Chapter 21 Pervinca's Will

A few day's after Frodo's arrival, Pippin's cold worsened and he had to take to his bed. Leah and Annabel continuously came to check on him and bring teas, broths and compresses. Frodo, Pimpernel, Pervinca and Pearl amused themselves quietly outdoors in the warm May air.

"Dear little Pip," said Pearl as she picked a blade of grass from the ground and began to blow a "musical" note on it. Pervinca lay on her stomach, her furry feet in the air kicking back and forth as she watched Frodo who sat reading one of his books.

"You know what I think I'm going to do?" Pervinca asked.

Frodo blinked. "What?" he asked.

"I ought to make a will. You know how in these large smials disease spreads quickly."

"What about it?" Frodo asked. "Yes I do know. I lived at Brandy Hall don't forget."

"I think we all ought to make wills," Pervinca added. "It would be propper. How do we know what Mama and Papa will do with our toys and things when we die?"

"Do not say that dreadful word!" Pearl gasped.

"We are all going to die someday," said Pimpernel sadly.

"Stop!" Pearl added.

"Can I borrow a piece of parchment, Frodo? I am going to write mine now." Pervinca announced receiving laughter from her sisters and elder cousin. She looked from the girls to Frodo, confusion on her face. "What is so funny?"

"What could you possibly will to anyone? You're only 5!" Pearl howled.

"That's none of your business. Shut your noise or I won't will you anything!" Pervinca snapped and turned her back on them as she began to write. Her list went something like this:

To Frodo: My collection of adventure books-one of which I actually opened and read.

To Pearl: My golden charm necklace from Uncle Bilbo that he gave me on my first birthday. Might not fit but keep it in your pocket at all times or I will come back and haunt you.

To Pimpernel: My art set and my parchemt and quill.

To Pippin: (If he lives) my collection of wooden alphabet blocks and my dolls.

To Merry: My drawing of Brandy Hall, which he thought looked more like a drawing of a castle in Gondor but never mind him and my portrait of Uncle Bilbo's apple tree.

To Mama: My clothes except my favorite light blue vest with the lace that she embroidered for me specifically.

To Papa: My gardening gloves and my spade.

The list seemed to go on forever and as she wrote, Pervinca became very depressed and had to quit before she threw her arms around Frodo sobbing: "I don't EVER want to die! I want to keep my things."

He laughed and hugged her. "You have nothing to worry about, Vinca." He promised.

"B-but Pippin."

"Has a cold. That's all.I'm sure he's going to be fine in a few days."

Pervinca's sobs dwindled a bit but she still hiccoughed. "Come on," said Pimpernel. "I say we do something fun for a change. Let's go on a hike! We'll pack a picnic lunch and everything."

"But mind you we'll HAVE to be home for supper," Pearl broke in as they stood and headed back into the Great Smial. When they entered they heard a bout of harsh coughing that came from Pippin's room and Pervinca's eyes widened. She hurried to her little brother's room and peered through the doorway. Eglatine sat beside her son's bed watching him sleep, now and then blotting his cheeks and forehead with a damp rag. He looked even smaller than usual and pale and it scared Pervinca. She nearly screamed when Pearl grasped her by the back of the dress and pulled her away.

"Mama said we weren't to go near Pippin's room until she tells us it is all right," Pearl snapped. "You don't want to become ill, do you?"

Pervinca's lower lip trembled again. "Uncle Saradoc wasn't that ill, was he?"

"I'm sure he wasn't quite as ill as he is a full-grown hobbit. Pippin's small and illnesses always hit the little ones harder than the elders. Come now-we're going to try to swindle Leah into packing us a basket lunch and Frodo told us he'll take us to the forest today!"

"The forest? Truly?" Pervinca asked.

"Yes."

"Ooh." Pervinca breathed. She had never been to the forest before-she had always been too young whenever Frodo had come to visit. Pearl and Pimpernel had been to the woods many times and enjoyed their hikes. They made their way to the enormous kitchen and found the maids cooking the lunch for the rest of the family.

"Leah?" asked Pervinca startling the maid who whirled around.

"Heaven above, Pervinca Took-do NOT sneak up upon me like that!"

"Sorry. Frodo wants to take us on a hike-can we put our lunches in a picnic basket?"

Anabell turned from where she stood, smiling. "What do you think, Anabel? Should we let them?" asked Leah.

"I don't see why not. Frodo always takes such good care of his cousins so I don't see any reason why we shouldn't."

"What is for lunch, Leah?" asked Pearl.

"Mushroom sandwitches and pea and ham soup."

"Mmmm. We'll take the sandwitches and perhaps some cookies and bottles of milk."

"And an apple each-you must have healthy food as well." Said Anabel.

"All right."

"We'll pack the lunches for you but make sure you have packs with everything you need. Go on." Leah shooed them away and Pervinca and Pearl caught up with Frodo and Pimpernel who were laughing over a joke Frodo had told and both turned.

"Leah is making us picnic lunches. She said we could go," said Pervinca excitedly.

"Excellent. I'll go tell Uncle Paladin and then we'll get our packs ready," said Frodo and darted off.

Pervinca couldn't wait-this would be the first grand adventure ever!