Hey everyone!! This is my first ever fan-fic, so I really hope you enjoy it!! Please read and REVIEW!! I need to know if my writing is rubbish! Anyways, none of these characters belong to me, I invented a few, but you may use them if you like in your own stories!! That's all enjoy!!
FYI: In this story, Pippin is only 6 years old, and Merry is 14 (very young by hobbit standards!)
"Meriadoc Brandybuck!" Esmeralda shouted up the stairs, "Will you hurry up? Your coach will be leaving any minute!"
"Half a moment" Merry yelled back desperately searching his room. It's got to be here somewhere! I can't leave here without it, Pippin will be so sad if I don't bring it to him!"Aha!" He yelled and pulling from underneath his pillow a small blue object, he bolted down the stairs.
"Now, behave yourself, your aunt and uncle are very busy at the moment getting ready for Yule and all, you should be grateful they let you come and stay"
"Yes mum"
"Did you forget anything, your cloak, books, socks, hat, gloves..."
"I haven't forgotten anything!" Merry said exasperatedly swinging himself up into the carriage.
"Well, have a good time, your father and I will come in a few days to celebrate Yule with you all!"
"Goodbye mum!" Merry called from the back of the carriage, waving goodbye to his mother, then turning around, he examined the object still clutched in his hand. Black beady eyes stared back at him. The doll had been made for his brother, but after his death, Merry's mother had given it to him. Merry had used it to fall to sleep every night for years, but when his cousin Peregrin was born, he gave the blue rabbit to him. Merry yawned, and knowing full well that he was in for a long ride to Whitwell, he rested his head against the carriage side and promptly fell asleep.
"Time to get up Master Meriadoc, only a few more minutes and we'll be at Whitwell."
Merry woke up, stretched then looked out his window; it was late, probably just after supper, Speaking of food, I'm starving! Merry thought as he heard his stomach give a particularly loud grumble. Ah well, Aunt Tina will have some supper waiting for me when I get there! In no time at all the carriage was pulling to a stop in front of a large red door as three people rushed out of it.
"Merry! So glad to see that you made it here ok, how are you?" Eglantine hugged her favorite nephew, then let go to give the others a chance to see him.
"My, how you have grown, you must be two inches taller than last time I saw you, and what a handsome lad your turning out to be!" Merry's heart swelled with pride as his 'Uncle' (Merry liked to refer to him more as a father!) Paladin stepped forward and also gave him a big hug.
"He's still littler than me though!"
"Pearl!" Merry said impatiently,
"I was only jesting Merry, you do look taller, and may I say, a little broader around the middle!"
"Pearl I... " Merry was half-way through his sentence when something small collided with him.
"Merry!!!!"
"Peregrin Took, you are supposed to be sleeping!"
"Sorry mum, but I heard the coach, and well..."
"Very well, say hello to Merry, then straight off to bed with you!"
"Hey pip! How are you?" Merry squeezed his cousin back. Out of all the people in the world, the person hugging him around his middle was his favorite. They did everything together! To Merry, Pippin was not only a cousin, but more like a brother, and most definitely his best friend.
"Merry, look how much taller I am, soon I am going to be just as big as you!"
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah!"
"That's enough Pippin, off to bed with you" Eglantine took hold of Pippin's wrist and led him back inside the house "I am very glad you are here Merry, I made you some dinner, its just inside on the counter, and Paladin, don't let him stay up to late, he needs some sleep, Goodnight all"
"Well, come on then, let's get inside before we all catch cold." So, Merry grabbed his bags and entered the kitchen to the wonderful smell of his aunt's cooking.
"Food!" Merry grabbed his plate and started eating, talking to his uncle about what was going on at Brandy Hall between mouthfuls "Yes, gulp, everything's fine, Merry stuck another fork full of food in his mouth Mymumsaystosayhello."
"I am truly sorry Merry, but I don't speak food, swallow before you try to say something."
"Sorry, well my mum and dad say hello and say that they can't wait until they see you at Yule."
"Oh, yes" Paladin said, glancing out the window, then remembering that Merry still needed to go to bed added "And look at the time, you really should be heading to bed Merry, goodnight, see you in the morning."
"Goodnight Uncle!" Merry set down his fork and knife got up and made his way down the familiar tunnels to his room. The fire was still going in the hearth, making the room pleasantly warm and inviting; the sheets had been turned down, and a very tired Merry lay down, pulled the covers up over himself, and fell asleep.