Fic: Another Conversation in Rivendell
Jan. 25th, 2008 12:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dreamflowerThis is for ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
thebeecharmer, who's feeling down, and needed a bit of Pippin and Boromir to cheer her up. (If anyone can think of a better title for this, feel free to let me know!)
ETA: Thank you,mumstheword54 for giving me a nice new title for this! (Much better than "Another Conversation"! Thank you, dear!)
Rating:G
Summary: It's the day before the Fellowship leaves, and Pippin needs a bit of cheering up...
RIPPLES OF FEAR
Pippin tossed another small pebble into the still pool before him, and watched as the ripples reached his toes. He sighed deeply, and then tossed another, and listened to the sound of the "plunk" it made, as it sank, spiralling, to the bottom. The water was so clear, he could easily see where it stopped, a tiny, slow explosion of sand marking its resting place. The sand slowly settled, and it seemed as though nothing had disturbed the placid surface of the pool--that's Rivendell for you, Pippin thought.
"Pippin?"
Pippin hunched up his shoulders, and did not look up. "Hullo, Boromir," he said in a listless tone. He felt the Man sit down on the bank of the pool next to him, but he still did not look at his new companion.
"Your cousins and Sam were worried when you left the meal so quickly."
Pippin shrugged. "I wanted to be by myself for a little while, that's all," he muttered.
"Do you wish me to leave then?" Boromir asked.
He shook his head. "No, you can stay." He picked up another tiny pebble from the ground by his side, and tossed it in.
"What is the matter, then, Pippin?"
"I was getting rather tired of the conversation. Merry and Sam just yammering on and on about supplies and maps and gear and so on, and poor old Frodo just sitting there between them looking more and more miserable--and then Merry wanting to know had I packed yet. I just didn't want to hear anymore about it right then."
"Ah."
"I mean, I do know that all the preparations are important. But most of them are *done* with now! And Merry and Sam know that--they're just talking to hear themselves talk. And I've never properly *un*packed yet--why does Merry think I'm not packed?"
"Merry and Sam are the sorts of persons who like to be sure of things, Pippin, that is all."
"Oh, I know that. Merry's always been a fussbudget, and Sam's the same, really, though most of the time you wouldn't think it of him--but he worries every bit as much as Merry does, especially on Frodo's account." Pippin tossed another pebble. "And Frodo--I hate to see him looking so dreadfully miserable, and not know what to say that will cheer him up. I usually do know how to do that--but I couldn't think of a thing…"
Boromir picked up a pebble and tossed it in himself. "And why is that, do you suppose?"
"It's just--well, we leave tomorrow, don't we? It's on us now." Pippin drew his feet up, and wrapped his arms around his knees, looking miserable.
"Yes, we leave tomorrow. We will set forth into the Wild, on our journey."
"Boromir? If I tell you something, will you promise not to tell anyone else?"
"My word, Pippin, as a Man of Gondor."
"I'm frightened. But I don't dare talk to Merry or Frodo about it. I defied Lord Elrond, but if the two of them decided to not let me go after all, I'm not sure I could get round them. If they knew how scared I was, they'd pack me back home before I could blink." He took a deep breath and threw his head back, and blinked away the sting of threatening tears. "I know you've worked hard with me and Merry and our swords, but I'm still not very good yet--why the only time I've ever beaten Merry was that time he held his breath and passed out, silly ass. What if I can't pull my weight? What if I let everyone down, just when it's most important? What if--what if I'm a coward?"
"Peregrin Took," Boromir said softly, "you--and the other hobbits--are the bravest beings I have ever met."
Pippin felt his jaw drop in shock. "We--we *can't* be, Boromir! Why, you are a great warrior! You've been in battles! I'm sure you've met many braver than us hobbits! Especially me--I'm scared spitless, I really am!"
"But, you see, Pippin, that is exactly why I tell you that." He reached one long arm out, and squeezed Pippin's shoulders affectionately. "I have been in battles. I know many warriors, and know what they feel before going into battles. And yet, to a Man, they've had years of training in what to expect, even before their first real battle." He looked up, and seemed to see some vision or memory in his mind's eye briefly, and then he looked back down and caught Pippin's eye.
"But you hobbits--you have always lived peaceful lives. You have never expected to have to fight danger. Yet here you are, my young friend, and the thing which frightens you most is *not* your own peril, but that of the ones you love. You have only what little preparation I have been able to give, and your experiences before you arrived here. Aragorn has told me that you, Sam and Merry helped wield the flaming brands at the Ringwraiths--do you know, I have known many warriors of long years' standing who could not have done such a thing against such as those!"
Pippin's eyes grew wide as he took in what the Man had said. "I don't like being scared, Boromir."
"No one does, Pippin. Yet it would be a fool indeed who was *not* frightened, under such circumstances. Anyone intelligent enough to realize what we are doing would be frightened."
"Well, I must be pretty intelligent then, for I'm terrified."
"And yet you resist any thought of going home--you will not be parted from Frodo, even though you have had--and still until we actually leave--do have--the chance to go home."
"Because that frightens me even more, Boromir. I can't go home without them."
Boromir gave his shoulders another squeeze. "I do not doubt you for a moment, Pippin. Your friends are very fortunate in your love."
Pippin looked up at him. "Thank you, Boromir," he finally said, after a moment of silently studying his friend's grey eyes. He gave the Man a lopsided smile.
"You are welcome. Shall we return? Though luncheon may be over, I would not be surprised if the others had saved you one of those cherry tarts."
Pippin grinned and bounced up. "Well--what are we waiting for then?"
thebeecharmer, who's feeling down, and needed a bit of Pippin and Boromir to cheer her up. ETA: Thank you,
mumstheword54 for giving me a nice new title for this! (Much better than "Another Conversation"! Thank you, dear!)Rating:G
Summary: It's the day before the Fellowship leaves, and Pippin needs a bit of cheering up...
RIPPLES OF FEAR
Pippin tossed another small pebble into the still pool before him, and watched as the ripples reached his toes. He sighed deeply, and then tossed another, and listened to the sound of the "plunk" it made, as it sank, spiralling, to the bottom. The water was so clear, he could easily see where it stopped, a tiny, slow explosion of sand marking its resting place. The sand slowly settled, and it seemed as though nothing had disturbed the placid surface of the pool--that's Rivendell for you, Pippin thought.
"Pippin?"
Pippin hunched up his shoulders, and did not look up. "Hullo, Boromir," he said in a listless tone. He felt the Man sit down on the bank of the pool next to him, but he still did not look at his new companion.
"Your cousins and Sam were worried when you left the meal so quickly."
Pippin shrugged. "I wanted to be by myself for a little while, that's all," he muttered.
"Do you wish me to leave then?" Boromir asked.
He shook his head. "No, you can stay." He picked up another tiny pebble from the ground by his side, and tossed it in.
"What is the matter, then, Pippin?"
"I was getting rather tired of the conversation. Merry and Sam just yammering on and on about supplies and maps and gear and so on, and poor old Frodo just sitting there between them looking more and more miserable--and then Merry wanting to know had I packed yet. I just didn't want to hear anymore about it right then."
"Ah."
"I mean, I do know that all the preparations are important. But most of them are *done* with now! And Merry and Sam know that--they're just talking to hear themselves talk. And I've never properly *un*packed yet--why does Merry think I'm not packed?"
"Merry and Sam are the sorts of persons who like to be sure of things, Pippin, that is all."
"Oh, I know that. Merry's always been a fussbudget, and Sam's the same, really, though most of the time you wouldn't think it of him--but he worries every bit as much as Merry does, especially on Frodo's account." Pippin tossed another pebble. "And Frodo--I hate to see him looking so dreadfully miserable, and not know what to say that will cheer him up. I usually do know how to do that--but I couldn't think of a thing…"
Boromir picked up a pebble and tossed it in himself. "And why is that, do you suppose?"
"It's just--well, we leave tomorrow, don't we? It's on us now." Pippin drew his feet up, and wrapped his arms around his knees, looking miserable.
"Yes, we leave tomorrow. We will set forth into the Wild, on our journey."
"Boromir? If I tell you something, will you promise not to tell anyone else?"
"My word, Pippin, as a Man of Gondor."
"I'm frightened. But I don't dare talk to Merry or Frodo about it. I defied Lord Elrond, but if the two of them decided to not let me go after all, I'm not sure I could get round them. If they knew how scared I was, they'd pack me back home before I could blink." He took a deep breath and threw his head back, and blinked away the sting of threatening tears. "I know you've worked hard with me and Merry and our swords, but I'm still not very good yet--why the only time I've ever beaten Merry was that time he held his breath and passed out, silly ass. What if I can't pull my weight? What if I let everyone down, just when it's most important? What if--what if I'm a coward?"
"Peregrin Took," Boromir said softly, "you--and the other hobbits--are the bravest beings I have ever met."
Pippin felt his jaw drop in shock. "We--we *can't* be, Boromir! Why, you are a great warrior! You've been in battles! I'm sure you've met many braver than us hobbits! Especially me--I'm scared spitless, I really am!"
"But, you see, Pippin, that is exactly why I tell you that." He reached one long arm out, and squeezed Pippin's shoulders affectionately. "I have been in battles. I know many warriors, and know what they feel before going into battles. And yet, to a Man, they've had years of training in what to expect, even before their first real battle." He looked up, and seemed to see some vision or memory in his mind's eye briefly, and then he looked back down and caught Pippin's eye.
"But you hobbits--you have always lived peaceful lives. You have never expected to have to fight danger. Yet here you are, my young friend, and the thing which frightens you most is *not* your own peril, but that of the ones you love. You have only what little preparation I have been able to give, and your experiences before you arrived here. Aragorn has told me that you, Sam and Merry helped wield the flaming brands at the Ringwraiths--do you know, I have known many warriors of long years' standing who could not have done such a thing against such as those!"
Pippin's eyes grew wide as he took in what the Man had said. "I don't like being scared, Boromir."
"No one does, Pippin. Yet it would be a fool indeed who was *not* frightened, under such circumstances. Anyone intelligent enough to realize what we are doing would be frightened."
"Well, I must be pretty intelligent then, for I'm terrified."
"And yet you resist any thought of going home--you will not be parted from Frodo, even though you have had--and still until we actually leave--do have--the chance to go home."
"Because that frightens me even more, Boromir. I can't go home without them."
Boromir gave his shoulders another squeeze. "I do not doubt you for a moment, Pippin. Your friends are very fortunate in your love."
Pippin looked up at him. "Thank you, Boromir," he finally said, after a moment of silently studying his friend's grey eyes. He gave the Man a lopsided smile.
"You are welcome. Shall we return? Though luncheon may be over, I would not be surprised if the others had saved you one of those cherry tarts."
Pippin grinned and bounced up. "Well--what are we waiting for then?"
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 12:29 pm (UTC)How wise Boromir is, and what an encourager! A great Captain of Men.
I love the picture of the pebbles, the ripples in the water, the sand -- and then the placid look of the pool. That's Rivendell indeed. Easy to be brave in such a seemingly placid, well-protected place. Not so easy out in the Wild.
Title?
Something about courage? "About Courage"?
"Ripples of Fear"? (Because despite the attacks of fear, he remains determined to do what he knows is right?)
I give up. It's more than just another conversation, of course; it gives Pippin the confidence to take that next step.
Again, I say it's wonderful, a word picture that will remain in my mind.
*hugs and blessings*
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 01:40 pm (UTC)And..."Ripples of Fear"--how wonderful! I will edit it to change the title right away! That's a *great* title! Thank you for that as well!
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 02:42 pm (UTC)Oh, I didn't mention: As soon as Boromir sat down, I was waiting for him to toss in a pebble too. :-) Not only did it build rapport with Pippin, but it was an admission of his own fears. Beautifully done!
*more hugs and squees*
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 08:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 01:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 02:43 pm (UTC)*hugs*
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 08:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 12:41 pm (UTC)you, Sam and Merry helped wield the flaming brands at the Ringwraiths--do you know, I have known many warriors of long years standing who could not have done such a thing against such as those!"
That's a great point! All of the hobbits (not just Frodo) must have been in very poor shape when they finally reached Rivendell, but their strength and courage held out as long as it needed to.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 01:47 pm (UTC)I think they were probably on the verge of collapse by the time they finally arrived at their destination.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 04:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 08:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 11:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-26 12:18 am (UTC)PS I think you forgot to sign in a little further down the page.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 04:14 pm (UTC)Plus, Boromir and Pippin are two of my favorites. I've noticed that they are a popular pairing, perhaps because they are so very opposite that they can each add to the other.
Thanks for sharing!
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 08:45 pm (UTC)I'm very glad that the scene came across so clearly--that's how I saw it in my own mind's eye!
I think, too, that the fact that Boromir gave his life for both Pippin and Merry, and Pippin chose to enter Denethor's service for Boromir's sake, lends credence to the idea that there must have been a close friendship between them. And then you have the warlike Man contrasting so well with the peace-loving hobbit.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 05:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 08:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 08:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 08:49 pm (UTC)And I think "brother" is a good word to use--I think the younger hobbits reminded him a good deal of Faramir, and probably Pippin especially reminded him of when Faramir was younger.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 08:30 pm (UTC)Hee. And by the time he's spent a couple of months around Serinde, Pippin's likely to use a word that rhymes with spitless instead. :)
no subject
Date: 2008-01-25 08:51 pm (UTC)Er, yes, you could be right about that! *giggle*
So happy!
Date: 2008-01-25 11:46 pm (UTC)Re: So happy!
Date: 2008-01-26 12:15 am (UTC)(((hugs back)))
no subject
Date: 2008-01-26 01:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-07 02:42 am (UTC)I'm glad you liked it. "Fussbudget" just seems to describe Merry so perfectly!
no subject
Date: 2008-01-26 05:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-07 02:44 am (UTC)I really do think that Boromir had every intention of seeing Frodo through the Quest--but the Ring just kept at him. And really, he succumbed so briefly--but it was too late when he came to his senses.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-26 06:25 am (UTC)Nice conversation. :)
no subject
Date: 2008-04-07 02:46 am (UTC)Sorry I missed answering this comment sooner! I just now realized it.
no subject
Date: 2008-01-26 01:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-07 02:50 am (UTC)And sorry for being so late to respond--I just now realized!