Chapter Seventeen: Explanations
A/N: Wow... *checking the date on the summary*... where have I been? Well, I could provide the usual excuse, but I think I'll just leave it be and let you read. Dedicated to my wonderful, *WONDERFUL*, reviewers! Just to let you know, I will be writing much more quickly in the following weeks!
~*~
Morning light infiltrated the bedroom. Not that pleasant, cheery morning light or the usual, tender morning light; rather it was a blinding light that jolted Merry straight out of bed when his large, dark curtains were thrown open. "Aiiiiiya," he grumbled, blinking profusely against the new intrusion. He turned, holding his hand across his eyes, and tried to identify who had opened the curtains so that he could yell at them; or at the least, grumble at them, since he was too tired to properly raise his voice.
"Rise and shine, sleeping ugly!" The voice beat him to the punch line, and he recognized the voice as Berilac's.
"Whaddya wan' now, Ber?" he asked, yawning. He sat up and stretched as memories of last night flooded his mind and left him smiling.
"I just wanted to inform you, Mer, that you have missed a delectable first and second breakfast, and that everyone from here to the Far Downs is talking about you."
"Oh really?" Merry replied as he stood and straightened his pajamas. "I wonder how that happened?"
"Well, cause you slept in so late! How else d'ya think you could miss first and second breakfast?"
Merry only sent a wry stare his way.
Berilac's face lit up in recognition. "Oh, you mean... Oh, I don't know. Perhaps it has something to do with last night?" A hint of mischief was in Berilac's tone, something that Merry did not like to hear right when he awoke. Although Pippin might have a fair mischievous side to him, Berilac's real sense of adventure consisted of nothing but mischief.
"Berilac, whatever you've started, please don't bring me down with you. It's far too early in the morning to worry about matters concerning the rest of the shire."
Berilac laughed. "Don't look at me. I didn't start anything... this time... And early, did you say? You mean late, don't you? It is nearly eleven o'clock now! If you don't hurry, elevenses will also be gone."
Merry turned to him slowly and quirked an eyebrow. "Eleven? Well, then, I had better get ready, shouldn't I?"
"Yes, you should. Couldn't sleep last night, I suppose?" Berilac grinned and scratched his chin. "Though, I can't see why. It seemed to me as though you really tired yourself out last night."
"Oh sure. That's incredibly funny, Ber. Now shut the curtains and get out of my room before I kick you out."
"You must be joking, Merry," Berilac commented. "You wouldn't do that to-"
"Get out!"
"All right! All right, fine. I'll just be leaving now. Though I'll be seeing you for elevenses." Berilac stuck out his lower lip as he entered the hallway. "Bye-bye then." The door could not have slammed faster than it did.
~*~
Meriadoc quickly changed into his usual apparel and combed his hair, striking a pose in his mirror. "Well, Merry," he told himself, "good job. Thank Berilac and the others later. That old prankster had something to do with it, the shame-faced goat." He laughed and scuttled out to the dining room where some of his family had gathered for elevenses.
Esmerelda nodded as he sat down. "Hello, Merry. Nice to see you up and about, finally."
Berilac hid a short chuckle and glanced at his other cousins sitting beside him.
"Good-morning," Merry replied, giving a stern stare to Berilac when his mother glanced down at her plate. "I am sorry for sleeping in so late."
"You did not seem so tired when you went to bed at eight o'clock last night. Did you sleep well last night?"
Merry glanced at his mother in surprise. "Um... Yes... Yes, I did. I guess I just needed a few more hours of sleep; that's all."
Another, much louder giggle could be heard and Merry once again glared in Berilac's direction.
Narrowing her eyes slightly, Esmerelda thoughtfully stared up at Merry, and then she glanced at Berilac. "Well, you seem to be in a good mood, Berilac. Perhaps you could share what has gotten you so elated?"
All eyes turned to Berilac, and he blushed. "I'm just the usual old me, ma'am. Happy to be awake and not in trouble."
It was Merry's turn to keep down a laugh. His smile, however, quickly dropped as he heard what Esmerelda had to say next.
"Word has been going round that there was a party at Paladin's last night. True?"
Berilac and Meriadoc kept still and looked away from her.
"I also hear that there was a slight disturbance there. Is this also true?"
Upon hearing no answers, she sighed. "Well, I'm sorry to do this then, but- "
"Now hold on," Berilac interrupted, standing from his chair. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I think I'll offer some explanation. You see, ma'am, it was all my idea. I wanted to give Merry a chance to reconcile his former relations with Peregrin."
"Which I did," Merry added and then quieted again as Berilac continued.
"We weren't causing any trouble. And we were gone before most of the Tooks could see us. But if you still feel it an obligation to deal out punishment, I beg you to leave Merry out of it. Nothing that happened was his fault."
Esmerelda nodded thoughtfully and motioned Berilac to sit down. She looked across the table and smiled at her son. "You are on better terms with Peregrin?"
Merry nodded in quiet response.
"And your uncle is not considering punishment upon Pippin?"
Meriadoc glanced to Berilac. His older cousin took the invitation and once again spoke up. "Well, you see, marm... I wasn't the only conspirator in this plot. Pervinca Took helped as well. I'm sure she is taking care of the details over there as we speak."
This seemed to satisfy Esmerelda. "Well, if this hasn't worsened any relations, I suppose it was all right." She quickly interrupted before the boys could cheer. "But I will give you a warning. If I ever hear anything about you boys over there again before this feud is over, I will deal out punishment properly. Understand?"
There was a grumbling of "Yes, ma'am" around the table.
"Good." Esmerelda nodded. "Now let's eat."
~*~
Meanwhile, Pervinca actually was working out the details back at Tookland. Ideas came popping up into her head as she walked towards Pippin's room. Paladin had requested to see Peregrin, and she was pretty sure of the cause.
"Pippin!" She yelled as she came up to Pippin's bedroom door, and she knocked twice. "Pippin! Get up, would you? Da has something to say to you."
Pippin yawned and cautiously stepped onto the floor from underneath the covers. "Just a minute, Vinca. I'm hurrying." he mumbled tiredly, then yelped as he struck his toe against the dresser. He grabbed something out of his dresser and flung it on his bed, dressing within a matter of minutes. "What does Da want now?"
"I'm thinking he wants to talk about last night."
There was such a long pause inside the bedroom that Pervinca knocked again. "Pippin?"
"Uh... You think?"
"I'm almost sure."
Pippin frowned and opened the door when he had his shirt tucked in. He leaned against the doorway and crossed his arms, a worried expression tugging at his face. "What do I say then?"
"I don't know yet. Though I think it would be wise to deny anything about the Brandybucks, especially Merry." She glanced over him. "You look a bit tired. Did you sleep well last night?"
A red tint appeared on Pippin's cheeks. "I slept fine, Vinca, thanks." He started walking towards the dining room, Pervinca following closely.
"You sure?"
"Yes! I'm fine."
Pervinca smiled knowingly to herself. "All right, I'll believe you. Though I don't see why you wouldn't think of a certain Brandybuck that could very well keep you up for awhile."
Pippin kept quiet, trying to force down the heat that suddenly formed in his cheeks and ears.
~*~
Paladin sat quietly at the dining table, rubbing at his temples. That would definitely be the last time he ever drank eight mugs of ale in one night. Memories of last night fought to circulate around his mind until they were straight. He nodded, remembering how he had ordered some of his cousins to chase away the Brandybucks before real trouble could be caused. Luckily, the Brandybucks had flown by their choice. He had not caught sight of Pippin, though he decided that morning would be a good time.
Paladin laughed at himself. A good time? Not with a pounding feeling in his forehead and a ringing in his ears that would not stop. He sighed. Hopefully, this would go smoothly.
He looked up when Pippin entered the dining room and sat down beside him. "You wanted to talk to me, Da?" he asked, glancing at him.
Paladin nodded. "I just wanted to ask if you had noticed any sort of disruption at the party last night."
Peregrin faked a thoughtful expression. "No... I don't think I did. What sort of disruption was there?"
There was a brief pause. "Well... Some of the Brandybuck boys were there."
"Really?" Pippin tried to hide his smile.
"Yes. You didn't see any of them?"
Pippin shook his head. "No, I didn't."
"Hmm... Well, if you didn't, then I suppose you may go."
A sigh of relief could be heard coming from outside the door, and Pippin hurried to draw back Paladin's attention. "Yes, Father." He sighed and stood, then sauntered out of the door.
Paladin quirked an eyebrow. "Father? Since when did he start calling me that?"
A/N: Wow... *checking the date on the summary*... where have I been? Well, I could provide the usual excuse, but I think I'll just leave it be and let you read. Dedicated to my wonderful, *WONDERFUL*, reviewers! Just to let you know, I will be writing much more quickly in the following weeks!
~*~
Morning light infiltrated the bedroom. Not that pleasant, cheery morning light or the usual, tender morning light; rather it was a blinding light that jolted Merry straight out of bed when his large, dark curtains were thrown open. "Aiiiiiya," he grumbled, blinking profusely against the new intrusion. He turned, holding his hand across his eyes, and tried to identify who had opened the curtains so that he could yell at them; or at the least, grumble at them, since he was too tired to properly raise his voice.
"Rise and shine, sleeping ugly!" The voice beat him to the punch line, and he recognized the voice as Berilac's.
"Whaddya wan' now, Ber?" he asked, yawning. He sat up and stretched as memories of last night flooded his mind and left him smiling.
"I just wanted to inform you, Mer, that you have missed a delectable first and second breakfast, and that everyone from here to the Far Downs is talking about you."
"Oh really?" Merry replied as he stood and straightened his pajamas. "I wonder how that happened?"
"Well, cause you slept in so late! How else d'ya think you could miss first and second breakfast?"
Merry only sent a wry stare his way.
Berilac's face lit up in recognition. "Oh, you mean... Oh, I don't know. Perhaps it has something to do with last night?" A hint of mischief was in Berilac's tone, something that Merry did not like to hear right when he awoke. Although Pippin might have a fair mischievous side to him, Berilac's real sense of adventure consisted of nothing but mischief.
"Berilac, whatever you've started, please don't bring me down with you. It's far too early in the morning to worry about matters concerning the rest of the shire."
Berilac laughed. "Don't look at me. I didn't start anything... this time... And early, did you say? You mean late, don't you? It is nearly eleven o'clock now! If you don't hurry, elevenses will also be gone."
Merry turned to him slowly and quirked an eyebrow. "Eleven? Well, then, I had better get ready, shouldn't I?"
"Yes, you should. Couldn't sleep last night, I suppose?" Berilac grinned and scratched his chin. "Though, I can't see why. It seemed to me as though you really tired yourself out last night."
"Oh sure. That's incredibly funny, Ber. Now shut the curtains and get out of my room before I kick you out."
"You must be joking, Merry," Berilac commented. "You wouldn't do that to-"
"Get out!"
"All right! All right, fine. I'll just be leaving now. Though I'll be seeing you for elevenses." Berilac stuck out his lower lip as he entered the hallway. "Bye-bye then." The door could not have slammed faster than it did.
~*~
Meriadoc quickly changed into his usual apparel and combed his hair, striking a pose in his mirror. "Well, Merry," he told himself, "good job. Thank Berilac and the others later. That old prankster had something to do with it, the shame-faced goat." He laughed and scuttled out to the dining room where some of his family had gathered for elevenses.
Esmerelda nodded as he sat down. "Hello, Merry. Nice to see you up and about, finally."
Berilac hid a short chuckle and glanced at his other cousins sitting beside him.
"Good-morning," Merry replied, giving a stern stare to Berilac when his mother glanced down at her plate. "I am sorry for sleeping in so late."
"You did not seem so tired when you went to bed at eight o'clock last night. Did you sleep well last night?"
Merry glanced at his mother in surprise. "Um... Yes... Yes, I did. I guess I just needed a few more hours of sleep; that's all."
Another, much louder giggle could be heard and Merry once again glared in Berilac's direction.
Narrowing her eyes slightly, Esmerelda thoughtfully stared up at Merry, and then she glanced at Berilac. "Well, you seem to be in a good mood, Berilac. Perhaps you could share what has gotten you so elated?"
All eyes turned to Berilac, and he blushed. "I'm just the usual old me, ma'am. Happy to be awake and not in trouble."
It was Merry's turn to keep down a laugh. His smile, however, quickly dropped as he heard what Esmerelda had to say next.
"Word has been going round that there was a party at Paladin's last night. True?"
Berilac and Meriadoc kept still and looked away from her.
"I also hear that there was a slight disturbance there. Is this also true?"
Upon hearing no answers, she sighed. "Well, I'm sorry to do this then, but- "
"Now hold on," Berilac interrupted, standing from his chair. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I think I'll offer some explanation. You see, ma'am, it was all my idea. I wanted to give Merry a chance to reconcile his former relations with Peregrin."
"Which I did," Merry added and then quieted again as Berilac continued.
"We weren't causing any trouble. And we were gone before most of the Tooks could see us. But if you still feel it an obligation to deal out punishment, I beg you to leave Merry out of it. Nothing that happened was his fault."
Esmerelda nodded thoughtfully and motioned Berilac to sit down. She looked across the table and smiled at her son. "You are on better terms with Peregrin?"
Merry nodded in quiet response.
"And your uncle is not considering punishment upon Pippin?"
Meriadoc glanced to Berilac. His older cousin took the invitation and once again spoke up. "Well, you see, marm... I wasn't the only conspirator in this plot. Pervinca Took helped as well. I'm sure she is taking care of the details over there as we speak."
This seemed to satisfy Esmerelda. "Well, if this hasn't worsened any relations, I suppose it was all right." She quickly interrupted before the boys could cheer. "But I will give you a warning. If I ever hear anything about you boys over there again before this feud is over, I will deal out punishment properly. Understand?"
There was a grumbling of "Yes, ma'am" around the table.
"Good." Esmerelda nodded. "Now let's eat."
~*~
Meanwhile, Pervinca actually was working out the details back at Tookland. Ideas came popping up into her head as she walked towards Pippin's room. Paladin had requested to see Peregrin, and she was pretty sure of the cause.
"Pippin!" She yelled as she came up to Pippin's bedroom door, and she knocked twice. "Pippin! Get up, would you? Da has something to say to you."
Pippin yawned and cautiously stepped onto the floor from underneath the covers. "Just a minute, Vinca. I'm hurrying." he mumbled tiredly, then yelped as he struck his toe against the dresser. He grabbed something out of his dresser and flung it on his bed, dressing within a matter of minutes. "What does Da want now?"
"I'm thinking he wants to talk about last night."
There was such a long pause inside the bedroom that Pervinca knocked again. "Pippin?"
"Uh... You think?"
"I'm almost sure."
Pippin frowned and opened the door when he had his shirt tucked in. He leaned against the doorway and crossed his arms, a worried expression tugging at his face. "What do I say then?"
"I don't know yet. Though I think it would be wise to deny anything about the Brandybucks, especially Merry." She glanced over him. "You look a bit tired. Did you sleep well last night?"
A red tint appeared on Pippin's cheeks. "I slept fine, Vinca, thanks." He started walking towards the dining room, Pervinca following closely.
"You sure?"
"Yes! I'm fine."
Pervinca smiled knowingly to herself. "All right, I'll believe you. Though I don't see why you wouldn't think of a certain Brandybuck that could very well keep you up for awhile."
Pippin kept quiet, trying to force down the heat that suddenly formed in his cheeks and ears.
~*~
Paladin sat quietly at the dining table, rubbing at his temples. That would definitely be the last time he ever drank eight mugs of ale in one night. Memories of last night fought to circulate around his mind until they were straight. He nodded, remembering how he had ordered some of his cousins to chase away the Brandybucks before real trouble could be caused. Luckily, the Brandybucks had flown by their choice. He had not caught sight of Pippin, though he decided that morning would be a good time.
Paladin laughed at himself. A good time? Not with a pounding feeling in his forehead and a ringing in his ears that would not stop. He sighed. Hopefully, this would go smoothly.
He looked up when Pippin entered the dining room and sat down beside him. "You wanted to talk to me, Da?" he asked, glancing at him.
Paladin nodded. "I just wanted to ask if you had noticed any sort of disruption at the party last night."
Peregrin faked a thoughtful expression. "No... I don't think I did. What sort of disruption was there?"
There was a brief pause. "Well... Some of the Brandybuck boys were there."
"Really?" Pippin tried to hide his smile.
"Yes. You didn't see any of them?"
Pippin shook his head. "No, I didn't."
"Hmm... Well, if you didn't, then I suppose you may go."
A sigh of relief could be heard coming from outside the door, and Pippin hurried to draw back Paladin's attention. "Yes, Father." He sighed and stood, then sauntered out of the door.
Paladin quirked an eyebrow. "Father? Since when did he start calling me that?"