A/N: I've created a profile for Diamond (since I really had no idea how she looked like, honest) and I guess that'll have to stick through to the end of the story. Anyway, I'm a little tired to ramble, so read on! And thank you again for the loyal reviews! :D
Summary:
Pippin is spending a little more time with Diamond than Poppy would like him to… is his best friend getting a little jealous over the two of them? Is Merry getting slightly interested in Poppy?! Oh, the drama!
Disclaimer: need I add more?
Chapter 4 – Don't Go Where I Can't FollowIt seemed like ages had pass by since Diamond had arrived at Poppy's door. She was now well acquainted with the other two hobbit-lads (plainly she was already close to Poppy and Lily-Rose, her family being close in relations to hers) and was always eager to hang around with them. Since then she constantly visited the humble hobbit-hole when chance would offer her, and she would stay over for as long as weeks when she could. Poppy and Lily never really did mind; as they, too, treat Diamond as their own sister (their ages were never too far apart anyway) and they loved her company. Needless to say, Diamond grew a lot closer to Poppy and Lily-Rose (if it was even possible) and, of course, became fonder of Merry and Pippin. Diamond would often visit them along with the Headstrong sisters, and she would spend many afternoons fooling around with them; and the five hobbits would share many picnic-evenings together.
Naturally, Merry and Pippin enjoyed her company as much; she was greatly entertaining, but yet still kept an air of composure, and she was awfully lovable. She was indeed, very pretty too (even among their folk). She was crowned with long, deep, dark curls that swept till her elbow, and set in her eyes were light, hazel gems that glinted cheerfully when she would bubble into sweet mirth. She was slightly taller than Poppy, and was fairer and far less notorious. Diamond certainly had a touch of innocence and purity that no other hobbit had, and everyone loved her. There was nothing not to love about her, really, but only sometimes the other lasses would snarl enviously whenever she passed by.
Clearly, she had many admirers that swept her feet, but like Poppy, she had no pure interest in them. As time went on as a matter of fact, she grew unexpectedly fonder for their cheery green-eyed friend, no other than the ever-stumbling Perigrin Took.
"I think he's adorable, that's why!" Diamond snapped playfully, when she finally told Poppy - who was in choking fits when she found out. Poppy winced at the thought of Diamond liking Pippin, but she would only hearten and support her close friend's preference. Pippin, was, no doubt, 'adorable', if what she really meant was that he was adorably vulnerable, and adorably clumsy. She thought of Di's fancying Pippin awkward at first, but then again, she didn't know why. There wasn't anything wrong with it. He was, her friend of course, and they would always spend willing hours with eachother. Then again she imagined Diamond and Pippin being a perfect couple, especially after that incident when they were both caught by Farmer Maggot…or that time when they baked a cake together for Lily-Rose's birthday last year…or when they were doing this, or doing that…
Poppy huffed at the thought, and maybe, she shouldn't feel too uncomfortable about this, they did seem like the ideal people for eachother, and she wouldn't want to stop Diamond from thinking otherwise. She only noticed that lately Pippin, too, was always spending more time with Diamond and less with herself; when before, when they were younger Poppy and Pippin were inseparable; they were closer to eachother than to Merry or Lily-Rose. Now Poppy would often hang about her sister and her smoky blue-eyed beloved, while Pippin would be about with Diamond somewhere else.
* * *
"Ah, I might think Pippin really fancies her," winked Merry, as the three sat down under a shady tree in the dull afternoon. Poppy only snorted. "That dimwitted klutz? I doubt he would ever like any lass. "
"My, my, are we getting a little jealous?" he snickered in return, Lily-Rose only hanging after Merry's words and not really listening too intently to their subject.
"What would I be jealous about?!" Poppy snapped suddenly. "Why would I be jealous of Diamond if Pippin would always trail after the ribbons on the bow of her hair, or if he's always around her, and I barely even see him anymore?!" Her voice trembled, and she gave Merry (who was now frightfully scared) a fuming glare but her eyes were evidently damp, and were glazed with tears that he hadn't really taken notice of before. Merry was suddenly aware that he had gone too far, and tried to reach out for Poppy. She only jerked back when he came close.
"I think I'm going to go take a walk. Don't try and follow me." she said primly to them both, though her voice was shuddering with swallowed tears. And quickly she had left them, and walked off somewhere distant in the greens of the Shire.
* * *
Later that evening Lily-Rose went back home, and was kindly accompanied by Merry. Though, even until the sun had set they still hadn't heard of any news about Poppy, or Pippin, or of Diamond. Lily-Rose was delirious at the thought of having him for company, but was far too bothered by what happened earlier in the afternoon to really care.
"I've never seen her cry like that before," she breathed.
"I haven't either. I'm really worried about her now…I wonder if she's alright." Lily-Rose was on the verge to cry herself, for she cared really deeply for her sister, and she hoped that nothing wrong would come to her. Merry placed his hand over hers and held it tight. Lily shivered when she felt his warm hand over hers, but felt contented still.
"Don't worry, she'll be alright. I'm sure she will. She'll be back home soon, definitely." He whispered sweet nothings to her, his voice low and coarse, truthful and promising nonetheless. There in the living room they both sat, and waited patiently for Poppy to return.
Hours it seems had passed and still no news of her. Merry finally decided to go and search for Poppy himself.
"Stay here and wait, just in case she gets back. I'll be back soon," he told Lily, and she submissively sat and stayed quiet in the living room, waiting for any news of her sister, or even of Pippin and Diamond. Neither of them had returned, and the night was growing old.
* * *
The moon was pale and round in the dark sky, but the clouds swept across her now and then, and for that Merry could barely see through the shadows of the night. He went from door to door, asking about her, and searched high and low, but his attempts were in vain. He was now tired and weary, and it was getting late. Still, he roamed through the night, searching ceaselessly for Poppy.
And when he felt he would come to no avail, he found her: a little shadow lying against a tall tree on a steep hill, small and crouched. He climbed up and came closer to her, calling out her name. She was hugging her knees silently, but had shook a little when she heard him. Not a few feet from her stood a huffing Merry, as she peeped through her golden curls that were marring her view. She looked up at him, and gave him a weary smile. His hair was in a horrid mess and his clothes stained with dirt. Evidently he had searched hard for her.
"Come sit with me," she said, patting the grassy earth beside her invitingly. Merry walked close to her and sat there obediently.
The two hobbits sat under the dark tree, and laid before them was a vast view of Hobbiton and the little hobbit-holes, with their round glowing windows and their smoke-clouds that were let from the chimneys.
"It's pretty, isn't it?" she breathed, breaking the silence between them.
"It is," answered Merry. "You could almost see everybody's houses from here. Look, there's Sam's garden! And that's Frodo's place," he said, his voice just audible enough for Poppy to listen. She laughed, and Merry was pleased and happy to hear her when she did. They stayed quiet for a few minutes, but Merry finally spoke again.
"Lily misses you, Poppy. And I bet Pippin does too." Merry said, gazing deep into her clear blue eyes as she watched the view contently. The fine wind brushed her hair, and Merry tucked a loose lock behind her ear. Poppy, perplexed by the sudden gesture, turned to look at him. Merry looked tired and weary, but his glistening eyes showed that he cared deeply for her, and was too concerned to let her off astray again. She finally spoke out.
"I'm sorry I reacted the way I did this afternoon… I really didn't know what came over me…" she trailed off, her words lost in the cool breeze.
"It's my fault. I brought it up, so don't you go put yourself on the blame," he chided softly. "Pippin is a bit of a dimwit, and you were right about that…But he does care for you, klutz or no, more than anything else in the world, I warrant."
"You really think so?"
"Of course!" he uttered earnestly, not a hint of a lie in his eyes.
She smiled again, cheery as she once was before.
"Thank you, Merry." She leaned close to him and brushed his hair aside, planting a kiss on his temple. The latter flushed red to his ears but Poppy only gave out a slight chuckle.
"Let's get back home before your sister goes mad. You should be a little hungry yourself, shouldn't you?" suggested Merry, after the conversation died out again. Poppy soon agreed to go (for she didn't know of her sister's concern, and she was getting very hungry), and followed after the hobbit in front of her, as he trailed back for home under the pale moonlit night.
Even when they had returned they heard no news of Pippin or Diamond, and Lily Rose had already fallen asleep in the living room. Not wanting to wake her, Merry took her in his arms and carried her off to her bed. Poppy snickered at the thought of her sister's expression if she'd known Merry had actually carried her, but she kept silent nonetheless. She'd probably tell her later in the morning.
The incident in the afternoon wasn't mentioned anymore after that night, and Lily-Rose refused to bring it up again, anyway. Later that night Diamond had crept in, and told Poppy of their whereabouts earlier that day. She was giggling happily and told her stories that they had been pilfering berries again, and after that, they had left for the Green Dragon and had a drink or two and were talking ceaselessly throughout the night. Poppy listened intently to her story nevertheless, but deep in her mind was a flaming desire, and a burning jealousy. 'Oh I'll show that Took when I see him,' thought Poppy. 'I'll show him not to mess around with Poppy Headstrong,' She muttered under her breath, curving a menacing smile behind her lips.
~ to be continued ~
A/N: Poppy's getting a little cheeky, isn't she?? as usual, review please!!~ tell me what you think about Lily and Merry, and if the both should work out together? I've got a little plot for her, and that'll be in chapters to come… :) review please and thank you!!!~ :D:D:D the next chap will be Pippin-centric I'm sure, and Poppy's got a little trick up her sleeve…ohoho…til my next update! :D
A/N: I've recently posted an Aragorn/Éowyn fic… it's titled Hope Nonetheless and please check it out if you can! :D