Chapter12

Aragorn scolded me soundly when we were settled. Reminding of his note and all of his warnings... blah blah blah.

"Well, just so you know o' kingly one, you need to improve on that hand writing of yours. I could barely read a word." I said shortly, my face twisted in a scowl.

"I'm sure." Was all he answered smugly.

"Ahem....so what was the urgency?" I muttered. Fully understanding that he thought I would already know.

"Don't you already know?" He asked, concernedly.

Yep, great King he will be. With such a profound memory. Dammit.

I shifted uncomfortably under his freakin' gaze before answering, "Well, I don't know absolutely EVERYTHING."

He smiled, "I am glad to know then, that you are mortal yet." He pulled out his pipe and began to smoke.

I dropped the 'Pissed' act, and laughed full out.

Aragorn started to get up then, and when he looked to me he asked, (With a wolfish smile) "Would you care for anything to drink, milady?"

My face flared scarlet, as I shook my head no. "Only water, if they have any that's fit for more than horses tonight."

He moved away with a chuckle, and a shake of his head.

Well, what was I supposed to say to that? Last time he saw me I was as big a drinker as himself, but now..........oh, well lets just say I had learned now, that you must build up a tolerance for ale. Especially Butterbur's ale.

And I was rather not in the mood for another hangover in the morning, or looking forward to spilling my guts again. (There, I succumb. Maybe she did disclose out of intoxication!)

PIPPIN'S POV

"Frodo, we already know you're leavin'." Merry states shortly.

"And we're coming with you. A fine lot we'd look if we let you get off with only Sam as your companion." I added with a grin.

But Frodo would have little of it. Protesting all the way. That is, until Merry and I mentioned already knowing about the ring.

In the end, he agreed, albeit reluctantly to letting us come along. Funny, like he had any choice. Merry and I would have been going weather he had wanted us too or not.

As I start to thinking about the way ahead to Bree, my feet already ache. And I haven't even stepped on the path yet.........it was going to be a long journey. But, hopefully have ME along would brighten things a bit...........

DAYS LATER (Or how ever long it took them to get to Bree. (A GIANT cookie to whom ever can tell me!))

Right now I am looking across the small table at Aragorn's face. I can barely restrain myself from asking when they will get here. By them, I mean Frodo and company.

Eye contact with Aragorn reminds me that I had better not ask. Considering I have already tried that. About every five minutes.

I squirm in my splintery wooden seat some more, and Aragorn sighs exasperatedly.

Shooting him a rather dirty look, I content myself by fidgeting with my cloak. HE made me wear it. I am disgusted to say that it matches the one he has donned, perfectly.

When he had fastened it on, and rather tightly too, he told me a bunch of reasons why I had better not take it off. Starting with 'Gandalf said so' and ending just short of threats of bodily harm.

Ha ha. I tug at it some more. Gradually pissing him off, I know. But still, in spite of all that I have been taught, (you know, the obey your elders, blahdy blah blah stuff) and enjoying myself fully.

"Enough." He hissed quietly as his hands shoot across, and still mine, and then I notice that the door has just opened, and in strides just the persons that we have been waiting for.

Frodo looks around uncertainly, then moves up to the counter, his cousins and Sam in tow.

My heart skips several beats; as I gaze at Pippin, slack jawed like a fool. I missed him so much. And all the time I wondered if he ever even found out that I had left. From his unusual preoccupied expression, I guess that the answer was a yes.

Over all of the hubbub that is the inn, I heard Frodo's distinct voice, as he asked for room and board.

And then suddenly, I had this little premonition thingy that I should get out of sight, so I slipped off of my seat and huddled beneath Aragorn's chair, wrapping my cloak around me as I did so.

And watching from my little cave, heard as Frodo announced his new name "Underhill." Then I gasped in horror as Butterbur decidedly remembered that another Underhill was still checked in, and tried to point me out in the commons.

Luckily for me, he couldn't remember my first name, nor find me in the bar room.

Aragorn must have witnessed this as well, and I heard him almost gasp. Then he settled back into his 'I don't care demeanor'.

And then I watched, drinking them all in. The laughter, smiles, even the worried looks. I watched the whole scenes unfolding.... Pippin exposing Frodo, and ultimately Frodo exposing himself, and what he carried.

So just before Aragorn went and positioned himself in the room, and also just before my friends headed there as well, I hid inside myself, shrouded heavily in darkness, as I had turned down the lamps, and watched as the fire burnt low.

And then I focused on the door, aware that not even Aragorn knew of my whereabouts.

And in they came, carefree, if only a little shaken from the night's events.

Pippin was the first to notice Aragorn, and soon, conversation was initiated.

"Watch every shadow!" Finished Aragorn, and Pippin must not have heard the rest, for suddenly, his keen eyes spotted me. A darker shadow than the rest.......

"Frodo! There's someone in here!" he nearly shouted. And his young and alarmed voice was answered with the clang of metal, as his companions drew their swords.

I was about to answer him, when Frodo made it so I wouldn't have to, "Come into the light, where we can see you.... And I promise you'll have a chance to explain yourself." He said uncertainly, but firm.

I swallowed my words, and moved slowly towards the torchlight...

All the while Aragorn had watched in silent amusement. And there was a smile in his eyes.

"Please, if you'll only put your swords away, I'll come the rest of the way." I said, stopping just outside the circle.

Frodo looked hesitant, but did as I asked. The others followed suit.

"There now, what a way to greet an old friend," I said as I stepped into the light.

Their mouths dropped, and Pippin uttered a strangled gasp of "Merna?"

I only nodded, then I went over and kicked Aragorn in the shin, rather hard. After now figuring out that he had known I was there all along, and done nothing. "That's for not helping me, STRIDER." I said with a smile.

I looked back to the startled hobbits. Who were still staring at me, mouths agape.

"Ahem........Well....." Was all I could manage. Still they stared, well at least Pippin was. Sam had already looked away, and Frodo was turning his attention back on Aragorn.

So I walked up and gave him a hug. I don't know why, but I did. And it felt wonderful.

When I released him, Pippin said, "So, it's really you then." And looked me over.

I then became aware of my appearance. I was in breeches, and a heavy cloak, and my hair was pulled and knotted tight at the back of my head.

"I must look a sight." I muttered, face scarlet.

Pippin nodded. "Well, yes....and no." He said clearly, as he touched my face.

Then we broke apart as Aragorn disclosed his plan, all about avoiding the Black riders that night and what not, with myself, now included.............

Author: It felt so good to be writing this again! Sorry for the wait, lately I have been TRYING to write one-shots. Two of which are posted, one under POTC and LOTR. But now, I'll just be sticking to this for awhile.

In the next chapters, hopefully they will all be gathered in Rivendell. It should be interesting...... Mwa ha ha ha haaaaaa!

Also, as my basis for this story, I am kinda combining both the movies, and the books. Just so you know.

Thanx, and REVIEW, or no more chapters, and I mean it this time peoples!

Smile! Pippinsgal011890