Beginnings & Endings
by pippinmerry
Chapter Three
The next morning, Tine woke her son up early. “Pippin, time to get up. Breakfast in on the table.”
Pippin mumbled. “Mother, what time is it?”
“Time for breakfast. Get up.” She pulled the covers off her son.
“Oh, alright!” Pippin got up and got dressed.
When he walked into the dining room, he saw Merry sitting at the table talking cheerfully with his mother.
“Hello, Merry!” Pippin put his chair next to his cousin and sat next to
him. “Are we going to do anything today? Can we go play in the fields?
Can we play a game? Can we...?”
“Pippin! Please! Let me eat. I have plans all set for today.” Merry
sighed and shook his head. He loved Pippin but he could be trying at
times.
Pippin’s smile vanished. “Sorry, Merry.” He quietly ate his breakfast.
Merry leaned over and whispered in his ear, “Don’t worry. You’re coming too.”
Pippin smiled again. “Where, Merry?”
“It’s a surprise. But it’s just you and me.”
“No parents?”
Merry looked at his mother and Aunt Tine. Both women nodded. “Yes, Pippin. No parents.”
Pippin smiled again. “When do we go?”
“When you finish breakfast.”
Pippin quickly finished his breakfast. “Done!”
Merry chuckled. “Well, go get your traveling cloak and met me outside.”
A short while later, the two hobbits were off. Little did Pippin know, they were headed to Bag End to visit Frodo Baggins.
“Well, Pippin. What do you have there?” Merry gestured at the small bundle Pippin held.
“Oh, just the presents I was going to give Frodo and Bilbo on my
birthday. We’re going to see them in a few days for their party. Mother
told me to bring it with me.”
“What did you get?” Merry asked as he guided the cart down the lane.
“I made them something.” Pippin ran his hand lightly over the bundle. “They aren’t very good. I doubt they’ll like them.”
“I’m sure they’ll like them. Now, what did you make?”
“I made them both new pipes. I broke their old ones last time I was there, remember?”
Merry remembered. Pippin had been five. He had beaten the pipes against
a pot, trying to make as much noise as possible. As a result both pipes
were shattered.
“Do you think they’re still mad at me?” Pippin looked up at Merry.
“Pippin, they weren’t mad to begin with. Remember? Bilbo laughed and
Frodo just smiled. They love you, Pippin and aren’t mad at you.”
“I’m sure they are and just didn’t want you to know. How could they not
be mad? Bilbo didn’t tell me any stories that night and Frodo didn’t
hug me good-bye the next day.”
“Pippin, it was late and you were just a little hobbit. You had a long
ride home the next day. As for Frodo, he was coming down with
something. He didn’t want you to catch it. You know how easily you get
sick.”
Pippin sighed. “I guess you’re right.” He slumped in his seat. He hated
the fact he always got sick. Once a year, around the same time in
March, he came down with something. He’d nearly died a few times. As a
result, most of his family was very cautious in exposing him to any
illness.
“Cheer up, Pip. We’ll be there soon.”
“Where are we going, Merry? Please tell me.” Pippin looked up as his cousin, his green eyes pleading.
“You’ll see, Pippin.”
Pippin looked out of the wagon at the passing countryside. He sighed.
He loved the beauty of the Shire and smiled at the passing trees. He
was lulled to sleep by the sights and smells of his home.
A few hours later, he was, once again, shaken awake.
“Pippin, we’re here.”
Pippin sat up and rubbed his eyes. “Where are we?” he said as he yawned.
“Guess,” said a voice that wasn’t Merry’s.
Pippin looked behind Merry. His face broke into a wide smile. “FRODO!” He launched himself at the older hobbit.
Frodo caught the boy and hugged him. “Hello, Pippin. I’m sorry I missed your birthday, but Bilbo was sick.”
“It’s alright, Frodo. I brought your gifts!” Pippin wiggled his way out
of Frodo’s arms. He jumped into the wagon again and got his bundle. “I
have one for you and one for Bilbo.”
Frodo smiled at his young cousin. He was almost twenty-nine, nearly of
age, yet spending time with his cousin, especially Merry and Pippin
made him feel 10 years younger.
He kneeled to Pippin’s level. “What did you get for me?”
“Nothing. I made something for you?”
“Alright then, what did you make for me.”
Pippin slowly opened his bundle. He pulled out a long wooden object. It
wasn’t smooth by any means, but it was quite obvious what the maker was
going for.
“Pippin,” Frodo took the pipe from his cousin. “Thank you.”
Pippin’s face lite up. “You really like it?”
“Of course I do! I love it. You made it, didn’t you?” Frodo pulled him in for a hug. “Come on inside. Bilbo has been waiting.”
The three cousins went inside Bag End.
“Uncle Bilbo! Merry and Pippin are here. Pippin’s brought his present for you, too.”
“Well, now.” An older hobbit came out of another room. “He did, did he.
Well come now and show your Uncle Bilbo what you’ve brought.”
Pippin stepped towards Bilbo, holding his bundle tightly in his hand.
“I...I made you this. To make up for the one I broke,” he said, holding
up the 2nd pipe.
Bilbo took it from the boy’s hand. “Well, this is masterful work for such a young hobbit. I thank you.”
Pippin smiled and hugged Bilbo. “I’m glad you like it. I was worried
you wouldn’t and that you were still mad at me for breaking the old
ones.”
“Pippin, that was almost two years ago! We weren’t mad at you. In fact,
I found it rather fortunate. I was looking to get rid of that old
thing.” Frodo kissed the chestnut curls.
Pippin smiled. “How long is it just us four? With none of my sisters around?”
Bilbo laughed. “The party is in a week. You family will be coming then.”
“A whole week without Pearl and Pervinca yelling at me?! You two don’t
have to worry about giving me a present at your party! That’s the best
gift ever!”
