Wherever You Are Is Home Chapter Seventeen - "Discoveries of the Past" It is 1410 in the Shire Reckoning Pippin is 20 and Perivnca 25 is Merry is 28 and Pimpernel is 31 Eglantine is 58, Saradoc is 70, Esmeralda is 74, Paladin is 77. "Thank you." Pervinca murmured, as Pippin set a rather large mug of tea in front of her. It smelled of both raspberry and mint, and she drizzled a healthy amount of honey into it. She quietly watched Merry and her brother for a moment, smiling to herself. She had written to them regularly, but living under her father's scrutinous eye, she did not have the opportunity to see them often. She had missed them horribly, and they were refreshing to be around. They were so cheerful and in love it was difficult not to be happy if you were around them. Pippin was humming merrily to himself in the kitchen, preparing an enormous tray of cheese and fruits to accompany the teeming basket of rolls already on the table. Merry came in, offering to help, but was shooed away with loving but stern words, and a kitchen towel to the rump. It almost reminded her of Frodo and Sam. She smiled again, thinking of Frodo, and how Master Baggins of Bag End was absolutely the best of hobbits. He allowed Merry and Pippin to stay here, and kept their larders well-stocked, refusing to take any kind of coin or repayment-- not that either Merry or Pippin had any kind of coin to pay him with, now that they were estranged from their families. Pippin and Merry sat down with her, fussing with their tea. She studied them, searching their faces. The seemed so happy and unconcerned, it was a shame to put a damper on it with family secrets and complications, but they needed to know. "So Vinca," Pippin started, reaching for a large chunk of white cheese. "You said you had some stories to tell." "I wouldn't be so excited, if I were you." Pervinca said, sourly. Pippin was bouncing up and down, as if she was about tell one of Gandalf's tales. She was certainly not about to recite the Lay of Luthien and Beren. "You look troubled, Vinca." Merry said, biting a slice of apple. "If you were living with your families, you would be troubled, too." Pervinca said, with a thin smile. "True." Pippin chirped. "Eat something, Vinca." He pressed. He really was starting to act like Sam. "I'm not hungry." Pervinca protested. Pippin narrowed his eyes at her, and she picked up a roll to placate him. "Where to start." She mumbled to herself. "Its usually best to start at the beginning." Merry observed. He noted Pervinca's plagued expression, he had no idea that the beginning was likely the worst of it, and smiled. He reached across the table and patted her hand reassuringly. "The beginning, then." Pervinca said. "Do you remember that yarn Adelard spins about the Thain and Odovacar Bolger in the barn?" Merry and Pippin both nodded. "Well, listen closely, and I'll tell you how it really happened." She said. "Master Thain, what brings you here?" Merimac asked brightly, grinning widely. He opened the door fully, and gestured for Paladin to enter. "I need a word with you, if you have a moment." Paladin said quietly. He did not know Merimac well, had always taken him as a cheerful and happy hobbit. "My, but you look dire." Merimac chided, offering him a seat. "Is your lad about?" Paladin asked as he sat, glancing around. "He's just down the Hall, Master Thain." Merimac answered, looking at Paladin curiously. "You have business with my son?" "I do, at that." Paladin said, trying not to sound too cross. "But I need to speak with you, first." "Tea?" Merimac asked. "I fear this is not a social call, Master Brandybuck." Paladin said, shaking his head. "Positively dire." Merimac said, giggling, giving Paladin a rueful smile. He plainly thought Paladin was taking on about something, something that could not possibly be as bad as he was making it to be. "I've never been a man to mince words, Merimac, so I'll give it to you plain." Paladin said, tightly. "Berilac took a tumble with my Pimpernel at Celedine's birthday. Merimac's bright and cheerful demeanor slipped, and he looked completely stricken. "Oh, Lady." He managed, after a pause. "She's not….." Merimac trailed off, his eyes widening with horror. There would only be one reason why Paladin would be bringing this to his attention. "She is." Paladin said forcefully. "You're sure?" Merimac asked. "I am." Paladin said. "She has been distraught, over…, uh, some things, recently. When Eglantine first mentioned it to me, I sent Nel to the healer, to make sure she wasn't telling stories, just to get attention." "And it's my son's?" Merimac asked. "She's sure of it?" "Watch yourself, Brandybuck." Paladin warned, not liking what Merimac was insinuating. "I was simply asking…." Merimac began, looking a bit abashed. "I'll not have you impugning my daughter's honor." Paladin shouted, rashly. He cringed one the words came out, knowing he had made a mistake. Shouting would only serve to get Merimac fired up. Merimac would not give him the shamed, quiet acquiescence he had been hoping for, if he was boiling over with indigantion. "Pardon me, Master Thain, but it seems your daughter's doing a fine job of that by herself." Merimac said, after a considering pause. Paladin cursed at himself, knowing he had gotten Merimac's hackles up right and proper with his rough tone. It was too late to turn back now, he was just going to have to continue on. "Don't you dare!" Paladin shouted, pointing at Merimac. "Don't I dare, what?" Merimac said dryly. "Your son takes advantage of my daughter after she had had more ale than was good for her, and you dare to suggest my daughter was playing the harlot!" Paladin blustered. "Runs in the family, if I remember correctly." Merimac hissed. "All that business between you and Saradoc, and that nonsense with Eglantine." Merimac snorted. "Not to mention your son." Paladin stared at Merimac, seething. Merimac was as infuriating as Saradoc. Arguing with Saradoc was rather like hunting oliphants with a butterfly net-- time consuming, and extremely ineffectual. Merimac had evidently picked up the same habits, bouncing from topic to topic and bringing in irrelevancies. "You nevermind Pippin!" Paladin shouted. "For all his faults, he is not faffing about at parties, making bairns in the bushes!" "Not possible, if you consider who he's bedding." Merimac laughed, satisfied with himself. Paladin grimaced. He'd walked right into that comment, and he knew it. "He'll not be making any future Took and Thains, wasting all his seed on Meriadoc Brandybuck." Merimac said, wrinkling his nose in distaste. He snickered a bit, despite his anger. "This is not about Merry and my son." Paladin said, eyeing Merimac threateningly. "This is about your son, and his obligation to my daughter." "Berilac is betrothed to Marigold Bracegirddle." Merimac said simply. "I don't care if he is betrothed to the Elf Queen of Mirkwood." Paladin screeched. "And there is a bairn in my daughter's belly that doesn’t care, either." "I can't just break that betrothal off." Merimac argued. "You can, and you will." Paladin said. "Everard and Melilot will be married in a week's time, and I intend to see Berilac married to my daughter with them." "But Marigold Bracegirddle!" Merimac said, moving his hands dramatically. "Marigold Bracegirddle is not over a month gone with Berilac's bairn." Paladin pressed, fixing Merimac with a flat stare. "My daughter's honor is in question here." "So is my son's." Merimac replied. "Berilac has been betrothed to Marigold for nearly two years. If he breaks it off suddenly, and marries Pimpernel at the end of the week, some rather unpleasant things would be thought of him. And said about him." "Bugger your son's honor." Paladin spat. "If Nel births this bairn unwed, worse things would be thought and said about her." "Then have her wed." Merimac said shortly. "That is precisely what I am trying to do!" Paladin growled. Merimac waved him off. "I am sure there is at least one hobbit in Tuckborough who would be willing to marry the Thain's daughter, even if she's carrying another hobbit's package." "Are you suggesting…." Paladin cut off, to furious to speak. His face went as red as a bushel of beets, and his eyes went wide. Merimac thought to have Paladin pawn Nel off to the first hobbit who would take damaged goods, and Berilac would never be troubled. "Why not?" Merimac asked, with a shrug. "My brother left presents all over the Shire, and he managed to find someone else to take care of every single one of them." He leaned towards Paladin, whispering. "If my suspicions are correct, you took care of one, yourself, until you married her to Sandlon Bracegirddle. "That is enough!" Paladin shouted, taking a deep breath. Of all the irrelevancies he did not plan to discuss with Merimac, the nature of Pearl's conception was high on the list. Seeing Merimac was unmoved, he sighed heavily. He had not wanted to do it this way, but Merimac was leaving him no choice. "You get your son in here, and you get him on his knee to my daughter, or I will go to Saradoc, and have him toss you out of this burrow." "I wasn't aware you still had that kind of sway over my brother." Merimac returned. He lifted his chin, undaunted, but he had bristled slightly. Part of him thought Paladin just might be able to pull it off. "Saradoc and I may no longer be…close, but I am sure he would see my side." Paladin said. "Not to mention, he's married to my sister, and mark my words, Esmeralda has more sway over him that I ever did." "Think about, Merimac." Paladin pressed. "You stand to be the Master of Brandy Hall, and Berilac after you, if Merry continues to be absent, and… unfit. If Saradoc tosses you out, you'll be living with your wife's relations in Hardbottle, and Seredic will inherit Brandy Hall." "And what about Marigold Bracegirddle?" Merimac asked, defeated. "Marigold Bracegirddle is not my problem." Paladin said, with a shrug. "Speaking of Seredic, maybe one of his bratlings will take her." "Her family will be extremely displeased." Merimac fussed, frowning. No more displeased that I am about my daughter marrying a buggering Brandybuck! Paladin thought. "Perhaps not as displeased as you think." He ventured, opening his hands. "She'll be marrying into Brandy Hall, either way." Merry and Pippin were staring at her in shocked, flabbergasted silence. Merry looked completely stunned. His mouth hung open, gapping, and he was blinking his widened eyes slowly, like an owl. Pippin looked positively stricken. The color and gone from his face, and he was working his mouth silently. "Our father, and Merry's father?" Pippin managed, finally, his tone incredulous. A piece of sliced pear was in his hand, half-way to his mouth. "Lovers?" Pervinca nodded silently. "Who did you have this from?" Merry asked, taking a long draught of tea. "Are you sure it's not a tale?" "I had it from Frodo, who had had it from Milo Burrows, who was actually there." Pervinca said. "Still, Vinca, its hearsay." Merry said, his tone slightly hopeful. "It might not be true." "I know its true, Merry, because I asked your father." She said simply. "What!" Merry squawked, setting his teacup down with a clatter. "You asked my father if he had bedded your father? "Merry, it seemed like the most sensible thing to do." Pervinca said. "My father tumbling Odovacar Bolger I could almost believe, even from Adelard. But him tumbling your father, that was too much, so I asked him." "So my father tossed Merry out of the Smials, and is trying to make Pearl the Thain instead of me, over something he once did, himself?" Pippin asked quietly. "I didn't understand it." Pervinca said. "Still don't, really, though I think I understand how it made sense in our father's head." Merry and Pippin only stared at her, confused and silent. "There is almost as many years between Saradoc and the Thain as is between the two of you, and if I've heard it right, Saradoc was about the same age as Pippin was when it began." Pervinca said. "Maybe younger." "He told me that I took advantage of Pippin, because he was so young when it began, and because I was so much older than him." Merry said, his voice growing angry. "I can't believe it! He looked me in the face and told me I was wrong, when he had done the exact same thing himself!" "I don't think my father was really mad at you." Pervinca said. "I think he was upset, but the reason he blew it so out of proportion was because he was still kicking himself over your father." "I think my father got so mad at you because when he was with your father, he had been on your end of it." Pervinca continued. "He had been the older one, the one that supposedly should have known better, the one that had supposedly been taking advantage of a child." "So what does our father say about all this?" Pippin asked. Merry was still angry and glowering, and Pippin reached out and squeezed his hand. "Nothing, yet." Pervinca admitted. "We haven't spoken in two years, I did not think this would be a good first topic of conversation. Besides, I wanted to try and get Merry's father on my side before I broached the subject." "And whose side is my father on?" Merry asked. "Yours." Pervinca said, smiling widely. "I bumped into him on my way out of Brandy Hall. He told me to tell you that he and your mother love you, and that you are missed." "Really?" Merry breathed, relaxing a bit. Pippin squeezed his hand again, and smiled. "He also said that you are welcome to return to Brandy Hall anytime you like." She said, winking. "You and Pippin, both." Berilac Brandybuck was standing in the entryway of Brandy Hall's largest guest rooms an hour after Paladin talked with his father. He arrived freshly scrubbed and dressed finely, bearing a bouquet of flowers for Pimpernel. He was also wearing a face like week-old death. Paladin Took bit his tongue, controlling the urge to browbeat the lad. Considering the amount of time it had taken for him to arrive, his father had probably scolded him within and inch of his life. When he called for Pimpernel, she was also wearing a face like week-old death. Paladin found this odd, as Eglantine had sworn she was in love with the lad. Now he was here, ready to propose, and she looked like she wanted to crawl in a hole and die. Eventually, Paladin dismissed it, figuring her the bairn was upsetting her belly. Berilac talked quietly with her for a moment, then dropped to his knee. Pimpernel waited quietly as he spoke, then nodded. He then rose and kissed her lightly, and took his leave. He paused by Paladin on his way out, whispering flowery apologies, and insisting that he had intended no harm to his daughter. Paladin nodded gruffly, the let the lad flee. When he turned back around, Pimpernel was gone, the room to her door shut. Eglantine, who had been sitting across the room the whole time, was wearing a cool, flat expression, though Paladin could sense a bit of displeasure. He sighed, wondering what is wife was on about, now. She had nagged him into making this trip to the last place he wanted to be, nagged him into to making the lad do right. Now that the lad had done right, she looked unhappy about it. Muttering about the silliness of women, he went off towards the kitchens in search of an ale. He wanted a drink or two before he went to face Adelard. "Once or twice?" Merry asked suddenly. "Fifteen years." Pervinca said. "Or near enough that it doesn't matter." "Fifteen years?" Pippin squeaked in disbelief. "That is a long time!" "So they were in love." Merry said quietly. "How did it end? Why did it end? Because my father married my mother?" "No, it ended before that." Pervinca said. "Right about the time they inherited their offices." "But why?" Merry pressed. "Are you sure you want to know?" Pervinca asked. She sipped at her tea, and frowned when she discovered it was cold. "You've told us this much, Vinca." Merry said. "I'd just as soon hear the rest of it." "From what I have told, the were happy enough for a number of years." Pervinca explained. "But, Saradoc was quite young when it began. My father was all he had ever known, and as he got older, he was angry with my father for stealing his childhood, and he grew restless." Merry and Pippin exchanged an unreadable look, but did not speak. "Eventually, Saradoc was unfaithful, with a number of lads and lasses both." Pervinca said. Merry raised an eyebrow. "My father was displeased about it, and heartbroken. He probably blamed himself, because Saradoc had been so young in the beginning." "So they broke apart, because my father cheated." Merry asked, sadly. "Well, no. Their relationship suffered because of it, but they did not really break apart until Saradoc inherited his office." Pervinca replied. "And our father became Thain later that year." Pippin commented. "Yes, he did." Pervinca said, nodding to Pippin. "By all accounts, it seems they contrived to see each other once or twice after Saradoc inherited Brandy Hall, but once my father became Thain, he suggested they break apart." "They probably didn't have time to see each other, anymore." Pippin said, looking at Merry sadly. "See, that is why I don't care about being Thain. I wouldn't have time to see you, and I don’t want that." "I know, love." Merry said. He leaned over and kissed Pippin on the cheek before turning back to Pervinca. "What happened after that?" "They remained friends, but they had a disagreement, later that year." She answered. "About what?" Merry asked, though he looked like he was not sure if he wanted to know. Pervinca took a deep breath. "Eglantine Banks." She said. "Mother?" Pippin asked. He frowned hard at Pervinca, like it was her fault he did not like what he was hearing. "What about her?" "They met her at a wedding, the year after they took their offices." Pervinca explained. "My father was enamoured by her, but he did nothing about it, because she was twenty years younger than him, and only eighteen years old." "Saradoc was still angry with my father for breaking apart with him." Pervinca went on. "When he discovered the my father liked my mother, he was furious. So, he took her for himself." "Oh, Lady." Merry mumbled, putting his head in his hands. Pippin, silent, stared at Pervinca with an open mouth. "My mother?" Pippin said, eventually. "My mother, and his father?" He shook his head furiously, as if it would make it all go away. "My mother!" "She was young, and in love, Pippin, just like you." Pervinca soothed, patting Pippin's hand. "And just like you, because she was in love, she did some things that other people did not approve of." Pippin glowered at her, but he knew she was right. He and Merry had continued to love each other, no matter how many people disapproved. "Did he love her?" Merry asked. "Eventually, yes. I think, at first, he took her just to vex my father, but in the end, I believe he truly cared for her. Leastwise, he told me he did." Pervinca said. "He even moved her into Brandy Hall, so he could have her close." "It carried on for a few years, even after he married." Pervinca added. "Then how did she come to marry the Thain?" Merry asked. "Pearl." Pervinca said simply. "What?" Merry and Pippin shouted in unison. "Pearl." She repeated. "Saradoc got with Pearl, while she was at Brandy Hall." "Pearl is my sister?" Merry sputtered. When Pervinca nodded, he wrinkled his nose and screwed up his mouth. "That's probably the worst of it all." He said, getting a small snicker from Pippin. He smiled back at Pippin, then gestured for Pervinca to continue. "At first, she stayed at Brandy Hall. Her family was already furious with her, so she wasn't about to return to Michel Delving with Saradoc's bairn in her belly." Pervinca said. "And what did my father do?" Merry asked. He smile from his earlier joke with Pippin was gone. He was now frowning sourly again, disquieted by his father's indiscretions. "What could he do?" Pervinca countered, making a questioning gesture. "He was obviously unable to do right by her, he was already married. Merry nodded slowly, but was still displeased. "It was a bit of a stick for both of them." She said, shrugging. "A bit of a stick for your mother, too. She'd been married to Saradoc for three years and they had no children, but the lass he was keeping on the side was getting fat with a bairn no one could talk about." "That still does not explain how she married my father." Pippin insisted. "Like I said, she stayed at Brandy Hall, because she had nowhere else to go. But Pearl kept growing, no matter how hard everyone ignored it." She said. "Eventually my father caught wind of her condition, and came for her. Brought her back to the Smials, and married her the next morning." "Pervinca?" Pippin asked wearily. "Yes, Pippin?" "You are giving me a headache." Paladin Took had been standing in front Adelard's door for five minutes, and had still not knocked. He had raised his hand twice, but had not let if fly. He had been standing there, fidgety and nervous, like he as an errant child about to face his father. His older, cantankerous uncle was flat out unsettling. He raised his hand to knock, almost convinced he would do it this time, when the door opened of its own accord. As the door swung open, he found himself face to face with Adelard, who was eyeing him curiously. "Wasn't expecting you here." Adelard groused. "You've been avoiding this side of the Shire like the plague since your son took off with Meriadoc." "Well, I have reason to be here, now." Paladin said, smoothly. He forced himself not to let Adelard rile him up, because that was exactly what the fussy, grouchy hobbit wanted. "May I come in?" "If you make it quick, Master Thain." Adelard said, moving just enough that Paladin could squeeze by. "I've got a wedding at the end of the week. It will not plan itself, and Saradoc's help are the daftest bunch of hobbits I have ever laid eyes on." "The wedding is precisely what I wanted to speak to you about." Paladin said, forcing himself to be cheerful. He reminded himself that he was probably doing Saradoc's help a favor, keeping Adelard away from them." "What about the wedding?" Adelard said, shutting the door. He did not offer Paladin a seat. "Well, my Nel is betrothed to Berilac Brandybuck." Paladin said. "And…." "Betrothed to Berilac since when?" Adelard cut in. "Why, since about an hour ago." Paladin said, with forcing a smile. "Funniest thing, really. He just up and asked, out of the blue." "Our of the blue, you say." Adelard said, his tone dripping with suspicious. "She's got a bairn by him, or what?" "Of course not," Paladin said, giving Adelard a shocked frown. "My Nel is a well-behaved lass." "I'd wager she's not." Adelard snorted. "Your son's not, at any rate. Gets it from you, if you ask me." He schooled the withering look and sharp retort that he wanted to give Adelard, and continued. "Well, I was thinking. Since there is already a wedding at the end of the week, there is no reason why they shouldn't go ahead and get married." Paladin said smoothly, as if a lass getting married after being betrothed for six days was the most natural thing in the world. "When?" Adelard sputtered. "When Everard and Melilot marry?" "Well, why not?" Paladin asked, trying to act nonchalant. "Nel and Berilac are both here, and wanting to get married, and half the Shire is already here. It would save them another trip." "Are you out of your fool head?" Adelard screeched. "No, I don't think so." Paladin said. "Makes perfect sense." "What's the hurry?" Adelard demanded, suspicious again. "She has a bairn in her belly. Well-behaved lass, my backside." "Adelard." "Now look here, Master Took and Thain." Adelard said, wagging his finger and Paladin. "This wedding has cost me a pretty penny, and it has nearly driven me to distraction. If you think you can just barge in and…." "I'll split half the costs with you." Paladin put in, trying to sound too desperate, although he was. If Nel was not married forthwith, Eglantine was going to have his hide. "Half?" Adelard asked, raising an eyebrow. "You sure there's no bairn? "Two thirds, if you don't ask anymore questions." Paladin offered. "Now you're talking." Adelard said. "I won't say another word." "How does my mother fit into all this?" Merry asked. "How did she end up married to my father?" "The Blue Book states the arrangement was made by Rorimac Brandybuck and Adalgrim Took." Pervinca said. "Your grandfather, and my grandfather." "I guess they didn't know about their sons' relationship." Merry said. "Oh, I think they did." Pervinca said. "I think that is precisely why they arranged it." "Why?" Merry asked. "That doesn't make any sense." "It makes perfect sense, if you think about it." Pervinca said. "My head, Vinca, my head." Pippin protested. Smiling, Pervinca obliged. "Every Master or Thain has inherited their office because the one before them died." She said. "Every Master or Thain, except Saradoc Brandybuck and Paladin Took. They took their offices because their fathers stepped down." Merry and Pippin glanced at each other, then looked at her blankly. "No Master or Thain has stepped down in the history of the Shire, except Old Rory and Adagrim Took." She said, slapping her hand on the table to make her point. "They both stepped down in the same year, complaining of old age and bad health." Merry and Pippin were nonplussed. Pervinca sighed exasperatedly, as if it was as obvious as the color of her eyes. Looking at them, she softened slightly, reminding herself it was not their fault. Merry and Pippin had been completely wrapped up in each other since they were children, to the point they had probably never noticed what was going on around them. They had also been cloistered in this house for the last two years, far and away from anyone or anything. "Old Rory and Adalgrim Took stepped down, handing their offices over to their sons, who at that time, had been involved for nearly fifteen years." She said, starting at both of them pointedly. "You think they did it on purpose?" Pippin asked. "To keep them apart?" "Yes." She said, relieved. "And they married Saradoc to his lovers' sister for the same reason." Merry said slowly. "According to the Blue Book, Esmeralda's betrothal to Saradoc was Old Rory and Adalgrim's last act in office, before they stepped down." She said. "They probably figured my father would keep his hands off of Saradoc after that, for his sisters' sake." "Do you think that is why your father wanted to marry me to Nel?" Merry asked, still wavering. "Very likely." She said. "You could be right." Merry ventured. It explained why Paladin had offered to marry him to Pervinca, when he had not been overly excited about Nel. He had wanted Merry wed to one of his daughters, for Pippin's sake, and he had not cared which one. "Speaking of Nel, does she really have a bairn?" Pippin asked. "She does." Pervinca replied. "She'll probably be married to Berilac at the end of the week with Everard and Melilot." "Berilac, of all people." Merry muttered. He still had not forgiven his cousin for that incident at the river, so many years ago. "There could be no odder two hobbits tumbling each other. I have never even seen them speak." "I think she did it on purpose." Pervinca said. She had thought this at the first, and the more she thought on it, the more she was convinced. "Got with a bairn?" Pippin asked. He knitted his brows, not understanding why someone would so such a ridiculous thing. "Got with a bairn with Berilac." Pervinca replied. "But why Berilac?" Merry asked, making a disgusted face. "That's obvious, goose." Pervinca said. "She never loved you, she loved you being next in line for Brandy Hall." "What's that got to do with anything?" Merry asked, taken aback. "I'm still next in line for Brandy Hall, if my father said I can come back home." "But Nel doesn't know your father said you could come home." Pervinca said. "If you failed to return home, who would inherit Brandy Hall after your father?" Merry chewed his lip thoughtfully. "Merimac Brandybuck." Merry said, frowning. Pervinca raised an eyebrow, and made a circular gesture with her hand. Merry thought for a moment, then smacked himself in the forehead. "Of course! Berilac would come to it after him!" "You're a wonder." Pervinca joked, looking at the ceiling. "That's horrible." Pippin breathed. "I can't believe her." "If you had had to live with her the last two years, you would." Pervinca said. "I still don't know who I pity more." Merry said, grinning. "Berilac, or Nel." "Mattais said he would pity the bairn." Pippin said, laughing. "I think he had the right of it." Pippin was wide awake, despite the late hour. His headache had finally subsided, after a liberal amount of ale, but he could not sleep. He was exhausted enough, but his mind was spinning, running over everything Pervinca had said. "Merry?" He asked softly. "Are you awake?" "I am, now." Merry said sleepily. "I love you." Pippin said gently. "I love you, too." Merry said. "Now go back to sleep." "But Merry…." "What, sweetheart?" Merry asked, rolling towards him. "Do you still love me the same, even after everything Pervinca said?" He said, tears welling up in his eyes. "Even if our fathers loved each other? Even if my mother…even if Pearl…" Merry silenced him my kissing him softly. "I love you just the same, goose." Merry soothed. "Even more so." "Promise?" Pippin asked. "I will always love you, no matter what our parents did before, or what they say about us, now." Merry replied. "And I daresay they should keep quiet about us. Considering what they did, they have no room to talk, if you ask me." "Oh, Merry." Pippin breathed. He snuggled close to Merry, and Merry wrapped an arm around him. "Merry?" Pippin asked, after a pause. "Yes, bratling?" Merry said, yawning. "I think we should go to the wedding." Thus ends Chapter Seventeen, as Pervinca tells it. Chapter Sixteen Back to the Blue Book