Summary: In the spring of 2012, four American children find themselves thrust into an unfamiliar world and part of an unexpected adventure.  This story is AU, and blends Lord of the Rings book-verse and movie-verse.  This story also contains a lot of spiritual and religious content as a part of the AU elements.

Disclaimer: The world of Middle-earth and all its peoples belong to the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien; the three films of The Lord of the Rings​ belongs to New Line Cinema and to Peter Jackson.  This story is not for profit, but is a gift for the enjoyment of those who read it.

Citations: In most chapters, there will be some quotations directly from both the books and/or the movies.  Quotations from Tolkien's books are in italics, and quotations from the movies are underlined.  Occasional quotations from other sources as well as silent dialogue, words spoken in emphasis, and passages from the Bible will also be in italics, and those citations will be footnoted at the end of each chapter in which they occur. We will also footnote research sources and credit the ideas of other people.

Thanks: We would also like to acknowledge the invaluable help of our beta, Linda Hoyland, another well-known and prolific LotR fanwriter, whose many wonderful stories also grace this site.

A/N:  One of the things that KG asked me (DF), when we were going to partner in this story, was that we try to include my OC, Mendelcar, who appears in my story “Chance Encounter”.  I agreed.  Therefore, you may see bits of that story quoted here and there in the next few chapters.  Those are from my own story, so be assured that if you see something you recognize, it is not plagiarized.  Thank you.  DF and KG.

Chapter 98: With a Smile and a Song

Once court was over, Faramir invited the McClouds and Merry and Pippin to accompany him on an errand to the lower city, along with Éowyn.

Steve and Gail declined, as they had an appointment with Princess Linderiel in order to discuss the orphanage.  "Kevin, Jennifer?  Joey?" Gail asked her older children.  "Would you like to go with Lord Faramir, or with us to see the Princess?"

Jennifer yawned.  "I'm sorry, Mom.  I was working the night shift last night, and I have to work again tonight.  Honestly, I think I'd rather get some sleep."

Kevin shook his head.  "I'd rather go with you and Dad, so I think I will.  But later, I will need to talk to the captain of the guard, to find out my duty schedule."

"I'll go with Lord Faramir!" Joey said, fidgeting and smiling in anticipation.  "I haven't had a chance to talk to Merry and Pip in a while!"

“Can Megan and I go, too?” Kaylee begged.  “I want to go with Merry and Pippin and Faramir!”

"Did you forget, Kaylee?  The Princess Linderiel and her daughter Princess Lothíriel made arrangements for a few of the orphans your age to be there for you and Megan to meet and maybe to play with at her house," Gail responded.  "Mairen's coming with us."

Kaylee looked torn, but the idea of some new playmates appealed to her, so she nodded.  Megan, who had been listening, nodded also.

Faramir bent over Kaylee and smiled at the little girls.  “I will take you out to visit the city on another day, Kaylee and Megan.  One day soon,” he promised.  “I will see if I can persuade Lady Éowyn to go with us, when I do.”

Kaylee grinned and nodded, and she and Megan skipped off after their parents.

Joey watched as his parents and siblings went on their way, and then turned to Faramir.  "What can I do for you, Lord Faramir?"

"You may go and change from your livery, for I know you have no more duties until tonight, and I know you will meet with us by the Courtyard gate.  Merry and Pippin will be there as well."  As Joey turned to dart off, Faramir added, "Oh, and do not concern yourself with luncheon.  We shall all eat at one of the inns in the City."

It was not even an hour later when Joey found Merry and Pippin at the Gate.  By then, Joey was dressed in a simple white shirt, grey trews, and a dark grey jerkin.  Merry and Pippin were dressed in their Shire-styled clothing that Aragorn had commissioned for them when they were still across the River in Osgiliath.  He and Merry and Pippin had a few minutes to catch up before a bell rang, and they glanced up to see both Lord Faramir and Lady Éowyn, walking side by side, their hands close but not touching.

The City was still in a festive mood after the coronation, and the streets of Minas Tirith were still filled with the joyous sounds of celebration.  On almost any corner could be found a small crowd listening to minstrels, bards, troubadours, and street buskers.  This did not include all the jugglers, dancers, sleight-of-hand artists, jesters, tumblers, and mimes.  All those folk whose livelihood was in making people smile and offering up a bit of joy—and who had, for many years, been unwelcome as a distraction—were now pouring into the White City of the returned King.

Pippin and Joey were entranced by all the side shows, and Joey just couldn't help stopping alongside Pippin, every time.  They ought to build a stage like back in Shakespeare's time, and then Minas Tirith could have plays, too! Joey thought, smiling.  They’ll need actors for that.

"Pippin!  Joey!  Come on!"  Merry tugged at his cousin's elbow.  "We're going to lose Faramir and Éowyn!"

Joey nodded when he noticed that the couple were several yards ahead of him, but Pippin came away reluctantly at first, head turned, ears straining to catch the sounds of the music, but then they all three had to trot to catch up to their friends.

Faramir and Éowyn had paused when they realised that Joey and the hobbits were not at their heels.  Again.  The Steward had an errand with some merchants on the third level.  Rather than summon them up to him at the Citadel, he had used it as an excuse to go out into the lovely spring weather, and invite Éowyn to come with him.  And rather than try to find someone more official to chaperone them, he had chosen to invite Merry, Pippin, and the McClouds.  It was as well, he thought, that Gail and Steve could not come, as they might have taken such a duty more seriously.  But it did make progress slower.

The three younger ones soon caught up to the couple, and Pippin ran up to his big friend's side, and immediately began to bombard him with questions. "Faramir, did you hear them?  What was that instrument, do you know?  Do you suppose it's hard to play?  It's not at all like a fiddle, for all it's played with a bow—"

"Peace, Pippin!"  Faramir laughed.  "One question at a time—" and he began to answer Pippin's questions as best he could.  He had a certain interest in music himself, but he was not nearly so knowledgeable as the hobbit would have liked.

Éowyn grinned and looked down at Merry.  "Holdwine, is your cousin always so easily distracted?"

Merry rolled his eyes.  "My lady, you've no idea!"  He glanced at the street into which they had just turned, and breathed a sigh of relief.  No musicians in sight.  Maybe they could go more than twenty feet without stopping.

The five friends walked companionably enough, the larger couple strolling, the hobbits and Joey walking briskly to keep up.  Faramir and Éowyn mostly listened.  They were amused to listen to Pippin and Joey's chatter, punctuated by Merry's occasional wry asides.

Suddenly Pippin fell silent, ears twitching.  "Did you hear that?"

Joey whirled around, looking confused.  “Hear what?  I don’t hear anything!”  

Merry's hand shot out as soon as Pippin had tensed, but his attempt to grab his cousin's collar missed.  His hand closed on empty air, as Pippin was off like one of Gandalf's rockets down a side street, with Joey hot on his heels.  “Hey, wait for me!”

With an apologetic glance at his two remaining companions, Merry darted after his cousin.

Faramir and Éowyn exchanged a wry look and followed their friends more slowly.

-oo000oo-

Joey heard the sound of a song he'd heard the hobbits sing once or twice, but it was not a hobbit voice.  He was surprised to see a man singing it.  The singer was tall and lanky, with a rather long nose and a kind face.  His grey hair had some streaks of red hair still there, and his voice was very pleasant.

"…She hardly believed her fiery eyes,
For though it was day to her surprise,
They all went back to bed!"*

As the last notes died away the minstrel took a bow to laughter and applause.  He placed his small harp upon the ground next to his hat, where already a few listeners had tossed coins.  But he had hardly raised his head when he was propelled backwards by a small body slamming into him, his name called out in joy.

"Menelcar!"

"Pippin?"

The young hobbit suddenly found himself lifted up and whirled around madly.

"Pippin!"  Joey watched in astonishment as Pippin greeted the Gondorian musician like an old friend.

The crowd murmured excitedly at this, as Merry, Faramir, and Éowyn arrived.  But suddenly the minstrel set him down and knelt before him.  "I beg your pardon, Sir Peregrin, for being so familiar."

Pippin's face fell, and a look of distress came into his green eyes.  "Menelcar, please don't do that to me.  You are supposed to be my friend!"

The minstrel smiled, though he did not rise.  "Very well—Pippin."

Pippin glanced over his friend's shoulder.  "Menelcar, you remember my cousin Merry?  And this is—"

Menelcar rose with practised grace, turned, and bowed.  "My Lord Steward, my Lady of Rohan, it is an honour.  Sir Meriadoc, it is good to see you again.”  He looked down at Joey.  “And who is this young man?"

Merry grinned.  "That's our friend, Joey McCloud, who travelled with us from up North.  And if he's Pippin—”  Merry aimed a thumb at his cousin.  "—I'm Merry, and you know it!"  He reached over to give the man his own hug.

Faramir smiled.  "Master Menelcar, I see we witness the meeting of old friends here.  But it seems you have the advantage of us."  He glanced at Éowyn's amused face.

Pippin said nothing.  There was a speculative look in his eyes.  Joey wondered what was wrong.

Merry said, "This is Menelcar the minstrel.  Pippin was once almost his apprentice."  Merry grinned in evident anticipation of telling the story.

Joey noticed that Pippin was looking at the musician with an expression of betrayal.  "Menelcar," Pippin said quietly, "you've known we were here in the City all along, haven't you?"

But before the musician could answer, Joey found himself being pushed and bumped from behind, as a few people in the crowd were trying to get close enough to hear what was being said.  “Hey!” he protested, as he felt a sharp elbow hit his back.

But Faramir spoke up firmly.  "One moment," and then cast a glance at the minstrel's audience, who were staring rather avidly at them all.  Putting a bit of steel into his voice, he said, "Good people, the minstrel's fine show has ended.  I suggest you all go on about your own business now."  He accompanied this with a small smile on his lips and a stony glare in his eyes.

There were folk in the crowd who were quickly reminded that this was Denethor's son, and however the King might rule, Lord Faramir was now the Steward, for the news of his elevation had spread quickly through the streets by heralds and the city criers.

Fairly quickly, the watchers were dispersed.  Faramir glanced down at Merry, Pippin, and Joey.  Merry was looking somewhat speculative himself now.

Pippin had not forgotten his question.  "Menelcar?  Why didn't you come to see us?"

The minstrel sighed.  "I knew I would not have a chance.  The guards at the Citadel are most careful of those they allow to see you hobbits.  Many have made false claims to get in, and I had no proof…"  Pippin and Merry both looked dismayed, and Joey bit his lower lip, puzzled.  What were they talking about?

Faramir gave them a serious look and nodded to say it was true, but then added, "Perhaps we can find somewhere to sit, have a bit to eat and drink, and talk together.  We can discuss that then."  One thing he had soon learned about hobbits was that any suggestion of food and drink would not be taken amiss, and Joey was a growing boy.  Faramir’s errand could wait for another day.  King Elessar had made it clear that anything to do with the pheriannath had priority over everything else.  He cast his eye over the dwindling crowd and caught sight of a couple of off-duty guardsmen he knew.  He caught their eyes and signalled them to join him.

Merry nodded.  "There's a place called The Golden Cockerel just a street over from here."

"Yes," said Pippin, shaken from his reverie.  "Yes, there is.  I hear they make a lovely chicken pie."

Joey's face lit up.  He'd heard about that inn during his weeks in the city.  But Bergil and Sador had told him it was closed for the war.  It must already be open!  And he loved chicken pot pie!  Wonder what vegetables chicken pot pie has here? he silently wondered.  I sure hope it has peas like it does at home!  He felt his belly rumble like a hobbit's at the thought of it.

Just then the two guardsmen joined them, standing at attention in spite of their civilian clothing.  "Yes, Lord Faramir?" asked Targon.

"I dislike having to interrupt your free time, but would you take a message for me to Master Valdimir* at the Guild Hall, that I am postponing our meeting until tomorrow, due to unforeseen circumstances?"

Both guardsmen bowed, and Targon said, "Yes, my Lord.  And do not fear to inconvenience us, for our own way is in that direction."

"Very well, and my thanks to you."  Faramir nodded graciously to them, as they hurried off.  He knew of them, but had not had any need to speak with them often.  Perhaps Targon might be due for promotion…

He returned his attention to the hobbits, and he looked at Pippin and chuckled.  "And so, they do.  How do you know of The Golden Cockerel?"

Pippin grinned.  "We asked some of the Men in the Third Company about the best eating places, of course, now that they are once more open!  Targon recommended this place highly."

"I should have realised," said the Steward.  "Master Menelcar, would you care to accompany us to The Golden Cockerel?"

"I should be glad to do so, my lord," he answered.  Menelcar gathered up his hat and his harp to follow after the Steward, with Pippin and Merry trotting by Menelcar’s side, and Joey walking next to Éowyn now.

They soon reached their destination, and the innkeeper, all aflutter at the sight of the Steward, the famous pheriannath, and a minstrel—all accompanied by a young lad—in his establishment.  He hurried to find them a private table, and they were soon all seated.

"Why won't the guards let people see us?" Pippin asked bluntly.

Faramir sighed.  "Because you are now famous, and some people would try to take advantage of you and of your friendships with the King, as well as with the Steward."

"Oh."  Pippin nodded, and Merry did as well, a look of understanding in the older hobbit's face.

Then Merry grinned.  "So, do you still want to know what happened in the Shire about three years ago?"

Joey listened with fascination about how Pippin had met Menelcar in one of the inns near his home in the Shire.  The minstrel grinned.  "I saw the lad as he sat nearby with his fiddle, and wondered about who my competition might be.  The innkeeper told me that he sometimes came in to sing for the crowd and a mug.  I talked to him awhile, and he told me that he was twenty-five.  I thought that meant he was an adult.  Obviously, I knew nothing of hobbit ages."  Joey vaguely remembered the hobbits telling him, Kevin, and Jennifer, during the early days of their journey, about a minstrel almost enticing Pippin away from his home.  He had almost forgotten all about it until this moment.  It seemed like ages ago now.

"If it had not been for good old Frodo, I would have made a dreadful mistake, and got poor Menelcar into all sorts of troubles," Pippin put in.

"Yes," said Menelcar, "I was very grateful to Master Frodo for sparing me the Thain's wrath.  My lord, this devious lad…"  He glanced at Pippin with a wink.  "…led me to believe he was of age.  Of course, a good deal of it was my own ignorance of hobbits.  I did not realise that they do not come of age until thirty-three.  I was impressed with his musical skill, and I offered him an apprenticeship.”

Pippin crinkled up his face with a frown.  "I had such a row with Father after I got home.  He had realised I had gone sneaking off to The Leaping Hare.  He was planning to make me stay in my room for days.  I was so upset, I decided to run away and take Menelcar up on his offer.  Luckily, my first stop was at Bag End, since Menelcar said he'd meet me at The Green Dragon in Bywater.  Thankfully, Frodo figured out what was going on and made me realise it was not a good decision."

Merry and Pippin both laughed, and then Pippin sighed.  "I'm still not of age yet.  My father is not going to let me out of his sight for another five years, if ever."

The conversation turned to how Pippin's parents were going to react to his return.  Joey had heard this discussion many times on their trip, and the chicken pie had arrived, so he concentrated on eating for a while, only half-listening, when he heard Lord Faramir say something new.

"Master Menelcar, you said you had been away from the White City for more than twenty years.  What brought you to return?"

Menelcar drew out his pipe and held it up to show his companions with a questioning look.  Faramir and Éowyn nodded, and Merry and Pippin grinned and took their own out.  Joey wrinkled his nose and shrugged.  At least, pipe tobacco didn't smell as bad as cigarettes.

The three smokers lit up, watched with resignation by the Steward, fascination by Éowyn, and amusement by Joey.  He thought it was funny how seriously they all took their pipes.  Then he bit his lower lip.  Don’t they know that smoking is bad for their health?  But he'd discussed that with his brother and sister before.  It really wasn't any of their business, as Kevin had said, and Jennifer had reluctantly agreed.  Besides, the pipes they smoked here didn't smell nearly so bad as cigarettes—Middle-earth didn't seem to have discovered those yet.

Kevin said maybe pipeweed’s not as dangerous as tobacco is back home.  Maybe they don’t get hooked on it, and maybe they don’t get lung cancer from smoking it.  I sure hope he's right!

Once their pipes were lit, the bard sent up a puff of smoke as he began to speak.  "In a way, I have you to thank, Pippin, for my homecoming.  My time with you in the Shire made me think of my own family as I had not in many years.  I found myself wishing to see them once more.  I had been barely older in Men's reckoning of age than you were by hobbits' when I left them.  I was sure they had been glad to be rid of someone so useless as I thought I was then.  But after meeting you I began to realise that perhaps my ideas at that young age were not so true as I had believed then."  He stopped a moment to look at the perfect smoke rings his small companions made.  Now that was something he'd not yet mastered.

As he went on to recount his return to Gondor, Menelcar's eyes had grown misty.  "Excuse me," he said, taking out a handkerchief and blowing his nose.  Pippin put a sympathetic hand on his friend's arm.

"They had thought me dead, you see," he continued, "lo, these many years.  I was glad to have made them happy by my return.  My mother has remained with my sister and her family."  He smiled.  "I have a bonny niece and a sturdy nephew, who was named after me."

Joey sent up a silent prayer of gratitude that he was already back with his own family.

"After the Enemy was overthrown, and I began to hear the tales circulating about the four halflings who had come to Gondor's aid, I knew who they must be.  Hearing a friend of mine, another bard, sing to me 'Frodo of the Nine-Fingers' only confirmed what I suspected, so I came back to the White City in hopes of perhaps encountering you."

Merry and Pippin, with occasional comments from Joey, then filled Menelcar in on the Quest from their point of view.  Menelcar had laughed at their account of the storming of Isengard.  "I find your account easier to believe than what I had previously heard.  You realise that one of the songs says that four small wizards cast a spell, causing a huge forest to grow up overnight and overwhelm Saruman's tower, and then they cast another spell that turned him into a tree himself?"

Pippin burst out with a guffaw, and Merry rolled his eyes, and Joey let out with a loud hoot of laughter, and put his hand over his mouth as his face heated up in embarrassment.

"And then there are a number of songs going around about the Ernil I Pheriannath.  Did you hear the one about how the Prince of Halflings lit the beacon?"

Now it was Merry's turn to guffaw at the expression on his cousin's face.

"Thunder!" Pippin swore, and then clapped a hand on his mouth and cast a guilty glance behind them.  "People don't really believe that, do they?  I mean, the beacons were lit long before Gandalf, Boromir, and Joey and I even entered the City!"

"Besides," said Joey, "we were way too busy for that to happen after we got here!  We were with Boromir most all of the time, before the battle happened!"

Menelcar laughed and shrugged.  "People will believe whatever makes a good story, Pippin!  You know as well as I do that the most entertaining songs are not always the most truthful ones."

Merry nodded.  "Even old Cousin Bilbo admitted that he dressed up his stories so they were funnier, and not so scary to tell the children."

Pippin stopped and stared at Merry.  "Cousin Bilbo?  But—"  He shook his head in denial, looking thoughtful.

Joey sighed.  He'd heard Bilbo's stories in Rivendell, and they were funny, but he thought that if those were the mild stories, what had the actual adventures been like?  Wonder if they’re like what Tolkien told in his book, The Hobbit?  I’ll have to read it when I get home, so I can find out!

By this time, all had finished their meal.  Faramir sat back, and said, "I think that it is time we go back up to the Citadel.  I have sent word that I am postponing our meeting with the Guild."  He stood up and offered a hand to Éowyn, and once she stood up, everyone else did as well.

It was rather a long walk back, and Joey was beginning to feel tired.  He wasn't surprised to see Pippin lagging.  The hobbit's knee still bothered him.

They approached the Citadel not by way of the Court of the White Tree, but on the side where there was a smaller private entrance.  This time of day, only one Guard stood there.

Pippin darted up the steps ahead of his companions.  "Hullo, Borondir!"

The Guard's eyes twinkled at the sight of his small comrade-in-arms, but he was on duty, and so contented himself with a nod and a formal address.  "Sir Peregrin."  He glanced up as the rest of the party approached.  "My Lord Steward, my Lady of Rohan, Sir Meriadoc, Page Joey."  He cast a quizzical look at the sixth member of the party.

"Borondir, this is my good friend, Master Menelcar the minstrel.  You must let everyone know that if he comes to see me, he should be allowed to come in."  Pippin's open face was full of excitement.

Borondir's eyes flew briefly to the Steward's face, and at Faramir's slight nod, he said, "Certainly, Sir Peregrin."  He looked at the minstrel carefully, imprinting his description in his mind.  "Master Menelcar." He gave another nod of greeting, and Menelcar nodded back.

Merry spoke up.  "Have you seen any of our companions today?  The other Walkers, I mean?”

"Yes, Sir Meriadoc.  Prince Legolas and Lord Gimli left early this morning, and have yet to return.  The Wizard Mithrandir and Lord Samwise went out about an hour or so ago to look at a guesthouse, and they have not returned, either.  I was told that the Ringbearer was closeted with the King earlier, but I believe he has now returned to your chambers."

Merry and Pippin grinned.  "Good!"  Pippin looked up at Menelcar.  "Let's go and see Frodo!  He's going to be so pleased to see you again!"

Faramir and Éowyn exchanged a glance, and then Faramir said, "If you will all excuse me, I need to speak to the King."

Éowyn smiled.  "And I am going to find my brother."  She bent down and gave Merry a kiss on top of his head and, brushing her hand lightly against Faramir's as she passed, she went into the Citadel.  The others went in as well.  With a brief farewell, Faramir turned off into a side corridor, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Merry, Pippin, and Joey led Menelcar up a nearby staircase, chattering all the way.  When they reached the chambers where they had been staying, Merry asked Menelcar to wait a moment so they could surprise Frodo.  Joey decided to wait there by the door with Menelcar.

"Sam's not back yet?" Merry asked.  "The Guard at the main door said he'd gone to look at a house?"

"Yes, he went out with Gandalf a little while ago," Frodo answered, from the top of the bed, where he had been sprawled, reading a book.  "Joey?  Why are you hanging back?  You are welcome to come in," Frodo added, as he spotted the boy peeking around the door jamb.

"We brought you a surprise," said Pippin, grinning and bouncing on his toes.  His grin threatened to split his face.  "You'll never guess what we found in the City!"  He turned to Joey.  "Bring it in, Joey!"

Joey was also grinning, and he tugged on the minstrel's sleeve.  As Joey entered the room, Menelcar appeared behind him.  Joey took a step to the side, seeing the look of shock and pleasant surprise on Frodo's face as Frodo's jaw dropped.  Then the hobbit leaped from his chair, scattering the cushions on which he sat, and dashed to the door where Menelcar knelt down.

"Menelcar!" he cried joyfully.  "It's so good to see you!  Well, do come in, Menelcar.  Pippin, Joey, wherever did you find him?"  Frodo went back over to the chair he had abandoned, and offered it to the minstrel; Merry and Pippin had flung themselves onto one of the beds, and Frodo, a bit more decorously, did the same.  Joey sat cross-legged on the floor next to the bed.

"He was singing on a street corner on the third level."  Pippin shook his head, still a bit amazed himself at the coincidence.

Merry spoke up.  "He'd not tried to come see us.  Apparently, they've been turning away charlatans who claim to know us, and he feared they'd do the same to him."

Frodo looked at Merry sharply.  "How do you know this?"

"Faramir told us."

"And where is Master Samwise?" Menelcar asked.  "I know that he came with you."

"Sam is doing fine.  He and Gandalf went down to the guest house that Lord Denethor was letting Gandalf use when they got to the city.  They should be back soon."

Joey nodded.  "Pippin and I stayed there a night, I think, or maybe two?  But we didn't really see much of it before we started staying in the Citadel."

"So," said Merry, looking at Frodo, "you've seen this house we're to move into?"

"Yes, I have," answered Frodo.  "We will still be able to share a bedchamber, which is on the ground floor of the house."

"Sounds lovely," said Pippin.  "When do we move?"

"Perhaps as soon as tomorrow," Frodo answered.

"I really do like the way they set up the kitchen for us to use," Frodo said.  "There are step-stools for us to use when we are cooking, and a ladder with wheels so we can reach the upper shelves.  And it is stocked with both large and small pots and dishes, and so on."

"Rather like Bilbo's place in Rivendell?" asked Merry.

Frodo nodded.  “Except that everything in Bilbo’s quarters is made to scale, like a hobbit hole, and the guesthouse was built for Men, with just a few hobbit-sized things added for us.”

Just then there came a loud rap on the door.

Frodo's eyebrows rose.  "That won't be Sam—Sam would just come in.  It's his room, too."

Merry hopped down from the bed and flung open the door.  All eyes turned to see Legolas and Gimli standing there.

"Legolas!" cried Pippin.  "Did you get it?"

The Elf smiled wordlessly, and held forth a small bundle, and taking Pippin's enthusiasm as an invitation, he and Gimli entered the room, giving the strange Man an inquiring look.  Frodo stood up instantly to make introductions.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Master Menelcar.  I have heard of you from Pippin," said Legolas.

"Menelcar—Menelcar?"  Gimli drew his brows together in concentration.  "Were you not at the Lonely Mountain a few years back?"

"Indeed, I was, Master Gimli.  I spent several weeks there.  It was then I first heard of Bilbo the Burglar, and it was the tales and songs I heard there which sent me in search of the Shire."

Pippin, meanwhile, had pulled the cloth wrapping away from the bundle Legolas had brought, and taken out the small fiddle and bow, which it had been concealing.  Joey had been staring avidly, curious to see what the Elf had brought to Pippin; it was a violin.  "Oh, thank you, Legolas," the hobbit said with shining eyes.  "It's splendid to have a fiddle again!"

"I am afraid it is not of the best quality, Pippin," the Elf apologised.  "It was meant as a learning instrument for a child."

"Oh," said Pippin breezily, "I didn't expect it would be, or if you could even find one, as I knew it would just be a practice instrument for a child.  But I should have no trouble playing it."  He drew the bow experimentally across the strings, and everyone in the room winced at how badly out of tune it was.

"Well, I'll have a bit of work to tune it, but it will be nice to play again."

Joey quickly realized he didn't want to listen to Pippin's scrapings and squawkings as he attempted to tune the fiddle.

He leaned over to Frodo.  "I think I’ll go now," he said quietly.

Frodo grinned back at him.  "You aren't his cousin; feel free to escape, lad, while you can.  He won't notice, and Merry won't care."

Joey blushed, but stood up.  He immediately felt better, though, as it appeared that Gimli was going to make an escape as well.

"Come along, Joey!  Would you like to join me to get a better look at the guesthouse?  You might want to see it, too."  Gimli winked at him, his eyes twinkling, and Joey grinned; he knew the Dwarf was just giving him an excuse to leave.  He followed Gimli out the door.

-oo000oo-

A/N: *Valdamir” is a character belonging to Tolkien fan writer Larner.  He was introduced in her stories “Iridescence” and “Unbelief”.  She allowed me to do a remix of “Unbelief” using him in my (DF) story “Help my Unbelief (the Unbelief Remix)”. (D.F.)

One of the things that KG asked me (DF), when we were going to partner in this story, was that we try to include my OC, Menelcar, who appears in my story, “Chance Encounter” (http://storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=4305).  I agreed.  Therefore, you may see bits of that story quoted here and there in the next few chapters.  Those are from my own story, so be assured that if you see something you recognize, it is not plagiarized.  Thank you.  DF and KG.

I want to thank everybody for your patience with our long hiatus, and for your thoughts and prayers.  (K.G.)

And I would like to apologize for making that hiatus longer, because shortly after KG was feeling better, I ended up in the hospital with bacterial pneumonia, which added to the time before we could set to work again.  We will do our best to get back on schedule now.  (D.F.)