Chapter6
When I woke up, there was sunlight streaming through the small circular window. I found myself nestled in the curve of Pippin's body, his arm thrown almost protectively over me.
And my head was pounding. I felt like I was in the center of a drum, and someone was repeatedly banging on it. It was the first hangover I've ever had in my life.
The sunlight was burning, so I rolled over and tucked my head under Pippin's chin.
That's when it hit me. I was lying, in a BED next to PIPPIN!
Ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod. I tried to remember what had happened last night; after Pippin and I got into bed. But I couldn't recall much.
Little bits and pieces. Nothing important. I remembered getting in, and lying next to him...and saying goodnight. But was that really as far as it went?
We were lying on top of the blankets, and Pippin's shirt was gone. But my dress and bodice were still intact. If only a bit rumpled. His pants were still on. But had he put them back on when he had taken off his shirt?
No. Nothing happened. I was sure of it. I guess we just kind of dropped like stones into the same bed, and then fell asleep. I sighed.
I relaxed again. But then I noticed that Pippin's body was stiff against me. He was awake. But pretending not to be. Why?
He must be thinking the same things I was, I concluded. I smiled.
I pulled away from him and yawned, pretending to just be waking up. Then I saw the look on his face. His eyes were huge, and he looked worried, and ...shameful.
"Oh.......... Pippin! Nothing happened, I'm fine. NOTHING happened, I swear." I told him quietly.
He closed his eyes, and let out a breath. I reached up to touch his face. "Are you ok?" I asked softly.
He nodded. "I'm sorry," he whispered, so quietly, I almost didn't hear him.
I moved closer, until we were touching. I kissed his chin playfully. "Don't be." I said.
He put his arm back around me, and we lay there, for a few minutes. Just breathing, and being close to each other. I smiled, and sighed. This felt wonderful. Like it was what I had been searching for all my life.
There was a knock at the door. My heart stopped. And we sprang apart, and off the bed within seconds.
"Merna? You awake?" someone asked. It was Merry.
"Yes! I'm awake. One second." I said quickly. I turned and looked at Pippin. I smiled. "You're not supposed to be here remember? Hide under the bed. Hurry!" I told him, scared and pleased at the same time.
Pippin did as he was told, and soon you couldn't see him at all. I opened the door. And in strode Merry.
"G'morning Merna, I was just wondering if you've seen my rascal of a cousin, Pippin." Merry said. His eyes scanned the room and fell upon Pippin's discarded shirt. He raised his eyebrows, and looked at me.
"Uh ....... Uh....I found that in the dresser last night. I used it as a nightgown." I stammered. Merry just looked at me, as my face turned red as a rose. Then he nodded, with a devilish smirk on his lips.
"Well then, if you do see Pippin, tell him someone is looking for him." Merry said with a glint to his eyes. He turned to leave. And I sighed.
He looked back over his shoulder in a flash. "Oh, I almost forgot. Second breakfast is ready. You two missed first." Merry said. Then he left, and shut the door behind him. I sighed again.
It hit me then, that Merry had said 'you two'. He knows, I concluded.
I smiled, and pondered on what Merry was planning to do with that knowledge. But I had other matters to attend to first. "Pippin, you can come out now. He's gone." I said lightly.
Then I heard Pippin's muffled cry. "I know he's gone," He exclaimed "But I can't get out. I'm stuck." He finished with a laugh.
"Oh...Pippin, do you need help?" I asked, I was starting to laugh too.
"Um . . . . . . ." came his answer. I heard him moving and bent down by the foot of the bed.
All you could see was his curly mass of red hair, and a bit of forehead. I laughed out right. And formed a plan.
"Pippin," I crooned. He stopped moving. I traced the along his hairline with a finger, and felt him shiver. "Relax, Pip." I whispered huskily. I bit my lip. "I'll lift up the bed, a wee bit, and you'll slide out, alright?"
All he said was "yes." I lifted on the bed.
For being such a small one, it was abnormally heavy...
Pippin slid along the floor and out from underneath the bed smooth as butter. I let down the bed with a THUD, and smiled down at Pippin, I offered him a hand. He took it, and I helped him up.
He looked at me for a second, then smiled. He got the same look in his eyes that Merry had.
Then quick as lightning, he bent down and scooped me into his arms. I squealed. He tossed me up into the air, and caught me with ease. I giggled like a loon. He spun around, laughing, me sill in his arms.
"Well, my dear. Shall we get breakfast?' He said with grin.
I tipped my head back, until I could see the wall, and spread my arms out. "We missed it." I said. "But dear Merry said Second was ready." I finished. All of the blood was rushing too my head. I smiled.
"Well, we had better hurry then. Have you ever seen a Brandybuck eat?" Pippin said with a chuckle.
He put me down, and I looked at him. Standing there, shirtless. Then I looked at my self. I was missing an earring, my hair was half out of its pins, and my dress looked like I slept in it. Which in fact, I had.
"Hmm ...First, I think we ought to freshen up a bit. Don't you think? Or do all of the Tooks go shirtless in the morning?" I said with a chuckle. He looked at himself, and smiled.
"I guess you're right." He said. Then he moved to get his shirt.
I straightened my dress, and smoothed out the wrinkles as best I could. Then I removed my remaining earring and necklace. My hair was in ruins, so I plucked the pins away, and shook out my masses.
They fell like water, and I was glad I had taken the pins out. By the time I was finished, Pippin was proper and ready. With his shirt tucked in nicely, and his breeches straightened. I smiled at his expression when he saw me. And reached a hand up to fix my hair.
But one of his hands shot out and took hold of my wrist. "Leave it. You look perfect." Pippin exclaimed. I smiled, and took my hand away.
Then we walked out the door, and made our way to the breakfast hall, Pippin in the lead.
I think I actually would have been able to find my way there. I could already smell all of the foods. Eggs, toast, sausage, tea, strawberries, porridge, and many others. And you could hear the sounds of forks and knifes against plates. And last, but not least, chewing.
We walked in, and everyone or almost everyone stopped eating, and looked at us. Hobbits, young and old, toddlers to elders; male and female alike. I looked and saw Merry grinning at us widely. I also noticed that Estella was no longer present.
Pippin just smiled back at them all, and moved to find a seat. I was scared to death. I followed him, and sat on the bench right next to him. Merry was on my other side. He leaned forward, and winked at Pippin.
Pippin, who was right at home, I might add. You'd think he was raised in a kitchen. He started spooning things onto his plates, and then into his mouth. While I sat there, dumbstruck, with the deer-in-the-headlights-look.
I glanced around me quickly, and noticed that all of the other Hobbits were eating the same way. I didn't want to be rude, or insulting, so I just followed example.
I was starving. And the food was brilliant. I looked next to me at Merry, who was looking at me too, and smiled. That made him a bit nervous for some reason. "Pass the jam please." I asked him sweetly. He looked even more nervous.
When he reached over and handed me the jam, I leaned in, and whispered in his ear, "I'd like to talk to you, after second breakfast. Thank you." I took the jam, and slathered my toast.......
I leaned against the hallway wall, full and content. I was waiting for Merry to show. Pippin got entrapped helping with dishes. So I was by myself.
I heard footsteps coming my way, and looked down the hall. And sure enough, there was Merry. I smiled. He still looked nervous. I chuckled. He came to a stop a few paces away from me. "Hello Merry." I said nicely.
"Hi Merna." Merry said uncertainly. I stopped leaning on the wall.
"I guess you're wondering why I wanted to talk to you, huh?" I asked. He nodded. "Well...first, I want to know what you THINK you know. Okay?" I finished.
Merry smiled evilly. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said innocently.
"Oh yes you do, Meriadoc Brandybuck. Now spill it." I said, waggling a finger at him.
"Well..." started Merry, "I know that Pippin wasn't in his room last night."
"Hmmmm...Interesting." I said, "I could've sworn that Estella wasn't in HER room last night either. A' Merry?" I finished, slyly.
He reddened, but continued: "Maybe YOU can tell me how Pippin came to be wearing the shirt you said you wore as YOUR nightgown?"
"Simple," I said, "I took HIS shirt out of the dresser, last night, and he decided to wear it today." I said. My defense was shoddy and I knew it. Now it was my turn to blush.
"Ah...." said Merry. He had found my weakness. "And how is it that I couldn't find Pippin, yet you TWO, came walking in TOGETHER?"
"Um . . . . . . . . . ." I said uselessly. Merry had won, and he knew it. He stood there, triumphant, and looked at me slyly.
"I think that it's YOUR turn to spill, Merna of Long Cleeve." He said.
"Fine." I said simply. "Yes, Pippin WAS in my room last night. And yes, that was HIS shirt that you saw this morning, okay?! But NOTHING happened. You can ask him yourself, if you don't believe me." I finished quickly.
Merry looked at me, grinning like mischief itself. With his eyebrows cocked. While my face burned redder than a torch.
"Nothing happened? Are we still talking about Pippin here? Peregrin Took?" He said.
Clearly, he did not believe me.
"Yes," I snapped, embarrassed. "But nothing happened." He still stood there, giving me that LOOK.
"So, what are you going to do now?" I asked, face still scarlet.
"Do?" He asked, all innocence.
"Yes, DO. As in who are you going to TELL." I whispered with vehemence.
He laughed at me. "No one. That is, I won't tell if you won't." He said good-naturedly.
I smiled broadly. "Good. Friends then?" I asked, and offered him my hand. He nodded, then looked at my hand uncertainly.
"You shake it, silly." I said. And grasped his own hand companionably.
"Oh." Said Merry. Then we heard footsteps. I dropped his hand.
"And what's all this?" questioned Pippin, who had decided to join us.
I threw a look at Merry. "Nothing." I said innocently. Pippin arched a brow.
"What time is it, Pippin?" I asked.
"About 1:15." He told me simply. I panicked, the last time I was at home, was yesterday at 5:00. My mother was going to kill me.
"Oh, Pippin! I have to go home. Mother will not be pleased with me." I said with a grimace.
Pippin looked at Merry. "Let me go team up a couple ponies then. I'll take you." he said.
"No, that's alright. Just put a bridle on one for me. I'll ride. But you could come with me. That way, someone would be able to bring them back to Buckland."
"Alright." Pippin said, and began to walk towards the stables. I followed. But I looked back at Merry before we were out of sight, and mouthed 'thank you'. He nodded............
Once in the stables, bridled mount in hand, Pippin asked me "Are you sure you know how to ride?" He looked uncertain.
"Of course." I said. And with that, I bundled up my skirts in one hand, and used a hay bail as my lift up. Once seated, I let my dress flow out around me. "Ready?" I asked.
Pippin nodded and jumped up onto his mount, with no trouble, or lifts. Watching him do so, made me miss my jeans.
And then we were off. The return trip was fast, but I was already dreading getting to out destination.....
Author: Dun dun dunn! Will Merna's mother be furious? Will she even be there? Is Merry going to confront his cousin about what he knows? And just WHERE was Estella?
Find out in the next chapter!
And if review numbers don't go up, that might be long in coming. So remember to REVIEW!
Pippinsgal011890
gaterback: Thank you for the cookie SMILE. And thanx 4 the reviews. You are right, all reviewers should get trophies! And update your story soon! You've got me hooked.
When I woke up, there was sunlight streaming through the small circular window. I found myself nestled in the curve of Pippin's body, his arm thrown almost protectively over me.
And my head was pounding. I felt like I was in the center of a drum, and someone was repeatedly banging on it. It was the first hangover I've ever had in my life.
The sunlight was burning, so I rolled over and tucked my head under Pippin's chin.
That's when it hit me. I was lying, in a BED next to PIPPIN!
Ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod. I tried to remember what had happened last night; after Pippin and I got into bed. But I couldn't recall much.
Little bits and pieces. Nothing important. I remembered getting in, and lying next to him...and saying goodnight. But was that really as far as it went?
We were lying on top of the blankets, and Pippin's shirt was gone. But my dress and bodice were still intact. If only a bit rumpled. His pants were still on. But had he put them back on when he had taken off his shirt?
No. Nothing happened. I was sure of it. I guess we just kind of dropped like stones into the same bed, and then fell asleep. I sighed.
I relaxed again. But then I noticed that Pippin's body was stiff against me. He was awake. But pretending not to be. Why?
He must be thinking the same things I was, I concluded. I smiled.
I pulled away from him and yawned, pretending to just be waking up. Then I saw the look on his face. His eyes were huge, and he looked worried, and ...shameful.
"Oh.......... Pippin! Nothing happened, I'm fine. NOTHING happened, I swear." I told him quietly.
He closed his eyes, and let out a breath. I reached up to touch his face. "Are you ok?" I asked softly.
He nodded. "I'm sorry," he whispered, so quietly, I almost didn't hear him.
I moved closer, until we were touching. I kissed his chin playfully. "Don't be." I said.
He put his arm back around me, and we lay there, for a few minutes. Just breathing, and being close to each other. I smiled, and sighed. This felt wonderful. Like it was what I had been searching for all my life.
There was a knock at the door. My heart stopped. And we sprang apart, and off the bed within seconds.
"Merna? You awake?" someone asked. It was Merry.
"Yes! I'm awake. One second." I said quickly. I turned and looked at Pippin. I smiled. "You're not supposed to be here remember? Hide under the bed. Hurry!" I told him, scared and pleased at the same time.
Pippin did as he was told, and soon you couldn't see him at all. I opened the door. And in strode Merry.
"G'morning Merna, I was just wondering if you've seen my rascal of a cousin, Pippin." Merry said. His eyes scanned the room and fell upon Pippin's discarded shirt. He raised his eyebrows, and looked at me.
"Uh ....... Uh....I found that in the dresser last night. I used it as a nightgown." I stammered. Merry just looked at me, as my face turned red as a rose. Then he nodded, with a devilish smirk on his lips.
"Well then, if you do see Pippin, tell him someone is looking for him." Merry said with a glint to his eyes. He turned to leave. And I sighed.
He looked back over his shoulder in a flash. "Oh, I almost forgot. Second breakfast is ready. You two missed first." Merry said. Then he left, and shut the door behind him. I sighed again.
It hit me then, that Merry had said 'you two'. He knows, I concluded.
I smiled, and pondered on what Merry was planning to do with that knowledge. But I had other matters to attend to first. "Pippin, you can come out now. He's gone." I said lightly.
Then I heard Pippin's muffled cry. "I know he's gone," He exclaimed "But I can't get out. I'm stuck." He finished with a laugh.
"Oh...Pippin, do you need help?" I asked, I was starting to laugh too.
"Um . . . . . . ." came his answer. I heard him moving and bent down by the foot of the bed.
All you could see was his curly mass of red hair, and a bit of forehead. I laughed out right. And formed a plan.
"Pippin," I crooned. He stopped moving. I traced the along his hairline with a finger, and felt him shiver. "Relax, Pip." I whispered huskily. I bit my lip. "I'll lift up the bed, a wee bit, and you'll slide out, alright?"
All he said was "yes." I lifted on the bed.
For being such a small one, it was abnormally heavy...
Pippin slid along the floor and out from underneath the bed smooth as butter. I let down the bed with a THUD, and smiled down at Pippin, I offered him a hand. He took it, and I helped him up.
He looked at me for a second, then smiled. He got the same look in his eyes that Merry had.
Then quick as lightning, he bent down and scooped me into his arms. I squealed. He tossed me up into the air, and caught me with ease. I giggled like a loon. He spun around, laughing, me sill in his arms.
"Well, my dear. Shall we get breakfast?' He said with grin.
I tipped my head back, until I could see the wall, and spread my arms out. "We missed it." I said. "But dear Merry said Second was ready." I finished. All of the blood was rushing too my head. I smiled.
"Well, we had better hurry then. Have you ever seen a Brandybuck eat?" Pippin said with a chuckle.
He put me down, and I looked at him. Standing there, shirtless. Then I looked at my self. I was missing an earring, my hair was half out of its pins, and my dress looked like I slept in it. Which in fact, I had.
"Hmm ...First, I think we ought to freshen up a bit. Don't you think? Or do all of the Tooks go shirtless in the morning?" I said with a chuckle. He looked at himself, and smiled.
"I guess you're right." He said. Then he moved to get his shirt.
I straightened my dress, and smoothed out the wrinkles as best I could. Then I removed my remaining earring and necklace. My hair was in ruins, so I plucked the pins away, and shook out my masses.
They fell like water, and I was glad I had taken the pins out. By the time I was finished, Pippin was proper and ready. With his shirt tucked in nicely, and his breeches straightened. I smiled at his expression when he saw me. And reached a hand up to fix my hair.
But one of his hands shot out and took hold of my wrist. "Leave it. You look perfect." Pippin exclaimed. I smiled, and took my hand away.
Then we walked out the door, and made our way to the breakfast hall, Pippin in the lead.
I think I actually would have been able to find my way there. I could already smell all of the foods. Eggs, toast, sausage, tea, strawberries, porridge, and many others. And you could hear the sounds of forks and knifes against plates. And last, but not least, chewing.
We walked in, and everyone or almost everyone stopped eating, and looked at us. Hobbits, young and old, toddlers to elders; male and female alike. I looked and saw Merry grinning at us widely. I also noticed that Estella was no longer present.
Pippin just smiled back at them all, and moved to find a seat. I was scared to death. I followed him, and sat on the bench right next to him. Merry was on my other side. He leaned forward, and winked at Pippin.
Pippin, who was right at home, I might add. You'd think he was raised in a kitchen. He started spooning things onto his plates, and then into his mouth. While I sat there, dumbstruck, with the deer-in-the-headlights-look.
I glanced around me quickly, and noticed that all of the other Hobbits were eating the same way. I didn't want to be rude, or insulting, so I just followed example.
I was starving. And the food was brilliant. I looked next to me at Merry, who was looking at me too, and smiled. That made him a bit nervous for some reason. "Pass the jam please." I asked him sweetly. He looked even more nervous.
When he reached over and handed me the jam, I leaned in, and whispered in his ear, "I'd like to talk to you, after second breakfast. Thank you." I took the jam, and slathered my toast.......
I leaned against the hallway wall, full and content. I was waiting for Merry to show. Pippin got entrapped helping with dishes. So I was by myself.
I heard footsteps coming my way, and looked down the hall. And sure enough, there was Merry. I smiled. He still looked nervous. I chuckled. He came to a stop a few paces away from me. "Hello Merry." I said nicely.
"Hi Merna." Merry said uncertainly. I stopped leaning on the wall.
"I guess you're wondering why I wanted to talk to you, huh?" I asked. He nodded. "Well...first, I want to know what you THINK you know. Okay?" I finished.
Merry smiled evilly. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said innocently.
"Oh yes you do, Meriadoc Brandybuck. Now spill it." I said, waggling a finger at him.
"Well..." started Merry, "I know that Pippin wasn't in his room last night."
"Hmmmm...Interesting." I said, "I could've sworn that Estella wasn't in HER room last night either. A' Merry?" I finished, slyly.
He reddened, but continued: "Maybe YOU can tell me how Pippin came to be wearing the shirt you said you wore as YOUR nightgown?"
"Simple," I said, "I took HIS shirt out of the dresser, last night, and he decided to wear it today." I said. My defense was shoddy and I knew it. Now it was my turn to blush.
"Ah...." said Merry. He had found my weakness. "And how is it that I couldn't find Pippin, yet you TWO, came walking in TOGETHER?"
"Um . . . . . . . . . ." I said uselessly. Merry had won, and he knew it. He stood there, triumphant, and looked at me slyly.
"I think that it's YOUR turn to spill, Merna of Long Cleeve." He said.
"Fine." I said simply. "Yes, Pippin WAS in my room last night. And yes, that was HIS shirt that you saw this morning, okay?! But NOTHING happened. You can ask him yourself, if you don't believe me." I finished quickly.
Merry looked at me, grinning like mischief itself. With his eyebrows cocked. While my face burned redder than a torch.
"Nothing happened? Are we still talking about Pippin here? Peregrin Took?" He said.
Clearly, he did not believe me.
"Yes," I snapped, embarrassed. "But nothing happened." He still stood there, giving me that LOOK.
"So, what are you going to do now?" I asked, face still scarlet.
"Do?" He asked, all innocence.
"Yes, DO. As in who are you going to TELL." I whispered with vehemence.
He laughed at me. "No one. That is, I won't tell if you won't." He said good-naturedly.
I smiled broadly. "Good. Friends then?" I asked, and offered him my hand. He nodded, then looked at my hand uncertainly.
"You shake it, silly." I said. And grasped his own hand companionably.
"Oh." Said Merry. Then we heard footsteps. I dropped his hand.
"And what's all this?" questioned Pippin, who had decided to join us.
I threw a look at Merry. "Nothing." I said innocently. Pippin arched a brow.
"What time is it, Pippin?" I asked.
"About 1:15." He told me simply. I panicked, the last time I was at home, was yesterday at 5:00. My mother was going to kill me.
"Oh, Pippin! I have to go home. Mother will not be pleased with me." I said with a grimace.
Pippin looked at Merry. "Let me go team up a couple ponies then. I'll take you." he said.
"No, that's alright. Just put a bridle on one for me. I'll ride. But you could come with me. That way, someone would be able to bring them back to Buckland."
"Alright." Pippin said, and began to walk towards the stables. I followed. But I looked back at Merry before we were out of sight, and mouthed 'thank you'. He nodded............
Once in the stables, bridled mount in hand, Pippin asked me "Are you sure you know how to ride?" He looked uncertain.
"Of course." I said. And with that, I bundled up my skirts in one hand, and used a hay bail as my lift up. Once seated, I let my dress flow out around me. "Ready?" I asked.
Pippin nodded and jumped up onto his mount, with no trouble, or lifts. Watching him do so, made me miss my jeans.
And then we were off. The return trip was fast, but I was already dreading getting to out destination.....
Author: Dun dun dunn! Will Merna's mother be furious? Will she even be there? Is Merry going to confront his cousin about what he knows? And just WHERE was Estella?
Find out in the next chapter!
And if review numbers don't go up, that might be long in coming. So remember to REVIEW!
Pippinsgal011890
gaterback: Thank you for the cookie SMILE. And thanx 4 the reviews. You are right, all reviewers should get trophies! And update your story soon! You've got me hooked.