Chapter 29: Just When You Thought the Nicknames Couldn't Get Worse…

"Pippin's turn!" Merry said, looking way too happy, as he tossed the book to the other Hobbit as if it burned to hold it for too long. It probably did, but that's beside the point.

Aragorn was seized with a sudden thought. "Celeste said 'meet me in Gondor' before she died…"

Starr beamed in pride. "That's my girl! Probably off to scope out the land she will be queen over once she marries you, Gorniekins."

Aragorn smiled with an excited look in his eye.

Arwen plastered a strained smile on her face. "I won't let it get to me…I won't let it get to me…" she muttered through clenched teeth.

Aragorn contemplated running before things got too bad, but decided to sweat it out. He knew what was going to happen next…

"And I shall just have to wait a little longer to see her again," Starr mused to herself. "Aw, she will get to meet Fary before me!"

Legolas let out the laughter that had been threatening to burst at the nickname 'Gorniekins.' "Oh, this is too good! I can hardly wait!"

Faramir looked quite ill, and pretended not to have heard this. Eowyn was looking rather pissy as she remembered that her man was still in jeopardy.

Several days, Gandalv and Pippni reached Gondor.

"Now that was more than just a gap in the storytelling!" Elladan said suddenly.

"It was a chasm!" Elrohir added.

Pippin was too busy being incredulous that someone could possibly misspell HIS name to hear that.

"It's the tree!" Pippin cheered, bouncing up and down in the saddle.

"Yes—who's that?" Gandalf wondered aloud.

A figure stood next to the tree, one hand restng on the bark, clothed all in flowing white.

"Please let it be Saruman, please let it be Saruman!" Eomer said, crossing his fingers.

Blonde hair streamed golden in the sun as they recognized the face.

"Celeste!" Pippin excailmed, tears flowing freely down his face. Tears of joy.

"More like tears of despair." Said Hobbit mumbled almost inaudibly. Almost.

She smiled serenely, lighting up the area lyke a summer sun. Nearby guards felt the gloom instantly lifted from their hearts.

Gandlaf allowed himself a slight smile. Big grins were SO not his, like, style, kay?

There were quite a few raised eyebrows and disbelieving looks after that phrase was read…

"You have returned to us, and brought hope back with you,"

Later that night…

"Okay, so she's totally half-a—" Glorfindel began, but was smacked by Arwen.

"No swearing! I don't want to shatter poor Sam's innocence more than necessary."

"HIS innocence!" Legolas burst out suddenly, then covered his mouth with a hand. "I'm sorry, it just slipped out!" he said when under the Glare of Arwen.

"Mordor hath no evil like that of an angry woman," Gimli muttered to Aragorn absentmindedly.

"It's so quiet," Celeste said, leaning on the balkuny. The light evening wind stirred her dress, now deep purple, and her golden hair.

"Funny, I half expected her dress to be fluorescent pink…" Merry said, amused.

"It's the deep breath before the plunge," Gandalf said quietely.

Celeste shivered, wrapping her arms around herself, wishing instead for the strong arms of her Aragorn.

Arwen made a funny little noise of protest but said nothing.

Her smooth skin was cold to the touch, perhaps a reminder of her death. She hoped to warm up soon. She woud have to ask Starr what she did.

A while later, Celeste helped hoist Pippin up onto the beacon thingy and light it. She blew the guards a kiss (cuz she was like the MASTER at those :giggle: ) and they fell over, stunned and with nosebleeds.

Meanwhile, in Rohan…

Starr sat straight up as the little light appeared on the mountaintop. She and Aragorn ran into the Hall.

"The beacons!" she exclaimed.

"The beacons are lit! Gondor calls for aid!" Aragorn added.

Thoden looked to be debating it mentally. Eowin and Eomer stood nearby, waiting.

Starr gave the king her best puppy dog eyes and smile, and he immediately caved like a house of wet spaghetti. "And Rlohan will answer them!"

"What's spaghetti?" Sam asked.

"I'm not sure, though I know it's something unflattering to be compared to," Eomer said.

"And I don't appreciate our late uncle being insulted so," Eowyn said coldly to no one in particular.

"Woot! I get to see Celeste again!" Aragorn cheered.

Dead silence.

" 'Woot'?" Was the universal cry.

"Is there even such a word?" Elrohir questioned.

"Let alone would the King of Gondor ever say it!" Glorfindel said, exasperated.

"I kinda like it," Pippin said, looking thoughtful. "Woot. Woot. Woot. Woot. It kinda has a musical quality to it. Woot. Woot. Woot."

Arwen buried her face in her hands.

"What have they started?" Gimli shook his head.

"I'll be hearing that all the way back to the Shire," Merry said with fake happiness.

Theoden began to ramble about mustering someone, and Gamling his little lap dog scurried off to do it. Starr tossed her hair and left to pack, beckoning Legolas over seductively for a last bit of fun before the yucky stuff began.

There was a collective groan of dismay and Legolas fell out of his chair in horror.

But that is, like, private, so butt out::giggle giggle:

"Since WHEN are they modest!" Eowyn said, throwing her hands up in the air.

"I wouldn't complain," Legolas said, a look of total relief on his face.

"True, true."

"It's rather a miracle, it is," Legolas continued.

"It is quite strange."

"I never thought I'd see it."

"Me neither,"

"It comes as quite a relief,"

"Most definitely,"

"Are you two quite finished?" Pippin snapped. Everyone stared at him. "Sorry. I want to get this over with, you know?"

So the red velvet curtains close on this chapter, and I betcha you can't wait 4 the next one! Love, prettyprettyprincesssweet16 XOXOXOXO

Pippin practically threw the book at Arwen in relief, letting out one last "Woot!"

TBC…