Chapter Three: Welcome and Unwelcome Feelings
Pippin had been dreaming, dreaming about that mysterious Diamond. Her hair still shone in his mind, and his dreams saw her. He did not like it. His mind knew that Diamond had hurt him terribly. But something else stayed with him about her.
Why did that song come to mind? In the depths of his mind Pippin pondered this. He remembered.he and Merry had sung that song before they left for their quest. But what did that have to do with Diamond?
Voices came from the darkness.
"He will not forgive you, o' course, he's on my side!"
"I said I was sorry, I believe he'll accept that!"
"How long have you known him? One night? I've known him much longer, thank you?"
"Well he seemed like a decent hobbit to me!"
"Maybe decency involves not shooting people off with firecrackers into ale barrels!"
"I will not bicker with you any more. I will tend to Pip until he awakens."
"Fine. Tell him when he wakes I went to OUR place. He'll know."
There was the sound of a door shutting, then silence. Pippin felt his hair being pushed out of his face, and a soothing coolness swept over him. He kept his eyes shut, not willing himself to face Diamond yet. He wanted to see if he could gather more about her.
"Pip, your friend is ever watchful," Diamond said softly, as if only to herself, "But he looks no deeper than your physical ailments. There is more to you than meets the eye, I think."
Pippin blearily opened his eyes. "Why Diamond," he said, "Fancy seeing you here."
"I would like to apologize Pip. Last night was uncalled for."
"Many lady hobbits have told me that first thing in the morning, and I didn't believe them either," Pip said with a smile, struggling to rise. "I'll be fine."
"Lay back down," she said, "You're likely to faint with such a knot as that."
"Perhaps if I did, you would take care of me more?"
"No, because that wouldn't have been my fault," she said with a smile.
"Darn the bad luck," Pip said, leaning back. "I'm sorry bout Merry.he's a bit protective."
"Of course," Diamond said. "Many friends are like that."
"Right.where is the little guy anyway?"
"He said he went to what he called 'our place' and wanted you to meet him there as soon as you woke. We were kind of having a heated discussion.and.well he left in a huff."
"Perfectly all right," Pip said. "We do that all the time. Would ye like to come with me?"
"I don't think he'd like that - "
"Nonsense. He'll get over it. It's just Merry," Pippin rose and felt decidedly better. "He's been my best friend for forever - he'll understand."
"If you say so." Diamond said uneasily. "Are you sure you're better?"
"I'm fine," Pip assured her. "Come on, let's go."
The two left the bedroom and, bidding a farewell to Paladin, headed out into the midday sunshine that was so common in the Shire.
" So how'd ye get that hair?" asked Pippin. "I've never seen a hobbit with straight hair before."
"I.well." Diamond blushed. "You mustn't tell a soul."
"I am the epitome of secrecy," Pip said, puffing himself up a bit.
"I'm half-human," she whispered.
Pip stopped. "What?"
"You heard me," Diamond said, and Pip thought he saw a tear come to her eye.
"I'm sorry - meanin' no offense, m'lady," he said, pulling Diamond over underneath a tree where they could sit. "I didn't mean to sound harsh."
"That's fine, I'm just.kind of sensitive. My mother.my real mother.was human. "But my father's wife claimed me, and I never really met my biological mother. On every family tree, it shows my hobbit mother being my real one."
"Why.that's so peculiar," said Pippin. "It gives you a special charm, I think."
Diamond smiled slightly. "Merry's probably getting anxious."
"I can guarantee it," said Pippin. "Trust me, I won't tell a soul."
The two continued down the road, enjoying each other's company, until they came to Farmer Maggot's many rows of plants. "We'll take the shortcut," said Pip. "It comes to a large batch of mushrooms."
They began walking through the tall plants, not able to see above them. Pip confidently knew where he was going, but Diamond found herself frequently losing her sense of direction amongst the confusion. Soon Pip heard a familiar voice.
"Aye you! Stealing my cabbage and corn again, eh? I'll get you this time!"
Pip looked quickly to Diamond. "I hope those long legs of yours can run!" he said, putting emphasis on the last word. The two sped through the cornstalks, darting different directions in hopes that Maggot would lose their trail. Soon they heard barking, meaning Farmer Maggot had unleashed his vicious dogs.
"Hear that howling?" Pip yelled back to Diamond.
"Aye!"
"That means run faster!"
They finally came to the drop-off point where the crops ended. Pip looked back to Diamond. "This may hurt, but you can hope you land on the moss!"
"What do you mean?"
"JUMP!"
The two jumped off the small cliff and thankfully landed on the moss. Pip was calm and collected; he had done this many times before. Diamond on the other hand, was quite frazzled.
"Do you do this every day?"
"When we're not doing worse," Pip shrugged. "Come on, we're not far now, and Maggot doesn't come down here.or do you need some time to catch your breath?"
"No, no, I'm fine," she said, and rose, picking twigs out of her shining hair.
"You're too pretty to be goin' off and doin' things like this, ye know?" Pip said, before he had realized what he was doing. He winced. "That was quite obvious, wasn't it?"
"A tad bit. You'll get better."
They walked through the fields till they came to a decent sized tree. It was not tall, nor short, but perfectly sized to cover you from the sun on hot summer days, and to shield you from the snow on cold winter nights.
Merry was sitting under the tree, snoring softly. Pip smiled at the sight of his friend. "See? He's done and forgot it, and drifted off to sleep in his contentment."
"I have the feeling that may not be the case," Diamond said cautiously.
Pip walked up and shook Merry's shoulder. "Merry, I'm here!"
Merry shivered a bit and opened his eyes. "Pip, I'm glad you made it. We need to talk."
"Of course," Pip said. "What about?"
"That Diamond girl, she was saying the strangest things this morning - "
"Why Merry, she's - " Pip turned to look for her, but she was nowhere to be seen. "Obviously.not here."
Merry looked at Pippin oddly. "Pip my friend, that blow to the head must have slowed your mind. That or have you already been into the weed this morning?"
"I haven't had any weed since last night, thank you!" Pip said, injured.
"I've always told you that you smoke too much," Merry said with a grin. "Anyway, she's got to go. She's tryin' to seduce ye, Pip. I see it. She's playin' games with ye. We're not the marryin' kind. We're supposed to go off havin' adventures, not settlin' down. Ye see what I'm saying? That's why she keeps changin'."
"Are ye sure?" Pip asked. "She seems quite nice, once you get her sober an' all."
"You knew about what she said when she gets drunk?"
"We talked about it idly on the way.I mean.when I woke up this mornin'."
"Aye," Merry said suspiciously. "Anyway, there's somethin' off about her."
"Well that's obvious - she's half-human!" Pip clasped his hand over his mouth. "Please say I didn't just say that," he moaned under his breath.
"You've got feelings for the lass, doncha? And even bein' half-human? Pip, there's something wrong with ye!" Merry put his hand on his shoulder. "Pip, ye can't do this to me!"
"I'm sorry Merry!" Pip said, in an outburst. "I'm sorry. She's nicer to me than the other ladies. She's calmer, less high-strung."
"Pip," Merry said pointedly. "You are not a calm person. You are high- strung."
"That's why I need someone who's like 'er!" Pip objected. "Merry, I have somethin' goin' for me now, are ye tryin' to take it from me?"
"Pip," Merry said, and Pippin almost thought he saw a tear in his eye, "I have somethin' for me. And she's tryin' to take it from me."
At this, Pippin's eyes clouded over. "Merry, you an' me.we'll always be best friends. No lass would ever change that."
Merry's head fell. "I know. But I'm afraid. I've lost Frodo - granted we weren't as close as you an' I, but he's still gone. And Sam - Sam never goes off with us anymore, he's always with Rosie. Would ye do that to me, Pip?"
"Never," Pippin assured him. "You always come first, Merry. Remember, when Gandalf took me and sent me to Minas Tirith with him, and you had to stay? I was afraid then.because you weren't with me. If you weren't with me at any time, I think I'd be afraid. That's why we've gotta stick together."
"Aye," said Merry. "I'm glad."
"Now," said Pippin in a business-like tone, "Would you like to go steal some of Farmer Maggot's crop? I'm sure if I did that with Diamond she couldn't keep up."
Merry's eyes twinkled. "No, Pip. I actually think I would like to have another nap, or perhaps a meal. I want you to go spend some time with Diamond."
"Do you really, Merry, or are you just saying that?"
"I really do."
Pip's eyes sparkled. "I'm off, then, wish me luck!"
Pippin had been dreaming, dreaming about that mysterious Diamond. Her hair still shone in his mind, and his dreams saw her. He did not like it. His mind knew that Diamond had hurt him terribly. But something else stayed with him about her.
Why did that song come to mind? In the depths of his mind Pippin pondered this. He remembered.he and Merry had sung that song before they left for their quest. But what did that have to do with Diamond?
Voices came from the darkness.
"He will not forgive you, o' course, he's on my side!"
"I said I was sorry, I believe he'll accept that!"
"How long have you known him? One night? I've known him much longer, thank you?"
"Well he seemed like a decent hobbit to me!"
"Maybe decency involves not shooting people off with firecrackers into ale barrels!"
"I will not bicker with you any more. I will tend to Pip until he awakens."
"Fine. Tell him when he wakes I went to OUR place. He'll know."
There was the sound of a door shutting, then silence. Pippin felt his hair being pushed out of his face, and a soothing coolness swept over him. He kept his eyes shut, not willing himself to face Diamond yet. He wanted to see if he could gather more about her.
"Pip, your friend is ever watchful," Diamond said softly, as if only to herself, "But he looks no deeper than your physical ailments. There is more to you than meets the eye, I think."
Pippin blearily opened his eyes. "Why Diamond," he said, "Fancy seeing you here."
"I would like to apologize Pip. Last night was uncalled for."
"Many lady hobbits have told me that first thing in the morning, and I didn't believe them either," Pip said with a smile, struggling to rise. "I'll be fine."
"Lay back down," she said, "You're likely to faint with such a knot as that."
"Perhaps if I did, you would take care of me more?"
"No, because that wouldn't have been my fault," she said with a smile.
"Darn the bad luck," Pip said, leaning back. "I'm sorry bout Merry.he's a bit protective."
"Of course," Diamond said. "Many friends are like that."
"Right.where is the little guy anyway?"
"He said he went to what he called 'our place' and wanted you to meet him there as soon as you woke. We were kind of having a heated discussion.and.well he left in a huff."
"Perfectly all right," Pip said. "We do that all the time. Would ye like to come with me?"
"I don't think he'd like that - "
"Nonsense. He'll get over it. It's just Merry," Pippin rose and felt decidedly better. "He's been my best friend for forever - he'll understand."
"If you say so." Diamond said uneasily. "Are you sure you're better?"
"I'm fine," Pip assured her. "Come on, let's go."
The two left the bedroom and, bidding a farewell to Paladin, headed out into the midday sunshine that was so common in the Shire.
" So how'd ye get that hair?" asked Pippin. "I've never seen a hobbit with straight hair before."
"I.well." Diamond blushed. "You mustn't tell a soul."
"I am the epitome of secrecy," Pip said, puffing himself up a bit.
"I'm half-human," she whispered.
Pip stopped. "What?"
"You heard me," Diamond said, and Pip thought he saw a tear come to her eye.
"I'm sorry - meanin' no offense, m'lady," he said, pulling Diamond over underneath a tree where they could sit. "I didn't mean to sound harsh."
"That's fine, I'm just.kind of sensitive. My mother.my real mother.was human. "But my father's wife claimed me, and I never really met my biological mother. On every family tree, it shows my hobbit mother being my real one."
"Why.that's so peculiar," said Pippin. "It gives you a special charm, I think."
Diamond smiled slightly. "Merry's probably getting anxious."
"I can guarantee it," said Pippin. "Trust me, I won't tell a soul."
The two continued down the road, enjoying each other's company, until they came to Farmer Maggot's many rows of plants. "We'll take the shortcut," said Pip. "It comes to a large batch of mushrooms."
They began walking through the tall plants, not able to see above them. Pip confidently knew where he was going, but Diamond found herself frequently losing her sense of direction amongst the confusion. Soon Pip heard a familiar voice.
"Aye you! Stealing my cabbage and corn again, eh? I'll get you this time!"
Pip looked quickly to Diamond. "I hope those long legs of yours can run!" he said, putting emphasis on the last word. The two sped through the cornstalks, darting different directions in hopes that Maggot would lose their trail. Soon they heard barking, meaning Farmer Maggot had unleashed his vicious dogs.
"Hear that howling?" Pip yelled back to Diamond.
"Aye!"
"That means run faster!"
They finally came to the drop-off point where the crops ended. Pip looked back to Diamond. "This may hurt, but you can hope you land on the moss!"
"What do you mean?"
"JUMP!"
The two jumped off the small cliff and thankfully landed on the moss. Pip was calm and collected; he had done this many times before. Diamond on the other hand, was quite frazzled.
"Do you do this every day?"
"When we're not doing worse," Pip shrugged. "Come on, we're not far now, and Maggot doesn't come down here.or do you need some time to catch your breath?"
"No, no, I'm fine," she said, and rose, picking twigs out of her shining hair.
"You're too pretty to be goin' off and doin' things like this, ye know?" Pip said, before he had realized what he was doing. He winced. "That was quite obvious, wasn't it?"
"A tad bit. You'll get better."
They walked through the fields till they came to a decent sized tree. It was not tall, nor short, but perfectly sized to cover you from the sun on hot summer days, and to shield you from the snow on cold winter nights.
Merry was sitting under the tree, snoring softly. Pip smiled at the sight of his friend. "See? He's done and forgot it, and drifted off to sleep in his contentment."
"I have the feeling that may not be the case," Diamond said cautiously.
Pip walked up and shook Merry's shoulder. "Merry, I'm here!"
Merry shivered a bit and opened his eyes. "Pip, I'm glad you made it. We need to talk."
"Of course," Pip said. "What about?"
"That Diamond girl, she was saying the strangest things this morning - "
"Why Merry, she's - " Pip turned to look for her, but she was nowhere to be seen. "Obviously.not here."
Merry looked at Pippin oddly. "Pip my friend, that blow to the head must have slowed your mind. That or have you already been into the weed this morning?"
"I haven't had any weed since last night, thank you!" Pip said, injured.
"I've always told you that you smoke too much," Merry said with a grin. "Anyway, she's got to go. She's tryin' to seduce ye, Pip. I see it. She's playin' games with ye. We're not the marryin' kind. We're supposed to go off havin' adventures, not settlin' down. Ye see what I'm saying? That's why she keeps changin'."
"Are ye sure?" Pip asked. "She seems quite nice, once you get her sober an' all."
"You knew about what she said when she gets drunk?"
"We talked about it idly on the way.I mean.when I woke up this mornin'."
"Aye," Merry said suspiciously. "Anyway, there's somethin' off about her."
"Well that's obvious - she's half-human!" Pip clasped his hand over his mouth. "Please say I didn't just say that," he moaned under his breath.
"You've got feelings for the lass, doncha? And even bein' half-human? Pip, there's something wrong with ye!" Merry put his hand on his shoulder. "Pip, ye can't do this to me!"
"I'm sorry Merry!" Pip said, in an outburst. "I'm sorry. She's nicer to me than the other ladies. She's calmer, less high-strung."
"Pip," Merry said pointedly. "You are not a calm person. You are high- strung."
"That's why I need someone who's like 'er!" Pip objected. "Merry, I have somethin' goin' for me now, are ye tryin' to take it from me?"
"Pip," Merry said, and Pippin almost thought he saw a tear in his eye, "I have somethin' for me. And she's tryin' to take it from me."
At this, Pippin's eyes clouded over. "Merry, you an' me.we'll always be best friends. No lass would ever change that."
Merry's head fell. "I know. But I'm afraid. I've lost Frodo - granted we weren't as close as you an' I, but he's still gone. And Sam - Sam never goes off with us anymore, he's always with Rosie. Would ye do that to me, Pip?"
"Never," Pippin assured him. "You always come first, Merry. Remember, when Gandalf took me and sent me to Minas Tirith with him, and you had to stay? I was afraid then.because you weren't with me. If you weren't with me at any time, I think I'd be afraid. That's why we've gotta stick together."
"Aye," said Merry. "I'm glad."
"Now," said Pippin in a business-like tone, "Would you like to go steal some of Farmer Maggot's crop? I'm sure if I did that with Diamond she couldn't keep up."
Merry's eyes twinkled. "No, Pip. I actually think I would like to have another nap, or perhaps a meal. I want you to go spend some time with Diamond."
"Do you really, Merry, or are you just saying that?"
"I really do."
Pip's eyes sparkled. "I'm off, then, wish me luck!"