Chapter 8 Tickle Fights & Clothespined noses

A few hours later Paladin and Eglatine arrived with Pearl, Pimernel, Pervinca, and Peregrin who were thrilled to see their Aunt Esmerelda and Uncle Saradoc. "Merry and Frodo are in the nursery," Esmerelda explained. "They'll be so glad to see you!"

Pearl carried Pippin inside and the girls hurried off. Once they reached the nursery Frodo and Merry leapt up to greet them. There was a lot of catching up to do and Frodo had Pearl, Pimpernel, Pervinca and Merry laughing.even Pippin, who was too young to really understand many of the stories Frodo was telling.the lad just went along with what everyone else did or said. "So she chased me half way across the Shire before I could get rid of her," said Frodo laughing. "That Daisy Gamgee is something else!"

"Frodo!" cried Pippin excitedly after he'd finished with his block formation. Blocks were Pippin's favorite toy and he was always building one thing or another. "Look what I can do!" Frodo turned with surprise to see the little toddler running and attempting to jump over the wall he'd built nearly tumbling down, before Merry caught him.

"Why did you do that?" he asked smirking.

"I wanted to jump fences like you."

Frodo gave Merry a look. "Have you been putting those ideas into his head, Merry Brandybuck? He's too young to be jumping over fences." Frodo lifted little Pippin into his arms, receving a squeal.

"Down, Frodo!" he begged, restraining from his cousin's grasp. "Oh I think not." Frodo laughed as he set Pippin on the couch. "Get him!"

Pimpernel, Pervinca and Merry began to tickle the little hobbit and soon he was not the only one being tickled! Pearl suddenly began to tickle Frodo and before either of them knew it they were on the floor shrieking with laughter.

"What is going on in here?"

They stopped their play and looked up to see Bilbo standing in the doorway. "Hullo, Uncle!" gasped Frodo.

"Bilbo!" Pippin cried, untangling himself from his cousins and running to leap into the older hobbit's arms. "Did you bring me a present?"

"Pippin!" Pearl laughed.

"Did I bring you a present?" asked Bilbo in a teasing tone, touching noses with Pippin who giggled. Frodo frowned.Bilbo used to do that to him all the time. 'Of course-I'm all grown up now.' Frodo thought sadly. "I would never forget to bring presents. Now go and sit with your sisters.while I get myself organized here."

Pippin hopped up onto Pearl's lap causing her to grunt "Oof."

"Is it our birthday early?" giggled Pearl as Bilbo came back in with a small bag.

"I just spoil you children rotten." The old hobbit laughed. He gave a new book to Pearl, a box of embroidered handkerchiefs for Pimpernel, a little bag of assorted sweets for Pervinca and a wooden pony and rider for Pippin. Bilbo knelt down so that he was eye-level with the toddler. "Brought all the way from the city of Gondor.Gandalf got a hold of it and thought you would like it."

Pippin immediately began to play with the toy, pretending to make the toy horse gallop. "Thank you, Uncle Bilbo." He said happily.

"You're welcome, lad. Now Frodo." Bilbo stood. "Do you know where you're staying tonight?"

"With you, Uncle. There aren't enough rooms for every one of us so I am going to share the room with you."

Bilbo laughed. "All right. Sounds fine to me, lad. I'll call you when it is time to bed.just have fun with your cousins."

Frodo hurried over and gave Bilbo a hug, receiving one in return and a kiss on top of the head. "Go on now." Bilbo watched as Frodo went to sit with his cousins again and then left the room to go and speak with the other adults.

"So what are we gonna do at the renunum?" asked Pippin.

Pimpernel giggled. "ReUNION, Pippin. And I'm not exactly sure.probably have lots of goodies to eat and plenty of games to play."

"And DANCING." Sighed Pearl.

"So Merry." Began Pervinca, hiding her giggles as she tried to make her tone serious. "I heard you got into your Papa's pipeweed."

Merry's cheeks turned a bright shade of crimson at the statement and he looked down at his feet. "I only wanted to give it a try." He explained. "I didn't think anything would happen."

"You're funny, Merry." Said Pippin with a giggle.

"Oh am I?" Merry proceeded to pinch Pippin's cheeks-something he HATED.

"Ow!" Pippin attempted to bite Merry's hand but missed. "Stop that!"

"No biting, Pippin!" Pearl gasped.

Pippin smiled evily at his sister and went to poke her in the side.

"EEP!" Pearl screeched and soon the tickle fight started again. (Imagine it as almost a cartoonish-looking fight w/ the clouds of smoke & feet and hands flying everywhere) Eventually Bilbo came back in and told them:

"Break it up.time to go to bed."

Groans erupted from the younger set but Bilbo gave them each a stern look. "Now you don't want to be too tired to enjoy the party tomorrow, do you?" he asked immediately brightening everyone's mood. Frodo went off with Bilbo and Pippin went off with his sisters. When they entered their assigned bedroom (two queen-sized beds: Pearl and Pimpernel in one and Pervinca and Pippin in another) and got into pajamas and into bed, Pervinca gave Pippin a warning look. "You'd better not touch me with your cold feet tonight, Peregrin Took!" she snapped as she burrowed under the covers.

"Well.well YOU'D better not steal the covers like you ALWAYS do."

"Hand me that clothespin, Pearl." Said Pimpernel.

Pearl rolled her eyes and reached for the wooden clothespin on the nightstand. "It won't make ANY difference. But here.it'll keep you from pestering."

"It DOES do something. Don't you think my nose look smaller? More confined?"

Pervinca giggled as Pearl said "If you mean REFINED then say so. And not really.looks the same as it always has."

Pimpernel stuck her tongue out at Pearl who returned the gesture, before placing the clothespin on her nose and turned over to the side that faced the wall, not Pearl, and was soon snoring.