Disclaimers: Standard…see previous chapters for details.
Notes: FINALLY! Hopefully the rest of the story will follow more quickly. Thank you for continuing to read! K
Pippin's voice rang out throughout the room, clear and strong, and he saw that he had the attention of everyone there, including some of the serving lads and lasses who were standing at the doors from the kitchens to hear the tale. "Listen, now, friends, to the Ballad of the White Lady of Rohan…"
When he finished, Pippin smiled; naturally pleased with the overwhelming applause he received. With a deep bow, he turned and returned to his cousin's side. Merry was on his feet and clapping as loudly as the rest.
"Pip!" he cried, delighted. "I didn't know you'd finished it! When did that happen?"
It was difficult to hear above the din of the continued applause and shouts for more, but Pippin easily guessed what Merry was asking. With a grin, he turned and bowed once more, then sat back in his deep chair, feeling a flush of satisfaction that his original ballad had met with such obvious approval. When the cheering had died down a bit and the crowd was convinced that Pippin would not give them another song, Merry tried his question again.
"That really was quite good, you know, Pip. But when we left, you still hadn't finished it, had you? Or were you just being a sly devil and keeping it to yourself?"
Merry's grin took any edge from his question, and Pippin found himself blushing and returning the grin.
"Well, we've had hours and hours on this adventure of mine, so I actually put some of the time to good use. I take it you approve?"
"It could use a bit of tightening up," Merry said honestly. "But on the whole, it's a very good work! You should copy it and let me send it to King Eomer! I think he would appreciate such a wonderful work about his sister."
"Let us not get carried away, Merry," Pippin said quickly. "It's a good enough tune for us here in the Shire, but Rohan has many bards much more talented than I. I'd rather not have my little tune politely accepted and then stashed away in some dusty old archive, never to be seen again!"
Merry frowned. "You do yourself a disservice, cousin. The ballad was very good, and I, for one, should be rather disappointed if it were never heard outside the borders of the Shire. But," he added, seeing the determined look on Pippin's face, "It is your ballad and your decision. I just ask that you think about it."
Pippin took a long draught of his ale before returning his cousin's look. "For you, Merry, I will think about it. But first," he stood, placing his empty tankard on the table, "I'm for bed. I have a feeling that my interview with my uncle will be trying at best."
Neither cousin noticed the small, cloaked figure sneaking out the double doors.
I wonder who he was? Diamond thought to herself as she eased back into her bedroom. She hadn't stayed at the Hoom nearly as long as she'd planned, but she could hardly be blamed. The stranger who had just sung that lovely ballad had refused to sing further, instead returning to sit with his companion near the hearth. Diamond had watched the two unusually poised and graceful gentlehobbits for a few moments, then had hurried back home, wanting to play the scene over in her mind again. She had friends who worked at the Hoom and she was determined to find out about the two travelers first thing in the morning.
Removing the cloak, Diamond glanced into her looking glass and frowned. Not that either of the travelers would ever notice her, she thought. Especially if she happened to be in the company of any of her sisters. It just wasn't fair that they had gotten all the looks and feminine charms, and Diamond had been left with a lively curiosity of the world around her and an unflattering desire for adventure. That thought brought her up short. She had never before bemoaned her character; she'd always been rather pleased with it and had expected that any gentlehobbit who took an interest in her would have to accept her as she was. But the young stranger she'd just listened to had awakened something in her small bosom that hadn't been there before. She had admired him and had been attracted to him!
It was that dratted ballad, Diamond told herself as she changed into her sleeping things. An entire ballad dedicated to the brave, if grim spirit of a female! And the stranger had sounded as though he had admired this Eowyn of Rohan! Diamond wasn't certain that the woman even existed, but the story did sound familiar. She thought she remembered tales coming up the Oatbarton road from when one of her distant cousins had returned from the lands far to the south. Tales of the dark land of Mordor, and the king of Gondor. With a sudden gasp, Diamond wondered if, perhaps, this stranger had gotten the ballad from her cousin! Perhaps her cousin had brought the ballad back from the foreign lands away south and had shared it with this stranger! She'd always wanted to meet that distant cousin, because he'd had the opportunity to travel.
And with my luck, Diamond thought with a mental snort, he'd probably be appalled at the meeting. Tucking her light curls into her nightcap and tying the ribbons under her chin, Diamond took a last look at her reflection in the glass above her chest of drawers. And that stranger wouldn't even notice me, she thought dejectedly. Moving to her bed, she blew out the lamp on her bedside table and crawled into the bed. The stranger's strong, clear voice seemed to echo in her head as she closed her eyes. With a last smile at her own foolishness, Diamond drifted to sleep.
"Well, Captain Meriadoc, how do I look?"
Merry studied his friend with a critical eye. The cousins had shared a hearty breakfast, and then had retired to their room to dress for the forthcoming visit to Pippin's kin. Now Merry walked slowly around Pippin, looking the hobbit up and down, finally circling to the front again. His face was grave and Pippin wondered whether there were travel stains he'd missed on the elven cloak or his freshly pressed breeches. Then Merry smiled.
"You look perfect!" he declared. "Just as you should to visit important relatives."
Pippin gave a relieved sigh, running his hand nervously down the front of his black and white uniform, smoothing the material. He was quite comfortable in the attire he'd brought from Gondor, but the business of visiting relatives, regardless of how countrified he might think them, made him uneasy. Adjusting his sword and clearing his throat, Pippin gave Merry a slight smile.
"I must say you look rather dashing, yourself, cousin," he said, taking in Merry's own uniform. He made a slight adjustment to the intricate leaf-brooch that fastened his cloak. "And I'm rather relieved you'll be accompanying me. If you're ready, Merry, let us have done with this visit, before my courage fails me!"
Diamond has risen early, fully intending to slip out and find some of her friends from the Hoom. She was determined to find out more about the strangers who had been in the tavern last night. She hurried through her bath and dressed quickly, before running a brush through the tangled mass her hair had become in the night. What it mattered, she didn't know, as she planned to don her lad's clothing again with the heavy woolen cap firmly in place over her light curls. Something about the strangers, especially the one who had sung, though, made her more attentive to her morning toilette than usual.
At breakfast her father looked around the table and beamed at his gathered children.
"I've had a note this morning," he informed them heartily. "We'll be having a visit from one of my nephews from away south. He will arrive after breakfast." Pinning Diamond with a steely look, he added, "I expect all of you to make yourselves available to meet your cousin. If you've duties to complete, you can do 'em after you've said hello. Is that understood?"
Diamond rolled her eyes. What did she care about stuffy old cousins? Everyone knew that the southern Tooks (with the possible exception of the one who'd gone off with crazy old Frodo Baggins) were a stodgy, lazy bunch who had no use for adventures. She had no use for them, she thought rebelliously, but carefully keeping a bland expression on her face. Her father nodded and returned to his breakfast but he then nearly shocked the life out of her by commenting that she looked prettier than usual this morning. Ruby darted her a sly look that Diamond ignored. Ruby was, of course, looking radiant as usual, the perfect picture of feminine charm and grace. Marigold told her sons to shush when they went into howls of laughter at their father's comment, and finally restored order by ordering one of the kitchen lasses to clear away the breakfast.
"Sorry, Mother!" the eldest of her sons said repentantly. "We meant our Diamond no insult, and she knows that. Don't you, Diamond?"
Diamond sniffed and popped a last bit of toast into her mouth. "As though I care about the mindless cackling of a flock of silly jackdaws as yourselves!" she replied calmly. "My mother taught me much better than that. Although I cannot answer for what happened to her sons."
Casting a weary, beseeching look at the sky, Diamond glanced at her eldest brother and gave him a wink. He grinned as his favorite sister stood and swept, almost majestically, out of the room before their father or mother could take her to task for her pert comments or for not finishing breakfast.
As the laughter followed her down the hallway, Diamond hurried to her room. Her frock was exchanged for breeches and a linen shirt, topped with a padded waistcoat and jacket and the woolen cap. Tucking the final, stubborn curl into the cap, she slipped to her window and out.
The morning was brisk, but the southerly breeze was warm, belying the crisp nip that signaled the coming of winter. Diamond hurried along the path, wanting to catch her friends before they became wrapped up in the preparations for the upcoming Harvest Festival. She was in such a hurry that she nearly crashed straight into the objects of her intense interest as the two travelers were exiting the inn.
"Where has everyone got to?" Merry exclaimed, looking around the deserted common room. The tavern and kitchens were equally deserted.
"Do you suppose everyone is making ready for the festival we heard about last night?" Pippin offered, equally bemused. "I knew I should have asked Mr. Clearwater for my uncle's direction when I asked him to send a note for me. It's been years since I've been here. Well," he mused, "I suppose we shall have to inspect each letter box until we come to the one reading 'Begrobas Took', shan't we?"
"That sounds like an excellent plan, cousin. Shall we be off?"
The two tall and very impressive hobbits were just exiting the Hoom when a small, slender lad rushed in. The lad staggered to a stop and stared up at them with wide, almost frightened eyes. Pippin and Merry had both reached instinctively for their swords, but saw immediately that this lad offered no danger to them. Pippin gave Merry a sheepish look.
"I can imagine what an image we must make, Merry. The two hobbit boogies to frighten children." He glanced at the lad. "I apologize, my lad. You took us quite by surprise."
The lad glanced from one to the other, relaxing. He reached for his cap, but merely tugged it with a sketch of a bow. "No 'arm done, gov," the lad replied in a squeaky voice.
He's even younger than I thought, Merry said to himself. "Perhaps you can help us, lad," he said aloud. "My cousin here is searching for some distant kin. Could you direct us to the home of Begrobas Took?"
Diamond's eyes shot open and she stared outright at the two huge hobbits towering over her. "B-Begrobas Took?" she squeaked again, her voice jumping an octave. The handsome stranger was her cousin? This was the stodgy visitor from the south? Good heavens! She mentally shook herself and continued. "Yer two be wantin' ol' Mr. Took? But what fer? All his girls be shackled or too young for such 'andsome, strappin' gennel'obbits as yerselves."
Oh, heavens, what had made her say that? They were sure to take offense at her impertinence. What business was it of hers whether these two sought wives or already had some? They certainly wouldn't look twice at her. And the younger, the one she'd admired, was her cousin! He was probably the cousin she'd heard all the glowing and often disapproving tales of! Now that she saw him she knew that he was absolutely perfect, and was much too old for her. He would be looking to take a wife and she would not be marriageable for another five or six years. She looked sadly to the ground as the older of the two laughed merrily.
"I assure you, lad, we haven't come to court. My cousin here merely seeks to visit his kin and pass along messages from the Took."
"Besides," Pippin added with a smile, "Captain Meriadoc here is already spoken for and I," he paused. "Er, I shall follow in my esteemed relative Frodo's footsteps and remain a bachelor. Now, about the direction?"
Diamond found herself speechless for a moment. A bachelor? Him? That seemed too sad for words. She was certain any hobbit maid would be the happiest lass in the land to be his wife! She almost blurted this out, but caught herself.
"O' course," she answered, deepening her voice. "Yer can fin' the ol' Took up the path. 'Is'll be th' ninth door, wi' the potted box t' either side and a scarlet letter box. Now, if yer will 'scuse me, 've got chores to be 'bout."
With another tug of her cap, Diamond escaped into the kitchens to hide until the two left. Oh, no, what was she to do now? Of course if the family had visitors, Diamond would be expected to meet them. And how could she do that with them traveling the same path to her home. Why, oh why did she always give into her unfeminine impulses? Taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly, Diamond squared her shoulders and resigned herself. She would have to follow them at a distance, not allowing them to catch sight of her. When they entered her home, she would slip back into her room and quickly change. Then, when the call came to meet visiting kin, she would be prepared.
Her heart sank as she realized she would never be prepared to meet her handsome young cousin.
"Well, that was quite odd. I know Sam always goes on about the strangeness of these 'northern foreigners', but that was stranger than I had expected."
Pippin nodded at his cousin. "That lad seemed quite flustered, though if I had unexpectedly come face to face with two armed strangers, I might feel a bit off myself. He seemed young, yet I have a feeling he was not quite as young as we thought."
"I know what you mean, Pip. Very strange lad. And I believe he's following us…No, don't look behind. You might scare him off. We'll just see what he's up to, and ask your uncle about it."
Pippin had been on the point of turning to scan for the young scamp, but at Merry's words, he shrugged. "All right, then. We've quite a bit to ask my uncle about, haven't we? The Hoom, the young lad, and all this about the mails. Did you notice, Merry, that the letterboxes we've passed are all freshly painted, and last night some of them even had letters in them? It makes one wonder whether my father wasn't up to something when he sent me here."
"You know, Pippin, you're right! I never noticed because seeing a letter in a letterbox is quite normal. If there were some problem with delivery, wouldn't the boxes look neglected? Hmm, it does make one wonder."
"We'll not wonder for much longer," Pippin informed him with a smile. "Scarlet letterbox, potted boxwood hedge on either side of the door, and the nameplate reading 'B. Took and family'. I think we've come to the right place."
Diamond watched as the two tall hobbits were greeted at the door and practically dragged in to the sprawling, comfortable hobbit hole. She scrambled into the window, not noticing that one of the visitors had looked back and saw her ungainly entry into the dwelling.
"Captain Took, and Captain Brandybuck!" Begrobas beamed as he dragged the younger hobbits into the largest and finest sitting room in the place. "Have a seat! Let my lad take your cloaks! Ah," he added when he noted the livery and swords beneath the concealing elven cloaks. "You two have a tale or two to tell and no question of it! Have a seat!"
He directed them to two large, comfortable chairs near the roaring fire and motioned them to sit. "There, now, gentlehobbits, warm your feet and let me take a look at you!"
Pippin gave Merry a self-conscious look but Merry smiled back. He knew what it was like visiting kin and had been prepared for this fulsome welcome. He grinned and endured when Begrobas sat back in his own large, overstuffed chair and inspected them. That was the only word to describe Begrobas' visual cataloging of the two younger hobbits. He began at the crown of the two well-groomed, curly heads, scanning the earnest, honest young faces. He continued down to the livery each wore and the shining swords that looked functional, rather than ornamental. His gaze took in the pressed but slightly worn breeches and immaculate but travel-roughened feet. His inspection was so thorough that Pippin felt an urge to jump to attention, saluting. He quelled it with difficulty, and remained where he was, passively accepting his relative's scrutiny.
Begrobas stared at them both for another moment before breaking into a loud roar of a laugh. "I like you both! You're tough, tougher than the general run of soft southerners we see in these parts! I'd wager you'd not back down from an honest fight, no matter what the odds. So, which one of you is it my cousin Paddy sent for me to get shackled?"
"Paddy?" Pippin asked, mystified.
"Shackled?" Merry sounded horrified. "Er, no sir, I think you're mistaken."
Begrobas looked from one to the other and laughed again. "So, the old dog did it again, did he? Gave you some cock and bull story about trouble in the North Farthing, eh? What was it this time? Great white wolves? Bad Men from the south? A bit of ogre raiding?"
Pippin glanced at Merry, a very worried expression on his face. "Er, I'm sorry sir, I don't understand," he said quickly. Unfortunately, Pippin was afraid he did understand. He remembered suddenly that a year or so before he and Merry had followed Frodo and Sam on the adventure of a lifetime, one of his many Took cousins had been sent north at the bidding of the Took. The fellow had returned some months later shackled to a distant northern relative. His eyes grew wide.
"I think," he told Merry quickly, "that we have the answer to the riddle of the letter boxes."
Looking at his uncle/cousin, he said, "There has been no trouble with the mails, has there?"
The older hobbit grinned and reached into one of the pockets of his expansive brocade waistcoat. Withdrawing a letter, he opened it.
With a look of distinct enjoyment, he began to read.
'Dearest cousin,
You will soon sustain a visit from my son Peregrin and his dear friend and cousin Meriadoc. Captain Meriadoc is a Brandybuck of the finest family as well as being in the service of one of the Kings of Men in the south. You will no doubt have heard tell of both of their adventures two years ago. Peregrin is also in the service of one of southern Kings and despite his lack of years is much a mature hobbit of good sense.
'Either of these lads would make a wonderful husband for any of your young daughters and it is my great wish to bring closer the ties between our families. Should this venture find favor with you, please do what you may to bring this happy event about. However, if this is not possible at this time, I commend them to you with the assurance that they will give satisfaction should you have any need for their unique services.
'At any rate, my compliments to your lovely wife and all your family, and I remain your
Cousin Paladin'
Merry and Pippin looked at one another with a mixture of horror and amusement as Begrobas folded the note away into his pocket once more. Then, taking one look at their faces, he began to roar with laughter. Indeed, he laughed so loud and long that Pippin was afraid the older hobbit might suffocate from want of air. He was about to approach his uncle when a lovely maiden entered the room.
"Father," she said, hurrying to Begrobas' side. "Are you ill? What has happened to you to bring this fit of mirth upon you?"
Pippin could only stare at the hobbit maiden for a moment, a bit taken aback with her beauty, while Merry joined her at her father's side.
"We happened to him, I'm sorry to say," Merry answered with a smile. "Apparently there was a joke on someone and it turned out to be us! Your father is rather enjoying it, it appears."
Ruby, for it was indeed Ruby who had entered, turned to Merry with a radiant smile. "Oh, I understand completely," she said in an affected, breathy whisper. "Father does so like his little jokes."
She seemed not to notice her father any longer as she engaged the surprisingly dashing-looking hobbit in conversation. Her first breathy utterance had broken the spell over Pippin, and he now looked at her more critically. She was indeed very lovely, but she seemed rather shallow. Not that Pippin had any right to judge her, but he was immediately filled with an indifference to her affectations. Therefore, he was a good deal amused at the maiden's sudden interest in Merry. She linked an arm through Merry's and started leading him away from the older hobbit, her previous concern for Begrobas' health apparently forgotten. Pippin hurried to his uncle's side and place a hand on his arm.
"Here, sir, have you a handkerchief about? I would offer mine, but Merry and I left without any. Would you care to sit?"
Begrobas finally got his laughter under control as he groped in another pocket for a handkerchief. Mopping at his streaming eyes, he sat heavily on his chair and wheezed in a deep breath.
"Beg pardon," he managed after a moment. "Paddy's done it again! So you young bucks had no idea?"
Pippin cast a swift look to Merry, who was attempting to extricate himself from the pretty maid's grasp while trying to seem not to. He grinned. The maid would have no luck there, he thought, a brief vision of Estella flitting through his head. Turning back to his uncle, he said, "Indeed, sir, my father primed us with a story about there being trouble with the mail in the North Farthing. Merry and I were almost decided that it must be a ruse, however, when we noted that many of the letter boxes contained letters as we came in yesterday."
Begrobas returned the smile and leaned forward. "Ah, and it is too bad that my daughter was just betrothed or you could have done your business and been done that quickly!"
He snapped his fingers to emphasize his point, but Pippin shook his head. "Oh, no sir," he said. "Unfortunately, Merry is also spoken for. A lovely maid, Estella Bolger, is waiting for his return as we speak. I believe they plan to wed in the spring."
Both turned back to see Ruby lift her chin in distain as Merry backed away apologetically. "Apparently Ruby's just found out the same thing," Begrobas murmured, his mouth lifting in a smile. "As well, anyway, since I'll not have her throwing her beau over for the first pretty face she sees. But," he said fondly, by way of explanation, "She is like most of her sisters and must have the attention of any eligible swain in the vicinity. I would say that you should now prepare for an assault. Just remember, she is already betrothed."
Pippin began to reassure his uncle that marriage was the last thing on his mind when the door opened again. This time, two females entered. One looked to be of an age with Begrobas, but was still a picture of grace and charm, while the other looked to be much younger. Begrobas stood immediately and moved toward them, his hands outstretched to the elder.
"Marigold, my dear, come and meet your young nephew and his friend!"
Marigold Took strode gracefully toward her husband, while the younger lass remained near the door. Marigold's fine, intelligent brown eyes weren't fixed on her husband, however. Nor were they on the two guests. With a quick frown, she addressed the maiden whom they had already met. "Ruby, dearest, please excuse yourself and see to the tea."
Ruby, who had been homing on Pippin, now turned to her mother with a huff. "But Mother! Cannot Diamond…" She stopped at the sudden firm look her mother gave her. "Yes, Mother," she said quietly, a soft flush coming to her cheeks. She stalked to the door and seemed to give the other lass a hard look. Then she exited the room quickly, her skirts twitching in vexation or indignation, though Pippin wasn't certain which.
He could only smile at the mother who had so quickly seen her daughter's motives and nipped them so efficiently in the bud. His delight was genuine when he met his aunt.
"Marigold, this is Paddy's lad, Peregrin."
Marigold held her hand to Pippin, who took it and bent over it. "It is my pleasure, Madam Took," he said quickly. When he lifted his head, he saw that she was eying him speculatively. He hoped she wasn't sizing him up as a possible candidate to replace Ruby's current betrothed. Lovely as the maid was, Pippin didn't like the airs she had affected. He wasn't interested. He did wonder, though, at the lass still standing, head down, by the door. He hadn't had a proper look at her, but he was certain that she was not nearly as attractive as Ruby had been. Was she some poor cousin or niece? As Marigold continued to study her nephew, the speculative look disappeared suddenly and she smiled radiantly at him.
"Please, call me Marigold, or Mari, or even Aunt, but Madam Took should be a title reserved for your own dear mother. How is Lanie?"
"My mother is very well, thank you. Do you know her well?" Pippin thought she must since no one called the former Eglantine Banks 'Lanie' except his father.
"I did," she replied. "We spent several summers together when we were younger." She was speaking to Pippin, but her eyes were now sizing up Merry, who had approached when Ruby had huffed out of the room. "When we were lasses and could climb trees and splash and play with no one to disapprove. You see, we spent much time in Woody End and the Green Hills country. We even forded the Thistle Brook, and explored the banks of the Shirebourn. We were sadly lacking in respectability, but we were lucky in our husbands."
While Pippin smiled at the familiar names of his home countryside, Marigold gave her husband a fond smile. The older hobbit returned it tenfold. Taking her hand, he beamed at Pippin. "Ah, she's a rare one, to be sure!" he confided. "I always did like having a bit of an adventure myself! When she pushed me into the river and then had to fetch me out again since I couldn't swim, I knew it was love!"
Flushing delicately, Marigold gave his arm a slap. "Now, Mr. Took, you're telling stories that perhaps should be saved for closer acquaintance."
Pippin looked at the graceful hobbitwife in front of him with even more respect. She appeared so demure and refined, but he could indeed imagine her younger version pushing his uncle into a stream and then hauling him out again. Pippin couldn't help but wish there were still maidens like that. Then he started.
"Half a moment!" he cried, remembering something. "I believe my mother has mentioned the incident before! She used to laugh at me when I complained that the lasses in the family were all so proper. None of them would ever get properly dirty. She would tell tales of how she and her friend Mari were used to tramping about and horrifying the elders. To think that I finally have the pleasure of meeting that legendary figure."
Pippin bowed low at the waist, surprising a loud shout of laughter from his uncle and a small, girlish giggle from his aunt.
"May I say, once again, what a pleasure it is to meet you. And please let me present my best friend, Meriadoc Brandybuck. Merry, this is the aunt my mother used to tell tales of!"
Merry came forward with a slightly less formal bow and a warm smile. "So I had gathered," he said. "It's an honor."
Marigold smiled and greeted Merry graciously. Then she turned back to Pippin. "I believe you should call me 'Aunt' and leave it at that. We cannot have two 'Merrys', can we? Now, Peregrin--"
"Pippin, please," Pippin interrupted.
"Pippin," she smiled. "Am I to understand that you admired the antics of your mother and me in our youth? I had thought that young lads today wanted more refined maids?"
Pippin felt his cheeks flush. "I'm afraid I'm considered rather odd, even for a Took. Definitely not a respectable hobbit. I expect I'll follow in the footsteps of my cousins Bilbo and Frodo and remain a bachelor."
Marigold gave Pippin an odd smile, but only said, "And that would be a sad waste, I think."
Her eyes twinkled once more as she added, "But forgive me. My manners are abominable! You have already met Ruby, so let me introduce you to my middle daughter, Diamond."
She gestured toward the young lass near the door, who seemed to shift uncomfortably, then straighten. The lass threw back her light curls and, with the air of one condemned and marching to the gallows, approached.
Merry made an odd sound in his throat, causing Pippin to look questioningly at him. Merry seemed to be struggling not to grin. Pippin glanced back at his young female cousin, wondering what about the lass had caused Merry's fit of mirth. He took in the light curls, the neat dress and light, knitted shawl before studying the face. Unlike her sister, this lass was not stunning.
She was a shade too thin for most hobbit tastes, but her features were regular enough. It was her eyes that made her so unusual, though. Brown though they were, like most of hobbit-kind, they seemed lit with some inner fire, as though she knew something wonderful that the rest of the world was not yet privy to.
Pippin was still at a loss as to what had caused Merry's odd behavior when the lass spoke.
"I'm very pleased to meet you, Cousin Pippin," she said quietly, with a formal curtsy. "Perhaps you'd indulge us later with tales of your travels?"
Pippin had looked away to Merry for a second, but at the first few words his gaze had swung back to the small, thin lass in front of them. In those few words, he recognized the voice of the lad they'd nearly trampled at the Hoom!