Disclaimer: Nope. Not a one of em is mine. ::hangs head:: How I wish I had
been creative enough to think of Lord of the Rings.
Estella Brandybuck-Nope. This isn't the last chapter. One more left after this. An unlucky 13 chapters. I'm glad you liked Bilbo!!!!! Poor everyone, but it's for the best in the long run.
bailymag-Yup, it was from that song! Thing is I haven't seen that movie in YEARS. Thanks!!
LOTR Board Comments
*big smiles* That was a lovely chapter!-Lothithil (Thank you!!!)
Pip, please don't say these are coming to an end! More, please, more!! You're wonderful-Silivren Ithildin (This one is, yes. One more chapter and thank you!!)
Awwww! They are so cute. ((Merry, Beri, and Frodo)) That was a great one Pip!-Belladonna Took (Little hobbits are cute and so are their tweenaged older cousins. Thank you!!!!
That was a great chapter! *smiles*-Queen of Gondor (THANKS!!!!)
Aw, yay! *applauds enthusiastically* Good one Pip! =)-evermind (LOL. Thank you!!)
That is so sweet. Very good chapter.-Orangeblossom Took (Aw, thank you!)
I'm really enjoying this inkling keep up the good work-vaires (Glad you like it!!!)
Chapter Twelve-Visits
"Merry, Berilac, hurry up you two! Frodo will be here soon!" Essy called down to the river where the two cousins played.
"Let's go, Beri. I don't want to miss him." Merry ran quickly out of the river. He and Beri had been standing, shin deep, splashing each other. "I'm so glad he's coming."
Beri followed swiftly behind Merry. Since Frodo's departure, he had spent more time at Brandy Hall, playing with his cousin. "Me, too, Merry. I do wish he could've come to my birthday."
"If he had, that would have been wonderful! We could've seen each other a whole month sooner." Merry smiled at Beri. "But we had fun, just the two of us."
"I'm glad we're friends again, Merry."
Merry stopped suddenly and looked at his older cousin. "Beri," he said. "Stop that."
Beri stopped, too and went to Merry's side. "Stop? Stop what, Merry?"
"Beri, we were always friends. You know that."
"If you say so, Merry. Come on, we'd better get going." Beri held out his hand.
Merry sighed, grabbed his cousin's hand, and headed toward Brandy Hall. He was happy Beri had been spending more time at Brandy Hall. He deeply enjoyed his cousin's company. He didn't, however, like Beri's assumption they had ever been any but friends. He loved his cousin very much. As much as Frodo, Merry had come to realize and he hoped he could convince Beri that is was true.
Essy shook her head as the lads made their way to her. Both her son and her nephew were soaking wet. "You two..." She sighed. "Go on in and get into some dry clothes."
"But, Mother, we might miss Frodo! We can change later, please?" Merry tugged on his mother's hand. "Please?"
Essy looked at the two lads. She had to smile at how close they had become over the past few months, and she had a feeling it was because of something Frodo had said. "Fine, but don't come coughing to me if you get sick." She turned and went inside.
Merry couldn't sit still. He was very excited to see Frodo again. The only contact they had had for the past few months were letters. He began pacing back and forth.
"Merry, please, if we really are friends, sit down. You're making me dizzy."
Merry sat on the grass beside Beri. "Why did you think we weren't friends before, Ber?"
Beri shrugged. "You were always playing with Frodo and I played by myself. When I did play with Frodo, you were sad. I didn't want you to be sad and run away again." He looked down at the ground and picked at the grass.
"I'm sorry, Beri. I always thought of you as a friend, even when I didn't act like it. I was very sad when you moved. We're cousins though, and friends for life. I never meant to make you feel otherwise."
Beri looked curiously at Merry. "You were sad when I moved?"
"Well, yes. Frodo was fun and all, but he didn't understand some things, like playing in mud. I preferred rolling around in it and being dirty. He always used to rush us in to be cleaned."
"Older cousins can be a bore," Beri said, laughing.
Merry laughed. "You're an older cousin, Beri."
"Only by two years. That doesn't count." He began to pick grass of his wet trousers. "I'm covered in grass!"
"See, you are an older cousin!" Merry fell back with laughter.
Beri eyed his cousin. He thought for a moment before jumping on top of Merry. The two were deep into a playful wrestling match when a wagon came up the lane.
"What are you two doing?" asked a voice.
Merry and Beri both looked up. They jumped to their feet and ran to their cousin.
"Frodo!" Merry exclaimed as he hugged his cousin.
"It's good to see you both," Frodo replied as he hugged both lads at the same time. "I hope you two are having fun together," he said as the pulled away to look at his two cousins.
They nodded in unison, looking very much like brothers at that moment. Both had the same light brown hair and the same facial features. They were also both very dirty and wet, the same look of mischief playing in their eyes. The only difference Frodo could see was their eye color, as Beri's light blue eyes sharply contrasted with Merry's grey ones.
"Look at you two. Are you sure you aren't some other cousins of mine? You can't be Merry and Beri."
"Frodo," Merry said, rolling his eyes. "You know it's us."
"I guess I just never noticed how alike you two look."
Merry looked over at Beri who just shrugged his shoulders.
"We missed you, Frodo. Brandy Hall just isn't the same, but at least Beri's been coming over more."
"Has he?" Frodo looked over at Beri and winked. "Wonderful. So Merry, you're going to be...twenty?"
"No," said Merry, laughing.
"Thirty-three?"
"NO!" Merry giggled.
"Well, how old are you going to be then?"
"Eight, Frodo, eight!"
"Oh, eight." He turned and looked at Beri. "I must be confusing you with Beri here. You just turned twenty right?"
"No, Frodo and before you ask, I didn't turn thirty-three either. I'm ten now!" Beri stood up straight, very proud of his latest age.
"So you are." He hugged Beri tightly. "I'm sorry I missed your birthday. We were going to come, but I came down with a small cold." At the looks of concern on his younger cousins' faces, Frodo smiled. "Don't worry, you two. I'm fine now."
"You're here now, Frodo. Besides, you are closer to Merry." Beri held up a small hand before Frodo could respond. "I know you love me and are close to me, but don't try and tell me you aren't closer to Merry."
Frodo smiled softly at Beri before kissing the top of his head. He did the same to Merry before standing up. He took a hold of their hands and the three walked inside.
"Aunt Essy," he called.
"Frodo-lad!" She came out of the kitchen and went over to Frodo. "Look at you." She hugged him tightly.
"I've only been gone a few months, Aunt."
"Still. I can see a change in you." She brushed his hair back from his face. "You keeping old Bilbo in line?"
"Yes, ma'am. He's wonderful. I'm glad I went to stay with him, even if it meant leaving here."
"I'm glad you're happy, Frodo," Merry said as he squeezed Frodo's hand. "Besides, without you here, there's more food for me to eat."
"Merry! Off with you and Berilac now. Change into some dry clothes. I'd like to catch up with my Frodo-lad."
"Wait, Mother. Can I tell him about Uncle Paladin and Aunt Tine?"
Essy smiled. "Of course, love."
"Frodo, Aunt Tine's going to have another baby! They told us at Beri's birthday." Merry jumped up and down, tugging on Frodo's hand.
"That is great news, Merry."
"Alright, you told him. Now you two go and get changed before I do it for you."
Merry and Beri nodded and headed down the hall towards Merry's room.
Merry leaned over and said, "I do hope they have a lad. I need another lad cousin to play with."
"Me, too," replied Beri. "We can teach him everything we know."
Essy whispered into Frodo's ear. "Why does that worry me?"
Estella Brandybuck-Nope. This isn't the last chapter. One more left after this. An unlucky 13 chapters. I'm glad you liked Bilbo!!!!! Poor everyone, but it's for the best in the long run.
bailymag-Yup, it was from that song! Thing is I haven't seen that movie in YEARS. Thanks!!
LOTR Board Comments
*big smiles* That was a lovely chapter!-Lothithil (Thank you!!!)
Pip, please don't say these are coming to an end! More, please, more!! You're wonderful-Silivren Ithildin (This one is, yes. One more chapter and thank you!!)
Awwww! They are so cute. ((Merry, Beri, and Frodo)) That was a great one Pip!-Belladonna Took (Little hobbits are cute and so are their tweenaged older cousins. Thank you!!!!
That was a great chapter! *smiles*-Queen of Gondor (THANKS!!!!)
Aw, yay! *applauds enthusiastically* Good one Pip! =)-evermind (LOL. Thank you!!)
That is so sweet. Very good chapter.-Orangeblossom Took (Aw, thank you!)
I'm really enjoying this inkling keep up the good work-vaires (Glad you like it!!!)
Chapter Twelve-Visits
"Merry, Berilac, hurry up you two! Frodo will be here soon!" Essy called down to the river where the two cousins played.
"Let's go, Beri. I don't want to miss him." Merry ran quickly out of the river. He and Beri had been standing, shin deep, splashing each other. "I'm so glad he's coming."
Beri followed swiftly behind Merry. Since Frodo's departure, he had spent more time at Brandy Hall, playing with his cousin. "Me, too, Merry. I do wish he could've come to my birthday."
"If he had, that would have been wonderful! We could've seen each other a whole month sooner." Merry smiled at Beri. "But we had fun, just the two of us."
"I'm glad we're friends again, Merry."
Merry stopped suddenly and looked at his older cousin. "Beri," he said. "Stop that."
Beri stopped, too and went to Merry's side. "Stop? Stop what, Merry?"
"Beri, we were always friends. You know that."
"If you say so, Merry. Come on, we'd better get going." Beri held out his hand.
Merry sighed, grabbed his cousin's hand, and headed toward Brandy Hall. He was happy Beri had been spending more time at Brandy Hall. He deeply enjoyed his cousin's company. He didn't, however, like Beri's assumption they had ever been any but friends. He loved his cousin very much. As much as Frodo, Merry had come to realize and he hoped he could convince Beri that is was true.
Essy shook her head as the lads made their way to her. Both her son and her nephew were soaking wet. "You two..." She sighed. "Go on in and get into some dry clothes."
"But, Mother, we might miss Frodo! We can change later, please?" Merry tugged on his mother's hand. "Please?"
Essy looked at the two lads. She had to smile at how close they had become over the past few months, and she had a feeling it was because of something Frodo had said. "Fine, but don't come coughing to me if you get sick." She turned and went inside.
Merry couldn't sit still. He was very excited to see Frodo again. The only contact they had had for the past few months were letters. He began pacing back and forth.
"Merry, please, if we really are friends, sit down. You're making me dizzy."
Merry sat on the grass beside Beri. "Why did you think we weren't friends before, Ber?"
Beri shrugged. "You were always playing with Frodo and I played by myself. When I did play with Frodo, you were sad. I didn't want you to be sad and run away again." He looked down at the ground and picked at the grass.
"I'm sorry, Beri. I always thought of you as a friend, even when I didn't act like it. I was very sad when you moved. We're cousins though, and friends for life. I never meant to make you feel otherwise."
Beri looked curiously at Merry. "You were sad when I moved?"
"Well, yes. Frodo was fun and all, but he didn't understand some things, like playing in mud. I preferred rolling around in it and being dirty. He always used to rush us in to be cleaned."
"Older cousins can be a bore," Beri said, laughing.
Merry laughed. "You're an older cousin, Beri."
"Only by two years. That doesn't count." He began to pick grass of his wet trousers. "I'm covered in grass!"
"See, you are an older cousin!" Merry fell back with laughter.
Beri eyed his cousin. He thought for a moment before jumping on top of Merry. The two were deep into a playful wrestling match when a wagon came up the lane.
"What are you two doing?" asked a voice.
Merry and Beri both looked up. They jumped to their feet and ran to their cousin.
"Frodo!" Merry exclaimed as he hugged his cousin.
"It's good to see you both," Frodo replied as he hugged both lads at the same time. "I hope you two are having fun together," he said as the pulled away to look at his two cousins.
They nodded in unison, looking very much like brothers at that moment. Both had the same light brown hair and the same facial features. They were also both very dirty and wet, the same look of mischief playing in their eyes. The only difference Frodo could see was their eye color, as Beri's light blue eyes sharply contrasted with Merry's grey ones.
"Look at you two. Are you sure you aren't some other cousins of mine? You can't be Merry and Beri."
"Frodo," Merry said, rolling his eyes. "You know it's us."
"I guess I just never noticed how alike you two look."
Merry looked over at Beri who just shrugged his shoulders.
"We missed you, Frodo. Brandy Hall just isn't the same, but at least Beri's been coming over more."
"Has he?" Frodo looked over at Beri and winked. "Wonderful. So Merry, you're going to be...twenty?"
"No," said Merry, laughing.
"Thirty-three?"
"NO!" Merry giggled.
"Well, how old are you going to be then?"
"Eight, Frodo, eight!"
"Oh, eight." He turned and looked at Beri. "I must be confusing you with Beri here. You just turned twenty right?"
"No, Frodo and before you ask, I didn't turn thirty-three either. I'm ten now!" Beri stood up straight, very proud of his latest age.
"So you are." He hugged Beri tightly. "I'm sorry I missed your birthday. We were going to come, but I came down with a small cold." At the looks of concern on his younger cousins' faces, Frodo smiled. "Don't worry, you two. I'm fine now."
"You're here now, Frodo. Besides, you are closer to Merry." Beri held up a small hand before Frodo could respond. "I know you love me and are close to me, but don't try and tell me you aren't closer to Merry."
Frodo smiled softly at Beri before kissing the top of his head. He did the same to Merry before standing up. He took a hold of their hands and the three walked inside.
"Aunt Essy," he called.
"Frodo-lad!" She came out of the kitchen and went over to Frodo. "Look at you." She hugged him tightly.
"I've only been gone a few months, Aunt."
"Still. I can see a change in you." She brushed his hair back from his face. "You keeping old Bilbo in line?"
"Yes, ma'am. He's wonderful. I'm glad I went to stay with him, even if it meant leaving here."
"I'm glad you're happy, Frodo," Merry said as he squeezed Frodo's hand. "Besides, without you here, there's more food for me to eat."
"Merry! Off with you and Berilac now. Change into some dry clothes. I'd like to catch up with my Frodo-lad."
"Wait, Mother. Can I tell him about Uncle Paladin and Aunt Tine?"
Essy smiled. "Of course, love."
"Frodo, Aunt Tine's going to have another baby! They told us at Beri's birthday." Merry jumped up and down, tugging on Frodo's hand.
"That is great news, Merry."
"Alright, you told him. Now you two go and get changed before I do it for you."
Merry and Beri nodded and headed down the hall towards Merry's room.
Merry leaned over and said, "I do hope they have a lad. I need another lad cousin to play with."
"Me, too," replied Beri. "We can teach him everything we know."
Essy whispered into Frodo's ear. "Why does that worry me?"