What if Boromir Lived Longer? (Complete)

Chapter 16:Breakfast 7-6-16

Chapter By: Merry and Pippin

On the way back to camp, Pippin told Merry all about the strange bird/scorpion/chameleon creature he had come across in the Planchgo tree. Pippin's hand was still soaking with the purple slime from the creature. By the time they reached the river the sun was up all the way. Merry handed Pippin his coat with the berries and fruit in it and Pippin took it with his non- slimy hand. Merry bent down and picked up the pile of dead fish he had caught that night.

"Let's go put that food behind those bushes and go tell the others we have a big surprise," said Merry.

"Okay," said Pippin.

They put down the food behind the bushes and jumped when they turned back around. They turned back around to a very upset Boromir scowling down at them with his hands on his hips.

"Where have you guys been?" Boromir asked, "What are you doing? We had a panic attack when we found out you guys were gone,"

Before Merry or Pippin could answer him, he went on,

"What's on your hand?" Boromir pointed to Pippin's purple hand.

Pippin slipped both his hands behind his back and said nothing.

"Sorry to worry you. Is everybody awake?" Merry asked.

"Yes, now let's go. We are leaving now," Boromir said and turned around towards the camp area.

"We can't yet," Pippin whispered to Merry, but Boromir heard him too and turned back around and said,

"Why?" he looked quite upset.

"You tell him," whispered Merry back to Pippin.

"No you," Pippin whispered back.

"Just do it,"

"It was your idea,"

Boromir started walking back away and Merry and Pippin followed as they argued about who would tell about their secret surprise. As the three of them got back to camp they saw Aragorn. He looked up and gave a big sigh. Legolas and Gimli where there too and Gimli said gruffly,

"Are ya trying to get taken? Where were you?" Aragorn placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him down a little.

Merry and Pippin glanced at each other and then said in unison,

"We have a surprise!"

"What?" asked Aragorn calmly. Everybody was staring at the Hobbits with a very blank expression.

"Make a fire please. We will be right back," said Merry to everyone. Then to Pippin he whispered, "Let's go,"

Merry and Pippin started walking away as Boromir followed and said,

"We don't have time for that!"

Nobody said another word until they got to the river again and Pippin said,

"One second,"

He dipped his hands into the water and washed off all the purple slimy stuff on it from the creature's mouth. It came off pretty easily.

"Really, what was that stuff?" asked Boromir again.

"Don't worry about it," said Pippin plainly.

They soon reached the bush that the food was behind and Merry and Pippin picked it all up. Pippin took his coat with all the berries and fruit and Merry cradled all the fish. They were beginning to smell pretty bad now since they were dead.

Merry and Pippin turned around and shouted,

"Surprise!" to Boromir.

Boromir stood there wide eyed staring at the food.

"We have a whole breakfast planned for everybody!" said Merry.

All Boromir could do was smile brightly and give a small chuckle.

"You two are full of surprises. Now let's go," Boromir said.

He looked a lot happier now and wore a big smile ear to ear across his face. He was trying to hide it, but it was impossible for him to. Once they got back to the camp area they saw that Aragorn had made a pile of wood and sticks for a fire, but hadn't lit it yet.

"Surprise!" Merry and Pippin shouted.

"Look what we have!" said Pippin happily.

"Fresh fish, berries, and fruit for all of us!" Merry continued.

Aragorn lit the fire and smiled along with Legolas. Gimli cried out,

"Yes!" and smiled joyfully. Everybody was happy for once.

Eventually everyone had cooked their fish and chopped it up. Boromir had cut into Merry and Pippin's fish for them. Everybody ate the fish except Legolas, who was happy to just eat the berries and fruit. Gimli ate Legolas' fish and was happy to do so. After the fish, everybody ate the berries and the delicious Planchgo fruit except Gimli who just wanted the meat.

Merry: Pip was right! The fish was amazing cooked over the fire like that! You have to try it, Frodo!

Aragorn picked a Planchgo fruit to eat and made eye contact with Pippin and smiled. It was like he was saying, "Thank you" or "You brought back the lost Planchgo fruits!"

Everybody was really happy after they ate. Pippin put back on his blue coat and remembered to grab his fishing rod he made. Then everybody started walking again with Aragorn in the lead. It was mostly quiet until Pippin said,

"What about second breakfast?" It was meant only for Merry to hear, but everyone else heard too.

They all turned to Pippin and laughed. Even Aragorn and this wasn't the first time he had heard it. Pippin gave an embarrassed smile and Boromir gave Merry and Pippin two of the extra Planchgo fruits. Then everyone walked again as they smiled to themselves.

Pippin: It all goes downhill from here. (----------- (You will know what that means once you read the next chapter.)