Luster update
Jan. 30th, 2006 09:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
auntiemeeshI've got chapter three of Luster done. It's a short one this time and there is precious little Pippin in it but that's the way it goes sometimes. He should be more prominent in the next chapter.
Previous Chapters
Chapter three
betaed by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
pipspebble
As the stated heir to Ferumbras, Paladin, along with his family, was privileged to take his meals in the Thain’s Room, an intimate dining room traditionally used by the Thain and his personal guests when he wanted to eat in more privacy than the Great Hall provided. As a matter of practice, however, Paladin and Eglantine had established the habit of eating in the Hall most nights. Having lived so many years at Whitwell before coming back to the Smials, they had found themselves somewhat estranged from everyone. Taking their meals with everyone else gave all the residents of the Smials a chance to reconnect with the hobbit who would one day be their Thain, and his family.
So when Paladin was ready to join his family for supper, he headed to the Great Hall. He was a few minutes late, but that would not matter, as meals were generally informal, unless it was a special feast day or high holiday. The only nod to formality was the head table, which stood alone at one end of the room. The center chair at this table was reserved for use by the Thain alone, although it had been many weeks since Ferumbras had been strong enough to eat in the Great Hall, and the rest of the seats were used by top members of the family. When Paladin entered the room, he saw that Eglantine had arrived ahead of him and begun to eat. Pervinca, their youngest daughter, was sitting close to her mother. They were most likely discussing plans for Vinca’s upcoming wedding. It was a difficult thing, planning a wedding with the Thain was so close to dying, and no date had been set, but there were many other details that could be worked out, and Vinca seemed to think of little else these days.
Paladin rested a hand on Eglantine’s back as he slipped into his seat to the right of the Thain’s chair; she gave him an absentminded smile in greeting. Signaling to a server, he scanned the room as he waited for his meal to arrive. He noted the presence of several hobbits with whom he wanted to speak and several more with whom he most definitely did not want to speak. It would be a dance, one that he didn’t much enjoy, but it was a part of his life now, and there was no getting around it.
“Pal, Pippin still hasn’t returned. No one’s seen him.” Eglantine’s worry was clear, and Paladin frowned
“He’s probably just gone off to the Sheaf and Shears for supper,” he reassured her. “If he hasn’t returned by the end of the meal, I’ll pop down myself and see what’s keeping him. He’s a bit young to be spending the evening there.”
“I wish you would,” Eglantine replied. “It’s been dark for well over an hour now and it’s really getting quite cold.”
Paladin tried to ignore the flash of irritation he felt towards his son. He didn’t really have the time to go jaunting off to the inn to retrieve an errant child, but Tina would worry until he was found. And truth to tell, Pal was a little concerned as well. While Pippin was certainly old enough to go off on his own for an afternoon, he was usually considerate enough to tell someone where he was going and when he expected to return. That he hadn’t said anything led Paladin to believe Pippin hadn’t intended to be out this late.
***
“Have you decided on something, then?” Estella asked as Merry approached the counter of the glass-shop once again.
“Yes, thank you, I’ll take this.” He carefully placed a glass cluster of mushrooms on the counter. The glass had been delicately tinted to show the color of the mushrooms and the grass in which they nestled, and Merry thought it an oddly charming little arrangement.
“Very nice selection. I’m sure your aunt will love it.” Estella looked as though she might be laughing at him, although the only outward sign this might be so was a slight crinkling of the eyes.
“Yes, well, I’m sure she will,” Merry replied, suddenly uncertain. What was wrong with it? Aunt Teenie loved mushrooms, nearly as much as cousin Frodo. Accepting the ornament, now wrapped in several layers of soft cloth, he paid and left the store, feeling much less confident than he had moments before.
Back at the Floating Log, he added the bundle to his pack and made his way to the common room, ready for something to eat, a mug of beer, and a pipe before bed.
***
Pippin swam stubbornly back towards consciousness. Awareness came slowly and when it arrived, he changed his mind and decided he wanted nothing to do with it. He was trembling with cold and pain, and he had no idea how long he’d been unconscious. He closed his eyes, wanting nothing more than the oblivion that had been his moments before, but a distant voice in his head warned him that he mustn’t sleep, that if he slept he might never wake again. He couldn’t remember where he’d heard that or if it was even true, but the voice was insistent and it didn’t seem like something he wanted to chance.
Opening his eyes, he took stock of his situation. There was a heavy weight across his chest and legs, and after a long moment’s thought he decided it might be related to the pine needles scratching his face. He had no idea whether it was a whole tree or just a branch, but it was heavy enough to pin him either way. He squirmed experimentally, thinking he might be able to pull himself out from under it, but an intense stabbing pain in his leg caused him to cry out and fall still. He lay for a long moment, panting and trying to get the pain under control so that he could think clearly again. Something was terribly wrong with his leg, that much was now abundantly clear.
***
Grimacing at the thought of going out into the cold, windy evening, Paladin pulled on his cloak, gave Eglantine a kiss and promised her that he would bring their son home. He’d had one of the ponies saddled and was grateful at least that he needn’t walk through the snow. Swinging up into the saddle, he reached down and took the lantern pole that the stable lad held for him.
It was a short ride into Tuckborough and Paladin dismounted in front of the Sheaf and Shears fifteen minutes later. Striding into the inn, he smiled and nodded, acknowledging the greetings of the hobbits gathered there but saw no sign of Pippin. Making his way to the bar, he greeted the barkeep.
“Ho, Andelmar, how goes it?”
“Not so poorly, Mr. Paladin, sir, not so poorly,” a short, fat hobbit answered him. “And what can I be gettin’ ye then?”
“I’m just looking for my son, Andy. Have you seen him tonight?”
“Nay, but I’ve only just come in less’n an hour ago. One of the lads might’ve seen ‘im before that.”
“Thanks, Andy, maybe I will have a beer. Just a half, mind.” Accepting the mug from the barkeep, he scanned the room more carefully, looking to see if any of Pippin’s particular friends were about. Spying several familiar faces, he worked his way through the crowd to their table.
“Hullo, Gordie, Taddo,” he called in greeting, pulling up a chair and joining them. “I’m surprised Pippin’s not here with you tonight.”
“Ah, he was off to the woods today, sir,” Gordie answered. “I was hopin’ to find him here meself, but I s’pose he weren’t in t’mood for a pint.”
“So you talked to him then?” Paladin prompted, taking a sip of his beer.
“Oh, aye. Tried to get him to come have a bit o’ supper with me family but he was too full of snow and woods and dreams, like, to come inside.”
“Have you seen him since?” Paladin asked, a little alarmed by this talk of woods.
“Nay. Why, is sommat amiss?” Gordie looked concerned. “I told him it weren’t a fit day to be out of doors, but he wouldn’t listen.”
Paladin smiled in spite of himself. That was his Pippin, all right. Once he’d got his head ‘round the idea of doing something, nothing short of an act of nature or a decree from on high could stop him from doing it. If Pippin had been intent on a walk in the woods, no enticements of home and hearth would have tempted him to change his mind. Still, he should have been back by now.
“How long ago was this, Gordie? He’s not been back home yet, and his mum’s getting a bit worried.” He tried to downplay the anxiety he was beginning to feel himself.
“Maybe three hours ago?” Gordie seemed unsure of the time.
“Right, I’d best go see if I can find him, then.” Paladin drained his beer and stood up. “Thank you for your help, lad. Have a round on me.” He tossed a few coins on the table and began to work his way to the door.
“Wait, sir,” Gordie called after him. “I’ll come with you. I shouldn’t never’ve let him go off alone, and you shouldn’t go alone neither.”
Paladin had almost reached the door but halted, considering Gordie’s words. “You’re right, and it’s no good haring off without a word to anyone what we’re doing, either. Ho, Tom Greenbanks,” he clapped a sturdy looking hobbit sitting at a nearby table on the shoulder. “I’m in need of a favor. Run up to the Smials and deliver a message to my wife for me, will you? Tell her I’ve taken a few likely lads into the woods to round up Pippin. If we’re not home in an hour or so, I’ll send further word, but I don’t imagine he’s too far off.”
Tom nodded and stood, grabbing his cloak. “That’s me off, then,” he said in farewell to his friends, and left the inn, heading up the hill to Smials.
“Gordie, see if you can round up a few more of Pippin’s friends to help.” Paladin continued. “He’s probably just wool-gathering and I don’t want the whole Shire called out to find him, but the woods are big; it’ll be easier if there’re more of us. I’m going to get a few things and I’ll meet you out by the stables.”
tbc
Chapter Four
Edit: Apparently I had Paladin kissing Esmeralda in one of the above scenes. While that would make for an interesting and possibly quite dramatic story, it's not the one I'm trying to tell here, so I fixed it. *grins*
Previous Chapters
Chapter three
betaed by
pipspebbleAs the stated heir to Ferumbras, Paladin, along with his family, was privileged to take his meals in the Thain’s Room, an intimate dining room traditionally used by the Thain and his personal guests when he wanted to eat in more privacy than the Great Hall provided. As a matter of practice, however, Paladin and Eglantine had established the habit of eating in the Hall most nights. Having lived so many years at Whitwell before coming back to the Smials, they had found themselves somewhat estranged from everyone. Taking their meals with everyone else gave all the residents of the Smials a chance to reconnect with the hobbit who would one day be their Thain, and his family.
So when Paladin was ready to join his family for supper, he headed to the Great Hall. He was a few minutes late, but that would not matter, as meals were generally informal, unless it was a special feast day or high holiday. The only nod to formality was the head table, which stood alone at one end of the room. The center chair at this table was reserved for use by the Thain alone, although it had been many weeks since Ferumbras had been strong enough to eat in the Great Hall, and the rest of the seats were used by top members of the family. When Paladin entered the room, he saw that Eglantine had arrived ahead of him and begun to eat. Pervinca, their youngest daughter, was sitting close to her mother. They were most likely discussing plans for Vinca’s upcoming wedding. It was a difficult thing, planning a wedding with the Thain was so close to dying, and no date had been set, but there were many other details that could be worked out, and Vinca seemed to think of little else these days.
Paladin rested a hand on Eglantine’s back as he slipped into his seat to the right of the Thain’s chair; she gave him an absentminded smile in greeting. Signaling to a server, he scanned the room as he waited for his meal to arrive. He noted the presence of several hobbits with whom he wanted to speak and several more with whom he most definitely did not want to speak. It would be a dance, one that he didn’t much enjoy, but it was a part of his life now, and there was no getting around it.
“Pal, Pippin still hasn’t returned. No one’s seen him.” Eglantine’s worry was clear, and Paladin frowned
“He’s probably just gone off to the Sheaf and Shears for supper,” he reassured her. “If he hasn’t returned by the end of the meal, I’ll pop down myself and see what’s keeping him. He’s a bit young to be spending the evening there.”
“I wish you would,” Eglantine replied. “It’s been dark for well over an hour now and it’s really getting quite cold.”
Paladin tried to ignore the flash of irritation he felt towards his son. He didn’t really have the time to go jaunting off to the inn to retrieve an errant child, but Tina would worry until he was found. And truth to tell, Pal was a little concerned as well. While Pippin was certainly old enough to go off on his own for an afternoon, he was usually considerate enough to tell someone where he was going and when he expected to return. That he hadn’t said anything led Paladin to believe Pippin hadn’t intended to be out this late.
***
“Have you decided on something, then?” Estella asked as Merry approached the counter of the glass-shop once again.
“Yes, thank you, I’ll take this.” He carefully placed a glass cluster of mushrooms on the counter. The glass had been delicately tinted to show the color of the mushrooms and the grass in which they nestled, and Merry thought it an oddly charming little arrangement.
“Very nice selection. I’m sure your aunt will love it.” Estella looked as though she might be laughing at him, although the only outward sign this might be so was a slight crinkling of the eyes.
“Yes, well, I’m sure she will,” Merry replied, suddenly uncertain. What was wrong with it? Aunt Teenie loved mushrooms, nearly as much as cousin Frodo. Accepting the ornament, now wrapped in several layers of soft cloth, he paid and left the store, feeling much less confident than he had moments before.
Back at the Floating Log, he added the bundle to his pack and made his way to the common room, ready for something to eat, a mug of beer, and a pipe before bed.
***
Pippin swam stubbornly back towards consciousness. Awareness came slowly and when it arrived, he changed his mind and decided he wanted nothing to do with it. He was trembling with cold and pain, and he had no idea how long he’d been unconscious. He closed his eyes, wanting nothing more than the oblivion that had been his moments before, but a distant voice in his head warned him that he mustn’t sleep, that if he slept he might never wake again. He couldn’t remember where he’d heard that or if it was even true, but the voice was insistent and it didn’t seem like something he wanted to chance.
Opening his eyes, he took stock of his situation. There was a heavy weight across his chest and legs, and after a long moment’s thought he decided it might be related to the pine needles scratching his face. He had no idea whether it was a whole tree or just a branch, but it was heavy enough to pin him either way. He squirmed experimentally, thinking he might be able to pull himself out from under it, but an intense stabbing pain in his leg caused him to cry out and fall still. He lay for a long moment, panting and trying to get the pain under control so that he could think clearly again. Something was terribly wrong with his leg, that much was now abundantly clear.
***
Grimacing at the thought of going out into the cold, windy evening, Paladin pulled on his cloak, gave Eglantine a kiss and promised her that he would bring their son home. He’d had one of the ponies saddled and was grateful at least that he needn’t walk through the snow. Swinging up into the saddle, he reached down and took the lantern pole that the stable lad held for him.
It was a short ride into Tuckborough and Paladin dismounted in front of the Sheaf and Shears fifteen minutes later. Striding into the inn, he smiled and nodded, acknowledging the greetings of the hobbits gathered there but saw no sign of Pippin. Making his way to the bar, he greeted the barkeep.
“Ho, Andelmar, how goes it?”
“Not so poorly, Mr. Paladin, sir, not so poorly,” a short, fat hobbit answered him. “And what can I be gettin’ ye then?”
“I’m just looking for my son, Andy. Have you seen him tonight?”
“Nay, but I’ve only just come in less’n an hour ago. One of the lads might’ve seen ‘im before that.”
“Thanks, Andy, maybe I will have a beer. Just a half, mind.” Accepting the mug from the barkeep, he scanned the room more carefully, looking to see if any of Pippin’s particular friends were about. Spying several familiar faces, he worked his way through the crowd to their table.
“Hullo, Gordie, Taddo,” he called in greeting, pulling up a chair and joining them. “I’m surprised Pippin’s not here with you tonight.”
“Ah, he was off to the woods today, sir,” Gordie answered. “I was hopin’ to find him here meself, but I s’pose he weren’t in t’mood for a pint.”
“So you talked to him then?” Paladin prompted, taking a sip of his beer.
“Oh, aye. Tried to get him to come have a bit o’ supper with me family but he was too full of snow and woods and dreams, like, to come inside.”
“Have you seen him since?” Paladin asked, a little alarmed by this talk of woods.
“Nay. Why, is sommat amiss?” Gordie looked concerned. “I told him it weren’t a fit day to be out of doors, but he wouldn’t listen.”
Paladin smiled in spite of himself. That was his Pippin, all right. Once he’d got his head ‘round the idea of doing something, nothing short of an act of nature or a decree from on high could stop him from doing it. If Pippin had been intent on a walk in the woods, no enticements of home and hearth would have tempted him to change his mind. Still, he should have been back by now.
“How long ago was this, Gordie? He’s not been back home yet, and his mum’s getting a bit worried.” He tried to downplay the anxiety he was beginning to feel himself.
“Maybe three hours ago?” Gordie seemed unsure of the time.
“Right, I’d best go see if I can find him, then.” Paladin drained his beer and stood up. “Thank you for your help, lad. Have a round on me.” He tossed a few coins on the table and began to work his way to the door.
“Wait, sir,” Gordie called after him. “I’ll come with you. I shouldn’t never’ve let him go off alone, and you shouldn’t go alone neither.”
Paladin had almost reached the door but halted, considering Gordie’s words. “You’re right, and it’s no good haring off without a word to anyone what we’re doing, either. Ho, Tom Greenbanks,” he clapped a sturdy looking hobbit sitting at a nearby table on the shoulder. “I’m in need of a favor. Run up to the Smials and deliver a message to my wife for me, will you? Tell her I’ve taken a few likely lads into the woods to round up Pippin. If we’re not home in an hour or so, I’ll send further word, but I don’t imagine he’s too far off.”
Tom nodded and stood, grabbing his cloak. “That’s me off, then,” he said in farewell to his friends, and left the inn, heading up the hill to Smials.
“Gordie, see if you can round up a few more of Pippin’s friends to help.” Paladin continued. “He’s probably just wool-gathering and I don’t want the whole Shire called out to find him, but the woods are big; it’ll be easier if there’re more of us. I’m going to get a few things and I’ll meet you out by the stables.”
tbc
Chapter Four
Edit: Apparently I had Paladin kissing Esmeralda in one of the above scenes. While that would make for an interesting and possibly quite dramatic story, it's not the one I'm trying to tell here, so I fixed it. *grins*
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-01-30 06:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-30 02:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-30 07:26 am (UTC):)
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Date: 2006-01-30 02:08 pm (UTC)Oh, I don't know. Maybe if we just leave him out in the woods long enough a friendly family of wolves or squirrels will come along, adopt him, and raise him up as their own, lol. Or maybe not. Okay, I'll get him rescued ASAP. Promise. :)
no subject
Date: 2006-01-30 08:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-31 05:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-31 07:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-31 07:43 am (UTC)Poor Pip!
I'm enjoying this because i love potential h/c. ;)
::runs to find PIppin herself:: =)
no subject
Date: 2006-01-31 11:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-31 07:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-31 11:09 am (UTC)