Authors Note: Hello All! I'm back after a month I think. . . . cringe. . . well I have an excuse. Teaching Practice. Absolute madness for three weeks. I am soooo tired. I would as always like to thank my reviewers- Bookworm, Silver Artemis etc. Much appreciated those reviews no matter how short and sweet. Go raibh mile maith agaibh- A thousand thank you's.

I think that this chapter is a little lighter than most, I felt that it might lighten the story a little. If it works it works, If it doesn't I'm sure you will let me know ;) Anyway Happy St. Paddys' Day or as they say in Irish Lá Fheile Pádraig. Have a good one. Ciunas.

By the way the above note was written a week ago, when I uploaded this chapter. I went on about my business thinking it had gone up but something went wrong and everything was left blank when I tried to view the chapter. The word count went up and everything so apologies everyone. Just got this sorted.

At the edge of her consciousness Indil felt something nudge her arm persistently. Pulling back from the dark security of her mind she slowly opened her eyes wary of the evening firelight. Staring at her, eyes twinkling and arms held behind his back was Pippin.

In most cases Indil trusted her senses completely but right now she found herself doubting their screaming at the look shining from the blue eyed creature before her. Instead of a slightly bashful aura which usually surrounded the young hobbit when around her, he was not only quite close to her but also began to sway dangerously in her direction. It was then that Indil noted the rosy flush to Pippins' cheeks, his unsteady footing and his generally unkempt appearance.

The low chatter in the background and sleeping hobbits slumped in their chairs within her view indicated the progression of the night. Their empty glasses upon the ground lay about the sleeping hobbits like bones around sleeping dogs.

Without warning Pippin interrupted Indils' assessment of the environment.

"Wer . . . sleep hic . . . were your . . . youuu . . . sleeping?"

Indil struggled to maintain a straight face as Pippin laboured to vocalise, what was by all accounts, a simple sentence. Her mirth did not last long though as Pippin leaned dangerously forward after managing to spurt out his question staring unabashedly into her eyes.

"No Pippin. Just resting my eyes." Replied Indil drawing back from the dorwinion wine-laden breath tickling her cheek.

Now she was worried, well not worried but anxious, Pippin seemed to have lost any timidity he had possessed previously. Not that it was a bad thing but in this situation it only posed difficulty for her and promised for an eventful evening if she did not sort it out now.

"Your . . . verrr . . . ry . . . prettt . . . preeee . . . prreety." Slurred Pippin, striving courageously to seem serious. His hands rested on either arm of her chair effectively pinning her to her chair unless she was to break his hold to escape.

"Thank you Pippin." Answered Indil shortly dodging the dangerously unsteady hobbit as he finally lost all his bearings and collapsed into her newly vacated seat.

Indil could do nothing but stand still as every pair of eyes turned to focus on the events unfurling at the side of the Hall. Groaning inwardly Indil met Boromirs' confused look. Smiling gently Indil tried to look like she was laughing off the whole exchange. Bending down beside the confused hobbit she helped him off her chair as gently but as firmly she could without being too obvious.

"Pippin can you stand?" she whispered into his ear.

Unfortunately Pippin had not sobered up at his precarious fall, gripping her arm quite robustly Pippin grinned deviously. Indil saw what was coming but could not manoeuvre herself out from between the inebriated hobbit and her chair quickly enough.

Both landed on the floor Pippin on top of the bewildered Indil with his lips pressed firmly on hers. Before she could react Pippin was yanked off her by a thundering Gandalf. Indil was still in shock when Elladan assisted her to her feet, reeling from what had just happened in the presence of most if not all the inhabitants of Rivendell.

Gandalf had disappeared outside with Pippin while Elladan had been helping Indil up. When she had recovered enough to look about she found the hobbits had woken up and were staring blearily around the Hall wondering at the animated behaviour of its occupants. They seemed quite agitated; a mood which in all the time they had spent in the Last Homely House had not been seen before especially during the evening in the Hall of Fire.

Suddenly Indil felt hemmed in, elves surrounded her bombarding her with sympathetic looks and comforting gestures. The only ones who had remained seated were the dwarves who were trying not to laugh at what had passed, though their beards could not hide all their grins. They were managing much better than Legolas whose countenance bespoke of the absolute hilarity with which he viewed the whole incident. Rather than clamouring to comfort the silent woman he stood behind the crowd chuckling quietly to himself. Aragorn was no better smirking as he leaned on Lord Elronds' now empty chair. In fact, now that she looked closely at those trying to comfort her they had hints of smiles in the upturned corners of their mouths.

Indil could do nothing but fling promising looks of absolute pain in the direction of the fellowship members if they should continue to laugh at her situation. She had thought that this would work sadly Pippin was not the only one whose sense of self-preservation had been skewed by dorwinion wine. After managing to maintain a more serious façade for a few short minutes Aragorn and Legolas had to turn from Indils' glare. Shaking shoulders and clenched hands were all she could discern but it spoke clearly of what they were trying to cover up.

Anything however would have been more welcome than Boromirs' reaction.

"My Lady are you well? You are not hurt? Let me help you to your seat."

If anything his incessant chatter was worse than the infuriating laughter of Aragorn and Legolas. Flitting about her like a mother hen Boromir primped her seat, fetched her water, checked her for bruises . . . the man would simply not stop touching her.

"Lord Boromir I assure you I am well. Thank you . . . no I do not require more water . . . my seat is quite comfortable . . . nor am I cold, please calm yourself." Indil grated while pulling the flustered Steward firmly into a chair beside her.

It was only then that she took note of the fury that radiated off the man; it even gleamed treacherously in his eyes. His gaze swung from her to the door and back every so often, so much so that Indil prayed Gandalf had enough sense to not bring Pippin back indoors. Furthermore it might be wise to hide Pippin in the forests of Imraldis for a week or so.

"I cannot believe the cheek of that miscreant, he has been nothing but trouble . . ." growled Boromir glowering openly at the door.

Indil could simply not fathom the man beside her. Why was he so angry? Could he not sense the amusing undercurrent surrounding the situation? Or was he simply making a heroic effort to appear affronted on her behalf?

"It was nothing my Lord, simply a little too much wine. I am not hurt. I believe that Pippins' pride will be more damaged than mine." Smiled Indil anxiously at the frowning Steward.

"Nothing! The little devil accosted you in public in a most distressing manner! How can you laugh at his antics?"

Despite herself Indil could not help but smile and then laugh at the whole situation. She had been accosted by a hobbit, kissed rather strongly by one of the shortest suitors she had ever encountered and was now trying to calm down a Steward of Gondor.

"Lord Boromir I have been . . . how did you put it . . . oh yes accosted at various times in my life and in a much more distressing manner than what has befallen here tonight."

Lord Boromir was slightly amazed at the woman's blasé manner about the incident. If it had been a lady of Gondor serious repercussions would be in store for the hobbit. The lady herself would probably be in convulsions at what had passed and most likely unconscious on the floor.

"Then again I must remember she is no lady of Gondor." He thought.

Almost all the crowd had dispersed back to their seats not wishing to make the ordeal any more stressing for the strange woman. That however did not prevent a few smiles and giggles at Indils' expense. She did not mind, if she was the cause of some mirth in these dark times she was more than happy to oblige. Left alone with a slightly calmer Boromir Indil faced the situation she had been trying to avoid all night.

"It is very unusual for such an event to be passed off lightly by a Lady." Murmered Boromir.

"I am no Lady of Gondor or otherwise my Lord. I do not doubt that Pippin will be embarrassed enough tomorrow at our meeting without my scorn for his actions. Well he might have had a little more control but he is young and such folly is always attached with such youth." Spoke Indil softly.

If anything Boromir could feel his admiration for his companion double at her words. She was not concerned with her own embarrassment, no she only thought of the one who had been so brash as to land both her and himself in an awkward situation.

The low murmuring of voices swelled once again in the background as the firelight danced across the faces of elves, dwarves and men alike. Peace once again restored the minstrels began to sing the lays which had been interrupted before. Indil relaxed back into her chair deliberating silently as to whether she should go after Gandalf and Pippin or not. Surely Gandalf had not been in the best of humour when he had left with the inebriated hobbit.

Boromir felt calm wash over him, it was always so in her presence. Her beauty was astounding tonight in the firelight, raven locks falling about her in waves and emerald eyes twinkling.

"Still Lady Arwen shines brighter than any star in the night sky." Mused Boromir catching a glimpse of said lady reseated beside her brothers and Aragorn smiling over Pippins' actions.

The dwarves had managed to appear the least ruffled at the past incident and had now returned to a serious conversation regarding Moria. Their thick eyebrows knitted together they sat in an enclosed circle heads bent in thought.

"There is one conversation I am glad to be excluded from." Sighed Boromir.

The elves were merry making again and the Mirkwood party had relaxed more into the spirit of the evening chatting animatedly, albeit amongst themselves, instead of throwing wary looks about the room. In contrast to the Hobbits who had decided that whatever had passed would be better discussed in the morning and despite the disappearance of one of their party they promptly adopted the sleeping positions they had held earlier.

"What occupies your thoughts so singularly?"

Indil smiled at Boromir's question, the opportunity for fun just lay open at her feet asking to be taken up. Sighing softly she adopted a far off look and a dreamy air.

"I am just thinking of he who not long ago crushed me to the ground."

It was very difficult to keep her act up as Boromir gaped like a floundering fish. After a few seconds laughter burst from her in gales as she clutched her stomach. Boromir could only laugh along after realising he had been duped so easily.

The two made an interesting pair, both rendered speechless and helpless as they tried to stay in their seats. From across the Hall all but one silvan elf returned to the conversation that had been flowing before. Confusion flashed briefly in his eyes before something akin to resentment took over. Rending his gaze from the pair he answered a question posed by one of his companions.

It was not quick enough however to escape the notice of the single ranger in the room whose attention had drifted momentarily from his love.