A/N: Part Two of the double update. Be sure to review!
Chapter Seven
Diamond's newfound joy was almost quelled though, when she entered the back parlor and saw Pippin with Lavender. Though she knew that it was a fool's hope, she had still entertained the idea that he might give her some attention. She had forgotten about Lavender though. When she saw Pippin take the other lasses hand, she looked down and tried her hardest not to be disappointed.
'Why do I even fancy him?' she thought. "I barely know him! I only know what others say about him. And I know that he is brave. And funny. And smart. And handsome…'
But then, Frodo asked her to sit next to him, and she gave a small nod, trying to dispel thoughts of Pippin and to focus on befriending Frodo.
She quietly observed him throughout the visit. He did not eat much, at least, not as much as a hobbit should, and he did not speak unless he felt what he had to say was important. He did not participate in the gossip that Lavender started, and rarely said anything about another hobbit unless it was encouraging. It was a refreshing change from the norm, Diamond decided.
Meanwhile, Pippin was growing more and more frustrated. Diamond had spoken more today than he had ever heard before, and yet, she had not said a word to him. She hadn't even greeted him! She had just looked at him and ducked her head as she always did. What infuriated him most though, was the way that she was talking to Frodo. Anytime he addressed her, she always had something to say. She smiled and laughed quietly with him, and seemed to be enjoying herself more than Pippin thought possible for her to do.
Still, he felt he was hiding his irritation well until Frodo looked at him with a slightly raised eyebrow. Then he knew he had been caught brooding. He purposed then not to let it bother him, and reached for Lavender's hand once again. He found his eyes wandering back to Diamond though, and admiring how pretty she was. Lavender was nice to look at, no one could deny, but Diamond's red hair, perfect, pink lips and bright eyes were enough to drive any lad mad.
'What is wrong with me?' he berated himself. 'Why am I letting it bother me so much? She's only one lass. The rest of them adore me. I can let that go.'
Frodo had taken notice of Pippin's attitude. He knew that Merry was the only other one who had noticed that something was amiss, and Frodo knew he would get Pippin to tell him eventually. However, the things one could learn through simply watching another's eyes were amazing, and Frodo had learned quite a bit in the five minutes that had passed. Frodo now knew that Pippin was angry because Diamond would not talk to him, or even look at him. Pippin thought she was pretty, and he wanted her to find him handsome as well. He wanted to be thinking about Lavender, but he kept thinking of Diamond North-Took.
Frodo found the whole situation rather amusing. He was anxious to see where everything would lead. Wherever it led, he was sure it would end with Pippin courting Diamond, no matter for how short a time. It was obvious that Pippin wanted her to be as in love with him as every other lass seemed to be, even if the young Took didn't realize it just yet. Frodo was sure he would go to great and probably foolish lengths to get what he wanted as well. Whether or not Diamond was interested at this point, Frodo had no idea. What he was sure of was this; while Diamond and Isengrim remained in Hobbiton, Pippin would find no rest.