Outside Watchers

Merry and Pippin stood quietly, watching as Legolas and Sam had a long chat just behind them. "What do you think they're talking about?" Pippin whispered quietly, "Sam and Legolas… it's weird, y'know?"

"Uh huh," Merry agreed, "You don't see Legolas talking to us hobbits much, nice as he is, but they look pretty comfortable together."

"That they do." Pippin agreed with Merry, "Like they've been friends for a long time even, but I don't know how anybody could have missed something like that."

"Well, we've been all wrapped up in ourselves and Frodo," Merry grudgingly admitted, "I'm sure nobody meant to, but I think we might have pushed Sam out of the group a bit. Even cousin Frodo seems more likely to hang about Gandalf as of late, have you noticed?"

"Aye, but then, he tells a good story, you have to admit."

"That he does. But now I've got to wonder why Sam didn't join in. We haven't been mean to him, have we? Without meaning to, of course."

"Nah," said the younger Hobbit, "Ignored him a mite maybe, but if he wanted to come into a conversation, at just about any time at all, we would have let him. I can't see why he would think otherwise."

"It's 'cause he's so polite," Merry muttered under his breath, "I think that he thinks it's rude, and he doesn't want to interrupt, but with us it's really one long conversation that just seems to switch in the middle. He might not have figured he had a chance to butt in."

"Not that he would think of it like that," Pippin laughed quietly, "That day I saw him throw at apple at Bill might have been the first thing he ever did that was mean, and on purpose."

"Not that Bill didn't deserve it."

"I won't say no to that, friend," Pippin laughed again, "By all means, I'm glad we got the pony away from him before he could do it any more damage. A better beast I've never met."

"Less, of course, you looked in the mirror for once. Tried to comb that mop of yours as of late?"

"My mop," Pippin said proudly, "Is a far better head of hair then yours shall ever be."

A hand tapped on Merry's shoulder, and he spun round to face a smiling Frodo. His eyes looked gaunt, and his smile forced, but none the less Merry was more then happy to see his friend after so long. "Ho there," Frodo said, his smile still pulling at his face, "What are you two conspiring, all secret like here in the corner?"

"Well," Pippin began, "A few things I suppose. Have you been watching Sam at all lately?"

Frodo sighed, his eyes rolling skyward, "Sam is my best of friends, and always will be, but he's been so much like a mother-hen the last few days that I actually told him we needed some space. That I wasn't china, and were I too break, it wouldn't be so early in the journey."

"Was he upset?" Merry asked, "I mean, he does take your opinion rather seriously cousin."

"Sometimes too much so," sighed Frodo, "I love him as a brother, and told him so that same talk, but I simply can only take so much watching from somebody who, quite frankly, is quite a bit younger then me anyway. I will know when I need help, and will ask for it then, but until that point I should think he would rather be watching himself. He's never been one for long journeys, and I should hate to think he's having a rough time of it."

"No worries 'bout that cousin," Pippin said slowly, "Actually, I think he's managing quite well for himself. Managed to pick up a new friend and all in the last while; that's what we were talking about even."

"What do you mean?"

Merry pointed to where Legolas and Sam were still talking behind them, where Sam was now running one hand along a pillar. "Them. They look quite comfortable with each other, have you noticed? And I even think that as of late he's dropped the 'mister' in front of Legolas's name, though I hadn't noticed it before now."

"Has he really?" Frodo asked, shocked, "I can't even get him to drop it in front of mine. I wonder how Legolas has managed it; for I should have to ask before the day is out."

"Well," Pippin added, "They've got to be talking more then any of us have noticed for them to be so good with each other, but I would hate to think we pay so little attention to one of our own, lest wise in such an important situation, don't you agree Merry?"

"I do," agreed the older Hobbit, "What do you think they're talking about at any rate? I remember a few days ago when Legolas was telling Sam about Gil-Galad, but when Stider broke in to tell his part it got a tad of a bore."

"I know," Frodo agreed, "A nicer man, I will never meet, but he simply can not tell a story. It was spot on right, I'm sure, but it was all facts. A story needs a bit of excitement. Not just the story, but the way it's told. Coming from Bilbo, I'm sure it would have made one for the ages."

"Sam seemed to enjoy it anyway," Merry nodded, "Mind he's always had a thing for the Elves like we never did. Give me dragon's any day."

"Don't let Gandalf hear you say that!" Frodo laughed, "Less he make you wash the dishes in the 'morrow, to make up more for that stint at Bilbo's party."

Pippin laughed silently, trying to smother anything that might attract attention as they continued to walk, "It was fun, a good lark if I do say so myself, and I'm quite glad Gandalf got there when he did to punish us; if it had been my mother I would have been doing more then washing dishes, you can be sure of that."

"Remember that time when she found out we had snuck on to Maggot's field? The first time, when we were real little?"

"No mushrooms for a month," Pippin added silently, "Mind that only gave us more of a reason to sneak in again, and not get caught."

The three had a short laugh, but stopped when Merry began to point off to behind them. "I think they're done," he said quietly, "Legolas is moving on, and Sam is giving him space. You don't think he managed to get the Elf angry, do you?"

"I've yet to see him angry," Frodo replied, "And I doubt I will but in the face of danger. 'Sides which, Sam looks happy enough. Perhaps they've simply said all that needs to be said."

"Perhaps," agreed Pippin, "But I should think I would like to know, before I go to sleep and have to stay awake wondering what those two could possibly have to talk about."

With that he stepped away from the group, knowing that Merry and Frodo were listening carefully, though they were turned away as to not look like they were spying.

"Ho Sam!" the young Hobbit said, "How are you doing back here?"

"I'm fine, Mister Pippin, as I always am." Sam said with a hushed voice, and a smile, "Though I should wonder why you would ask since were meaning to be as quiet as possible."

"Merry and I," he said, pointing towards the former, "Were worried that we weren't letting you in on our conversations. You're always welcome you know, you don't have to wander at the back of the group as though you're not wanted."

"I wander at the back of the group for reasons that are of my own making," Sam replied, "Nothing of yours, nor of Merry's."

Pippin blinked once, and was about to say something when he stopped. It seemed Sam wasn't quite finished. "I've known you since you were just about born Mister Pippin, longer even, since I met your mum since she was pregnant. I was almost too young to remember it, but I do none the less. And one thing I know is that in all your years, no matter how few, you've been quite content to let others sit outside your conversation. And seeing as you know I would speak were something so important to come up, I would think you came to talk to me for a far different reason."

"True," Pippin agreed, "In a way. This is quite different a circumstance then at home, where we all have other friends we can turn to in a moments choice. With Frodo talking with Gandalf, I would hate to think of you friendless back here."

"You think me friendless?"

"I think," Pippin replied, "That I saw you, in fact, talking with Legolas. A twist that surprised me, I will admit, seeing as he's always off doing something or other for Strider or Gandalf. What would he want with simple Hobbit's like us?"

Much to Pippin's surprise, Sam didn't get angry, reproachful, or even antsy. He smiled widely. "Well mister Pippin, as two supposedly clever people once said to each other, just about anybody is interesting enough when they're not of your kind."

He stopped, smiled, and continued, "Besides which, I've heard that Hobbits are anything but simple, though I would have never thought so myself, I will admit."

"Come now Sam!" Pippin laughed, "There's a quote at home, that you well know, Ale and weed, food and drink! That's all a Hobbit really needs!"

"Aye, you would think so." Sam said, suddenly serious, "And you can have all that in the Shire, as easy as anything."

"That you can."

"So why are you here Mister Pippin? Why do you risk your life when everything you fight to have is already there and waiting for you to claim it?"

Pippin looked at him for a moment, his eyebrows furrowed. "Well Sam, you're certainly in an odd mood today, I will say that. Do you have any other deep questions for me? Why is the sky blue? Why is the grass green? And is it really greener else where?"

"How about what makes us, us?" Sam said, as though it were a joke, but a serious one worth considering, "Is a root in the back a blessing or a curse? Is seeing a simply star at night a reason for hope? What makes a Hobbit simple, or strange? Do you miss home at all, and why is it that you do or don't? Consider the common thoughts of others, and even of yourself Pippin. Even wonder in the beauty of the caves around us for a moment."

"You're a very odd Hobbit Sam."

"Or perhaps the only normal one in a race of lunatics."

"I prefer to think of you as odd."

"Think of me what you will, but I will be spending my thoughts on things more interesting."

"Is that what you and Legolas were talking about? Questions about life? Living?"

"Among other things," Sam laughed, "He's actually a very good conversationalist."

"Perhaps to you, but he seems far too quiet for me."

"Then maybe you just need to catch him at a better moment."

"At any rate Sam, I should think I would be getting back to Merry now, 'specially since I now know you're not feeling at all abandoned."

"You do that, Mister Pippin," Sam agreed, "And if you will, please tell the others something."

"And that would be?"

Sam pointed to them, where both had an ear turned to the conversation still, "If they ever feel the need to question me again, let them feel free to do so. I would hate to think that I was pushing them away."

And as Pippin walked away, he could hear Sam laughing quietly in the background. "Now that," he muttered to the others, "Is an odd Hobbit."