In which Merry hesitates and Pippin takes drastic measures.
Complete
Image courtesy of The Theban Band
Notes
1. This story is inspired by Now Are Frolic by Adrienne and Thia. It was originally intended to be an unofficial "prequel", but as the story progressed (read: as Berry took over!) it became clear that the two stories don't exist in the same timeline. This entailed a bit of re-writing but I think it's better as a separate story. I am still grateful to Adrienne and Thia for the inspiration and for all their wonderful stories.
2. Both "Now Are Frolic" and "Feasts, Feuds and Frolics" are AU, but for different reasons. In FFF Bilbo's ring is just a trinket and there is no Quest, though Bilbo still left for Rivendell in 1401. (In NAF Bilbo is still present, cavorting with dwarves, after Pippin is old enough to be cavorting with Merry)
3. Pippin's age - Pippin was born in 1390, and NAF is set in a leap year, so he can turn 18, 22, 26 or 30 before coming of age. I have chosen 18 (SR 1408).
4. Berry 's age - the good professor neglected to provide me with a Brandybuck cousin of the age I needed so I have borrowed Berilac and altered the year of his birth to 1374, making him eight years older than Merry and six years younger than Frodo.
5. MJ was good enough to act as literary editor (her contribution greatly exceeded that of a mere beta-reader) and I am grateful for her ruthless and constructive criticism and the numerous suggestions she made. Any errors that remain are, of course, my fault entirely.
"It's just Merry and Pippin. Go around to the left, they're in the hollow up ahead."
"Mr. Merry and Mr. Pippin?" Sam did as Frodo said, carefully not looking at the source of the moans. "Isn't Mr. Pippin a little, um, young, sir?"
"Merry says Pippin tied him to his bed until Merry agreed," Frodo said cheerfully.
Sam muttered something that sounded like 'more than I ever wanted to know', but carried Frodo onward to another small dell conveniently placed for romantic assignation.
Adrienne & Thia - "Now Are Frolic"
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