Title & Chapter Number: Hearts in Lothlórien 9/10
Author(s): - Author's Index
Fandom: Middle Earth
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. They are the work of the Masterful Tolkien. Tolkien's the man! Also, I shamelessly stole, er, borrowed the series title from Stephen King's "Hearts in Atlantis." And the chapter title from Simon and Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence." This story, however, is all mine. I make no money off of this and probably should be working on something where I might actually make some money…but here ya' go.
Warnings: Slash, (DUH!)
Betas: Salina
Cast: Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Boromir, Sam, Frodo, Merry, Pippin and Galadriel.
Timeline: TA-AU
Spoilers: None
Summary: Galadriel gets some wisdom from an unexpected place.
Notes: I think Pippin has stuff going on inside his head that even he doesn't know about. I also really like the idea that Pippin has a little hero worship going on for Boromir. More Love to Rebecca for the Beta.
I Will See It Done
~*~*~*~
"'but is all this Company going with you to Minis Tirith?'"
-- The Fellowship of the Ring, JRR Tolkien~*~*~*~
I usually walk along this riverbank in the evenings. I find it is a good way to unwind from my evening councils with my husband and various other appointed Elves of Lothlorien. It is usually peaceful and relaxing here, allowing my mind to sort out the day's activities and plan for tomorrow. Sometimes it is so quiet along this riverbank that I find myself wandering back along the path of memories.
Tonight, however, is not one of those nights.
I can both hear and see them long before they are aware of my presence. The Man coming towards me down the path is most definitely Boromir. There are only two Men in my lands at the moment and they have very different ways of carrying themselves. Boromir always walks with his shoulders squared and his head up. I noticed this on the day that I walked with him to the evening meal. This night his shoulders seem to have dropped a little and his walk is quick, as if trying to outrun some unknown fear that chases him.
As they come into earshot, I find that he is indeed being chased, but not by any unknown fear. Instead, by a Hobbit.
Pippin Took.
The Hobbit hurries alongside of Boromir, not at all daunted by the Man's quick walk. He keeps a continuous chatter all the time.
"Is your brother older or younger, Boromir?"
"Younger," Boromir replies, the edge to his voice quite obvious to me, though his companion takes no notice.
"I would've loved to have had a little brother of my own. I mean, Merry's practically a brother anyway, but he's older, which means he gets to boss me around, so that's no fun for me really. And my sisters boss me around a lot too. Does someone boss you around, Boromir? Probably not. You're practically a King. Who would boss a King around?"
"My father," Boromir mutters.
"Well, of course your father," Pippin carries on. "Everyone gets bossed around by their da'. Then your da' says, 'when you get older and have your own kids, then you can tell them what to do. Until then, my House, my Rules!' and some such stuff."
Boromir notices me approaching them now and I think I see him roll his eyes at me.
Pippin continues, unaware of me because he is constantly looking up at Boromir. I wonder how he can walk like that without falling over.
"But I don't want to have kids. No, I don't have anything against kids," he says, as if someone has asked him a question. "I like kids, but I don't want to get married. At least not to a wife. Do you want to marry a girl, Boromir?"
Boromir lets out a long and exasperated sigh. "I've never really thought about it, Pippin. Too much time at war, I guess."
"Well, you should think about it. In the Shire that's all we have to think about for our futures. Get married, have babies, grow old. Sounds boring to me."
Pippin stops walking and it takes Boromir a moment to notice. When he realizes that the constant chatter has stopped, he turns around to face the Hobbit, and I see a look of grave concern on Boromir's face.
"Pippin? What is the trouble, little one?" he asks.
"It doesn't sound so boring anymore," Pippin whispers.
Boromir gets down on one knee and looks Pippin square in the eyes. "You will get back there someday, Pippin. You will."
"How do you know?" Pippin asks.
Boromir moves his face closer to Pippin's, until they are a mere breath apart. I strain to hear his words.
"I will see it done."
I watch as Pippin's face lights up with a smile. Boromir stands up and turns to face me.
"Pippin, I think we have company."
Pippin looks in my direction and blushes. "I didn't see you there, my Lady."
Boromir nods his head at me in respect. Pippin watches and then does the same.
"Boromir," I ask, "would you mind if I steal your friend for a little while?"
I see a hint of relief in his eyes. "No, not at all, my Lady."
I look down at the Hobbit. "Pippin, I would love an escort back to my chambers. Would you do me the honor?"
"But of course, my Lady," he replies. "And the honor is all mine."
Boromir nods his head in approval at Pippin's manners. Pippin blushes and looks away.
"I will leave you then," Boromir says. "My Lady. Pippin."
Boromir continues on down the path and Pippin and I turn to head back to my chambers.
"Pippin, tell me, are you receiving sword training from Boromir as I saw that your cousin is?" I ask him.
"Of course. Boromir says we have to learn to protect ourselves. That everyone's first concern is for Frodo and they need to know that we are safe as well. Then he rambles on about not always being there to help us, and how he would suffer no end of guilt if something were to happen to Merry and I. I think he means to take us to Gondor with him."
"And would you go to Gondor with him?"
Pippin shrugs. "That would be my choice. I want to stay with Boromir. To meet his brother and his father. To see the White City."
I can hear the excitement in his voice as he speaks.
"But you have not made a decision yet?" I ask.
"No, well, Merry hasn't. He says we need to stick with Frodo for as long as we can."
"You know, Pippin," I say, "just because Merry chooses Mordor, does not mean that you have too. You could go to Gondor without Merry."
I hear Pippin laugh and I look down at him with a questioning face. As soon as he looks at me, Pippin's expression turns serious.
"Oh," he whispers, "you were not joking. I thought you were."
"Why would that be a joke?" I ask.
"Merry and I being separated? For the obvious reason, of course. It has never happened. Not for more than three days at a time. That is the longest that we have ever been apart."
I am shocked, "You can't be serious?"
"Merry is like air for me. If he's not there, I can't breathe. He is older and smarter than me, so wherever he says we should go, I will go. Though I do so want to see Gondor."
"You are much older and smarter than you give yourself credit for," I tell him.
We walk in silence for a while. I feel his small hand reach for mine and I grasp it. It reminds me of the days when I would walk with Arwen by this riverbank. Pippin's hand is soft like a child, but the fingers are already calloused from his sword.
"Can I ask you something, Pippin?"
"Always," he replies.
"Is there nothing that you are afraid of on this Quest?"
He is silent for a long moment. At last, he replies, "There are many things that I am afraid of. But then I think of what Frodo's task is, what lays out in front of him, and I think that anything I must endure will never even come close to what he carries with him. And I know he will never be rid of it. Even when it is gone, he will still carry that weight around his neck. So if I am afraid, at least I know my Shadow will break. I doubt that Frodo's ever will."
I am impressed by such wisdom from one so small and innocent.
"And how do you know that Frodo will triumph?" I ask him.
Pippin smiles. "Because he is Frodo. And because he has Sam."
Pippin tugs on my hand until I look down at his face. There is a dark depth to his eyes that I had not noticed before. And a light shining somewhere down in those depths that threatens to break free and light his whole face.
"And though I may be but a small Hobbit, whatever there is to do."
He nods at me. "I will see it done."
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