The Dance
Welcome to another missing scene! Here, at last, is Boromir's wedding day, in which nerves are strained, romance is in the air, surprises happen and memories are recalled. I think you'll get why it's called The Dance once the tale is told. This will be in a few parts, so bear with me. Also, I think I'm going to be moving Turn the Page here soon. This one is for the nice lady in Australia who sent me a lovely letter instead of a review. Thank you! It's also for a certain writer I know…and you know whom you are…who said she wished she were Saro. The Caradhras flashback is not mine, not mine, darn it! All Tolkien. I bow before him.
As usual, the characters are not mine except for Saro. The rest is just my visiting with old friends in Middle Earth, and all I get for this is reviews.
The Dance
Part one
It was a fine day for a wedding, Pippin observed. The spacious garden was well decorated. Diamond and Estella had worked hard, along with every available servant they could lay their hands on. Lanterns were hung from branches of trees and bright ribbons festooned the shrubbery as well.
The finest wines had been purchased and the tables were heavy with the wedding-feast. The air was heavy with the scent of flowers. The musicians were tuning up. Diamond had brought out his violin. Pippin would be expected to play, though as a lad he had not cared much for it. Now he was glad his mother had insisted on lessons, and Faro was the one sawing painfully at the fiddle, drawing winces from anyone in earshot, just as it had been when Pippin was the one at practice.
But this day Faro was off the hook. Today, it would be Pippin playing the violin. He had been practicing since Yule. He wanted everything to go right, for today was the day his favorite Man was to wed. He would be standing beside him as Witness along with Merry.
He looked at himself in the looking glass critically. Was the suit right? Was his tie straight enough? Why was his hair always so unruly? He forced a smile. He scolded himself. Just stop it! Stop worrying and enjoy the day, this is a great day for Boromir. He almost raked his hand through his hair, then caught himself just in time. He turned this way and that, looking at his image. Still too thin, even after all these years. Taller, yes, but too thin. He raked his fingers through his hair, then exclaimed, "Hoy, you fool! Now you have to fix that. You're hopeless." The hobbit in the looking glass seemed to agree.
He combed his hair, finally giving up with a sigh. Why couldn't he have nicer hair, like Merry?
"You look wonderful, darling." This was, of course, Diamond. She'd surprised him and made him jump a little with an undignified cross between a squeak and a squawk. He glared at the Pippin in the looking glass.
"D'you really think so? I wish I had hair like Merry's. His always looks so nice."
"Sweetheart! I'll have you know I love your hair!"
"Oh, come now, really!"
"I do! I like the way it hangs down in front. It really shows off your pretty eyes. And I love the color. It looks wonderful!"
"That's very kind of…" as he turned to address her, he stopped in mid-sentence. She was wearing a new red frock, and it showed off her dark curls, rosy lips and fair skin. It also showed off her figure quite well, nipping in at the waist and dipping low in the back. "My goodness, sweetheart! You look absolutely…mmmm!" He embraced her. His fingers skittered down her bare back, making her shiver deliciously.
"Pippin! Not now, darling!" she laughed. "But later, we can have a little second honeymoon. This wedding fever seems to be catching." Her voice was a sweet, velvety purr that made Pippin's blood suddenly boil. "Anyway, Boromir needs you. He's very nervous, and you do have a way with him. Go and calm him down, will you, before he combs his hair and beard clean off?"
Pippin sighed. Wedding fever, indeed. He put that sentiment away for use later in the evening. He would certainly take up the offer. Diamond did look ravishing. He kissed his little wife and strode down the meandering hall until he got to the spare bedroom with the highest ceiling. High ceiling or no, when he tapped on the door and let himself in, Boromir leapt up from his seat on the bed and rapped the top of his head smartly on said ceiling. He grimaced and made a silent "Ow!" with his face scrunched up. Pippin burst into laughter.
Boromir had always found Pippin's laugh contagious, and now he laughed, too. He rubbed the top of his head. A little plaster from the ceiling had fallen in a fine dust on his shoulders. Pippin made him sit and took the clothes brush and tidied him up, wearing an expression much like the one he wore when tidying up Faro. Boromir suddenly had the odd feeling that their sizes had been reversed, somehow.
Pippin stepped back. He looked at Boromir critically, then with his fingers combed back a stray lock of Boromir's hair. He nodded approvingly. "You look great." he said, and gave Boromir a reassuring smile and a pat on one broad shoulder.
"So do you." Boromir grinned. He fidgeted, though. Pippin was by now familiar with his habits. He always shuffled his feet about when he was nervous, and bounced his legs up and down.
"Stop that." Pippin scolded. "Everything will be fine, just fine, I assure you."
Boromir heaved a sigh. "I hope you are right. I was nervous when I married Ruby, too. No, I'm sure you are right. It's just that…oh, Pippin, I love her so! She's just the best thing that's happened to me in so long. She's everything to me. I do so hope I can make her happy." His brow furrowed.
Pippin laughed again. He placed a small hand on each of Boromir's large shoulders and gave them an affectionate squeeze, marveling at how like steel the muscles there still were. He couldn't help recalling the first time he'd noticed this in Boromir, so long ago on that cold trek down Caradhras. Boromir had been so kind to him then, trying to keep him warm, speaking up against the folly of taking hobbits into the perils of that freezing, dangerous place, clearing a path through the deep snow, then carrying hobbits down the path, starting with Pippin, himself.
He found himself suddenly deep in his memories of that horrible time. They freshened in him, and echoed and expanded until it was almost like he was there even now…
"But happily your Caradhras has forgotten that you have Men with you," said Boromir, who came up at that moment. "And doughty Men, too, if I may say it; though lesser men with spades may have served you better. Still, we have thrust a lane through the drift; and for that all here may be grateful who cannot run as light as Elves."
"But how are we to get down there, even if you have cut through the drift?" said Pippin, voicing the thoughts of all the hobbits.
"Have hope!" said Boromir, "I am weary but I have some strength left, and Aragorn too. We will bear the little folk. The others no doubt will make shift to tread the path behind us. Come, Master Peregrin! I will begin with you."
He lifted up the hobbit. "Cling to my back! I shall need my arms," he said, and strode forward......Pippin marveled at his strength, seeing the passage that he had already forced with no other tool than his great limbs. Even now, burdened as he was, he was widening the track for those who followed, thrusting the snow aside as he went.
Pippin leaned forward, and touched his forehead to Boromir's. He gave a small laugh, a twinkle in his bright green eyes.
"Stop worrying! I know you, Boromir. You'll make her very happy. You'll take care of her, and she will love you until the end of her days. You worry too much, and think too little of your abilities to make others happy. You were a confident soldier, now be a confident groom." Pippin grinned at him now, and was pleased to see the grin returned. "You have had some hard, hard times, my friend. Today, be happy! Do you not know how much faith I have in you? Do you know so little of me, or think my judgment amiss? I know you…I know you! Trust me, now, as I have trusted you. I would not miss this day for anything, and don't you miss it by worrying, you great goose! Now, you look splendid, your Saro loves you and nothing will make her happier than to see you looking so dashing and handsome. Now, let us make ready! Our ladies await us!"
Boromir suddenly embraced Pippin, laughing aloud. Diamond was right. He did have a way with Boromir and both Man and hobbit knew it, and could laugh at themselves about it.
"Very well, let us make ready."
"Yes, it is soon time. Let's go see how Merry is faring."
"Excellent idea! Let's go, before we rumple our suits and have to comb our hair. Again."
They rose and walked into the long hallway towards Merry's room.
Continued in The Dance, part two