Written for the Tolkien Weekly Gifts: A Merry Heart challenge.

Spirits Lifted

            Frodo looked at the rest of the Fellowship.  Even Merry appeared grim as they headed for the hollow Aragorn had chosen for their day’s rest.  “It’s First Yule,” he whispered to himself.  “I cannot imagine condemning us all to so dreary a holiday!”

            But Pippin had other ideas, suddenly breaking out in one of his most hilarious parodies of a Yuletide carol.  Soon Gimli was joining in on the chorus, and even Legolas smiled at the foolery.  When Gandalf turned their small cooking fire green and red, and Boromir and Sam laughed aloud together, Frodo’s heart grew merry once more.