Chapter 7
Oh what have you done?
A/N: Sorry about the lack of updates w/ this one! I've started a new story & am planning to start another very soon as well, so I have been getting ideas together for those. I am sure that by now you've noticed that I am going back and forth between the lives of Merry & Pippin & in this chapter they will come together. Not sure how long this story will be.hopefully 10- 15 chapters. Certainly not as long as LITTLE WOMEN itself! ( Please read and review! Thanks!
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"A letter! A letter!" Pervinca dashed into the sitting room where her sisters lay on the couches reading and writing and both of them looked up.
"From who?" asked Pearl looking up from her novel.
"It's from Aunt Esmerelda.and it sounds dreadful.poor Merry got into Uncle Saradoc's pipeweed last week and he was quite hungover."
Both of the elder daughters began giggling as Pimpernel asked to see the letter and Pervinca climbed up onto the couch with her sister. "Dearest Eglatine: I do hope you and your family are well.and especially your new addition! It feels like ages since we last saw you, so I hope this bit of news lightens things. Saradoc is planning a large family reuinon on the seventh right here in Buckland, ("That's in two days!" Pimpernel gasped) and we are hoping you can attend. Everything is well at Brandy Hall, though dear Merry has been quite the mischief- maker! I am sure you are having the same trouble with little Peregrin. The other night he got a hold of his father's pipe and well.let's just say he was quite hungover! I do not suppose he will get into that again. Anyway.we have heard from Frodo and Bilbo and they are coming to the party. Please RSVP and let us know!
Love, Esmerelda
"A party.another party." Pervinca said dreamily. "The one at the courthouse was marvelous.and this one will be even more fantastic I am sure!"
Pearl nodded. "I do hope Mother and father plan to take us there."
"They are," said Pimpernel. "Mama gave me the letter and she said that we'd better start packing our things if we want to leave at first light tomorrow."
The girls immediately took off to their bedrooms.
Soon, the Great Smial was buzzing with energy as everyone began packing. Pearl was fussing over everything.her dresses, her face and. "Pimpernel.could you do me a favor?"
Pimpernel glanced up from where she stood, placing books into her suitcase. "Depends on what it is."
"I wanted you to curl my hair.with these tongs.they're already hot."
"But Pearl.your hair is too straight to do anything with it!" Pimpernel cried in exhasperation. "You've been fussing over yourself all day long.you aren't going to a ball.we're just going to visit Uncle Saradoc and Auntie Esme."
Without another word Pearl handed the tongs to Pimpernel and sat down on the chair facing her vanity. Pervinca came in carrying a pile of laundry and stopped when she saw Pimpernel take a strand of Pearl's soft brown hair and wrap it around the steaming tongs. "What are you doing?" Pervinca asked.
"Curling your sister's hair," Pimpernel grumbled.
"What for?"
"Because she's being a typical tweenager."
Pippin darted into the room and handed Pervinca an empty suitcase. "Mama says you hafta help me pack," he told her in such a serious tone, that it made the others laugh. Pervinca rolled her eyes.
"I have to help you do everything don't I?" she asked sarcastically. Pippin's lower lip trembled and she lifted him. "You little scamp.you know I love you, don't you?"
Pippin giggled as she carried him to his room. Pearl shook her head when suddenly: "Do you smell that?"
Pervinca raised an eyebrow as she glanced around the bedroom and sniffed the air. "OHHH!" Suddenly Pimpernel realized exactly what the tongs had done and she released them, pulling a large strand of Pearl's hair as well.
Pearl screamed so loud as a result that her mother came running into the room. "What in the name of Middle-Earth is going on in here?" Eglatine asked, her face pale.
"My hair! Look what you've done!" Pearl sobbed as she wrenched the tongs away from Pimpernel. "You've ruined me!"
Pimpernel stomped her foot. "I'm sorry! You shouldn't have had me do it."
"Why did you want to curl your hair, Pearl darling?" Eglatine asked watching as her daughter sobbed over the soiled lock of hair between the tongs.
"I just wanted to look beautiful.for the party I mean."
Eglatine smiled softly. "You look beautiful already, Pearl. And don't fret.it was just an accident. Your hair will grow back."
Pimpernel looked at her mother with a frown. "When are we leaving?"
"In two hours."
"NOT THAT ONE!"
"Pippin.Mama said you had to have one dressy outfit and one play outfit!"
"BUT I'LL LOOK STUPID!"
Eglatine sighed. "Oh dear.I'll go and check on your siblings. Put those hot tongs into luke- warm water and cool them down.then put them away. Leave your hair as it is, Pearl.it is fine."
Pearl wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Not anymore." She sniffled once her mother had left the room and stood up from the chair. She brushed past Pimpernel who had her head down and went to finish packing her bag.
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(Brandy Hall)
"They're really coming?" Merry asked, tugging on his mother's skirt as she tittered this way and that helping get the fields behind the hall ready for the party. Over 300 hobbits would be attending so they had to have plenty of tables!
"They are my little dumpling." She lifted Merry up and whirled him around, causing him to squeal in delight.
"I'm flying!" He cried and began laughing as she set him down on the grass again. Saradoc hurried over to his wife from around the front of the hall. "Frodo and Bilbo's carriage just pulled.good gracious!" He was nearly knocked over by Merry who had bolted off to meet his cousin and Esmerelda let out a hearty laugh.
"He's so excited to see his cousin again. Mind you it has been."
"Six months." Saradoc finished for her. She nodded.
"Now Eglatine and Paladin will be arriving later this evening.they have further to travel and of course it will be quite the hassle with little Peregrin!"
"Who is turning out to be a splended young lad from what I hear." Saradoc added as he walked with his wife to meet Frodo, who stood laughing with Merry. Bilbo was pulling the luggage from the carriage and turned just in time to see the Master and Mistress of Brandy Hall approach.
"Good afternoon, Saradoc and Esmerelda."
"Good afternoon, Bilbo. It is a pleasure to see you." Saradoc lifted Frodo into the air. "And how is my dear Frodo?"
"Just fine, Uncle Saradoc. Quite tired from the bouncing of the carriage."
"When is Pippin coming?" asked Merry hopefully.
"Not till tonight, darling. Be patient, love. Go and help your cousin bring his things to his room.still the same as it was."
Frodo smiled as he followed Merry into the place he once called home.
A/N: Sorry about the lack of updates w/ this one! I've started a new story & am planning to start another very soon as well, so I have been getting ideas together for those. I am sure that by now you've noticed that I am going back and forth between the lives of Merry & Pippin & in this chapter they will come together. Not sure how long this story will be.hopefully 10- 15 chapters. Certainly not as long as LITTLE WOMEN itself! ( Please read and review! Thanks!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"A letter! A letter!" Pervinca dashed into the sitting room where her sisters lay on the couches reading and writing and both of them looked up.
"From who?" asked Pearl looking up from her novel.
"It's from Aunt Esmerelda.and it sounds dreadful.poor Merry got into Uncle Saradoc's pipeweed last week and he was quite hungover."
Both of the elder daughters began giggling as Pimpernel asked to see the letter and Pervinca climbed up onto the couch with her sister. "Dearest Eglatine: I do hope you and your family are well.and especially your new addition! It feels like ages since we last saw you, so I hope this bit of news lightens things. Saradoc is planning a large family reuinon on the seventh right here in Buckland, ("That's in two days!" Pimpernel gasped) and we are hoping you can attend. Everything is well at Brandy Hall, though dear Merry has been quite the mischief- maker! I am sure you are having the same trouble with little Peregrin. The other night he got a hold of his father's pipe and well.let's just say he was quite hungover! I do not suppose he will get into that again. Anyway.we have heard from Frodo and Bilbo and they are coming to the party. Please RSVP and let us know!
Love, Esmerelda
"A party.another party." Pervinca said dreamily. "The one at the courthouse was marvelous.and this one will be even more fantastic I am sure!"
Pearl nodded. "I do hope Mother and father plan to take us there."
"They are," said Pimpernel. "Mama gave me the letter and she said that we'd better start packing our things if we want to leave at first light tomorrow."
The girls immediately took off to their bedrooms.
Soon, the Great Smial was buzzing with energy as everyone began packing. Pearl was fussing over everything.her dresses, her face and. "Pimpernel.could you do me a favor?"
Pimpernel glanced up from where she stood, placing books into her suitcase. "Depends on what it is."
"I wanted you to curl my hair.with these tongs.they're already hot."
"But Pearl.your hair is too straight to do anything with it!" Pimpernel cried in exhasperation. "You've been fussing over yourself all day long.you aren't going to a ball.we're just going to visit Uncle Saradoc and Auntie Esme."
Without another word Pearl handed the tongs to Pimpernel and sat down on the chair facing her vanity. Pervinca came in carrying a pile of laundry and stopped when she saw Pimpernel take a strand of Pearl's soft brown hair and wrap it around the steaming tongs. "What are you doing?" Pervinca asked.
"Curling your sister's hair," Pimpernel grumbled.
"What for?"
"Because she's being a typical tweenager."
Pippin darted into the room and handed Pervinca an empty suitcase. "Mama says you hafta help me pack," he told her in such a serious tone, that it made the others laugh. Pervinca rolled her eyes.
"I have to help you do everything don't I?" she asked sarcastically. Pippin's lower lip trembled and she lifted him. "You little scamp.you know I love you, don't you?"
Pippin giggled as she carried him to his room. Pearl shook her head when suddenly: "Do you smell that?"
Pervinca raised an eyebrow as she glanced around the bedroom and sniffed the air. "OHHH!" Suddenly Pimpernel realized exactly what the tongs had done and she released them, pulling a large strand of Pearl's hair as well.
Pearl screamed so loud as a result that her mother came running into the room. "What in the name of Middle-Earth is going on in here?" Eglatine asked, her face pale.
"My hair! Look what you've done!" Pearl sobbed as she wrenched the tongs away from Pimpernel. "You've ruined me!"
Pimpernel stomped her foot. "I'm sorry! You shouldn't have had me do it."
"Why did you want to curl your hair, Pearl darling?" Eglatine asked watching as her daughter sobbed over the soiled lock of hair between the tongs.
"I just wanted to look beautiful.for the party I mean."
Eglatine smiled softly. "You look beautiful already, Pearl. And don't fret.it was just an accident. Your hair will grow back."
Pimpernel looked at her mother with a frown. "When are we leaving?"
"In two hours."
"NOT THAT ONE!"
"Pippin.Mama said you had to have one dressy outfit and one play outfit!"
"BUT I'LL LOOK STUPID!"
Eglatine sighed. "Oh dear.I'll go and check on your siblings. Put those hot tongs into luke- warm water and cool them down.then put them away. Leave your hair as it is, Pearl.it is fine."
Pearl wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Not anymore." She sniffled once her mother had left the room and stood up from the chair. She brushed past Pimpernel who had her head down and went to finish packing her bag.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
(Brandy Hall)
"They're really coming?" Merry asked, tugging on his mother's skirt as she tittered this way and that helping get the fields behind the hall ready for the party. Over 300 hobbits would be attending so they had to have plenty of tables!
"They are my little dumpling." She lifted Merry up and whirled him around, causing him to squeal in delight.
"I'm flying!" He cried and began laughing as she set him down on the grass again. Saradoc hurried over to his wife from around the front of the hall. "Frodo and Bilbo's carriage just pulled.good gracious!" He was nearly knocked over by Merry who had bolted off to meet his cousin and Esmerelda let out a hearty laugh.
"He's so excited to see his cousin again. Mind you it has been."
"Six months." Saradoc finished for her. She nodded.
"Now Eglatine and Paladin will be arriving later this evening.they have further to travel and of course it will be quite the hassle with little Peregrin!"
"Who is turning out to be a splended young lad from what I hear." Saradoc added as he walked with his wife to meet Frodo, who stood laughing with Merry. Bilbo was pulling the luggage from the carriage and turned just in time to see the Master and Mistress of Brandy Hall approach.
"Good afternoon, Saradoc and Esmerelda."
"Good afternoon, Bilbo. It is a pleasure to see you." Saradoc lifted Frodo into the air. "And how is my dear Frodo?"
"Just fine, Uncle Saradoc. Quite tired from the bouncing of the carriage."
"When is Pippin coming?" asked Merry hopefully.
"Not till tonight, darling. Be patient, love. Go and help your cousin bring his things to his room.still the same as it was."
Frodo smiled as he followed Merry into the place he once called home.
