:: The Lord of the Rings ::
This is an LOTR fanfic I wrote as a school assignment for my British Literature class last fall. Our assignment was to write a one page (*ahem* Yeah, I went a tad bit over that *cough*) story illustrating a common aphorism or saying. As I love to jump at the chance to do anything hobbit-related, I decided to have fun with the assignment. Choosing the aphorism "a job worth doing is worth doing well", I created this little story.
Title: Quintessential Took
Rating: G
Summary: In which Peregrin turns romantic and Meriadoc is too cocky for his own good.
Fandom: The Lord of the Rings
Characters: Merry and Pippin
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own these charming characters (if ever I tell you otherwise, kindly do me the favor of not believing me). The characters Merry and Pippin (as well as Diamond and Estella), Middle Earth, and The Lord of the Rings series belong to Professor J.R.R. Tolkien. I'm merely borrowing them for my own personal fun...I promise to return them intact to their creator :)
Author's Note: This story is post-Quest and takes place in 1426 (by Shire Reckoning). Both lads are staying at the Hall for the Yule festivities. Merry is 44 and Pippin is 36 (or 28 and 23 in Man years). Also, a special thank you to Marigold for beta'ing this for me *hugs*
Feedback is always appreciated :)
Quintessential Took
In which Peregrin turns romantic and Meriadoc is too cocky for his own good
Note: This story is post-Quest and takes place in 1426 (by Shire Reckoning). Both lads are staying at the Hall for the Yule festivities. Merry is 44 and Pippin is 36 (or 28 and 23 in Man years).
Scuffle.
I pause at the foot of the stairs, perking up my ears at the sound. When all that greets me is silence I shrug and continue on my way down the corridor.
Clank.
“Confound it all!” Can be heard coming from behind a door just ahead.
I wince at the words and glance about nervously, grateful to find the hallway deserted. Thank heavens my mother isn’t about to hear my cousin’s cursing! Intrigued as always by a closed door, I creep closer and press my ear against the woodwork.
“Skies above! Where are you?!” can be heard from the other side of the wall and then…
Thud!
…Followed by a string of barely coherent mutterings.
By this time my curiosity has thoroughly got the better of me and I silently grasp the doorknob, poking my head round the frame to steal a peek into the room. What meets my eyes is odd, to be sure, but considering the hobbit in question there’s really no reason to be surprised.
Flat on his stomach beneath the sofa, feet sticking straight out behind, is my younger cousin, his front half completely hidden from view.
“Pippin?” I venture cautiously.
Pippin - or at least his feet - give a start and he hastily attempts to pull himself out from his current resting place. In too much of a hurry- as is his wont - just as he is sitting up the back of his head hits the bottom of the sofa. Hard.
Thud!
I wince and, remembering the sound I heard earlier, judge that this is not the first time Pippin’s head has suffered this afternoon. His face twists up and I can see him fighting back a yelp of pain. He maintains his composure, however, and merely sits there on the carpet. When he finally looks up at me his face is fixed with a fierce scowl.
“’Lo Merry,” he mutters, rubbing the back of his head.
“Peregrin Took, what are you about?”
Instead of answering he continues to scowl at me in stony silence.
“What were you doing under the sofa?” I try again.
“Why chatting with the dust bunnies, Merry, what else?” He snaps. “And by the way, I do appreciate your sympathy here and your enormous concern for my well-being!”
I sigh, a twang of guilt hitting me. I often forget that in spite of Pippin’s thirty-six years he is in some ways still very much a child. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” Crossing the room I settle myself next to him on the floor. “How’s your head?” I ask, doing my best to hold back the sarcasm that’s fighting to escape me.
Pippin rolls his eyes. “It’s not my head that’s the problem. It’s these blasted beads!”
I raise an eyebrow. “Beads?”
Pippin gnaws his lower lip, a familiar habit left over from his childhood. It most often occurs when he has some delightfully-laid plan he’s just bubbling to let out, in spite of his own fierce desire to enjoy a secret all his own. I wait patiently, knowing it’s only a matter of time before the cork pops from the bottle.
He eyes me for a minute, still furiously gnawing his lip before bursting out. “I’ve decided to do it, I’ve liked her long enough so I’m going to do it but I want something special to give when I ask so that’s what I’m working on now and I wanted it to be a surprise but I can’t keep it secret anymore and so here I am telling you!” Here he stops to take a much-needed breath.
I stare blankly at him.
I blink.
Obviously knowing Pippin his entire life has not helped me at all in deciphering his speech. I take a moment to sort my thoughts, trying to determine which of the many questions raging in my mind I should ask first. As this sorting is merely causing my head to spin, I settle for the most obvious question.
“Ask who what?”
Pippin stares at me as though I have just asked him what one calls those white puffy things that float in the sky. “Why, ask Diamond to marry me, of course!”
I gape openly, not even caring how foolish I must look.
“There’s no need to look so surprised.” Pippin chirps, and after all, I suppose he is right. He has been courting Diamond for well over a year and we all knew things were bound to turn serious sooner or later. But now that it’s finally come down to it, sitting here watching his face, he seems years too young for marriage. And it’s just so unlike Pippin to hoard secrets, especially about such significant matters. I’m happy for him, to be sure, I just wish he had told me sooner.
“What are you thinking?” Pippin bluntly interrupts my thoughts. He is studying me intently and I know he’s longing for my approval. It certainly isn’t necessary, but it touches me to know he wants it nonetheless.
“I…I was…” I stammer, left speechless, once again, by Peregrin Took. What does one say to his baby cousin who one day, out of the blue, announces his plan to ask a lass for her hand in marriage? Pippin is still staring intently at me and suddenly I smile. “I was thinking…. how wonderful this is!” I manage.
Pip’s face brightens immediately. “Really? You really think so?” His eyes are bright and in them I can see the reflection of his youth. In spite of his years and all he’s been through, my Pippin still possesses the sweet, unfeigned innocence of his childhood.
I laugh and playfully tweak his ear. “Of course I think so, you dolt! My best cousin of all is getting married…I’m thrilled!” The enthusiasm comes naturally now and I find myself unable to stop grinning. He grins back at me and slumps happily against the sofa with a contented sigh.
“And now,” I know I must bring it up, for he has obviously forgotten, “just what were you doing under the sofa, what’s this about beads, and what does all this have to do with proposing to Diamond?”
“Oi!” Pip exclaims, sitting up hurriedly. “I’d forgotten!”
“Obviously,” I mutter behind a cough.
Pippin, either not hearing or not caring, ignores my comment and instead turns around and dives underneath the sofa. “What I was doing…ugh…under here…drat…was….” He emerges once again (being cautious this time to clear his head of the sofa before sitting up fully) his face flushed, hair tousled. “Was looking for these!” He declares, holding up a handful of bright, multi-colored glass beads.
“Lawks, “I breathe. “and just what are you doing with those?”
“Making a necklace!” Pippin beams. As if to prove his declaration, he hops to his feet and over to the desk. Rising from the floor I can see for myself the wooden surface is strewn with ribbons, leather strands and several beads similar to those Pippin had recovered from under the sofa. “You see,” Pippin begins, “I imagine lasses can be very difficult to convince in the matter of marriage and so I thought if I came bearing a gift she’d be more willing to accept my offer. Pervinca told me a necklace is enough to win any lass’ heart and as she herself is a lass I thought she ought to know. So what do you think, will it win me my bonny maiden?” He picks up the partially finished trinket and swings it enticingly before my eyes.
I clamp my mouth firmly shut in an attempt to hold back a snicker. I’m not sure which is more amusing - Pip’s “imagining” that “lasses can be very difficult to convince in the matter of marriage”, Vinca’s wicked sarcasm, or the sight of my young cousin dutifully stringing violet and blue beads together - and I find myself nearly giddy with it all.
Try as I might to conceal my mirth, Pippin (for once) is no fool. “Now there’s no need to be cheeky, Meriadoc! Just because you are happily betrothed to your spitfire of a lass Estella, doesn’t mean you can get cocky. You of all people ought to know the insecurities and peril that come with wooing a lass.” His face is so earnest as he says this - all the while continuing in his work - and I realize how cruel it would be to laugh at his labor of love.
Swallowing what remains of my hilarity, I clear my throat. “You’re quite right, Pippin my lad. I was being much too cocky. I think it’s very thoughtful and clever of you.” He nods, apparently of the opinion that I should have admitted this long ago. “Only…just how long have you been in here, working on this? I mean, if Diamond cares for you, won’t she…you know…is the necklace really worth all this time?”
He does not fix me with icy eyes, as I half-expect, but instead clucks his tongue softly and says, “It is indeed worth all this time! After all, Merry old fellow, ’A job worth doing is worth doing well’.”
“You’ve been around my mother too long.” I snort. “You and your ’clever sayings’”.
“Hmmm…yes…that was rather witty of me wasn’t it? Must be the Took in me.” He finally looks up from his work to grin cheekily at me.
“Aye, the quintessential Took…” I mutter dryly. But far too weary by now to have anything to say in the Brandybuck family’s defense I content myself with giving him a mocking laugh. He has won this round…for now.
“There! All done!” Pippin declares as he strings the last bead and ties the strand in a firm knot.
I cock my head to the side to examine his work. “You’re going to give it to her like that?”
“No, I’ll wrap it first. Actually, I think your mum has some blue and violet paper that should go nicely with this.” He heads for the door and I follow a few strides behind.
As we make our way down the corridor he suddenly turns around to face me, continuing to walk backwards. “With all this talk of marriage and lasses, I’ve been thinking.”
I raise an eyebrow in jest. “You?”
He ignores me - save for a slight roll of the eyes - and continues. “I’ve been thinking about you and Estella.”
“What about me and Estella?” I ask warily; one never knows where Pippin might be headed.
“About how glad I am you two have finally come to your senses and realized your true fervency for one another.” I stop in mid-stride but Pippin has turned around again and doesn’t notice. “All those squabbles you two had were obviously an act, everyone knew it. And it’s not as though -”
I have to interrupt. “Fervency?”
He finally stops his walk and slowly turns around, blushing slightly. “Well, you know.” He mutters. “You’ve heard the word ‘fervency’ before.”
“Yes, but I didn’t think you had.”
He shrugs. “I use that word all the time.”
I can’t help but snort. “Pippin. Please. I know your vocabulary and ‘fervency’ is not in it.”
“Well…well, I’ve been reading some poetry lately…you know, to get practice for when I propose.” His cheeks have turned so red I can’t help but take pity on him. I refrain myself from the teasing he’s obviously bracing himself for and instead simply nod and clear my throat.
“Oh. Right. Well…that makes sense.”
He nods and continues forward down the corridor. We walk along in silence for a bit before Pippin suddenly turns around again, his face twitching with mischief. He begins his crab-like backwards walk again while I wonder if he’s about to pay me back for trying to poke fun at his newfound vocabulary.
“You know, Merry, as you and Estella aren’t exactly known for being peaceable creatures, I have some extra beads in lots of different colors, I’d be happy to make a necklace for you to give to Estella. You know, in case she changes her mind about the whole agreeing to marry you thing.”
He’s too far ahead for me to reach and quickly turns around to run off at full speed while I give chase with every intention of ringing his scrawny Took neck.
♥ ♥ ♥
Like what you see? You can JOIN THE COMMUNITY for updates.
Title: Quintessential Took
Rating: G
Summary: In which Peregrin turns romantic and Meriadoc is too cocky for his own good.
Fandom: The Lord of the Rings
Characters: Merry and Pippin
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own these charming characters (if ever I tell you otherwise, kindly do me the favor of not believing me). The characters Merry and Pippin (as well as Diamond and Estella), Middle Earth, and The Lord of the Rings series belong to Professor J.R.R. Tolkien. I'm merely borrowing them for my own personal fun...I promise to return them intact to their creator :)
Author's Note: This story is post-Quest and takes place in 1426 (by Shire Reckoning). Both lads are staying at the Hall for the Yule festivities. Merry is 44 and Pippin is 36 (or 28 and 23 in Man years). Also, a special thank you to Marigold for beta'ing this for me *hugs*
Feedback is always appreciated :)
Quintessential Took
In which Peregrin turns romantic and Meriadoc is too cocky for his own good
Note: This story is post-Quest and takes place in 1426 (by Shire Reckoning). Both lads are staying at the Hall for the Yule festivities. Merry is 44 and Pippin is 36 (or 28 and 23 in Man years).
Scuffle.
I pause at the foot of the stairs, perking up my ears at the sound. When all that greets me is silence I shrug and continue on my way down the corridor.
Clank.
“Confound it all!” Can be heard coming from behind a door just ahead.
I wince at the words and glance about nervously, grateful to find the hallway deserted. Thank heavens my mother isn’t about to hear my cousin’s cursing! Intrigued as always by a closed door, I creep closer and press my ear against the woodwork.
“Skies above! Where are you?!” can be heard from the other side of the wall and then…
Thud!
…Followed by a string of barely coherent mutterings.
By this time my curiosity has thoroughly got the better of me and I silently grasp the doorknob, poking my head round the frame to steal a peek into the room. What meets my eyes is odd, to be sure, but considering the hobbit in question there’s really no reason to be surprised.
Flat on his stomach beneath the sofa, feet sticking straight out behind, is my younger cousin, his front half completely hidden from view.
“Pippin?” I venture cautiously.
Pippin - or at least his feet - give a start and he hastily attempts to pull himself out from his current resting place. In too much of a hurry- as is his wont - just as he is sitting up the back of his head hits the bottom of the sofa. Hard.
Thud!
I wince and, remembering the sound I heard earlier, judge that this is not the first time Pippin’s head has suffered this afternoon. His face twists up and I can see him fighting back a yelp of pain. He maintains his composure, however, and merely sits there on the carpet. When he finally looks up at me his face is fixed with a fierce scowl.
“’Lo Merry,” he mutters, rubbing the back of his head.
“Peregrin Took, what are you about?”
Instead of answering he continues to scowl at me in stony silence.
“What were you doing under the sofa?” I try again.
“Why chatting with the dust bunnies, Merry, what else?” He snaps. “And by the way, I do appreciate your sympathy here and your enormous concern for my well-being!”
I sigh, a twang of guilt hitting me. I often forget that in spite of Pippin’s thirty-six years he is in some ways still very much a child. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” Crossing the room I settle myself next to him on the floor. “How’s your head?” I ask, doing my best to hold back the sarcasm that’s fighting to escape me.
Pippin rolls his eyes. “It’s not my head that’s the problem. It’s these blasted beads!”
I raise an eyebrow. “Beads?”
Pippin gnaws his lower lip, a familiar habit left over from his childhood. It most often occurs when he has some delightfully-laid plan he’s just bubbling to let out, in spite of his own fierce desire to enjoy a secret all his own. I wait patiently, knowing it’s only a matter of time before the cork pops from the bottle.
He eyes me for a minute, still furiously gnawing his lip before bursting out. “I’ve decided to do it, I’ve liked her long enough so I’m going to do it but I want something special to give when I ask so that’s what I’m working on now and I wanted it to be a surprise but I can’t keep it secret anymore and so here I am telling you!” Here he stops to take a much-needed breath.
I stare blankly at him.
I blink.
Obviously knowing Pippin his entire life has not helped me at all in deciphering his speech. I take a moment to sort my thoughts, trying to determine which of the many questions raging in my mind I should ask first. As this sorting is merely causing my head to spin, I settle for the most obvious question.
“Ask who what?”
Pippin stares at me as though I have just asked him what one calls those white puffy things that float in the sky. “Why, ask Diamond to marry me, of course!”
I gape openly, not even caring how foolish I must look.
“There’s no need to look so surprised.” Pippin chirps, and after all, I suppose he is right. He has been courting Diamond for well over a year and we all knew things were bound to turn serious sooner or later. But now that it’s finally come down to it, sitting here watching his face, he seems years too young for marriage. And it’s just so unlike Pippin to hoard secrets, especially about such significant matters. I’m happy for him, to be sure, I just wish he had told me sooner.
“What are you thinking?” Pippin bluntly interrupts my thoughts. He is studying me intently and I know he’s longing for my approval. It certainly isn’t necessary, but it touches me to know he wants it nonetheless.
“I…I was…” I stammer, left speechless, once again, by Peregrin Took. What does one say to his baby cousin who one day, out of the blue, announces his plan to ask a lass for her hand in marriage? Pippin is still staring intently at me and suddenly I smile. “I was thinking…. how wonderful this is!” I manage.
Pip’s face brightens immediately. “Really? You really think so?” His eyes are bright and in them I can see the reflection of his youth. In spite of his years and all he’s been through, my Pippin still possesses the sweet, unfeigned innocence of his childhood.
I laugh and playfully tweak his ear. “Of course I think so, you dolt! My best cousin of all is getting married…I’m thrilled!” The enthusiasm comes naturally now and I find myself unable to stop grinning. He grins back at me and slumps happily against the sofa with a contented sigh.
“And now,” I know I must bring it up, for he has obviously forgotten, “just what were you doing under the sofa, what’s this about beads, and what does all this have to do with proposing to Diamond?”
“Oi!” Pip exclaims, sitting up hurriedly. “I’d forgotten!”
“Obviously,” I mutter behind a cough.
Pippin, either not hearing or not caring, ignores my comment and instead turns around and dives underneath the sofa. “What I was doing…ugh…under here…drat…was….” He emerges once again (being cautious this time to clear his head of the sofa before sitting up fully) his face flushed, hair tousled. “Was looking for these!” He declares, holding up a handful of bright, multi-colored glass beads.
“Lawks, “I breathe. “and just what are you doing with those?”
“Making a necklace!” Pippin beams. As if to prove his declaration, he hops to his feet and over to the desk. Rising from the floor I can see for myself the wooden surface is strewn with ribbons, leather strands and several beads similar to those Pippin had recovered from under the sofa. “You see,” Pippin begins, “I imagine lasses can be very difficult to convince in the matter of marriage and so I thought if I came bearing a gift she’d be more willing to accept my offer. Pervinca told me a necklace is enough to win any lass’ heart and as she herself is a lass I thought she ought to know. So what do you think, will it win me my bonny maiden?” He picks up the partially finished trinket and swings it enticingly before my eyes.
I clamp my mouth firmly shut in an attempt to hold back a snicker. I’m not sure which is more amusing - Pip’s “imagining” that “lasses can be very difficult to convince in the matter of marriage”, Vinca’s wicked sarcasm, or the sight of my young cousin dutifully stringing violet and blue beads together - and I find myself nearly giddy with it all.
Try as I might to conceal my mirth, Pippin (for once) is no fool. “Now there’s no need to be cheeky, Meriadoc! Just because you are happily betrothed to your spitfire of a lass Estella, doesn’t mean you can get cocky. You of all people ought to know the insecurities and peril that come with wooing a lass.” His face is so earnest as he says this - all the while continuing in his work - and I realize how cruel it would be to laugh at his labor of love.
Swallowing what remains of my hilarity, I clear my throat. “You’re quite right, Pippin my lad. I was being much too cocky. I think it’s very thoughtful and clever of you.” He nods, apparently of the opinion that I should have admitted this long ago. “Only…just how long have you been in here, working on this? I mean, if Diamond cares for you, won’t she…you know…is the necklace really worth all this time?”
He does not fix me with icy eyes, as I half-expect, but instead clucks his tongue softly and says, “It is indeed worth all this time! After all, Merry old fellow, ’A job worth doing is worth doing well’.”
“You’ve been around my mother too long.” I snort. “You and your ’clever sayings’”.
“Hmmm…yes…that was rather witty of me wasn’t it? Must be the Took in me.” He finally looks up from his work to grin cheekily at me.
“Aye, the quintessential Took…” I mutter dryly. But far too weary by now to have anything to say in the Brandybuck family’s defense I content myself with giving him a mocking laugh. He has won this round…for now.
“There! All done!” Pippin declares as he strings the last bead and ties the strand in a firm knot.
I cock my head to the side to examine his work. “You’re going to give it to her like that?”
“No, I’ll wrap it first. Actually, I think your mum has some blue and violet paper that should go nicely with this.” He heads for the door and I follow a few strides behind.
As we make our way down the corridor he suddenly turns around to face me, continuing to walk backwards. “With all this talk of marriage and lasses, I’ve been thinking.”
I raise an eyebrow in jest. “You?”
He ignores me - save for a slight roll of the eyes - and continues. “I’ve been thinking about you and Estella.”
“What about me and Estella?” I ask warily; one never knows where Pippin might be headed.
“About how glad I am you two have finally come to your senses and realized your true fervency for one another.” I stop in mid-stride but Pippin has turned around again and doesn’t notice. “All those squabbles you two had were obviously an act, everyone knew it. And it’s not as though -”
I have to interrupt. “Fervency?”
He finally stops his walk and slowly turns around, blushing slightly. “Well, you know.” He mutters. “You’ve heard the word ‘fervency’ before.”
“Yes, but I didn’t think you had.”
He shrugs. “I use that word all the time.”
I can’t help but snort. “Pippin. Please. I know your vocabulary and ‘fervency’ is not in it.”
“Well…well, I’ve been reading some poetry lately…you know, to get practice for when I propose.” His cheeks have turned so red I can’t help but take pity on him. I refrain myself from the teasing he’s obviously bracing himself for and instead simply nod and clear my throat.
“Oh. Right. Well…that makes sense.”
He nods and continues forward down the corridor. We walk along in silence for a bit before Pippin suddenly turns around again, his face twitching with mischief. He begins his crab-like backwards walk again while I wonder if he’s about to pay me back for trying to poke fun at his newfound vocabulary.
“You know, Merry, as you and Estella aren’t exactly known for being peaceable creatures, I have some extra beads in lots of different colors, I’d be happy to make a necklace for you to give to Estella. You know, in case she changes her mind about the whole agreeing to marry you thing.”
He’s too far ahead for me to reach and quickly turns around to run off at full speed while I give chase with every intention of ringing his scrawny Took neck.
♥ ♥ ♥
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