Chapter Three: The Green Dragon
"My son did WHAT?!"
At Pippin's outburst his friends laughed heartily. It was night in the Shire and the impromptu reunion had moved to the Green Dragon Inn. Gimli and the hobbits sat around one of the small tables, while Legolas sat with them on a large pillow, because of his height. Gimli and Legolas had just finished telling of their encounter with young Faramir Took.
"Like father, like son, as my Gaffer use to say." Sam laughed.
Merry snorted. "He definitely has Took in him. The other day I caught him trying to climb that old oak in the south field."
Frodo looked indignant. "There's nothing wrong with climbing, Merry."
"No, not if you're a Took or a Baggins," came Merry's cheeky reply. "A Brandybuck or any other self respecting hobbit would never be caught dead in a tree."
Legolas shook his head in silent mirth. After all these hobbits had seen and done, you would think climbing trees would be no problem.
"Gimli, Legolas, the last we heard of you two, you were exploring Middle Earth," Pippin started. "What sights have you seen?"
"Thank you, Lily." Frodo said to the serving girl as she brought another round of ale to them.
"You're welcome, Master Baggins," Lily replied. She glanced around at the men seated around the table. "Pardon my saying it, but do you think you should be drinking any more?"
"Aw Lily, everything's fine." Merry interjected.
"Master Meriadoc, you said that the last time you and Master Peregrin were here, and I had to have four of the boys take you two home." When the others started laughing Lily turned on them. "Master Sam, Master Frodo you two are just as bad when the mood takes you."
Legolas nodded to the young lady. "Do not worry my lady, I will take them home if need be."
Lily raised an eyebrow. "Master Elf you seem to be pretty deep in your cups, if you take my meaning. Master Dwarf I wouldn't be laughing if I were you, you seem just as tipsy."
"Lily, we'll be fine." Pippin replied.
Lily rolled her eyes. "Fine, just don't tell me when you all wake up with headaches."
~*~*~*~
Two hours later Lily was rounding up enough boys to take the group home.
"Which house are we taking them to Lily?" Bannen asked as he put a supporting arm around Frodo.
"Werr not goin home yet." Slurred Pippin.
The elf was singing something in his musical language as another one of the lads helped him to stand.
"Does anyone know what he's saying?" Babin asked.
Frodo gave them all a wide grin. "I no what Leg'las is sayin...hic...He's sayin..." Here Frodo switched to elvish.
"Yeah, that's helpful," muttered Babin.
"Damn elves," the dwarf roared, staggering between the two hobbits who held him up. "Always..." Here the dwarf mumbled under his breath.
"Frodo where we going?" Sam mumbled.
Lily sighed. "Take them to Bag End, give them to Miss Rose, let her decide. Make sure they're settled before you leave too. I don't want her mad at me for life."
The group slowly made their way out the door, the remains of the Fellowship singing a drinking song from Gondor. Lily watched them go up the hill as she turned back to the untidy tavern. "Aye, it's a wonder they made it through the Quest."
"For the Shire!"
Pippin's war cry echoed down the road.
"My son did WHAT?!"
At Pippin's outburst his friends laughed heartily. It was night in the Shire and the impromptu reunion had moved to the Green Dragon Inn. Gimli and the hobbits sat around one of the small tables, while Legolas sat with them on a large pillow, because of his height. Gimli and Legolas had just finished telling of their encounter with young Faramir Took.
"Like father, like son, as my Gaffer use to say." Sam laughed.
Merry snorted. "He definitely has Took in him. The other day I caught him trying to climb that old oak in the south field."
Frodo looked indignant. "There's nothing wrong with climbing, Merry."
"No, not if you're a Took or a Baggins," came Merry's cheeky reply. "A Brandybuck or any other self respecting hobbit would never be caught dead in a tree."
Legolas shook his head in silent mirth. After all these hobbits had seen and done, you would think climbing trees would be no problem.
"Gimli, Legolas, the last we heard of you two, you were exploring Middle Earth," Pippin started. "What sights have you seen?"
"Thank you, Lily." Frodo said to the serving girl as she brought another round of ale to them.
"You're welcome, Master Baggins," Lily replied. She glanced around at the men seated around the table. "Pardon my saying it, but do you think you should be drinking any more?"
"Aw Lily, everything's fine." Merry interjected.
"Master Meriadoc, you said that the last time you and Master Peregrin were here, and I had to have four of the boys take you two home." When the others started laughing Lily turned on them. "Master Sam, Master Frodo you two are just as bad when the mood takes you."
Legolas nodded to the young lady. "Do not worry my lady, I will take them home if need be."
Lily raised an eyebrow. "Master Elf you seem to be pretty deep in your cups, if you take my meaning. Master Dwarf I wouldn't be laughing if I were you, you seem just as tipsy."
"Lily, we'll be fine." Pippin replied.
Lily rolled her eyes. "Fine, just don't tell me when you all wake up with headaches."
~*~*~*~
Two hours later Lily was rounding up enough boys to take the group home.
"Which house are we taking them to Lily?" Bannen asked as he put a supporting arm around Frodo.
"Werr not goin home yet." Slurred Pippin.
The elf was singing something in his musical language as another one of the lads helped him to stand.
"Does anyone know what he's saying?" Babin asked.
Frodo gave them all a wide grin. "I no what Leg'las is sayin...hic...He's sayin..." Here Frodo switched to elvish.
"Yeah, that's helpful," muttered Babin.
"Damn elves," the dwarf roared, staggering between the two hobbits who held him up. "Always..." Here the dwarf mumbled under his breath.
"Frodo where we going?" Sam mumbled.
Lily sighed. "Take them to Bag End, give them to Miss Rose, let her decide. Make sure they're settled before you leave too. I don't want her mad at me for life."
The group slowly made their way out the door, the remains of the Fellowship singing a drinking song from Gondor. Lily watched them go up the hill as she turned back to the untidy tavern. "Aye, it's a wonder they made it through the Quest."
"For the Shire!"
Pippin's war cry echoed down the road.