Author: Sam

Story: The Games We Play: 2 of 15

Series: n/a

Note: Here is a translation of all the games into our terms, but for complete instructions as to how to play them, please contact me privately: *Mentioned by one of the actors, ^From childhood, ~A blend of other games.

Feedback: Yes, please? Especially constructive. samwise_baggins@yahoo.co.uk

Webpage: http://www.oocities.org/samwise_baggins/index.html

He couldn't quite figure out the youngest Hobbit. He'd tried for some time in fact, going as far as to even list what he knew about the young one. It was to no avail, however; Elrond just could not understand Peregrin Took.

It should have been an easy puzzle, Elrond knew. The Hobbit was young and a bit slow. He seemed to love food, good ale, and a deep pipe. He loved his cousins and enjoyed the company of the servant, Samwise. Yet, he seemed so out of place in this newly formed Fellowship.

The lad should really stay behind and let someone else fill his spot in the nine. However, much to Elrond's consternation, the other three Hobbits argued if anyone even suggested such a thing. Apparently they were convinced young Pippin should journey with them, even lacking skills and needed wisdom.

Why should these Hobbits be so adamant that one so unsuited to the task be included?

The Elf Lord's musings were interrupted by the sound of joyful humming coming up the path. He looked up to find the object of his ponderings approaching at a leisurely pace. Elrond studied the brown curls, the blue-gray eyes, the merry, friendly smile, the slightly feminine features... truly the Hobbit seemed very ill suited to the adventure ahead of him.

Pippin stopped in front of the imposing Elf lord, his smile just as bright as ever, despite the trepidation he felt whenever near the great figure. Taking his small courage into his hands, Pip approached Elrond. "Hello, Mister Elrond. It's a lovely day, is it not?"

"Yes, a truly pleasant day, Peregrin." Elrond frowned at the younger male.

With a gulp, Pippin pushed on. "A lovely day for games, eh?"

Elrond sat straighter, frowning unconsciously at that. "Games?"

Seeing that as encouragement, the Hobbit nodded, smiling wider. He was nodding quite enthusiastically. "Oh, yes! You could play all sorts of games on a day like today. It's perfect for Jump Squares or Tig. Want to give it a go?"

The frowned deepened. "Play Tig?" Elrond's voice was repressive, however it didn't seem to have any effect on Pippin.

"Oh no. It's more fun playing Tig with Merry and Sam. I was thinking more of Jump Squares. I bet you'd be good at it, too, with your long legs; you could easily play." Pip's smile seemed to widen all the more, encouraging the Elf to let go of his age-old dignity and enjoy the beautiful autumn day.

Elrond opened his mouth, but was interrupted by Pip's plea. "Come on, Mister Elrond. It'll be loads of fun. You like fun, yeah? Let's play Jump Squares. It's not that hard to learn; I can teach you."

With a sigh, the Elf Lord stood gracefully in his majestic robes. "Very well. You may teach me to play your Jump Squares. What do we need for this Jump Squares?" He imagined it was rather like skipping stones on a lake.

Pippin frowned, studying Elrond critically as he started to circle the tall Elf. The Elf twisted to watch the Hobbit, but did not actually spin around. Finally, Pip stopped. "The dress'll be in the way. Don't you have anything else to wear? I mean, I can maybe ask Strider if he'll lend you some trousers so you don't have to play in your drawers."

Elrond stiffened. "I can remove my robes." His tone was rather indignant. Slowly, gracefully, he unbound his traditional robes, revealing a pair of surprisingly simple trousers with matching tunic. He carefully folded the robes and placed them on the bench. Turning slowly, he crossed his arms, unaware of just how stunning he looked at that moment.

The Hobbit smiled at the sight of the sculpted muscular body. With a nod, Pippin grabbed a stick and squatted to draw several squares in an odd pattern on the ground: three in a row, two together atop those, another solo block, two together once more, then two more solo blocks, topped by a large arched block. He started drawing numbers in the squares, humming as he quickly worked. Finally, Pippin stepped back. "Okay, we'll need a couple of stones."

"This is a Maths game?" Suddenly Elrond was intrigued. This game might give him more understanding of Hobbits if he were to be shown some of their educational tools. It might also help him understand the youngest Hobbit to see the lad's level of learning.

With a laugh, Pippin tossed a small stone to the Elf Lord. Elrond caught is in surprise as Pippin spoke. "Nothing to do with Maths. It's a game, Mister Elrond. Here, watch me." The young Took then turned and tossed his stone into the first square. He stood on one foot and started hopping through the squares, skipping the one with the stone in it and using both feet when he came to the double squares. Once he reached the arched block, he turned, still on one foot, and hopped back, scooping up his stone as he passed it. With a huge smile he gestured towards the game area. "Your turn. Toss the stone and hop through. Couldn't be easier."

Elrond blinked, frozen in place as he weighed his options. He could easily withdrawal with minimal loss of dignity. Opening his mouth, the Elf glanced over to the excited, happy Hobbit. Somehow, he couldn't let him down. With a resigned sigh, the dignified centuries-old Elven Lord tossed his stone and began to hop, encouraged by the laughing cheering of the tiny being with him.

When he finished his pass, Elrond bowed gracefully at the shoulders towards Pippin, indicating that it was his turn. Pippin smiled and tossed his stone, frowning as it skittered too far in his enthusiasm. He scampered off to retrieve it, laughing as he turned back.

"A bit far, I'd say." His smile lit up his features and, with a negligent wave of one delicate hand, the small Hobbit indicated it was his companion's turn. "You go, I have to wait."

A soft frown crossed the Elf's features. Fingering his smooth stone thoughtfully, wondering if any other new rules might pop up as he hopped up and down the grid on one foot, Elrond finally gently tossed the stone. It landed neatly in the second square. With a quick glance at Pippin for any unexpected changes, he began to hop up the grid.

Pippin grinned and watched happily. He felt the Elf frowned far too much. Maybe being in charge of so many Elves made him unhappy. He needed to play a bit more in the Hobbit's opinion. Maybe if Elrond played, he'd learn to smile.

With a graceful turn, Elrond made his way back and bowed once more to Pip. "This game is a game of balance." The statement was soft, but certainly not questioning. "It teaches the children grace?" That last was indeed a question.

Laughing, Pip shrugged. "I always figured it was a game, Mister Elrond. Didn't think it taught anything, really. But, I guess it could." He tossed his stone and hopped his way up then down. "You know, actually we're supposed to keep tossing and hopping until we miss, then it's the other one's turn, Mister Elrond." He grinned wider.

Elrond blinked slowly then frowned again. "Then why did you not tell me sooner? We have been playing the game incorrectly." He did, however, skip his stone to the third square, still playing by the rules his companion had initially given him.

"Wanted you to get a chance to play. Usually I don't mess up." He grinned and took his turn, trying to prove his point by going at a faster pace. He stumbled and fell though, laughing as he picked himself up and brushed off his clothing, "Oops, I won't do that again."

The Elf had stepped forward to offer assistance when he saw the small being hit the ground. But as Pippin came up laughing and apparently unhurt, the Lord of Imladris stepped back. He tossed his stone. Glancing at Pippin, verifying that the Hobbit wasn't merely putting on a show for effect, Elrond nodded in satisfaction and began to hop. However, he had been distracted and tumbled when he came to the ninth box. Almost sheepishly, he picked himself up and took his stone, coming back to the beginning where the Hobbit waited, laughing.

"Oh, the look on your face, Mister Elrond! I'd wager you've not fallen in some time." He flashed his sunny smile and asked in a carefree voice, "Are you hurt, sir?"

"No, not hurt." Elrond looked down at his now torn trousers, but felt no pain and saw no blood. He glanced back up at the Hobbit. "It is your turn, Peregrin."

Pip smiled even wider, "Right." He tossed and hopped, making it back without incident this time, though he was still behind in the amount of completed squares he'd done.

The next hop through confused Elrond, surprising him just as much. He forgot to put his foot down for seven and eight, hopping instead on one foot through the entire grid and skipping square seven completely. Pippin's delighted laughter rang out, alerting him to his error.

"Oh, you've missed seven, Sir! It's my turn now. Come on back." Pip seemed almost to be bouncing or dancing in his excitement. His face was alight and his entire body almost quivered in his enjoyment of the child's game.

The grin was infectious.

Elrond slowly returned the smile and rejoined the Hobbit, bowing to indicate it was Pippin's turn. As he watched the tiny being make his way across the grid, the Elf couldn't resist a soft chuckle at just how absurd they must look. After all, one did not often see people hopping about on one foot, stooping to pick up stones before again hopping off. It was perhaps the most absurd thing the Elf had done in hundreds of years, and he found he was enjoying himself immensely.

The two spent a long morning together, in fact, playing several games of Jump Squares, which Elrond quickly grew highly skilled at, a game of Cups, at which Pippin excelled, and even an altered version of Skips, an Elven game, involving skipping over a swinging rope, which Elrond dredged up from memories of when his own children were small.

By luncheon the two were lounging comfortably, tiredly, on the beautiful grass. Both were flushed, sweaty, and panting, but both also were smiling. It had truly been an enjoyable morning for Lord Elrond. He may not understand the little Hobbit any better than before, but he did understand one thing now: He knew why the others insisted on keeping the little fellow around. Peregrin Took had been made to help ease one's burdens with laughter and sunshine.