Pippin's Fiddle

A/N: I couldn't find a record anywhere about if Pippin actually lived in the Great Smials in his childhood or in a regular hobbit-hole near Tuckborough. So in my story, he will be living by Tuckborough, not too far from Whitwell. ;)

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Year 2998, The Third Age

The pale hot sun was already high above the grassy fields of the Shire that morning when the young son of Saradoc trudged up the hill. He had been walking for quite some time now, traveling to no particular place. He loved his freedom in the Shire and found himself walking aimlessly alone at times, just breathing the fresh air. He reached the peak of the hill and saw Thistle Book winding its way to the woods. He skipped and tumbled down the hill and to the edge of the glittering water. He followed it to the border of Woody End and wiped the sweat off his brow.

He peeled his clothes off and slowly stepped in the shallow pool. After he had cooled off, he clothed himself once more and sat under the shade of a lone tree away from the forest. The ground encircling the big tree's roots was soft and he picked up a stick by his feet. He scratched 'M-B' into the mud and drew little pictures on the side. A yellow leaf fell down on top of his drawings and he brushed it aside. It was only a few seconds later until three more delicate leaves twirled down by his toes. He looked above him and laughed.

"Peregrin Took, is it not? And I thought the seasons were changing!" Merry Brandybuck said playfully on his feet and his arms crossed, "How long has it been since you've been up there?"

"An hour or so, I suppose. I fell asleep up here on the branches and woke up when I heard you splashing in the creek," Pippin said and he climbed out onto one of the longest branches and hung there, swinging his legs.

"Come down, let me see how you have grown," Merry said and Pippin jumped down and stood in front of Merry. He placed a thumb on his forehead, "About a thumbs-length since I've seen you."

Pippin smirked, "You sound like one of my elder relatives." He smiled wide and wrapped his arms around him in a hearty hug. Merry looked into Pippin's young, bright eyes, almost hidden by his wavy, sun-tipped locks. His cheeks were flushed on his white, fair face and Merry ruffled his fingers through his best friend's hair.

"Would your elders do this?" Merry asked and picked up the struggling Pippin and flung him into the middle of the small stream. Pippin coughed in surprise and pulled Merry in by his knees. They splashed the cold water onto each other's faces and chased each other by the bank, Pippin leapt out of the brook, shivering; his wet clothes were clinging to his skinny body.

"I always have so much fun with you," Pippin said, grinning weakly. He started to wring his shirt dry and Merry still swam in the brook.

"I am sorry for not coming down as often as I used to. I have been busy in Buckland and with my father, but I would come down everyday, if I could, to see my dear friend," said Merry and he winked. He took a rock from the floor of the pool and threw it downstream, "What are you doing down here in this part of the Shire anyway?" He asked.

"Oh, I don't know. I have nothing to do at home anymore. I am not interested in what my mother and sisters do and Pa is usually down in Whitwell farming. My ma encourages me to learn and read, but books have never been as fun as running outside and such," Pippin admitted and shook his wet head.

"It only becomes fun when you don't think of it as work," Merry advised and came out finally, soaking wet. He had a feeling Pippin had not told anyone where he went off to and took Pippin's hand. "Let's go, and I'll get you home before luncheon," Merry encouraged and Pippin rubbed his stomach and they laughed.

They made their long way to Pippin's smial and crossed through the Green Hill Country. They descended down a hill and Tuckborough and Tookbank came to view, They were fully dried by the time they came to Pippin's home, but there were still signs of mud and dirt on their pants and sleeves.

Eglantine Took was busily taking down her dry clothes off the line, but her thoughts were far from laundry. She looked behind her shoulders every few minutes and her hands trembled and she unpinned her clean clothes. She placed them neatly in her wicker basket and looked down the trail for any signs of her son's feet treading home. She dropped her basket and ran over to the two hobbits, with the thought of her clean laundry (now spilled on the ground) far from her mind. Pimpernel and Pervinca also stopped to see their mother running towards the hobbits.

"Peregrin Took, there is no doubt in my mind that you have pure Took blood runnin' in your veins!" Eglantine said sternly, "I was worried beyond words when I found you missing right after the sun had risen! Your sisters and I were on our knees looking for you...and I'm so glad you're safe at home," She sighed out of frustration and her eyes her shining with tears.

He bowed his head, "I'm sorry, Mama, but I can take care of myself." Pippin persisted but Eglantine swooped her son in a hug, "Not as long as I am alive. Thank you dearly, Meriadoc, for making sure he got home."

"Anything for a Took," He said and smiled at Pimpernel and Pervinca, "I best be off to my own home. I don't want to be a burden---"

"Nonsense! Pearl is in the kitchen helping me prepare dinner and there is soup on the table. Will you join us? We always love it when you come to stay for a while," Eglantine offered with a warm smile and Merry gladly excepted.

The bright yellow kitchen was welcoming with the warmth and smell of food. Bowls of steaming soup were bordering the table and they sat down to eat. At first Merry grabbed for a wooden stool but Mrs. Took let him sit in Paladin's chair, which made him feel uncomfortably small. The soup was gone in no time in Pippin's bowl and he had to stop himself from asking for seconds when he realized that there was none left.

"Thank you for the soup, Ma," Pimpernel said and everyone joined in and thanked her too.

"No need to thank me, this was all of Pearl's doing," Eglantine said as she praised her daughter. Pearl collected the empty bowls and blushed.

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For the rest of the day, Merry and Pippin stayed outside, doing various things and playing many of their favorite games. Milky clouds brushed the blue sky and the sun started to die, getting ready to be reborn for a new day. The wisps of clouds were tinted with rosy streaks and Paladin's carriage clopped down finally to his home. Pippin and Merry dashed to greet him and Paladin pulled the carriage to the front of his dwelling.

"Da! You're home!" Pippin cried and jumped up to his father's side, "Look's who's come to visit!"

"Aye, I see! Hello, Meriadoc... keeping my son in line, or getting in more mischief?" Paladin asked and he chuckled. He was a tall hobbit and he had light hair and his fair skin had become tan from his farming outside. His knees and elbows showed signs of dirt and his face was weary from the long day.

"A bit of both to keep things interesting," Merry said and laughed, "Well, I've extended my stay too long and I need to get home before morning!"

Paladin knew how far and long Merry would be walking for to finally get home so he unharness his pony and placed the reins in Merry's hands, "Here, take Butterstone and ride her home. It will take you half the time to get home and I would hate to have your parents worry," Paladin directed and Merry looked at Pippin, who started to turn red.

Merry hopped on Butterstone and nod his head, "Bless you, and I hope I can make it over here more often. You'll have your pony back soon, I promise." Merry said and Paladin stroked his pony, "Meriadoc, you are becoming a responsible and mature tweenager. I'm sure young Pip looks up to you. Farewell!" Paladin said honestly and he put his arm around Pippin. Merry kicked the pony's side and the Butterstone galloped away from the sun, towards the East. He turned around for the last time and waved at Pippin. Pippin waved back and his heart sunk. He would do anything to have Merry over everyday. Then, father and son walked back to their smial.

Eglantine hugged her husband and they sat down for dinner. Paladin spoke of his day at Whitwell and of his encounters of hobbit friends and relatives. Pippin sulked by his self and thought of his wonderful day. After dinner, he sat on the long couch in front of the burning fireplace. Pearl was cleaning up in the kitchen and afterward grabbed her book of blank pages and started to write her wonderful short stories and poems. Pimpernel was sketching on her long pieces of paper and drew beautiful images with her pencil. Pervinca sat on the floor by Pimpernel's feet and knitted with her colored yarn. Pippin sighed at his talented sisters and lay his head down on a pillow Pervinca made. Maybe Ma and Da was right, he though, I need to do something with myself instead of playing in trees and such.

He picked up a book off the Took's large bookcase and read the title. The subject of the Family Line of Thains didn't interest him much but he tried to read anyway. His eyes slowly read the lines and after reading the first tedious three pages, his eyes drooped and fell asleep.

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"Pippin...Pippin," Paladin whispered as he shook his son's shoulder. Pippin mumbled and groaned and finally opened his eyes. The fire in the hearth glowed weakly and the room was dark with night shadows.

"Sorry, Dada. I must have drifted off," Pippin said and Paladin helped him stand up. Pippin only called him Dada when they were alone. He felt like the other hobbits would make fun of him if they knew he called him Dada.

Paladin put the large, green tome of Thains back on the shelf and smiled, "Trying to read that book? It's even difficult for me to keep my eyes on the words."

Pippin smiled back at his Da, "I wanted to read because then I could get smart and you would be proud of me."

Paladin frowned, "Now why wouldn't I be proud of my son?"

"Because everyone else has a gift except for me. I just get in trouble, even you say it," Pippin said and they walked down to his room.

"Now Pip, you are still very young. Only eight years of age, and you will find something that interests you. Now come, and if you really want to read I'll find you a fine book," Paladin said and brought them to their only closet in the middle of the hall.

He opened the door and inside was a small shelf of books. Paladin stepped inside and ran his finger over the spines of the books. Pippin waited sleepily when he spotted something by his father's feet. It was a long black box, only with definite shapes and curves, like it was protecting something inside. On the side of the case was gold letters with the name, ' Hildigrim Took' engraved in cursive script.

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I didn't expect this chapter to be so long! I would have stopped it but I wanted to mention a little of the fiddle at the end. If I get any facts or names or spellings wrong, please let me know! That was just the beginning, so please R/R, it means a lot!!