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dreamflowerI just had a lovely long phone conversation with Marigold about all things hobbity, and managed to completely forget the storm for a while...
So, anyway, I thought I'd now post a little bit more of my bunny chase, "Chance Encounter"
PART 38
Merry was indeed livid at first, giving voice to his opinion in some rather intemperate language, some of it in Rohirric. But Pippin stood firm. He was used to Merry’s protectiveness, and the anger was not directed towards him, but towards Aragorn. When Merry finally paused for breath, Pippin chuckled.
“What’s so funny?” Merry glared at him.
“I think this is pretty rich coming from someone who would not stay behind in safety even when he was ordered to.”
“That was different!”
“Merry, you know that even now, if Éomer--or even Aragorn--asked you to undertake a dangerous task, you’d do it without a second thought. Do you think my knighthood is any less than yours just because I’m younger?”
“No! Pippin, that’s not what I meant at all!”
Pippin shook his head. “That’s true; all you meant was that I’m your little Pip to protect. Don’t you think we’ve gone beyond that now?”
Merry drew a deep breath and let it out. “I doubt me that I will *ever* get beyond trying to protect you, Pip. I’m afraid I can’t be sorry for it either. And I came so close to losing you. But I will try not to interfere with what you see as your duty. You are right, we are both knights, and must do what we can. I am so very proud of you.”
And Pippin grinned. “So, do you want to hear all the details? I don’t think I ever heard a sadder or more pitiful tale in my life.”
__________________________________________________
Aragorn stood with Gandalf on one of the Citadel’s parapets, overlooking the City, and the Courtyard of the White Tree below.
“Somehow, I thought that overcoming the Shadow, defeating the Enemy, would bring it back to life. Foolish of me, now I see.” Aragorn shook his head. “Yet I must see the White Tree in Flower ere I can be certain that all I have worked for will come to pass.”
“You have foreseen it.” Gandalf spoke calmly and with certainty.
“Aye, I *have* foreseen it, but I have not foreseen when or how. It could be *years* ere the Tree is once more in bloom. I wish to have done with waiting, Gandalf. Is that so wrong of me?”
“There is nothing wrong about it. It is the way of mortals to grow impatient when the goal begins to come in sight. It is part of being of the Secondborn, after all.”
“I thought the goal *was* in sight. I am King now, of both kingdoms, the Ring is destroyed, the Enemy is defeated. Why is the sign yet denied me?”
Unspoken, the name of Arwen hung in the air between them. Gandalf knew only too well what this mood was borne of.
“Be patient, my friend, yet a little longer. I cannot say more than that.”
Aragorn sighed, and his posture drooped. “I have been guided by you in all this task; I will continue to wait.”
Gandalf placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Let us hope that your wait will not be so long as you fear.”
________________________________________________
Menelcar rapped lightly on the door to the Steward’s room.
“Enter.”
Faramir sat in the window, looking out over the City. “May I help you, Menelcar?”
The minstrel nodded. “I take it that young Pippin’s task was accomplished, but I’ve not been told what happened. Is it permitted to ask?”
“Of course it is! He was superb! I am constantly amazed at the talents the hobbits continue to display. I am afraid that the swindler sadly deceived himself when he began to think of hobbits as innocent marks.” Faramir moved from the window to a chair, and gestured to another chair nearby. Menelcar had a seat, and the Steward began to relate the tale.
___________________________________________
“--And then the silly wretch had the gall to grab me and pull a knife. I was forced to bite him and then kick him in a most indelicate place. I am afraid he may never father children.” Pippin chortled and shook his head.
“Pippin! He pulled a *knife* on you?”
“I took care of it, I told you. Remember what Boromir always said.”
Merry shook his head angrily. “What are they going to do with the scoundrel?”
Pippin flicked his gaze away, and his light tone went serious. “Strider said his life was forfeit because he laid hands on me. But I made him promise not--not to--do *that*” He broke off. “Well, the King did promise. So the villain will probably end up doing hard labor for years and years.”
Merry sighed. “Well, I am glad they are not going to execute the rogue. But I am also glad that they thought he deserved it for trying to hurt you.”
Pippin gaped at his cousin. “Merry, sometimes you say the strangest things!”
Merry shook his head. “I daresay he learned, though, that hobbits are tougher meat than he expected. So, you said Boromir was right about that particular move, hmm?”
_____________________________________________
Frodo was enjoying the sunshine in the small courtyard of the guesthouse, as he watched Sam gently tending some of the young plants he and Legolas had planted.
“So, Mr. Frodo, you’re not still angry at Strider, are you?”
Frodo shook his head. “No, he was doing as he thought best to catch those people, and Pippin was able to help him. It just is so hard for me to realize that he’s all grown up now.”
“Well, begging your pardon, Mr. Frodo, but he’s not quite yet. Once we get home, he won’t be of age for a few years to come.”
Frodo chuckled. “You know what I mean. For all practical purposes, he *is* all grown up.” He stopped and sighed. “Once we are home…doesn’t that sound wonderful, Sam? It seems like has been forever. I sometimes can’t believe that we will be able to go home. For so long now I had thought never to see the Shire again.”
“Well, we’ve done what we set out to do, Mr. Frodo. And I think it’s high time we headed back. I’ve not been easy in my mind about things ever since I looked in the Lady’s mirror.”
“You’re right, Sam. We *have* done what we set out to do. I will speak to Aragorn the first chance I get. It is time to go home.”
______________________________________________________
Well, I can see by the way the trees are swaying in the front yard that the wind has picked *way* up. I suppose it's time to go turn on the Weather Channel and check for an update on Dennis's whereabouts.
So, anyway, I thought I'd now post a little bit more of my bunny chase, "Chance Encounter"
PART 38
Merry was indeed livid at first, giving voice to his opinion in some rather intemperate language, some of it in Rohirric. But Pippin stood firm. He was used to Merry’s protectiveness, and the anger was not directed towards him, but towards Aragorn. When Merry finally paused for breath, Pippin chuckled.
“What’s so funny?” Merry glared at him.
“I think this is pretty rich coming from someone who would not stay behind in safety even when he was ordered to.”
“That was different!”
“Merry, you know that even now, if Éomer--or even Aragorn--asked you to undertake a dangerous task, you’d do it without a second thought. Do you think my knighthood is any less than yours just because I’m younger?”
“No! Pippin, that’s not what I meant at all!”
Pippin shook his head. “That’s true; all you meant was that I’m your little Pip to protect. Don’t you think we’ve gone beyond that now?”
Merry drew a deep breath and let it out. “I doubt me that I will *ever* get beyond trying to protect you, Pip. I’m afraid I can’t be sorry for it either. And I came so close to losing you. But I will try not to interfere with what you see as your duty. You are right, we are both knights, and must do what we can. I am so very proud of you.”
And Pippin grinned. “So, do you want to hear all the details? I don’t think I ever heard a sadder or more pitiful tale in my life.”
__________________________________________________
Aragorn stood with Gandalf on one of the Citadel’s parapets, overlooking the City, and the Courtyard of the White Tree below.
“Somehow, I thought that overcoming the Shadow, defeating the Enemy, would bring it back to life. Foolish of me, now I see.” Aragorn shook his head. “Yet I must see the White Tree in Flower ere I can be certain that all I have worked for will come to pass.”
“You have foreseen it.” Gandalf spoke calmly and with certainty.
“Aye, I *have* foreseen it, but I have not foreseen when or how. It could be *years* ere the Tree is once more in bloom. I wish to have done with waiting, Gandalf. Is that so wrong of me?”
“There is nothing wrong about it. It is the way of mortals to grow impatient when the goal begins to come in sight. It is part of being of the Secondborn, after all.”
“I thought the goal *was* in sight. I am King now, of both kingdoms, the Ring is destroyed, the Enemy is defeated. Why is the sign yet denied me?”
Unspoken, the name of Arwen hung in the air between them. Gandalf knew only too well what this mood was borne of.
“Be patient, my friend, yet a little longer. I cannot say more than that.”
Aragorn sighed, and his posture drooped. “I have been guided by you in all this task; I will continue to wait.”
Gandalf placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Let us hope that your wait will not be so long as you fear.”
________________________________________________
Menelcar rapped lightly on the door to the Steward’s room.
“Enter.”
Faramir sat in the window, looking out over the City. “May I help you, Menelcar?”
The minstrel nodded. “I take it that young Pippin’s task was accomplished, but I’ve not been told what happened. Is it permitted to ask?”
“Of course it is! He was superb! I am constantly amazed at the talents the hobbits continue to display. I am afraid that the swindler sadly deceived himself when he began to think of hobbits as innocent marks.” Faramir moved from the window to a chair, and gestured to another chair nearby. Menelcar had a seat, and the Steward began to relate the tale.
___________________________________________
“--And then the silly wretch had the gall to grab me and pull a knife. I was forced to bite him and then kick him in a most indelicate place. I am afraid he may never father children.” Pippin chortled and shook his head.
“Pippin! He pulled a *knife* on you?”
“I took care of it, I told you. Remember what Boromir always said.”
Merry shook his head angrily. “What are they going to do with the scoundrel?”
Pippin flicked his gaze away, and his light tone went serious. “Strider said his life was forfeit because he laid hands on me. But I made him promise not--not to--do *that*” He broke off. “Well, the King did promise. So the villain will probably end up doing hard labor for years and years.”
Merry sighed. “Well, I am glad they are not going to execute the rogue. But I am also glad that they thought he deserved it for trying to hurt you.”
Pippin gaped at his cousin. “Merry, sometimes you say the strangest things!”
Merry shook his head. “I daresay he learned, though, that hobbits are tougher meat than he expected. So, you said Boromir was right about that particular move, hmm?”
_____________________________________________
Frodo was enjoying the sunshine in the small courtyard of the guesthouse, as he watched Sam gently tending some of the young plants he and Legolas had planted.
“So, Mr. Frodo, you’re not still angry at Strider, are you?”
Frodo shook his head. “No, he was doing as he thought best to catch those people, and Pippin was able to help him. It just is so hard for me to realize that he’s all grown up now.”
“Well, begging your pardon, Mr. Frodo, but he’s not quite yet. Once we get home, he won’t be of age for a few years to come.”
Frodo chuckled. “You know what I mean. For all practical purposes, he *is* all grown up.” He stopped and sighed. “Once we are home…doesn’t that sound wonderful, Sam? It seems like has been forever. I sometimes can’t believe that we will be able to go home. For so long now I had thought never to see the Shire again.”
“Well, we’ve done what we set out to do, Mr. Frodo. And I think it’s high time we headed back. I’ve not been easy in my mind about things ever since I looked in the Lady’s mirror.”
“You’re right, Sam. We *have* done what we set out to do. I will speak to Aragorn the first chance I get. It is time to go home.”
______________________________________________________
Well, I can see by the way the trees are swaying in the front yard that the wind has picked *way* up. I suppose it's time to go turn on the Weather Channel and check for an update on Dennis's whereabouts.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-07-10 06:00 pm (UTC)Love big cousin having to admit that Pippin has as much right to put himself in danger for the greater good as he does himself. And it's good to see Menelcar again.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-10 08:13 pm (UTC)Yes, I've not forgotten Menelcar. The story is beginning to wind down...
no subject
Date: 2005-07-10 09:29 pm (UTC)I hope that you're doing all right in that storm! *hugs*
no subject
Date: 2005-07-10 11:22 pm (UTC)You'll see a bit more of Menelcar soon.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-10 10:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-07-10 11:26 pm (UTC)I think there are probably only one or two more parts to this before it begins to fall into the timeline of "A Different Kind of Quest". I don't want the stories to overlap. But never fear, you won't have see the end of Menelcar.