Another story
Mar. 17th, 2006 09:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
piploverAnother story inspired by the Shire, also beta'ed by the wonderful, amazing, talented and very bestest of friends, Marigold! Enjoy!
Lullaby
The Autumn night was chilly, with the whisper of a breeze floating in through the bedroom window, cracked open just enough that Pippin did not feel stifled. The small fire that was burning cheerily in the fireplace cast shadows on the walls, and the familiar pops and crackles should have been a reassuring sound.
Pippin muffled another yawn and turned once more on his bed, beating his pillow with more force than he had intended as he tried to get comfortable. Down the hall he could hear Merry snoring blissfully, the sound soothing as much as annoying in its reminder of Pippin’s insomnia.
He shifted again, trying to find a position that did not irritate his complaining knee, and sighed. Three nights with almost no sleep, and he found himself grumpy and irritable. He would probably hide out in his room tomorrow, or go for a long walk if his knee would let him, so that he would not inflict his bad mood on Merry, who actually seemed to be in quite good spirits these past few weeks.
The fire crackled, emitting a rather loud pop that had Pippin jerking involuntarily, feeling wound tighter than a pocket watch. Nearly snarling with frustration, he threw his covers back and staggered from the bed, snatching the pitcher of water from his washstand and pouring it over the fire, earning a hiss and a face full of steam.
He made certain the coals were banked, then climbed back into bed, drawing the blankets about himself once more and burrowing into the soft feather mattress. The pillow cradled his head gently, and now that the fire had been silenced, the gentle murmurs of the trees outside his window seemed to surround him.
For a long time he lay there, not quite dozing, but not truly awake, either. The chill from outside felt good against his nose and cheeks, while the rest of his body was warm and comfortably encased in his blankets.
He found himself listening to the brush of leaf against leaf, the small sighs of branches bending and the slight groan of trees swaying. It reminded him of Treebeard’s comforting presence, and he could almost imagine once more being carried in that strong grip, feeling the gentle swaying and rocking of the Ent’s smooth gait.
“Sleep, little hobbits, hoom, humph,” he could hear, like a whisper that encased his whole body with its vibration. “Sleeping is wonderful, hooooom, no haste and worry.”
The leaves rustled, and groaned, and sighed, and Pippin found himself being carried once more, cradled in that strong arm, rocked into a sleep so deep he did not dream.
***
He awoke slowly, lazily, enjoying the feel of warm blankets tucked up to his chin, and his nose slightly chilled. He found himself smiling, eyes still closed, and fought the little urge to laugh, simply because he could. He felt….he felt good.
He opened his eyes, squinting slightly in the light of late morning, and grinned around a yawn. He could not remember the last time he had slept so soundly or deeply. Sitting, stretching his arms over his head in a motion that seemed to involve his whole body, he paused at the sound of crackling that came from his lap.
He slowly lowered his arms and looked down, uncertain if his eyes were playing tricks on him until he reached a hand tentatively toward the bright splotches of colour that rested happily on his grey blanket.
Several leaves of varying colours and sizes rested on the blanket, vibrant and cheerful in their Autumn tones. He stared for a moment before looking about on the floor, thinking a gust of wind must have carried them in through the window, but found the floor and windowsill empty.
Smiling, he caressed the leaves gently, and placed them one by one on the night table. Then he climbed out of bed and headed toward the kitchen. He was humming happily as he entered, thinking of tea and breakfast and wondering if he could convince Merry to go for a walk with him.
After all, it was a wonderful day, and he was in a wonderful mood.
Lullaby
The Autumn night was chilly, with the whisper of a breeze floating in through the bedroom window, cracked open just enough that Pippin did not feel stifled. The small fire that was burning cheerily in the fireplace cast shadows on the walls, and the familiar pops and crackles should have been a reassuring sound.
Pippin muffled another yawn and turned once more on his bed, beating his pillow with more force than he had intended as he tried to get comfortable. Down the hall he could hear Merry snoring blissfully, the sound soothing as much as annoying in its reminder of Pippin’s insomnia.
He shifted again, trying to find a position that did not irritate his complaining knee, and sighed. Three nights with almost no sleep, and he found himself grumpy and irritable. He would probably hide out in his room tomorrow, or go for a long walk if his knee would let him, so that he would not inflict his bad mood on Merry, who actually seemed to be in quite good spirits these past few weeks.
The fire crackled, emitting a rather loud pop that had Pippin jerking involuntarily, feeling wound tighter than a pocket watch. Nearly snarling with frustration, he threw his covers back and staggered from the bed, snatching the pitcher of water from his washstand and pouring it over the fire, earning a hiss and a face full of steam.
He made certain the coals were banked, then climbed back into bed, drawing the blankets about himself once more and burrowing into the soft feather mattress. The pillow cradled his head gently, and now that the fire had been silenced, the gentle murmurs of the trees outside his window seemed to surround him.
For a long time he lay there, not quite dozing, but not truly awake, either. The chill from outside felt good against his nose and cheeks, while the rest of his body was warm and comfortably encased in his blankets.
He found himself listening to the brush of leaf against leaf, the small sighs of branches bending and the slight groan of trees swaying. It reminded him of Treebeard’s comforting presence, and he could almost imagine once more being carried in that strong grip, feeling the gentle swaying and rocking of the Ent’s smooth gait.
“Sleep, little hobbits, hoom, humph,” he could hear, like a whisper that encased his whole body with its vibration. “Sleeping is wonderful, hooooom, no haste and worry.”
The leaves rustled, and groaned, and sighed, and Pippin found himself being carried once more, cradled in that strong arm, rocked into a sleep so deep he did not dream.
***
He awoke slowly, lazily, enjoying the feel of warm blankets tucked up to his chin, and his nose slightly chilled. He found himself smiling, eyes still closed, and fought the little urge to laugh, simply because he could. He felt….he felt good.
He opened his eyes, squinting slightly in the light of late morning, and grinned around a yawn. He could not remember the last time he had slept so soundly or deeply. Sitting, stretching his arms over his head in a motion that seemed to involve his whole body, he paused at the sound of crackling that came from his lap.
He slowly lowered his arms and looked down, uncertain if his eyes were playing tricks on him until he reached a hand tentatively toward the bright splotches of colour that rested happily on his grey blanket.
Several leaves of varying colours and sizes rested on the blanket, vibrant and cheerful in their Autumn tones. He stared for a moment before looking about on the floor, thinking a gust of wind must have carried them in through the window, but found the floor and windowsill empty.
Smiling, he caressed the leaves gently, and placed them one by one on the night table. Then he climbed out of bed and headed toward the kitchen. He was humming happily as he entered, thinking of tea and breakfast and wondering if he could convince Merry to go for a walk with him.
After all, it was a wonderful day, and he was in a wonderful mood.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-03-18 08:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-18 08:09 am (UTC)I love, also, the description of how he curls back up, and then begans to hear the "lullaby" of the trees--or maybe an Entwife?
I've always thought the "ent-draught" would have left a sign of some sort on our lads, that would reveal itself to the trees when they went in among them, and this account hints at that in a very clever way.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-18 12:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-18 02:37 pm (UTC)The leaves rustled, and groaned, and sighed, and Pippin found himself being carried once more, cradled in that strong arm, rocked into a sleep so deep he did not dream.
Oh Pip, how lovely! May we all wake in such joy and peace.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-18 04:14 pm (UTC)GT
no subject
Date: 2006-03-20 10:51 pm (UTC)Harrowcat.