Title: Before the Call to Muster (a drabble)
Rating: G
Main Characters: Merry and Pippin
Disclaimer: The characters aren’t mine, but I sometimes sneak out with them for a cup of tea and a biscuit or two.
Brief synopsis: While waiting for the call to muster the army of the West, two cousins share a last cup of tea. A drabble originally written for Marigold's Challenge #4. (See

Before the Call to Muster

‘Merry, you're shivering. Come and sit here by the fire and I'll bring you some tea.’

 ‘When did you...?’

 ‘What was that, cousin?’

Pippin was almost used to Merry falling into silence, this new and strange Merry, called back to life by the hands of the King.

He lifted the lid of the oversized teapot; yes, perfectly brewed.

‘Here you are, Merry, just as you like it.’

When did you grow so wise? Merry was thinking. When did your eyes grow old? In despair, he wondered if his young cousin would grow any older.

What he said, was, ‘Thank you.’