Wherever You Are Is Home Chapter Two - "Of Tarts and Loyalties" It is 1393 in the Shire Reckoning Pippin is 3, Merry is 11, and Frodo is 25 Brandy Hall was in a festive mood. It was Saradoc Brandybuck's fifty-third birthday, and all of Buckland was abuzz. Plenty of food was needed, and plenty of wine, and the Master of Brandy Hall had many presents to hand out. "The Thain is here." Somebody shouted. Esmeralda abandoned the tarts she had been making to greet her brother and his family at the door. She pushed open the door just as a cart pulled up, driven by the Thain himself. The family piled out of the cart just as someone came to take it to the stables. "Brother." Esmeralda said fondly, kissing her brother on both cheeks. "It is good to see you." "I am sure you were pining, " The Thain joked fondly, "as it has been nearly a whole month since you last saw me." "Nevermind you, Master Took and Thain." She quipped, snapping him with the kitchen towel that was still in her hands. "How are my children?" She said, beaming as Eglantine walked up with them. "Your children?" Paladin Took smiled. "I believe that they are my children. Mine and my wife's." He added sheepishly, as Eglantine drew near, with Pippin on her hip and the girls close behind her. "Merry?" Pippin asked. "Except this one." Eglantine said, ruffling Pippin's unruly hair. "I don’t think he is mine or yours." "Oh no?" The Thain wondered. "No. This one stopped being ours the day he laid eyes on Merry." Eglantine said, with a smile that was both sweet and sad. In short order, the Thain and his wife were closeted in a small dining room, eating a small meal. A light meal, mushrooms and buttered bread, as they did not want to spoil their appetite for lunch. Esmeralda joined them, eager to be away from the hustle and bustle of the impending party, even if for a short while. They sent the children off to play, hoping for peace and quiet. The girls scampered off, but Pippin lingered. "Merry?" Pippin asked hopefully. His aunt put him in her lap. "He'll be back soon, sweetheart." She handed him a fork. "Have some of mine, Pip." "Mine?" Pippin asked. Esmeralda shook her head. "No, you can share with me." "Want my own." Pippin whined. Eglantine leaned around her sister-in-law to give Pippin a stiff look. He ceased to whine, but did not look happy. "These mushrooms are wonderful." The Thain complimented. "Thank you, brother." Esmeralda said. She glanced at her young nephew in her lap, who was stabbing at the mushrooms experimentally. Then he dropped his fork, and stuck a hand into the food, giggling. "Use your fork, Pip." She said, trying to wipe his hand with a napkin. He snatched his hand away, grinned widely at her, and then stuck his hand back into the mushrooms. "Honey." She said, pulling at his hand again. "No." Pippin said, his tiny features in a moue of displeasure. Esmeralda put the fork back in his hand, but he put it back down. His aunt fussed with his hair, and he batted her hand away. He made another move for the mushrooms, but pulled his hand back when his father cleared his throat at him. "Where is Merry?" Eglantine asked. "I figured he would be waiting outside when we arrived." Pippin brightened at the mention of his cousin's name, and momentarily forgot that he was making a mess with Aunt Esmy's food. "He was, until I began to worry that he would wear a trench in my path with his pacing." Esmeralda replied. Pippin slid out of her lap. She reached for him, but he fussed, so let him climb up on the chair next to her. "However did you distracted him?" The Thain asked around a mouthful of mushrooms. He eyed his son, who was standing on the chair, leaning precariously towards the table. "Sit down Pip, and use your fork." "Luckily, the answer provided itself." Esmeralda replied. She glanced at Pippin briefly, making sure he was not about to tumble to his death. "Bilbo arrived today, with young Frodo." She continued, gesturing with her fork. "Bilbo fancied a look at the Brandywine, and Frodo managed to talk Merry into joining them." "A mercy." The Thain said. He turned to his son, who was standing on the chair again. "Pip. You are going to fall. Sit down." "Can't reach if I sit." Pippin explained. "Then sit in my lap." Esmeralda said, patting her leg. "No." Pippin said. "I'm a big boy." He said, resulting in good chuckle from the adults. Suddenly, he jumped of the chair, and toddled over to the low couch in the side of the room. "Dear, sweet child." Esmeralda said, loving but exasperated. Pippin sat primly on the edge of the couch, and looked innocent. "He is a trial on an hourly basis." The Thain said, stabbing at his mushrooms. "Don't know where he gets it. At least your son can blame his Brandybuck blood." He said, grinning. "You know, when Merry does something odd, Saradoc usually blames his Took blood." Esmeralda said, winking. The Thain gave a snort, and began tearing at his roll. "Pippin!" Eglantine exclaimed, jumping up from her seat. Pippin had climbed onto the back of the couch and had seated himself on the sill of the low window behind it. The window was open, and Pippin was leaning out of it. Seeing his mother approach, he slipped of the sill, back onto the couch, and darted across the room to hide himself under a small table. "Peregrin Took" His father called. "Come back over here and sit down. Have some of these wonderful mushrooms." "No. No 'shrooms." Pippin said unhappily. Eglantine tried unsuccessfully to get him out from under the table. Esmeralda joined to aid her. Faced with a double assault, he fled from under the table and ran to the other side of the room. "No 'shrooms." He said again, keeping a wary eye on his mother. The Thain stood, meaning to retrieve his son and tell him what was what, when the door flew open. Merry came inside in a rush, looking about the room. He grinned widely when he caught sight of his cousin, his curly mop peeking out from behind a chair. "Merry!" Pippin shouted, running across the room with his uneven toddler steps. Merry swooped his young cousin up, spun him over his head, and rested him on his hip. "Hullo, Uncle Paladin. Hullo, Aunt Egg." He said, walking over to the table with Pippin. He shifted Pippin on his hip, making space to kiss his mother, and eyed the table for leftovers. "Merry, Merry, Merry." Pippin said, clapping his small hands on either side of Merry's face. He leaned in and gave his cousin a sloppy kiss on the nose before resting his head on his shoulder. "Are you hungry, Pip?" Merry asked. He put Pippin on the floor and toyed at his reddish-brown curls. "Uh huh." Pippin answered, nuzzling his head against Merry's hand. The Thain raised an eyebrow at his small son, and his wife eyed the boy curiously. Her son had gotten fussy about people touching his hair, lately, but here he stood, bumping his head against Merry's hand, encouraging the behavior like a kitten. "You said you weren't hungry." Eglantine said. "'Shrooms." Pippin said, looking up at Merry. "Do you want some of mine, or do you want your own plate?" Merry asked his cousin. "Yours' fine." Pippin said. The Thain made a choking sound, and Esmeralda stared at her son in wonder, unable to figure out how Merry was able to put such a spell on the little imp. Merry had been in the room for one minute, and he was a totally different child. Merry pulled a chair close to the table, and patted the seat. "You can reach if you stand." Merry watched patiently as Pippin climbed into the chair and stood. "Careful, baby." He said as the boy tottered. Pippin stood in the chair for a moment, considering, then climbed over the arm and slipped into Merry's lap. Merry took a bite of mushrooms, uncomfortable by the way that everyone had stopped talking to watch him and Pippin eat. He took another bite, trying not to look at the adults. They were staring enough to bore a hole in him. He glanced down at his cousin, and noticed that he wasn't eating. "What's the matter, Pip? I thought you were hungry." "I am. "Pippin said solemnly. "Well, then?" Merry asked. "Don’t have a fork." Pippin said. The three adults at the table stared harder. Ignoring them, Merry reached across the table and handed Pippin a fork. Pippin took it in his small hand, stabbed at the mushrooms. He even managed to get a few in his mouth. Esmeralda and Eglantine giggled. The Thain looked at Merry and Pippin in disbelief. He threw up his hands, and turned his attention back to his mushrooms. "Where we going?" Pippin asked in his tiny, childlike voice. "To the river." Merry said. He walked slowly, holding Pippin's hand. The tiny hand inside his own made gave him a warm feeling, like he was strong and protective. And oddly, responsible. Responsibility was not something that usually worried an eleven-year old hobbit, but for some reason he wanted to be responsible where Pippin was concerned. "Is it far?" Pippin asked. Merry stopped walking, remembering that Pippin's legs were much shorter than his own. Merry thought that the river was close, but to Pippin if probably felt like miles and miles. "Are you tired?" Merry asked, concern on his face. Pippin shook his head, reddish-brown curls flying everywhere. Merry eyed the child, wondering if he was telling the truth. With a laugh, he swung the boy onto his hip, and continued walking. "Oi, you have gotten heavy, Pip." Merry remarked. It was not necessarily true, but Pippin liked to be reminded that he was growing. "I'm a big boy." Pippin squeaked. "Yes, you are, honey." Merry said. "See there?" He asked, pointing. "That is the river." "It is far." Pippin said, his eyes wide. Merry laughed. "Not on my legs." He said, quickening his pace. Without having to wait for Pippin's little legs, they reached the River quickly. Merry set Pippin down when they reached the bank. Pippin made to run for the water, but Merry set him down firmly on the ground. "Stay here." He instructed. Pippin looked at the water again, but did not move. Merry stripped off his pants, dropping them in a heap next to Pippin. The breeze was chilly against his legs as he stood on the riverbank in his under-shorts, but it was not unpleasant. He bent, tugging Pippin's pants off. He noticed that his cousin was still wearing a cloth instead of under-shorts, and clicked his tongue in dismay. "Pip, are you troubling your mother about using the privy?" He asked. The boy shook his head. "Pip?" He coaxed. "Tell me the truth." "No." Pippin said, adamant. "I been using the privy," He said. "When I 'member." "Then why the cloths?" Merry asked. "'Cause I forget sometimes." Pippin said. He looked sad and embarrassed, and looked up at Merry. Merry looked down at him quietly. The boy's face reddened, and then he told the truth. "I forget a lot." He said. He looked up at Merry with large, wet eyes. "No, no, sweetie. Don’t cry." He said, picking the child up and kissing him. "I am not mad, sweetie. Just promise me you will try not to forget." The boy nodded, and buried his head in Merry's shoulder. The water was cooler than the breeze. Holding Pippin by both hands in front of him, he waded into the water until it hit Pippin just below the knees. Pippin giggled at the water, and squirmed, wanting to play in it. Merry held his hands tight, fearful that Pippin would get away from him. Eventually the child coaxed Merry into holding him by one hand, so he could splash at the water with the other. When Pippin grew tired of the water, they walked back up to the bank. Merry chased Pippin through the grass in circles. Pippin screamed gleefully, running and running until he collapsed on the grass in a fit of giggles. He heard a soft, whistled tune as he was dressing Pippin. The whistle, along with a few rustles in the bushes proved to be Frodo. The slight, elvish-looking hobbit was walking around, completely oblivious to his surroundings, a book clutched in one hand. "Frodo." Merry called as she tugged his pants back on. "Meriadoc." Frodo said with a start. He walked over to the towards them, and sat down next to Pippin, who was laying in the grass on his belly. Frodo pulled the child upright, and studied him. "Is this tall young man your little Pippin?" Frodo asked, winking at Merry. "Last I saw him, he was just this high." Frodo held his hand a few inches of the ground. "My, he has grown." Pippin beamed, but then grew bashful, and looked at the grass. "So what kind of trouble are you at this afternoon?" Frodo asked, turning back to Merry. "No trouble." Merry said. Frodo gave him an incredulous look. "We went for a wade, and now I think we shall have a nap. Would you like a nap, Pippin?" Pippin looked up and Merry and nodded, then looking at Frodo, he blushed and looked at the grass again. "Mind if I join you?" Frodo asked. "I was thinking of a smoke, and a bit of a read." He said, hefting the book. "Of course a nap is always good. "Of course not, cousin." Merry said. "You read, and we will sleep." He glanced at the book, and shook his head. Frodo was an odd one sometimes, and Merry was sure it was Bilbo's fault. Frodo scooted up against a tree stump, opening the book in his lap. He fished his pipe out of his pocket and began the improbable task of reading and filling his pipe at the same time. "Come on Pip." Merry said, patting at the grass next to him. "Let's have that nap. Come lay down here with me." Pippin walked over to Merry, but in stead of laying down on the grass, he crawled on top of Merry and pressed a wet, baby-kiss on his cheek. Merry gave a snort and wiped his cheek, and wiped his wet hand on Pippin's pants. Pippin giggled with his silly, baby laugh, causing Frodo to look up from his book and chuckle. Abruptly, Pippin laid down on Merry's chest. He wrapped his little arms around Merry's neck, worked his head up under Merry's chin, and promptly went to sleep. Merry lay there, stroking Pippin's back softly. Silly Took, he thought. How does he expect me to sleep with him hanging on me like this? Merry shifted uncomfortably, trying to get Pippin's chin out of his collarbone. Once that immediate concern was dealt with, Merry felt surprisingly comfortable. Pippin napping on him gave him the same warm feeling that holding his hand did, like he was strong and responsible. Between the warm sun and Pippin weight on him, he felt extremely content. And very tired. With a sleepy sigh, he fell asleep. Sound stirred Merry to wakefulness. He was, at first, confused about the weight on his chest. As he woke fully, he realized it was Pippin. He smiled, and twisted his head down to press a kiss into Pippin's sweaty curls. He rubbed his cousin's back soothingly as he sat up, not wanting to wake the child. He heard the sounds again, and looked around. He thought it was Frodo, but he saw that his older cousin was gone. He heard the sound again. It was voices. Shortly, three hobbit children of an age with Merry appeared out of the bushes, just like Frodo had. It was his cousin Berilac, and two of his friends, Boffin relations whose names Merry could not remember. Berilac, who was two years older than him, was alright, but his friends were pains. "What'ya got there, Meriadoc?" One of the Boffins asked. Pippin stirred from the noise, and from Merry's movements as he stood. Pippin looked over at the newcomers, blushed, and buried his head into Merry's shoulder. "This is my cousin." Merry said. He did not like the Boffin's tone. "Oh, the Took brat." The other Boffin said. "My Pippin is not a brat!" Merry snapped, hugging Pippin to him. Pippin was not sure what was going on, but sensed Merry's distress. He was growing uneasy, pulling at Merry's tunic and burrowing his head. "Your Pippin?" The first Boffin snorted. "You're a mite young to be his father." "Idiot." Merry said. "Actually, the Took and Thain is his father, so mind your tongue." The Boffin gave another snort, to show what he thought about the Thain, but did not reply. "We are going up to the treehouse, Merry." Berilac said, looking a bit embarrassed about his friends. Not nearly embarrassed enough, in Merry's mind. "Do you want to go?" "Nah, Berilac. We don't want that silly baby with us." One of the Boffins said. Merry stiffened visibly, but did not respond. He was in no position to fight while he was holding Pippin. "You could take Peregrin back to Brandy Hall, and meet us." Berilac offered. "No thank you, Berilac." Merry said, as pleasantly as he could muster. Then, ignoring them, he looked up at Pippin. "Pip, do you want to walk, or do you want me to carry you?" Pip did not answer, but started wiggling, so Merry put him down. "I told you, Berilac." One of the Boffins said as they walked away. "I told you Meriadoc is weird." "He never wants to play." The other said. "He spends all his time fussing over that baby. You'd think he was a girl, the way he acts." "Stupid baby." Something in Merry snapped. He let go of Pippin's hand, and ran. He heard Pippin scream when he barreled into the first Boffin, knocking him to the ground. He lifted himself up enough to roll him over, and punched him in the mouth. The Boffin kicked, sending Merry onto his back. The Boffin punched wildly, missing his face, but landing a hard blow to Merry's shoulder. "Merry!" Pippin screamed. "Merry!" Wrestling with the Boffin, Merry managed to get back on top, and punched again. He felt a heavy weight as the other Boffin jumped on his back, trying to help his brother. Merry turned his head, avoiding a flying fist, to see Pippin toddling towards him. "Merry!" Pippin shrieked. He was sobbing furiously. "No, Pippin!" He said. Hurled himself backward, falling onto his back with the second Boffin under him. "No Pippin. You will get hurt!" Merry shouted. He saw the other Boffin hovering over him, and kicked at him. He began to cry as he saw Pippin toddling closer to the fight. He was going to get hurt. Badly. "Berilac." He shouted, noticing his cousin. "Get the baby out of here!" Berilac hesitated, not wanting to look like a silly, baby-loving girl like Merry in front of his friends, but took a step towards Pippin. Pippin cried out, and took a step away from him. Then Pippin did something unbelievable. Pippin toddled over to the upright Boffin, balled up his little fist, and socked him as hard as he could in the knee. "You leave my Merry 'lone" Pippin said. And then he hit him again. Terror shot through Merry. The offended Boffin had taken a step back, and looked like he intended to kick Pippin. Merry screamed, rolling through the grass, but was held back by the other one. Suddenly, quick hands scooped Pippin up. "What is the meaning of this?" A familiar voice boomed. Frodo. Merry thanked Eru from the bottom of his heart. The sight of Frodo, a hand planted firmly on one hip and Pippin planted on the other was the most blessed thing he had seen in all of his short life. The Boffins froze where they were, scared, and Merry smiled despite himself. Frodo had that effect on people who did not know him well. Frodo narrowed his eyes at the Boffins, waiting for a response to his question, but he got none. He gave Pippin a reassuring pat, and turned to Merry. "Meriadoc, would you care to explain, since these two fine gentlehobbits seem to have lost the capability of speech?" Frodo's tone was scathing, and he fixed them with a look that let them know exactly what he meant by gentlehobbits. "They called Pippin stupid." Merry said. He tried to keep his voice even, not wanting to sound whiny. Merry reached to take Pippin, but Frodo stopped him with a level look and a firm arm around the baby's waist. "That shows a rare stroke of intelligence," Frodo said distastefully, "to call a three-year old child stupid." "Especially since my Pippin is smarter than the both of them put together." Merry snapped. "Merry." Frodo raised an eyebrow at his younger cousin, though Merry, who knew Frodo well, knew that he was struggling not to laugh. "What else?" "They said I was like a girl, because I like to take care of Pippin." Merry said. "You're a girl?" Frodo exclaimed. "Fancy that. And here I was, thinking that you were a boy, for all these years." "And they said that I am weird because I would rather play with Pippin than them." "Does Merry speak true, gentlehobbits? Did you say these things to him?" Neither Boffin spoke, but they nodded their heads. After a pause, Frodo spoke again. "I don’t think that they really think you are weird." Another pause. Merry was starting to thing Frodo was enjoying the Boffins' discomfort. "I think they are jealous." "Oh?" Merry asked. The Boffins looked extremely uncomfortable. "Yes." Frodo said. "Because unlike them, you have a family member that wants to be around you." With that, Frodo finally relinquished Pippin back to Merry. Pippin half jumped out of Frodo's arms, wrapping his legs around Merry's waist and buried his head into Merry's shoulder. "Master Berilac." Frodo said. "I could be persuaded not to mention this incident to Meridoc's father, or the Thain, if you would be so good as to gather your friends, clean them up an bit, and find a way to keep them in line." Berilac blushed, grimaced at his friends, and herded them away from the scene. "Let's get you cleaned up." Frodo said to Merry, leading him to the river to get water. "You really are not going to tell my father?" Merry asked. "I don’t see a need to upset Master Saradoc on his birthday." Frodo said lightly. Merry was very relived. He doubted that his father would side with those Boffin rascals, but it might give him cause to start in about how he spends to much time with Pippin. "Thank you." Merry said, stretching up to kiss Frodo lightly on the cheek. "No trouble at all. Those two needed a good scare anyway." Frodo said, fishing in his pocket for a handkerchief. He paused, eyeing Pippin. Tired from the ordeal, he was dozing lightly against Merry's shoulder. Frodo ruffled his hair. "Besides, the sight of that little sprout fighting for your honor warmed my heart." "I love you Pippin." He said, pressing his lips into damp curls. It had warmed his heart, too. His mother was humming happily to herself when Merry walked into Brandy Hall's kitchen, little Pippin still sleeping soundly against his chest. Her back was turned, tending to a large pot of stew. Gripping Pippin tightly with one arm, he made a tentative reach towards a tray of apple tarts. "Meriadoc Brandybuck." His mother said lightly, her back still turned. She gave the stew another stir before turning towards her red-faced son. "How--" "I have eyes in the back of my head, dearheart." She said, ruffling his sandy curls. "No you don't." He said, peering at his mother. "I sure do." Esmeralda said, trying not to laugh at her son's befuddlement. "Where did you get them?" He asked, almost believing. "They were a gift from Gammer Proudfoot," She said flawlessly. Merry snorted. Gammer Proudfoot was blind as a bat. His mother had turned back to the stew. He reached for the tarts again, but she whirled around, waving the spoon menacingly. "She gave them to me on your fourth birthday." She said, her lips twisting slightly. "She said that since her sons were grown, she did not need her eyes anymore, so she gave them to me, since tending you would require two pair." She abandoned the stew to press a kiss on Merry's forehead. Merry gave another snort. "Did Gammer Proudfoot have two pair to start with?" He asked. "She did." His mother quipped. "What did she do with the other pair?" Pippin was getting heavy. He moved to rest Pippin's rump on the table. Pippin whimpered in his sleep, and wiggled closer to Merry, grabbing fistfuls of his tunic with both hands. Resigned, Merry dropped onto the bench, leaving Pippin to sleep against his chest. Esmeralda studied Pippin for a moment. "She gave them to Eglantine Took." Merry laughed, and his mother joined him. "Are you truly hungry?" She asked him. Merry nodded, eyeing the tarts eagerly. She handed him a roll. He looked dismayed. "You are not hungry." She observed. "You just want a tart." "I have a tart." He said, patting Pippin's back fondly. Pippin released one hand from Merry's tunic and brought his thumb to his mouth. "Aye, and a sweeter one that those on that tray." His mother said. She stroked Pippin's back lightly, but stopped, catching sight of a scratch on Merry's face. "What is this?" His mother asked. Merry sighed. Frodo had done a wonderful job of cleaning him up, and luckily, none of the Boffins' blows had made it to his face. He bore no visible bruises, but he had acquired a few scratches from all the rolling around on the ground. "I fell down." He said lamely. His mother narrowed her eyes, and captured her son's face in her hands. She lifted his chin, studying his face, and made a clucking sound with her tongue. "You have been fighting." "No." Merry said. His mother's eyebrows drew close together. "No." He said again. His mother coughed. "Yes." He said finally. "Don't tell Da." He whispered, begging. "Tell me why, and I will decide if I have to tell Da." She said. "I don't approve, mind, especially since you were obviously fighting in front of your little tart." Merry's hands, that had been soothing Pippin's back, paused, and be pulled the boy close. She eyed the sleeping toddler, sighing. Something told her that Merry had been fighting in front of Pippin because he had been fighting about Pippin. "Pippin and I went wading, and then had a nap. When I woke up, Berilac was there, with two Boffin boys." "And?" His mother asked impatiently. "They called Pippin a stupid baby." He finished hotly. "I got mad." "So you hit them first." It was not a question. "But they started it!" He said. A bit loudly. Pippin stirred. Merry shushed him with a pat. "They were making fun of him." Esmeralda sighed, her heart breaking. As angry as she was that Merry had been fighting, part of her understood. "So you fought two boys." Oddly, part of her was proud, that he had been unafraid. Merry nodded. "And how did it end?" "Frodo happened along." Merry said, and for the second time today, Esmeralda thanked the Lady for Frodo Baggins. Then she gave a start, not being able to picture Frodo Baggins in a fight. "No, mother." Merry said, reading his mother's shock. "He picked up Pippin because…" Merry stopped, cursing at himself. "He picked up Pippin.." He began again." "Because Pippin was doing what?" His mother broke in. "Pippin hit one of the Boffins." He said, shamed. He waited for his mother to snatch Pippin away, because he had set a bad example. So much for being responsible. He closed his eyes, waiting. But she didn't. She made a noise. After a pause, he opened one eye, and then the other eye. His mother was standing before him, head down, her shoulders shaking. You made her cry, you ass, he thought to himself. Then he heard that noise again, like his mother was trying desperately to suck air through her nose but couldn't. "Oh, Lady." His mother said. She looked up and Merry and Pippin, and burst out laughing. "Ma?" He asked, extremely confused. "That is just… an…amusing picture." His mother choked out, trying to gain control of herself. "This little mite, acting the brave warrior." "I am sorry." He said. "He wouldn't have done it if he had not been so scared, and if he had not seen me fighting." He said. "No." She said. "He would not have." "Are you going to tell Da?" He asked. "No." She said, and Merry was visibly relieved. "If you listen to me." Merry nodded. Esmeralda paused, eyeing her scapegrace son and her sweet little nephew. "He loves you fiercely." She said at last. "I know." Merry said. "No, you don't fully understand." Esmeralda said. "Somehow, you have wiggled your way into his heart, and have uprooted the place that was meant for his parents." "But--" "Nay. Listen." His mother scolded. "You have taken a grave responsibility on yourself. Anything you say or do will always mean more to him than anything said or done by others. Promise me that you will remember that, and I will not tell your father." "Yes, Mother." He rose from the bench, still holding Pippin, and kissed her. "Now go. Out of my kitchen." He mother picked up the spoon and waved it. "I have much to do." She turned back to the stew. "Oh, and Merry." She said, back turned. "Get your hands off of those tarts. Merry sighed, and dropped the tart back on the tray. "Son, where are you going?" Eglantine asked. Pippin had inexplicably stopped playing and started toddling across the room. "Privy." Pippin explained. Eglantine gave a start. Training Pippin to use the privy had proved to be a frustrating experience. Part of her had begun to worry that Pippin would be wearing cloths until he was a tween. "The privy." She repeated, dumbfounded. "Merry said." "Excuse me?" "Merry said." Pippin repeated. "Merry said I had to 'member to use the privy." Frodo looked up from his book at a knock on the door. He closed the book and padded to the door, wondering absently it was Bilbo. He had left Bilbo only a few minutes ago, and he had been intent on a nap. He couldn't imagine why the old hobbit would be back at his door. "Mistress Brandybuck." He said with surprise. "I must say I was not expecting you." "Frodo." Esmeralda said warmly. "I won't keep you. I only wanted to bring you something." "What's that?" Frodo asked. Esmeralda handed him a cloth covered plate. He stood in the doorway, holding the plate, looking at Esmeralda questioningly. "Thank you." He said slowly, unsure what she was on about. "No, Mister Baggins. Thank you." She said, and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "For what?" He asked her, as she left. "Just for being you." She said over her shoulder as she walked down the hall. Frodo lifted the cloth, studied the apple tarts, and wondered if Esmeralda Brandybuck had lost her mind. Eglantine pushed open the door to the room that Pearl was sharing with Pippin. Pearl sat on the edge of the bed, trying desperately to put the boy to sleep. He fussed, and cried, and wiggled fitfully, looking as if he had no intention to go to sleep between now and the Fourth Age. "Pearl?" She asked. "Is he well?" "Well enough, for a brat." Pearl spat. "Pearl." Her mother admonished. "He refuses to sleep." Pearl said, frustrated. "I rocked him, I sang, I told him a story." Pearl looked on the verge of tears herself. "He just will not." Eglantine moved to the bed, and sat down on the edge. She caressed her son's brow lightly, murmuring soft words. He soothed, slightly. She pulled the boy into her arms, rocking, but he continued to fuss. "What's the matter, baby boy?" She asked him. "Are you not tired?" "Tired." He said. He stopped fussing to yawn, but began again. "Then sleep." She said. "Don't wanna." He said stubbornly. Eglantine sighed, and Pearl threw up her hands. "Try." Eglantine said to her son, laying him back on the bed. "No." He said stubbornly. His green eyes began to leak fresh tears, and Eglantine sighed. "Pearl?" "Yes, Ma?" "Go get Merry." "What's the matter, Pip?" Merry moved to the bed, pausing to kiss his aunt. "Don't want to sleep." Pippin said stubbornly. "I told you he was a brat." Pearl said. "Shut up, Pearl." Merry shouted. "My Pippin is not a brat!." "Please." Eglantine urged. "It is too late for this. If you two start fighting, I will never get him to sleep." "Here, Pippin." Merry said, climbing onto the bed. "Come lay down with me." He pulled Pippin to him to tuck him in the crook of his arm, but the boy climbed on top of him instead, and laid down on his chest like he had at the river. "Go to sleep, silly tart." Merry said, soothing Pippin's back. Pippin burrowed his head in Merry's chest, and made contented noises. Merry murmured to him soothingly, and kissed his curls. "Unbelievable" Pearl muttered. "I don’t understand." "Neither do I." Eglantine said, pulling her daughter towards the door. "All I know is that Merry is a blessing." "That miserable pain?" Pearl asked. "How is he a blessing." "Because of him, we may get some sleep tonight." Eglantine said with a laugh. Thus ends Chapter Two, as Pervinca tells it. Chapter One | Chapter Three back to the Blue Book