The Eye's Apple by Tialys
Glimpses of the lives of the Gamgee children.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter One: Pippin Gamgee
In which Pippin lad is a perfect replication and Peregrin Took will miss his dessert.
~
Note: The year is 1435. Frodo is 12, Merry is 8 and Pippin is 6. Also, Merry Brandybuck will always be called Meriadoc, and Pippin Took as Peregrin. Sam's children will be called Merry and Pippin. Frodo is the only Frodo there now, and that is Frodo Gamgee. Now there's no confusion ; ) Also. Yes, I know Faramir I would really have been born by now, but if you can just imagine with me that he has not, that would be great.
~
Pippin Gamgee had truly taken after his father in certain ways; which actually surprised most of the Gamgee relations, as the Took for which he was so generally rightly named had spent so much of his time with his young namesake it seemed only right that young Pip should behave, in all aspects, like his Uncle Peregrin. But in this particular way it was not so. Pippin lad knew that Uncle Peregrin would have been hurt (or so he suspected) to learn that the little hobbit of whom he was so proud of was afraid of attempting such a silly thing. Well, no matter how much influence the Gamgee received from his uncle, at least this single influence came from his father. Perhaps it originated from hearing his da' quote his grandfather, the Old Gaffer, so much, or maybe it was just plain hobbit sense. Whatever the cause, Pippin Gamgee knew this much: water and hobbits do not mix.
Now, standing besides the gentlest stretch of the Brandywine, he couldn't help but hang his head in shame as he thought of what his uncle, who was staying at Bag End right now with Uncle Meriadoc, would think of him. Uncle Peregrin was so proud of his 'miniature self' -as he fondly referred to the young Gamgee as-. He was always bragging about him to any that would listen as proudly as if Pippin lad was his own son.
Samwise Gamgee often worried about his children, whether having been named after such prominent hobbits was indeed a good idea. None of his children lacked in love or attention, but he feared the extra amounts of this bestowed on his young son might swell his head a bit. Of course, he always reminded himself, the only one of his children to worry of lacking in such attention would be Merry lad, and he was not lacking in admiration either.
Meriadoc Brandybuck was just as proud of his little namesake. The two Gamgee lads were only two years apart in birth, and neither had a rival for 'their' uncle's attention. Not to say that Merry or Pippin ignored the other Gamgee children (much on the contrary), but they could not help but be inclined to show those helpless bits of favoritism. Each held it as a private running bet with the other that the little one named after them was 'better'.
Sam and Rose quickly grew used to the long-lived argument between the future Master of Buckland and future Thain. Meriadoc and Peregrin never let the joke travel too far from hand, and were careful to not make the other Gamgee children fell overlooked.
Pippin lad knew, deep down, where no one truly thinks to look when faced with a problem, that Uncle Peregrin would still love him just as much if he really *was* too scared to try swimming, but at the front of his mind was the starring fact that Uncle Peregrin would find it disappointing to find out that *his* Pippin lad, of all hobbits, was to chicken to swim.
Pippin lad looked out at the river through the tears in his eyes at his siblings playing in the water. His uncles had brought up the activity (his da', of course, would never have) of swimming, and it had stuck on the rest of the Gamgee children.
'Just not me,' Pippin mumbled to himself.
"Alright, Pip lad?"
Pippin jumped, startled from his thoughts by his eldest brother, Frodo. Pippin Gamgee was positive that Frodo knew everything; he had to. Frodo was good at everything, and the only one besides Elly old enough to stay up late. Pippin had no definite proof, but he knew Frodo and Elly must be allowed to stay up all the way to two! They were that old and important, and were given extra privileges. Pippin could hardly wait 'till he was old enough to stay up like them. Of course, the main reason Frodo was so important was whom he was named after: da's best friend, the Ringbearer (da' had been a Ringbearer too, but he never mentioned that part). Da' wouldn't name a hobbit after Uncle Frodo unless that hobbit was really special.
Frodo Gamgee knelt carefully by his little brother, his left arm currently occupied by three-year old Hamfast Gamgee, who was still too young to learn to swim. Daisy Gamgee stayed inside with Rose, who was pregnant with her ninth. Frodo wrapped his free arm around Pippin's shoulders, squeezing him tight for a second before releasing his struggling brother.
"What's wrong, Pip? You love me to do that." Frodo searched in Pippin's eyes, but the little Gamgee quickly turned his head, burying it in his drawn up knees. "Pip? Do you want me to get da'?" Pippin shook his curly head 'no'. "Do you want me to get Uncle Peregrin and--"
"No!"
Frodo jumped at the little hobbit's vehemence, not too mention his volume. The other Gamgee children stopped their running game of water-tag to look up. Merry lad scrambled up on the bank and walked over to his brother, dripping water from his trousers as he went. Though Frodo was usually quite good at handling his younger siblings, Merry was still better at understanding Pippin. Merry knelt in front of what would have been Pippin's face had he been looking up.
"Pip?" Merry asked, so quite it was nearly just a breath.
"What?" Came the slightly muffled reply.
"Why don't you want to sw-- Uncle Peregrin!"
Pippin lad gasped and jerked his head up to stare into the eyes of his uncle. Peregrin Took dropped to the ground next to his nephew and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "Lads," he said, looking to Frodo and Merry. "Could you excuse us for a bit?"
"Sure, Uncle Peregrin." Both lads retreated back.
"Now, Pippin lad. What's all this fuss about?"
Pippin kept his eyes cast down to the ground, to ashamed to look his uncle in the eye. "Nothing, Uncle Peregrin. I'm alright. You can go back and talk to da' and Uncle Meriadoc."
Peregrin could not help but chuckle a bit. "Am I being dismissed, then?"
Pippin, always one to take adults seriously, nodded. Peregrin stood, and walked off a bit, keeping an eye on his nephew, noticing the lad's yearning looks toward the river. Not turning, Peregrin called back to Pippin lad.
"You know.... I was too terrified to even set foot in the Brandywine until I was ten years old; and that was only when Cousin Merry pushed me in."
Pippin lad sniffed, looking up and turning to Peregrin. "R-really?"
"Really." Peregrin said, sitting back down beside Pippin. "I didn't speak to him for a week after that." He smiled at the memory. "Of, course, if he hadn't pushed me in I probably would never have tried to swim." He carefully left out the fact that when Meriadoc had pushed him in he had been carried a mile downstream, hit his head on a rock, had to be rescued by his cousin, had been sick the whole week after that, and the reason he had not spoke to Meriadoc had been because his cousin had not been allowed to see him. Pippin lad did not need to know that.
"So," Peregrin continued, standing. "Would you like to try?"
Pippin lad stiffened again.
"You don't have to," Peregrin quickly added. "Would you rather wait?"
Pippin nodded, slowly. 'Would Peregrin be mad?'
"Alright, then!" Peregrin stooped down, scooping Pippin lad up in his arms and holding him upside-down, the lad squealing in delight. "You know what, Pip lad?"
"What!" Pippin gasped though his laughing.
"I bet you my dessert you mother's making that I can beat you to the top of that tree!"
"You can't!"
"Really?"
"Yah!"
Peregrin set Pippin down, brushing the lad off. "Ready, set--"
"Go!" Pippin lad was off before Peregrin could blink.
Peregrin Took, heir of the Tooks and future Thain of Tuckborough, smiled as he rushed after his nephew.
'Just like me when I was young.' He sighed, 'I'm going to miss that dessert.'
~
October, 17, 2003
~
Please review and tell me if you would like for me to continue writing on this story. Also, if there is a particular one of the Gamgee children you would like to read about, please tell me in your review!
~
Glimpses of the lives of the Gamgee children.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter One: Pippin Gamgee
In which Pippin lad is a perfect replication and Peregrin Took will miss his dessert.
~
Note: The year is 1435. Frodo is 12, Merry is 8 and Pippin is 6. Also, Merry Brandybuck will always be called Meriadoc, and Pippin Took as Peregrin. Sam's children will be called Merry and Pippin. Frodo is the only Frodo there now, and that is Frodo Gamgee. Now there's no confusion ; ) Also. Yes, I know Faramir I would really have been born by now, but if you can just imagine with me that he has not, that would be great.
~
Pippin Gamgee had truly taken after his father in certain ways; which actually surprised most of the Gamgee relations, as the Took for which he was so generally rightly named had spent so much of his time with his young namesake it seemed only right that young Pip should behave, in all aspects, like his Uncle Peregrin. But in this particular way it was not so. Pippin lad knew that Uncle Peregrin would have been hurt (or so he suspected) to learn that the little hobbit of whom he was so proud of was afraid of attempting such a silly thing. Well, no matter how much influence the Gamgee received from his uncle, at least this single influence came from his father. Perhaps it originated from hearing his da' quote his grandfather, the Old Gaffer, so much, or maybe it was just plain hobbit sense. Whatever the cause, Pippin Gamgee knew this much: water and hobbits do not mix.
Now, standing besides the gentlest stretch of the Brandywine, he couldn't help but hang his head in shame as he thought of what his uncle, who was staying at Bag End right now with Uncle Meriadoc, would think of him. Uncle Peregrin was so proud of his 'miniature self' -as he fondly referred to the young Gamgee as-. He was always bragging about him to any that would listen as proudly as if Pippin lad was his own son.
Samwise Gamgee often worried about his children, whether having been named after such prominent hobbits was indeed a good idea. None of his children lacked in love or attention, but he feared the extra amounts of this bestowed on his young son might swell his head a bit. Of course, he always reminded himself, the only one of his children to worry of lacking in such attention would be Merry lad, and he was not lacking in admiration either.
Meriadoc Brandybuck was just as proud of his little namesake. The two Gamgee lads were only two years apart in birth, and neither had a rival for 'their' uncle's attention. Not to say that Merry or Pippin ignored the other Gamgee children (much on the contrary), but they could not help but be inclined to show those helpless bits of favoritism. Each held it as a private running bet with the other that the little one named after them was 'better'.
Sam and Rose quickly grew used to the long-lived argument between the future Master of Buckland and future Thain. Meriadoc and Peregrin never let the joke travel too far from hand, and were careful to not make the other Gamgee children fell overlooked.
Pippin lad knew, deep down, where no one truly thinks to look when faced with a problem, that Uncle Peregrin would still love him just as much if he really *was* too scared to try swimming, but at the front of his mind was the starring fact that Uncle Peregrin would find it disappointing to find out that *his* Pippin lad, of all hobbits, was to chicken to swim.
Pippin lad looked out at the river through the tears in his eyes at his siblings playing in the water. His uncles had brought up the activity (his da', of course, would never have) of swimming, and it had stuck on the rest of the Gamgee children.
'Just not me,' Pippin mumbled to himself.
"Alright, Pip lad?"
Pippin jumped, startled from his thoughts by his eldest brother, Frodo. Pippin Gamgee was positive that Frodo knew everything; he had to. Frodo was good at everything, and the only one besides Elly old enough to stay up late. Pippin had no definite proof, but he knew Frodo and Elly must be allowed to stay up all the way to two! They were that old and important, and were given extra privileges. Pippin could hardly wait 'till he was old enough to stay up like them. Of course, the main reason Frodo was so important was whom he was named after: da's best friend, the Ringbearer (da' had been a Ringbearer too, but he never mentioned that part). Da' wouldn't name a hobbit after Uncle Frodo unless that hobbit was really special.
Frodo Gamgee knelt carefully by his little brother, his left arm currently occupied by three-year old Hamfast Gamgee, who was still too young to learn to swim. Daisy Gamgee stayed inside with Rose, who was pregnant with her ninth. Frodo wrapped his free arm around Pippin's shoulders, squeezing him tight for a second before releasing his struggling brother.
"What's wrong, Pip? You love me to do that." Frodo searched in Pippin's eyes, but the little Gamgee quickly turned his head, burying it in his drawn up knees. "Pip? Do you want me to get da'?" Pippin shook his curly head 'no'. "Do you want me to get Uncle Peregrin and--"
"No!"
Frodo jumped at the little hobbit's vehemence, not too mention his volume. The other Gamgee children stopped their running game of water-tag to look up. Merry lad scrambled up on the bank and walked over to his brother, dripping water from his trousers as he went. Though Frodo was usually quite good at handling his younger siblings, Merry was still better at understanding Pippin. Merry knelt in front of what would have been Pippin's face had he been looking up.
"Pip?" Merry asked, so quite it was nearly just a breath.
"What?" Came the slightly muffled reply.
"Why don't you want to sw-- Uncle Peregrin!"
Pippin lad gasped and jerked his head up to stare into the eyes of his uncle. Peregrin Took dropped to the ground next to his nephew and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "Lads," he said, looking to Frodo and Merry. "Could you excuse us for a bit?"
"Sure, Uncle Peregrin." Both lads retreated back.
"Now, Pippin lad. What's all this fuss about?"
Pippin kept his eyes cast down to the ground, to ashamed to look his uncle in the eye. "Nothing, Uncle Peregrin. I'm alright. You can go back and talk to da' and Uncle Meriadoc."
Peregrin could not help but chuckle a bit. "Am I being dismissed, then?"
Pippin, always one to take adults seriously, nodded. Peregrin stood, and walked off a bit, keeping an eye on his nephew, noticing the lad's yearning looks toward the river. Not turning, Peregrin called back to Pippin lad.
"You know.... I was too terrified to even set foot in the Brandywine until I was ten years old; and that was only when Cousin Merry pushed me in."
Pippin lad sniffed, looking up and turning to Peregrin. "R-really?"
"Really." Peregrin said, sitting back down beside Pippin. "I didn't speak to him for a week after that." He smiled at the memory. "Of, course, if he hadn't pushed me in I probably would never have tried to swim." He carefully left out the fact that when Meriadoc had pushed him in he had been carried a mile downstream, hit his head on a rock, had to be rescued by his cousin, had been sick the whole week after that, and the reason he had not spoke to Meriadoc had been because his cousin had not been allowed to see him. Pippin lad did not need to know that.
"So," Peregrin continued, standing. "Would you like to try?"
Pippin lad stiffened again.
"You don't have to," Peregrin quickly added. "Would you rather wait?"
Pippin nodded, slowly. 'Would Peregrin be mad?'
"Alright, then!" Peregrin stooped down, scooping Pippin lad up in his arms and holding him upside-down, the lad squealing in delight. "You know what, Pip lad?"
"What!" Pippin gasped though his laughing.
"I bet you my dessert you mother's making that I can beat you to the top of that tree!"
"You can't!"
"Really?"
"Yah!"
Peregrin set Pippin down, brushing the lad off. "Ready, set--"
"Go!" Pippin lad was off before Peregrin could blink.
Peregrin Took, heir of the Tooks and future Thain of Tuckborough, smiled as he rushed after his nephew.
'Just like me when I was young.' He sighed, 'I'm going to miss that dessert.'
~
October, 17, 2003
~
Please review and tell me if you would like for me to continue writing on this story. Also, if there is a particular one of the Gamgee children you would like to read about, please tell me in your review!
~