"But is this a sign of honor among your people?" said Faramir, still staring as Pippin finally released Legolas' mouth but stayed contentedly in his lap. "Did you not just now call it a game?"
"Er," said Merry "it's a game we only play with those we hold in very high esteem. You see – " and here he stopped and very briefly kissed Frodo on the lips – "Frodo is one of my dearest friends, as well as being the loveliest creature alive and the one who destroyed the Ring and so saved us all from fire and darkness and eternal slavery. And those are a few of the reasons I like to kiss him. And since we all know how greatly Frodo honors you as well, since the help you gave him and Sam back in the day, you can imagine how difficult it's been for him to hold back, not to show his... honor."
"Is this true, Frodo?"
"My cousins..." Frodo began. Pippin knew Frodo had never been good at lying, even when it was for a very important cause. "My cousins do indeed honor me, and they wish for my happiness. And I... I would like very much..."
Oh, Frodo, thought Pippin. You've already proved you're the bravest soul in Middle-earth. Is it really so difficult to reach across a table in a tavern and make a little contact?
But then it turned out he didn't have to, because Faramir stood up and reached for him, and picked him up – just as Aragorn used to do (because Boromir had loved Merry and Pippin's company, and Legolas had taken good care of Sam his hobbit feet wouldn't carry him any farther, but Aragorn had always been the one to watch out for Frodo) – and held him tight and close.
So softly that Pippin could barely hear it, Frodo sighed.
"I would like very much to show you how I feel," Faramir said to Frodo. "But I hope you would respect my own custom of preferring that we, er... honor each other... in private. That is to say, just outside in the alley is good enough for me, but away from your fellows, if that's all right with you.
Pippin was a little bit disappointed to see Faramir carry Frodo out the door and out of sight, but mostly he felt pleased with a job well done. He took another swig of ale and settle back to kissing his Elf.
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"Er," said Merry "it's a game we only play with those we hold in very high esteem. You see – " and here he stopped and very briefly kissed Frodo on the lips – "Frodo is one of my dearest friends, as well as being the loveliest creature alive and the one who destroyed the Ring and so saved us all from fire and darkness and eternal slavery. And those are a few of the reasons I like to kiss him. And since we all know how greatly Frodo honors you as well, since the help you gave him and Sam back in the day, you can imagine how difficult it's been for him to hold back, not to show his... honor."
"Is this true, Frodo?"
"My cousins..." Frodo began. Pippin knew Frodo had never been good at lying, even when it was for a very important cause. "My cousins do indeed honor me, and they wish for my happiness. And I... I would like very much..."
Oh, Frodo, thought Pippin. You've already proved you're the bravest soul in Middle-earth. Is it really so difficult to reach across a table in a tavern and make a little contact?
But then it turned out he didn't have to, because Faramir stood up and reached for him, and picked him up – just as Aragorn used to do (because Boromir had loved Merry and Pippin's company, and Legolas had taken good care of Sam his hobbit feet wouldn't carry him any farther, but Aragorn had always been the one to watch out for Frodo) – and held him tight and close.
So softly that Pippin could barely hear it, Frodo sighed.
"I would like very much to show you how I feel," Faramir said to Frodo. "But I hope you would respect my own custom of preferring that we, er... honor each other... in private. That is to say, just outside in the alley is good enough for me, but away from your fellows, if that's all right with you.
Pippin was a little bit disappointed to see Faramir carry Frodo out the door and out of sight, but mostly he felt pleased with a job well done. He took another swig of ale and settle back to kissing his Elf.