![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
A little ficlet
To all my friends out there, becuase I know I haven't been around much. I am so thankful for all your friendship, even if I don't say it often enough.
Also, Marigold, this is dedicated to you. Becuase you are my Merry.
Pippin lay quietly before the fireplace, watching in lethargic sleepiness as the flames crackled and spit. The blankets Merry had wrapped about him earlier in the evening were bunched around his shoulders, his head pillowed on his left arm.
He was thankful Merry had taken the offer of going to the pub with the others tonight. It was not very often Frodo drew himself out of his room and offered them a glimpse of his old self. Even Legolas had agreed to try a few pints, his mouth pinched in that fashion that meant he was trying to be stoic and do something he really rather would not.
Only Pippin had begged off, claiming exhaustion and an early shift in the morning. The others had been disappointed, but after assuring them several times that he would be fine, had left to enjoy the night.
The truth of the matter, however, was that Pippin just didn’t have the energy to be cheerful that night. His soul felt heavy, leaden with things he could not put a name to, and the thought of being in a crowded room made his spine tighten.
So he found himself here, laying on the hearth rug, bundled in warm blankets to stave off the slight chill of the night, watching the flames dance.
After a while his eyelids became heavy, his claimed exhaustion making itself real as his limbs became leaden. After a few moments, he allowed himself to surrender to the sweet pull of sleep.
***
He awoke slowly, lingering in that place between dreams and reality, where it was so easy to slip from one to the other. A scent tickled his nose, the smell of Old Toby and a hint of ale. His lips curled up as he recognized his Merry, moving about the room quietly.
“Should we move him?” Frodo’s soft voice asked, slightly muffled and off to the side.
“No, he looks comfy enough. Don’t worry, cousin, I’ll take care of him. You go see to Sam,” Merry answered, only a slight slurring of his words indicating he had been drinking. “He seemed rather –“
“Happy?” Frodo supplied, laughter tingeing his voice as Merry hesitated.
“Yes,” Merry agreed, snickering. “Go, take care of him before he wanders into the furniture. I’ll see to Pippin.”
“You always do,” Frodo murmured softly, fondly. “Good night, Merry.”
“Good night Frodo. Sleep well.”
There was a moment of muffled noises as Merry undressed quietly, the sound of water and splashing. Pippin felt his lips curl slightly at the familiar noises, allowing himself to drift back towards the peace that beckoned.
It felt like only a moment later when the body pressed up against him, warm and comforting as any guardian against the terrors of the night. Merry wrapped one hand around Pippin’s waist above the blankets, snuffling as he shifted into a comfortable position beside him.
Something tight caught in Pippin’s throat for a moment as his cousin settled, arranging blankets and such before drifting off. For a long moment he only sound in the room was that of their soft breathing and the crackling of the fire as it slowly died.
Moving his heavy hand, Pippin reached up and entwined his fingers with those of Merry’s, taking comfort in the familiar lines and creases.
This time, as he stared blurrily into the fading flames, the tears prickling his eyes and staining his cheeks had nothing to do with sorrow….and all to do with the love pressed tightly against him.
Also, Marigold, this is dedicated to you. Becuase you are my Merry.
Pippin lay quietly before the fireplace, watching in lethargic sleepiness as the flames crackled and spit. The blankets Merry had wrapped about him earlier in the evening were bunched around his shoulders, his head pillowed on his left arm.
He was thankful Merry had taken the offer of going to the pub with the others tonight. It was not very often Frodo drew himself out of his room and offered them a glimpse of his old self. Even Legolas had agreed to try a few pints, his mouth pinched in that fashion that meant he was trying to be stoic and do something he really rather would not.
Only Pippin had begged off, claiming exhaustion and an early shift in the morning. The others had been disappointed, but after assuring them several times that he would be fine, had left to enjoy the night.
The truth of the matter, however, was that Pippin just didn’t have the energy to be cheerful that night. His soul felt heavy, leaden with things he could not put a name to, and the thought of being in a crowded room made his spine tighten.
So he found himself here, laying on the hearth rug, bundled in warm blankets to stave off the slight chill of the night, watching the flames dance.
After a while his eyelids became heavy, his claimed exhaustion making itself real as his limbs became leaden. After a few moments, he allowed himself to surrender to the sweet pull of sleep.
***
He awoke slowly, lingering in that place between dreams and reality, where it was so easy to slip from one to the other. A scent tickled his nose, the smell of Old Toby and a hint of ale. His lips curled up as he recognized his Merry, moving about the room quietly.
“Should we move him?” Frodo’s soft voice asked, slightly muffled and off to the side.
“No, he looks comfy enough. Don’t worry, cousin, I’ll take care of him. You go see to Sam,” Merry answered, only a slight slurring of his words indicating he had been drinking. “He seemed rather –“
“Happy?” Frodo supplied, laughter tingeing his voice as Merry hesitated.
“Yes,” Merry agreed, snickering. “Go, take care of him before he wanders into the furniture. I’ll see to Pippin.”
“You always do,” Frodo murmured softly, fondly. “Good night, Merry.”
“Good night Frodo. Sleep well.”
There was a moment of muffled noises as Merry undressed quietly, the sound of water and splashing. Pippin felt his lips curl slightly at the familiar noises, allowing himself to drift back towards the peace that beckoned.
It felt like only a moment later when the body pressed up against him, warm and comforting as any guardian against the terrors of the night. Merry wrapped one hand around Pippin’s waist above the blankets, snuffling as he shifted into a comfortable position beside him.
Something tight caught in Pippin’s throat for a moment as his cousin settled, arranging blankets and such before drifting off. For a long moment he only sound in the room was that of their soft breathing and the crackling of the fire as it slowly died.
Moving his heavy hand, Pippin reached up and entwined his fingers with those of Merry’s, taking comfort in the familiar lines and creases.
This time, as he stared blurrily into the fading flames, the tears prickling his eyes and staining his cheeks had nothing to do with sorrow….and all to do with the love pressed tightly against him.
no subject
Moving his heavy hand, Pippin reached up and entwined his fingers with those of Merry’s, taking comfort in the familiar lines and creases.
I wish we could all have a friend as good as Merry to take care of us when our own souls become too heavy.
*loves this*
no subject
:D
no subject
I also liked the bit where Pippin's just lying there listening to his cousin's noises as he gets ready for bed - I've done that with my husband. It is particularly comforting to hear familiar routine. Nicely done!
no subject
((((((((Piplover)))))))
Thinking about you sweetie!
no subject
no subject
no subject
And it's good to see a post-Quest Frodo having a good time for a change. That's something we see altogether too little of.
But this, oh how lovely:
Something tight caught in Pippin’s throat for a moment as his cousin settled, arranging blankets and such before drifting off. For a long moment he only sound in the room was that of their soft breathing and the crackling of the fire as it slowly died.
Moving his heavy hand, Pippin reached up and entwined his fingers with those of Merry’s, taking comfort in the familiar lines and creases.
This time, as he stared blurrily into the fading flames, the tears prickling his eyes and staining his cheeks had nothing to do with sorrow….and all to do with the love pressed tightly against him.
I could wish to see a good deal more of your lovely fics, but it's always worth the wait when we do get them!!
no subject
no subject
Thank you SO much for dedicating it to me, and for letting me be your Merry!
I especially loved the same part that Dreamflower quoted above:
Thank you SO much for dedicating it to me, and for letting me be your Merry!
I especially loved the same part that Dreamflower quoted above:
<i><Something tight caught in Pippin’s throat for a moment as his cousin settled, arranging blankets and such before drifting off. For a long moment he only sound in the room was that of their soft breathing and the crackling of the fire as it slowly died.
Moving his heavy hand, Pippin reached up and entwined his fingers with those of Merry’s, taking comfort in the familiar lines and creases.
This time, as he stared blurrily into the fading flames, the tears prickling his eyes and staining his cheeks had nothing to do with sorrow….and all to do with the love pressed tightly against him./i>
And you will notice how many folks said here that they wished you wuld write more! Send me back those stories that I had sent you so long ago! There was very little to be done on a couple of them, and they will be ready for posting. I especially want to see Merry's feet, and the Gimli and Pippin stories posted! And I am so eager to see what you have written on the Bath Fic... : )
((((Piplover))))
no subject
no subject
(Anonymous) 2006-01-31 03:40 am (UTC)(link)no subject