Ch. 41
Merry sat in a corner: the same one he'd planted himself in three days prior. He was starving, but he wouldn't move- his pride overpowered his huger, and the burning of his stomach was nothing compared to his seething anger.
Arwen and Rosie sat side by side, moving from holding hands and feeling the other's swollen bellies to holding their husbands' hands as they too ran their hand over the taught skin. Bloody Hell, thought Merry, rolling his eyes.
Galadriel and Elrond were in opposite corners of the hall, occasionally shooting angry looks at the other, giving the impression of a grand argument. In truth, the argument had ended the previous morning.
Frodo was on a bed, his eyes rolling. This roll, however, was not voluntary. He'd been in quite a state for the past few days. Pippin had not left his side but for a few times each day, now being one of those times. Like that surprises me, thought Merry. He's probably going for a pipe, besides the food.
Legolas and Tarien were currently in one of the bedrooms. As soon as the sun began to set each night, Legolas and Tarien took the room with the view of the rising moon.
Gandalf had taken Gimli out of the hall earlier that day. Merry could see them talking in the kitchen if he shifted just a bit. Gimli almost always had his head shaking in disbelief. Gandalf could often be heard yelling in the tongues of other creatures.
Pippin reentered the room. Rather than going back to Frodo, he sat next to Merry. "What's wrong? And don't tell me nothing again because I know. You're mad."
"I'm not mad." Merry's voice dripped with disdain. The sarcasm was like a poisonous fume, filling every bit of Pippin's mind. "Why should I be mad? It's just good to know now that you're against me. I like to keep a running tally of who's on my side."
Pippin was taken aback. "Against you? I'll never be against you. I'm on your side. What would tell you differently?"
"How long have you known you were going to be a Brown Wizard?"
"Oh, is that what-"
"Let me finish. Who was with you when we thought for sure we were doomed to the fires of Isengard? Who was there by your side when the Rohirrim attacked the Orcs and we had to escape, only to be nearly killed by one? Who was fighting by your side at the battle of Bywater? Who was there-"
"Who was there when you were nearly killed by the Witch-King? Who ensured that you got to the House of the Healing? Me. We've been there for each other, Merry. We're more than friends- we're family. Cousins. No bond could be greater. I only ask that you understand. I never meant for it to even be concealed. It's just.... Frodo came in like...." He motioned towards his friend. "It just happened. Please, understand."
"But I don't understand," Merry whispered. He stood and strode to the door, resting his hand on Frodo for a moment before continuing. Grabbing his jacket and his pipe, he exited Bag-End.
Merry sat in a corner: the same one he'd planted himself in three days prior. He was starving, but he wouldn't move- his pride overpowered his huger, and the burning of his stomach was nothing compared to his seething anger.
Arwen and Rosie sat side by side, moving from holding hands and feeling the other's swollen bellies to holding their husbands' hands as they too ran their hand over the taught skin. Bloody Hell, thought Merry, rolling his eyes.
Galadriel and Elrond were in opposite corners of the hall, occasionally shooting angry looks at the other, giving the impression of a grand argument. In truth, the argument had ended the previous morning.
Frodo was on a bed, his eyes rolling. This roll, however, was not voluntary. He'd been in quite a state for the past few days. Pippin had not left his side but for a few times each day, now being one of those times. Like that surprises me, thought Merry. He's probably going for a pipe, besides the food.
Legolas and Tarien were currently in one of the bedrooms. As soon as the sun began to set each night, Legolas and Tarien took the room with the view of the rising moon.
Gandalf had taken Gimli out of the hall earlier that day. Merry could see them talking in the kitchen if he shifted just a bit. Gimli almost always had his head shaking in disbelief. Gandalf could often be heard yelling in the tongues of other creatures.
Pippin reentered the room. Rather than going back to Frodo, he sat next to Merry. "What's wrong? And don't tell me nothing again because I know. You're mad."
"I'm not mad." Merry's voice dripped with disdain. The sarcasm was like a poisonous fume, filling every bit of Pippin's mind. "Why should I be mad? It's just good to know now that you're against me. I like to keep a running tally of who's on my side."
Pippin was taken aback. "Against you? I'll never be against you. I'm on your side. What would tell you differently?"
"How long have you known you were going to be a Brown Wizard?"
"Oh, is that what-"
"Let me finish. Who was with you when we thought for sure we were doomed to the fires of Isengard? Who was there by your side when the Rohirrim attacked the Orcs and we had to escape, only to be nearly killed by one? Who was fighting by your side at the battle of Bywater? Who was there-"
"Who was there when you were nearly killed by the Witch-King? Who ensured that you got to the House of the Healing? Me. We've been there for each other, Merry. We're more than friends- we're family. Cousins. No bond could be greater. I only ask that you understand. I never meant for it to even be concealed. It's just.... Frodo came in like...." He motioned towards his friend. "It just happened. Please, understand."
"But I don't understand," Merry whispered. He stood and strode to the door, resting his hand on Frodo for a moment before continuing. Grabbing his jacket and his pipe, he exited Bag-End.
