachelorette he thought second only to the fox-Ariel.
~~ Second Cool Flashback-y Type Sequence~~
" You know, Aragorn, you really need to lighten up more."
"Legolas, did you not see her? She was a FISH!"
"Mermaid, actually."
"Whatever! The point is, people and mermaid/fish people DON'T get married."
"Yes, I suppose it wouldn't work. I mean, there's not an ocean within a fifty mile radius of Gondor, and they say those long distance relationships never work out." Legolas joked with a chuckle.
"Is this all a big game to you, elf? Does my torment amuse you?"
"This wouldn't be so bad if you had a better attitude about it."
~~Un-Second Cool Flashback-y Type Sequence~~
Aragorn had tried to enjoy the trip, he really had. But there was a fear growing in his mind. How could he be sure that when (of if) he found his bride, she would love him for who he was? There were many maidens who would doubtlessly pretend to care for Aragorn to get a place on the throne. Would his future wife love Aragorn the man or Aragorn the king? How he despised his title! And how he despised dragons, for abandoning his at his time of need!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"So, Treebeard, did Lady Galadriel ask you to help us?" Merry asked from his perch on the ent's broad shoulders. Pippin was still a bit scared, and had been uncharacteristically silent as Treebeard carried them through the woods. He said he was counting ent-strides, but Merry knew he was really frightened.
"Yes, she asked, but I would have helped anyways. I've been watching you young lads for many years now."
"Why? I mean, why would you help us?" Merry remembered all the branched that had broken off of trees that he and Pippin had climbed. Visions of his brother and himself throwing rocks at trees danced in his head.
" You've always cared for the trees. True, you have been a bit rough with them at times, but you make the trees feel like they are appreciated. Especially you, little one." Treebeard said gently, pointing a twiggy finger at Pippin.
"Wh-what?" the poor hobbit stuttered.
"Ah, yes, ho hum. I saw you carrying huge buckets of water from the river so all of the thirsty trees could drink during the bad drought two years ago. The trees were very thankful. They don't have voices that other creatures can understand, so they are often overlooked. It is a rare thing to find someone who truly cares for the trees. I have been on your side because you have been on my side."
Pippin smiled, and didn't look quite so afraid anymore. The great branch hands reached up and lifted the hobbits to the ground. There was a winding path, with a fork in the middle.
"I will go no further than this today, little hobbits. I have trees to attend to in the north part of the forest, and you are headed south. I've asked the trees to guide you. Follow the path, and look to the trees for guidance if you get lost. And don't go on Fairy Tale Land; strange folk travel that road. Farewell!"
"Ha! I know we were going south!"
"No you didn't, Meriadoc!"
The two hobbits stared down the path. There was a tree in the middle of where the path branched off into two directions. Merry stepped up to it.
"Excuse me? Do you know which path leads back to Bag End?" he asked politely. One of the roots that had been sticking up out of the ground just a little broke free of the soil completely and pointed left.
"Thank you!" Merry called, as the brothers headed down the left path.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Merry and Pippin were completely and utterly stumped. They had followed the path, asking trees for directions when they needed them. (A/N- some of you might think that it's impossible for them to ask for directions, because they're male, but they're hobbits, not humans. Also, if any guys happen to read this-see, stopping and asking for directions isn't that hard.). Some trees had pointed their branched in the right directions. Others used their roots. One particularly nice apple tree had dropped two ripe apples down on the correct path, much to the joy of the Halflings. But now there weren't any more trees. There was a river.
HaHHH "How are we supposed to get across this?" Pippin asked, falling back onto his habit of asking questions that really didn't need to be voiced.
"Never fear, lads!" came a deep, rumbling voice from behind. It almost sounded like Treebeard, but when they turned around, they saw a much different figure- a dwarf.
"My name is Gimli. And to answer your question, you won't be going across it; we're going under it."
Although a bit gruff, Gilmi seemed to be friendly enough, so Merry and Pippin followed him. He whispered the password to a stone, which opened to reveal a dark stone tunnel. Sure enough, it led downward, under the raging river. The three short beings descended the damp corridor of the underground bridge.
"Did Lady Galadriel ask you to come and bring us under the river?" inquired Pippin with his usual, insatiable curiosity.
"She did. She even offered to repay me with a lock of her hair. *sigh* I count myself blessed to be able to serve her, she who is fairest of all. But I would have helped you even if SHE hadn't asked."
"Really?" asked Merry, also curious.
"Yes, Merry. I've seen you collecting rocks before, although you never saw me. One so young usually isn't able to appreciate the beauty of a stone. You are a jewel among hobbits."
Merry blushed at the complement. Yes, he loved looking for pretty rocks, but he had never been called a jewel for it. "I don't really. I mean.I don't.I'm not really anything special. I just pick up stones that I like."
"Well take this one too." Gimli said, handing him a smooth brown stone. He slipped a similar one into Pippin's hands. Both were carved into the shape of a mushroom.
"Thank you, Gimli." They both said. The end of the tunnel was near, and both hobbits blinked from the bright light.
"Goodbye, hobbits. You should be able to find your way from here. There's only one more fork in the road, and both ways will get you back to Bag End. The path to the right takes longer, and it had some pretty tough terrain. The left path is shorter and easier, but I strongly advise you to go to the right."
"Why? What's to the left?" Pippin had to ask.
"The left path leads to Fairy Tale Lane."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Don, don, don! Ahhhh! Fairy Tale Lane! Moral of Chapter 11- Respect nature, and it will respect you.
Sorry it took so long to get this up. This is my longest chapter yet, and it took a while to type. Anyways, I've been brainstorming a new story for when I finish this one. What would you people say to a LOTR version of Snow White and the 7 dwarves? Tell me in your reviews (yes, review, so you can find out about FAIRY TALE LANE quicker. And get this-I am going to go against my nature and put in some romance between a certain king and a certain she-elf.)
Remember kiddies: Mr. Fork and Mr. Electrical Outlet can't be friends. If someone gets electrocuted, they can't review!
~Jenova