Seven Deadly Sins III
Envy
Orithain and Rina
January 2003
Disclaimers: Merry, Pippin and everything and everyone
else from the Lord of the Rings universe belongs to the estate of
J.R.R. Tolkien, Alliance Atlantis, New Line Cinemas, Wingnut Films and The
Saul Zantz Company. No profit is being made, and no copyright infringement
is intended.
~ Envy is the desire for others’ traits, status,
abilities, or situation. ~
Sitting at a table in the Dragon, a bowl of flavorful
pipeweed in his hand, a mug of excellent ale before him, and his friends
around him, Merry should have been quite satisfied, but he wasn’t. Try as
he might to keep his attention on Frodo’s story, it kept wandering to the
couples dancing together or cuddling on the benches.
The more he watched, the more his discontent grew until he
was fairly bursting with it. Those Hobbits could cuddle and coo and kiss in
public (not that he was much for the cooing part, but the rest was nice),
but if he so much as took Pippin’s hand, they were looked at
condescendingly. It was a well-known fact that young Hobbit lads sometimes
turned to each other for affection before settling down with a lass to raise
a family, but Merry didn’t want that, ever. He wanted Pip, and he didn’t
care what anyone said about it.
Still watching the couples, he sucked on his pipe, unaware
that he was frowning mightily.
Panting and perspiring, Pippin dropped back onto the bench
beside Merry as the dance ended, swallowing down his ale in long quaffs.
"You should join the dancing, Merry. The music and lasses are lively
tonight... though a snack wouldn’t be amiss now." He looked around,
trying to get the serving girl’s attention to order some food and another
tankard.
"Enjoying it, are you?" Merry asked, his dark tone
drawing glances from the others at the table.
"I’ll see about refills for all of us," Sam said
quickly, gathering up their mugs. "Might put some folk in a better mood
if they had a bit more ale."
"And a bit of something to eat!" Pippin put in.
"I’ll go with you, Sam, to help you carry it all. We
wouldn’t want to spill anything," Frodo offered, as eager as Sam to
be away before Merry unleashed his very obvious displeasure on the oblivious
Pippin.
Smiling happily now that he was assured ale and food would
be forthcoming, Pippin turned to Merry, only to pause in surprise at the
dark frown. "Why, Merry, whatever’s the matter?"
"Enjoying the lasses and the music are you?" Merry
asked sourly. "And which would you be enjoying more?"
"Which... Merry! You silly Hobbit, you’re
jealous," Pippin realized, eyes widening. "You know you’re the
one I... love, but we can hardly dance together, Merry."
"I know that!" Merry snapped before taking a deep
breath, trying to get hold of his anger as it really wasn’t Pip’s fault
he was in this mood. "I suppose I’m not supposed to mind it since you
don’t?"
Pippin gaped at him, taken aback. "But... but... Merry,
why didn’t you say something? I don’t have to dance, you
know."
"And look a bigger fool than I do already? It’s not
that I mind you dancing, Pippin. It’s that I want to be the one dancing
with ye!"
"It’s not that I’m against the idea, you
understand, but, well, the aunts wouldn’t like it at all!" Pippin
shuddered, just imagining the elderly Hobbit ladies’ likely reactions to
seeing the two of them dancing.
"Well then, I suppose I’d better find a lass to dance
with so I don’t upset the aunts, shouldn’t I?" Merry stood and
plucked a mug out of Frodo’s hand, draining the contents before handing it
back to him. "Can’t have the aunts not liking things, can we?"
"But... that’s not what I meant," Pippin
finished disconsolately to Merry’s retreating back. He took another of the
mugs from Frodo and drank his down as well, watching Merry unhappily.
Not knowing what to say, Frodo simply laid a comforting hand
on his shoulder for a moment before sitting back down with Sam.
"I’m sure Mr. Merry didn’t mean it like it
sounded," Sam offered, trying to console the obviously upset Pippin.
"Go on and drink your ale, he’ll be back right soon."
Merry tried, but his heart wasn’t in his flirting with the
lasses, and he found his gaze straying to the table where the other three
sat, Pippin looking thunderstruck and Frodo and Sam both disapproving.
Finally giving up as the whole exercise had left him feeling worse rather
than better, he returned, bearing more ale for everyone.
"All right, I’m a daft fool; go ahead and tell me I
am," he muttered, sliding onto the bench alongside Pip.
Frodo turned to Sam and started a conversation, very
obviously giving the other two some privacy.
Pippin sighed, leaning his head on Merry’s shoulder.
"I’m sorry, Merry. I never thought... I didn’t much like it either
just now when you went to dance. I wish..." He trailed off with a sigh,
knowing that they both wanted the same things and they weren’t likely to
get them.
Merry nodded and tilted his head to the side, resting his
cheek against Pippin’s curls for a moment before appearances necessitated
them both sitting up again. "I wish we could too, Pip. You’re the
only one I want to be holding on the dance floor."
"So we’ll have a private party, just the four of
us," Frodo put in suddenly, "and we’ll dance as we please."
"That would be nice," Pippin agreed. "And for
tonight, well, I’ve danced enough. I’ll be perfectly happy to sit here
with my ale," he paused to peer mournfully into his empty tankard,
"and some good food."
Merry managed a smile at that. "That’s my Pip;
nothing spoils his appetite or his thirst for ale." He slid a hand
under the table and clasped Pippin’s fingers with his for a brief moment.
"But we’ll hold you to that party, Frodo. Tomorrow, say? Dinner, some
of that Old Winyard Bilbo put up, then dancing?"
Sam sat straighter in his seat at that. "And what will
you two be bringing to this party besides your appetites?"
"Our fine company, of course," Pippin retorted
while Frodo took a hasty gulp of ale to cover his laughter.
Laughing aloud at Sam’s disgruntled snort, Merry squeezed
Pippin’s hand again before letting go. "That’s all any party needs,
isn’t it?"
"I agree." Pippin ignored Sam utterly, turning to
Frodo instead. "Is tomorrow night all right then?"
"Of course. We’ll have a fine meal and drinks and
music and dancing. It’ll be fun. You and Merry can take your turns at
being the musicians too."
"Seems we’re not the only ones who want to dance
together then," Merry chuckled, his previous mood vanished like shadows
when the sun comes out from behind a cloud. "A fine night it will
be!"
"Well, come on, then," Pippin said with
exasperation. "Ye seemed eager enough last night, so why are you taking
so long? We’re only going to Frodo’s." Tapping one foot
impatiently, he watched the other Hobbit finish dressing. "If you don’t
hurry, Sam will hide away all the food!"
"Priorities, dear cousin," Merry laughed, pulling
his bracers up over his shoulders, then reaching for his waistcoat and
putting it on as well. "And I wouldn’t be taking quite so long to get
dressed if you hadn’t turned my knees to jelly earlier, now would I?"
He gave a wink a Pippin’s grin and picked up his coat,
slipping into it. "Have to look m’best for the party."
"And here I thought you were looking your best for
me." Pippin eyed him and licked his lips. "I hope whatever Frodo’s
gotten in for the evening is half as appealing as you are."
"I’m hoping it isn’t; that way you’ll be keeping
your interest on me tonight and not the food." Saying that, Merry
pulled Pippin in for a kiss before nudging him toward the door. "Now
come on or Sam will have our hides for making them wait dinner on us."
"And you call me greedy!" Pippin chuckled as they
started out, arms comfortably around one another’s waists and ignoring the
scandalized expression of one passerby. Tonight they were going to enjoy
being together, and everyone else could just keep their opinions to
themselves.
"You are," Merry laughed. "What I meant was,
the sooner we eat, the sooner we can dance." Humming a sprightly tune
under his breath, he walked alongside Pippin toward Bag End, ready for an
evening of fun, good food and better companionship.
When they arrived at Bag End, Pippin had barely raised his
hand to knock on the door when Frodo himself flung it open, much to Sam’s
dismay. Ignoring the other Hobbit’s mutters about how it wasn’t proper
for Mr. Frodo to be opening his own door, the eldest Hobbit laughed and drew
his friends inside, silencing Sam with a quick kiss.
"Tonight especially, my Sam, we’re all equals here. I
have much better things for you to be doing than opening the door," he
teased, blue eyes sparkling merrily.
"Oooohhh, sounds like we might learn something,
Merry," Pippin chortled.
"And here we thought they were just going to be
dancing," Merry snickered. "This evening is getting more and more
interesting!"
Muttering about Brandybucks and Tooks and what fools the
both of them were, Sam led the way to the sitting room, though he kept hold
of Frodo’s hand the whole while, and settled the dark-haired Hobbit on his
lap so they could enjoy the before meal snacks they’d laid out earlier.
"Oh, snacks!" Pippin exclaimed rapturously,
abandoning Merry to investigate what Frodo and Sam had prepared.
"I thought I was going to be the main attraction here
tonight," Merry sighed, watching Pippin pick and choose from the
assortment of finger-foods set out on trays.
"I’m sure Mr. Pippin will come back to you once his
belly is filled," Sam chuckled, relaxing a bit more as Frodo settled an
arm around his shoulders.
"Keep it up and I won’t bring you anything,"
Pippin griped, sticking his tongue out at Merry. "After all, we need to
keep our energy up for later, don’t we?"
"You don’t bring anything back and there won’t be a
reason to keep our energy up later!" Merry squawked.
"Can’t have that now," Pippin laughed, piling a
plate high with both their favorites. "I’ll even feed you to make
sure it’s not a problem."
"Just don’t go spilling anything on the
upholstery," Sam chided, grinning at the other couple.
Merry looked shocked at the idea. "Do you really think
Pip would waste even a drop of food that way?"
"Not a chance," Frodo agreed, while Pippin looked
insulted.
"If you funny Hobbits would like to continue talking
about me, I could leave," he grumbled, munching on a bit of cheese.
"Like I’d let you when there’s dancing to be done
later," Merry laughed, taking the plate from Pippin’s hand and
setting it on the table beside them before tumbling the younger Hobbit into
his lap.
Grinning wickedly, Pippin curled up against him, arms going
around Merry’s neck as he kissed him soundly. "Thought you’d
forgotten about that and I’d have to dance with Sam and Frodo. And I don’t
think either of them would like that very much."
"No, I’d much rather dance with Sam, if it’s all
the same to you," Frodo agreed laughingly. "I’ll let Merry try
to keep up with you, young Pippin."
"Well, I’m the only one who can do it," Merry
bragged to the others’ laughter.
"Or at least the only one I want to do it, Pippin
purred, squirming in Merry’s lap and shedding his shirt.
"Mmm, good idea," Frodo approved, following suit
and shifting on Sam’s lap.
When Sam opened his mouth to gasp, Frodo poured some wine
into it, making the younger Hobbit sputter and Merry and Pippin laugh.
"Now, Samwise, sure and you’ve seen more of my good
cousin unclothed than this before," Merry laughed, sliding a hand over
Pippin’s now bare chest and tickling his ribs.
Laughing, Frodo didn’t comment, instead kissing Sam to
distract him from his embarrassment.
Deciding that the older Hobbit had a good idea, Pippin moved
closer and kissed Merry as well, tugging at his clothes so that they were
both unclothed from the waist up.
Shifting to allow Pippin to do as he wished, Merry shook his
head to get his hair out of his face. "If you two keep that up, dinner
and dancing are going to have to wait!"
Having enjoyed Frodo’s kiss immensely, Sam wasn’t as
loathe to do just that as he had been before. "Nothing that won’t
keep," he murmured.
"The food isn’t going anywhere," Pippin agreed,
lowering his head to lick at Merry’s chest, suckling on a pebbled nipple.
"Or are you telling me that you’re the one who can’t wait to
eat?" he teased, a finger gliding beneath the waist of his cousin’s
pants.
"And some dancing can be best done sitting or even
lying down," Frodo murmured, pressing kisses along Sam’s jaw.
"Would I ever say a thing like that?" Merry asked,
aghast at Pippin’s suggestion and sighing at the feel of the younger
Hobbit’s mouth on his chest. As if in a daze, he noticed Sam heft Frodo
into his arms, carrying him off to the master bedroom, and he grinned down
at Pippin. "So, shall we stretch out on the rug here or do you want a
soft mattress to romp on?"
"Since I usually end up on the bottom, I’d rather not
have carpet burn," Pippin laughed, wrapping arms and legs around the
older Hobbit. "I think you can provide me with a nice soft bed to play
in. Besides, we wouldn’t want to shock Sam if they’re done before we
are," he added, giggling wickedly.
"Oh, I don’t know," Merry laughed, nudging
Pippin off his lap so that he could stand up as well, "that Sam seems
like a stayer to me, whereas you’re a sprinter, my boy."
"Are you impugning my abilities?" Pippin demanded,
hands on hips as he glared pugnaciously at the grinning older Hobbit.
"I’ll have you know that I have staying power!"
Merry pressed his lips together, trying and failing
miserably to keep a straight face. "Oh, course you do, Pip. I was only
teasing; now how about we go and see how long you can stay upright while you’re
sitting astride me."
His expression instantly clearing, Pippin beamed. "A
wonderful plan, Merry. Let’s!" He grabbed the other Hobbit’s hand
and pulled him behind as he all but ran for the guestroom.
As they passed by the round door to the master bedroom,
Merry couldn’t resist one final bit of advice. "Don’t do anything
we wouldn’t do!" he called before allowing Pippin to drag him into
the next room.
Slamming the door behind them, he caught his cousin in his
arms and kissed him hungrily, his hands already working at the buttons that
held Pippin’s trousers closed.
Pippin tore equally eagerly at Merry’s clothes, mouth
moving over each bared bit of flesh. "Leave Sam and Frodo to themselves
and concentrate on me," he advised breathlessly, hips thrusting
forward and grinding against Merry’s.
"That I will!" Merry rasped, managing to get them
both out of their clothes as they stumbled across the small room to tumble
to the bed. Pulling Pippin with him, he rolled to his back and helped his
young cousin to sit up, then grinned slyly. "Well, Pip, you’ve got me
where you wanted me. Are you going to go the course?"
Reaching across to the small jar of oil Sam and Frodo had so
hospitably left out on the nightstand for them, Pippin poured some of the
scented liquid into his palm, then coated the fingers of one hand. Never
looking away from Merry’s face, he reached behind himself, pressing a
single finger inside to begin readying himself for his lover. "What do
you think?" he purred.
Clearing his throat, which had gotten remarkably dry in the
last second, Merry blinked, tearing his eyes away from Pippin’s arm to
meet his eyes. "I think I’ve never seen anything more erotic in my
life."
Pippin smiled brightly. "I do love you," he said
suddenly, lowering his head to kiss Merry before the other Hobbit could
reply. Not wasting any more time, he rose up at the same time, then lowered
himself over Merry, gasping into his mouth as he sank down onto him.
"My sweet Pip," Merry murmured, sliding his hands
up Pippin’s thighs to rest on his hips, urging him to move. "I’ve
decided the others should be envious of me and not the other way round
because I have you and they don’t."
"Sweet talker," Pippin laughed, but the glow in
his eyes showed that he appreciated Merry’s sentiment and returned it.
"Not that I care what anyone else thinks, only you, Merry." He
braced his hands on Merry’s shoulders, back arching as he began to move on
him, making both of them moan.
Lifting one hand to tweak at Pippin’s tight nipples, Merry
circled his shaft with the other, stroking him in time with his movements,
his back arching off the bed as he rose to meet each of his lover’s
downward motions. When a bit of a pinch made Pip shudder, he closed his
eyes, letting the sensations wash over him.
Seeing the reaction, Pippin forced himself to still,
smirking when Merry’s eyes flew open. "You said something about being
a stayer rather than a sprinter?" he reminded wickedly.
Merry blinked, then smirked, tightening his hand around
Pippin’s shaft and rubbing his thumb over the head, waiting for the
reaction. "I never complained about it, did I?"
Gasping and biting his lip, Pippin dug his nails into Merry’s
upper arms as he clutched him. "C-couldn’t quite tell from what you
said," he whimpered, back arching sharply and his hips beginning to
move again.
Smiling secretly, Merry let his body follow Pippin’s lead,
moving against and into the younger Hobbit with the ease of much practice.
"I said I love you," he whispered, feeling his body tighten as his
climax drew near.
Pippin gasped sharply, eyes falling closed to hide the
intensity of his reaction to the words. "Love you too," he said
again, moving more rapidly as the sensations intensified.
"Always," he panted out an instant before he cried Merry’s name
at the moment of his climax.
Merry was already coming when he felt Pippin clench around
him, and he gave a loud cry, clasping the other Hobbit to him and arching
off the bed then pulling Pippin in for a demanding kiss that left them both
even more out of breath.
Lying comfortably against Merry, the older Hobbit’s arms
holding him, Pippin smiled. "Think it’s safe to go back out there
yet, or do Sam and Frodo need more time? We should have brought a snack in
with us," he mused, nuzzling against Merry’s shoulder.
"I hope you’re not suggesting I go out there like
this to get you something to eat," Merry laughed. "I love my
cousin dearly, but Sam would kill me if he thought I was parading around in
front of Frodo!"
"So would I!" Pippin looked irate at the very
idea. "I was thinking more of both of us, dressed, going out to
get something to eat and maybe doing some of that dancing we talked
about."
Merry burst into laughter and pulled Pippin down for a kiss.
"That’s just what we’ll do then, you silly Took. This took the edge
off, but there’s more fun to be had this evening, and if Frodo and Sam
aren’t done yet, we’ll bang on their door until they come out!"
"I think Sam may hit you over the head with a
shovel!" Pippin laughed, reaching for the cloth also lying on the
nightstand to clean them up. Done, he reached for his pants and looked
around. "Whatever happened to our shirts? Oh, they’re still in the
parlor, aren’t they?"
"I think so. Along with Frodo’s at least." Merry
scooted off the bed and began to get dressed. "I suppose we should
check on the food that’s cooling so the meal isn’t ruined."
"We can’t have that!" Pippin waited until Merry
was dressed again before heading out and toward the kitchen to avert any
looming disasters. "Come along then, we can get it all ready. They can’t
be much longer," he called back over his shoulder.
"We can hope," Merry laughed, following Pippin
down the hall, pausing only to bang on Frodo’s door before darting away
before it could be answered.
"Merry!" Pippin laughed, making sure he was far
away from the door in case Sam should pop out. "Sam’s really going to
make you sorry if you keep it up... and Frodo might not protect you this
time!" He checked the meal, finding that the food was simply being kept
warm and in no danger of being overcooked or ruined.
"Remind me not to invite you over again," Frodo
said laughingly as he rejoined the others, a frowning Sam behind him, also
shirtless now.
"Now, now, you wouldn’t do that to your favorite
cousin, would you?" Merry asked, making sure the table was between
himself and the other two.
"Actually, Frodo, we should pity poor Mr. Pippin, if
Mr. Merry’s always that quick about it," Sam commented wryly before
checking on the food to assure himself the other pair hadn’t disturbed
anything.
"Maybe I’m just more exciting, so Merry’s more
eager!" Pippin retorted, defending his lover, though also making sure
he was out of arm’s reach.
Laughing, Frodo suggested that they start dinner before they
had to dispose of a body.
Sam was about to sputter about Pippin’s comment when Frodo
kissed him again, making him forget what he was going to say.
Once they had the meal on the table and were all settled
around it in comfortable chairs, Merry let out a sigh of contentment.
"Now who needs more than this? I’m comfortably relaxed, have a full
plate in front of me, and am surrounded by some of the best Hobbits in the
Shire, though at times they make you think otherwise." He gave Sam an
arch look.
His chair close by Merry’s, Pippin leaned into him, head
resting on the older Hobbit’s shoulder for a moment before he straightened
up to reach for another sausage. "Just remember to keep some of your
attentions for one Hobbit," he ordered.
Grinning, Frodo responded, "Don’t worry, Pip; the
rest of us aren’t interested in those attentions. I have all I can handle
or want right here." He placed a hand over Sam’s on the table.
Merry grinned at the blush that crept over Sam’s face.
"I’m pretty well sure we all do," he said, taking a drink of his
wine and dragging Pippin’s chair even closer to his.
Pippin twisted in his chair, an arm going around Merry’s
neck and one leg draping over his lap. "So you’re going to dance with
me after we eat?" he demanded, offering the older Hobbit a bit of
cheese.
"Our hosts promised us music, didn’t they?"
Merry asked, looking over at the other two Hobbits inquisitively. "They’d
be remiss if they didn’t provide it for us."
"Only if you return the favor," Sam answered
before turning Frodo’s face toward him to feed the older Hobbit a bite of
duck.
"It’ll be our pleasure," Pippin agreed, knowing
that Sam and Frodo had even less chance to enjoy each other than he and
Merry did, thanks to Sam’s acute awareness of their relative stations.
Frodo gave him a smile of gratitude over Sam’s shoulder
when the other Hobbit was distracted by choosing another bit of food.
"I take it you won’t be wanting a jig then?"
Merry asked.
Sam fed Frodo another bit of duck. "I think you and Mr.
Pippin can play first; that way we can give you the same kind of
music."
Pippin burst into laughter. "He got you there, Merry.
And I promise you, if it’s a jig, I’ll make you sorry!"
"So will I," Frodo added, trying to glare at the
young Brandybuck. "Something nice and slow so I can enjoy this
opportunity, if you please."
"All right, all right, something slow it is, but mind
you, Frodo Baggins, keep your hands to yourself while you’re dancing
because I don’t want you and Sam vanishing before I have my dance with
Pip!"
Pippin looked dismayed, as he’d never thought of that.
"I’ll be the one pounding on the door if you try!" he warned
direly, cuddling closer to Merry as he nibbled on another slice of duck.
"Well, if you’ve had enough to eat," Frodo said
merrily, "we could start now. I wouldn’t mind dancing with Sam."
"Mr. Pippin had best be the one to answer that,"
Sam chuckled, though he looked closely at Frodo’s plate, weighing what had
been placed on there with what the older Hobbit had consumed.
"Well, Pip? Think you’ll have enough energy to make
music, dance, and do whatever comes after?" Merry asked evilly as he
saw Pippin’s eyes dart to the food left on the table.
Pippin stuck his tongue out at them. "Comedians, the
lot of you," he said with dignity, though he did snatch up a last
sausage and eat it greedily. "Being as I’m the youngest here, you
should be asking if you can keep up with me!" He wrinkled his nose at
Merry as he drew a set of pipes from his pocket, brandishing them at the
others. "I’m ready whenever you are."
"Then let’s dance," Frodo cried merrily,
springing to his feet and drawing Sam up into his arms.
"Might be safer in the parlor," Sam cautioned,
drawing sighs from the others before they all moved in there.
Shaking his head and laughing quietly, Merry claimed a stool
next to Pippin, settled a hand drum between his knees and picked up a slow
beat, waiting for Pippin to join in on his pipes.
Pippin followed Merry’s lead musically as easily as he did
in all other things, and soon a sprightly tune drew Sam and Frodo around the
parlor. Pippin watched them, pleased to see the other couple so happy and
carefree and looking forward to being able to do the same with Merry.
"Looks like fun, eh, Pip?" Merry asked, laughing
aloud as the other couple lost the rhythm of the dance as they tried to
steal kisses in between steps.
Pippin nodded, grinning around the pipes. He was sure he and
Merry would do better, managing to kiss and dance, but they would see
soon enough. He moved a little close so their legs pressed together, eyes
sparkling invitingly.
Once they’d played through three songs and Frodo and Sam
were dancing less and kissing more, Merry called time. "Enough, you
two! It’s Pip and my turn, or I’ll be dumping cold water on you!"
Sam blinked and gave a bit of a shy grin that was for Frodo’s
eyes only. "Don’t think it would do any good."
Pippin laughed. "Not so shy in the end, are you,
Sam?" he chuckled, laying aside the pipes and standing up. "But
since we started this because Merry and I wanted to dance, I think it’s
our turn now!"
"It’s only fair," Frodo agreed, taking up the
pipes as he sat down. He didn’t mind the breather, breathless from both
the dancing and Sam.
"Aye," Sam murmured, taking up his fiddle and
waiting for Frodo to strike up a tune before joining in.
"And Pip’s the fairest one of all," Merry
laughed, catching his cousin around the waist and sweeping him back over his
arm, snatching a kiss before letting him upright again.
Pippin laughed and blushed, but the look in his eyes said
that he was pleased. "You smooth-talking Brandybuck. My mama warned me
about Hobbits like you!" he chuckled, moving easily in Merry’s arms.
"Ha! She warned you that you’d become a Hobbit like
me, and you know it," Merry laughed, allowing Pippin to straighten back
up and grinning as Frodo and Sam started to play. "I’m pleased to see
you did, too."
"It worked out rather well, since who else would have
you?" Pippin teased, arms around Merry and enjoying the sensation of
Merry’s about him. He smiled at the other couple as Merry swung him
around, the pleasure shining from his face.
"Do you want a list?" Merry asked innocently.
"And the question isn’t who would have me, but who I would have, and
that list is very, very short."
"I’m pleased to hear it since I’ve decided I will
have you," Pippin said quietly. "We may have to wait till I’m
old enough, but that’s not going to change. I want the Hobbit that I love,
and that’s you." He stared into Merry’s eyes as they danced, for
once serious.
Merry lost the thread of the dance, stumbling to a stop and
staring down at Pippin, not even noticing that Frodo and Sam had stopped
playing as well. "Well, then," he said, all levity gone from his
voice. "The future Thain has spoken; who am I to argue with what he
wants, especially as it’s just what I want too."
"Too bad I know that won’t last," Pippin teased.
"But it’ll be more interesting this way. I just hope our parents don’t
all die of the shock when we tell them... the day after my thirty-third
birthday." He sighed at the thought of having to wait so long, but at
least he knew no one would be pushing him at any of the girls before then.
Unlike Merry. He frowned.
Lifting a hand, Merry placed his fingers under Pippin’s
chin, tilting his head up so their eyes met. "Worried about how old I’ll
be by that time?" he asked, keeping his tone gentle.
"Worried about how many girls your family—and quite
likely mine—will have pushed at you by then," Pippin replied, arms
tightening around Merry. "I don’t want to lose you, Meriadoc
Brandybuck."
"Silly Took," Merry said lovingly, punctuating the
words with a kiss, "when have you ever known me to give up something I
want? I can string the parents along and will as long as necessary; it doesn’t
bother me one bit."
Pippin stared at him searchingly, finally smiling.
"Good. I don’t think I’d be very friendly to anyone who became your
wife." He heard the quiet breathing of the other two Hobbits and
flushed slightly as he realized that he’d done this in front of someone
else. But they were his best friends.
"I thought we were supposed to be dancing," he
said finally, still staring into Merry’s eyes.
"I don’t know about you, Pip, but I think I’d
rather explore what you said about you having me a bit more," Merry
said, leaning in so as to whisper the words into Pippin’s ear.
Pippin smiled wickedly. "Grab a tray for snacks later,
and let’s see if we can put that guest room to even better use," he
suggested.
"A word of warning to both of you," Sam said
seriously. "Either of you bang on Mr. Frodo’s door and you’ll find
yourselves out in the lane, no mistake about it."
Frodo hid a laugh behind a sip of ale. "Wouldn’t want
to interrupt anything, after all," he said calmly.
"No... but I’m fairly sure Merry will make sure I’m
too tired to get of bed, never mind walk down the hall," Pippin
chuckled.
Merry grinned brightly as he gathered up a plate of the
leftovers. "I’ll do my best in that regard."
END
 since 02-03-07
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