Story Downloaded from Open Scrolls Archive (https://www.openscrolls.net)

Title: Life is What Happens (#21)
Author: Kate
Chapters: 6

Archive: Tolkien
Category: Lord of the Rings
Description: Story about Pippin in his youth, especially at Bilbo's birthday party. Also includes the secret romance between Samwise Gamgee and Pervinca Took *WIP*
Published: 13 May 2003
Updated: 22 Nov 2003
Warnings:
Type: Action/adventure
Characters: Peregrin Took; Pervinca Took; Samwise Gamgee


Chapter 1 - A Bit of Tookish History

The following tale was composed by Faramir Took I, only son of Thain Peregrin I, being aided by his wife, Goldilocks Gamgee, daughter of Master Samwise. It was not included in the Red Book. Instead, it was a part of a collection of tales, mostly composed by the children of Samwise, Peregrin and Meriadoc. The title of this collection was: "The Ring-bearer and His Companions in their Earlier Years".
It is believed that, for the most part, Faramir wished to describe the antics of his father during his childhood, especially around the time of the Farewell/Birthday Party of Bilbo Baggins. This desire came from the fact that very little was told of Peregrin, Meriadoc, Samwise and Frodo before their Quest; and being the only son of Peregrin, Faramir felt it his duty to tell his father’s tale.
However, the tale turned out to be more than just a story about Peregrin. Faramir wished his story to be as accurate as possible, so he (along with Goldilocks) interviewed Peregrin, Meriadoc, Samwise, Rose (wife of Samwise), and many other guests of the Party, including Peregrin’s sisters, Pearl, Pimpernel and Pervinca.
When he began writing his story, Faramir never expected to find that there had been a previous ‘link’ between the families of Took and Gamgee. Thus, Faramir Took’s story about his father’s childhood became the only one to tell the Tale of Samwise Gamgee and Pervinca Took (it is, perhaps, because of this link that Samwise was at first against the marriage of Goldilocks and Faramir [see "Watch the Clouds Go Sailing By"]). It was never written in full, simply becoming a part of "The Ring-bearer and His Companions in their Earlier Years: Peregrin Took and the Farewell Party of Bilbo Baggins". Eventually, to make it known that their story was also told within this tale, Pervinca and Samwise asked for the title to be altered to "The Ring-bearer and His Companions in their Earlier Years: Peregrin Took and the Farewell Party of Bilbo Baggins (including the Tale of Samwise and Pervinca). For convenience, and interest, sakes, I have once again altered the title, but no alteration has occurred in the translation of the tale.
Life is What Happens
Or "The Ring-bearer and His Companions in their Earlier Years: Peregrin Took and the Farewell Party of Bilbo Baggins (including the Tale of Samwise and Pervinca)
"Life is what happens to you, while you’re busy making other plans…"
-John Lennon, "Beautiful Boy"
Prologue: A Bit of Tookish History
Paladin Took the Second was quite typical of his family – meaning that, as a younger hobbit, he was a known nuisance, and was more often than not in trouble of some sort. He was the only son of Adalgrim Took, with three elder sisters and one younger; thus, he spent much of his free time with his second cousin Adelard, and occasionally, Ferumbras, who was heir to the Thainship of the Shire. For this, Paladin envied Ferumbras, even though the title of Thain had diminished to little more than a nominal dignity.
But hope grew in Paladin, for Ferumbras was nearly twenty years his senior, and he had not yet married. If Ferumbras was without an heir when he died, the Thainship would pass to the first grandson of Hildegrim Took (forth son of the Old Took). And that was Paladin.
Paladin, however, soon stopped thinking about his possible Thainship, for other thoughts had entered his mind. He, himself, had found a suitable wife in a hobbitess whom he adored. So, in the Spring of 1373, Paladin Took wedded Eglantine Banks. The two had known each other since they were tweenagers, and their friendship had grown to affection. Hobbits from all over the Shire agreed that the union was a perfect one, as far as wealthiness went, if nothing else. For the Bankses, though nowhere near the Tooks in fame or wealth, were one of the Shire’s richer families.
Nearly two years later, the first child of Paladin and Eglantine was born – a daughter whom they named Pearl. She was a pretty baby, and grew to be a fair hobbit-maiden.
When Pearl was four years old, Eglantine gave birth to a second daughter, Pimpernel. So alike to her sister she was that, had they been closer in age, one might easily mistake them for twins.
Even though his cousin had married, and now had two daughters, Ferumbras still showed no sign of settling down himself. And in the next year, Fortinbras II, the current Thain and father of Ferumbras, died. Ferumbras III was now the Thain of the Shire.
That same year (1380), Paladin’s youngest sister, Esmeralda, moved to Buckland, and married Saradoc Brandybuck. Paladin grieved for the ‘loss’ of his most beloved sister, but was equally happy for her, as Saradoc was a worthy and noble hobbit.
Ferumbras openly stated that that he had no desire to be married, and named Paladin his heir, and next in line for the Thainship.
Two years later, something happened that brought worry to Paladin’s mind. Esmeralda bore for Saradoc a son, Meriadoc, though he was forever called Merry. If Paladin remained, as Ferumbras, without an heir, Meriadoc would become the Thain after him. Though he dearly loved his nephew, Paladin did not wish for the Thainship to leave the Took line and return to the Brandybucks (the office of the Thain had passed to the Tooks from the Oldbucks, who renamed themselves Brandybuck).
Paladin’s worry was not subdued when Eglantine gave birth to a third daughter. Pervinca, they called her, six years younger than her closest sister, and no less fair than either of them.
Over the next few years, Paladin’s anxiety grew and grew. The only comfort he found was while visiting his cousin Bilbo Baggins, at his home in Hobbiton. Bilbo had an uncanny resistance to age, and Paladin loved to visit him, for he felt that Bilbo was more than half-Took. He had gone on an ‘adventure’, something rare for any hobbit, and even rarer for a Baggins. Paladin would listen to Bilbo’s tales for hours, and Bilbo was happy to have an appreciative audience.
Paladin was present for Bilbo’s announcement that he was to adopt Frodo Baggins as his heir. Frodo came from Buckland, where his mother was born, a young cousin of Saradoc Brandybuck. Paladin’s anxiety trebled, as he saw another son-less hobbit adopt a distant heir.
In his fit of worry, Paladin was unaware that his wife was yet again pregnant. He did not realise until just ere the child was born. And with the birth, all of Paladin’s fear was at last quelled. For it was a son. Peregrin, they named him.
When he was only one year old, Peregrin earned himself a nick-name, one that was less obvious in origin than that if his cousin Meriadoc. One morning, neither if his parents could find him. They searched all of the Great Smials, and finally found him in the kitchen, asleep in a basket of pippin apples. From that they forth, the young Took was referred to as Pippin, more than he was, Peregrin. And as he grew, the name became more fitting, for he developed rosy red cheeks, like apples.
Like most of his kinsmen before him, Pippin started as a typical Took. But none – not his father, not his mother, not even wise old Bilbo – would guess what a nuisance he would be as a child, nor what a legend he would become some time later…
 
* * * * * *
Translator’s Note: So…how many of you knew that "pippin" was a type of apple? In the next chapter, we will jump to around the time of Bilbo’s infamous Party, when Pippin is 11 years old.


Chapter 2 - Frogs, Newts, Lizards, and Anything Else Slimy

1: Frogs, Newts, Lizards, and Anything Else Slimy



1: Frogs, Newts, Lizards, and Anything Else Slimy

September 1401, S.R.

Pippin stood knee deep in water, mud and slime. He was at a pond, near his home, searching for frogs, newts, lizards and anything else slimy and disgusting that he could find to put in Pimpernel’s bed. He snickered at the thought of her screaming and writhing when she climbed into bed that night.

His thoughts were interrupted by a voice calling out his name. He froze, worried that it was Pimpernel, and that she would find him. He relaxed when the voice called out again. It was not Pimpernel. Nor was it Pervinca, whom he had hoped it was. She would have helped him collect slimy things, since she loved seeing Pimpernel squirm almost as much as Pippin himself did.

It was Pearl, Pippin’s eldest sister. Though she would not help him in his "mission", she would also not work out what he was up to. Pearl was a beautiful hobbitess, with a kind and caring heart, but she was rather lacking in intelligence. As her voice drew nearer, Pippin carefully hid the jar full of newts and frogs that he had already collected in his pocket.

"Pippin! There you are!" said Pearl.

"Oh, hullo, Pearl," Pippin replied. "Were you looking for me?"

"Yes, mother sent me in search of you. What are you doing? You will surely get into trouble when we get home. Look at you!"

Pippin looked down at his clothes, and realised that Pearl was quite right. The mud on his legs was starting to set into a cold, grey cast, flicked with bits of green. The bottoms of his trousers were soaked through with stagnant water. Yes, Pippin would indeed be in trouble. But, patting the jar in his pocket, it would be worth it. No punishment would sour the joy of Pimpernel lying on top of several amphibians.

"All right then, we’d better get home, before mother sends Pimpernel in search of you, and then Pervinca in search of her!" Pippin grinned, and Pearl giggled. Together they returned to the Great Smials: their home.

* * * * * *

"Peregrin Took! What happened to you!?" screamed Eglantine Took upon noticing her son’s appearance.

Pippin stood and let his mother scream and yell at him until she was almost out of breath. He mumbled the occasional, "Yes, mother," when he thought it necessary. Finally, when Eglantine had said everything she wanted to, she asked: "Well, what do you have to say for yourself, Peregrin?"

Pippin looked at his feet, and put on his best ‘little-lost-boy’ voice. "I am really sorry, mother. I…uh…dropped something in the pond, and I went in to fish it out. I didn’t mean to dirty my clothes."

Eglantine sighed. "Well, then, I suppose I shall not punish you too severely. It was not really your fault if you had to wade into the pond. Still, you should have come back for help. Therefore, you shall go without second breakfast tomorrow."

Pippin opened his mouth to protest, but kept quiet, realising that this was quite a light punishment. He could imagine many things worse. Going without second breakfast for a week. For a month. Going without any meals at all. Not being able to visit Merry in Buckland. Or Frodo and Bilbo in Hobbiton. He decided that he would be able to survive a day without second breakfast.

He took leave from his mother, and wandered to his room. On the way, he passed Pimpernel’s room. An evil smirk crept across his face. He’d almost forgotten. The frogs! They were still in his pocket, just waiting to be released onto an unsuspecting sister’s bed. Pippin made sure that no one was around, then snuck into Pimpernel’s room. He pulled back the bed covers, and emptied his jar. A quick check that the crawling creatures were not too noticeable, and Pippin was gone.

His prank was not…discovered until later that night. The family had eaten dinner – and supper – and the children were preparing themselves for bed. Pippin was pulling a comb through his curling hair, when a blood-curdling scream came from the direction of Pimpernel’s room. Pippin grinned.

He ran towards the source of the sound, along with the rest of his family. They found Pimpernel sitting her floor, as far from her bed as possible, still clutching her bed covers.

"Pimpernel, what is the matter?" asked Paladin.

"Th..the…there are…things in my bed! Slimy, disgusting things!" Pimpernel cried.

Paladin stepped forward, and peered onto the bed. Sure enough, crawling on Pimpernel’s bed, were two frogs, a lizard and some form of living slime. He shook his head, but said nothing. He knew exactly how the creatures had found their way to Pimpernel’s bed – he had used that same trick on several of his sisters – but since Pippin had already been in trouble that day, he decided not to tell his wife. He would have words with Pippin later.

"Come now, Pimpernel. You can sleep in one of the guestrooms tonight. I’ll check it for creepy-crawlies before you get in. We’ll have this bed all cleaned for you." Paladin called for one of the servant hobbits, who promptly stripped the bed – amphibians and all – and left for the laundry.

The Took family returned to their respective bedrooms, the crisis over. Needless to say, Pimpernel had a restless sleep that night. She kept feeling slimy things moving beneath her, but when she sprung up, there was nothing there. When she finally dozed off, her dreams were plagued with giant frogs, all chasing after her.

But Pippin…he slept well that night, a smiled gracing his peaceful face.

* * * * * *

The next day was exciting for two reasons. First of all, a letter came to the Great Smials. Several actually – one for each of the great Took families inhabiting the large hobbit-hole. It was from Bilbo Baggins. An invitation to his and Frodo Baggins’ combined birthday party. Bilbo would be 111, and Frodo, 33, so the party was guaranteed to be a fantastic night for all.

Secondly, Esmeralda Took Brandybuck came to visit her brother, bringing her husband and son along. Pippin was very happy. He hadn’t seen his cousin Merry for a while. First chance he had, he told Merry about his little prank the previous day.

"Oh, Pippin, I wish I could have seen it!" said Merry while laughing. "Slimy things in Pimpernel’s bed!"

"The best part of all is that nobody suspected me at all!" cried Pippin. "Not even Pearl, who caught me at the pond, nor mother, who scolded me for coming home all muddy."

"I commend you, my dear cousin. I never managed to pull of such a wonderful prank. Of course, I don’t have any sisters to use it on, but there are always plenty of silly girls staying in Brandy Hall."

Once the two young hobbits had control of their laughter, Pippin changed the subject. "Oh, guess what arrived today. An invitation to Old Bilbo’s birthday party."

"Yes, we received one yesterday! I cannot wait. Parties are always a lot of fun." Merry grinned mischievously, indicating that he was not referring to party games, or any of the ‘traditional’ sources of fun.

Pippin mirrored Merry’s smirk. "Very true, Meriadoc. We shall have to plan what to do."

"Of course! Let’s see. We could…"

At that moment, Pervinca entered Pippin’s room. "Pippin? Merry? We are about to have lunch. Would you like to join us?"

A foolish question to ask any hobbit, especially Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took. They raced out of the room, nearly knocking Pervinca over. Their planning and scheming would have to wait until their stomachs were satisfied.


Chapter 3 - The Intense Planning of Professional Mischief

2: The Intense Planning of Professional Mischief



2: The Intense Planning of Professional Mischief

Some time later, Pippin and Merry returned to Pippin’s room, their stomachs full. Planning mischief was hard work, so one should have a full stomach to fuel one’s brain.

Pippin grabbed a piece of paper to jot down ideas. Together, he and Merry brainstormed for almost an hour. In that time, they had devised a list of twenty ideas for mischief, quite a good effort for only two hobbits (of course, since one was a Brandybuck, and the other was a Took, twenty may be regarded as too small a number). Twenty was, obviously, too many ideas to try in one night. Many of the ideas were so small and irrelevant that nobody would notice them, so these ideas were crossed off the list. Others were too large or difficult for the two hobbits to accomplish, and these ideas were also scrapped. Eventually, Merry and Pippin had reduced the list to just four ideas.

Merry’s prize idea was to tap a hole in the tops of all the ale kegs (of which there would be many), and empty ink into them. Pippin argued that it would be virtually impossible to do this without being caught, but Merry’s mind was set.

Similarly, Pippin had an idea that he would not be swayed from. He wanted to saw the legs of all the chairs nearly completely through, so that when an unsuspecting hobbit sat down, the chair would collapse beneath him. Merry accused Pippin of being hypocritical, since his idea was just as impossible to accomplish.

"How are we supposed to saw all of the chairs without someone noticing?" said Merry.

"Well, how are we supposed to make a hole in all of the ale kegs, and empty ink into them without being caught?" retorted Pippin.

A small quarrel soon followed, consisting mostly of a lot of name-calling. Finally, the two of them came to an agreement. They made a compromise. They would make holes in the ale kegs, but in the bottoms, so that all the ale would drain out (by the time the kegs were empty, Merry and Pippin would be long gone). As for Pippin’s idea, they decided to break the legs of only a few chairs – if possible, the chairs of particularly large hobbits.

One of the other ideas spawned from Pippin’s own prank from the previous day. Merry suggested that they collect as many frogs as they could, and release them under one of the tables. Pippin, because it had been based on his own prank, was rather fond of this idea.

The final idea was to run around and extinguish as many of the lanterns that were sure to be lighting the party as possible. This idea was eventually scrapped too, since it involved too much running around, and would pose to great a risk of being caught.

Three ideas wasn’t really much to work with, but Merry and Pippin both knew that many more opportunities for mischief would present themselves at the actual party. Neither of them had any idea what Bilbo had planned for the night – whether there would be a band, whether people would be dancing, what sort of cake there would be – so it was difficult to plan anything too specific. They agreed to come to the party prepared, with such things as small round pebbles, mud from the pond and pepper.

Merry folded up the list, and hid it in his waistcoat pocket. "This will be a night to remember."

* * * * * *

Pervinca’s bedroom was right next to Pippin’s, so she heard all of what Merry and Pippin said. She was quite shocked (after Merry and Pippin’s quarrel) about Pippin’s insult vocabulary. She wondered where he had heard many of the things he called Merry.

Probably father, she decided. Pervinca was also glad to have her guess confirmed. She had assumed that the frog incidence had been the result of Pippin, but she would not tell her mother. In fact, she held some respect for her younger brother for managing to accomplish the prank without being caught.

Similarly, she would not tell anyone about the pranks Merry and Pippin had planned for the party. It would be interesting to see whether they actually succeeded with any of them. Pervinca doubted it, but still, they could prove her wrong.

Pervinca flopped onto her bed and sighed. She gazed at her ceiling, as she made her own plans for the party.

She was only sixteen, which was too young to be courted, but with two older sisters, it was hardly surprising that she was already thinking about romance and marriage. Pearl, at twenty-six, had been approached by many suitors, especially since she was part of a rich family, and very fair. Pimpernel, now twenty-two, was starting to receive affection from hobbits too.

Pervinca wished that she were older. She wanted hobbits to offer her gifts, even if they were not as rich or powerful as they claimed to be. She wanted to be worshipped for her beauty. Pervinca knew that she was very fair, but she was just too young.

She sighed again and spoke aloud. "All I want is to know what it’s like. I need to find a hobbit who wants that too. Who wants to…experiment."

The party would be the perfect place to find such a hobbit – Pervinca knew it.

* * * * * *

"Peregrin Took! Stand still!" Eglantine screeched. She had called tailors to the Great Smials to measure her children for their party clothes. Pippin refused to stand still. Pearl, Pimpernel and Pervinca giggled as they watched one of the tailors try to hold a measuring tape against their younger brother’s wriggling body.

"Master Peregrin," pleaded the tailor, "this will only take a moment if you stop moving."

Finally, Pippin gave in, and let the poor tailor measure him. There had better be lots of pockets in these clothes, Pippin thought to himself. Otherwise, where can I hide the frogs?

The tailors measuring Pearl, Pimpernel and Pervinca had a much easier time than the one who had landed Pippin – until it came to deciding on materials and colour.

"You can’t wear blue, Pimpernel!" cried Pearl. "I want to wear blue!"

"But I said blue first!" said Pimpernel. She grabbed her tailor by the collar. "Make my dress blue! And prettier than Pearl’s!"

"I want a white silken shirt," Pervinca told her tailor, "with a green velvet bodice and skirt…no wait, yellow bodice and skirt." She thought for a moment. "No, green would be best, but a light green, not dark…I know! A sort of yellowy-green." The poor tailor tried desperately to write all of Pervinca’s demands down.

Meanwhile, Eglantine had to pry Pimpernel off her tailor, before she killed the poor hobbit. Eventually, Eglantine was able to work out a compromise between her eldest daughters: Pearl would wear navy blue, and Pimpernel would wear sky-blue. Similarly, she decided that her two youngest children would both wear green: Pervinca in the pale green she desired, and Pippin in a dark forest green. As for the materials – all the undershirts (and slips, for the girls) would be silk. The girls’ bodices and skirts would be velvet, as would Pippin’s waistcoat, and Pippin’s pants would be wool. The tailors were very grateful when Eglantine told them her orders, and allowed them to leave.

As the Took children also left the room, Pippin turned to Pervinca and said, "Pervinca, remind me to never become a tailor."

Pervinca couldn’t help laughing.


Chapter 4 - A Fine Day in Hobbiton

3: A Fine Day in Hobbiton



3: A Fine Day in Hobbiton
The following day, Paladin allowed his children to walk to Hobbiton, and personally deliver an acceptance note to Mister Bilbo Baggins. After delivering the note, they were free to spend the rest of the day in Hobbiton and Bywater.
Immediately after second breakfast, Pearl, Pimpernel, Pervinca and Pippin were ready to leave. The walk from their home near Tuckborough to Hobbiton was not particularly far, but they wanted to leave as early as possible so they could spend more time in Hobbiton.
Every time the Tooks went to Hobbiton, they followed the same routine. Pearl and Pimpernel would spend the day shopping, and being flattered by young hobbit bachelors. Pippin would general stay at Bag End, or go somewhere with Frodo Baggins, and, since she usually had nothing better to do, Pervinca would join them.
For Pervinca, this particular day would be slightly different. She just didn’t know it.
* * * * * *
The door of Bag End was opened by Frodo Baggins, Old Bilbo’s heir. A smile spread across his face and his blue eyes opened wide when he saw the four Took children on his doorstep.
"Frodo!" cried Pippin, immediately hugging his friend. Pippin was very fond of Frodo, even if Frodo was a fair bit older than him. Merry had introduced Pippin and Frodo, since Frodo, before being adopted by Bilbo and moving to Bag End, had lived in Brandy Hall. Frodo seemed to enjoy the company of his two younger cousins, as did Bilbo. Merry and Pippin were always ready to listen to one of Bilbo’s tales, and he was always ready to tell them.
"Welcome, welcome," Frodo greeted. "Come in. I’m afraid Bilbo may not be able to come out and see you. He’s very busy, organising the party."
"Yes, we came to give you this," said Pearl, handing Frodo the acceptance note.
Frodo smiled, and read the note aloud. "Dear Mr. Bilbo, My family and I would be honoured to join you at your Birthday celebration, and that of your heir, Frodo. May fortune shine on you both on these milestone ages. Sincerely, Paladin Took. Thank you, Pearl. And thank your father too. He always was such a fair spoken hobbit."
Frodo offered them all morning tea, but Pearl and Pimpernel told him that they had planned to spend the day in Bywater. Frodo thanked them for visiting, and led them to the door. Pervinca and Pippin stayed.
"So, how are things in the Great Smials?" Frodo asked, pouring a cup of tea for all three of them.
"Boring, as usual," answered Pippin. "Oh, except the day before yesterday. I put frogs and lizards in Pimpernel’s bed, and…" Pippin covered his mouth. He’d forgotten that Pervinca was still there, and she wasn’t supposed to know that the frog incidence had been Pippin’s doing.
Pervica smiled. "Don’t worry, Pippin. I already knew. I heard you and Merry talking yesterday."
"You’ve seen Merry?" said Frodo. "How is my favourite Brandybuck?"
"Same as always," Pervinca answered with a smile. "Honestly, sometimes those Brandybucks can be worse than we Tooks."
"If Merry’s your favourite Brandybuck, does that mean I’m your favourite Took?" asked Pippin.
"Now, Pippin," replied Frodo, "I can hardly tell you that while your lovely sister is here, can I?"
* * * * * *
Samwise Gamgee raced up the path that led from his home to Bag End. He had slept in that morning, and now he was late. Very late. In fact, he was supposed to have been at Bag End half an hour ago. With the party so soon, Bilbo needed his garden in near perfect condition. And that was Sam’s job.
"Oh, I really am going to get it today," Sam puffed. "Mister Bilbo has been in a rotten temper for the last few days, and he’ll be none to pleased to have his garden waiting for a lazy gardener."
He ran up to Bag End’s vivid green door and rapped lightly on it. From within the hobbit hole, he heard Frodo’s voice say, "Hold on a moment, I’ll just get the door."
As soon as the door was open, and Frodo appeared, Sam started babbling. "I’m oh so sorry, Mister Frodo. I know I was supposed to be here half an hour ago…but I was helping my the Gaffer last night…and didn’t get to bed until late…so I slept in this morning…and please tell Mister Bilbo not to be too mad at me…because it wasn’t really my fault…and…"
"Calm down, Sam!" laughed Frodo. He moved aside to let Sam into Bag End. "I’ll tell Bilbo not to be too hard on you, but to tell the truth, I doubt he’s even noticed that you’re late. He’s locked himself up in his study, writing invitations and all. Don’t worry about it."
Sam sighed, and looked quite relieved.
But at that moment, Bilbo’s voice called out from the depths of Bag End. "Frodo? Frodo, my lad! Has that dratted Gamgee boy arrived yet? He was supposed to be here half an hour ago, you know. Lucky he’s his father’s son, is all I can say!"
Sam went to pieces again. Frodo, thinking quickly to avoid a terrible situation, patted Sam on the back. "I’ll go talk to him. Why don’t you go to the kitchen? Pippin’s here. You can talk to him."
Sam bit his lip and nodded. He plodded to the kitchen, with a hung head. Frodo sighed, and ran to Bilbo’s study.
"Frodo," Bilbo greeted. "Has Sam showed up yet?"
"Well, uh, actually Bilbo, he’s been here the whole time." Frodo hated lying to Bilbo, but he could think of no other way to get Sam out of trouble. "It’s my fault, really. When he arrived, I started talking to him – sat him down, and made him join Pippin, Pervinca and myself for morning tea. I really am sorry, Bilbo. I didn’t even think that the gardens need a lot of work before the party."
"That’s alright, Frodo my boy. As long as Sam’s here, I don’t suppose it really matters. Pippin and Pervinca, you say? Did they come to visit?"
"Oh, yes. Pearl and Pimpernel came with them, but they wanted to go to Bywater, and left a while ago. They delivered this note from Paladin." Frodo handed Bilbo the Tooks’ acceptance note.
Bilbo read over it, and nodded. He called out again. "Hullo, Peregrin! Pervinca! Sorry I cannot come out and speak to you in person. Very busy."
Two voices called back in reply. "Hullo, Bilbo!"
A smile played on Bilbo’s lips. He really was fond of Paladin Took’s children. The youngest two especially. Pervinca reminded Bilbo of his mother. "Oh, well. I must get back to work. Entertain our guests for me, will you, Frodo?"
"Of course, Bilbo." Frodo left, and carefully closed the study door. He found, as he returned to the kitchen, that Sam had not gone there at all. He had stayed in the hallway, listening to Frodo and Bilbo’s conversation.
"Oh, thank you, Mister Frodo," Sam said, in a very pleased whisper.
Frodo grinned. "Just don’t be late tomorrow."
"Oh, I won’t be, don’t you worry about that."
"You should probably get to work, but first…you haven’t met any of Pippin’s sisters, have you Sam?"
Sam shook his head. "No, sir. I didn’t know Master Pippin had sisters."
"He has three older sisters. You missed Pearl and Pimpernel, but Pervinca is still here. And to tell the truth, Pervinca is probably the best one to meet."
Frodo and Sam walked to the kitchen together. They found Pippin hunting through all of the cupboards, searching for something to eat. As soon as he noticed them, he turned around, and tried to look innocent. "I…uh…wasn’t doing anything! Honest!"
Pervinca giggled, and turned to look at Frodo. When she saw his companion, her giggle caught in her throat. The hobbit with Frodo was obviously from a poorer family, but Pervinca had never been one to judge hobbits by their family status. He was slightly chubby, but not grossly fat like some of the hobbits she knew. But the thing that she noticed above all, was the devotion in his eyes. Here was a hobbit who would do anything for his master, or those he loved.
As Pervinca looked at him, Sam was regarding her with just as much interest. She was young, but at the same time, she looked like she had seen a lot. Probably has, being a Took and all. Sam was too young and inexperienced to judge true beauty (the only hobbitess he really knew that well was young Rosie Cotton), but he was sure that Pervinca was very fair. Her skin was soft and flawless (as far as Sam could tell), since she never had to do work for herself. Her pale brown curls shone in the sunlight that drifted through the kitchen window. No doubt, Pervinca had the most luxurious baths. Sam blushed from ear to ear. He felt a fool. Samwise Gamgee, you have no right to look on this young lass like this, he thought to himself. She’s a Took. You’re beneath her. You don’t have a chance.
Sam mumbled something that sounded like a greeting or introduction, then excused himself. He had a lot of work to do, he said.


Chapter 5 - A Rose for Pervinca

4: A Rose for Pervinca










4: A Rose for Pervinca

 

Sam spent the whole day trying not to think
about Pervinca. It, of course, had the completely opposite effect. He found it
impossible to think about anything else. He told himself all the reasons why he
should not be thinking about her. The best reasons were probably: “We are both
too young” and “She’s a Took”. The worst were, no doubt, “Rosie will be
jealous” and “Tom and Jolly will make fun of me.”

 

As he was thinking about this, the three
previously mentioned hobbits came walking past the garden.

 

“Hullo, Sam,” Tom Cotton greeted. “Having fun
in the garden?”

 

“Morning, Tom, Rosie, Jolly,” Sam replied.
“It’s a lovely morning, isn’t it?”

 

“How long until the party?” asked Rose, shyly.
She was a young hobbitess, and, like Pervinca she was becoming curious, about
herself, and about male hobbits. Since Sam was the only male hobbit she really
knew, apart from her brothers, she had started to fancy him, something which
Sam was well aware of.

 

Sam counted the days on his fingers.
“…three…four…five days. You mean you haven’t been marking the days down on your
calender?”

 

Rose had, in fact, been doing just that. She
had asked Sam for the simple reason that she wanted him to talk to her. Now
that he had broken the ice, perhaps she could find the courage to ask him to
take her.

 

“Um…Sam…have you…I mean…do you…have someone
that you’d like to go with you?”

 

Tom and Jolly snickered. Sam was placed in an
awful situation. If he told Rosie that he’d take her to the party, Tom and
Jolly would never let him live it down. If he turned her down, it would break
her heart…and Tom and Jolly would break Sam’s legs.

 

Sam sighed. “Well, Rosie, there’s no one yet,
but I think that I will wait until the party to find out.”

 

Rosie beamed, and started skipping down the
lane to her home. Tom and Jolly followed. As they passed Sam, Tom winked,
indicating how impressed he was at the way Sam had saved himself from a
terrible mess. Sam was not as slow as he allowed everyone to believe he was.

 

*  
*   *   *   *   *

 

Pippin noticed that Pervinca was unusually
quiet for the rest of their time at Bag End. He was disappointed, since he had
secretly hoped that Pervinca would join himself and Merry in their plan to
cause trouble. In the past, Pervinca had joined forces with her brother and
cousin on several occasions, mostly to annoy and upset her older sisters. But
recently, she had stopped showing any interest in Merry and Pippin’s plans.
Pippin was starting to realise that his favourite sister was growing up. He
just hoped she did not become anything like Pearl or Pimpernel.

 

Pearl and Pimpernel returned to Bag End in the
early afternoon to pick up their younger siblings. Pippin and Pervinca were
reluctant to leave, but knew they had to.

 

“Do not worry,” said Frodo. “You will be back
here in five days for the party anyway!”

 

Pimpernel had made it obvious that she and
Pearl had purchased presents for Frodo and Bilbo during the day by hiding
several packages behind her. She viciously defended them when Pippin snuck
behind her to take a peak.

 

Rubbing the hand that Pimpernel had slapped,
Pippin said goodbye to Frodo. He made a mental note that Pimpernel should be
the victim of another prank. She was always good for that.

 

As they left Bag End, the Tooks passed the
garden, where Sam was feverously working. Pervinca smiled at him, cheeks
flushing.

 

“Leaving are you, Mister Pippin?” Sam greeted,
not noticing the three Took hobbitesses.

 

“Yes, but we will be back in five days!” Pippin
proudly told Sam. From behind him, Pearl cleared her throat, indicating her
presence. Pippin promptly realised that he should introduce his older sisters.
“Oh, Sam, have you met my other sisters? This is Pearl and Pimpernel.”

 

“Good day to you, young misses.” Sam bowed
politely. Pearl and Pimpernel curtsied in reply.

 

“We would like to stay and talk, Master Sam,”
said Pearl, “but it is getting late, and we must be home before dark.”

 

“Of course. A pleasure meeting you all. I hope
that I will see you at Mister Bilbo and Mister Frodo’s party.” Sam plucked
three roses from the nearest rose bush. He handed one each to the three Took
girls. “And please accept this gift - beautiful roses, for three beautiful
lasses.”

 

Pearl and Pimpernel expressed their thanks, but
Pervinca was speechless. She blushed a brilliant red the same colour as the
rose, and managed a small smile. Both of her older sisters noticed this, and
smirked to each other.

 

The Tooks once again said farewell to Sam, and
began the long walk home.

 

*  
*   *   *   *   *

 

Merry and his family were staying with Pippin’s
family until the party, so the minute the Took children arrived home, and had
something to eat, Merry pulled Pippin aside to ask him about Frodo.

 

“So how is the old lad?” Merry asked.

 

“Old? He’s only turning thirty-three!” Pippin
laughed. “But, he is well. We did not see Bilbo – he was locked up in his
study.”

 

“No surprise there,” Merry scoffed. “Old Bilbo
is a very odd fellow.” Despite Pippin’s pleas, Merry would not further explain what
he meant. He changed the subject. “Have you convinced Pervinca to join in with
our little fun?”

 

Pippin shook his head. “I have not asked her. But I do not think she will want to. She was
acting very peculiar today.”

 

Merry rolled her
eyes. “She must be coming to ‘that’ age.”

 

“What age?”

 

“All hobbitesses come
to an age when they stop being fun, and become very boring. All they worry
about is finding a husband.”

 

Pippin’s eyes widened
in horror. “You do not think that Pervinca is going to become like Pearl and
Pimpernel?”

 

“I do hope not,
cousin. But speaking of Pervinca, where is she?”

 

“In her room?” Pippin
suggested with a shrug of his shoulders.

 

He was, in fact,
correct. Pervinca was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling. In her hand,
she held Sam’s gift, slowly twirling the fragile stem between her fingers. The
fragrance had spread through the room. Pervinca could not stop thinking about
Sam. She began to wonder if he had thought about her.

 

She sighed. I
doubt it. He did seem older than me…and he probably thinks that I am just a
boring girl from a rich family.

 

“Pervinca, dear, we
need to talk,” a voice came from the doorway. Pervinca looked up to see her two
older sisters smiling at her in a not very pleasant manner. The entered the
room together, shutting the door tightly behind them. They sat down on either
side of their youngest sister.

 

“What do you want?”
Pervinca asked, suspiciously.

 

“I am hurt, sister,
that you would think so low of us,” Pearl cried, in a mock-upset voice. “We
simply want to have a little chat with our dear sister.”

 

“Precisely right,
Pearl,” Pimpernel chimed with a grin. “We could not help noticing today…”

 

“…that you seemed
rather…interested in Bilbo Baggins’ gardener,” Pearl finished off.

 

“And we were simply worried
about this interest.” Pimpernel placed a hand on Pervinca’s shoulder. “You are
a Took, Pervinca. We Tooks are a rich and respectable family. Do you know what
the family would think of you if you were to marry a common gardener?”

 

“You are both fools,”
Pervinca snapped. “Why do you think that I want to marry Sam? What put that
idea into your twisted minds?”

 

Pearl scowled at her
sister, and grabbed her by the hair. “How dare you! And besides, you have just
answered your own question. Sam?”

 

Pervinca flushed. Her
sister had her there. She should not have used his first name. “Leave, now.
What I do with my life is none of your business. Besides, I do not wish to marry
Sam. Unlike the two of you, I realise there is more to life than simply finding
a husband! Good evening to you!”

 

Pervinca ushered her
sisters to the door, and slammed it shut behind them. She was furious with her
sisters – how dare they interfere with her life like that! And they had made
her even more confused. Did she really want to marry Sam? And what would happen
if she did? Would her family disown her?

 

She picked up the
rose, which had fallen to the floor. “Oh, Sam. What are we going to do?”


Chapter 6 - A Brother’s Love

5: A Brother’s Love










5:
A Brother’s Love

 

The
next day, Pippin and Merry were searching for Pervinca. The tailors had arrived
with their party clothes, and Eglantine wanted her children to try them on at
once. The cousins finally found Pervinca in the place they should have
looked first – her bedroom. One look at her told them that she had been crying.

 

“Pervinca,
what’s wrong?” Pippin asked, rushing to his favourite sister’s side.

 

Sensing
that he would not really be wanted, Merry excused himself. “I shall tell Aunt
Eglantine that you will be a moment.”

 

Pippin
nodded in thanks, and placed a small arm around Pervinca. “I am here, Pervinca.
You can tell me what is wrong.”

 

She
managed a laugh. “Do not be silly, Pippin! You are my younger brother,
remember!”

 

He
smiled, but remained serious aside from this. “I may be younger, but I still
care for you. I will do anything that I can to stop you from feeling upset. But
please, tell me what is wrong!”

 

Pervinca
shook her head. “You would not understand. Not only are you too young, but you
are a boy.”

 

“Who
is he? I shall tear his eyes out!”

 

“No,
Peregrin!” Pervinca had to smile at her brother’s reaction. “There is no need
to do that. No one has done anything to me.”

 

“Then
why have you been crying?”

 

Pervinca
looked at her feet. “Well…do you promise not to tell anyone?” Pippin nodded
solemnly. “That means Meriadoc, too.” The young hobbit rolled his eyes, but
nodded again. Pervinca took a deep breath. “You probably did not notice
yesterday, but I showed…how did Pearl put it…an interest in Bilbo’s gardener.”

 

“Sam?
He’s a fine fellow,” Pippin stated, not understanding his sister’s meaning. He
snickered. “Why, old Sam used to help Frodo and Merry look after me when I was
much younger.”

 

Pervinca
sighed angrily. “I knew you would not understand. I showed an interest
in him! Did you not see me blush?”

 

“You
have taken a fancy to Sam?” Pippin grinned broadly. “Oh, jolly good! I was
afraid that you were turning into Pearl or Pimpernel! The hobbits they seem to
fancy are always frightfully dull. But Sam…he’s a bundle of fun!”

 

“It
is not good at all, Pippin,” Pervinca said, sadly. “I am a Took, and he is a
Gamgee…a common gardener.”

 

“Why
does that matter?” Pippin asked, confused.

 

“When
you are older, you will understand. Rich families do not marry with poorer
families. I know that it seems awfully stupid, but if Sam and I were to marry –
which, mind you, I am not saying that we are. Why, I only met him yesterday!
But if we were to marry, Mother at least would never speak to me again.
And she would make it difficult for you and Father to.”

 

“I
think that you should be able to marry whoever you want. But since you already
said that you are not yet thinking about marriage, I do not see what the
problem is! Mother and Father do not mind me being friends with Sam at all – it
should be no different for you. And do not worry about what Pearl and Pimpernel
say.” Grinning at her shocked face, he added: “Of course I guessed that they
had something to do with you being upset. Would you like me to put something
nasty in their beds again?”

 

Pervinca
smiled broadly and laughed. She threw her arms around Pippin. “Oh, Peregrin,
what would I ever do without you? I am the luckiest hobbitess in the whole
Shire to have a brother like you, no matter what anyone else says! Don’t ever
change.”

 

“Don’t
you change either, Pervinca. You are my favourite sister, after all.”

 

*   *  
*   *   *   *

 

The
clothes that the tailors had made fit the Took children beautifully. Esmeralda
even made Merry put his party clothes on too, so that they could admire the
children as a group.

 

“Oh,
Pearl, Pimpernel – you look beautiful,” Eglantine complimented her two eldest
daughters. “And there will be so many handsome hobbits at the party. We may
have a wedding or two within the next year!”

 

“Pervinca,
you are looking lovely too,” Paladin added. He would never actually admit it,
but Pervinca was his favourite daughter. She was much more Tookish than her
sisters; and not as silly. “You might get a little attention at the party,
too.”

 

“Oh,
Pervinca has already started to get attention…yesterday,” said Pimpernel,
cruelly.

 

“No,
Pimpernel,” Pearl corrected, just as cruelly. “Remember, it was Pervinca who
was giving attention.” She smirked at the now blushing Pervinca.

 

Eglantine
turned to Pippin. “Is this true, Peregrin? Has my dear little Pervinca found
potential husband without any help at all?”

 

Pippin
just shook his head. Lying to his mother was one of the easiest things for him
to do. “No, Mother. I do not know what Pearl and Pimpernel are talking about at
all. We stayed at Bag End all day, while they went shopping…”

 

“Oh,
then the girls must be talking about Frodo Baggins! He is such a lovely
young fellow. Do you have a fancy for Frodo, Pervinca?”

 

Pervinca
hoped that she would sound as convincing as Pippin. “No, Mother. Pearl and
Pimpernel must have been mistaken. Frodo is simply a good friend.”

 

“Why,
you rotten little liar!” Pearl screeched. “Mother, we did not mean Frodo at
all…”

 

“Enough,
Pearl,” Paladin interrupted. “I will not have such name-calling. To your room
at once!”

 

“But,
Father…!”

 

“Now!”

 

Pearl
stormed off in a huff towards her bedroom. Pimpernel glanced around the room,
glared at Pervinca, then followed Pearl.

 

“I
am sorry,” Paladin apologised to Saradoc and Esmeralda. “I do not know what has
gotten into them.”

 

“They’re
girls!” Pippin concluded. He noticed Pervinca glaring at him, so added: “I am
glad that Pervinca does not act like them!”

 

“So
am I, Peregrin.”

 

“And
aren’t you glad, Father, that you only have me?” Merry piped.

 

Saradoc
grinned. “As always, Meriadoc, you have come to the point immediately.”
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