(no subject)

[rabidsamfan]

"I could see if there's a screen somewhere," Bergil offered, and then surprised himself by yawning.

"No, no," Merry said, saying something else private to Pippin with his eyes. "You help Pip and I'll go keep the cooks busy."

"You just want to see what they've brought to eat," Pippin accepted the change in plans cheerfully.

"Of course I do." Merry grinned. He went to put on his trousers and overtunic while Bergil and Pippin started to transfer water from the copper to the tub. He stopped back just as Pippin decided that there was enough and looked over the preparations judiciously. "That's hopeful. Don't leave the floor awash this time, unless you've time to mop," he warned Pippin, and then he took Bergil aside while the younger hobbit began to strip off.

"Remember, you're to stay with Sam and Frodo, unless they send you on an errand," he said so soberly that Bergil wondered if he'd been able to read the letter the King had written after all. It felt funny to have to bend his head down to someone who was giving him instructions in that tone, and Bergil remembered all over again that the hobbits were a lot older than they seemed. Merry was a lot more grownupish than Pippin, at least just at the moment, and Bergil nodded and tried to look just as solemn.

"Yes, Sir Meriadoc," he said, hoping to match the hobbit's mood, and it was the right thing to say because Merry smiled and patted his shoulder.

"You can make sure Pippin washes his hair while you're here," he said, a lot more loudly, aiming the words at his cousin.

"I thought you didn't want the floor awash," Pippin retorted, but Merry just laughed and went on out.



next
*****
So it didn't go the way I thought it would.

Too many phone calls, and distractions, but I think I got all the categories voted for in the GMAs now...