A/N: These three vignettes are 300 words each, and were inspired by Slightly Tookish’s lovely Star Universe. A couple of things that you need to know so that you can better enjoy these vignettes is that in her first story in this universe, Stars And Sniffles, Gandalf gives young Pippin a very special gift; two stars of his very own. In the sequel, The Stars Will Light Your Way, Gandalf calls down those same stars from the sky to try to save Pippin’s life at Cormallen. They are lovely stories, and I highly recommend them, as well as the third in the series, Upon The Wings Of An Eagle. All three of these stories can be found here on Stories of Arda, on Slightly Tookish's Author Page.

I hope that you enjoy my little contribution to this Universe!

Marigold

********************

Wishing On The Stars
By Marigold
Beta by Llinos

13th Winterfilth, S.R. 1418

It was late, but Eglantine sat alone on the hillcrest above Tuckborough, unwilling to go to her bed. Her Pippin loved this spot, sitting there quite happily for hours gazing at the stars. Eglantine had sat with him often, listening with enjoyment as he named the constellations and enthusiastically described the pictures they made in the sky. Such was Pippin’s fascination with them that Gandalf had actually gifted him a pair for his very own; how that worked exactly Eglantine was not sure, but she did not doubt that the wizard had done so. Bless him for giving her lad such joy. Where were they..? Yes, there. She found them easily, and was somehow reassured by their cheerful brightness. They made her feel that she was close to her son, that perhaps they both watched these same stars tonight.

Surely he is all right…
 
He was twenty-eight today, her youngest babe, and they had drunk his health
at dinner as always. But this year Pippin was not there.

She and Paladin had always known that Pippin would have an Adventure someday. It was inevitable. Their Pippin was the most Tookish Took that ever was. Merry-lad would of course go with him, and perhaps Frodo, and they would return in a year and a day with marvellous tales and perhaps a bit of treasure. They would be scolded, hugged and made much of, then settle back into their lives, resuming their responsibilities.

But this was no there-and-back-again journey like Bilbo’s and Pippin was still only a lad. He and Merry were fleeing with Frodo and his servant into danger, deadly peril all around them. That much had been learned from Fredegar.

And there was naught that Eglantine could do, save watch the stars and hope that, somewhere, Pippin watched them too.

27th Rethe, S.R. 1419

Where are they? Oh, where are they! Eglantine searched the night sky desperately but they were not there. How could two stars just disappear? She had watched for the past two nights as the pair had dimmed, flickering as if struggling to stay alight, and tonight they were not there. Eglantine shuddered at the omen.

Others had felt a lightening of their hearts on the 25th that Eglantine did not share. She was ill at ease and fretful, her head ached and she could not settle. Something was wrong, she knew it and, when she went out for some air and saw the fading light of her Pippin’s stars, she was beside herself with worry that grew stronger each day.

The stars had not appeared constant during Pippin’s absence: indeed, they often seemed to be subdued or shadowed. But always Eglantine knew in her heart that they burned fiercely, as brightly as they could and that the dimming of their light came from outside themselves. These past nights though, she sensed it was the stars themselves that struggled and that frightened Eglantine more than she could say.

She had not sat there long this night before Paladin came searching. He took his distraught wife in his arms and settled down to watch with her, for whatever good it might do. He did not completely understand Eglantine’s firm conviction that Pippin’s stars were somehow bound up with their son’s fate, but he was a Took and so believed in such things enough that he did not discount it. Together they watched the sky, willing strength to their son in whatever dark battle he fought so far away from his home.

And when at dawn two stars suddenly flared into life again, burning faint but with a dogged persistence, they both wept.

2nd Blotmath, S.R. 1419

Eglantine stood on the path, shawl wrapped tightly around her against the chill. Another moment and she would have to go inside. She had felt so restless tonight. Desperate to escape the walls that closed all about her, she had ventured out for some air. She should be safe enough; the Smials were deep within the Tookland and their archers were everywhere. If anywhere in the Shire was safe it was here. Still, Paladin would fret if she tarried too long.

She looked for Pippin’s stars, ever a source of comfort to her. They blazed tonight, brighter than she had ever seen them; a hopeful sign she thought. Eglantine wondered sadly if Pippin looked upon them too, wherever he might be.  She felt relief, and not for the first time, that Pippin and Merry were not in the Shire. Wherever they were, Eglantine prayed that they did not return until their homelands were safe to return to. She could not bear to think of her lads in the Lockholes or worse. But would the Shire ever be safe again?

How had it come to this? How had they been taken so unawares? Hobbits lived in fear while Outsiders bullied, stole, and sullied their once green and pleasant land. Food was scarce, and folk were sickening, even dying. Things seemed hopeless, for who could save them now? They needed a Hero or two, such as in the old tales, but Heroes were naught but fancy, and this was grim reality. She sighed, and turned to go indoors.

Suddenly there were fast hoof beats of many ponies on the road, and Eglantine gasped as a voice cried out that she had feared never to hear again.

“Mother! Oh, Mother!”

And a shining figure threw himself into her arms.

It was a Hero.

The End : )