Not Quite Like Old Times

~The 30th of Foreyule, 1427 S.R.~

Snow fell lightly from the pale indigo sky, dotting the ground with little star-like flakes that faded away into the warmth of the earth almost instantly. It was the tail end of Foreyule, the twelfth month of the year, and always a chilly time, but it was not often the Shire got snow. Peregrin Took dwelled on this only briefly as he meandered through Hobbiton in the evening, looking around at the closed inns and brightly lit hobbit-holes, at the small, closed blossoms of gardens awaiting spring, lined with frost. The town was quieter than he’d ever seen it, though this was to be expected at such on hour on the eve before Yule. He shivered just slightly and tugged a little on his cloak as his scarf Diamond had knitted for him trailed over his back in the wintry breeze. Tucked under his arm was a bundle of pine branches and a neatly wrapped package. Over his shoulder hung a small bag containing a few more similar (if smaller) packages. He hurried down the path as a gust of wind blew snowflakes into his unruly hair, causing his teeth to chatter a bit.

He turned a corner onto Bagshot Row, smiling despite the cold blast of air that hit him in the back as the wind changed direction. Snow was starting to stick to the ground, forming a thin layer over the grassy hills. Pippin moved on, his feet making little imprints on the now snowy path, to the hill at the end of the road, set slightly apart from the other hobbit holes. There lay Bag End, its chimney puffing out warm plumes of smoke, the tall tree behind it looking solemn and strong against the winter background. Before the round door, hands tucked under each arm and shivering madly, stood Meriadoc Brandybuck, looking cold and annoyed.

“There you are!” he hissed under his breath as Pippin drew close. “I’ve been waiting for almost ten minutes! What took you so long?” His breath swirled out in a misty cloud, mingling with the snowflakes that had now covered his head.

“Sorry,” said Pippin, unable to hide his amused smile. “I had some business to take care of. You understand.”

“Couldn’t you have taken care of it later?” grumbled Merry, but he too grinned and gave Pippin a playful shove. “Come on, let’s hurry and go in.”

“Where are the ladies?” said Pippin, looking around with a confused expression. “Weren’t they meeting us here?”

“Yes, well, Rosie had them come in,” answered Merry, looking slightly reproachful about the fact. “Apparently they had some story about needing to borrow something. Sam won’t notice.”

“No indeed, it’s his turn to watch the children tonight, isn’t it?” said Pippin with a laugh. “He may not even notice us in there.”

“Either that or he’s forgotten what we look like,” chuckled Merry. “It’s been so bloody long. This is the first week I’ve had off from my Master-duties in Buckland.”

“Oh come, nothing compared to what I’ve had to do,” sighed Pippin. “Trust me, the role of Thain isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. But let’s argue about that inside. My feet are going numb.”

“Your feet,” muttered Merry as he stepped up to the door. “Ask me about my feet, and then we’ll talk. The only way I know they’re still there is by glancing down every so often.” He raised a gloved fist and rapped gently on the door of Bag End. Inside the pair heard some muffled talking, and a bit of movement as someone approached the door. Out of the corner of his eye Merry saw Rosie glance out the window and nod to someone at the entryway. Moments later, the door swung open, revealing the grinning Estella Brandybuck.

“Well, what a surprise,” she said teasingly.

“What a relief,” countered Merry, and he stepped in, caught her in his arm and kissed her deeply, all in one movement. Pippin stepped around them casually, shaking snow out of his hair as his wife approached him.

“Hullo Diamond, my dear,” he said, kissing her cheek as he set down his bag and bundle of sticks by the wall. “I can’t thank you enough for this wonderful scarf you’ve made—it does wonders in this weather. My neck was the only warm part of me.”

“Well that’s good at least,” she said, helping him out of his cloak and hanging it up on one of the nearby hooks.

“Merry, Estella, behave yourselves, there are children in the house,” said Rosie, coming up to join them. “Quickly now you two, into the parlor. Elanor’s managed to keep Sam distracted long enough, he’ll be coming soon.”

“Good, good,” said Merry, stepping away from his wife and rubbing his gradually warming hands together.

“Can we eat after that? I’m starving,” said Pippin hopefully as he followed into the warm, fire-lit parlor of Bag End.

“Of course, of course,” laughed Rosie. “Let’s see, how to make him jump… Stella, Diamond, you two sit down at the table, I’m pretty certain he thinks you’re gone by now. Merry, Pippin, why don’t you two hide somewhere. I’ll leave your antics up to you.”

“But of course, Rosie-dear,” said Merry with a mockingly regal air. “We must make sure your youngest learns much about living up to his namesake.”

“Oh indeed, try not to corrupt him too much yet,” sighed Rosie. “Hide and be quiet now, I’ll run and get him.”

Pippin darted over behind a wardrobe and waited, grinning in anticipation. Merry ran a hand through his hair, making a useless attempt to smooth it, and calmly climbed down under the table and lay there in wait. Estella and Diamond sat at the table, ignoring their childlike husbands nonchalantly. Distantly they heard the wearied voice of Sam down the hall, no doubt being dragged by his three children who were old enough to walk, who were all chattering excitedly. Rosie entered the room, beaming in anticipation of Sam’s reaction to his unexpected guests, holding the newborn Merry Gamgee in the crook of her arm. The four year old Frodo dashed around the corner in pursuit of his mother, grinning from ear to ear. He saw Merry under the table and giggled happily. Merry smiled slightly and put a finger to his lips. Frodo nodded conspiratorially and returned the gesture, turning to watch his sisters lead his father into the room, pulling him by the wrists.

“All right, all right, I’m in the parlor—hello Stella, Diamond, didn’t expect you were still here—what’s all this about?”

The six year old Elanor giggled much like her brother had, catching sight of Pippin behind the wardrobe. He grinned and made the same gesture Merry had. Rosie, only two and already on her feet, tugged her father’s sleeve.

“Dada, si’dow!” she demanded in her garbled language only a parent could understand.

“Come now children, let your father relax,” said the elder Rosie, shooing them away from her husband. “Do sit down, Sam.” She positioned a chair very deliberately facing away from the wardrobe.

“I’m sitting, I’m sitting!” said Sam with a laugh. “Come now, what’s going on? Are we having dinner guests?” He glanced curiously at Estella and Diamond, who both smiled mischievously.

“You could say that,” said Pippin, suddenly stepping out from his hiding spot. “Oh now, Sam, don’t look so shocked. I had to come by sooner or later.”

“Truly, it’s been so long I thought I’d burst!” cried Sam, leaping to his feet in happiness. He ran forward to embrace his long-missed friend. “So you’ve all been conspiring against me… I’d thought there’d been an awful lot of whispering going on!” He laughed and parted from Pippin, glancing at Estella. “And where’s Merry?” he inquired. “It wouldn’t be dinner without him!”

“On the contrary, it actually would be a dinner without him,” said Estella slyly. “Diamond and I haven’t been feeding them, you see.”

“They’re bound to eat everything in the house,” chimed in Diamond, drawing a lighthearted snort from Pippin.

“Is that a fact?” said Sam, suppressing a laugh. “Well, we can’t have that now, can we? Looks like Mr. Pippin will simply have to watch.”

“I very much doubt you’ll succeed in that attempt, Samwise Gamgee,” said Pippin with a dry chuckle.

“Momma, can we get the rolls out now?” begged Elanor, tugging on Rosie’s dress.

“Yes, my dear, of course,” said Rosie. “They’re on the table in the kitchen.” Elanor hurried out, followed closely by her brother and sister.

“I trust you’ll be passing one of those down here,” said an unmistakable voice from underneath the table. “As Estella has been feeding me, but apparently they never taught Bolgers how to cook…”

“Oh hush, it was one pie!” said Estella, kicking Merry even as she laughed. He emerged from under the table, smiling, quite proud of himself.

“Hullo Sam,” he said cheerfully.

“What are you doing!” Sam laughed, pulling his companion out from under the table and hugging him tightly. “Trying to scare me, are you?”

“Nonsense, everyone knows you’re the most un-scareable hobbit in all the Shire,” said Merry, winking.

“Well, I don’t know about that,” said Rosie wryly. “Four children later and he still jumps at the prospect of a pregnant wife.” This caused the six hobbits to break into gales of laughter. Merry Gamgee laughed happily as well, for no reason save the cheery mood he was surrounded by. Elanor, Frodo and Rosie darted into the room, Elanor and Frodo each holding a dish of freshly-baked rolls, Rosie holding a little cup of butter in an unsteady hand. Their mother began to set the table with the assistance of Estella and Diamond, who steadfastly refused any assistance from their husbands or the children. Sam, Merry, and Pippin had moved over to the center of the room, warmed by the fire. Merry cradled the newest Gamgee in his arms, periodically tickling his tiny feet or talking to him in a high-pitched, childlike voice. Sam and Pippin watched this in amusement as Elanor and Rosie sat on the floor between them, watching the crackling flames. Frodo sat on his father’s lap, occasionally bombarding Pippin or Merry with numerous questions regarding their illustrious pasts. A feeling of contentment settled over the room.

“It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?” said Pippin softly after a while, leaning back slightly. Sam and Merry both knew he didn’t mean since their last meeting.

“Yes,” said Sam. “It has.” He stared into the fire, lost in memories.

“We really ought to visit Minas Tirith sometime,” said Merry. “We should arrange something. It’d be nice to see everyone again under present circumstances. It seems like the last time we were all together we were trying to save the world.”

“I suppose so,” said Sam thoughtfully. “But we’ve all been to Minas Tirith together before. I mean, it’s a nice place and all, very lovely, and formal. But it’d be nice to meet here for a meal sometime, if you follow me.”

“That it would,” said Pippin. “Too bad they’re all so busy… and so far away.”

“So are we,” said Merry with a shrug.

“You know what I mean.”

“Well, it would cause suspicions if tall folk came up here,” rationalized Sam. “That’s probably the chief reason.”

Merry and Pippin nodded and the three of them lapsed back into silence. Presently Frodo looked up at his father in confusion. “What’s Minas Tiwif, dada?”

Sam looked affectionately down at his son, then up at Merry and Pippin, who both grinned. “Well now, for starters…” he said slowly, “Minas Tirith is a place far, far away.”

“As faw as Buckwand?” asked Frodo, looking awed.

Merry stifled a laugh just barely. Pippin and Sam looked at each other with amused expressions. “I think it’s a touch farther than Buckland, my lad,” Sam said with a wink.

“Wow,” said Frodo in wonderment. “That’s faw!”

“Indeed it is,” said Sam. “And it’s the most beautiful place you could ever imagine. As beautiful as elf-country, even!”

“Mowre beautiful than the gahden?” asked Frodo, looking even more awed.

Sam smiled a far-off smile, gazing at his son’s bright blue eyes that were so reminiscent of his namesake. “No…” he said. “Not quite as beautiful as that.”

“Have you ever been there, dada?”

“Oh, once, before you were born. It’s quite nice. I might just take you someday!” He winked and ran a hand through his son’s reddish curls. Frodo beamed, looking positively ecstatic with this news.

“Frodo-lad, have you washed your hands?” asked Rose, walking into the room. Frodo turned to her excitedly.

“Momma, momma!” he cried. “Dada’s taking me to Minas Tiwif!”

“Oh?” said his mother, arching her eyebrow at Sam with a sly smile. “Telling tall tales again, are we Sam?”

“Not that tall,” protested Sam with a shrug. “I meant in several years, perhaps.”

Pippin shook his head. “Gamgees,” he said with mocking condescension.

Merry nodded in agreement. “Give them an inch and they’ll take a furlong.”

“No helping them,” said Pippin. “And Cottons are just as bad, aren’t they Rosie?”

“Certainly we are,” she said absently as she returned to the kitchen.

“A furlong?” repeated Sam with a laugh. “Where did you come up with that?”

“I have not the slightest idea,” said Merry calmly, leaning back with the now sleeping Merry Gamgee.

“Well in any case, we Gamgees and Cottons aren’t nearly as bad as you Tooks or Brandybucks,” said Sam. “You get a few fancy clothes and call yourselves knights!”

“Oh indeed, we are terrible,” admitted Diamond as she set down a platter of apples.

“And what of we Bolgers?” said Estella cleverly, pouring tea in the cups at the table. “I was one of those once, if you remember.”

Merry, Pippin and Sam all looked at each other as if pondering this for a moment. Pippin and Sam nodded in some sort of silent agreement, then turned to Merry patiently. He nodded as well, looking as if he would allow their unspoken decision. “Oh, they’re all right,” he said.

“Quite harmless, in fact,” Pippin chimed in.

“Lousy cooks,” said Merry.

“If you insist on going on about that one pie incident, I shall become quite a bit less harmless,” chided Estella with a mischievous smile, swiping Merry lightly on the back of the head as she walked back toward the kitchen.

“And cracking temperamental!” added Merry loudly as she left.

“And well armed!” she responded, holding a rolling pin over her shoulder. Merry, wisely, quieted, drawing delighted snickers from Pippin and Sam.

“All right, we’re about ready,” said Rosie, wiping her hands on her apron as she re-entered the parlor. “Children, hurry up and wash your hands. You too, Pippin, Merry.”

“Yes mum,” said Elanor, Frodo and Rosie in unison.

“Yes ma’am,” said Pippin and Merry, also in unison, standing to follow the children. Sam took his youngest in his arms, turning to the dinner table.

“This looks amazing!” he exclaimed. “You’re a wonder, Rosie-dear.” He kissed his wife lightly on the cheek, but she paid him little mind, still looking distracted.

“Thank you, dear, whatever you say,” she said vaguely. “Oh! Just let me get the roast chicken.”

“Roast chicken?” Sam said. “Goodness, I didn’t know we were having that! Hold on, I won’t be a moment!” Depositing his son in the arms of Diamond, he hurried out of the room.

“Whatever could he be up to?” wondered Estella.

“It’s anyone’s guess,” said Diamond with a shrug. “Speaking of which, where are our husbands?”

“I haven’t the faintest idea,” said Estella, turning to call up the hallway. “Pippin! Merry! Honestly, how long does it take to wash your hands?”

“Coming!” sang Merry from the washroom. Soon enough, the pair emerged, led by the three elder Gamgee children.

“Aye, where’s Sam run off to?” asked Merry, looking around the room.

“Never mind him, look at all this food!” cried Pippin, looking in awe at the table. Rosie entered at that moment with a platter of chicken, and the irrepressible Took turned to her with an eager expression. “Goodness me, Rose, I could just kiss you!”

“Peregrin, you forget your place,” said Diamond slyly, coming up behind him.

“Well, I assumed it’d be all right, seeing how you’ve taken in Sam’s youngest and all,” joked Pippin, indicating the slowly waking baby in his wife’s arms.

“Oh, dreadfully sorry, I’ll take him,” said Rosie, taking her infant in her arms and rocking him gently. The babe yawned and made a soft, contented noise.

“He’s much less trouble than you, Merry,” said Estella.

“He’ll learn,” Merry assured her.

“I say Rosie, you aren’t going to have a Pippin running around here soon, are you?” asked Pippin, arching an eyebrow.

Rose laughed. “Well, Sam and I have agreed that the next lad who enters this family will indeed bear that name,” she said, “so you may rest assured.”

Pippin smiled. “You should too, while you still can. Trust me… if that happens, you will not ever rest again.”

“I’m back!” announced Sam, running into the parlor with a little pouch clutched in his hand. Rosie gave it a passing glance and smiled subtly, then ushered her children to the table where Pippin and Merry were already standing, both gaping in delight. Once the nine of them had been seated, Sam leaned forward with his pouch and emptied the contents over the chicken.

“Wassat, dada?” asked Frodo curiously.

“These are seasonings, my lad,” said Sam reverently, dropping the pouch by his plate. “Very special seasonings. They came from Gondor.”

“Did they now?” said Pippin interestedly, his mouth already full. “When was this?”

“It was some time after the ceremonies,” said Sam, helping the young Rosie load her plate. “After Stri—sorry, Aragorn was crowned King. I was just wandering around, looking at some of the gardens just outside the city. One of the villagers gave them to me in thanks. I tried not to accept them, but she was very insistent.”

“And you’ve saved it all this time?” said Merry, taking a swig of the wine Rose had brought out.

“Well, I thought this was a special night, if you take me,” said Sam with a shrug. “We’re all together for the first time in ages, and what with it being Yule tomorrow… I thought it’d be a nice touch.”

“That it was, Sam,” said Diamond with a smile, helping herself to the newly seasoned chicken. “That it was.”

“It’s bloody delicious!” Pippin exclaimed in a garbled tone full of bread and chicken. “And to think,”—here he swallowed,—“you’ve been hiding it all this time!”

“Pippin, don’t talk with your mouth full,” scolded Estella, slapping Pippin’s wrist lightly. “It’s terribly rude. You don’t want to be a bad influence on the children now, do you?”

Pippin shook his head obediently. “No ma’am, dreadfully sorry,” he said in a meek voice.

“Could you move in with us, Stella?” mused Diamond with a sip of her tea. “He never listens to me when I tell him that.”

“Ahgudoo!” Pippin protested, his mouth already full again.

“Pippin,” reminded Estella, and he quieted. This produced a merry laugh from the group (although Pippin proceeded to choke briefly on a potato).

“Rosie, this pie is magnificent,” remarked Merry as he helped himself to another slice. “Extraordinarily better than my wife’s, I can tell you that.”

“Need I remind you, Merry,” said Estella calmly, not averting her eyes from her food as she cut it meticulously, “that I have a fork right here.”

“Right you are,” said Merry. “Forgive me Rosie, I lied. Your pie is simply dreadful.” He promptly took another large mouthful of it.

“Rosie has a fork too, my dear.”

“Very well,” said Merry as he swallowed. “Both your pies are equaled in perfection.”

“Much better,” laughed Estella. “I daresay you’re learning.”

“Oh am I? Dear me, terribly sorry, remind me to put a stop to that…”

The meal carried on for a time as the hobbits talked cheerfully about a variety of things, past and future, and many times they broke into joyful laughter. Indeed all of them thought at one point that it was more than they’d each laughed in a long time.

Later on, after the food was nearly gone (Rose had insisted that Merry and Pippin spare some after finishing an entire plate of mushrooms), the group spread out closer to the fire. Merry Gamgee lay in his mother’s arms, again comfortably asleep. Rosie sat on Diamond’s lap as Diamond absently braided her long brown curls. Frodo and Elanor sat on the rug, watching the fire again as it began to cool down to embers and occasionally talking to each other or giggling in happy voices. Estella watched them with a small smile, sometimes looking contentedly at her husband, who, without ever looking at her and yet seeming to know her gaze, would sip his tea and smile with closed eyes, a secret and satisfied smile that bore the sense of belonging to something they alone knew about. Sam stared into the fire, sometimes looking happily at his children, and Pippin leaned back as though asleep, his hands folded on his gently rising chest. Little was said in comparison to the dinner, and yet the feeling of relaxation and happiness that had been felt all through the night remained intact.

Presently Rosie glanced at the dying fire. “We ought to get the fire back up,” she said, starting to stand.

“Oh, don’t get up,” said Pippin, opening his eyes suddenly and getting to his feet. “I came prepared for that very need. I’ve got some wood in the front hallway. Hold on, I shall return shortly.” No one caught the little wink he sent his wife as he said this.

“Well thank you, Pippin!” Rosie said, pleased. “That’s very gentlemanly of you.”

“How rare,” muttered Diamond with a dry chuckle.

“You could learn from your cousin, Merry,” sighed Estella. Merry snorted, but other than this made no movement to acknowledge this, continuing to sip his tea very slowly.

“It’s no trouble at all, really,” said Pippin cheerfully to Rosie. Suddenly he paused, seeming to have a thought come to him. “Elanor,” he said, turning to the small, golden-haired lass. “Could you give me a hand, perhaps?”

“Sure!” Elanor obliged, springing to her feet. Diamond grinned, able to guess what her husband was up to.

Pippin and Elanor left the parlor, coming to the hallway at the front door where Pippin’s bag lay with the wood. He knelt down to pick up the bundle of pine, shifting the large package he’d been carrying under his arm so it fell into Elanor’s view.

“Oh!” exclaimed Elanor. “What’s this?”

“Well I don’t know,” said Pippin, putting on a puzzled expression. He pointed to a small label on the package. “Can you read that?”

Elanor peered closely at the flowing script on the label, discerning one small word. She worked it out gradually: “S… Sam. That’s my father!”

“Why so it is!” said Pippin with an excited smile. “Well, that must mean it’s his! Why don’t you take it to him?”

“All right!” said Elanor happily, lifting the package in her arms. “It’s so heavy!”

“Be careful then, it might be fragile!” warned Pippin. Nodding, Elanor ran back into the parlor, carrying the large package in her little arms. Laughing softly, Pippin tucked the firewood under his arm and slung the bag over his shoulder, following the eldest Gamgee child back to the others.

“Daddy!” Elanor cried, running up to her surprised father. “Look what we found!” Carefully, she set the package down in his lap.

“Oh my, whatever could this be?” asked Sam, looking up at Pippin with a pleasantly startled expression.

“We found it in the hallway,” explained Pippin, grinning as he set down his bundle of pine branches. “It’s got your name on it, so we thought it must be yours.”

The children all looked expectantly at their father—the adults exchanged smiles. Merry took another slow sip of his tea, raising his eyebrows just slightly and glancing abstractedly at the bag over Pippin’s shoulder, the contents of which were just barely visible.

“Come on daddy, open it, open it!” said Elanor, bouncing eagerly.

“Indeed, go on Sam,” prodded Rosie, tapping her husband’s shoulder playfully. “Don’t keep us all in suspense.”

“Well, all right,” said Sam with a smile. “Wait now, here’s a note…” He took the small attached piece of parchment in hand and scanned it briefly. He glanced up at Pippin, who was barely suppressing a laugh, and raised an eyebrow in playful testiness. “Peregrin Took, you old rascal,” he said. Rosie leaned over Sam’s shoulder and laughed.

“Oh dear me, what’s he done know?” sighed Merry, extending a hand. Shaking his head, Sam passed on the note. Merry looked at it for a while, idly sipping his drink. The note read, plainly:

“Sam—you owe me a drink and a tree behind my house. Lovingly, your own personal fool of a Took.”

Merry chuckled and read the note aloud. The children, seemingly shocked, looked up at Pippin. “It’s fwom you, Mistah Pippin?” said Frodo.

Pippin nodded, quite pleased with himself. “I’m not so sure about the drink, Sam, but I’ve certainly been wanting a tree for quite some time.”

“I’ll check and see if there are any seeds left,” chuckled Sam.

Pippin grinned, then gestured to the package. “Go on,” he said. “Open it, would you?”

“All right, all right,” sighed Sam, blushing just a little. Seeming almost nervous, he carefully pulled off the brown paper the gift had been wrapped in, allowing it to fall to the ground where Frodo proceeded to play around with it, grinning from ear to ear. Sam gaped in astonishment at the bright, silver object lying with the wrapping that shone as it caught light from the embers of the fire. Many times he made a vain attempt to speak, looking continually back and forth between Pippin and the gift, absolutely speechless.

Pippin watched him with his arms folded in a satisfied manner. “Well?” he prompted after a moment. “What do you think?”

“It’s…” Sam stammered at last, continuing to stare at the object. “Pippin! It’s… it’s the most… I… it’s so… what is it?”

Pippin laughed—he had been waiting for this question. “Oh, it’s nothing really,” he said. “Just sort of a desk ornament. I thought you might like to have it around in case you ever get to writing any more books.”

“Nothing!” Sam repeated. “You call this nothing? Pippin, it’s… it’s beautiful!” Finally he held it up. It was a long, ornate, delicately swirling thing crafted of glass and silver, adorned with flowing Elvish letters along the sides of it. Sam held it in his large, gentle hands as though terrified he would shatter it merely by touching it.

“Don’t worry about breaking it, Sam, it’s very strong despite it’s look,” Pippin assured him. “I thought you’d like it.”

“Like it?” exclaimed Sam. “Pippin, it’s amazing! I love it!” He handed it gently to Rosie, who took it and admired it’s intricate shape with a bright smile, and he embraced Pippin tightly. “Where in the world did you get a thing like that?”

“I had it specially made in Minas Tirith,” said Pippin proudly. Sam’s mouth dropped open and he stared at his friend in utter shock. “Specially made?” he cried. “Just for me? But… but Pippin, that must have cost a fortune!”

“Nonsense, Lord Faramir was quite pleased to be of assistance,” Pippin said with a smile. “Just enjoy it, Sam. That’s all I ask.”

Sam beamed at his friend. “Thank you, my dear Pippin,” he said. “Goodness, this merits a whole forest behind your house! I will treasure this.”

In the midst of the warm conversation, Merry, who had continued to eye Pippin’s bag, took yet another sip of tea and reached out swiftly, swiping at something in the bag. Pippin jumped and turned quickly, clutching the bag and looking at Merry with a surprised smile.

“I beg your pardon!” he said. “Getting curious, are we? I thought I was the inquisitive one.”

“No one beats a Brandybuck,” said Merry with a shrug. “What are you hiding in there?”

Pippin gave an overdramatic sigh. “Oh, very well,” he said. “I was going to have to get to these sooner or later.” He set the bag down on the floor and knelt by it, pulling out each item one by one. “Let’s see…” he said, “You Merry, Estella, Elanor, the two Rosies, Frodo, my lovely wife, the other Merry… right, that’s everyone.” Everyone watched him in dazed surprise as he set out the seven packages before himself.

“You bwought mowre pwesents, Mistah Pippin!” said Frodo excitedly, jumping with delight.

“Indeed I did,” said Pippin. “Let’s see, how to do this in the proper order… here, we’ll have the Rosie gift first.” He stood up with a small box and handed it to the elder Rosie. “This is for both of you,” he said.

Rosie smiled in thanks and unwrapped it, revealing it to be a matching pair of rose-pendent necklaces, one smaller than the other. “Oh, they’re wonderful!” said Rosie, hugging Pippin before turning to her two year old and slipping the necklace over her little head. “Thank you so much, Pippin. You really shouldn’t have.”

“Telling Pippin he shouldn’t do something is like telling a tree to shrink,” said Merry. “No matter how many times you do it, the opposite will always happen.”

“For you, Merry,” said Pippin, ignoring this comment with a smirk, “a little something straight from Rohan.”

“Oh dear, not another specially made item, I hope?” Merry said lightly as he opened the small package.

“Indeed not,” said Pippin. “No, I picked that up the first time I ever went there and, after many years of deliberation, have finally decided to give it to you.”

Somewhat surprised, Merry drew out of the brown paper a small, golden, horse-shaped brooch. He gave Pippin a perfectly deadpan look. “I wondered where this had gone.”

Pippin shifted his weight. “Ah yes, well,” he said, looking a trifle embarrassed, “I sort of stole it, as you can see. Was trying to figure out a way to give it back without you noticing when Gandalf took me off to Minas Tirith, where I forgot about it until roughly a month ago. Sorry about that.”

Merry nodded dryly, the smiled a half smile, absently pinning the brooch to his vest.

“What is it?” inquired Estella.

“It’s something Éomer gave me to signify my entrance into the Rohirrim,” said Merry. “A small token, to be sure, but I’d always been sorry I’d lost it.”

Pippin shrugged, wearing his endearing, hopelessly silly smile. Merry shook his head and went back to sipping his tea, smiling in subtle affection.

“For Elanor, something your father would probably think to give you, were he not so busy with all his mayor duties and whatnot.” Pippin handed the smiling young Gamgee the smallest box.

“Thank you, Mr. Pippin!” she said happily. Opening her gift, she pulled out a single tiny prism, in which a small, yellow flower was preserved. She gasped in amazement and looked up at him, grinning her thanks, then turned to her father. “Daddy, look!” he exclaimed, holding forth her gift. “It’s my flower, it’s my flower!”

Sam smiled warmly at Pippin as he saw this was true—in the prism was a single tiny elanor blossom.

“It’s perfect,” said Sam proudly. “We’ll have to hang that in your room.” Elanor nodded, silent with enchantment in her gift.

“And now for Estella, because I know Merry will never get you one,” said Pippin, holding up a soft package that appeared to contain some sort of rolled up cloth. Estella opened it to reveal a brightly colored tapestry.

“I was going to get one of those!” proclaimed Merry loudly, thrusting a triumphant finger in the air.

“I’m quite sure,” sighed Estella, “seeing as how I told only Pippin I’d wanted one of these wall-hangings since I was young.”

Merry looked confused. “Why?”

“Because I knew you’d never get me one.”

Merry considered this for a minute, then took another sip of tea. “Makes sense,” he said.

Estella smiled up at the Took. “Thank you dearly, Pippin,” she said. “This will go wonderfully in our bedroom.”

Pippin inclined his head slightly in a sort of bow, then reached for two small identical boxes. “These are for the Gamgee lads,” he said, “though little Merry will have to wait until he’s a touch older.”

“Wow, tank you, Mistah Pippin!” said Frodo enthusiastically as he opened his package. He withdrew a small, intricate model of a great white city, which he gazed at in wonder. “Is dis Minas Tiwif?” he asked in excitement.

Pippin nodded. “The one and only,” he said. “I carved that myself. Took me a whole week.”

“Oh goodness Pippin, this is too much!” cried Rosie, inspecting the beautiful model of the city. “You be right careful with that, Frodo-lad.”

Frodo nodded eagerly. “Yes momma,” he said.

“Merry’s is similar—it’s a model of Edoras,” he said. “I didn’t make that one, though. Éomer was quite helpful in that regard.”

“You certainly put a lot of time into these,” remarked Diamond.

“’Twas the least I could do for such wonderful hobbits as yourselves,” answered Pippin as he turned to his wife, picking up the final package. “And now at last for my dearest Diamond,” he said with a grin, handing her the small box. “I hope it pleases you.”

Diamond cocked her head in curiosity as she unwrapped her gift. In it was a tiny black box. She stared at it in astonishment, then looked up at Pippin.

“You didn’t.”

“I did.”

“Oh Pippin, that’s wonderful!” Diamond leapt up and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him close and kissing his cheek. “Thank you so much.”

“You haven’t even opened it yet!” laughed Pippin. “Go on, look and see.”

Smiling merrily, Diamond opened the box to reveal a small ring set with three sparkling sapphires that matched her eyes. She sighed in happiness, taking it out and admiring it. “It’s beautiful,” she said.

“Here,” said Pippin, starting to laugh a little. He took the ring from her and held her right hand, getting down on one knee. “Diamond North-took,” he said reverently, “will you marry me?” He slipped the ring on her fourth finger. She laughed and pulled him up, kissing him firmly. “Of course I will, you silly Took,” she giggled. “A thousand times over.”

“What’s all this?” asked Estella, looking surprised at the pair.

“Weren’t you two married five months ago?” said Merry dazedly. “I remember that, I got cracking drunk.”

“As did we all,” said Pippin. “Yes, we did get married, but when I asked her to marry me there was no ring involved. The circumstances didn’t allow for much preparation, you see.”

“Ah yes, you jumped her the question in the middle of the night somewhere if I remember correctly, right?” said Sam.

“At Everard Took’s birthday party, yes,” Pippin said. “I was so flustered at the time I didn’t know much what else to do. But I thought it would never be too late for a ring.” He grinned at his wife, who smiled and leaned her head against him happily.

“Well my goodness, Pippin,” said Estella, leaning back in her seat. “This is all quite wonderful and unexpected. I only wish we all had something to give to you.”

Pippin shook his head. “I have that lovely scarf,” he said with a wink. “And besides, I need nothing more than to be with five of the most important people in my life on such a night.” He smiled affectionately at all of them.

“Well that’s all any of us would need, but it’s the principle of the matter,” said Estella, folding her arms.

“Honestly, I don’t need anything,” Pippin assured her. “Oh dear, let me get to that fire before it goes out.” He knelt hastily and started putting the pine branches onto the embers, gradually rekindling the flames. Elanor sat and watched him for just a moment, then jumped up as an idea came to her.

“Wait!” she said. “I’ve got something for Mr. Pippin. Wait here!” Quickly she turned and ran out of the room down the hall, leaving Sam and Rosie looking at each other with half amused, half quizzical expressions. Pippin sighed and shook his head with a small smile, turning from the now crackling fire back to his seat. Elanor ran back in excitedly, clutching something in her small hand. She ran up to Pippin and held out her fist.

“Hold out your hand,” she commanded. “And close your eyes.”

Smiling kindly, Pippin did so. Elanor proudly deposited a small, round, white stone in his hand. He peered at it closely.

“What’s this?” he asked with the hint of a chuckle.

“It’s a rock, silly!” laughed Elanor. “But it’s a special rock. I found it in the garden. It’s white like Minas Tirith, see?”

“Very true!” said Pippin, appearing quite pleased with his gift. He smiled seriously at Elanor and stroked her golden curls gently. “I will treasure this forever,” he said in a soft voice.

Elanor grinned and sat back down on the rug, going back to contentedly watching the fire, now every so often glancing lovingly at her prism.

Merry made as if to drink more of his tea when he discovered the cup was empty. “Oh, there goes my tea,” he said mournfully. He set the cup aside and withdrew a pipe. “Looks like it’s time to move on to the next pleasure. You don’t mind, do you Rosie?”

“Go ahead,” said Rosie, “as long as you don’t overdo it.”

“Yes ma’am,” he said smartly. He glanced at Sam and Pippin. “Come on lads, join me!” he invited. “I’ve got some of the good stuff—longbottom leaf. Not unlike the kind Saruman had.”

The group sat there into the night, Sam, Merry, and Pippin smoking, their wives talking softly about various matters. The children napped curled up on the floor before the fire. Silence at taken the room for a moment when suddenly a knock sounded at the door. Sam jumped, glancing at the clock.

“Who could be calling at this hour?” he wondered, standing up with his pipe in hand. Merry and Pippin craned their necks to see who was at the door, and all three of the lads missed the furtive grin that passed between Rose, Estella, and Diamond. Carefully, Rosie knelt down and nudged her sleeping children to wake them.

Yawning, Sam wandered over to the door and opened it. He froze, the pipe halfway in his mouth, in the middle of a stretch. All he could do was stare mutely at the person at the door. Merry and Pippin watched him questioningly.

“Sam?” Merry finally prompted, sitting forward. “Who is it?”

Sam continued to stare for a long while, then finally took the pipe from his mouth and tried to speak. After several failed attempts, he finally blurted out the one thing he could manage to articulate: “This… is quite… a surprise.”

“Oh for goodness’ sake, is that all you can say?” demanded a gruff, familiar voice from outside. Merry jumped to his feet in reflex and Pippin turned so fast he fell off his chair. Sprawled on the floor, he looked up just in time to see a short flurry of beard and armor rushing in and grabbing the very bewildered Sam in a strong embrace.

“Gimli!” Merry yelped in utter disbelief. “What in the world are you doing here?”

“What am I doing!” repeated Gimli. “Well I’ve come to see you all, what does it look like?”

“And to shock them senseless, that as well?” said the soft, musical voice of Legolas as the elf stepped gracefully into Bag End, bending down to get through the door.

“Legolas too!” cried Sam. “I never thought I’d see you two all the way up here! This is wonderful!”

Legolas smiled and put a hand on Sam’s shoulder. “It is good to see you again,” he said.

“But… but how did you… how did you know…” Merry stopped in the middle of his query, suddenly realizing something, and slowly he turned to the three snickering wives and the very surprised and delighted children.

“You planned this,” he said in bewilderment at his own words. “You got them to come, didn’t you?”

“The idea was to not only surprise Master Gamgee, but all three of you as well,” said yet another new voice. Merry and Pippin whirled about in joy as Aragorn followed Legolas in, just barely missing knocking his head on the doorframe. The king smiled fondly at all of them. “It’s been far too long,” he said.

“Aragorn!” cried Sam delightedly. Aragorn knelt down and embraced the hobbit warmly.

“Don’t just stand there, you silly lads!” demanded Gimli, turning to the open-mouthed Merry and Pippin. “Come give a dwarf some love!”

“Gimli!” Merry said again, starting to laugh. “Oh, Gimli, all of you! This is fantastic!” He ran forward, finally breaking his paralyzed state, and somehow managed to embrace Gimli and the kneeling Aragorn at precisely the same time. Pippin looked flustered, glancing back and forth repeatedly between the visitors and his wife. Finally he turned to Diamond, smiling a bewildered smile.

“You’re amazing!” he said. “All of you! I… I… oh, I just love you!” He stumbled forward and threw his arms around his wife, laughing happily. He kissed her neck. “You talk of gifts… this one is marvelous. I love you so much.”

“Go on, Pippin, don’t ignore them!” Diamond teased him, standing and pushing her husband gently away.

“Ignore them! How could I?” Pippin said, turning to the smiling trio. “I’ve missed you all so much!” He ran forward to join Sam and Merry in greeting their unexpected guests.

“And we have missed you,” said Aragorn, smiling as he ruffled Pippin’s hair affectionately. “You have some clever wives.”

“How did you do it?” Sam asked in wonder, turning to the three smiling lasses.

“Rosie had the idea last year,” answered Aragorn for them. “She and Estella decided to write me a letter, and pulled Diamond into it once they knew she was engaged. They were very cunning about the whole matter.”

“We thought it would be a nice surprise,” said Rosie. “You all missing each other so often. It would be a perfect time.”

“You have great wisdom,” said Aragorn, inclining his head in respect.

“Oh now, Aragorn!” said Pippin suddenly, turning back to Diamond and taking her hand. “You haven’t even met my wife, have you?”

“Indeed I haven’t,” said the king. “I’m so sorry we couldn’t make the wedding… it would have been wonderful, I’m sure.”

“It’s quite all right,” said Pippin. “I understand.” He turned to his wife and ushered her forward. “This is Diamond,” he said proudly, “the most beautiful lass in all the Shire.”

“Save one,” piped up Merry, stepping over to Estella.

“Oh, indeed,” agreed Sam with a smile, glancing at Rosie.

Aragorn bowed his head to the bewildered Diamond, taking her small, delicate hand in his great but gentle one. “It’s wonderful to meet you,” he said sincerely.

Diamond blushed. “Thank you,” she said meekly. “You’re… you’re King Aragorn, is that right?”

Looking slightly amused, Aragorn nodded just slightly.

Not taking her eyes off his face, Diamond started to curtsy, but Pippin caught her. “Now, now, what are you doing?” he chided. “We bow to no one.” He grinned up at Aragorn, who laughed.

“Very true,” he said. “Very true indeed.” He turned to Merry and Estella. “And this is Mrs. Brandybuck, I take it?” he said.

“Oh no,” said Merry casually. “This is Miss Hornblower. Mrs. Brandybuck’s at home. Or is that Miss Bracegirdle?”

Estella elbowed him heavily in the side, laughing even as she did so. “Hush now!” she said.

“Oh, wait! You are Mrs. Brandybuck!” Merry said, hardly stifling his laughter. “My mistake.”

“All these years and you are still as irrepressible as ever, Master Brandybuck,” laughed Gimli, coming forward to shake Estella’s hand. “How do you live with him, my lady?”

Estella laughed merrily and shrugged. “We manage.”

Merry nodded knowingly. “She’s gotten especially good at aiming for my head,” he added, bringing on another jab from his giggling wife.

“I’m sure,” said Aragorn, looking to the final married pair. “And this is Rose Gamgee,” he said, bowing yet again and extending a hand. “I am charmed to see you again.”

“Indeed,” said Rosie, remembering the first time she had gone with her husband to meet Aragorn at the borders of the Shire. “You look as noble as ever.”

“Why thank you,” said Aragorn with a smile.

“And are these the Gamgee children?” said Legolas, stepping over to the three very stunned little hobbits.

“Three of them,” said Rose, stroking her infant’s little brown curls. “This is Merry—he’s our newest, but rather tired, I’m afraid.”

“Understandable, what with all the excitement,” said Legolas. He knelt down before Elanor, who looked at him warily.

“Are… are you an elf?” she asked in awe.

“I am,” Legolas said with a small smile. “And you are…?”

“El… Elanor,” faltered Elanor, holding out a little trembling hand, which Legolas took gently. She grinned suddenly and looked up at her father. “Daddy, it’s a real elf!”

“That he is,” chuckled Sam.

“They’re lots more pretty than you said,” said Elanor stoutly, looking astutely at Legolas. Legolas laughed merrily, and Sam blushed slightly.

“Well, it’s hard to describe the beauty of elves,” he said with a shrug. “I said they were the most beautiful things in the world, didn’t I?”

“Don’t worry, Sam,” said Legolas softly, turning to look at the hobbit. “There are some things more beautiful.” He stroked Elanor’s little fingers gently as he said this. Sam nodded in understanding, exchanging a brief but meaningful smile with his wife.

Frodo gazed up at Aragorn in wonder. “Awe you the King?” he breathed.

Sam patted his son’s shoulder. “Don’t you remember what I told you about him, my lad?” he said. “This is Strider, or Aragorn. That’s his proper name.”

“Strider is, I suppose, a more fitting title for these lands,” laughed Aragorn. “But you may call me whatever you wish.”

“We do have many choices,” Merry pointed out, smirking slightly.

“Awre you the King of Minas Tiwif?” said Frodo excitedly.

“Yes,” said Aragorn, appearing modest about the fact.

“Wow!” Frodo turned happily to his father, taking Sam’s hand. “My dada’s taking me to Minas Tiwif, you know!” he informed the man proudly.

“Oh, are you?” said Aragorn, glancing at Sam with a twinkle in his eyes.

“Well, when he’s older,” sighed Sam.

“I alweady have my own Minas Tiwif,” said Frodo, turning away and kneeling to pick up his gift from Pippin. Lifting it to show Aragorn, he said, “See? Mistah Pippin gave it to me.”

“Made it himself,” added Merry, nudging Pippin lightly. Pippin blushed and looked at the floor shyly.

“It’s not all that big of a deal,” he said with a shrug.

“Oh no?” said Gimli, eyeing the intricate model in Aragorn’s hand. “Looks like it to me.”

“It’s amazing!” said Aragorn with renown, looking at Pippin in surprise. “You made this?”

Pippin nodded slightly. “Took me forever,” he said with a laugh.

“I can imagine!” said Aragorn. “Incredible craftsmanship. I’m impressed.”

“Oh, to have the small and nimble fingers of a hobbit,” remarked Gimli, chuckling. He patted Frodo’s head, grinning. “You should be proud, my lad, to have received such a gift.”

“He’s not the only one,” said Sam, picking up his gift carefully.

“Ah yes, Pippin went quite wild with the presents this year,” said Merry, indicating the desk ornament. “That there is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen this side of my wife.” Estella smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder.

“Oh yes, I remember when that was being crafted,” said Aragorn. “In fact, Legolas inscribed the Elvish himself.”

“Did you?” said Pippin in surprise, looking up at the elf. “I didn’t know that!”

“It’s wonderful!” said Sam in gratitude, looking again with fondness at his gift.

“It was really nothing,” said Legolas modestly. “I only wish we had brought something for all of you.”

“Oh really now, after all Pippin’s gifts, there’s nothing we need,” said Rosie with a smile.

“And trust me,” said Pippin, “your being here is the best gift we could have.”

Legolas smiled and nodded in resignation. Sam cast a glance around the room, then ushered their visitors further into the parlor. “Come now,” he said. “I hope you can find a place to sit, it’s a touch crowded.”

“We’ll manage,” Aragorn assured him, sitting down on the floor beside the fire. Gimli sat himself heavily down next to him, and Legolas leaned against the wall a small distance away from them, smiling kindly at Elanor, who continued to watch him in fascination. The hobbits sat down again in their respective spots, and the mood began to settle again.

“You’re all quite brilliant,” said Merry to the wives as he went back to his pipe. “I can’t thank you all enough.”

“And you three as well, for coming the whole way!” added Sam.

“There’s no thanks required,” said Gimli. “Although, seeing as I brought my pipe all this way, it’d be much appreciated if you happened to have any extra pipe weed lying around.”

“Of course, of course,” said Merry absently. “But aren’t you hungry?”

“Oh no, we don’t want to intrude,” said Aragorn quickly.

“Food would be glorious,” said Gimli at the same time. Aragorn sighed and he and Legolas exchanged a wearily amused glance.

“Don’t be silly, you’ve come so long,” said Rosie, getting up. “You must be hungry. Here, just a bit of chicken. There’s some pie left as well.”

“Come on, laddie!” urged Gimli, prodding Aragorn’s arm.

Aragorn sighed. “All right,” he said. “A small bit, only if it’s not too much trouble.”

“No trouble at all,” said Rosie. “And you too, Mr. Legolas?”

Legolas opened his mouth to decline, but a glance from Aragorn and the hopeful looks of the children swayed him. “Certainly,” he said.

Rosie handed them each a plate of the leftover food (which, Merry and Pippin quickly realized, they had been forced to leave uneaten for this very purpose). Immediately Gimli tore into the chicken, making approving noises as he ate. Aragorn took a bite and chewed slowly, then looked up in surprise at Rosie.

“This is delicious!” commented Gimli. “What seasonings! Wonderful flavor.”

“These are Gondorian seasonings,” said Aragorn, impressed.

“Yes, I got them in Minas Tirith,” said Sam. “You like them?”

“It’s perfect,” said Aragorn with a smile. “Just perfect.”

“Quite good pie, too,” remarked Legolas as he ate a bit of it. Merry glanced mischievously up at Estella, who discreetly gestured to Gimli’s fork that lay within her reach, not even looking up at him and yet knowing what he was thinking. Merry shook his head with a smile and leaned back, releasing a puff of smoke. The group sat in silence for a long time as the travelers ate and then sat back in relaxation. Gimli and Aragorn smoked their pipes, and Legolas gazed around the room in contentment. Even the children were quiet as they sat on the rug and watched the fire and their guests, too excited to fall asleep. Merry sat leaned far back in his chair, facing the fire, Estella across the room near Gimli. As Merry continued to smoke his pipe, his eyes closed, something came to him and he took the pipe from his mouth without making any other movement. Remaining in his relaxed position, his eyes still closed, he lifted a finger in a vague motion and spoke, breaking the long silence.

“As it happens,” he said, “I do have a gift for my dear wife.”

The others in the room looked up questioningly at him—Estella raised an eyebrow.

“Oh?” said Gimli. “And what would that be?”

Merry opened his eyes and moved his finger around in an increasingly vague way, speaking in a slow, almost sleepy voice: “I have made a decision… one that has taken me altogether too much time to make… regarding the naming of our coming child.” Wishing to say nothing more on the subject, he folded his arms and sat back comfortably, replacing the pipe in his mouth and closing his eyes again.

The room was silent with utter shock. Everyone stared at Merry in disbelief, no one knowing quite what to say. Estella was frozen, gaping at her husband in dazed amazement. Merry seemed quite unaware of the uncertain astonishment his remark had caused, continuing to smoke contentedly.

Finally Pippin managed to speak, wearing a bemused half-smile. “Is there something you’ve forgotten to tell us, Merry?” he said.

“Hmm?” said Merry, opening one eye. Only then did he seem to realize that everyone was staring at him, and he straightened up a bit. “Oh, that. Right, we haven’t mentioned that yet.”

Estella drew a breath. “Yes,” she said. “I had thought we were going to wait a bit.” She smiled a bit in spite of herself.

Merry remained serious, looking genuinely confused by the fact that he had just surprised the life out of everyone. “Oh,” he said. “Well, I thought now was as good a time as any.”

The silence drew on until finally he winked and grinned, sitting back again. “Oh come, you think I could forget a secret like that?” he laughed. “I decided to mention it now, seeing as how we’re all here and everything. Would save some ink for the letters.”

“It’s quite fine,” said Estella, smiling. “What is your decision then?”

“Well,” he said, stroking his chin thoughtfully, “seeing as how Sam’s firstborn was something foreign and meaningful, I thought we may as well do that with our first.”

“I told you, the first was to be your naming,” said Estella. “What is it?”

“I think the first lad should be Éomer…” he said slowly, “and the first lass, Éowyn.”

Estella paused for a moment, considering this. “Éomer Brandybuck,” she tried it out. “Sounds good to me.”

“Éowyn Brandybuck would be nice as well, then?” he said with a smile.

“Indeed it would,” said Estella. “I look forward to the day we find out which it is.” She grinned and patted her still normal sized stomach, standing and making her way over to her husband, sitting herself on his lap, stroking his hair affectionately.

“This is wonderful news!” said Sam. “How long have you known?”

“We found out about a month ago,” said Estella. “We’ve just been trying to decide upon the perfect moment to tell you all. Merry’s right, now is perfect.” She smiled and kissed her husband’s brow gently.

“And you kept it from us all this time,” said Pippin, smiling wryly. “You amaze me.”

“Thank you,” said Merry, nodding. He drew his arms around his wife and leaned against her as she set his pipe aside.

“Well, this is the most peaceful night I’ve had in a good long while,” remarked Gimli. “We’ve hardly said anything at all tonight!”

“True,” said Sam with a shrug. “But I like it.”

Nodding in acceptance, Gimli quieted. The calm silence again took the room, and slowly the night came over it. The fire burned lower, kept alive by the new wood Pippin had added. The sense of peace Gimli had spoken of became more and more apparent as each of the people in the room slowly drifted away into a dreaming world. Merry and Estella, curled up in each other’s arms, slept silently on their chair. Pippin had joined Diamond on the floor leaned against a chair and they too had fallen asleep. Elanor and Rosie were snuggled up together on the rug, and their mother sat in her chair with the sleeping Merry in her arms.

Legolas glanced around at all this, then said softly, “It seems we’ve just moved in for the night, Rose. I hope that’s not a problem of any kind.” When he received no response from Rose, he turned to look at her and saw that she too was asleep with her child.

“It’s all right,” said Sam quietly, and the elf turned to him, sipping a fresh cup of tea in his chair. “We don’t mind.”

“Are you sure?” said Legolas.

Sam nodded, then smiled, pointing past Legolas. “Look,” he said. Legolas turned and saw that Gimli was snoring softly, leaned against the sleeping Aragorn, who had his arm around Frodo. Frodo was nestled up against the man, sucking his thumb. Legolas smiled at the tender scene and turned back to Sam.

“Makes quite a picture, doesn’t it?” he said.

Sam nodded. “Man, dwarf, and hobbit,” he mused. “Now all they need is an elf.”

Legolas laughed quietly. “I do not need rest,” he said. “Don’t worry about me.”

Over in their corner, Frodo opened his little eyes briefly and looked up at Aragorn. “Mistah Awagowrn?” he said in a little voice. Aragorn too opened his eyes, smiled and stroked the little hobbit’s cheek affectionately.

“You should be asleep,” he said.

Frodo yawned. “Is Minas Tiwif vewy beautiful?” he asked tiredly.

Aragorn nodded. “Yes,” he said. “Very much so.”

Frodo was almost asleep again. “Even mowre than our gahden?” he mumbled.

The King smiled. “No,” he said. “Not as beautiful as that. There is very little quite as beautiful as that.”

“Oh,” said Frodo dreamily. Before he could say anymore, he was back asleep. Aragorn paused, watching the gently sleeping hobbit before he too left the wakeful world.

Legolas and Sam watched this exchange with little half amused smiles. Sam yawned. “Don’t you sleep, Legolas?”

Legolas shook his head. “I don’t want to intrude on your family,” he said.

Sam blinked in surprise, looking at his friend. “Family?” he said. “Legolas…” He made a vague gesture around the room. “This here is all the family I ever need.” Legolas gazed at the hobbit and nodded slowly. Smiling, Sam set down his empty cup and leaned back in his chair, already asleep.

Legolas watched the hobbit for a moment, then rested his head against the wall where he sat. He let his gaze pass around the room. “Yes,” he murmured. “This is all we need.” Slowly, without making a sound, he folded his delicate hands on his chest and closed his eyes, and he too drifted away into the silent, loving atmosphere of the winter night.

 -The End-