The Romances of Four Hobbits

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"'Awake! Awake! Fear, Fire, Foes! Awake!
        Fire, Foes! Awake!'"
        The horn's cry rent the air of Buckland. Hobbits spilled out of their houses to see the newcomers and were happy beyond description to find that the comers were not new at all.
        Merry sat proud and tall astride his pony, as he made his speech to the awestruck hobbits. ". . . In order to be rid of these ruffians once and for all, we must band together! For the Shire!"
The crowd of hobbits exploded into cheers. Many of them rushed back to their houses to arm themselves with whatever they could find. Through all the excited chaos, Merry's bright green eyes, caught sight of a pair of rich amber one's, which were staring back at him while the rest rushed past.
It was Estella Bolger. Her face was mixture of surprise and awe. Her mouth was hanging open and her gaze eventually raked his whole being.
With a glimmer of his old, rakish grin, Merry winked at her. "Hey, 'Stell!" he said. He then saw Estella gulp.
"M-Meriadoc!"
*~*~*~*~*

Pippin was faring well, riding through Tuckbourough, rousing it's residences. Once he was finished there he spurred his pony onward to alert Long Cleeve.
When he was a few miles into the area, a woman's shriek came to his ears. Pippin immediately searched for the source of the noise and soon spotted, on the side of the road, a ruffian on the ground, bent over something.
        "Shut yer trap!" He heard him growl. Pippin then saw that the 'something' was a hobbit lass. Anger boiled deep within Pippin and, halting his pony, he leapt off. He then moved toward the ruffian in furious strides, his sword unsheathed and gleaming in the pale moonlight.
"Let her go!"
The ruffian started and lifted himself off the hobbit lass to see who had interrupted his pleasure seeking.
The filthy man was surprised to behold a very tall hobbit dressed in the noble uniform of some far off place, and he hesitated.
The silver stars that crowned the White Tree of Gondor glittered brightly on Pippin's breast and the ruffian was filled with further doubt. But, then he gathered some of black confidence together and exclaimed, "Go back to your filthy hole, ya Halfling worm!"
        "Watch your tongue!" Pippin shouted, his eyes ablaze. You are speaking to a Guard of the Citadel of Minas Tirith! Your words shall not go unchecked!"
The ruffian unsheathed a crude and cruel looking dagger that sent Pippin's thoughts back to he and Merry's captivity under the orcs.
The ruffian took a clumsy swing at Pippin, which the hobbit quickly dodged with relative ease.
Before the ruffian could regain his footing after his miss, Pippin gave him a warning slash with his broadsword above the man's elbow. The ruffian grasped his arm in surprise.
"Be gone! Unless you want another taste!" Pippin exclaimed. When the ruffian did nothing but stare at him, Pippin menacingly advanced upon the man, who then suddenly came back to his senses and ran off as quick as his legs would carry him. Pippin watched the man's progress until the night engulfed the fleeing figure.
Suddenly, a stirring behind him, made Pippin turn. He had forgotten about the hobbit-lass he had fought to rescue.
He jogged to her side. The lass had been so stunned that she had just lain there and was only now recovering her senses.
        "Are you alright, Miss? Did he . . .?" Pippin asked, extending hishand toward her.
"No," she answered. Familiar hazel eyes then met his as she looked up. The lass's rich, chocolate brown hair fell in frizzy waves over shoulders, which were just beginning to relax.
Instead of taking Pippin's hand she just stared up at him with ever widening eyes.
"Pippin!"
"Diamond?"
Before he could get over the jolt of recognition, Diamond leapt up and threw her arms about his neck.
The bewildered Pippin stood there for a moment, un-moving, his arms open, but not enfolding, his eyes wide with surprise at the gesture.
"Everyone said you were dead along with your cousins and Master Gamgee!" Diamond exclaimed. Suddenly, he felt Diamond's body shudder, then a sob came out of her.
This shocked Pippin even more, but this time he remembered himself and his arms slowly went around her. Never in a thousand years could he have imagined this.
"Shhh . . . shhh, no tears . . . it's all right now, Diamond."
The hobbit lass suddenly loosened her grip and moved her head back so she could see his face.
"Oh, Pippin . . ." she whisperd.
Then the most astounding thing of all happened. Diamond gently pressed her lips to his in a loving kiss.
       
 *~*~*~*~*
Whoa! Pippin's getting a lot of attention, isn't he! Oooh! Review please!!!



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