Paladin Proves a Point.
T: Hi, as a pre-emptive warning this fic follows the Frodo's frustration timeline so it might not make 100 sense alone. Right that done, LOTR is not mine, if it were then it would most defiantly be N-17 ;). Angst warning and copious nudity…just don't say I didn't warn you! Here I introduce my notes system, for things both informative and humorous (though not at the same time I stress!). There are two more bits to this mini series, another pre-quest and the last post so keep an eye out for them.
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Thain Paladin Took of Tuckborough was tipsy…well if truth be known he was drunk. Very drunk. Indeed he was, for the moment at least, drunker than Saradoc Brandybuck of Buckland, and that was a most terrible thing.
Each Saturday 1 Esmeralda and Eglantine would go to Bag End, have tea with Frodo and catch up on the gossip. Thus with their wives away the Thain and the Master would go down to the Green Dragon and drink until one or the other gave in. The looser would then have to prove some menial task or another or Prove a Point2 as it had lately been dubbed.
Aware that he had won last week and that his lady wife would not be best pleased if he drunk himself into an early grave, Paladin drained his mug and ceremoniously placed it, upside down, onto the table.
An awed hush swept through the Dragon and all eyes turned to Saradoc.
"Come now, Paladin, you hardly gave me a fight this week." Saradoc remarked, his words slurring together slightly.
"Aye, well, I figured you might need a wee hand in winning. What with your humiliating defeat last week and all." The Thain remarked, the drink and the strong Tuckborough brogue of his accent making the words almost indecipherable.
"Well that is as maybe, but whether you did it for pity or not you still have to Prove a Point." And Saradoc paused a moment for effect, taking another swig of his ale before he said, "You must help fix things between our boys." And though the crowd were of the opinion that the task was far too easy, one look to the Thain's face informed them that there was more to this than was evident on the surface
"It is not our place to meddle, Saradoc, especially where the boys are concerned."
"Perhaps that is the usual way of things, but if we let them carry on as they are now there will be nothing but hate between them. No, I will not change my challenge and thus you must meet it or prove yourself no more than a coward." And of course it was this that was Paladin's undoing. There was the Took sense of honour to protect after all.
Unsure as to whether he had heard his father's cautious whisper correctly, Merry enquired,
"You did what?" Saradoc raised his head from his desk and replied,
"I asked him to fix things. And please do not shout so Meriadoc."
"Fix things?" Merry enquired, his voice dropping down into an angry whisper. "What in Elbereth's name gave you the idea that I needed things fixed?"
"You said yourself that Peregrin was being stubborn."
"I said he was being foolish, father, not stubborn. And anyway I can not bother myself with Peregrin any more." Merry said. And despite his rather hung over state Saradoc started at that and enquired,
"Can not bother yourself? What on earth has go into you Merry? Peregrin is the closest friend you have got after Frodo, surly whatever the depute is you can sort it?" Merry's face froze at that and Saradoc knew it was worse than he had first feared.
"No, we can not." Merry said before he turned and left the room.
Paladin was having similar (though less hung over) trouble with his son, though he was attempting to conduct the discussion through a locked door.
"You are being childish, Pip. How do you expect me to talk to you if you will not let me in?"
"I am not a child!" Came the angry reply. "And I do not want to talk about it."
"You are not being fair, Pip."
"And you are only doing this because you lost to Uncle Saradoc yesterday." His son retorted.
"Maybe that is true, Pip, but perhaps it is good that I was asked to do this. After all I can see the distance between Merry and yourself is hurting you."
"I shall learn to live with the hurt eventually," Pippin replied, his voice suddenly emotionless.
"Peregrin." Paladin said, the word both comfort and chide. The door crept open and Pippin stepped into his Father's waiting arms, his small body shaking with pent up grief. "Will you not talk to me? For it hurts me to see you like this without knowing why."
"All you need know is that I can not see Merry again, father, nor be his friend." And that was all Pippin said before he pressed his face into his Father's chest and began to cry.
"And you have asked for my help because?" Frodo enquired as he glanced across the table to his Uncles.
"Because you are the closet thing Merry has to a brother." Saradoc replied
"And because Pip has already come to you about this." Paladin concluded. Frodo looked thoughtful for a moment then smiling just barely he said,
"Though that is true enough I must admit that I was not really listening to Pip, as I was more than a little distracted." Here he gave a small courtesy nod in the direction of one Samwise Gamgee, who was watching the meeting from two tables over with a glare on his face that said that he would rather be with Frodo than with his father and the others on his table. "And if Merry reacted the way you said he did then even I might not be able to get around him."
"No, but you can try. It is not good for them to be like this, Frodo."
"That is true enough. Look I will try the best I can but I can not promise that I will succeed."
"And if you do not we have to think what to do next."
"Yes, well let us not dwell on that yet. Where are they?"
"Pippin was making his way to Bag End."
"And Merry is most likely buried in the library at Brandyhall."
"Well as Pippin will soon be my guest it is only polite that I go and see him." And Frodo stood then and with a wink in Sam's direction, left the pub. The Gamgee seemed intently interested in his bear for a moment before he drunk the lot and followed on his Master's heals.
"Pay up!" Paladin remarked, never one to let a bad situation get in the way of a wager.
"Sounds simple enough." Sam remarked once Frodo had told him their task.
"Sam, pet, it may not sound difficult but they have not spoken to one another for almost three months now."
"Has it truly been that long?"
"Yes, for Pip came to me about this the day after the fight and that was back when we were still finding our…feet…"
"Aye…well, that's proof enough I suppose." Sam remarked, his voice calm though his skin had flushed considerably. "It just seems wrong to me that something could have come between them, for they have always seemed like…like. Well I haven't the words for it, but ye can see what I'm saying can't you, Frodo?"
"Of course I can, Merry and Pip were made for one another just as we were." And Frodo catches Sam's hand then and the Gamgee moves towards that touch, seeking more of the same from lip and tongue. But just as the first scant inches of skin met, Pip's voice rang out from their left in a cry of,
"Hoy! Frodo! Sam!" And they sprang apart, desire still tingling in their spines. "What a pleasure it is to see my two finest fellows looking so very happy." The Took said as he clasped first Frodo and then Sam into a tight hug, thankfully unaware of the murderous look in the pairs eyes.
"And it is good to see you so happy." Frodo remarks, though he can see the grief as a heavy weight in his Cousin's eyes.
"Yes, well you know us Tooks. Always bouncing back." And Frodo wanted to say something then, anything that might bring Pip back to him, but for all the knowledge in his head he could not find the words.
"Beggin your pardon, Mr. Pippin, but it seems to me as though you shouldn't be bouncing back as ye put it." Sam said and Pippin started at the frankness and all of the acceptance and bitter comprehension washed from him then to expose nothing more than a lost and hurt child,
"Why will no one trust me to be adult about this?" He enquired and Sam shook his head and passed a handkerchief to the Took.
"Because ye are not an adult, Mr. Pippin, not by the longest of ways."
"I know, I know. But sometimes it wears thin, you know, being coddled and protected by everyone about you." Pip said once he had composed himself. " Why can I not be allowed sometimes to make my own mistakes and deal with them my way?"
"And how would you deal with this then?" Frodo enquired.
"I would not. Merry has chosen this for the both of us and so I have to move on as best as I can."
"I recall that you alluded to the idea that this had something to do with that row you had at May Day."
"And that is true enough. However, things were winding up to breaking point for a while before that."
"Will you tell the story again, Pip?"
"Fine, but it will not help, Frodo, nothing can.
"Before I came with Merry to Bag End for May Day I had been staying at Brandyhall for the week. To keep Merry occupied as Aunt Esme said when father asked for the need for such a long stay.
"But Merry was having none of it, not this time at least, for he seemed unsettled at my being there and was constantly foisting me off onto the other children. I kept running back to him though and he would always be glad to see me, telling me how sorry he was for pushing me away and asking me to forgive his simple idleness.
"And thus it carried on up until a day before we were due to travel down to Hobbiton. My parents had come to join me at Brandyhall and often I would be with them rather than Merry, yet every time I did get moments with Merry he would seem shaky and half distracted.
"Of course I had no wish to bring whatever the problem was to your doorstep and so I asked him what the matter was,
It is nothing, Pip. He had replied and when I told him that I did not believe him he said I suppose that I have twisted myself up over May Day. And smiled.
"It was the smile more than anything else that convinced me that he was telling the truth and indeed as we got moving towards Hobbiton he seemed to ease back into being good old Merry again. He even planed the idea of getting you drunk, Frodo, saying that it would help you get Sam if nothing else.
"And it was fun to see you take so to Uncle Saradoc's wine and I wondered myself what the fuss was about and began taking flagons of it myself. Not enough to get drunk, before you chide me Frodo. Just to give me a little courage"
"And why would you need such courage Pip?"
"Once we had gotten to the dance and splashed you your first few drinks, Merry vanished in the general direction of the dance floor. I was unsure about whether he would want following, but I was worried about him and thus I took a few drink and when I was less nervous followed after him. He was talking to Estella Bolger and she was saying some rather spiteful things about me and about having me about did nothing for Merry's reputation with the women. I expected Merry to defend me but he did not, at least not really.
Pip's too young to be going about in his own Stella. He said and she had laughed,
He may not be old enough to be alone, Meriadoc Brandybuck, but you are. Let the brat hang out with those more of his own age.
I can not Stella. Pip's my responsibility and I cannot just turn him aside. And that was enough for me, for Estella's taunts were one thing, but for Merry to be so cruel and so retracted about our friendship hurt.
"Thus I made myself known and Estella rolled her eyes and vanished off amongst the dancers.
I thought you were my friend, Merry. I said and he gestured for me to lower my voice before he replied,
I am your friend, Pip.
Really? Are you sure I am not just some burden you feel you must take one or spoil your good name?
Never! He barked back, something wild catching in his eyes. You mean more to me than life itself, Pip. He said and then he paled and took a step back from me, You see? I'm getting too close, too involved. I will be a danger to you, Pip.
What are you saying, Merry? I enquired, suddenly lost.
That I cannot be your friend anymore, Pip, not when I risk you as well as myself.
I do not understand Merry. Please can you not see how lost I am Merry?
Yes I see. He replied and then he turned and began to walk away.
You cannot do this! I barked out at him and he turned and enquired,
WHAT OTHER CHOICE DO I HAVE?
NONE AND NEITHER DO I! I replied, my voice angry now because Merry's was also.
"And that was it. I have not seen or spoken to Merry for so long now and I do not even truly understand why."
"Yes I recall you telling me this now, though you were not so specific the first time." Frodo said, pausing a moment to think before he continued, "And it is clear enough to me why this whole thing started and I believe I need to talk to Merry."
"If you don't mind, sweet, I'll stay with Master Pippin. Get him cheered up and back to how he was." Sam said and Frodo nodded, wishing desperately that he could at least give his Gamgee a farewell kiss 3.
As if seeing the glint of desire in his Cousin's eyes, Pippin winked at him and saying,
"I shall meet you at Bag End, Sam." He walked off in the direction of the Smaile 4.
"Growing up before our eyes that one." Sam mumbled.
"Do not be too sad, love, for it will be a happier time for Pip now." Frodo said as he reached out to caress Sam's face. "Or at least it will be once I make Merry see sense."
"I shall miss you, dear."
"As will I." And Frodo moves then and they meet at last, desire taking over for a moment before they separated, both their breaths heavier now.
"I should go."
"Aye." And Sam releases him then and they go their separate ways.
The library at Brandy Hall was once as a second home to Frodo and he knows each and every secluded spot almost as well as he knows the lines of Sam's face. It is, therefore, but the work of moments to find the pile of books behind which Merry is situated, his attention focused intently upon the current text before him.
He lifted his head when Frodo cleared his throat and after glancing at his Cousin a moment he sighed, closed the book and said,
"I know."
"Meriadoc, Meriadoc." Frodo said and Merry's eyes dimmed,
"How is he?" He enquired after a moment.
"I am not sure if you deserve to know that, Merry. You have been more than a little silly about this."
"No. No, I have not." Merry replied.
"You realise that he is not even sure what it is that has pushed you apart."
"And it is best he never does."
"I will tell him if you do not, Merry."
"Now that is not fair, Frodo."
"No?"
"No. It is my choice to do things this way and I would ask you to respect that."
"Just as you respected my wish to inform Sam of my feelings on my own steam?"
"It is a different situation all together."
"Is it?"
"Yes. Sam is old enough to know what it is that he wants from you, old enough not to be influenced."
"As is Pippin. You would see that if you let yourself."
"How can you be sure of that when I am not, Frodo?"
"Because I do not love him as you do. Because I have seen how well he is handling this situation."
"Then he is well?"
"As well as can be expected when you have taken away his heart, Merry."
"His heart…" And Merry seems to be thinking a moment, his sharp mind turning in on itself before he enquires, "Do you despise me for taking this course, Frodo?"
"No. You are far too dear to me, Merry, that I could not hate you so freely. I hope that you believe that you were doing right, that you over thought something that should have been done with heart rather than head."
"I love him so much, Frodo. Enough so that I wanted him to live his life rather than tying himself to me all for the kindness in his heart."
"I know. But all you have done is hurt him, for he loves you as well. Enough so that he was willing to let you go without argument."
"Are you sure of that? Really sure?" And as Pippin before him there is the hint of the child that Merry had once been in that enquiry and Frodo smiles, for he knows that his task is almost complete.
"I am more than sure Merry. Come back to Bag End with me and tell Pip the truth."
"Give me a moment will you?" He enquires as he finds his feet at last.
"Now then Master Peregrin it is essential that you use only a tea spoon of sugar." Sam remarked as he glanced over to the flour stained Took.
"Sam, why do you still insist on calling me Master Peregrin? Especially now that you and Frodo are…well you know."
"I didn't wish to presume that just because Frodo and I were together I could forget your status or Master Merry's either."
"Well you can forget mine. I feel like my father when you call me Master."
"Now then, and I doubted Frodo when he told me Tooks always contradict themselves, you were just this morning saying that you wanted no more babying."
"Yes well there is treating me like an adult and there is treating me like an old man. I would rather I were treated as the former until I get my first grey hairs."
"Beggin your pardon pippin but at this moment in time you are sporting a fair few grey hairs. What with the flour and all."
"Hmmm…well I can not be the only one here with such marks of age." And without warning Pippin grabbed the bag of flour and threw a considerable amount in Sam's direction.
Once the cloud had settled they were both coated in a thin film of the white powder and Pippin was back over by his batch of biscuit mix, innocently adding just one teaspoon of sugar.
"Meddlesome Took." Sam muttered as he too returned to preparing the mix.
"What next?" Pippin enquired after a moment.
"Cinnamon to taste." Sam replied as he took up the container of spice and shook it over the mix five times before he seemed satisfied.
"Rather a lot of cinnamon is it not? 4"
"Not for Frodo. He'll be very disappointed if he can't taste the spice in his biscuits.5"
"Well I shall go subtle this time I think." Pippin remarked as Sam passed him the spice. He was just raising the item above his mix when the door swung open admitting first Frodo and then Merry, causing the Took to jump just slightly, the action resulting in a large amount of the spice finding its way into the mix. Sam moved with great speed at that, prying the spice form Pippin's hands before he came to stand at Frodo's side.
"Shall we go for a walk, Sam dear?" Frodo enquired, though the grip he placed onto Sam's wrist informed the Gamgee quickly that he could give no refusal.
Once the pair had retreated out of the doorway Merry moved just a little towards pip, his step unsure.
"Something smells nice." He remarked as Pippin pulled his mix from its bowl and began to kneed it into doe.
"Sam has been teaching me how to make biscuits."
"And you have been showing him the more frivolous side of the Tooks." Merry said, gesturing to the flour upon Pippin's waistcoat.
"Yes, well, frivolity is what us Tooks do best." And though the remark is ment to be flippant, Merry knows Pippin too well to accept that fact and moving again he puts a hand to the Took's shoulder before he says,
"Pippin." The word more warning than comfort. And Pippin turns, his small fists connecting softly with Merry's chest a moment before he begins to cry again.
Merry catches him into a hug then, his head moving so that he can place a kiss onto Pippin's russet curls before he says,
"I am sorry, Pip." And he catches a hold of Pippin's chin and tilts that well loved face up towards him. "You see I was being silly as Frodo so eloquently put it. I was afraid of making you care all too much." And this seems to be all Merry can say and leaving the words hanging he lifts his grey eyes to meet Pippin's own green ones. Suddenly the Took finds himself wishing that Merry would finish that sentence, wishing he could know why he feels suddenly very odd indeed. Finds himself wanting the space between them reduced until… and then he knows why he wants these things and with a bright smile he moves to capture Merry's lips in his own.
As they separate Merry laughs high and clear and lifts Pippin as high as the ceiling of Bag End will let him before he lowers him again.
"I love you. I truly do." He remarks before he captures the Took into another kiss.
A week later and Saradoc was wondering if it had been a smart idea to help his son get Pippin back. Not that he minded Merry being happy, it was just that he would like to be able to open a door without shielding his eyes, or even take a bath without picturing…
He shuddered and bracing himself for potential nudity he opened the study door. Thankfully there was nothing on the other side but his desk, upon which was a single biscuit.
He stared at it for a moment and then shrugging his shoulders lifted it to his lips.
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T: Poor Saradoc…any way I'll do the notes,
1. I am not entirely sure if Tolkien changed the days, I can't be bothered to check the appendix at the mo so I'll just leave this as is.
2. Because, according to Shire gossip, the loser wished to Prove that they still had honour even after being drunk under the table by a Brandybuck/Took.
3. It seems odd to me that Frodo and Sam were more than willing to kiss surrounded by houses full of Hobbits guaranteed to talk, but did not dare do so in front of Pip. Probably afraid of corrupting the Took, though there is no real fear of that J.
4. This is about my normal for cinnamon as I'm kind of hooked on the stuff, but I think that this is above average for those wishing a more subtle taste.
5. The biscuits in question are good old Easter biscuits, but as Hobbits do not have Easter they're just biscuits here.
Right that done RR and keep an eye out for the next part: Gaffer's Grievances.