A Hobbit Tale
Aug. 21st, 2010 02:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
piploverThis is for ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
shirebound , who purchased a story from me for the Help_Haiti fundraiser. Sorry it's taken so long, sweetie, and I hope you enjoy!
Title: Tea With the King
Rating: G
Pairing: None
Word Count: 1220
Summary: What the title says
Disclaimer: I don't own.
Tea With the King
If there was one thing that Pippin missed the most (besides his bed, his favorite blanket, and his pillow) it was having time to truly enjoy Tea. Breakfast was wonderful, and so was elevensies. Lunch was an all right meal, though one that was more often than not hastily eaten before getting back to the business of the day.
But Tea? It was that magical time before dinner, before supper, when the world just seemed to slow and everyone put their feet up for a moment. When Merry visited, no matter how busy the two of them had been (and with Merry growing up and taking over more tasks for his Da, he had been busy indeed) they had almost always managed to enjoy Tea together.
The Journey, with all its trials and horrors, had done its best to erase those memories. There had been no time for Tea, or even tea to be had, while they were fleeing, and after leaving the elves… Well, it may have been fun at first, adventuring, but Pippin had not known then what awaited them.
And then there had been running, and the fear, and poor Boromir –
Pippin closed his eyes, shifted his stance a bit, and sighed softly as he listened to another report about horse grain and supplies. It didn’t seem to matter that Aragorn had not been crowned yet. With an army still camped below the White City, there were far too many tasks to be accomplished to wait for such a formal acknowledgment. And Faramir did not seem to mind allowing the older man to take on so many of the tasks, which Pippin really couldn’t blame him for.
With Gandalf off doing wizardly things, and Gimli and Legolas out wandering with Frodo and Sam, enjoying the sunshine and the few shops which had survived the siege, there was very little distraction to be had. And Merry? He was with his own King, taking care of his duties as was proper and right, just as Pippin was standing beside Aragorn, waiting to be used for whatever purpose the future-King might need.
Still… He did miss Tea.
The report finally came to an end, the Men nodding their heads wisely and murmuring amongst themselves over the importance of what had just been said. Pippin stifled a yawn and shifted a bit, his knee beginning to ach. The guard stood next to him did the same, and they shared a quick, private smile.
“I think it is time for a break,” Aragorn’s deep voice pronounced, and both hobbit and man turned their attention back to their charge guiltily. “Let us retire for now, and pick this up after supper. Agreed?”
The assent was given around the table, and quicker than Pippin would have thought the room was nearly cleared, save for Aragorn and Faramir, who had remained behind to question the other about one of the points brought up.
The murmurs were too quiet to be made out, their heads close together as Faramir nodded and Aragorn clapped his shoulder companionably before gently pushing him towards the door.
“Go, enjoy the sun,” he said in his normal tone, smiling at Faramir’s thankful grin. “And you,” Aragorn added, turning his attention to the two guards who stood behind him. “Marrak, I heard your sister was doing much better. The healers will let you sit with her if you so wish.”
Marrak’s expression was so thankful that Pippin could not help his own smile. He watched fondly as the giant man bowed hastily before taking off to the healer’s wing, then turned expectantly to his friend, waiting his orders.
“And how would you feel about having some tea with me?” Aragorn asked, his grin softening as he turned his attention to his smallest of guards.
“That sounds lovely!” Pippin agreed, and fell in easily to the King’s left, chattering as the two of them made their way through the battle scarred hallways.
“…and then Gandalf took him by the ear and led him away, leaving poor Bilbo with twenty guests and no cheese!” Pippin finished as they entered the King’s chamber, grinning as Aragorn laughed.
“I’m certain Frodo did not make that mistake again,” he said as the two of them took seats easily on the large, soft chairs which Pippin always privately thought could be a bed if one curled up just right.
“No, he most certainly did not!” Pippin agreed, and sighed as he settled into the seat, his legs sticking out from the cushion, eyeing the room curiously.
The companions had spent many nights tucked up safely in these rooms as the world slowly settled about them, but rarely had Pippin seen it with the sun streaming in through the wide open balcony doors.
A knock signaled a servant bearing a tea-trolley, and after a few moments of preparation they both sat back with identical sighs.
“I was just thinking how much I missed this,” Pippin admitted, sipping his drink carefully.
“I know,” Aragorn agreed mysteriously, smiling at the other’s suspicious frown. “You mentioned it yesterday, during the last break. I think we’ve all been missing a bit of normalcy.”
Pippin nodded thoughtfully as he reached for one of the orange biscuits that were his favorite.
“What do you miss most?” he finally asked after several moments of companionable silence.
“My blue robe,” Aragorn answered immediately, earning a quickly stifled giggle. He mock scowled at the little hobbit, earning another laugh for his effort.
“It’s a very soft robe, and I’ve had it for several years. Whenever I put it on, it reminds me that I need to take time to enjoy the simple things in my life,” Aragorn confided.
Pippin nodded in understanding.
“I miss my pillow,” he sighed, looking out the doors to the blue sky, the hint of green far below a sign that the world was finally returning to normal. “And my blanket. “
“You’ll be back to them soon,” Aragorn assured softly, reaching out to lay a hand gently on Pippin’s head, ruffling his hair. “Just think how much more you’ll enjoy them when you get home.”
Pippin nodded, closing his eyes as a wave of longing rushed over him, almost overpowering in its strength. “I don’t think hobbits were meant to travel for very long,” he whispered before hastily shoving another pastry into his mouth, this one sweet and filled with blackberry jam.
He licked his fingers unselfconsciously, concentrating on the flavor rather than the way the sweet stuck around the lump in his throat.
“No,“ the King agreed softly, sitting back and drinking his own tea. “But you shall have many stories to tell your children one day.”
“They shan’t believe half of them,” Pippin grumbled, though he could not refrain from smiling for long. “Did I ever tell you about the time Frodo came to visit and had to have his head shaved?”
Aragorn’s laughter was deep and filled with humor as he shook his head, pulling his leg up onto the chair as he retrieved a jam filled pastry for himself.
“Ohhh, he was a mess!” Pippin began, his arms waving as he launched into the tale, eyes alight with the memory and his friend’s appreciative laughter.
Outside, as the sun shone on the White City, a gentle breeze carried the scent of new-blossoming flowers into the room, and the two friends talked well into the afternoon, enjoying the rare moment of calm.
Perhaps it had not been the Tea that Pippin had longed for, but like so many memories from the Quest, it was one he would cherish for the rest of his days. And perhaps, once he was snuggled safe back home, wrapped in his blankets, he may even find himself longing for another Tea with his King.
shirebound , who purchased a story from me for the Help_Haiti fundraiser. Sorry it's taken so long, sweetie, and I hope you enjoy!Title: Tea With the King
Rating: G
Pairing: None
Word Count: 1220
Summary: What the title says
Disclaimer: I don't own.
Tea With the King
If there was one thing that Pippin missed the most (besides his bed, his favorite blanket, and his pillow) it was having time to truly enjoy Tea. Breakfast was wonderful, and so was elevensies. Lunch was an all right meal, though one that was more often than not hastily eaten before getting back to the business of the day.
But Tea? It was that magical time before dinner, before supper, when the world just seemed to slow and everyone put their feet up for a moment. When Merry visited, no matter how busy the two of them had been (and with Merry growing up and taking over more tasks for his Da, he had been busy indeed) they had almost always managed to enjoy Tea together.
The Journey, with all its trials and horrors, had done its best to erase those memories. There had been no time for Tea, or even tea to be had, while they were fleeing, and after leaving the elves… Well, it may have been fun at first, adventuring, but Pippin had not known then what awaited them.
And then there had been running, and the fear, and poor Boromir –
Pippin closed his eyes, shifted his stance a bit, and sighed softly as he listened to another report about horse grain and supplies. It didn’t seem to matter that Aragorn had not been crowned yet. With an army still camped below the White City, there were far too many tasks to be accomplished to wait for such a formal acknowledgment. And Faramir did not seem to mind allowing the older man to take on so many of the tasks, which Pippin really couldn’t blame him for.
With Gandalf off doing wizardly things, and Gimli and Legolas out wandering with Frodo and Sam, enjoying the sunshine and the few shops which had survived the siege, there was very little distraction to be had. And Merry? He was with his own King, taking care of his duties as was proper and right, just as Pippin was standing beside Aragorn, waiting to be used for whatever purpose the future-King might need.
Still… He did miss Tea.
The report finally came to an end, the Men nodding their heads wisely and murmuring amongst themselves over the importance of what had just been said. Pippin stifled a yawn and shifted a bit, his knee beginning to ach. The guard stood next to him did the same, and they shared a quick, private smile.
“I think it is time for a break,” Aragorn’s deep voice pronounced, and both hobbit and man turned their attention back to their charge guiltily. “Let us retire for now, and pick this up after supper. Agreed?”
The assent was given around the table, and quicker than Pippin would have thought the room was nearly cleared, save for Aragorn and Faramir, who had remained behind to question the other about one of the points brought up.
The murmurs were too quiet to be made out, their heads close together as Faramir nodded and Aragorn clapped his shoulder companionably before gently pushing him towards the door.
“Go, enjoy the sun,” he said in his normal tone, smiling at Faramir’s thankful grin. “And you,” Aragorn added, turning his attention to the two guards who stood behind him. “Marrak, I heard your sister was doing much better. The healers will let you sit with her if you so wish.”
Marrak’s expression was so thankful that Pippin could not help his own smile. He watched fondly as the giant man bowed hastily before taking off to the healer’s wing, then turned expectantly to his friend, waiting his orders.
“And how would you feel about having some tea with me?” Aragorn asked, his grin softening as he turned his attention to his smallest of guards.
“That sounds lovely!” Pippin agreed, and fell in easily to the King’s left, chattering as the two of them made their way through the battle scarred hallways.
“…and then Gandalf took him by the ear and led him away, leaving poor Bilbo with twenty guests and no cheese!” Pippin finished as they entered the King’s chamber, grinning as Aragorn laughed.
“I’m certain Frodo did not make that mistake again,” he said as the two of them took seats easily on the large, soft chairs which Pippin always privately thought could be a bed if one curled up just right.
“No, he most certainly did not!” Pippin agreed, and sighed as he settled into the seat, his legs sticking out from the cushion, eyeing the room curiously.
The companions had spent many nights tucked up safely in these rooms as the world slowly settled about them, but rarely had Pippin seen it with the sun streaming in through the wide open balcony doors.
A knock signaled a servant bearing a tea-trolley, and after a few moments of preparation they both sat back with identical sighs.
“I was just thinking how much I missed this,” Pippin admitted, sipping his drink carefully.
“I know,” Aragorn agreed mysteriously, smiling at the other’s suspicious frown. “You mentioned it yesterday, during the last break. I think we’ve all been missing a bit of normalcy.”
Pippin nodded thoughtfully as he reached for one of the orange biscuits that were his favorite.
“What do you miss most?” he finally asked after several moments of companionable silence.
“My blue robe,” Aragorn answered immediately, earning a quickly stifled giggle. He mock scowled at the little hobbit, earning another laugh for his effort.
“It’s a very soft robe, and I’ve had it for several years. Whenever I put it on, it reminds me that I need to take time to enjoy the simple things in my life,” Aragorn confided.
Pippin nodded in understanding.
“I miss my pillow,” he sighed, looking out the doors to the blue sky, the hint of green far below a sign that the world was finally returning to normal. “And my blanket. “
“You’ll be back to them soon,” Aragorn assured softly, reaching out to lay a hand gently on Pippin’s head, ruffling his hair. “Just think how much more you’ll enjoy them when you get home.”
Pippin nodded, closing his eyes as a wave of longing rushed over him, almost overpowering in its strength. “I don’t think hobbits were meant to travel for very long,” he whispered before hastily shoving another pastry into his mouth, this one sweet and filled with blackberry jam.
He licked his fingers unselfconsciously, concentrating on the flavor rather than the way the sweet stuck around the lump in his throat.
“No,“ the King agreed softly, sitting back and drinking his own tea. “But you shall have many stories to tell your children one day.”
“They shan’t believe half of them,” Pippin grumbled, though he could not refrain from smiling for long. “Did I ever tell you about the time Frodo came to visit and had to have his head shaved?”
Aragorn’s laughter was deep and filled with humor as he shook his head, pulling his leg up onto the chair as he retrieved a jam filled pastry for himself.
“Ohhh, he was a mess!” Pippin began, his arms waving as he launched into the tale, eyes alight with the memory and his friend’s appreciative laughter.
Outside, as the sun shone on the White City, a gentle breeze carried the scent of new-blossoming flowers into the room, and the two friends talked well into the afternoon, enjoying the rare moment of calm.
Perhaps it had not been the Tea that Pippin had longed for, but like so many memories from the Quest, it was one he would cherish for the rest of his days. And perhaps, once he was snuggled safe back home, wrapped in his blankets, he may even find himself longing for another Tea with his King.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2010-08-21 09:31 pm (UTC)“You’ll be back to them soon,” Aragorn assured softly, reaching out to lay a hand gently on Pippin’s head, ruffling his hair.
Ohhh, this is so dear! You have no idea how many times I re-read your stories, and to get a new one is as much a treat for me as a blackberry jam pastry and a bit of relaxed companionship with his King is for Pippin. (And Aragorn enjoyed this just as much as Pippin, I'm sure.)
Thank you so much, my dear friend. I know you lost this story once due to a computer failure, and the fact that you had to write it all over again makes it even more precious.
*tight, loving hugs*
no subject
Date: 2010-08-22 11:22 pm (UTC)*Hugs*
no subject
Date: 2010-08-21 09:51 pm (UTC)Perhaps it had not been the Tea that Pippin had longed for, but like so many memories from the Quest, it was one he would cherish for the rest of his days. And perhaps, once he was snuggled safe back home, wrapped in his blankets, he may even find himself longing for another Tea with his King.
That's the dichotomy of what the Quest did to the hobbits-- they have a home and family in the Shire, but now they also have another "home" and another "family" in the Wide World as well. And glad as they'll be to get home, they will miss their Bigger friends immensely!
no subject
Date: 2010-08-22 11:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-21 10:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-22 11:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-21 10:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-22 01:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-22 11:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-22 11:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-22 02:50 am (UTC)Thank you for sharing, this was lovely.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-22 11:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-22 03:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-22 11:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-22 09:39 am (UTC)That's so sweet and lovely, dear. Thanks a lot for sharing!
no subject
Date: 2010-08-22 11:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-22 09:51 am (UTC)Saw the rec on Shirebound's LJ and enjoyed this very much.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-22 11:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-22 01:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-22 11:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-22 02:42 pm (UTC)Such a sweet tale, Pippen is right, there is nothing like a proper tea. It will not be too long before Pippen is on his way home to his pillow and blanket, hope Arwen remembers to bring Aragorns blue robe with her when she comes!
Lynda
no subject
Date: 2010-08-22 11:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-22 03:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-22 11:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-23 10:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-23 10:38 pm (UTC)