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kayleearafinwiel) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
b2mem2019-03-21 11:03 pm
- card:apothecary garden,
- card:concerning hobbits,
- card:food,
- card:shirish,
- card:story elements,
- character:estella bolger,
- character:fredegar bolger,
- character:merry,
- character:odovacar bolger,
- character:pippin,
- character:rosamunda took,
- format:chaptered,
- genre:drama,
- genre:family,
- genre:romance,
- number:o66
The Trials of Pippin Took, Spring 1420 S.R., 1/? by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Format: chaptered story, though it could probably be read on its own.
Genre: drama, family, romance
Rating: PG
Warnings: Fatty's nickname isn't as apt anymore. Although perhaps help is at hand. Also, this is a kissing book, though no more than that, I think.
Characters: Pippin Took, Merry Brandybuck, Estella Bolger, Fredegar "Fatty" Bolger, Rosamunda Took Bolger, Odovacar Bolger
Pairings: Merry/Estella, Pippin/Diamond (in later chapters)
Creator’s Notes (optional): I didn't expect this to get so long...Also, huge thanks to Dreamflower for her writing of Miss Dora Baggins' Book of Manners which as usual is incredibly helpful and extremely valuable as a research aid :)
Summary: The spring after the Travellers return to the Shire, Pippin receives orders to resume his duties as the Thain's Heir, by attending the Brockenborings Spring Festival among the North-tooks. That's a bit too far from Crickhollow for Pippin's liking, but Merry won't let him make the journey alone.
“Peregrin!”
Pippin groaned and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, coming into the kitchen at Crickhollow and sitting down at the table heavily. “What’d I do now, Merry?”
Meriadoc Brandybuck lifted an eyebrow. “Other than missing both breakfasts? Nothing at all, my dear cousin. It’s simply how your post was addressed. This has come over from Great Smials.”
While his stomach complained, Pippin took the letter in hand and looked at it. “It’s from the Thain,” he said with a sigh, and Merry elbowed him sharply. “What? He declared me dead when we were gone, Merry! He hasn’t wanted anything to do with me since we got back!”
“Let me read that,” Merry replied, and Pippin reluctantly surrendered the letter.
Peregrin Took, Thain’s Heir.
Crickhollow, Buckland.
Dear Peregrin,
We have received greetings from Tobias Brockhouse in Brockenborings, and an invitation to the Spring Festival in the Northfarthing, which promises to be a bountiful one. You are, of course, included, and entreated to bring any guests you might like.
Your presence will be expected in Brockenborings upon the sixth of Rethe at the latest.
Do not disappoint me.
Thain Paladin II
Pippin scowled at the tabletop, thumping it with a fist. “He thinks he can order me about like I’m still some...some tween…"
“You are,” Merry pointed out dryly, and Pippin swore under his breath.
“That’s not the point! What does he expect me to do up there, herd sheep? And the sixth of Rethe! Today’s the first! I’d have to leave today to be what Father considers ‘on time’, and not meet with any accidents!”
Merry sighed. “It’s a good thing I packed for us, then.”
“Us?” Pippin turned his head.
“Da wrote to me and mentioned the Brandybucks had been invited, too. We’ll go together, Pip. I won’t let you deal with Uncle Paladin alone.” Merry squeezed his cousin’s hand. “Go get dressed, we’ll have our elevenses and be on our way. It’ll be all right, I promise.” As Pippin disappeared back into his bedroom, Merry set about the kitchen; tea, jam biscuits and fruit would do. Cheese, apple preserves, and meat pies would be packed in their ponies’ saddlebags to eat on the way. They would make it to Stock in time for dinner at the Golden Perch, and whether they could get a room together or sleep in the stable’s hayloft made little difference to Merry. They’d both slept in worse places over the past year.
***
Dear Estella,
I’ll be taking this note to the Post Office in Stock when we get there tonight. I’m sure you know the Spring Festival is soon, and to be honest I didn’t think about it until I got orders from on high to attend. Do you think you could prevail on Uncle Odo and Aunt Rosamunda to put us up tomorrow night, if it’s quite convenient? We wouldn’t mind camping, of course, but it would be much pleasanter to stay with kin.
Love,
Your cousin Pippin
P.S. I mean me and Merry, of course.
***
They arrived in Stock in time for dinner - having taken luncheon and tea from their saddlebags. Pippin and Merry stabled their ponies at the Golden Perch, and Merry saw what he could do about a room while Pippin went to see the Postmaster. They went into the common room after that.
Merry was glad to see Pippin helping himself to thirds, then fourths at dinner since he hadn’t eaten much else all day, and when they were finally ready, followed his cousin to the one room sized for Big Men. It had been used for Gandalf at times, and the occasional Ranger needing to pass deeper into the Shire than usual, but both Hobbits paled as they realized who its last occupant had been.
“I don’t want to sleep in that bed,” Pippin whispered, shaking his head.
“Courage, Pip,” Merry said bracingly. “We can sleep on the floor. At least it’s a proper room.”
Pippin nodded.
***
The next day’s travels took them through Budgeford, and they did stay over with the Bolgers; Odo and Rosamunda weren’t wholly pleased to see Merry and Pippin, but Family was foremost after all, and they had a duty. It did seem, at least, that Merry’s presence brightened Estella’s morose countenance, and Pippin had a good effect upon their still-ailing Fredegar, “Fatty” no longer.
Fredegar was encouraged to take seconds at luncheon, and even thirds at dinner just to be sure Pippin didn’t snatch the last sweet! It was a childish game, and the worst of poor manners, but still, Rosamunda didn’t have the heart to scold Pippin for coaxing more food into her son. It was the least he could do to right what he’d put wrong. Perhaps he’d be improved by Estella’s birthday, though it was only in two days!
The next morning, after second breakfast, Merry was looking remarkably nervous.
“Estella, could I have a word with you in private?” He had a small package in his hand - a birthday present, they all had no doubt. She was to be the byrding on the morrow, after all.
Estella looked at Rosamunda. “Mother, may I?” She noticed Rosamunda narrow her eyes, and sniff.
“Very well. Five minutes.”
Merry’s cheeks reddened, but he walked outside with Estella. Pippin and Fredegar exchanged looks. “Do you think…” Pippin whispered.
Fredegar nodded. “I do think. They’ve been corresponding since before you...well, and It is Stella’s birthday tomorrow, and you won’t be here. Of course if he was going to do the thing properly we’d have to plan a betrothal feast and all,” and he looked sick at the thought, “but with you and Merry in such a hurry, it’d have to wait anyway. We can have one when you come back this way, it’ll give Mother more time to plan.”
Sure enough, much to the two lads’ satisfaction, a beaming Estella reappeared in precisely five minutes on Merry’s arm, yellow ribbons gracing her curls. “Merry finally asked me, Mother,” Estella enthused.
“You’re only just turning thirty-five, Estella,” Rosamunda replied. “You’ve plenty of time to think of such things. But you’re old enough to know your own mind, I suppose, and it has been clear which Farthing the wind’s blown from for some time now, hasn’t it, Odo?”
Odovacar nodded shortly. “Well, it’ll have to wait until after the Festival, but your mother and I will speak with Master Saradoc and Mistress Esmeralda once they pass back this way. We know you aren’t in the family way, so there is no reason to rush the ceremony - and you had best not be there before the day comes, lass.”
Now Estella’s flushed face was more from embarrassment than excitement at her news. “Father, really!” she protested.
All three lads - Merry, Pippin, and Fredegar - were equally embarrassed, and the former two in particular felt they couldn’t wait to see the back of Budgeford, much as Merry was thrilled by Estella’s company!
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Congrats to Merry and Estella!
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Annoyances, heh, that'd be Odo and Rosamunda, I imagine :D I think while Rosamunda at least can certainly appreciate the prestige her daughter will enjoy as future Mistress of Buckland and being in charge of most of the running of Brandy Hall (Rosamunda is a Took after all, she understands things like that) she's really very miffed at Merry and Pippin for "disappearing" and especially getting her precious lad involved. Odo just doesn't want Estella moving across the Brandywine at all, lol. But he'll adapt eventually.
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- Erulisse (one L)
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And I'm glad you love Merry finally gathering his courage, nettenya! Me, too. :)
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