To Capture the Heart of a Warrior

Chapter eight: Something Tookish






Aragorn and Legolas were suddenly interrupted in their lovemaking by a horrified shout from Boromir. They scrambled for their breeches and shirts, dressing on the run. The elf and the ranger tore around the rock face and through the brush that hid the little bower.

When they burst through the brush, their hearts leapt. Boromir was cradling the unconscious Pippin in his arms and patting the small, slack face, frantically calling Pippin’s name over and over. Aragorn grabbed a blanket and Boromir wrapped his Little One in it.

“Let me have him,” said the ranger, “I need to look at him. What happened?”

“I’m not sure. Nothing has ever happened like this before…I’ve never even heard of anything like this.”

“What happened, Boromir? Calm yourself, now. I need to know.”

Boromir’s head bowed and his massive shoulders shook as he strove to control himself. It was difficult to speak, but he finally got it all out. This was of no help at all to the ranger. Aragorn told Boromir to dress himself, as he needed to call upon Gandalf. Perhaps the wizard knew something of this kind of enchantment.

The two Men and the elf, with Boromir now carrying his Pippin, strode swiftly to where Gandalf lay sleeping and called the wizard. They lay Pippin in Gandalf’s arms and let him examine the unconscious halfling.

Gandalf was about to speak when a small voice interrupted the group. It was Merry. He rushed to Pippin’s side and took Pippin’s hand and kissed it. He called to Pippin gently. Merry seemed to be absolutely calm, as if he knew exactly what the problem was.

“Pippin? Come back, Pippin, you can come back now, dearest.” Merry called softly, as if speaking to a small child.

The results were astonishing. Pippin’s eyes fluttered open and he sat up in Gandalf’s lap. He looked horrified at first, then hung his head and began to weep.

Gandalf gently raised the wet little face with one hand and looked sternly at Pippin.

“Now, young Peregrin, you must tell us what this is all about. I have my suspicions, but it’s best if you tell us yourself. It will do you good to unburden your heart.”

Pippin’s eyes darted between Merry and Boromir, the two people in all the world that he most wanted to be with. Merry kissed his hand again.

“Pippin, I think you really ought to tell Boromir everything, now. You’ve frightened him half to death.” Merry said gently, “Don’t be an ass, now, dearest. I’m sure he won’t turn you away.”

Pippin looked at Merry for quite some time. Merry nodded his head in encouragement. “Go on, then, tell him.” Merry said with a reassuring smile.

Pippin looked up at Boromir. Boromir raised his brows with a thousand unspoken questions. Pippin held his arms out to Boromir as if to test him, to see if Boromir would hold him. Boromir, without even thinking, took Pippin in his arms and sat on the ground at Gandalf’s feet. He was still pale with worry, but he kissed Pippin’s cheek softly.

“Are you alright, now, my love?” asked Boromir.

Pippin nodded and curled up in Boromir’s arms. “I suppose I owe you an explanation.”

Boromir found he was chuckling with relief. “Merry is right, you little scamp, you scared me half to death. What was that, Pippin? Tell your Boromir, my sweet.”

Pippin sniffled and tears started anew from his eyes. “I was going to tell you, I was! I said I would after…you know…when I promised I’d tell you what I was holding back. That’s why I told you I couldn’t… go…again, you know, when we were… I was afraid this would happen, but then I just… couldn’t… Oh, you’re so hard to say no to!”

“Ssh, now, it’s alright, Little One. Just tell me. Gandalf is right, you need to unburden your heart. Besides, you don’t want to scare me again, the next time…”

It was a small jest, and a gentle one. It worked just fine, though, as Pippin now met Boromir’s eyes and he smiled a sad little smile. “It’s not going to be easy, Boromir, but I think you are up to the task. You already were quite aware we are two different races, after all.”

“Yes, Pippin, I’m quite aware of that, but I can scarcely see what our races have to do with it.” Boromir said with an air of confused amusement. “Now, will you please tell your Boromir what happened?”

“Well, I… Gandalf could tell you that we Tooks… well, shite!”

“What language!” Merry scolded. “I never raised you to talk like that, Peregrin Took!”

“I’m sorry, Merry, I should never want anyone to think badly of you because of me.”

Boromir felt a tug at his heart. The bond between these two was so special, so deep. He held out one hand to Merry. Merry took his hand, and Boromir drew Merry close. “Now, Pippin, look. Here we are; your best friend, and your lover. Can you not speak comfortably, now?”

Pippin looked at Boromir rather sheepishly. “Oh, alright! I have to tell you, and I was going to, but I hadn’t counted on an audience. I suppose everyone should know. Those stories about we Tooks being odd… they are true. We are odd. We’re odd because… well… those stories you hear about a Took having a fairy wife are true. There, I said it, I have fairy blood, now everyone knows.”

Boromir’s jaw went slack. Pippin looked rather peeved and placed his hand under Boromir’s jaw and shut it. He looked at Boromir rather testily.

Boromir’s head was spinning with all that had occurred, all he learned. He felt a little numb until he heard Gandalf laugh.

“Boromir, are you sure you are Man enough for this little rascal?” Gandalf asked. The wizard shook with laughter, and soon Legolas and Merry had joined in. Boromir looked about him. The only one not laughing was Aragorn, and he was studying Boromir with a most amused expression.

“By the Kindler!” said Boromir. “I’ve been enchanted by a fairy?”

“Oh, no you haven’t!” Pippin said. “You fell in love with a hobbit that just happens to have fairy blood. You didn’t get enchanted until…. well… you know. Now you know why I’ve not been able to keep a lover. They were all afraid of me. Are you going to be afraid of me, too?”

“They were afraid?” Boromir asked. He looked quite astonished. “They were afraid? Of that?”

“Aye.” Pippin said, and hung his head once more. He began to weep again.

Boromir put one finger under his chin and tipped his head up. “Look at me, Peregrin Took!” he said sternly. “If they were afraid of that… of that, of all things, then they were cowards and worse. They were fools! Do they not know what they could have had? Pippin, that was the most wonderful thing!”

Pippin looked at Boromir, barely believing his ears. “Do you mean that?” he asked.

Boromir kissed the tears from Pippin’s face. “You’re a fool to ask me that, Little One.”

Pippin threw his arms around Boromir’s neck, and to Boromir’s dismay, his Little One began to weep in earnest, now. Boromir held him and let him drench his shoulder with tears. He stroked Pippin’s curls gently and kissed the crown of his head. Gandalf placed a hand on Boromir’s shoulder and gave it an affectionate squeeze.

“You see, Pippin, not all tears are evil. Is it not a relief to unburden yourself?” asked the wizard.

Pippin didn’t raise his face, but nodded. Gradually his tears subsided.

“Now, if you are done flooding the campsite, Peregrin, may we all get a little rest? Have pity on an old man!” Gandalf smiled.

Pippin nodded again, and this time he looked at Gandalf and smiled. He reached out one hand, and took Gandalf’s hand in his own small one, and pressed it to his cheek. Gandalf let the hobbit hold his hand there a little while, then extracted it and patted Pippin on the head.

“Now off to bed with you!” the wizard said, “And by that, I mean to sleep, and no more. Understand that, Boromir.”

Boromir began to laugh his deep, rumbly laugh that Pippin so loved to hear. He rose, and walked back towards his bed, pulling Merry along with him as he carried Pippin in one arm.

“What are you doing?” Pippin asked.

“Well, my sweet, it’s been a bit of an upset for you. We’ll let Merry cuddle up with us for a while.”

“And Merry will go along with it this time,” Merry said. “But if you two get frisky, I’m leaving.”

Aragorn and Legolas watched the three vanish behind the screen of brush. They could hear the three settling in, and could plainly hear Pippin’s exhausted yawn.

“I have never heard such a small creature create such a ruckus in my several thousand years of life.”Legolas commented.

Aragorn slipped an arm around his waist and pulled him into an embrace as they walked back to their watch.

“Now, suppose we were to make a little ruckus of our own…” said the ranger.

They settled back down near the little bower. Just as Aragorn was pulling Legolas into a tight embrace, they heard Pippin’s voice say around a huge yawn, “Well, sweet boy, if you liked it that much, then you’ll just have to push me far enough so that it happens again.”

“Not tonight he won’t, Peregrin Took!” Merry asserted. “As much as I’d like to see you looking like your fairy ancestors, I will not be subjugated to such indecent behavior.”

‘Well, I never!” exclaimed Pippin.

“No, and you never will in front of anyone, my sweet!” Boromir rumbled.

“Erm, Pippin?” Merry said.

“What?”

“Please put your clothes on, I don’t care to lie next to a naked fairy.”

“Be quiet, you two! I hope this wasn’t a mistake, we’ll never get any sleep like this.” Boromir grumbled.

“Yes, we will,” Pippin said around another huge yawn. “There, now, I’m dressed. Boromir, I want you to hold me.” (This said rather petulantly). “Yes, that’s much better. Merry, he has the nicest hugs. Sleep well, Merry.”

“Sweet dreams, Pippin. Sweet dreams, Boromir.”

But they only got a deep, rumbling snore for an answer.

“See what you’ve done to the poor Man, Pippin?”

“Merry?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for coming along.”

“Your welcome, Pippin.”

“Good. Now be quiet and let’s get some sleep. Besides,” and now Pippin spoke quite deliberately loud, “That elf and that ranger can hear everything we say. Sleep well, Legolas, Aragorn! After you’ve done with each other, that is!”

“Why, that little scoundrel!” Aragorn said.

“Oh, be quiet!” Legolas answered, “Don’t you have more interesting things to do with your lips than talk?”

To Be Continued