The hobbits marched out of the room in single file. Outside their door, no one was in sight. What a coincidence. They decided to split up to find Gandalf, or really anyone at this point, as soon as possible. Merry and Pippin went off to the left while Frodo and Sam started off to the right.

Merry and Pippin were the first to encounter someone. That someone was Aragorn.

"Good morning, Hobbits!" he called. "Is that you Merry and Pippin? What on earth are you doing?"

"Looking for Gandalf," Merry replied in a muffled voice. "Someone did something to us last night and they must be punished!"

"What happened?" Aragorn asked. "Why are you wearing those bags over your head?"

He reached out to remove the paper bag from Pippin's head, but the Halfling refused.

"No! You can't see. It's too terrible," he insisted.

"He's right, you know. What's under that bag is rather terrible," Merry snickered, earning himself a solid punch from Pippin.

"It can't be that bad," Aragorn said, trying to reason with the young Hobbit.

"It is!" Pippin cried.

With that, he turned around and ran. He did not make it very far, as Aragorn took one step for each of his two, and he soon ran right into Frodo, who was returning with Sam after an unsuccessful search for Gandalf. Before he could be hindered, Aragorn tore the paper bag off of Pippin's head.

"What?" was his astonished remark at the sight.

Just then, Gimli came walking up behind the group. At the sight of the Hobbits, he bit his lower lip, trying his best not to giggle, but soon failed and erupted into full fledged laughter.

"Hobbits with beards and mustaches!" Gimli cackled loudly, proud of his work.

"You!" Sam accused. "You did this, didn't you?"

"Ahh, get yourself a sense of humor, lad," Gimli replied. "Have you ever seen a Hobbit with facial hair before? It is quite the sight, I assure you. Besides, it will wear off within a week or so."

"A week?" Frodo asked, his mouth hanging open.

His only reply was Gimli lapsing into another fit of laughter.

"Gimli, how could you do this?" Aragorn demanded. "These are our guests. We are to welcome them, not frighten them away."

Gimli shrugged.

"He's hopeless," Merry remarked with a scowl.

"Come with me," Aragorn instructed. "I have no desire to be in the presence of this… dwarf any longer."

The Hobbits and Aragorn took their leave, as Gimli remained by himself in the clearing, still chuckling softly to himself.

Before long, they found Legolas. The blond-haired elf stood with his bow in hand, practicing his aim that was already nearly perfect. Looking up from the target, he greeted his friends. Then he saw the Hobbit's faces.

"What happened to the four of you?" he asked; then looked at Aragorn. "It's that horrid dwarf, isn't it? He's playing pranks again?"

"I'm afraid so," Aragorn said. "I knew I should have suspected something when he disappeared at dinner last night."

"I have heard of the pranks he played before," Sam said. "That was a fiasco!"

Merry and Pippin smiled at each other, holding back a chuckle. The stories of Gimli's previous pranks were some of their favorites, though they had never imagined that they would become one of his victims.

"Will Gimli ever learn?" Frodo asked.

"I would not guarantee it," Legolas replied with a small grin. "But do not worry about it. Gimli will get what he has coming for him. Luckily for you, I have an idea."

---------------

"Shh!" Pippin hissed.

It was night again. The sky was dark, clouds obscuring the moon, a night perfect for sneaking around unnoticed.

"Shh yourself," Merry whispered back. "You're being louder than I am anyway."

"Merry and Pippin… Be quiet now!" Aragorn warned.

"Look what you've done now, Merry. Gone ahead and gotten us in trouble, as usual," Pippin said.

Aragorn turned and gave both the Hobbits 'the look', causing them both to become deathly silent almost immediately.

"Here, Frodo," Legolas called quietly. "I think you should be the one to do the honors."

The elf handed him something in the dark. Frodo crept up towards Gimli as the others watched in breathless anticipation.

"This is so much fun!" Pippin breathed.

"I must agree with you, my friend," Aragorn replied, chuckling softly. "Finally the dwarf gets what he deserves!"

The group of six finished their 'mission' and silently tiptoed out of Gimli's quarters. Congratulating one another on their success, they bid each other goodbye and left to turn in for the night.

---------------

"It's a beautiful morning!" Gimli cried in a singsong voice, rising from his bed.

Yes, it was a beautiful morning. He wondered if the Hobbits had gotten over their new facial hair yet, and had another chuckle over that. Standing by his window, he overlooked the grounds. Something felt weird, different, not right…

'What could it be?' he wondered to himself, putting his hand to his chin.

A split second later he realized what was missing. He ran to the mirror, his jaw dropping to the ground.

"Oh, they are going to pay now!" he cried.

Storming out of his room, he set off to find someone, anyone, who could have possibly done this to him. The first person he did find… Well, he pitied them, because he was going to rip them to shreds. He was a dwarf. He was someone you did not mess with. He was going to get revenge for this. He… tripped over his own shoelace and was flat on his face.

Quickly scanning the premises to check if anyone had witnessed the embarrassing sight, Gimli stood to his feet and brushed himself off. Satisfied that no one had seen him, he resumed his dignified air and began to march off in search of someone once more.

He soon found Legolas and Aragorn sitting together. Yes, these two would suffice for pouring out his wrath.

"How did you do this?" Gimli demanded of them.

"How did we do what?" Legolas asked, smiling sweetly.

"You cut off my beard, elf!" he shouted.

"Oh, that," Legolas replied calmly. "We used a Schick Xtreme 3 to get the closest shave possible."

Gimli wrinkled his face. "It was my pride and joy!" he cried. "You've taken this too far. However am I to attract a dwarf lady now?"

His last sentence was too much. Aragorn could not hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.

"I am sure that your lady friends will find you just as irresistible as ever, my dear dwarf, with or without your manly beard," Aragorn smirked.

"Ugh!" Gimli shouted in dismay. "I will get you back for this one!"

He turned and stormed off in a huff.