Aranel Took asked for hobbits, but put in a special word for Merry and Pippin. I've always wondered about this moment, so this was a nice opportunity to play around with it.
Merry held his breath. Huddled under a hall stand, he waited, peering beneath the tablecloth. Abruptly, crockery shattered, and there came a distinct "Ow!"
The humming ceased. Merry saw a blur of feet as Bilbo left his study, but not 'til he heard Pippin's voice—"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to!"—and Bilbo's reply—"No great harm done. Unless you're hurt, lad?"—did he slip from hiding into the study.
Once within, he made straight for the desk, and the coveted, forbidden volume. Well done, Pippin! he thought, as, opening the Red Book, he began to read...