Chapter Text
“Fili!” Kili burst through their bed room door, dragging Sam behind him. Sam was flustered, his blush going all the way to the tips of his pointed ears. “Have you seen Frodo.”
“No, Ori mentioned he was in the library earlier. Why do you ask?” Fili closed the book he had been reading, if Kili was getting into trouble then by all means he must join in. It didn’t matter if he was one hundred six years old, mischief was fun.
“Sam needs to be a man!” Kili pulled Sam farther into the room.
“No I don’t!” Sam squeaked trying.
“Yes he does.” Kili said more to Sam then to Fili, “Don’t listen to him.”
“Tell me more, brother.”
“You promised!” Sam accused desperately trying to flee the situation.
“I won’t tell Frodo. If it makes you feel better Fili will promise not to tell anyone.”
“Tell me what?” Sam didn’t answer.
“Sam’s in love with Frodo!” Kili smirked, leaning against the table, inspecting his nails, oh so proud of himself. It was so cute when he thought he was smart. Good thing he’s second in line for the throne of Erebor.
Fili could hardly hold back the smirk. “You just found that out?” Fili asked amused.
“You knew?” They asked in unison. Sam’s voice had the slightest hint of panic.
“Of course, everyone does, except for Frodo, and apparently Kili.. So are you going to start courting him?”
“Yes.” “No.” Kili and Sam answered at the same time.
Fili sighed, “It’s painfully obvious that you and the young mister Boggins like each other. The only ones in Erebor who don’t know you and Frodo like each other are you and Frodo.”
“Frodo doesn’t like me that way.” Sam said dismissively, having finally freed his hand from Kili once the youngest prince was sure he wasn’t going to bolt.
Before Fili or Kili could argue, the subject of discussion entered the room. It was lucky for Sam that the dwarf princes kept their words or they would just spill all the secrets’ and lock the door.
“Fili have you seen- oh there you are Sam!” Frodo looked as if he had been running all over Erebor. He had a letter in his hand. “Guess what!”
“Um…Hands?” Frodo laughed at the reference.
“No, Merry and Pippin are coming to visit!” he handed the letter to Sam.
“Really?!” Sam read the letter over. It was in Merry’s scratchy hand writing. Sam was excited, the only thing Sam and Frodo missed more than the rolling green hills of the Shire were Frodo’s cousins.
In the twenty four years since Bilbo had fled the Shire on that horrible night, they had only returned a handful of times. After Bilbo and Thorin’s dwarf style wedding to get married in the hobbit traditions, and a few other times just to visit (read: to keep the Sackville-Baggins out of Bag End.)
Now Merry and Pippin were coming to see the Lonely Mountain they had heard so much about.
“Wait, how are they coming here?” Sam asked.
Frodo blinked, Sam couldn’t help but to think that he was so unbearably cute when he was confused. “I don’t know, it didn’t say. You don’t think they snuck off do you?” Frodo asked concerned.
“They wouldn’t make it past Bree, a Ranger would surely stop them.” Kili told them.
“I don’t know brother, this was sent from Rivendale.” Fili said taking the letter from Sam and examining it.
Apparently someone (CoughBilboCough) had convinced a grey wizard to supervise safe passage over the Misty Mountains for the two hobbits.
All matters of what was dubbed the “Sam isn’t a man” problem were swept under the rug, or at least in Sam’s mind. Both of the Hobbits were waiting for their friends by the gates every day, neither noticed Fili nor Kili scheming.
The brothers couldn’t be more excited. Fili, Kili, Merry and Pippin were great friends, and pains in everyone’s asses. In the last letter the princes had sent to Merry, Fili had complained about how blind Sam and Frodo were to not notice the others affections. Kili apparently hadn’t read the letter before it was sent.
Fili couldn’t wait t tell them all of the developments
Gandalf and the two hobbits arrived within the week after the letter was received. They arrived riding in Gandalf’s cart. Gandalf looked ready to smack them with his staff.
Bilbo watched with a fond smile as his wide range of nephews, Merry, and Sam Ran off into the mountain ahead of them. Bilbo had gone out with the boys to welcome the new guests.
“Fool of a Took.” Gandalf muttered watching them go.
“Watch what you say old friend.” Bilbo said playfully.
“I do apologize for the great terror now unleashed upon the Lonely Mountain.” The wizard said leaning against his staff.
“It is nothing Dis won’t be able to stop.” He told the wizard. “Come rest my friend, Thorin and the company have been awaiting your arrival for some time.”
“Sam finally admitted his feelings for Frodo.” Fili told Merry.
“What?” Merry gasped.
“Well, he told Kili. Won’t court him though, he’s afraid Frodo won’t return his feelings.” The dwarf scoffed
Merry groaned. “Why can’t that hobbit get it through his stupid head that Frodo likes him?” Merry was almost to the point where he was going to start pulling out his hair.
Sam and Pippin were play fighting with Kili as Frodo watched on from a safe distance cheering for Sam (and Pippin. But mostly Sam.) Frodo could defend himself, he just didn’t like fighting. He was content to watch.
“We need to give them a push.” Fili said with a smile as Sam and Pippin managed to tackle Kili. “Sometimes I don’t think Frodo even realizes how in love with Sam he is.”
“What if doesn’t?” Merry said as if he just realizing something.
“Doesn’t what?”
“Know that he’s in love with Sam. He’s never liked anyone else before, what would he have to compare his feelings to?” It hit Fili like a ton of bricks, Merry was right.
“We can’t just tell Frodo he’s in love with Sam, he’ll never believe us. Kili and I promised not to tell Frodo how Sam feels.”
“What if Pip and I suggested to Frodo that his feelings were more than friendly?”
“That could work…” Fili and Merry were interrupted by a shout. Kili was calling for reinforcements.
Fili couldn’t let the line of Durin be bested by some tween hobbits. He smirked at Merry before he took off running, Merry following right behind to help Pip and Sam.
That night there was a feast held to celebrate the arrival of the hobbits and Gandalf. Frodo was glad Merry and Pippin had come. He missed his cousins a lot; it was good to see them again. They had come at the right time too. Sam had been acting weird lately the days prior to when he heard Merry and Pippin were coming. At least he was back to normal now.
Frodo was content to sit in his seat and watch his friend’s rowdiness.
“Hello cousin.” Merry sat on Frodo’s right, hooking his arm with Frodo’s.
“Hi Merry, what do you think of Erebor so far?”
“It’s pretty cool, but we need to talk to you.” Pippin sat down on the other side of Frodo, also hooking his arms with Frodo’s.
“Sure.” Merry and Pippin hoisted Frodo out of his seat.
“Not here.” They lead him out into the hall.
“What’s this about?” Frodo asked, very confused.
“Sam.” Pippin told him.
“What about Sam? Is something wrong?!” Frodo asked worried, if Sam was in trouble why wouldn’t he tell Frodo?
“No, Sam’s fine.” Frodo visibly relaxed. Merry shook his head before continuing. “We just have a question for you about Sam.”
“How do you feel about Sam?” Pippin asked.
“He’s my best friend.” Frodo said without hesitation.
“That’s it?” Pippin asked, clearly not the answer he was looking for.
“Let me rephrase that,” Merry said, “How does he make you feel?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you happy when he’s around?”
“Of course. I can’t think of any time I’m happier if he’s not around.” Frodo said without thinking. He didn’t have to think at all, there was never a time when he was happy without Sam involved in some way or another.
“Now we’re getting somewhere!” Pippin exclaimed.
“What’s this really about?” Frodo was getting suspicious.
“Sam.” Merry assured him. “Now don’t lie, do you like Sam?”
“I like Sam. Why would I lie about that?”
“But do you like him?”
Realization spread across Frodo’s face along with a blush. “I, I-“He floundered hopelessly, then he finally closed his mouth. He was staring into the distance. Merry and Pippin traded a glance after a moment of silence.
“Mer, I think we broke Frodo.”
“He’ll be fine Pip, give him a minute.”
After another minute or too Frodo spoke up again.
“I-“
“Frodo! There you are!” Frodo blush grew as Sam walked around the corner. Sam mistook the blush. “Frodo are you oaky? Ya didn’ let ‘em trick you into drinkin’ did ya?”
“We didn’t trick him into anything.” Pippin defended. “We were just talking.”
“Leave Frodo out of your pranks.” Sam took Frodo’s hand, increasing the raven haired hobbit’s blush further. “come on Frodo, let’s go to bed.”
Frodo looked back to his cousins helplessly red as Sam pulled him to their apartments.
“Mission accomplished Pip.” Merry wrapped his arm around his cousin.
“Sam! Sam!” The heirs of the mountain skidded around the corner Sam had just come from.
“Some distraction you are.” Merry said playfully.
“He slipped away.” Kili admitted.
“You’re lucky you have us on your side.” Merry laughed. “You just missed him.”
“I told you he went this way!” Fili told his brother.
“Don’t worry.” Pippin smirked.
“Mission accomplished. The seeds of love have been planted.” The brothers looked hesitant, so Merry continued. “Frodo has done a lot of thinking about Sam tonight. Never told us the conclusion he reached, but from the blush on his face when Sam lead him away, I think it’s safe to say he came to an interesting thought about our blonde friend.”