Author's Note: So we reach 1434! This part is a little different than the others, it includes more of Rose Gamgee and more of the general Hobbits' opinions. It also starts to look into the relationship of Pippin and Estella which I have mentioned in previous chapters. I hope it's not too different from the other chapters, it's hard to tell if your own writing changes. And I'm sorry all Pippin fans, but Pippin becoming Thain is not as central in this chapter as Merry becoming Master of the Hall was in the 1432 one.
Oh and about the spelling… *blushes* It's not always the best, is it? English is not my first language and I rely far too much on Word's spell check… But I am always eager to learn, so if you find a word I've misspelled then let me know so I can avoid making the same mistake twice =)
Disclaimer: Same as always, Middle-Earth and its inhabitants belong to JRR Tolkien!
"I'll race you to the bridge!" Merry cried and drove Stybba to a gallop.
Pippin answered his challenge and together with Fox raced across their favourite meadow, as fast as the pony's four legs could carry them. It was however not fast enough for Stybba, even when Merry held him back a little, and Merry won over his cousin by ten yards. He slowed down to a trot and laughed at Pippin's pretended anger and slowed the pony down to a walk once Pippin and Fox were alongside them.
It was early June, the sun was shining and everything seemed as it should in the Shire. The grey of winter had given way to the green of summer and the birds were singing in the sky, as happy with the weather as the Hobbits. Merry and Estella had moved out to Crickhollow for the summer earlier that week, and Merry was looking forward to a long summer with his and Pippin's families, getting a break from all the people at Brandy Hall. He knew Estella was glad to be back, but he also knew that for her Brandy Hall was home now, more than Crickhollow was. Merry couldn't quite feel the same yet, but he was happy that she did.
Merry had spent the previous summer widening the pastures and fixing up the stables, since he still planned on breeding ponies there within the next few years. He had already decided that he would use Stybba for breeding, but he had yet to find a mare which he felt was good enough for the purpose. He would continue looking, but this summer he hoped mainly to get to relax and spend time with Pippin and the children.
Éowyn would be five this autumn, and she was his constant companion, in many ways filling the void left behind by Pippin. Wherever he went she wanted to follow, and when he worked out in the fields she would walk right behind him and help him out in whatever way she could. In the stables she always helped him with anything she could, and Merry often made up special chores for her to do since he knew that it made her feel useful. The bond between them was very special, she was not only his only daughter and oldest child but also a constant reminder of the woman she was named after. Merry would often lift her up and proudly remind her who she was named after, and tell her stories about the lady Éowyn. This summer Merry planned on finding her a little pony of her own to ride on, it was time now that she learned to ride and got her own beast for the purpose. Estella didn't like the idea much, but Merry insisted. She was named after a horsewoman and so she should be one herself.
Théodoc was three and a half, and still as shy as ever. He was calm and polite, but hardly spoke a word unless encouraged, something Merry and Estella hoped he would grow out of soon. He often kept to himself and played alone, seeming uncomfortable in the presence of other children except for his sister, even Faramir's company seemed to unease him.
Faramir, unlike Théodoc, was outgoing, social and curious. With each passing day he became more and more like Pippin, and his grandmother Eglantine had complained that he was going to be just as mischievous as his father. She also complained that he was brought up a little too loosely in Buckland, being able to come and go much as he chose, at least compared to other three year-olds. Pippin ignored her worries, he knew that his son's free spirit was something that should be encouraged, not scolded, and he knew exactly how to keep the child on a leash when it was needed.
Aramac, the youngest of the children, was fifteen months old and although much more serious than his older sister ever had been he was never as concealed as his older brother. He seemed to fit somewhere in-between, and as he toddled around the smials of Brandy Hall or Crickhollow he always seemed to find something to keep him entertained. He made little fuss over things, and was easygoing most of the time, unlike his older brother who had always had a tendency to be a little cranky.
Now all four children were together again, under the same roof at Crickhollow, just as Pippin had imagined them growing up. But to his and Merry's disappointment Faramir and Théodoc didn't seem very interested in each other's company, they seemed to have problems understanding one another. Merry and Pippin had often joked while Estella and Diamond were expecting the lads that if they both had lads or both had lasses the two children would be as close as their fathers were, and they both knew that it had been more than just a joke. They wanted their friendship to live on through their children, it would be a shame and a waste if none of their children had a bond equal to their fathers'. But Faramir and Théodoc showed no signs of even becoming friends at all, the two hardly ever spoke unless they were forced to. Faramir had tried to speak with Théodoc at first, but when he got little or no response he soon gave up trying. Théodoc had been more comfortable around his second cousin before the move to Brandy Hall, but now it was as if the young Took was a stranger to him. Merry and Pippin had often sighed over this and tried to break the barriers between the two children, but so far they had had no luck and eventually Diamond had told them to just leave it alone. Either the bond would come on its own or it wasn't meant to be there, either way you could not force such a thing. And they knew that she was right, but it was still with a sigh they looked at their sons who were as strangers with one another.
Merry shadowed the sun with his hand and turned Stybba around as they reached the end of the meadow. Pippin turned Fox around as well, and gave his pony a pat on the neck. He too was happy that Merry was back at Crickhollow, but this year was not the same as the year before had been. He was getting tired of all the changes going on around him, even though he by now had learned to accept them, but this last one was little to his liking.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Merry asked, breaking the silence. "Buckland… Out of all the lands I've seen nothing can compare to the Shire."
"It is beautiful" Pippin said and decided that now was a good time as any to tell Merry. "It saddens me so that I shan't be seeing it for much longer."
Merry's hand fell and he turned to look at Pippin with surprised eyes.
"Are you going away? Has Strider called upon your service?"
"No, not Strider…" Pippin said. "But going away I am, at least Buckland I shall leave. When autumn comes, I managed to stall it until the summer is over."
"Stall what?"
"The time has come for me to take over my father's office" Pippin said. "I shall be the Thain and The Took soon!"
"Oh my goodness…" Merry said, completely unprepared for the news. He halted his pony. "How long have you known this?"
"Only a day before you came to Crickhollow. I was waiting for a good time to tell you, I wanted to tell you alone and not in front of everybody else."
"Congratulations" Merry said. "I'm very happy for you Pip, you will make a fantastic thain! I know it."
"Thank you, dear cousin" Pippin said. "The time has finally come… Time for the youngster, the fool of a Took to be the head of his family. Why does it seem all the changes in my life come without me being the least bit prepared?"
"You are prepared" Merry said. "You know the job, you have great relationships with the kings and lords around us, people listen to your authority already! You can do the job with your hands tied behind your back." He urged Stybba to move again. "So by the end of summer you'll be moving to Tuckburough?"
"To Tuckburough and to the Great Smials. For the winter in any case. I'll return to Crickhollow in June, like you will" Pippin said.
"I hope you will be able to" Merry said. "It is easier for me you know, I'm still in Buckland. Tuckburough is further away from Crickhollow, it's not as easy to run your office from here when the areas of your concern are somewhere else."
"Then I shall ask father to keep an eye on things for me" Pippin said. "It is not something I am willing to even discuss, I shall be spending my summers here for as long as you do Merry. And that's final."
"I shall be happy to have you here in Buckland" Merry said. "This winter is going to be long and cold, isn't it? Further apart than we have been for years…"
"I'm going to have to keep myself busy" Pippin said. "I still haven't mastered living life without you, and I doubt I ever will learn. Keeping myself occupied might just be what I need to not be constantly aware that you're not there."
"Maybe living at Crickhollow's been bad for you" Merry mused. "When you're surrounded by people at the Great Smials you will have an easier time finding something to do to forget for a little while."
"I do not long to forget" Pippin said. "Just numb the aching loneliness… Oh Merry, we shouldn't speak of such things now, not on such a wonderful summer's day when we have all of summer together ahead of us! Let's just put it all aside for now and worry about crossing that particular bridge when we get there."
"I think that sounds like a good idea" Merry agreed. "Summer is here, and it is all ours. All our worries can be put aside, nothing is so urgent that we must deal with it now. I've never seen much need in grieving for sorrows that haven't yet arrived. Come, let's gallop back along the meadow, Stybba is looking forward to outrunning Fox again!"
With a jesting war cry he drove his pony into a gallop, followed by Pippin who was hot in his trails. Indeed they would not worry just yet, the summer day was far too bright and warm for any worries and for three months ahead they would have each other's constant company. Neither one of them wished to spoil that by speaking of matters that would only put dark clouds on their sunny sky. The autumn's problems could wait, for now they would only enjoy summer.
"We most certainly do not do this often enough" Merry decided, to which everyone else voiced their agreements.
"Indeed this is far too pleasant to only happen once or twice a year" Pippin said and lifted Pippin Gamgee up into his lap. "September 22nd is all good and fine, but why is that the only day of the year when our three families join as one? I say we meet together the 22nd of every month, or at least consider it!"
"You might be referring to that, my dear Peregrin" Merry said with a grin. "But I am talking about the whole arrangement. Dinner outside under the setting sun, how often do we do that? Combining it with a gathering of the Tooks, Brandybucks and Gamgees is only a bonus, though a great one at that."
"I shall gladly host events like this more often" Estella said and put down a plate of hot corn in front of her husband. "If you take on more of the responsibility than just setting up tables and eating the food."
"Estella do not let manfolk into the kitchen on such days" Diamond laughed. "For they soon forget that the cooking is for later, and soon you find them munching away on anything edible they can find!"
The last was said with a knowing glance at Pippin which caused everybody to laugh. Diamond had had her hands full all day long keeping Merry and Sam but especially Pippin away from the kitchen. Pippin seemed to have a special talent for sneaking in and stealing something from a plate no matter how carefully Diamond kept a lookout for him.
"Somebody had to take on the service of tasting all the food, and making sure that it was good enough for the company to eat!" Pippin defended himself with a laugh. "I was doing you all a favour!"
"Oh so you do not trust in our cooking to be good enough?" Estella teased.
"I do yours, Estella" Pippin said, and leaned over the table to whisper. "But my wife is not well accustomed to the fine art of baking, at least one might not think so while tasting anything put her pies!"
"You don't think I heard that?" Diamond asked with a laugh.
"I did say that your pies are excellent!" Pippin pointed out. "And speaking of which, where is that delicious cherry pie I stole a piece from earlier today?"
"I'm afraid it never made it past us, Pippin" Sam said and glanced sheepishly at the crumbles that were all that was left of the pie. "See, my children find Diamond's cooking rather tasty as well!"
"Did you hear that Pippin?" Diamond asked. "Cooking! Not only pies!"
"I never breathed a word about cooking, I only spoke of baking! And on that subject, why did you not bake more than one pie?"
"Merry" Diamond complained, giving up the fight at the moment.
"Fill your mouth with apple pie instead of cherry, Pip, and keep it from getting you into further trouble" Merry suggested with a smile.
"We're out of apple pie too" Sam sheepishly said.
"All right, that's it!" Pippin said with feigned anger. "From now on, no pie starts out in the Gamgee end!"
"I'm sorry!" Sam said.
"Sorry does not fill an empty stomach" Pippin said, still pretending to be upset. "Nothing does that better than a pie, but it looks like I'm left without!"
"Come now" Rose said. "Let's not quarrel about pies on such a fine day."
"I'm not quarrelling" Pippin said. "Just setting up some friendly rules. No pie starts at Sam's end of the table!"
"It's a far too fine day for making up rules too."
"It is indeed a fine day for a dinner outside" Merry said, looking up at the sky. "And as I said, we ought to do this more often!"
"Perhaps the weather will be good enough when we celebrate mister Bilbo's birthday!" Sam said.
"I do hope so, Sam" Merry said and grabbed one of the corns from the plate in front of him. "But enough of this musing over weather for now. All this talk about pies has made me hungry! Where did the butter go?"
Someone passed him the butter and he greedily began to butter his corn. Pippin helped his young namesake do the same and the two shared a corn while Estella passed the rest around the table. It was a small party by any measures, only six adults and thirteen children present, but the small group managed to make enough noise for thirteen adults and twice as many children. There was singing and jesting and talking all around the table, every once in a while interrupted by a child screaming for one reason or another. Faramir and Sam's son Merry were engaged in a tug-a-war over one of the corns and Daisy, the youngest addition to the Gamgee family, was complaining loudly over the amount of noise and her fatigue until finally Rose took her inside and put her down for the night.
"Uncle Merry!" Sam's Frodo said eventually, when the eating had ceased for a little while, and crawled up in Merry's lap. "Won't you tell us a story? Oh won't you? One about a dragon, and an Elf?"
"Now, now Frodo, you can only have one wish at a time" Merry said. "You will have to choose, dragon or Elf?"
"Elf, Elf, Elf!" cried half of Sam's children.
"Dragon, dragon!" cried the other half.
"Now let Frodo decide" Merry said. "Frodo?"
"I think I wish to hear one about a dragon" Frodo said.
"Very well then" Merry said, and embarked on a more child friendly version of Bilbo's encounters with Smaug the dragon. The children gathered around him and listened with eyes wide open and ears sharpened. Merry was the Gamgee children's favourite story teller, and they never missed an opportunity to hear him tell one.
"Dragons and Elves…" Diamond said to Rosie. "You'd think they'd tire after one hundred tellings of the same story."
"Not Sam's children" Rosie laughed. "They're all as crazy for stories as their father. But Sam usually refrains from telling them, he prefers to recite poetry."
"Pippin doesn't have much of a poetic side" Diamond said. "And not much of a story telling one either. But he loves to listen to them, just look at him!"
Rosie laughed and looked at Pippin, who was just as engaged in the story as the child in his lap. One could not tell from looking at him that he had heard the story a million times over since he was a little child, or that he had a far greater adventure of his own in his past. His eyes were as round as the child's and he too gasped at exciting points of the story and seemed anxious to hear what the outcome would be.
"Tell us more of Bilbo's magic ring!" Goldilocks Gamgee urged when Merry's story had reached its end.
"No sir!" Sam said, quickly sitting up straight in his chair. "Do not tell them any such stories, master Merry!"
"And you shouldn't call me master" Merry replied. "But as you wish, Sam. Such a wonderful night should not be spoiled by talking about rings of magic."
A displeased cry came from all the children, but their prayers had no effect on Merry who refused to tell them anything else. Frodo sat in his lap with a thoughtful look on his face and then looked at Merry.
"Tell us a story about an Elf!" he said.
Merry laughed.
"I asked you to choose between a story of a dragon and one of an Elf!" he said. "I cannot spoil you by giving you one of both!"
"Please!" young Pippin begged.
"Indeed, please!" the older Pippin said and they both laid their puppy eyes on Merry who caved with a roar of laughter.
"I cannot resist those pleads" he said. "Very well then, but only a short one!"
"Tell us of Legolas!" Éowyn begged.
"No, I want to hear about Glorfindel!" said Faramir.
"I shan't tell you of either one of them" Merry decided. "How about you telling them something instead, Pippin, you who seemed so eager to hear a story? Tell them about your encounter with Gildor on your way to Crickhollow."
"You met an Elf on the way here?" Goldilocks said with amazement in her voice, not having heard the story before.
"Indeed, your father, myself and old Frodo Baggins spent a night with them" Pippin said. "But I am not much of a storyteller. I don't think I would be able to describe that meeting with the Elves even if I was!"
"Please" all the children begged, and Merry joined in with a laugh.
"Maybe Sam can tell you?" Pippin suggested.
"He'll recite a poem" Rosie whispered to Diamond.
"My first meeting with an Elf was my meeting with Gildor, or at least the first time I ever spoke to one" Sam said with a distant look on his face. "And it's not something one can describe with simple words." Then he harked and began reciting a poem, but only got through the first line before his oldest son cut him off.
"Uncle Merry, won't you please tell us a story instead?" he begged. "Father only recites poetry! We want a story!"
"I'd rather listen to the poem" Merry said and looked at Sam. "You shouldn't discard your father's poetry young Frodo, instead you should listen and appreciate it. Go on Sam! Recite your poem for us!"
While Sam embarked on a long poetry recital Rosie and Estella decided to take Hamfast and Aramac inside and put them to bed. Rose had heard the poem numerous times before, and Estella had caught Aramac sleeping in his chair.
They went inside to Éowyn and Théodoc's old nursery and put the children down in one of the beds together. Daisy was already sleeping in the crib, and Estella and Rosie sat by the bed until Hamfast and Aramac were asleep.
"This is nice" Estella said. "Merry's right, we really ought to see each other more often. I wish for our children to be friends and for us who already are to keep our bonds strong. You and I used to be best friends, now I see you so seldom that I hardly even know what's happening in your life. That saddens me."
"I too wish we could see each other more often" Rose said. "I hope you do not take this the wrong way Estella dear, but there are times when I wish you hadn't married and moved off to Buckland. I miss my friend, and the children miss their nanny. I miss their nanny too, as a matter of fact."
"I miss you and your children too" Estella said. "Though I cannot agree with you that it would have been nice if I hadn't married. Strange thing it is though, I had sworn never to get married. And now I cannot picture life without my Merry."
"I just wished you were around more often" Rosie said. "I see you so seldom now, either we're preparing for a party or you're having a baby when we meet. We have no time to talk, I miss that greatly!"
"We have time to talk now" Estella said. "Something's bothering you, I can tell. Talk to me, the lads won't miss us outside until they get hungry again! The children are sleeping, nobody is going to disturb us, tell me what's on your mind!"
"I guess now is a good time" Rose said and sighed. "But I just feel so foolish for complaining about it!"
"Complaining about what, dear?"
"You remember when Aramac was born, what we spoke of, you me and Diamond?"
"We spoke of a lot of things" Estella said. "I'm sorry but you will have to refresh my memory a little."
"We spoke of children" Rosie said. "I told you I was expecting Daisy."
"Yes, now I remember" Estella said and nodded. She put her hand on Rosie's. "You're expecting another one?"
Rosie nodded and began to cry. She didn't mean to but she couldn't help it, and she felt embarrassed over how she acted.
"Oh Rosie…" Estella said and pulled her into a hug.
Rosie allowed herself to cry in Estella's arms for a while, soothed by Estella's gentle humming and rocking her back and forth. It felt good to be held and taken care of for a change, and soon she managed to dry her tears.
"I'm sorry Estella."
"Don't be" Estella said. "I know how you feel. Éowyn was only five months old when I realised I was expecting Théodoc."
"But after he was born you didn't have another child for three years" Rosie said. "Goldilocks, Hamfast and Daisy have all come merely a year apart, and now I shall be having another one in January. I cannot do this much longer, Estella!"
"I know, love…" Estella said and continued to gently rock her back and forth.
"I love my children, you know I do!"
"Yes of course."
"But that only makes it harder. I don't have the time to take interest in what happens in Elanor's life, she is thirteen years old and beginning to go through some changes in her body, she should have her mother there for her. But I barely have the time to talk to her or listen to her. All I ever seem to do is command her to help me out with things around the house, and with her siblings!"
"It's not as bad as you think" Estella tried to comfort her. "I'm sure you take the time to care for her. And learning to do an honest day's work is not a bad thing!"
"Frodo is eleven" Rosie continued. "And I hardly see him at all, he is out with Sam in the gardens most of the time. And the horrible thing is that it relieves me, it's one less child to keep an eye on! What kind of a mother thinks like that?"
"A stressed one, dear. It does not mean that you do not love him."
"And with Hamfast arriving so soon after Goldilocks I never had the time to really care for her, and then Daisy followed shortly after Ham and the same thing happened again. And now there's going to be a ninth child and I will be in the same situation with Daisy as I was with Ham and Goldie!"
"Now you listen to me, Rose Gamgee" Estella said. "It will all be just fine. Why don't you send Merry and Pippin to Brandy Hall over a few months this winter? That will give you some room to focus on your littler ones and my Merry and I shall be delighted to have them over. You know what a soft spot Merry has for his little namesake, and it will give them a chance to play with Éowyn and Théodoc, and all the other children at the Hall. It would do them good!"
"I can't send them away" Rosie said. "They're my children and my responsibility. And I would never hear the end of it if I sent my sons off to stay at Brandy Hall among queer Brandybucks, if you'll excuse me Estella."
"Feel free to change your mind" Estella said. "A few months at Brandy Hall won't do them any harm. Think about it!"
"In any case, they are not the biggest problem" Rose said. "It's Goldie, Ham and Daisy. They are no problem, it is with me the problem lies. I am their mother yet I do not have the time to spend with them, not as much as such young children need! And now there's going to be yet another one…"
"I wish I could be of help to you" Estella said. "I wish I could come to Bag End and be your nanny for a while. But I can't leave Merry, or my children for that matter. If I could, I would come stay with you for a while and help easen your burden."
"Do you want to hear something terrible?"
"Not particularly" Estella admitted. "But if telling me will lift a worry from your chest then I shall listen."
"Sometimes I have trouble keeping in mind who has what name" Rosie admitted. "It just slips my mind and I don't know why! Frodo is called Pippin, Rosie is galled Goldilocks, and Goldie in return is called Daisy ever so often… And it breaks my heart to hear them correct me. Their own mother can't keep track of who is who!"
"You know perfectly well who is who" Estella said. "If their name slip every now and then then that is a different matter. I myself have called Aramac Théo on occasion."
"And if it only were the problem of finding time for all of them" Rosie said with a sigh. "Oh Estella, you've had children, you know it's not easy. Pregnancy takes a huge toll, worse on me for each child I have, and then there's the matter of the birth. You'd think it would get easier each time but doesn't, I only find it harder on each occasion. I feel like I never get any rest, I never wake up in the morning fully rested, ready to begin a new day. Each time I have a new child I am so happy, but truth be told lately it has taken me a few hours, a day even with Ham and Daisy, before I felt motherly love. Most of all I am just happy to get a few days rest in bed, but after a day I only start to worry. Who's going to change the yearling's diaper, who is going to braid Rosie's hair, who is going to put food on the table? And then I get out of bed a few days later no more rested than when I laid down in it!"
"Rose, you must speak to Sam about this" Estella said. "Or have you already?"
"No" Rosie said.
"Well then you must. You know that he loves you, if he knew how you felt then he would make sure you didn't have another child for a long time!"
"I don't know how to bring it up with him" Rose admitted. "That's another downside to all of this. I find less and less time for Sam! It seems all the time we spend together is what ends up in another childbirth! And truth be told I find myself disliking those moments. They have lost all the good things they had for me once, all I feel know is worry that I shall be pregnant again."
"Then you must speak with Sam! If he knew how you felt, he would never continue coming to your bed!"
"How do you tell your husband such a thing?" Rose asked. "He is so happy over every child I give him, and I have never been able to speak with him about our intimate moments. I wouldn't even know how to begin."
"Do you want me to speak with Merry?" Estella asked. "I could have him speak with Sam about it."
"No!" Rosie said in horror. "Estella you mustn't! He cannot know!"
"But he might be able to help you!"
"How would that look? Having Sam find out about this through mister Merry? You absolutely cannot speak to him about this, promise me Estella!"
"But Rose, listen to me! I am concerned of your health! Merry could speak to Sam and say that he is too!"
"He would not have any reason…" Rose said and sighed. "Not yet anyway. I still have my health."
"It doesn't sound like it, if you pardon me."
"I admit that it has carried a heavy toll on me" Rose said. "But I am not yet in any danger for my health."
"And you should never have to be either."
"The only way I could let Merry speak with Sam is if it were to tell him that having another child after this one would be a serious threat to my health."
"I'm sorry Rose…" Estella said, hearing the hope in her friend's voice. "But I cannot ask Merry to do that. He would never say anything to Sam that wasn't true, and come to think of it he would probably wish to examine you before saying anything to Sam."
Rosie looked horrified at the mere suggestion.
"Estella no! I cannot have him examine me! That would be so…"
"Inappropriate? Well then, I shan't ask him to. But if I see your health getting worse then I will, you have my word on that whether you like it or not. My concerns for your health are greater than your fears of having a lad examine you. But you must promise me that you speak with Sam! Remember what you said when Aramac was born, no lad would keep looking to his wife for pleasure if he knew the pain of birth!"
"And I remember you saying that indeed he would" Rose commented.
"I haven't had as many children as you" Estella said. "And I can assure you my friend, if I were ever in your situation I would let Merry know how I felt. He is my friend after all, as well as my lover, and furthermore you cannot keep something like this to yourself when you are married to someone. It will eat into your love Rose, sooner or later it will. Speak to Sam soon, and maybe this child will be your last."
Rose nodded and sighed deeply. She didn't know how she would be able to tell Sam, they didn't have the same kind of relationship as Estella and Merry. Even if they once had, Rose had forgotten about it long ago. To her, marriage was now mostly about children, and they kept coming to her in an endless line. How she would be able to tell her husband, who loved all of his children so, that she wished to have no more was beyond her. But she had promised Estella that she would try to talk to Sam and so she should.
It was hard to tell whether or not they had been missed when they rejoined the party outside. It was clear that Goldie needed to be put to bed as well, but Rose declined Estella's offer to keep her company. The two Pippins were working on another corn together, Faramir and little Merry were sharing a piece of pie and Éowyn and little Rosie were whispering together in a corner. Everything seemed to be occurring under Diamond's watchful eye, which was occasionally distracted by Sam asking here for different sorts of food that had been on the table previously but was now most likely inside someone's belly. Estella walked over to her husband, who still had Frodo in his lap, and his smile told her that he had indeed noticed that she had been gone for a while, and that he was happy to see her again.
"Frodo," he said to the youngster, "I hope you don't mind me kindly asking you to run along now and play with your siblings and friends. I wish to make room in my lap for this wife of mine and I'm afraid that is going to mean that you will have to vacate said lap first."
Frodo obediently jumped down on the ground and went to find any possible leftovers from the chicken, and Estella sat down in Merry's lap and put her arm around her shoulder. Merry gave her a kiss that lasted a little longer than it normally did on the few occasions he kissed her in public, and put his arms around her. She could tell that he had had a lot of wine to drink and that he was beginning to near the line of more than just tipsy.
"You were gone for a long time" he mumbled in her ear. "Aramac didn't want to go to sleep?"
"He fell asleep right away" Estella said. "However I'm worried about Rosie." The last part was whispered in his ear.
"Later" he told her, knowing that this was neither the time nor the place to discuss Estella's worries.
"Estella!" Pippin cried. "Have we finished all the corn?"
"I believe we have" Estella told him and chuckled at his disappointment.
"It would have lasted longer if you hadn't began eating it hours before the actual party started" Diamond told him and ran her hand through his hair as she passed by him on her way to give Sam some more wine.
"No corn, no cherry pie…" Pippin sighed. "Well what do we still have?"
"Apples" Merry laughed and tossed one to Pippin, who barely managed to catch it.
"Now don't start a food fight!" Estella said in a mildly warning tone. "Anybody who takes part in it will be left to clean up this whole area tomorrow!"
"It's worth it" Pippin decided and playfully tossed whatever was left of his corn to Merry. Unfortunately he missed and it landed in Estella's lap instead, causing Estella to gasp.
"Run Peregrin" Merry laughed.
"Peregrin Took, how dare you!" Estella said and flung raspberry jam on Pippin with the help of a spoon.
Pippin just stared at her for a moment, having not expected her to respond to the challenge, but then flung another leftover part of a corn at her, to which she responded by sending another apple flying.
"That does it!" Merry managed to say through his laughter, and lifted Estella to her feet so that he could slink away from the target area. "Pippin and Estella are cleaning up out here tomorrow! Look out little Pip, or you will have half the table in your lap before long!"
Pippin Gamgee quickly jumped down on the ground and Pippin Took rose and kept throwing food at Estella, who threw food back with the same playful fury. Merry soon fell down on the ground and rolled around with laughter, and the scene was greatly appreciated by the children. Sam and Diamond could do nothing but laugh as well and shake their heads at the two Hobbits flinging food at each other.
Rose could hear the noise from inside, and stepped out to a scene which surprised her at first but soon only worried her. Merry was still rolling around on the ground, clutching his stomach and gasping for air, and even Sam and Diamond seemed to be enjoying the scene immensely. Pippin and Estella had by now worked their way through corn, apples, jam, jams, pie, cheese and even butter, and both were starting to look rather messy. But it was not the food on them that worried Rose, it was the look on their faces. She had seem them looking this way before, years ago, and it was not a pleasant reminder. What she saw on this night reminded her far too much of when Pippin had been the one courting Estella, and all the laughs the two had shared at that time. It had been Pippin's favourite pastime, to make her laugh, curing his own aching heart that longed for Merry's return at the same time. It had been a wonderful sight twelve years ago, but now it worried Rosie more than she could say.
At last Estella and Pippin ran out of ammunition, and Merry managed to get back up on his feet even though he couldn't stop laughing. He put an arm around his wife which he quickly retrieved when it immediately got a taste of all the butter, corn and other foods that she had on her at the moment.
"I will hold you to your word, Estella" Diamond laughed. "Tomorrow you and Peregrin will be doing the cleaning up on your own!"
"It was worth it" Pippin said.
"It disturbs me to hear you find such a waste of food worth it!" Rosie said and managed to smile even though she was deeply troubled.
Pippin grabbed the last food item close to him, a meatball, and flung it playfully at Rosie but missed by a meter and hit the window behind her instead.
"Pippin will do the windows" Estella declared with a chuckle. "I take none of the blame for that!"
"You should, you started it!" Pippin said.
"I most certainly did not!"
"Well who then?"
"Merry did" Estella said.
"Now leave me out of this" Merry laughed. "I was merely helping Pippin to fill his still empty stomach, I am innocent in all of this!"
"And these are the people who our children look up to" Rose said with a mild shake on her head and a slight smile.
"We're just teaching them to have a little fun!" Pippin claimed and sat back down on his rather messy chair.
"Too much fun" Rosie said with a smile.
"No, just fun with consequences" Pippin laughed.
"That is relieving to hear" Rose said in jest and playfully bowed to him before finding herself a seat as far away from the battlefield as possible.
"Now then" Pippin said. "Is there any food left?"
"Oh no, you're not going anywhere near the food my dear!" Diamond said. "You have been in enough contact with it for one night."
"But Dimesy, I'm still hungry" Pippin complained causing the others to laugh.
Little Pippin came up to him proudly waving a corn he had managed to find, and with a content cry Pippin lifted the child into his arms and reached for whatever was left of the butter. Estella went inside to wash her face clean of all the food that would have been better off in her mouth, and Merry decided that the surrounding chairs were too filled with food to be likeable to sit on. He sat down on the grass and was quickly surrounded by children asking him to tell another story. Éowyn crept up in his lap and little Merry tried to jump up on his shoulders.
"Easy now" Merry laughed. "All right then. One more story and then it's off to bed for everyone under ten!"
He was met with both cheers and boos from the children, who wanted a story but didn't want to go to bed. Merry chose the story of Bilbo and the trolls and soon had them all enchanted with the story that most of them had heard dozens of times already.
"Sandyman always said that was merely a story that Bilbo had made up" Sam scoffed. "But I always knew it was real! Mister Bilbo was not the kind who would just make stories up, no sir! Even if I hadn't seen them trolls with my own two eyes I would have known it was true."
The sudden addition to the story that their fathers had seen these stone trolls themselves made the story much more exciting for the little ones, who gave Merry their full attention and had completely forgotten that once the story ended they would all be herded off to bed.
As soon as the corn was finished little Pippin leapt down on the ground and ran over to join the other children. Estella came back outside, now a little bit cleaner on her face and arms but still wearing her messy clothes. She walked over to Pippin and offered him a bucket of water and a towel as a truce offering, and he took it with a warm smile. Rose eyed the two and felt a nervous sense of familiarity. She didn't like the way Pippin looked at Estella, or the way she smiled back at him for that matter. She glanced over at Diamond, who was getting some more details from Sam about his own meeting with the stone trolls, and then at Merry who was surrounded by children and happily thrilling them with his story. Neither one of them was aware of the looks passed between their respective spouses, and Rose hoped it was all in her head. She had heard it said that old love never dies, and she had also heard it said that you would always love your first love. She saw that Estella was gently helping Pippin clean himself and she felt a worried knot in her stomach at the sight.
Far too soon for anyone's liking autumn came, and with it the clearing of Crickhollow. Merry, Estella and their children were going back to Brandy Hall and Pippin, Diamond and Faramir were moving to Tuckburough. After much debating it was decided that Estella's brother Fatty was going to stay at the hole over the winter and keep an eye on things. The cows and sheep were left in his care while the ponies moved with their masters. Merry had yet to find a mare good enough for breeding, but there were still seven ponies in the stables out of which Merry took Stybba and Estella's pony and Pippin took Fox, Raven and Diamond's beast. Strong and King were eventually left at the hole under Fatty's care.
Shortly after his arrival at the Great Smials another party was held, not as great as the one on Midsummer's Eve of Merry's fiftieth year, but a lot grander than the party that had taken place at Crickhollow that summer. The party included a ceremony in which Peregrin Took became The Took and the eighteenth Thain of the Took line in replacement of his father Paladin II, and Faramir Took was named the new heir of the family.
Pippin, Merry and Sam managed to get a few moments alone after the ceremony, hiding under their Elf capes by an outskirt table, and after many congratulations and drinks to not only Pippin's health but in the end more or less everyone the three had ever met, they put their mugs down and ventured into other topics.
"If only mister Frodo could see you now" Sam smiled. "The Thain and the Master of Buckland! The two rascals who grew up!"
"And who is in their company if not the mayor of the Shire!" Pippin said and gave Sam a pat on the back. "Good old Sam, I sure do wish Frodo could see you too! Whether or not he would recognise you I don't know though."
Merry and Sam laughed. Sam seemed to be growing around the waistline more and more for each year, unlike Merry and Pippin who seemed to only grow upward, even if they hadn't done that either for many years now.
"You and Rosie look fitting together" Pippin continued to tease. "Is that why you keep her pregnant, I wonder! When is the baby due?"
"January" Sam said and didn't bother to blush. By now they all had children, Sam several, and matters such as reproduction didn't seem as inappropriate to discuss anymore. "I do wish she could be here tonight, but she hasn't been feeling well and it was just as good that she stayed home with the youngest ones."
"Yes, it is sad that she can't be here" Merry agreed. "I know Estella would have loved to see her, she misses her, I know that much. But you can count on us all to come to Bag End on the 22nd, we can see her then."
"To Rosie's health!" Pippin declared and lifted his mug once again.
"Speaking of health, we'd better get back to our wives before our healths are endangered" Merry said. "Disappearing into a corner isn't appreciated much, Estella always tells me that it makes people think of old Bilbo and his disappearing trick on his 111th birthday, and she doesn't want people to think of me and Bilbo's trick at the same time."
"But old Bilbo used the Ring" Pippin said. "We're not invisible, just hard to spot in our Elf capes."
"Must we talk of the Ring?" Sam asked. "I would much rather talk of happier things, like Elf capes for instance, or other Elf things, if you follow me!"
"I agree" Merry said. "Let's have one more drink, to the Elves' and the fellowship's health, and then go see if anybody has missed us and if so how much!"
Only a week before September 22nd an announcement came which surprised most of the Hobbits. It was Thain Peregrin who announced that instead of the annual celebration of Bilbo Baggins' birthday at Bag End, a party would be held at the Great Smials. And not only that, but unlike previous years, when the celebration had been held just between the families of Peregrin, Meriadoc and Samwise it would this year be a bigger party and twelve dozen Hobbits could look forward to an invitation. A gross Pippin had said to his wife, but refrained from using that word in public.
On the day of September 22nd the 144 invited Hobbits showed up, greatly anticipating the night's events. Nobody knew exactly what was in store and there were lots of rumours going about. Some said it was the 200th birthday of Bilbo, or would have been if he was alive, others who knew better said that it was probably a celebration of Peregrin, Meriadoc and Samwise together reaching an age of 144, but since that wasn't true either nobody knew for sure. Some said it was merely a desire from the three hosts to show off with their money and prestige, others didn't need a reason whatsoever. Any reason for a party was good enough for them.
Pippin, Merry and Sam let them wonder. During larger part of the dinner they kept in the background, staying at their private table with their families and not giving as much as a welcoming speech. This time Rose was present, though not feeling very well, and with her was all of Sam's children. Even little Daisy was up, sitting in Estella's knee as Rose didn't have much of a knee to offer at the time. The conversation at their table was kept around everyday things, only once or twice there were mentionings of Bilbo or even Frodo Baggins.
Then suddenly, at the 22nd hour of the day, Pippin rose from his chair and called for silence. 144 pair of Hobbit eyes looked at him with great anticipation and Pippin was unable to resist taking the opportunity to entertain his audience, or would have been if it hadn't been for the pinch he received from Merry who saw where the whole thing was heading even before Pippin could open his mouth. With a hark and a grin at Merry he took on a more serious face and fished out a document from his coat pocket.
"My dear Hobbits" he said. "My dear Tooks and Brandybucks, and my dear Bagginses and Boffins, and Grubbs, and Chubbs, and Burrowses, and Hornblowers, and Gamgees, Bolgers, Bracegirdles, Goodbodies, Brockhouses and Proudfoots!"
"Proudfeet!" came an objection from a descendant to the Hobbit who had done the same at Bilbo's 111th birthday.
"Proudfoots" responded Sam and Merry.
"I hope you are all having a good a time as we are" Pippin continued, consciously echoing Bilbo's speech as well as Sam and Merry had remembered it. "I shall not keep you long. We, the Master, the Mayor and myself, have called you here for a Purpose! Indeed, for three purposes! Or at least one which is threefold, whichever way you want to look at it! As you all know, I stepped into office as Thain recently, and as such I am holding authority in place of the King. The King however, is still much our lord and leader, and as such we should look to him."
This comment resulted in a few boos from different Hobbits who didn't think any man could handle the Shire better than the Hobbits could themselves.
"Our King is a noble man," Pippin carried on, ignoring the boos, "and he looks very kindly to us Hobbits. He has left the Shire for us to rule over as we see fit, but still holds his authority to have a say in a thing or two. When doing so, he will be doing it through me, or in some cases the Master of Buckland, Meriadoc! At this time he has alerted us to a such say, and that is why we have called you together tonight. To carry out his orders and make his announcement in his place. As you all know, king Elessar is forbidden by his own law to enter the Shire."
Whether it was that comment, the promise of an announcement or the ale and wine which made several Hobbits cheer was hard to say, but cheer they did. Pippin bowed and unfolded the document he held in his hand.
"I here by announce," he said, "as ordered by Elessar King, that from this day forward the Thain of the Shire, the Master of Buckland and the Mayor of the Shire shall be Counselors of the North-Kingdom. At this day and for many years to come that shall mean myself and Meriadoc, and at least for another few years but hopefully many more, Samwise Gamgee. Meriadoc and myself shall pass our counsellorship to our sons one day, that means Faramir Took and Théodoc Brandybuck, while Mayor Samwise will leave the position to his successor. As counselors of the North-Kingdom it will be our duty to speak for all Hobbits, and I can assure you that the King will listen! Now on the day of Bilbo Baggins' 144th birthday, one gross mind you, and Frodo's 66th let us drink to their health! And why not take this moment to remember that today is the 33rd anniversary of Bilbo's great party, one might say that it is coming of age on this day!"
With that Pippin sat and returned to his dinner, enjoying the effect the way he'd briskly ended his speech had on the Hobbits around him. Every Hobbit at every table was discussing what the Thain had announced, although some focused mostly on what would have been Bilbo's age if he were still alive, and grumpily guessed that the number of guests had been chosen accordingly. Many Hobbits seemed unclear over exactly what a counsellor of the North-Kingdom did, but nobody wished to ask. Many glanced over at the table where the Thain, the Master and the Mayor sat, hoping to find some clue or some sign that there was going to be a second speech to explain the first one, but nothing of the sort came.
Finally the orchestra began to play again, and some of the debating stopped. It was obvious by now that no further explanation would be offered tonight, and there was still food and drink to enjoy. Over at their table, Pippin, Merry and Sam had great trouble keeping their faces straight and not show their amusement. They knew that by the end of the week the 144 Hobbits present would have spread the word to everyone with ears, thus saving the trio a lot of riding around and announcing.
"You did well on your speech, Thain Peregrin" Sam said and raised his mug to Pippin. "Especially by including the anniversary of Bilbo's party and reminding everyone that today is mister Bilbo and mister Frodo's birthday!"
"Yes, and that was the important part" Pippin laughed with jest.
"I was very impressed Pippin, Sam is right, you did really well" Merry said. "Your much better at giving speeches than my father is at any rate."
"Now what exactly does a counsellor do?" Diamond asked.
"I am not too clear on that myself actually" Pippin said. "But I trust that we will find out when the time comes. We are all out of wine at this table, now who let that happen? I should go get some more!"
"Allow me" Rosie said and rose from her seat before Pippin had a chance to. "Diamond, Estella and I hid a few of the best bottles, I shall go get one of them."
"Good old Rosie" Pippin said with a grin. "Did I ever tell you what a splendid lass you are? If I haven't before I have now!"
Rose nodded with a smile and went to get the wine. When she returned she found that Sam was left alone with the children at their table, Pippin, Diamond, Estella and Merry had taken to the dance floor. She spotted them at once, and noticed that they had changed partners for the dance. Merry was dancing with Diamond and Pippin with Estella. Rose looked at Merry and Diamond and smiled, but her smile froze when her eyes fell upon Estella and Pippin. When she had looked at Diamond and Merry she had seen good friends dancing together, definite affection but not of the kind that would be inappropriate. But when she looked at Estella and Pippin she thought she saw something else. They both had their eyes closed and seemed to be holding each other a bit more affectionately than they should. Once again the worry came over her, and she sat down with a frown on her face.
"Rosie?" Sam said. "Is there something wrong?"
"I just… I wonder why Merry isn't bothered by Estella and Pippin dancing" she stuttered, knowing instantly that she had said too much.
"Why?" Sam asked. "That was all over years ago."
"Yes, but, but if there was a lass you considered marrying before me then I would surely feel jealous if I saw you dancing with her!" Rosie said, knowing very well that that wasn't true. Sam would never as much as look at another lass, especially not if he once had considered marrying her. But she couldn't tell Sam of her worries, he would only get upset with her for thinking anything bad about Pippin.
She watched the two pairs dance, and when the dance was over she noticed that Estella was still in Pippin's arms when Merry reached her and put a hand on her shoulder. She exchanged a look with Pippin and then danced the next dance with her husband, while Fatty Bolger asked Pippin for a dance with Diamond. Pippin granted his wish with a bow and returned to the table to get some wine.
"Rosie, have I ever told you what a splendid lass you are?" he asked as he popped down on his chair and poured himself some wine. "If I haven't before, I have now. A toast to your health, dear Rose!"
"Now don't make me jealous by flattering my wife too much" Sam joked and got himself some wine too. "To Rose and her health!"
The smile on Rose's lips wasn't genuine, but neither Pippin nor Sam took any notice as they drank to Bilbo and Frodo's health once again and then ventured into other topics. She soon let the smile leave her face and wondered if she should talk to Estella about this or not. She wasn't sure Estella saw what was going on, she wasn't even sure that something was going on, and she was reluctant to put any strains on their friendship by wrongfully accusing her of playing with fire. However playing with fire was what Rose felt Estella and Pippin were doing, they had once spoken of getting married and in Rose's opinion should not put themselves in situations which could remind them of that. The best thing would be for the two of them to not see each other, but for as long as Pippin remained Merry's friend such an arrangement wouldn't be possible.
That night, or rather that morning, Pippin laid on his side and lifted himself up, resting his head in his palm, gazing at Diamond with loving eyes. She was fast asleep, completely exhausted after the party, and her brown curls that Pippin loved so much seemed to be everywhere. The quilt was only up to her chest, and Pippin could see her chest heaving with every steady breath. She was a familiar sight in his bed, for seven years she had slept next to him and it amazed Pippin how accustomed he had gotten. He was not used to sharing his bed with others, even as a child he had rarely liked to sleep in the same bed as even his parents. And he was not an easy Hobbit to share your bed with. He dreamed vividly and often moved about while he did, it was only when he was completely exhausted that he kept still in his sleep. Diamond had often complained that she had trouble sleeping next to him as much as he moved around, but truth to be told Pippin had found it difficult to sleep next to her as well. He just wasn't used to constantly having someone next to him in bed and no matter how much he wanted to be near her he felt like once he closed his eyes to go to sleep he wanted more space.
By now he was used to having her there, he never thought about it anymore. But this night he had, as she had fallen asleep instantly while he still had some awakeness left in him, and he had ended up just looking at her as she slept. She was a very pretty sight, it warmed his heart to look at her. The curly brown hair, the sweet face, the eyes that were closed now, but when open were so light grey that they could almost pass for diamonds when light was reflected in them. At least Pippin thought so, though he had once mentioned it to Sam who had objected and said that only Elves had eyes like that.
Pippin reached out his hand and gently stroke a curl from her face. Faramir had the same kind of hair as his mother, the same colour and amount of curliness. Pippin's own hair was both darker and curlier, but he liked it better the way Diamond and Faramir had it. He had wished that his son would have her eyes as well, but Faramir looked upon the world with the exact same eyes as his father, though with much more innocence. In most ways Faramir looked and acted like his father, but the hair was Diamonds and it pleased Pippin to see.
Unable to resist it any longer he leaned forward and kissed Diamond's cheek, hoping it wouldn't wake her up. It did however, and she stirred in her sleep and opened an eye to look at him.
"Pippin" she mumbled. "Do you ever go to sleep?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
"Of course not" she said, not believing him. "What is bothering you this time?" She smiled at the loving eyes that looked at her.
"Nothing's bothering me…"
"Then how come you're not asleep?"
"Today, or tomorrow, depending on how you wish to look at it, it will be sixteen years since I left Hobbiton with Frodo and Sam" Pippin mused. "Sixteen years since I stepped out the door, not knowing where it would lead me."
Diamond nodded and opened her other eye as well. Pippin's hand returned to her cheek and gently stroke it as he continued to speak.
"I knew not where it would lead me or into what danger" he said.
"And if you'd know?" Diamond asked. "Would you still have gone?"
"Yes" Pippin said. "For Frodo Baggins was my friend. And he still is, though time and distance parts us now. But I left for him, and I would have done so even knowing what I would have to face on the way. He is my friend, and friendship is the most important thing there is! There's nothing greater in this world."
"What about love?" Diamond asked.
"Love is nothing without friendship. Love cannot last without friendship."
"I would have to say it is the other way around. Friendship cannot last without love."
"Well whichever way…" Pippin said. "It was for friendship and that was reason enough." He was quiet for a minute and just looked at her. "If only I had known then… Out of all the things I would come to see the greatest thing still awaited me here in the Shire. To fall in love, it was not something that even existed in my conscience at the time. But I did fall, and I ended up with a wife and a wonderful little son. I cannot find words to describe what it is like to meet an Elf Diamond, they are somehow beyond description, but I can tell you that not even meeting the lady Galadriel herself made me feel anything greater then when I first saw our son. And yet it is such an everyday thing, people get married and have babies all the time."
Once again the longing for a second child came over Diamond, but this time she didn't say anything. She didn't want to spoil Pippin's mood, or the cosy atmosphere by addressing the problem of them not conceiving with a second child. For once she wanted to be able to enjoy herself without wondering if this would be the night when their second child was conceived.
She felt Pippin's lips pressed against her, then his body. And one hour later she could feel his steady breaths tickle her neck as he was asleep on top of her. She let her fingers run through his thick curls, curlier than any other Hobbit's she has ever come across, and wondered about what he had said earlier about love and friendship. Was it love that couldn't exist without friendship, or friendship that couldn't exist without love? Either way she knew they had a marriage filled with both, but it pained her more than she could say that he would never see her as his best friend.
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Review please! Let me know what you think! Pippin and Estella's backstory will be explained in the next chapter, which will hopefully be up by the end of the week.