Well ello!
Pixie: i don't think people are even reading at the moment...
Ami: understandable. I haven't posted in... forever.
Pixie: well then, post!
Ami: alright alright... if any of my old readers are reading this, yay!! if not... oh well. Oh, and for any of my old readers who may (or may not) have read over my reviews, you may remember mirielle... now mirielle, I appaude your efforts on telling me what to do, but I assure you that I know very well who Nimrodel is. Infact, who she is is a very key factor in the story, so she stays. The fact that she's a wraith is also a key factor. Maybe if the story still interests you, you'll continue reading and find out -why-. and yes, I'm aware I'm probably messing with the plot entirely, but it's an idea that has not left my mind, hasn't been able to leave, even after my muses left me for awhile...
Pixie: i never left!
Ami: sorry... anyways, enjoy!
Three
Three years. It had been another Three years, this time since Pippin had even seen Nimrodel. He had been upset with her for the longest time; she had promised to teach him to see past the shadows at will. For the longest time he could see nothing but depressing greys and blacks, and maybe on a good day would see everything in colour, but besides that, only shadow. That had lasted for the better part of two years. Just recently had he mastered seeing the shadows by will.
Seeing the shadows helped though. He could see better in the night then anyone else, which was cool, expecially when his cousins asked him to go and play hide and seek in the dark. Merry though... Merry had been more distant, not visiting as much. He had said it was because of all his responsibilities now, that he had to stay home and take care of things, that he had to grow up.
Sitting under a tree, he kept his eyes shut as he concentraited. Every once in awhile the shadows came back, even if he didn't want them to... right now was one of those times. He opened his eyes again, but there was still a grey sheen to everything.
"Damn it!" he groaned as he looked to the package in his lap; It was wrapped nicely with Merry's name written on it. "How am I going to keep a straight face at the party if I can't even see straight?"
"Very carefully," he jumped slightly before looking up. Standing just a few feet away was the fuzzy image of an elven maiden, her hair black and red below her shoulders.
"Nimrodel?" his voice was breathless as he rubbed at his eyes and stood up. She came into focus, everything else darkening. "Is that you?" The maiden smiled, her features bright.
"Yes," she stepped forwards. "You've grown."
"It's been three years," he stood up, trying to stay mad at her, but his smile gave him away. "And where have you been?"
"I was called," Nimrodel said sadly. "I had to leave... but enough of that, where are you off to?"
"Merry's party," Pippin smiled sheepishly, looking back at the package now in his hands. "His mom is throwing him a party... something about courtier's. Now that he's 18, his Ma thinks that he should have them."
"Lovely," she smiled. Pippin started walking again, jumping onto the dirt trail. Nimrodel followed, her white robes never seeming to be touched by the slightest bit of dust. "Are you going to be one of them?" He blinked up at her.
"What is a courtier?" Nimrodel paused for a moment, before she continued following him.
"You'll see when you get to the party," she murmured. "But for now, speak not to me... people are coming. Clear you mind and-"
"Concentrait not on shadows but on clear sun shiny days," Pippin ended. "I found it out the hard way, don't worry..."
"Don't worry about what?" Pippin jumped, turning around again. Emerald eyes met stormy blue as he gazed upon his cousin.
"Frodo!" laughing, Pippin ran up to his cousin, hugging him tightly.
"Woah, woah woah!" Frodo laughed as well, hugging the energetic young hobbit back. "Now... what don't I need to worry about?"
"Just talking to myself," Pippin smiled up at him, pulling back a bit. "Frodo... what are courtiers?"
"Courtiers?" Frodo blinked as he started walking again. Pippin caught sight of Nimrodel's white dress just off the path, on the other side of the bushes, but ignored it. "Why would you want to know what courtiers are?"
"This party is for Merry to find a courtier," Pippin explained. "And Nimrodel said-"
"Nimrodel?" Frodo stopped him. "I thought you had gotten over that fairy tale."
"She's real," Pippin glared. "It's not my fault she's been away... but she came back! She asked if I was going to be a courtier."
"Your too young Pip," Frodo smiled sadly. "And besides that... I don't think that you would be the type of courtier that Merry's parents would like."
"What type of courtier would they like?" Pippin's face cocked to the side innocently, wide eyes asking a million questions he couldn't answer.
"Maybe a cute young lass," the blue eyed hobbit shrugged, taking Pippin by his elbow and pulling him along the path once again. "But let us hurry... we don't want to be late."
Merry sat at the bay window in the den of Brandy Hall. Well... the third biggest of the dens. If he squinted his eyes into teeny slits, he could catch the tiny trees in the horizon that marked where the river was... but he wasn't looking for the river. No, he was looking for someone else entirely...
"Merry," he jumped at the voice, whipping around so quickly he thought he heard his neck crack. Leaning against the door frame was the very last person he wanted to see... Everard Took. "There you are... I had wondered where you had gotten to."
"What do you want?" Merry said sourly, turning back to the window. There was a long silence, and with the hairs prickling on the back of his neck Merry fought the urge to turn around.
"You," Everard finally said. His voice was on the back of Merry's neck, making him jump again. Butterfly kisses were dashed across his shoulders and in his hair, and Merry was forced to make a tough decision: push him away or moan.
"Stop it Ev'," he said, if a little breathelessly, turning to push the young hobbit away. It proved to be a wrong move, for Everard easily pinned him up against the window, the harshness of his grip a sharp contrast from his gentle kisses, now making their way across his collor bone. "I said stop!"
"Your parents only want you to make heirs," Everard murmured, ignored him. "But I've heard tale of those who choose another lad as a mate, and have a mistress on the side..."
"N-mm!" Merry was silence when Everard pressed their lips together, a warm tongue invading his mouth. He struggled to push Everard away, but it was of no use... Everard was stronger.
"Merry!" Someone walked into the den, but Merry never saw who. "Oh! So sorry... excuse me!" the distraction proved sufficient enough, as Merry was able to push Everard away, if only a little. He looked over the stronger lad's shoulder, only to see a blushing young lass looking away from him. It was young Melilot.
"Melilot," he pushed Everard farther away, but he pushed on, subjecting to kiss a trail down his neck... "What is it?"
"The last of the guests have been spotted down the trail, not ten minutes ago," she said, not looking up. "They should be crossing the river by now."
"Pippin is here?" Merry's voice was truly breathless now, as he squirmed out from Everard's grasp. He didn't know how he did it, but he did, and within moments he was running out of the den.
"How much longer?" Nimrodel smiled as she watched Pippin pace the little raft, stopping only to ask Frodo the same question over and over again... 'how much longer?'.
"I don't know," Frodo laughed. He looked to where Nimrodel was standing, shook his head, then looked back to Pippin, as he had been doing for the majority of the ride. "Stop pacing Pip! Your giving me a headache!"
"Sorry," Pippin stopped for a few moments, figetting with his shirt, before he started pacing again.
"Pip!" Frodo's laughter grew, and Nimrodel couldn't stop a giggle. Frodo looked to where she was again, but the raft hitting the bank brought him back to reality. "We're here Pip. Pippin?" The child had already darted off of the raft and was running full throttle towards Brandy Hall. Frodo shook his head in amusement and stepped off the raft. He looked once more to where Nimrodel was standing, and nervously she looked back. "Who's there..?" Nimrodel gripped her skirts in panic, barely daring to breathe. For what seemed like the millionth time he shook his head, turning to walk down the pathe. "Just imagining things..."
Nimrodel breathed again, stepping off of the raft as well. She would have to be more careful...
'Pippin's here...' a goofy smile was spread across Merry's face as he raced his way through the maze-like halls of his home. 'Pippin's finally here... Pippin...'
"Merry!" he danced around his mother as he came across her in the hall. "Why are you going so quickly? Slow down!"
"Pippin's here!" Merry started to run again, but Esmeralda grabbed his arm.
"Merry darling," she smiled at her son. "I know you fancy that nephew of mine-"
"Ma!" Merry blushed, his pale cheeks turning red. Esmeralda smiled.
"But that brother of mine, Paladin, was never one for two lads being together," Esmeralda finished. "Now... I repest you... unusual tastes-"
"Mom!" if possible, Merry's cheeks turned even redder. "Stop that! Pippin is just a friend!"
"I have seen how you are with Everard," Esmeralda continued. "Now... you know how your father is, so just make sure that-"
"I've got to get going mom," Merry said, backing down the hall. "Pippin will be here soon... and don't worry! I'll choose a nice young lass as a courtier."
"Don't have your heart set on that Meriadoc!" Esmeralda laughed, but her son was already around the corner. Down past three corridors, a left at the next hall, and straight on til he was out the south doors. Running as fast as he could, he made it around to the main trail in a few minutes... and to the sight of Pippin in the distance.
'Merry's here!' Pippin could of danced if he weren't running... he could just see the top of Brandy Hall over the hill. 'I'll get to see Merry soon!'
"Pippin!" Merry's voice danced down to him from up the trail, and he started to run faster.
"Merry!" Pippin laughed as he caught sight of Merry's golden locks. 'It's not a mirage... it's actually him! It's Merry!' The duo ran to each other, only to be enveloped to a crushing hug that sent them flying to the ground. "Merry..." Pippin gasped for air. "Can't... breathe..."
"Sorry Pip," Merry rolled over onto his side, bringing Pip onto his stomach. "You've gotten bigger."
"So I've heard," he smiled and hugged Merry again, cuddling up into his chest. "I've missed you!"
"I've missed you too Pip," Merry smiled. "More then you'll know..."