Love Long In The Making

Chapter Ten- Love Does Not Delight In Evil

Disclaimer- The characters do not belong to me…they are the property or JRR Tolkien, his beneficiaries, and New Line Cinema etc. Celeste Hornblower© and Gregorio Chubb© are actually mine…..if for some reason you would like to 'borrow' them just ask me. ^-^

Thank you to Rosa Cotton who's review convinced me to keep working on this story.

Gregorio Chubb stormed along the main road through Hobbiton, which was really no more than a dirt path. His fellow hobbits scurried to get out of his way. Gregorio Chubb was never the hobbit to bother, especially when he was obviously in an even fouler mood than normal. Those unfortunate enough to be cursed with sloth with pushed roughly into the vendors which lined the street or into a passerby. A sneer crossed his face as he saw Nob, Diamond's eldest brother, unknowingly headed in his direction. Gregorio's pace quickened and did not slow until he had reached Nob and gripped his shoulders between his monstrous hands.

"Were is Diamond!" He growled as he loomed over the smaller hobbit.

"She…went on a picnic with Pip….erm…some of her friends." Nob said with voice shaking.

"Pippin eh?! She is not to ever be in his company! Savvy?!"

"No."

"What did ye' say to me?!"

"You heard me quiet well. I said no! Diamond cares for Pippin not for you, in case that has not yet made its way through your thick skull. I will not force my only sister to marry someone she not only does not love, but abhors!" Nob said his courage building with each word that departed from his mouth.

"Ye' will pay fer this Nob!" He yelled as he took his hand and rammed it into Nob's stomach.

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The four picnickers had decided, after finally completing their lunches, that it was time to return to town. The sun was low in the western sky and, taking heed to Nob's warning, Pippin thought he ought to be getting Diamond home.

As they finally broke through the trees Pippin felt Diamond's small cold hand slip gently into his own, immediately he gripped it tightly with the thought to never let her go. It was Diamond who first attempted to start a conversation.

"Oh it is so beautiful at this time of the day!" She sighed happily as she surveyed the richly colored evening sky.

"Aye, it is beautiful. But even the grandest sunset could not hold a candle to you, my precious Diamond." He stopped walking and turned slightly to look into her green eyes.

"Oh, Pippin. You are truly the most wonderful and the sweetest hobbit that I have ever had the pleasure to meet." She whispered gazing into his hazel eyes, as shining tears fell from her own.

He leaned over slowly and kissed the tears from her lightly colored cheeks. Pippin tenderly kissed the tip of her nose and then wrapped his arms about her small waist.

Merry made a gagging noise and pretended to throw up into some nearby hedges. Estella hit his arm as she mouthed… 'how perfect they look together'. Merry rolled his eyes and then stopped abruptly as through something had just occurred to him. His eyes glinted and his mouth formed a small grin.

"As do we." He said as he grabbed Estella about the waist with one arm and the other cupped behind her neck. He pulled her forcefully towards him and claimed her lips with his.

Seeing the look of shock on her face Pippin and Diamond broke out laughing.

"Let us go and leave these two lovebirds alone." Pippin chuckled as he grabbed firmly onto Diamond's hand and began to quickly head towards Hobbiton.

Diamond giggled and began to run. She though of how perfect it was. Pippin made her feel as though as was right in middle earth. That everything would be okay and that she was safe. Totally and completely safe.

Her thoughts were interrupted as Hobbiton came into view. Voices could he heard on the wind. Voices yelling and screaming filled with anger and fear. She grasped Pippin's arm tightly as her eyes widened with fear.

They began to run towards Hobbiton, along with Merry and Estella who, upon catching up with the others, had too heard the cries of their fellow hobbits.