A Week… or Two
Chapter 8: The Escape
Merry's feet hit the cool soft dirt outside of Pippin's window with a light thud. Taking a deep breath, Merry filled his lungs with the crisp night air. "Oh Elbereth! It is a good night for a hike. What do you think Pip? Pippin?" Merry spun around. Where could he be, he thought. "Peregrin Took, if you are playing another one of your little games, I will hurt you so bad it…. I… Ahh!" Merry gave up. He knew that no matter how much Pippin delayed his departure, he could not be angry with him.
"But I haven't been playing any tricks Merry, just writing me mum a letter, telling her where I've gone. Incase she gets worried," stated pippin, as he hopped out his window lading nearly on top of Merry.
"Pippin!" shouted a worried Merry as quietly as he could, "What did you do that for? Yer parents will come looking for you as soon as it is light outside. You've gone and gotten us into trouble for nothing. They will just drag you off and you'll be punished for a great 5 hours away from home."
Shouldering his pack, Pippin smiled at his cousin, "you may know me inside out, but for Elbereth's sake! You don't know the hair on me parent's feet. They know if they come and get me, I'll just be back at Frodo's next to you by the morning. They won't waste a trip to Hobbiton for that. They will just wait for me to come home."
Following Pippin through the gardens out onto the main road, Merry asked, "and how long did you'd say you'd be gone?"
"A week"
"A week?!"
"…or two."
"That's much better Pip!" smiled Merry, my dear Pippin…