Well, my exams have ended, and now my end-of-exams celebrations have ended
too! Here are Gandalf's answers, and yes Pippin is up next for everyone who
wanted him. And to all who are worried, Legolas is part of the Fellowship
so it's taken for granted he will answer! I wanted to make sure people were
enjoying the fic on its own merit not just because Legolas featured
eventually – hope my strategy's working! Thanks for the reviews and good
luck messages, I hope whoever else has exams are doing okay too. Anyway,
on!
"Ah market day." Pippin spoke quietly, addressing the road beneath his feet. "Busy, loud, bustling, safe." He sighed. "Boring."
"Did you say something Pip?" Merry asked having heard his friend's big sigh. Pippin had been so quiet recently; it made a change to hear him mumble anything at all.
"I was just thinking Merry. I mean, it's nice to be home and all, but after all we've been through…"
"You wish things were a bit more exciting?" Merry guessed Pippin's next words, and was rewarded with a nod. "You never know, today might be the day!" He added, trying to sound enthusiastic.
"Maybe." Pippin smiled at Merry's almost forced cheerfulness. "Hopefully."
The two friends continued their walk to the market, passing the journey by in a companionable silence until they heard the many voices and clattering of pots that signalled their arrival. Pippin's ears perked up at the seemingly more animated than usual crowd that was gathered, and strained to see what all the excitement was about. It wasn't hard to spot.
"Look Merry! Look!" Pippin exclaimed, gesturing wildly. Merry followed his waving fingers and cried out in surprise. The two hobbits looked at each other for a moment with a smile, then both ran head long into the crowd, pushing their way to the centre of all the attention, shouting for all their worth.
"Glorfindel! Glorfindel!"
Upon hearing his name, the tall, blond elf turned to meet the voices he recognised with a smile. "Master Pippin, Master Merry, so I've found you at last."
He was silenced by the two hobbits clutching his tightly around the waist in a fierce hug, and the crowd of hobbits around him stared in wonder at the sight of, to them anyway, the giant hobbits being dwarfed but hugged by the enormous elf.
"What are you doing here Glorfindel?" Pippin asked in a rush. Glorfindel merely smiled, and pulled four letters from his pouch.
"I took the occasion to see the Shire and visit some old friends while I delivered a few messages." He replied, and handed both Pippin and Merry a letter each. "And now, I have these two to deliver. I shall call upon you later my friends so we may catch up on old adventures." With a slight bow and an inclination of the head he strode away to where his horse was waiting, mounted and waved farewell. Merry, Pippin and a few of the children waved back happily, and watched the river of yellow hair stream away. Pippin couldn't keep the huge grin from his face as he opened the letter, and read:
First make a copy of this letter and change the answers so they apply to you. Then send it to all the people you know. You may learn some interesting facts about your friends!
"Another one!" He exclaimed excitedly. "This day gets better and better!" He continued to read.
Name: Gandalf
Nicknames: Mithrandir, Grey Pilgrim, Greyhame, White Rider.
If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be? A house? I have never had a house yet, why should I wish for one now?
What is your favourite place to be? At one of my fireworks shows, watching the joy on the children's faces. Marvellous things children; so innocent yet so knowledgeable at the same time. I wish most adults were like them.
What is your least favourite place to be? Falling into dark shadow with only a Balrog for company. A most character building experience.
What is the last good song you heard? An invention of Bilbo's in the Halls of Fire that he wished to share with me. About a certain group of nine walkers I do believe.
What is your favourite colour? Grey is most underrated. I have a lot of affection for it.
What is your favourite smell? The sweet scent of good pipe-weed shared amongst friends.
What is your favourite article of clothing? I do miss my grey hat. Otherwise, I am most fond of my travelling cloak.
What makes you angry? People who are short sighted. Both in the metaphorical and literal sense.
What time do you wake up in the morning? Ah sleep, now there's a concept I little remember. Whenever I am needed I fear is the answer to that!
Can you juggle? With a little magic, certainly. What need have I for such a talent?
What would you hate to be left in a room with? The Mouth Of Sauron – ignorant, arrogant, loud-mouthed fellow that one.
Is the goblet half empty or half full? Bottomless, with a little magic.
What is the first thing you think when you wake up? If I have slept at all, usually what do they want now. Either that or is that Shadowfax nibbling on my beard again. Mischievous creature that he is.
What is your favourite form of exercise? A good stroll around a busy city, when all the people move out of your way. Being well known has its advantages.
Who do you have a crush on at the moment? One does not live for all the years I have by having crushes.
What have you got in your pocket? Pockets are for those people who must keep possessions close to their hearts.
My pipe.
Who is most likely to respond to this letter? Hmm, Legolas was not so busy last time I saw him, about time we heard from him.
Who is least likely to respond to this letter? My dear friend Shadowfax. A good job too, far too opinionated that beast.
There Master Gimli, consider yourself answered. Now I may go back to filling my time with more pressing measures. Now where is my pipe - ah, in my pocket. I bid you all a fond farewell for now my friends.
"Oh Merry, we really must really reply now, even Gandalf has! And Glorfindel is here too, oh what a glorious day this has been!" Pippin couldn't resist doing a little jig and humming a merry tune. "Are you going to reply? I haven't a clue what to say in mine, I shall have to go home and ponder it! And wait for Glorfindel too of course. Isn't it exciting Merry, isn't it?"
"Indeed." Merry said with a smile, half glad that Pippin had found something to keep him amused, but half annoyed that he would now not stop talking about it. He pulled a still talking Pippin around the market, occasionally nodding and replying but mostly letting him talk.
"Oh I do hope I have enough paper. And ink. And I shall send it to everyone I know! I shall begin as soon as I get home… can we go yet Merry, I have so much to write. Can we? Can we…?"
Bless his little hobbit-y heart. Well, I hope you enjoyed Gandalf's answers, and Pippin's will be up as soon as he gets home apparently! Any more requests? Ask and we shall see.
"Ah market day." Pippin spoke quietly, addressing the road beneath his feet. "Busy, loud, bustling, safe." He sighed. "Boring."
"Did you say something Pip?" Merry asked having heard his friend's big sigh. Pippin had been so quiet recently; it made a change to hear him mumble anything at all.
"I was just thinking Merry. I mean, it's nice to be home and all, but after all we've been through…"
"You wish things were a bit more exciting?" Merry guessed Pippin's next words, and was rewarded with a nod. "You never know, today might be the day!" He added, trying to sound enthusiastic.
"Maybe." Pippin smiled at Merry's almost forced cheerfulness. "Hopefully."
The two friends continued their walk to the market, passing the journey by in a companionable silence until they heard the many voices and clattering of pots that signalled their arrival. Pippin's ears perked up at the seemingly more animated than usual crowd that was gathered, and strained to see what all the excitement was about. It wasn't hard to spot.
"Look Merry! Look!" Pippin exclaimed, gesturing wildly. Merry followed his waving fingers and cried out in surprise. The two hobbits looked at each other for a moment with a smile, then both ran head long into the crowd, pushing their way to the centre of all the attention, shouting for all their worth.
"Glorfindel! Glorfindel!"
Upon hearing his name, the tall, blond elf turned to meet the voices he recognised with a smile. "Master Pippin, Master Merry, so I've found you at last."
He was silenced by the two hobbits clutching his tightly around the waist in a fierce hug, and the crowd of hobbits around him stared in wonder at the sight of, to them anyway, the giant hobbits being dwarfed but hugged by the enormous elf.
"What are you doing here Glorfindel?" Pippin asked in a rush. Glorfindel merely smiled, and pulled four letters from his pouch.
"I took the occasion to see the Shire and visit some old friends while I delivered a few messages." He replied, and handed both Pippin and Merry a letter each. "And now, I have these two to deliver. I shall call upon you later my friends so we may catch up on old adventures." With a slight bow and an inclination of the head he strode away to where his horse was waiting, mounted and waved farewell. Merry, Pippin and a few of the children waved back happily, and watched the river of yellow hair stream away. Pippin couldn't keep the huge grin from his face as he opened the letter, and read:
First make a copy of this letter and change the answers so they apply to you. Then send it to all the people you know. You may learn some interesting facts about your friends!
"Another one!" He exclaimed excitedly. "This day gets better and better!" He continued to read.
Name: Gandalf
Nicknames: Mithrandir, Grey Pilgrim, Greyhame, White Rider.
If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be? A house? I have never had a house yet, why should I wish for one now?
What is your favourite place to be? At one of my fireworks shows, watching the joy on the children's faces. Marvellous things children; so innocent yet so knowledgeable at the same time. I wish most adults were like them.
What is your least favourite place to be? Falling into dark shadow with only a Balrog for company. A most character building experience.
What is the last good song you heard? An invention of Bilbo's in the Halls of Fire that he wished to share with me. About a certain group of nine walkers I do believe.
What is your favourite colour? Grey is most underrated. I have a lot of affection for it.
What is your favourite smell? The sweet scent of good pipe-weed shared amongst friends.
What is your favourite article of clothing? I do miss my grey hat. Otherwise, I am most fond of my travelling cloak.
What makes you angry? People who are short sighted. Both in the metaphorical and literal sense.
What time do you wake up in the morning? Ah sleep, now there's a concept I little remember. Whenever I am needed I fear is the answer to that!
Can you juggle? With a little magic, certainly. What need have I for such a talent?
What would you hate to be left in a room with? The Mouth Of Sauron – ignorant, arrogant, loud-mouthed fellow that one.
Is the goblet half empty or half full? Bottomless, with a little magic.
What is the first thing you think when you wake up? If I have slept at all, usually what do they want now. Either that or is that Shadowfax nibbling on my beard again. Mischievous creature that he is.
What is your favourite form of exercise? A good stroll around a busy city, when all the people move out of your way. Being well known has its advantages.
Who do you have a crush on at the moment? One does not live for all the years I have by having crushes.
What have you got in your pocket? Pockets are for those people who must keep possessions close to their hearts.
My pipe.
Who is most likely to respond to this letter? Hmm, Legolas was not so busy last time I saw him, about time we heard from him.
Who is least likely to respond to this letter? My dear friend Shadowfax. A good job too, far too opinionated that beast.
There Master Gimli, consider yourself answered. Now I may go back to filling my time with more pressing measures. Now where is my pipe - ah, in my pocket. I bid you all a fond farewell for now my friends.
"Oh Merry, we really must really reply now, even Gandalf has! And Glorfindel is here too, oh what a glorious day this has been!" Pippin couldn't resist doing a little jig and humming a merry tune. "Are you going to reply? I haven't a clue what to say in mine, I shall have to go home and ponder it! And wait for Glorfindel too of course. Isn't it exciting Merry, isn't it?"
"Indeed." Merry said with a smile, half glad that Pippin had found something to keep him amused, but half annoyed that he would now not stop talking about it. He pulled a still talking Pippin around the market, occasionally nodding and replying but mostly letting him talk.
"Oh I do hope I have enough paper. And ink. And I shall send it to everyone I know! I shall begin as soon as I get home… can we go yet Merry, I have so much to write. Can we? Can we…?"
Bless his little hobbit-y heart. Well, I hope you enjoyed Gandalf's answers, and Pippin's will be up as soon as he gets home apparently! Any more requests? Ask and we shall see.