By: Dana
Summary: There's room enough for all three.
Characters: Merry, Pippin, Boromir
Pairings: Boromir/Merry/Pippin
Rating: PG
Warnings: Light slash
Author's Notes: A collection of almost-drabbles-of-varying-lengths in Merry, then Pippin's, then Boromir's pov, topped off with a fourth in third person. Random fluff with a dusting of angst so light you probably won't note it.
Most recent revision: November 10, 2004.
Disclaimer: The author makes no claim to owning the rights of anything to do with J.R.R. Tolkien or New Line Cinema. Any and all characters and situations that have been borrowed are for the author's personal use only, and for the entertainment of others.

*Merry*

All he wants is the Ring and I'm silly enough to think that, maybe, just maybe, that's not completely the truth. At least, it's not the full true truth; he's got too light a hand when it comes to Pippin and me, and what does he gain from being nice to the two not-quite-important-as-the-Ringbearer hobbits that happen to be tagging along. He doesn't just want the Ring; if he did, he certainly isn't having any luck at it finding its way into his hand when he keeps the two of us about.

The way I see it, he could be off trying to get cosy with Sam, because from the way it is, Sam's more important to this quest than Pippin or me. But he's not, Boromir is here with us, and that has to mean something.

I think we have a good deal going on. Just the three of us.

The way I see it... well, there couldn't be a better way to be, and there's no denying that.

*Pippin*

Sometimes Merry talks in his sleep and I wonder what he'd say if he knew that I heard. Goodness, Boromir, I wonder what you would think. It would be a scandal back home, I'm sure, but then, Merry's never been one to follow the lead of the norm, and if it caused scandal, then it was simply the way that it was meant to be. I've loved my cousin since the day before forever and I think you've gone and stole his heart away. Oh, not completely, because there are some things that just can't be broken. But his heart is all tied up with yours and it gives him something to smile about; and something to whisper sweet nothings to in the darkness of the night.

Mine just seems to have tagged along, and I'm not sad at all to say that it's the only way that it can possibly be. I hope you won't mind, perhaps you wouldn't even notice.

I think we could all be very happy, as happy as one can be on this quest, these long tiring days, and feet that never quite lose the complete ache.

It would be nice to have someone big and strong and warm to lie down with at the end of a day. Believe me, I'm not the only one who thinks just that.

One day I'll have to tell Merry about his nightly whisperings; it would surely cause him a blush or two and I would savour them because Meriadoc Brandybuck isn't often one to blush.

Perhaps we could work together to bring about a change.

*Boromir*

At times I think that they're plotting against me and if they pooled their full resources, even I, a warrior of Gondor, would have no defences against two hobbits out of the Shire. Those smiles make this journey bearable; it's two smiles that I wake to each morning and it's those same smiles that guide me into rest.

They would not smile so if they knew what I was truly capable of, but they do not seem to want to find out, and I do not so want to unveil the darkness of my soul. They would not understand and I would not wish to harm my little ones. Because they are mine as much as I am theirs... I wonder if they know just how deeply that claim of theirs runs.

There will be time enough to show that depth of affection, when the world is not in chaos, and when temptation is not so close at hand. As long as the Ring is there then it is only so long until the darkness in my soul reveals itself to all. I can only hope that my Merry and my Pippin will not be there to see me when I fall into darkness. I would not wish to see the horror on their faces. I would rather die than let them witness that sight.

*Just Three*

One hobbit sits at one side and the other on the opposite and Merry smiles at Pippin and Pippin smiles at Boromir. "What a long day," Pippin says, and yawns, a dramatic gesture for one so small. Boromir smiles and loops an arm about his shoulder, a tiny gesture for one so large. Pippin makes a contented noise deep in the back of his throat, snuggling close, reaching to pull Boromir's cloak atop him to ward off the bitter chill in the air. Merry snorts and moves close as well, not so bold as Pippin, Pippin who sits propped on the edge of Boromir's lap. He is still warm and secure and Boromir's arm is the weight of his world.

They fall asleep like this, first Pippin and soft snores, then Merry and pure silence. Boromir is not sure when he follows them, knowing only that he does not dream and when he wakes in the morning, he lies on his side with two hobbits cuddled close together underneath the edge of his cloak.

And there is nothing more he wants in the world, than the peace of this moment.

It feels like a long time until the scritch-scratch of the Ring on his mind begins again, and he could forget it exists at all in the drowsy grey depths of morning gloom.