Ahh! I've taken so long to update this story! With finals, and holidays,
and Return of the King (ok, that's' not much of an excuse) I've waited so
long to update! There should only be a few more chapters of this story
left, sadly *sniff*!!
In the middle of the chapter, times will change. I hate just breaking in the middle of the story, but I didn't want to make a whole new chapter... ;)
Chapter 10: Musicians Required
~·· ··÷¦÷·· ·· ··· ··÷¦÷·· ·· ··· ··÷¦÷·· ··~
Tiny stars sparkled overhead outside his open window in a sea of black and yellow and red leaves twirled down in the wind. Pippin was up against his bedpost on the floor with his fiddle in his arms. It was like brand new; the bridge Merry so urgently got for Pippin supported all four of his strings and it shined in the dark. It looked as though the fiddle had never been harmed and Pippin absentmindedly strummed the strings. Silent tears streamed down his face as he looked up towards the sky.
The memory of his father only minutes ago was fresh in his mind. He hadn't said much and that's what hurt Pippin the most.
-
Paladin had nimbly loosened the strings and removed the broken E string from the peg. He had a drawer of fiddle strings in his desk and Pippin gaped at the rows of strings. "I had broken many strings in my first years of playing," Paladin said in a hushed voice but Pippin didn't find any comfort in those words that ringed in his head.
After he fixed and tied the string in, he slipped the new bridge in under the strings and Pippin remembered his stumbling words as he tried to explain what happened and how he got the bridge but his Da had said nothing. After the bridge was fit in place, he gave the fiddle to Pippin and his eyes stung with tears as his father held the broken bridge of his grandfather's fiddle.
Pippin left for the door ashamed with his fiddle and case when his Da said quietly, "Peregrin.....I never thought of anything like this to happen with the fiddle in your possession. Now that it has, I am afraid I cannot trust you with such responsibilities---until you are older. The fiddle is still yours, but I expect that you will only play the fiddle inside this smial and that you will repay Mr. Meriadoc for getting this bridge for you."
"B-b-but Da?" Pippin stuttered as he tried not to cry in front of this father but he shook his head. "No, Pip," He said, "The fiddle is only to be played inside our smial." Pippin nodded painfully as he shut the door behind him.
-
He choked back his sobs as he thought about his Da's words. He never remembered a time when he cried as much as he did now, but knowing that his father didn't trust him at his age broke his heart. Through out the night, he tried to think of how he would regain some of that trust and make it up to his Da. His mind was blank.
~*~*~
The Shire, Brandy Hall,
3001, The Third Age
Brandy Hall was buzzing with energy, full of busy hobbits on errands and little hobbit children running down the corridors. The afternoon was late and the sun blazed outside as Pippin and Merry were in the living chamber, concentrating on their game.
"Nice move, Pip, but did you consider my piece over here?" Merry asked and laughed openly as he watched Pippin's dumbfounded look as he jumped two of his red disks.
"No matter how hard I try, you always seem to sneak a move on me! Maybe I need to watch you closer under my eye, just to make sure you don't have secret chips under your sleeves!" Pippin joked and he surrendered with his last piece.
"Another round?" Pippin asked but Merry studied the large Buckland wall clock across the room.
"Perhaps later, Pip, but first, I need you to follow me somewhere," Merry swiftly collected the checkerboard and pieces into its box and tucked it under the table. He grabbed Pippin's wrist and dragged him into the hallway.
"Well, you've successfully caught my curiosity, Merry! Where are we going?" Pippin asked looking at the passing doors on his right but Merry grinned mischievously.
They came to a large gathering area in Brandy Hall where most of the meetings took place. But since there were usually none in the middle of summertime, it stayed empty, save for small events. When Merry opened the heavy oak doors to the room, it was busy with scattered chatter and the familiar sound of fiddles in the air. There was a handful of hobbits from all around the Shire, tuning and practicing their instruments and some were playing duets and ensembles with one another. On the wall was a large poster that read:
-
BILBO'S 111TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
SEPTEMBER THE 22ND
Musicians Required
{ Music Groups of All Types Welcome }
Where: Brandy Hall, Buckland
When: 1st Meeting- 4:00 of Afternoon
~ Thereafter: Every Thursday at 2:00
For: Mr. Bilbo Baggins's Celebration
[Musical Conditions: Experienced]
-
"Merry! I've never seen so many musicians before in one place! In fact, I've never really met one before except for my own Da!" Pippin gasped and Merry pat him on the back.
"Now, you do not think I just took you here to watch them play, did you?" Merry said but Pippin's happiness faltered.
"I don't know, Merry. How can I join in? I haven't got a fiddle with me and I have told you before about my Da's expectations now with my fiddle," Pippin explained as he yearned to play along with the hobbits.
"Pip! Just like in checkers, you don't think I plan ahead, nor listen! I have it all prepared for you, and all you need to do is tighten up a fiddle bow and play along!" Merry said and he guided Pippin over to a chair. An old fiddle case was sitting on the floor and sheets of music were laid out on his music stand. "I found it lying in an old abandoned storage room here in ol' Brandy Hall. Doubt anyone's going to miss it; it was buried under about an inch of dust when I finally recognized it was a fiddle!" Merry said and Pippin jumped up and hugged him.
"I can't live with out you, Merry! You do so much for me!" He cried and Merry tussled his hair.
"Yes, yes, I know!" Merry bragged freely and he smirked, "You better get ready. It's nearly four and it is best to see if that fiddle is in playing condition! I'll listen over in the corner," Merry said and Pippin eagerly opened the case, his heart bursting to play.
After tuning all his strings and cleaning off the dust on the fiddle, he played some short songs for a warm-up. His fast notes blended and disappeared into the jumble of notes in the air and a young fiddler lass seated next to him, stopped and turned to him.
"That was quite good, pardon me! I was just learning how to hold a fiddle at your age! How old are you?" She asked and Pippin shyly put the fiddle down. Her dark, bouncing curls were pulled back with a green ribbon, which matched her eyes, and her red lips formed a soft smile.
"Nearly eleven years and I have been playing for three." He said and he looked around skeptically, "Am I the youngest one here?"
"Aye, 'fraid so, and I be the youngest lass here! Would you like to try a song together?" She asked and he nodded. They chose a song and before he played, he gave her his hand, "My name is Peregrin Took by the way, but everyone refers to me as Pippin."
She took his hand and smiled, "I'm Estella Bolger. It's nice to meet you, Pippin."
The clock chimed four and after practicing the music given to them, Pippin stopped fiddling after an older hobbit, who managed the group, stood up in front of everybody by the name of Nobfold 'Nobby' Goodbody. He explained the meetings in Brandy Hall every week and what songs they might possibly play. Pippin looked around at the other performers and their instruments; many of the players were fiddlers like himself but there was one fellow who played a large bass; two other females played the pipes, another held some sort of a lute, and ever an older hobbit mistress played the bells.
The meeting went on for another hour, full of playing and practicing and discussion. Pippin kept politely quiet and occasionally glanced over in Merry's direction. The hour flew by and Pippin never had this much fun with a fiddle in a long time.
Nobfold took his final stand in front of everyone before they left and announced in an animated voice, "Don't forget! Same place, next Thursday at 2:00! Song requests are always welcome! Many thanks to all!"
Pippin packed his fiddle away and came up to Merry who stretched loudly, "Merry, how will I thank you for everything?" He asked and Merry grabbed the case from his hand.
"Just promise me next week there will be less discussion and livelier music! I practically dozed off there at the end! Maybe next week I will wait for you in the Living Chamber instead," Merry yawned and he held the door open for the hobbits with instruments in their hands.
Estella came up to Pippin at the doorway and said, "Pleasure playin' with you, Pippin-lad. I'll be seeing you next week!" She smiled to Pippin and then sweetly to Merry and left.
Merry's eyes widened towards Pippin and he cleared his throat, "On the other hand, I'll make sure I'll be here next week during your practice." He put his arm over his shoulder and Pippin laughed as Merry smiled delightfully.
In the middle of the chapter, times will change. I hate just breaking in the middle of the story, but I didn't want to make a whole new chapter... ;)
Chapter 10: Musicians Required
~·· ··÷¦÷·· ·· ··· ··÷¦÷·· ·· ··· ··÷¦÷·· ··~
Tiny stars sparkled overhead outside his open window in a sea of black and yellow and red leaves twirled down in the wind. Pippin was up against his bedpost on the floor with his fiddle in his arms. It was like brand new; the bridge Merry so urgently got for Pippin supported all four of his strings and it shined in the dark. It looked as though the fiddle had never been harmed and Pippin absentmindedly strummed the strings. Silent tears streamed down his face as he looked up towards the sky.
The memory of his father only minutes ago was fresh in his mind. He hadn't said much and that's what hurt Pippin the most.
-
Paladin had nimbly loosened the strings and removed the broken E string from the peg. He had a drawer of fiddle strings in his desk and Pippin gaped at the rows of strings. "I had broken many strings in my first years of playing," Paladin said in a hushed voice but Pippin didn't find any comfort in those words that ringed in his head.
After he fixed and tied the string in, he slipped the new bridge in under the strings and Pippin remembered his stumbling words as he tried to explain what happened and how he got the bridge but his Da had said nothing. After the bridge was fit in place, he gave the fiddle to Pippin and his eyes stung with tears as his father held the broken bridge of his grandfather's fiddle.
Pippin left for the door ashamed with his fiddle and case when his Da said quietly, "Peregrin.....I never thought of anything like this to happen with the fiddle in your possession. Now that it has, I am afraid I cannot trust you with such responsibilities---until you are older. The fiddle is still yours, but I expect that you will only play the fiddle inside this smial and that you will repay Mr. Meriadoc for getting this bridge for you."
"B-b-but Da?" Pippin stuttered as he tried not to cry in front of this father but he shook his head. "No, Pip," He said, "The fiddle is only to be played inside our smial." Pippin nodded painfully as he shut the door behind him.
-
He choked back his sobs as he thought about his Da's words. He never remembered a time when he cried as much as he did now, but knowing that his father didn't trust him at his age broke his heart. Through out the night, he tried to think of how he would regain some of that trust and make it up to his Da. His mind was blank.
~*~*~
The Shire, Brandy Hall,
3001, The Third Age
Brandy Hall was buzzing with energy, full of busy hobbits on errands and little hobbit children running down the corridors. The afternoon was late and the sun blazed outside as Pippin and Merry were in the living chamber, concentrating on their game.
"Nice move, Pip, but did you consider my piece over here?" Merry asked and laughed openly as he watched Pippin's dumbfounded look as he jumped two of his red disks.
"No matter how hard I try, you always seem to sneak a move on me! Maybe I need to watch you closer under my eye, just to make sure you don't have secret chips under your sleeves!" Pippin joked and he surrendered with his last piece.
"Another round?" Pippin asked but Merry studied the large Buckland wall clock across the room.
"Perhaps later, Pip, but first, I need you to follow me somewhere," Merry swiftly collected the checkerboard and pieces into its box and tucked it under the table. He grabbed Pippin's wrist and dragged him into the hallway.
"Well, you've successfully caught my curiosity, Merry! Where are we going?" Pippin asked looking at the passing doors on his right but Merry grinned mischievously.
They came to a large gathering area in Brandy Hall where most of the meetings took place. But since there were usually none in the middle of summertime, it stayed empty, save for small events. When Merry opened the heavy oak doors to the room, it was busy with scattered chatter and the familiar sound of fiddles in the air. There was a handful of hobbits from all around the Shire, tuning and practicing their instruments and some were playing duets and ensembles with one another. On the wall was a large poster that read:
-
BILBO'S 111TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
SEPTEMBER THE 22ND
Musicians Required
{ Music Groups of All Types Welcome }
Where: Brandy Hall, Buckland
When: 1st Meeting- 4:00 of Afternoon
~ Thereafter: Every Thursday at 2:00
For: Mr. Bilbo Baggins's Celebration
[Musical Conditions: Experienced]
-
"Merry! I've never seen so many musicians before in one place! In fact, I've never really met one before except for my own Da!" Pippin gasped and Merry pat him on the back.
"Now, you do not think I just took you here to watch them play, did you?" Merry said but Pippin's happiness faltered.
"I don't know, Merry. How can I join in? I haven't got a fiddle with me and I have told you before about my Da's expectations now with my fiddle," Pippin explained as he yearned to play along with the hobbits.
"Pip! Just like in checkers, you don't think I plan ahead, nor listen! I have it all prepared for you, and all you need to do is tighten up a fiddle bow and play along!" Merry said and he guided Pippin over to a chair. An old fiddle case was sitting on the floor and sheets of music were laid out on his music stand. "I found it lying in an old abandoned storage room here in ol' Brandy Hall. Doubt anyone's going to miss it; it was buried under about an inch of dust when I finally recognized it was a fiddle!" Merry said and Pippin jumped up and hugged him.
"I can't live with out you, Merry! You do so much for me!" He cried and Merry tussled his hair.
"Yes, yes, I know!" Merry bragged freely and he smirked, "You better get ready. It's nearly four and it is best to see if that fiddle is in playing condition! I'll listen over in the corner," Merry said and Pippin eagerly opened the case, his heart bursting to play.
After tuning all his strings and cleaning off the dust on the fiddle, he played some short songs for a warm-up. His fast notes blended and disappeared into the jumble of notes in the air and a young fiddler lass seated next to him, stopped and turned to him.
"That was quite good, pardon me! I was just learning how to hold a fiddle at your age! How old are you?" She asked and Pippin shyly put the fiddle down. Her dark, bouncing curls were pulled back with a green ribbon, which matched her eyes, and her red lips formed a soft smile.
"Nearly eleven years and I have been playing for three." He said and he looked around skeptically, "Am I the youngest one here?"
"Aye, 'fraid so, and I be the youngest lass here! Would you like to try a song together?" She asked and he nodded. They chose a song and before he played, he gave her his hand, "My name is Peregrin Took by the way, but everyone refers to me as Pippin."
She took his hand and smiled, "I'm Estella Bolger. It's nice to meet you, Pippin."
The clock chimed four and after practicing the music given to them, Pippin stopped fiddling after an older hobbit, who managed the group, stood up in front of everybody by the name of Nobfold 'Nobby' Goodbody. He explained the meetings in Brandy Hall every week and what songs they might possibly play. Pippin looked around at the other performers and their instruments; many of the players were fiddlers like himself but there was one fellow who played a large bass; two other females played the pipes, another held some sort of a lute, and ever an older hobbit mistress played the bells.
The meeting went on for another hour, full of playing and practicing and discussion. Pippin kept politely quiet and occasionally glanced over in Merry's direction. The hour flew by and Pippin never had this much fun with a fiddle in a long time.
Nobfold took his final stand in front of everyone before they left and announced in an animated voice, "Don't forget! Same place, next Thursday at 2:00! Song requests are always welcome! Many thanks to all!"
Pippin packed his fiddle away and came up to Merry who stretched loudly, "Merry, how will I thank you for everything?" He asked and Merry grabbed the case from his hand.
"Just promise me next week there will be less discussion and livelier music! I practically dozed off there at the end! Maybe next week I will wait for you in the Living Chamber instead," Merry yawned and he held the door open for the hobbits with instruments in their hands.
Estella came up to Pippin at the doorway and said, "Pleasure playin' with you, Pippin-lad. I'll be seeing you next week!" She smiled to Pippin and then sweetly to Merry and left.
Merry's eyes widened towards Pippin and he cleared his throat, "On the other hand, I'll make sure I'll be here next week during your practice." He put his arm over his shoulder and Pippin laughed as Merry smiled delightfully.
