Title: Toads in your Tummy
Author: Melilot Hill
Beta: Llinos and Marigold
Summary: Paladin, Merry and Pippin are playing a game, but Merry is preoccupied and doesn’t really pay attention. Pippin gives him some good advice.
Rate: G
Disclamer: The characters and settings belong to J.R.R. Tolkien.
Note 1: Written for Marigold’s 20th challenge. The story starter can be found at the end of the story.

Toads in your Tummy

“Aw, come on Merry,” Pippin pleaded, holding three wooden balls in his hands. “You promised you would play throwball with us. Merry? Are you ill?”

Paladin, standing behind Pippin, placed his hands on his son’s shoulders. “No I don’t think our Merry’s ill. His mind is just, err, preoccupied.” He laughed loudly and winked, shaking Merry from his reverie.

Merry felt himself blush, his Uncle, apparently, knew exactly what was going on. Poor Pippin, however, didn’t have a clue. He was looking back and forth between his father and Merry, begging for an explanation, but getting none.

“Well, if nothing’s the matter, let’s go then!” Pippin said impatiently, heading for the door. “It’s such nice weather, it doesn’t look like winter at all!”

Merry followed Pippin and his Uncle, who was carrying a hamper with their elevenses, outside. He had indeed promised Pippin to play throwball with him, even though he couldn’t really see the fun in the game. He enjoyed it, but not nearly as much as his Tookish family and not entirely for the same reasons. Merry took more pleasure in being out with Pippin and his Uncle than in the actual game.

Merry remembered the first time his Uncle Pad played throwball with him. He had been completely baffled by the rules. They weren’t so hard in retrospect, though. It was a good deal like golf, another game invented by the eccentric Took's, but played without the clubs. In throwball you had to hurl your ball, which was a good deal bigger than a golf ball, instead of whacking it with a club. Furthermore, you didn’t have to aim precisely for those incredibly small holes. The scoring system was the same as golf, but you just had to throw the ball to the end of the course, which was a lot less frustrating.

Merry shook his head, grinning; the Tooks and their silly games. Still, he had to admit the game wasn’t as simple as it sounded. Bends in the course were especially hard. If the ball got off the path, that counted as an extra throw. It took a bit of practice to get through bends in just two or three throws.

“So, who wants the first throw?” Paladin asked, knowing beforehand that Pippin would make himself heard the most. He was always so eager and far too impatient to wait.

“I do! I do!” Pippin said, almost jumping up and down with excitement. Merry usually felt the need to pretend he wanted to start their games too, if only to see the look on Pippin’s face. But today he couldn’t really be bothered. He didn’t like feeling this way, but it seemed there was nothing he could do about it.

“Well, Pip,” said Paladin, relieving two of the balls from Pippin’s hands, “why don’t you just begin then?” He gave Merry one of the balls and waited for Pippin to start.

The first ball Pippin threw ended up in the undergrowth. “That one doesn’t count!” He declared. “It was just practise.”

“Now, Pippin,” Paladin reproved, shaking his head, “do you remember what I told you about fair play? You can’t adjust the rules to your liking. That’s not done.”

“Yes, Da,” Pippin said contrite and not a little disappointed, but left his ball where it was just the same and waited for Merry and his father to throw their balls.

Merry did have fun, but he couldn’t seem to keep track of the score or remember which ball was his. He had never played this badly, he didn’t think, and he was happy when his Uncle announced it was time for their elevenses and not only because he was hungry.

Merry plopped down, seeing Pippin giving him odd looks. The lad was obviously still trying to figure out what was the matter. Merry smiled at him, patting the ground next to him. “Why don’t you sit down, Pippin? And no, there’s nothing wrong with me.”

“Yes there is!" Pippin answered, "you’re just not telling me.”

Merry thought his Pippin sounded a bit sad, but he wasn’t planning on discussing the matter with Pippin, let alone with his Uncle. Even though Uncle Pad could probably give some good advice, it was simply too embarrassing.

Merry focussed on his food. Pippin and Paladin did the same and they sat in companionable silence for some time, till most of the food was gone and there were only corners to be filled.

“Well, we should continue with our game,” Paladin said, starting to put the plates and the blanket back into the hamper. “I still have a lot to do this afternoon.”

“But Da, you promised Uncle Sara and Auntie Esme to spend the rest of the day just talking,” said Pippin, making a face. He couldn’t imagine how people could just sit for hours and talk.

“Exactly!” Paladin smiled. “A lot to do.”

“I can’t believe we’re going home tomorrow,” Merry sighed. “I would have liked to stay a few days more. I wish Father didn’t have so many things to do so close after Yule. Normally he has a few more days to just enjoy himself.”

“Don’t feel sad, Merry,” Paladin said. “Some things just need to be done and besides, we will see each other again soon enough.“

Merry picked up his ball again, making a resolution to try harder the second half of the game. He didn’t really want to lose.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Well, lads,” Paladin said. “I’m going back inside now, this old body of mine isn’t used to all this walking around and bending down anymore. I’m going to pester Eglantine for some tea and I think I earned a snack,” Paladin winked, laughing. “Are you coming in too?”

“In a moment,” Pippin answered. "I want to stay out for a bit longer. Merry and I can play together for a bit." He looked over his shoulder at his cousin, who was apparently studying the clouds and seemed to have missed most of the conversation.

Pippin walked over to Merry and plopped down onto the grass, tugging on his cousin’s hand when his presence wasn’t acknowledged. “What’s the matter with you, Merry? You have been acting strange for the past few days. You didn’t even pay attention during the game. Do you even know you’ve lost?”

“What?” Merry said, sounding as if he’d just woken up. He sat down next to Pippin. “I wasn’t that bad, was I?” He thought he had done considerably better the second part of the round.

“Yes you were, Merry! It was almost as if you didn’t want to play!” Pippin sat back, leaning on his elbows and studying Merry’s face minutely. “Now I know what this is about!” He declared after a while, sounding amazed now that he had finally figured it out. “Merry you’re fancying a lass, aren’t you?”

Merry turned his head to look at his younger cousin in surprise. “Since when did you become an expert?” He smiled.

Pippin ignored Merry’s question and continued unperturbed. “Do you have toads in your tummy now?”

Merry laughed. “It’s butterflies, Pip.”

“What is?”

“The expression. It is having butterflies in your stomach, not toads!”

“Oh,” Pippin laughed and then continued, “but that is just plain silly.”

“As opposed to toads?” Merry asked, still laughing. Trust Pippin to come up with something like that. At least it took his mind from things for a bit.

Next to him Pippin was giggling, finding the whole situation amusing. “You still haven’t answered my questions, Merry,” he reminded his cousin. “Which lass do you fancy and do you have butterflies in your tummy?”

“Hmm,” Merry said, getting a faraway look in his eyes once more. He had been looking forward to Yule for quite some time. Not only would he see Frodo again, and Pippin, but Fatty and his family would be spending Yule with them too and it had been ages since he had seen Fatty. He had been thinking about things to do for weeks in advance and had planned to spend as much time with Pippin, Frodo and Fatty as he could. But things turned out to be different. Merry hadn’t taken Fatty’s sister in account. Estella was no longer just Fatty’s little sister. She’d suddenly become a bonny, and very appealing, lass. Merry found it difficult to keep away from her but at the same time talking to her had become nearly impossible and he got this strange feeling in his stomach, whenever she was near, though he would never admit to that.

Merry wasn’t sure if Pippin was the right one to discuss this with, but on the other hand, he couldn’t keep quiet any longer, he was close to bursting with it all. “It’s Estella, and no, there are no butterflies, that’s for lasses!”

Pippin was silent for a while, processing the information. “Estella?” He asked finally, “Estella Bolger? Fatty’s sister? Who’s visiting here at this moment?”

Merry expected Pippin to laugh at him, but to his surprise Pippin did no such thing, he looked serious. Feeling strengthened by Pippin’s reaction Merry continued. “But I don’t know what to do, Pip.” He sighed. “How do I tell her that I like her when I feel all funny inside when I see her?”

“You should write her a poem,” Pippin offered. “Lasses like that sort of thing. It’s very romantic, according to Pearl.” Completely unexpectedly he jumped to his feet, placed his hand on his chest and started in a sing-song voice:

“Your eyes twinkle like the stars,
Which shine down from afar.
Your face glows like the sun,
When I see you, I want to run.”

Pippin ungracefully sat down again, shaking with silent mirth.

“Pippin!” Merry admonished, "I’m being serious here!” But even he had to laugh. Pippin’s silly rhyme was oh so true, but not useable.

“I’m sorry, Merry,” Pippin said, "I didn’t mean to make you angry with me. “I just wanted to see you laugh. You know you haven’t laughed nearly enough this visit."

“It’s all right, Pip.” Merry patted his cousin’s leg. “It was funny. But I’d like to hear an idea that actually works, and you know I’m not good at writing songs or poems.”

“I could help you write it,” Pippin offered. “Although I never wrote a poem for a lass before. I’m not really sure what it has to be about. I could ask Pearl or Pimmie if you’d like. Or even Vinca, even she’s starting to act strange around lads.”

“No, thank you, Pippin. I’d rather you not tell your sisters. I don’t want all the Four Farthings to hear about this, least of all the Eastfarthing. Promise me you won’t tell anybody, Pip?

“All right, Merry, I promise,” Pippin answered solemnly. Merry looked at his younger cousin. He knew Pippin’s promise was sincere, but he also knew the Took sisters could be very… well… persuasive, and Pippin being the youngest couldn’t always resist their tactics. But he had no choice now than to hope for the best.

“Merry?”

“Oh, I’m sorry Pip, I was thinking a little. You know, I don’t think a poem is such a good idea after all. I mean, the idea in itself is good, but if I can’t do it by myself I should try something else. I think it would be better if I did it all myself.”

“I suppose,” Pippin answered. “Maybe you could take her for a walk in the garden? You could do so after lunch, even.”

“Weren’t the Bolgers leaving after lunch?” Merry asked downheartedly.

“Oh yes,” Pippin replied. “I’d forgotten. Maybe,” he continued, “you could write her a nice letter. You’re good at writing letters! I think Estella would like that very much. She could keep it in a box and if you send her any others she could tie them all up with a ribbon.”

“How come you know so much about this?” Merry asked, perplexed by Pippin’s unmistakable knowledge on the subject. The lad was much too young to be interested in lasses.

“Three sisters,” Pippin answered simply.

“Do they tell you these things or do you just eavesdrop a lot?” Merry laughed.

“Pippin tried to look outraged. “Of course I don’t eavesdrop. They just talk about it in the parlour when I’m right there! Like I’m invisible or something. I wish they didn’t,” Pippin sighed, “their lists of suitable lads and their giggling drives me quite mad sometimes.”

Merry put an arm around Pippin’s shoulder. “Poor Pip, you suffer a lot, don’t you?”

Pippin smiled and turned towards Merry, putting his head on his cousin's shoulder. “Och, It’s not that bad. They can be very sweet too and anyway, I learned loads of stuff and now I can help you! I really hope Estella likes you back. She’s very nice. I suppose if you must like a lass she'll do well enough. ”

“Thanks, Pip,” Merry said, pulling his cousin a little closer. “You've really helped me today. No I mean it,” he said when he saw that Pippin was about to contradict him. “I’m going to use your advice and I’ll write Estella a letter. I hope I can explain things to her better that way. At least I can’t get the urge to run away, like in your little rhyme.”

“You’ll be fine,” Pippin said with so much confidence in his voice that Merry was inclined to believe him. “Do you already know what you’re going to write about? I think you shouldn’t just write about serious things. You should include funny things too. Otherwise it might be boring! ”

“I’ll just tell her about the toads in my tummy then,” Merry laughed and Pippin laughed with him. He liked that about Pippin; he hardly ever felt embarrassed when he said something silly and didn’t mind if people told others. Merry wished he was a bit more like that. Then he probably wouldn’t be so afraid he might make a fool of himself in front of Estella.

“Yes, that would be funny,” Pippin agreed with a grin. “Shall we go inside now? I think it must be time for lunch.”

“Yes, I think so too,” Merry laughed, feeling a lot more confident, “judging by the sounds your stomach is making!”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Good luck with you-know-what,” Pippin said, waving goodbye. His Aunt and Uncle were already in the carriage and Merry was just climbing in. "Let me know what happens!"

“What was that about?” Pearl asked Pippin, who shrugged in response and tried to look innocent, and failed completely.

“Oh no,” Merry groaned, hiding his face in his hands. If Pippin spilled the whole thing to Pearl this gem of information would reach Estella faster than his letter, which he hadn’t even written yet. He didn’t know how lasses did that, but it was disturbing. All he could do now was hope that Pippin would be able to keep his promise.

When the carriage left Merry looked out over his shoulder. Already he saw Pearl and Pippin bickering. He couldn’t hear what was being said, but frankly he knew enough. This could only mean one thing: Pearl had already started trying to prise the truth from Pippin. But it seemed that Pippin was standing his ground this time. The last thing Merry saw before the trees blocked his view was a stubborn Pippin, his head held high, his shoulders square and his arms akimbo. A small smile flickered on Merry’s lips. Everything might work out fine in the end after all.

The End

Story starter:
1. Paladin and young Pippin and Merry play an outdoor game together, and
2. Young Merry has a crush on Estella and Pippin (having 3 sisters) gives him some good advice about lasses.