All Things Sad Become Untrue

Sometimes, Pippin thought from his hidden perch amongst the tree branches, the world was just too big.  There were too  many noises, smells and people.  Too many hobbits asking after him, too many children wanting to hear another tale.  Too many, and too much of everyone knowing who he was. 

He shifted position, settling more comfortably on the large branch. The tree was so old and weathered that he could lay full out and still have a good bit of space to either side.  He cushioned his head with his arms, staring up into the night sky through the smaller branches above him.  A distant part of his mind pondered how very far up he was, but he felt no fear.

Ever since his many days with Treebeard, being up in the branches of a tree felt almost more comfortable to him than his burrow did some days.  Now that Merry was engaged, and Pippin could see himself following very soon with Diamond, the once cozy home now felt nearly stifling. 

He closed his eyes as he remembered the words of his friend, Oren, on the eve of his departure back to the Shire.  “People will ask questions that you won’t know how to answer. Many innocent sounds will put you on your guard, and places that made you feel safe before may now feel confining.  But in the end, the innocent sounds will stop being so alarming, and you will find new places to feel safe.”

Oren had been right, of course.  This perch he lay hidden upon was the closest he felt nowadays to the peace he had once experienced in the arms of an Ent.  With only the sky above him and the sound of leaves whispering their secrets, he felt as though he could breath.  He hoped that Merry had such a place, though if he did he had not confided it to him. That was only right, Pippin mused sleepily.  After all, no one knew of his secret, either.  It wouldn't be much of a secret if they did.

He idly wondered how Oren fared now.  His daughter would be taller than Pippin, though she had been but a wee babe when he left.  Did his wounds trouble him, as Pippin's did some days? 

Distantly, as his eyes closed and he felt his body go limp with approaching sleep, he wondered if Merry would be amenable to trip to the White City in the future.  He could bring his wife, and Pippin could bring Diamond, and introduce her to his friend.  Or perhaps they could go alone, just the two of them, and stop in the forest where trees had once walked. 

Finally succumbing to his exhaustion, Pippin drifted off.  If he dreamed that night amongst the trees and stars, he did not remember. 

This is for 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

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I have 2 hours to go, and things are going very slow.  What's going on with all of you?  Anything exciting happening? 

I bought Without a Clue and a book on the Victorian era in England.  Yes, yes I am obsessed.  But anyway, I'm kind of ticked because UPS didn't leave them.  I tracked the package and it said that a signature was required.  When did UPS start requiring a signature for items under 100$?  Grr.  Now I have to wait until tomorrow to try and contact them, and because I'm at work from 7-12, I really hope I don't miss them a second time. Stupid UPS.  Don't they understand I want my items?  Sheesh.  I'm debating leaving a note on my door: "Dear UPS guy/gal.  Please, please, please leave my package.  Really, I promise not to tell.  There may be a five dollar bill under the welcome mat."

Can you tell I'm going slightly stir crazy? 

Here, have a drabble!

"I am never, ever doing that again."
"That's what you said last time."
"I mean it this time!"
"You said that, as well."
"Merry, you are most unsympathetic friend."
"I would probably be much more so if you hadn't eaten the entire pie."
"But it was Sam's special strawberry!"
"I know!  And you didn't even save me a bite."
A long silence followed this pronouncement, followed by a deep, rumbling belch. 
"It was quite good."
Merry felt quite justified beating his cousin soundly about the head with his pillow. 

Good news: 

Things with Boy 1 and Boy 2 have been worked out.  Boy 1 was  not being drama king, but being very sweet friend who saw Boy 2 was interested and wanted to let him have his shot.  Of course, the way he went about it left something to be desired, but it's the thought that counts, right? 

Boy 2 is very sweet and has said he would like to continue dating.  I agreed, though am a bit leery.  It's been so long since I dated I'm not sure I'm really ready to trust someone again.  I want to take my time and get to know him, see how we click.  So far, he has been very sweet and geeky.  Boy 2, it turns out, has a physics degree, and is even geekier than me.  \0/

Had weekly meeting with boss and was told I was only the only member of my team that had reached the weekly goals this week.  Yay!  I got a reward of bubbles and a sticker, and she told me she was very impressed that my numbers are looking so good for only being on the floor for  a month.  My hopes of possibly being converted to full time regular are slightly better.

Mom came home from her vacation to CA.  She looked happy and had lots of stories, so I'm happy.

Bad news:


Broke the frames of my glasses today.  Lucky for me, Boy 2 was there and managed to glue them back together.  I have to go in tomorrow and try to get new frames, which hopefully won't cost an arm and a leg.  Sigh.  I guess that's what credit cards are for.  

Money is tight the next few weeks, so have to figure out a way to pay for glasses, car repair extra, insurance, rent, and groceries.  I suppose I can live off pasta, tuna and peas.  Top Ramen, I love you, but you have so much salt!  

That's about all I have for now.  Heading to bed, you all take care.  

This is for Shirebound. I know it's a day late, but it takes my creative juices a bit longer to flow these days. Enjoy, and I'm glad you had a great birthday!

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And here is part two of In a Heartbeat. Enjoy.

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Another story inspired by the Shire, also beta'ed by the wonderful, amazing, talented and very bestest of friends, Marigold! Enjoy!

Lullaby

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Whispers

Sometimes late at night, with the wind blowing sleepily through the window, I can hear the voices of the past. Whispers of friends and memories that fade with the light, leaving me to wonder what was dream and what...wasn’t.

Merry is sleeping soundly tonight, his snores comforting as any lullaby my mother had sung. It reminds me of long nights with no beds, and cold mornings chilling my nose. I used to hate how Boromir would shake my shoulder, his cheerful, "Time to get up, Little One," too loud in the sleepy dawn. I used to burry my head under the cloak and try to hide for a few more minutes, grumbling that he had no right to be so bloody cheerful.

Now I get up on my own in the mornings. And if the wind makes my eyes water as I watch the sunrise, well, I'm on my own for that, as well.

Merry has been spending a lot of time with Estella. We used to watch the sunrise together, but lately he's been coming in later and later, or staying over with Fatty. I can't begrudge him this. I won't. But that doesn't mean I don't sleep very well without him beside me.
I think Frodo understands. He doesn't sleep very well, either, and sometimes we'll sit by the fire as the stars fade, waiting for the rest of the world to wake, smoking our pipes and not saying anything.

When Sam wanders in, grinning from ear to ear and rosy cheeked, I turn my eyes and gaze out the window.

Merry mentioned that Diamond Took has been asking Estella about me. He gets a wicket grin on his face whenever he mentions her, and yesterday he poked me with his toe as we were eating bread with jam.

"Should I tell Estella to tell her you want to talk to her?" he asked, grinning that same grin that Sam had, waggling his eyebrows.

I shrugged, stuffing the rest of the bread into my mouth before giving a nod. I knew it would make him happy, and Merry being happy always made the little knot in my throat go away for a bit.

We're staying over at Bag End tonight, since Sam and Rosie are going to be celebrating their one year anniversary tomorrow. Frodo wanted to make a special day of it for them, and Merry and I agreed. Sam deserves all the happiness he can get. Still, I can't quite seem to get comfortable on the too small bed that used to be just right. There are no windows in this room, and I can't hear the whispers of the trees.

Not wanting to disturb Merry I climb out from under the covers, hearing an echo of Boromir's voice in the dying crackle of the fire.

"Better bundle up, Pippin. The morning looks to be cold, and you don't want to catch sick."

I take his advice and wrap a blanket around my shoulders.

"Don't forget your head," Gimli's voice reminds me gruffly. "Little thing like you, all your heat goes out your head without a proper beard to keep it in."

I tug the blanket over my head as well, wandering out to the kitchen to uncover the coals and start a small fire. I set the kettle on to boil, making sure it doesn't whistle and wake everyone. Frodo always has the best tea, and I pour myself a big mug of it and make my way out to the garden.

At first I don't see him, as he is wearing his cloak from the Quest and sitting quietly off to the side. Then I feel his eyes on me and turn, meeting his gaze with my own.

"The stars are starting to fade," Frodo whispers softly, pulling his cloak aside a little in invitation.

I join him, wrapping my blanket around his shoulders and snuggle into his side.

The wind must have picked up about then, because as the first pink of dawn touched the sky, both of us had tears on our cheeks.

This is for Shirebound. Just becuase.

A soft touch upon his arm brought Aragorn awake quickly, reflexes honed by years of strugle and terror moving his body before he was even completely awake. He blinked for a moment at the small figure sitting beside him, the shadows cast by the fire hiding the expression on the youngest hobbit's face.

"Is something wrong, Pippin?" Aragorn asked softly, looking about the room as he tried to get his barings back. They were in Gondor, he recalled, still slighlty dazed with sleep. In his common room, where Pippin had fallen asleep well before the others had claimed drowsiness. None had had the heart to move him,and Aragorn had not even realized he had succumbed to slumber while reading until Pippin had touched him.

Pippin shook his head, climbing slowly onto the divan to sit beside his King, laying his head in Aragorn's lap as he yawned. "I didn't want you to get a crick in your neck."

Placing a hand to Pippin's head, Aragorn smiled down at the mop of brown curls.

"Thank you," he whispered. "I suppose we should both retire for the night, hmmmm?"

Pippin nodded, though he gave no indication of relinquishing his spot, and it was only with a mighty effort that Aragorn refrained from chuckling. Slowly he moved his legs so that he could reposition his lanky form, drawing Pippin up to his chest as he assumed a more comfortable position.

"Good night, Little Bird," he whispered, allowing his eyes to close as the comfort of sleep stole up on him once more.

"Night, Strider," Pippin whispered.

Soon, only the sound of their soft breathing and the slightly crackling of the fire filled the room.

In a Heartbeat: Epilogue
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