Ch. 7 -- Trouble



"Okay," Pippin said quickly, "there we go."

Gilly furrowed her brow, then grabbed Pippin's shoulder, "you're supposed to stick it in the ground!"

"It is in the ground," Pippin replied, pushing the firework into Merry's hand.

Merry shoved it back into Pippin's hands, "OUTSIDE!!!"

Pippin shoved the firework back into Merry's hands just as the wick burned to the end, "This was your idea!!!!"

The bottom of the firework exploded in sparks and flew into the air, knocking Merry, Pippin and Gilly onto the ground.

It shot into the sky, taking the tent half way with it. Everyone at the tables paused watching until a large dragon burst forth. Someone screamed and the whole field burst into a panic.

"It's a dragon!"

"There hasn't been a dragon in these parts for a thousand years!"

"Where's Gilly? Where's Gilly!?"

The dragon swooped low and Gilly watched in awe as it flew over them, she covered her face and heard the explosion. White light burst over the entire party and it was quiet a moment before everyone burst into loud cheers.

Gilly pushed herself up, the front of her dress was covered in soot, her face was black and her hair was standing half out of its pins. The three of them looked to each other and began to laugh.

"That was great!" Pippin exclaimed, neither of them noticed the tall figure that stood behind them until he took both Merry and Pippins ears.

"Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck," Gandalf said shaking his head, "I should have known."

Pippin coughed and motioned at Gilly, Gandalf gave him an odd look before he noticed her.

"Why! Gillian Hilldweller!" Gandalf exclaimed and Gilly flinched, if her mother found out about this, it would be the end of her freedom forever!

Gilly looked up at Gandalf, for a kind old wizard he could be rather intimidating when he wanted to be. He sighed and reached over, taking Gilly's arm; he pulled the three of them to their feet and led them to their doom.

"Gillian Hilldweller!" Matilda exclaimed. Gilly had just finished her last dish of the night and her hands--along with Merry and Pippin's--were red and chapped from the soapy water.

Gilly felt a sudden urge to run away, but knew that if she did the punishment would be all the more severe.

"Peregrin Took!" Eglatine Took cried out.

"Meriadoc Brandybuck you get over here right now!" Esmerelda Brandybuck shouted.

Merry looked stricken and Pippin was about to laugh when his mother tramped over and grabbed his left ear, Merry's mother did the same, only grabbing Merry's right ear.

"What have I told you?" Esmerelda demanded and Merry closed his eyes, Esmerelda set off and all Gilly heard was Merry shouting: "I'm sorry Mum! No Mum, yes mum!"

"Gilly," Matilda chastised Gilly, shaking her head, "are you listening to me?"

Gilly hung her head and mumbled, "no."

"This is exactly the kind of behavior that is inappropriate for a girl your age."

Gilly tried not to roll her eyes, "it was just a bit of fun!"

"Someone could have been hurt, you nearly scared the wits out of your father!"

Gilly tried to keep a straight face.

"This isn't a laughing matter!" Eglatine scolded Pippin.

"That's right it certainly isn't," Esmerelda replied, finally letting go of Merry.

"It's time you learned to act mature Gilly," Matilda said, Gilly knew her mothers look. Drawn face, lips pressed into a tight line, Matilda was furious and it would be fatal for Gilly to cross her.

"Matilda's right," Esmerelda nodded her head, "it's time you all learned some maturity!"

"I hope you weren't looking at my Peregrin, Esmerelda. If Pippin's told me correct it was Merry's idea to light the silly firework in the first place!"

"Pippin is a bad influence!"

"Merry's the bad influence!"

"Mum!" Pippin exclaimed, "it was just a joke!"

Merry nodded, "just a joke!"

Esmerelda looked over to Gilly, "well how about Gilly? What does she have to say for herself."

"Gilly had nothing really to do with it, did you Gilly? They talked you into it didn't they?" Matilda said looking at Gilly pleadingly.

Gilly was about to reply when Eglatine beat her too it.

"Don't be daft Matilda, you know as well as I do that Merry, Pippin and Gilly have been running around causing mischief since they were children."

"Don't delude yourself Matilda," Esmerelda cut in.

"I beg your pardon?" Matilda shot back.

Merry shot Pippin a look and they both looked at Gilly. Gilly's cheeks were flushed and she wished she could just crawl into a hole in the ground.

Pippin coughed and motioned to the field where Gilly saw everyone slowly making their way home. She nodded and inched over to where they were standing. The three of them backed away as slowly as they could and turned themselves slowly around.

"Pippin!"

"Merry!"

"Gilly!"

"You get back here!"

"Run!" Pippin shouted and the three of them sprinted down the field, their mothers screaming after them.

"Come on!" Merry shouted but Gilly found it much harder to run with a skirt wrapped around her legs, he reached out and grabbed her hand pulling her along. Gilly heard a loud rip and cursed when she felt the cool night air on her legs.


The three of them kept running until they reached the edge of the forest, a good mile from the field they all dropped onto the cool grass and tried to catch their breath.

Gilly gulped in breaths of fresh air.

"If we want to live to see tomorrow," Pippin said dropping his head onto his arms, "I suggest we keep running and never come back."

"My mother is going to kill me!" Gilly cried out. Merry shifted and Gilly looked over and saw they were still holding hands. She snatched her hand away and brushed it across what was left of her skirt.

Pippin suddenly began to laugh.

"What?" Gilly demanded, "what's so funny?"

"Nothing," He giggled, "just, I don't think I've ever seen Aunt. Esmerelda so mad in her entire life!"

Gilly covered her hand and began to giggle herself. If she thought about it, it had been pretty funny. Then Gilly remembered her Mother's look and the talking to she was going to get when she went home.

"What's the matter Gilly?" Merry wondered, "you look as if you've been sentenced to death!"

Gilly looked over at Merry, "I have been," she pushed herself to her feet, "I better get home." Who knew what was in store for her, but she figured it would fair her better to go sooner as opposed too later.

Merry and Pippin watched her go, dragging her feet and holding her hands in front of her, as if she was marching into the very pits of Mordor.



Let me know what you think, but no flames please!