Anso´s Hobbity Tales

Merry's Mushrooms

Sun, 09 Oct 2005 14:24:28 GMT

Title: Merry`s Mushrooms
Author: Anso the Hobbit
Beta: Marigold
Characters: Merry, Frodo, Esmeralda, Saradoc, Pearl, Pimpernel, Pervinca, Eglantine, Paladin
Timeline: Brandy Hall, SR 1387 so Merry is five, Frodo 19, Pearl 12, Pimpernel eight and Pervinca two.
Summary: Because there is probably nothing as important as to know which mushrooms are good and which are bad if you are a hobbit.
Disclaimer: Not mine. They just own me.
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Merry looked at the huge dish of mushrooms placed far back on the table in front of him. The bowl was almost flowing over with delicious looking fungi in a variety of shapes and colours – from long and thin ones to sturdy round ones – from almost pristine white to bright yellow and dark brown and any and every shade in between. Looking around the kitchen where his mum was occupied with cutting potatoes on the other side of the room, Merry got a stool and carefully climbed up to just have a closer look at the treats. Frodo had been mushroom-picking earlier in the day and had brought home two large baskets. Mum had ruffled Frodo`s curls then and kissed his cheek, which meant that she was very pleased with him.

Later Frodo had showed Merry how to gently brush the mushrooms off and then he was allowed to help Frodo cut them. Frodo held the knife and Merry was allowed to put his hand on Frodo`s and help with the cutting. Merry found it boring after some time, though, to pretend-cut, so he started dislocating the hats from the stems instead, giggling in satisfaction when there was a little pop sound as the hat came free. He`d been found out eventually, and Mum had taken the mushrooms away from him. “Don`t play with the food, Merry-lad. Why don`t you go wash your hands and then you can have a mug of fizzy juice when you come back.”

Merry had dutifully done as he was bid. The juice was bubbling quite nicely in his tummy now and he rubbed it happily. Fizzy juice was a funny drink, Merry thought. If you weren`t careful it would make you sneeze, which of course was very amusing but also would gain you a frown from the grown-ups. You could also belch but that would gain you a scolding if someone caught you. Frodo had taught him how to belch like a proper lad, but he had also said that Merry was not to do it when seated at the table or with his parents or other grown-ups.

Now Merry`s tummy was full of Uncle Merimac`s pale-gold pear juice and he decided that a few mushrooms would be the thing, just to tide him over until dinner. Looking at his mum again Merry quick as could be snuck a hand out and caught a few small mushrooms in his fist. He soundlessly climbed down from his stool, replaced it under the table and walked out. When he came out into the hallway he looked to both sides before hurrying to his room to eat his little treat. He knew he would get a scolding if he ate so soon before it was time for dinner.

Finished with the mushrooms Merry went in search of Frodo and found his cousin playing with Pearl and Pimpernel. Merry`s Took cousins had arrived the day before and now Frodo was playing with them. Pearl was all right, Merry thought, a bit bossy perhaps but she was a teen so nothing else was to be expected. Pimpernel was great fun to be with. She was a few years older than Merry and quite daring and liked rough lad games. Baby Pervinca was crying all the time and when she wouldn`t stop after he had tickled her or yelled or rocked her, Merry gave up and found himself profoundly tired of baby cousins. It was high time someone presented him with a new lad cousin, Merry decided. “Hullo!” he said, greeting them.

“Hullo there, Merry,” Frodo looked up from the game of farmers checkers they had been playing as the set of ordinary draughts were nowhere to be found. “Come here. What have you been up to?”

Merry walked over and plopped himself in Frodo`s lap, suddenly a bit dizzy. “Nothing. I`ve been in the kitchen. Mum gave me some of Uncle Mac`s pear juice. I bet I can make a glorious belch, Frodo. Want to hear?” Merry drew his breath and opened his mouth ready to demonstrate his skills when Frodo hastily put his hand over his mouth.

“Not here, Merry. Never in front of the lasses.”

Merry let the belch slip out in Frodo`s hand as it was quite impossible to keep it in when you first had it on the top of your throat. “I`m sorry.”

Nell giggled and Pearl looked disapprovingly at him, trying to hide her smile. She was growing up too fast, Merry thought and it was not so much fun playing with her any more. Lasses were fun up to a certain age then they became boring and concerned about how they looked and if they got dirty. Nell was not like that yet, so Merry decided that this was a perfect time to pull one of her carefully bowed yellow hair ribbons.

“Merry!” She yanked the ribbon out of his hand and tackled him so that Frodo fell backwards and hit his head on the table behind him. Merry squealed with laughter and tried to tickle back at the same time as he tried to squirm out of the way of Nell`s merciless fingers. Frodo yelped and rubbed his head, looking a little pale.

“Children!” It was Merry`s Aunt Tina. Aunt Tina was Merry`s favourite aunt and he loved her very much but she could be just like his mum sometimes, stopping the play when it was at the most fun. Nell stopped tickling and sat up and Merry decided that lying sprawled on the floor with his head on Frodo`s hip and his clothes in disorder (two buttons on his waistcoat were open) was not the best way of greeting his aunt.

“Hullo Auntie,” Merry said, sitting up.

“Hullo, Merry.” Merry watched as she surveyed the children, looking for any damage or injury and satisfied that everyone was relatively unharmed and no furniture was turned upside-down or destroyed she retrieved Pervinca from the cot. “It`s dinner time in a few minutes. Frodo and Pearl, would you be so kind and see to it that Nell and Merry have washed up and made themselves presentable before you all sit down?”

“Yes, Mama,” Pearl said.

*****

Merry watched Frodo intently as they ate. The large dish of mushrooms he had sampled earlier was now transformed into a lovely bowl-full of stewed mushrooms and onions.

“Merry!” Frodo hissed. “Stop leering at the mushrooms. You`ll get your portion soon.” Of course, with mushrooms being the best thing any hobbit could want to eat Merry`s mum took one plate after another and portioned out the delicacies. Merry bounced on his chair in excitement when she put his plate down in front of him. He started to eat before Frodo could serve him with chicken and potatoes and carrots. “Merry!” Frodo elbowed him gently and took the plate away before Merry could mange to eat more. “Watch your manners!”

Merry sighed and waited until his plate was properly filled and set down in front of him again. “I`m sorry,” he whispered. Merry wolfed down his food until he finally felt Da`s watchful eye on him. He slowed down and was almost finished when he discovered that Frodo hadn`t eaten much. Frodo never ate as much as Merry – or as fast – but he never ate this slow either. “Frodo? Don`t you like the mushrooms?”

“Yes of course, Merry.” Frodo started eating again but Merry clearly saw that his spirit wasn`t in it. At Merry`s persistent look he finally relented. “I`m just tired, Merry-lad. Don`t worry.” Frodo ruffled Merry`s curls and smoothed out the worried line on Merry`s brow with his thumb. “Eat up now. There`s blackberry-and apple tart for pudding.”

Merry ate the rest of his dinner in silence but couldn`t help but feeling a bit uneasy about Frodo`s behaviour. Usually Frodo would give him a special smile and say that it was such hard work looking after Merry and that that was the reason he was tired, but he hadn`t done so today.

*****

Merry was quite pleased with that evening`s events, despite his worry over Frodo. He had been allowed to play for a longer time than usual in the bath and had made some lovely sculptures out of the foam. He stood up in the tub so that he just barely could see himself in the looking glass and made himself a wonderful helmet of foam that covered his wet curls neatly and even had a pointy top. After, he made dwarves and played at being Bilbo rescuing them from the spiders. When he was completely wrinkled from the hot water, his da scooped him up in an enormous towel and tickled him dry, making him laugh and giggle and not even feel that he dried the insides of his ears, because that was the worst thing Merry knew about bathing and if he was aware of it happening it would usually result in blood-curdling screams until the hobbit who was drying him off stopped in fear of having the whole Hall at the bathing room door wondering who was mistreating a child like that. Merry simply hated having the towel in his ears and would constantly think up new ways to avoid it.

Merry was plonked down on his bed before his da helped him put on a nightshirt. Merry thought himself big enough to put it on by himself but the buttons weren`t always easy to get into the proper holes and impatiently he just let his clothes stay unbuttoned instead. That is, until some grown up found him and re-buttoned his shirt or waistcoat or whatever he hadn`t managed.

Uncle Paladin came to tell him a story, and it was so exciting that Merry had not fallen asleep at all, and besides, it was a rare treat to have Uncle Paladin tell him a story so he wanted to enjoy all of it. When the story was over he had to have a song too so that he could fall asleep and at last he contentedly snuggled down in his blankets.

*****

Merry woke with a start and in a rush remembered Frodo`s funny behaviour the night before. He sat up in bed and pondered for a moment if he should just turn over and sleep some more when his tummy told him that it wanted attention, so Merry decided that he would go check on Frodo and if he was well, ask him to come with him to the kitchen and have a glass of milk and bread and maybe a bit of tart if there was something left.

He jumped out of bed, but the sudden movement made him a bit queasy and he stood still for a moment. Was he that hungry? Merry remembered that he had been so hungry one time that he felt sick and he had had a headache that only went away after he had eaten. Frodo had better be well then so he could join him in the kitchen. Merry knew he was too little to help himself yet, and he was strictly forbidden to use a knife, but that was all right, he didn’t mind. He`d seen Cousin Dodinas cut himself once, and although there had been lots of blood – which in itself was interesting, but also a bit scary – Merry hadn`t wanted for Dodinas to hurt himself and felt sad when he later heard that Dodinas had been bundled off to bed and instructed to eat liver because he had bled so much. Poor Cousin Dodinas. Merry hated liver even more than he hated to dry his ears and in fear of any possible future liver meals he stayed away from the knives.

Merry padded off to Frodo`s room. He stood on tip-toe to open the door and managed to enter without any noise. The lamp was burning on Frodo`s table, something Merry found alarming. Frodo always slept with the lamp off. Always. Merry climbed up in Frodo`s bed and snuggled down beside his cousin, bumping Frodo`s chest with his head so that Frodo sleepily draped an arm over him. Merry lay still for a moment but then his tummy told him that he still was hungry. He squirmed around a bit and shook Frodo a little. “Wake up, Frodo. I`m hungry.”

Slowly Frodo opened his eyes and Merry watched as he came awake. “Merry?”

“Yes?”

“What is it? Everything all right?”

“I`m hungry. How are you feeling?”

Frodo yawned and looked at Merry. “My head hurts but I`m all right. Why do you ask?”

“You were so strange at dinner, not teasing me as you usually do so I thought something was wrong.” Merry snuggled in deeper and felt Frodo`s arms hug him close.

“My Merry, my Merry.” Frodo said in that in a strange and a little sad grown up way Merry didn`t quite understand. Frodo wasn`t grown up yet, but sometimes he sounded like he was. Merry had a feeling that this moment was important and something to remember, so he lay still as Frodo stroked his hair and kissed his head, squeezing him a little.

When Merry thought Frodo might be asleep again he lifted his head and scooted up in the bed, kissing Frodo`s cheek, looking at him. His tummy made a funny movement and Merry decided that he`d better find something to eat now before he was so hungry he`d start eating the pillow. “I`m hungry, Frodo. Please, come with me.”

“All right you rascal,” Frodo said and tickled Merry before bundling him up in a blanket and carrying him off to the kitchen. There he sat Merry down on a chair and found bread and a quarter of a round of semi-soft cheese, milk and a bit of left over tart. He prepared a plate for Merry and sat down with his own glass of milk. Merry started eating as Frodo watched. The bread tasted a bit funny and Merry looked at it to see if something was wrong but it looked just fine. He sipped a bit of milk but that too tasted funny. “Please may I have some water instead, Frodo? The milk tastes funny.”

“It does?” Frodo sipped a bit of Merry`s milk – perhaps the glass wasn`t properly clean and had some soap left on it? The milk tasted just fine though, but he found another glass and poured Merry some water from the bucket in the cooling-room instead.

Merry drank thirstily but the water too tasted funny. “Everything tastes funny, Frodo.” Merry sat the glass down and looked mournfully at his plate. He`d just taken a few bites of the bread and cheese, and he loved that cheese! It was one of Cook`s specialities and she added pepper and a bit of dried bell peppers and parsley to it to make the taste spicy.

Frodo came down to kneel in front of him. “Is everything all right, Merry?”

“I don`t know. I thought I was hungry but my tummy is funny and now I`m not hungry at all.” A few tears leaked down his cheeks and Merry brushed them away with his sleeve.

Frodo lifted Merry up from the chair and sat down with him in his lap, rubbing Merry`s tummy soothingly – not soft enough to tickle but not so hard that it hurt either. “Is that better? You did eat quite a lot of those mushrooms for dinner, you know.”

“I know,” Merry said. It felt good to have his tummy rubbed and he leaned into Frodo`s embrace. He didn`t think it was possible to eat too many mushrooms though, and said so. Frodo laughed and so Merry had to laugh too.

“There now,” Frodo said after a while, gently tickling Merry`s sides and wrapping the blanket in around him. “All better?”

Merry nodded and snuggled down in the blanket, sleepy again.

“All right. Let`s bundle you off to bed then, shall we? I`m sure your tummy will be good again in the morning.” Frodo rose and whisked Merry into bed. Just as Merry was about to turn over to lie on his side, something lurched inside him and he was very sick over his nightshirt and sheets and Frodo`s hands and everything. He started to cry out of sheer misery and all the soothing in the world couldn`t take away the hurt in his tummy.

“Sssh, now. Lie still, Merry. I`ll just wash my hands. Then we`ll see about getting you into a fresh nightshirt.

Before Frodo had finished washing his hands Merry was sick once more and just as the fresh nightshirt was pulled over his head a third bout came. “All right, sprout. Let`s wake your mum and see if there`s something she can do about your tummy-ache, hm?” Frodo carefully rubbed at Merry`s bare tummy, blowing at it, trying to make Merry giggle, but Merry was too absorbed in trying not to be sick to take much notice of it. Frodo bundled up the soiled sheets and nightshirts and wrapped Merry up in a fresh blanket. He placed a cushion just so in the enormous armchair and sat Merry down in it, laying him so that he rested against the cushion and the armrest. Frodo stroked his cheek and was not gone long before Merry sleepily heard his mum and da coming into the room.

Merry didn`t remember much of what happened in the next few hours but he remembered that his mum had taken him in her lap and rocked him gently and Merry thought he could stay there forever. The funny feeling in his tummy had turned to an ache now and he was sick again. He felt hot and tired and whimpered when he was put down in his bed and someone he didn`t know felt his tummy and face and asked questions Merry was too tired to answer or didn`t quite understand. Someone, his da Merry thought, stroked his brow before starting to sing softly.

*****

“Merry my love, wake up now.” Merry didn`t know how long he had been sleeping but the sun was shining in through the window and making the green walls in his room shine golden. It must be noon soon then, he thought. He turned over and looked up at his mum who looked back at him with a smile. His tummy still felt funny but not the same funny as it had the night before when he was sick. Merry was lifted from the bed and placed in his mum`s lap. “Drink a bit of this,” she said and Merry drank and found that he was very thirsty. The drink was some sort of tea and tasted a little strange.

“Do you want to tell me what happened?”

What had actually happened, Merry wondered? “I don`t know.”

“The healer said that you probably ate something you shouldn`t have and that you were lucky to not have eaten more of it, because then you would have been very, very sick, and that would have made me very sad.” She squeezed him a little, and kissed the top of his head. “Did you eat something while you were playing outside, Merry? Perhaps you ate some of the fertiliser for the flowers? Berilac did that last year and he was quite sick after.”

“What happened?” Merry asked.

“Well, he ate some of the white bits of fertiliser and was sick just like you were last night. He had to drink lots of milk after to get it out of his tummy, but he was lucky. Did you eat that, Merry?”

Merry shook his head. He`d been playing in the fields the day before but never thought the white bits that looked like seeds interesting enough to eat them. He had eaten a flower once, but that had been all right. He`d shown it to Frodo and Frodo had said it was nastur… something and that was quite safe to eat. After, Merry had eaten a whole little bouquet of them just to see if Frodo was right.

Merry felt his mum think. He wasn`t quite sure how he knew that she was thinking, but it was something about the silence and the way her heart fluttered behind his head. “I`m sorry, Mum.” Merry hated to make people sad. “I`m sorry I made you sad.”

“Oh, sweetie.” Merry squirmed around in her lap so that he could look up at her. His mum was crying now and Merry reached out to dry the tears with a bit of his blanket.

“Don`t be sad, Mum.”

She shook her head then. “It`s all right, love.”

After a while she took up the drink she`d given Merry earlier. “Drink a bit more of this, will you, sweeting?” She lifted the cup to his lips and Merry drank some more. “Merry? Did you eat any of the mushrooms before they were cooked yesterday?” she asked when he had finished drinking.

Merry nodded. “I`m sorry. They looked so nice and I was so hungry.”

“Oh, Merry!” Merry felt his mum begin to cry again. “I thought they were far enough out of the way for you to not reach them. They are very lovely mushrooms, my love, but not all of them are good raw.” She hugged him tight again. “I`m sorry, my poppet.”

Merry did the only thing he knew that worked when he`d made someone sad and started crying too.

Merry`s mum turned him around in her lap so that she could look him in the eyes. “Meriadoc, will you promise that you will never eat any mushrooms raw again before you are completely sure they are safe to eat?”

Merry nodded solemnly. When someone called him Meriadoc it usually meant they were angry or very serious. “I promise, Mum.”

“Good. And will you promise me that you will come to me or or your father, or Frodo if you find mushrooms you have not specifically been told are safe to eat, no matter what?”

“Yes, Mum.”

She sighed. “I suppose it`s time you learn how to pick mushrooms and separate the good from the bad. I`m sorry that you had to find out the hard way what happens if you eat mushrooms not properly prepared but perhaps it`s a lesson well learned and a lesson you will remember.”

Merry wasn`t sure what all of that meant but he thought it was important so he nodded. “I will.”

They sat like that for some time, rocking back and forth in the large chair until Merry grew drowsy again. He felt tired and empty after being sick and was relieved when he was put back to bed for a nap.

*****

“Merry? Wake up? I`ve brought you lunch.” It was Frodo. Opening his eyes Merry saw a large tray of food on his nightstand. “Look,” Frodo said with a twinkle in his eyes, “mushrooms!”

“I`m not sure I want any mushrooms today,” Merry said and sat up. He had slept half the day away then.

“Are you sure?” It was Nell, coming in behind Frodo, carrying a chair. Behind her Pearl came in carrying another. “They look delicious.”

“I`m sure,” Merry said.

“All right.” Frodo fluffed Merry`s pillows and placed a bed-tray with a steaming bowl of chicken soup on his lap. “Your da says you`re to stay in bed today and tomorrow if you`re up to it, I`ll teach you where to find the best mushrooms!”

*****

Many, many years later, in a book on the herblore of the Shire, Master Meriadoc dedicated a whole chapter to the fine art of growing, finding and preparing mushrooms, because he knew – from hard earned experience – how crucial it was to know what mushrooms to pick and when and how to prepare them just so to please the sensitive palate of hobbit kind.

END

Sneaky Snakes And Broken Bones - part four

Mon, 03 Oct 2005 08:03:42 GMT

PART FOUR

Pippin woke to the sounds of quiet talk and turned over on his cot. Gandalf and Aragorn were having a whispered conversation in the far corner of the tent. Merry slept and Frodo and Sam were having a cup of tea and some bread. Seeing Pippin waking up, Frodo poured out a cup of tea for him and made him a plate with bread and jam. “Strider says you are to stay in bed, Pippin,” Frodo said.

”King`s orders,” Aragorn said with a smile.

Frodo produced a covered cup from the table and held it out to Pippin. “And you`re to drink this.”

Pippin hesitated. He wasn`t the one needing draughts today, now was he? “Come now,” Frodo said. “It`s just a tea with a few herbs to help your aches and pains and I personally saw to it being sweetened with honey.” It was the only way for Pippin to take a nasty tea. Merry however would rather drink the bitter brew down and would scrunch his face up in disgust at the very thought of honey in his tea.

Setting the mug down, Pippin tucked into his bread and jam. “How`s Merry?” he asked between bites.

“He`s been sleeping since lunch. He tried eating a little but he wasn`t feeling all that well. He still had a bit of fever and was tired and still in pain.”

Pippin had barely finished his tea when the guard standing outside the tent looked inside. “The Ranger who found the Halflings is here now,” he said when Aragorn acknowledged him.

“Bid him enter,” Aragorn said. “I`m afraid Merry is still asleep though.”

“Not any more,” a groggy voice said, and Merry struggled to sit up, rubbing his hands through his curls so they stood about wildly.

“That is good to hear as you have a guest,” Gandalf said and moved to help Merry sit up properly without jostling his foot.

“I have?” Merry looked curiously at the Ranger still standing in the opening of the tent.

“I come to see how you are faring Sir Meriadoc. I was quite worried when I found you and your cousin in the forest yestereve.”

“It was you who found us?” Merry smoothed his curls down and straightened his blankets a little in an attempt to make himself a bit more presentable. “I`m afraid I`m a bad host, trapped in this bed as I am.”

“I would have found it quite extraordinary if you weren`t,” the Ranger said, bowing. “Allow me to introduce myself. I`m Fermund, a Ranger of Ithilien.”

Merry introduced himself in the proper way then said, “But you are so fair, I would have thought you a Rider of Rohan if it weren`t for your garb.”

“And right you would be in doing so. My family come from the Westfold but I moved to Gondor some years back when I married.”

“Ah, I see.” Merry smiled. This man was a bit of all the new worlds he`d come to love – Rohan, Gondor and Ithilien. “Please sit.” He gestured to a chair beside the bed. Everything was man-sized here so Merry didn`t have to worry about asking his guest to sit on the floor.

“Thank you,” Fermund said and sat down. One of the Ring-bearers offered him a cup of tea and Fermund received it with more thanks and much humility. Fermund knew that he was in debt to these small persons and not the other way around. They had saved Middle-earth and what deeds he had done were pale in comparison. He looked at the little hobbit in the overlarge bed. Sir Meriadoc – no, Merry, as he had told Fermund to call him when he formally introduced himself - was fully awake now and looked much better than he had the previous night. The injured foot was propped up on a pillow and Merry was still pale and favoured his right hand but seemed bright and cheerful, quite suited to his name, Fermund thought. Pippin had given him a thorough account of their family trees yesterday as they had walked and he knew that Meriadoc also was a cousin to one of the Ring-bearers and that the other Ring-bearer was considered a very good friend of all three cousins.

“I am forever in your debt. Thank you again,” Merry said gravely. It suddenly occurred to him that he could have died out there in the forest if it hadn`t been for Pippin and the Ranger. Merry looked to Pippin sitting up in the cot next to his and held out his hand. “Thank you, Pippin. For taking such good care of me until Fermund found us.” His thanks and love shone in his eyes and he squeezed Pippin`s hand. They`d talk more later. If he had been able, Merry would have gone to Pippin`s cot and hugged his dear little cousin as tight as he could manage, but the squeeze had to do for now.

Merry looked back to Fermund. “How did you happen to find us and bring us back?” he asked.

“I was out taking a stroll when I saw the Ernil… Pippin`s small fire and that`s when I found you. Pippin was cradling you in his arms and had wrapped you in his cloak to keep you warm. I was quite astonished by his fierce protection of you.” Fermund turned to smile at Pippin. “His own injuries were clearly hurting him, yet he shot to his feet ready to do battle in your defence should I prove to be an enemy.”

“That`s my Pip,” Merry said fondly.

“Thank you for finding my cousins and bringing them back to safety,” Frodo said, bowing from his place on the other side of Pippin`s cot, following the conversation but not interrupting before now.

Sam looked up from where he had been pouring more water into the kettle. “Thank you, sir, for finding Mr. Frodo`s cousins.”

Fermund turned to the other hobbits and went down on his knees in front of Frodo and Sam. “It is I – and all of Middle-earth – that should thank you for all you have done. Had it not been for you,” he included Pippin and Merry in his gaze, “all of you, then we would have been lost.”

Merry looked at Frodo and Sam, seeing the discomfiture in their eyes. Poor Frodo! All this unwanted attention. What could he say? Suddenly feeling tired again, Merry yawned and inched down everso slightly in the bed. Gandalf saw it though and winked to Merry before he cleared his throat. Merry’s life spark was dulling again and Pippin's had also lost some of its brightness. “Now then,” Gandalf said, “this is a healing tent and I do believe the King has some patients to see to. We are all very grateful for your assistance to Peregrin and Meriadoc, good Fermund.”

“I shall take my leave,” Fermund said, rising and turning to leave.

“Wait!” Merry sat up a bit straighter. “Frodo, would you mind giving me my pack?” Merry nodded to where his and Pippin`s packs lay on the other side of Pippin`s cot.

Aragorn, who had watched the conversation in silence, turned from where he had been sorting out supplies for re-bandaging Merry`s foot, curious to what the hobbit intended. He watched as Frodo got Merry`s pack and handed it to his cousin.

Merry nodded his thanks and started digging through the contents. “Ah, here it is. I knew I had one somewhere.”

Fermund watched as Merry dug through his pack and looked with curiosity when Merry retrieved a pipe and a small pouch. “It`s not much, but I want to give you some token of appreciation for saving my life, Fermund,” Merry said. “Please, take it.”

Fermund sat down on the chair by Merry`s bed again. “Thank you, Merry, but that is not necessary. Both Kings extended their thanks to me earlier today.” He patted his surcoat pocket. “King Éomer gave me a pouch of gold coins, and King Elessar has promoted me to Captain of the Ithilien Rangers as Lord Faramir now is Steward.” He looked gratefully at the new King.

Merry was surprised by this. Gold and a promotion for finding him and Pippin? He looked at Strider and arched an eyebrow. Aragorn nodded firmly. “You are both held high in esteem both in Rohan and Gondor, Merry. I would do no less.”

“Say thank you,” Frodo whispered, kicking Merry`s good leg softly from where he sat beside Pippin.

“Thank you,” Merry said, still quite dazed and trying to take in this information. He knew Aragorn was fond of the hobbits and Merry considered Éomer a very good friend… What would he himself give if Frodo or Pippin were lost to have them returned to him safe and sound? He knew the answer instantly of course, he would give his life to have Pippin and Frodo safe. He knew that Aragorn would do the same, for all of them, had always known it, but suddenly seeing this evidence of his worth in Aragorn’s eyes, and Éomer’s, made him feel a bit queer, though in a good way. He looked at Fermund again.

“Well, it is not nearly so grand as gold or a promotion, but please, take it. I know it`s not worth a lot but it`s a little something from the Shire and I have carried it with me all the long miles from home. The weed,” Merry nodded to the pouch, “is courtesy of Saruman I`m afraid as the weed I brought with me is long since gone, but it was grown in the Shire and is one of our finest pipeweeds. Though, how Saruman came upon it I still haven`t figured out.”

Fermund looked at the long-stemmed wooden pipe and the leather pouch with interest. Weed? The Rangers of the south didn`t smoke, but he had seen Mithrandir and King Elessar smoke from a long-stemmed pipe on occasion, in fact, the old Wizard was puffing on his this very moment, although the pipe wasn`t lit. He opened the pouch carefully and sniffed the contents. It was quite pleasant. “I will treasure it always,” Fermund said gravely. “Though, I do not know how to use it.”

“That can easily be amended,” Merry said. “If you were to come back tomorrow afternoon perhaps we can go outside and have a smoke.” He looked at Aragorn questioningly.

Aragorn looked closely at Merry. “That is far too soon for you to move about Merry. In four days time perhaps.”

Merry put on a beseeching look that would have done Pippin credit, and countered with, “Two days?”

Aragorn considered, then replied, “Three days and we have a bargain. Assuming that I am satisfied with your progress.”

“All right.” Merry turned back to Fermund. “I`ll see you in three days time then?”

“Thank you. I will be looking forward to that,” Fermund said then bowed and left the tent.

“Now, then,” Aragorn said, “I do think I will have another look at that ankle of yours, and you are still tired. Rest is the best thing for you right now.”

*****

Merry had slept for a good bit in the days since Fermund had paid his visit, just waking up long enough to have a bite now and again, and then soon falling asleep once more. Waking up in time for first breakfast on the third day he was feeling refreshed and much better for the rest, and instantly sat up, but gasped a little as pain shot through his leg.

Frodo sat beside Merry on the chair by the bed, his feet contently propped up on the edge of the bed and his hands folded over his stomach. He leaned forward. “Is everything all right? Are you in pain?”

“No, no.” Merry started to remove the covers and was about to swing his good leg over the side of the cot but a new onslaught of pain had him flopping back onto the pillows, out of breath even before Frodo could stop him. Carefully he slid the good leg in under the covers again and lay still.

“Merry! You can`t get up yet, not until Aragorn says that you may. Your ankle is badly broken and far from healed, Aragorn said so himself, and…” Frodo trailed off. How much should he tell Merry?

“And what?” Merry demanded, sitting up again, this time very slowly and without moving his bad leg overmuch. Frodo stood and fluffed the pillows so Merry could sit more comfortably.

“You did have a hard fight with the Shadow," Frodo gently reminded Merry.

“Yes, but I’m better now. I feel fine Frodo. I want to get up and move about a little. And Aragorn said “maybe“ I could today, didn`t he? He looked about the tent. “Where is Pippin?”

“He said he would see about it. Maybe isn`t a yes, Merry. And Pippin is with Gimli and Legolas.”

Pippin arrived just then with Legolas and Merry started fishing through his pack for clean clothes, not paying any heed to the protests from the others about his not being allowed to get up. “It’s no harm in being prepared,” Merry said, but he had to admit defeat as just trying to change from his nightshirt into an ordinary shirt jostled his leg too much.

“I`ll tell you a story,” Pippin offered, taking the shirt from Merry and sitting down on the edge of Merry's cot. “I know some good ones that I learned in Minas Tirith and I`m sure you haven`t heard them.”

“Thank you, Pip, that might actually get my mind of this dratted leg.”

When Pippin was finished with his story, Merry remembered that Pippin had only been allowed up for short periods of time now, and wondered aloud why he had been out and about when Merry had awakened. He didn’t want Pippin overdoing because he himself was sleeping too much and not taking proper care of his cousin.

Pippin blushed as the attention was turned to him. “I… well, Legolas carried me outside, just for some fresh air, and I haven`t walked much.”

“Pippin is correct,” Legolas said with a smile.

Merry nodded in approval. Legolas wouldn't let Pippin hurt himself.

*****

As the four hobbits were about to finish second breakfast Aragorn finally arrived together with Gandalf and Gimli. Aragorn was carrying a long, thin package, wrapped in green cloth. He laid the package aside and knowing better than to try to come between a hobbit and his meal waited patiently for them to finish. Then he poked and prodded at Pippin, pronouncing him completely recovered from this latest adventure, and then he examined Merry`s foot intently. At last he rewrapped the bandages around the splint, and smiled. “You are healing nicely, Merry, and I think you will soon be back on your feet again.”

“That is good news!” Pippin said, from where he and Frodo and Sam were still sitting on Pippin`s cot.

“Yes it is.” Aragorn patted Merry`s good knee and sat down in the chair beside the bed to have a look at the rest of the hobbit. Merry`s hand and arm felt warm again, although he still hadn`t regained his former use of it, and his grip was very weak. “I have something here to make your grip stronger, Merry,” he said,

“You mean something other than writing all those letters? I know you were behind that you know. Why else would Éomer suddenly need to write so many letters?”

Aragorn laughed. “It is not a pen, no. And I do admit I had something to do with it. Although, a new King has many letters to send, informing his folk and friends about this and that and Éomer really did need you to serve as his scribe.”

Aragorn retrieved the mysterious package from where it lay on the bedside table. It was too long to be a hobbit-sized sword, and besides, Merry had got his sword back after a fashion – Gimli had forged a new blade for the hilt of Merry’s own sword, all that had been left of the weapon after he had struck his blow to the Witch-king. Merry had looked at this curious item and tried to think what it could be while Aragorn examined him, but he could not think what it was.

“Why don`t you open it?” Aragorn lay the package in Merry`s lap and the others crowded close; all the surviving Fellowship was gathered about him and had the other three hobbits not been sitting on Pippin`s cot it would have been hard to fit them all in the little tent.

Merry looked at them for a moment before untying the strings around the package and stared at the contents in pleased surprise. “A walking stick?” He said, amused but happy that he might soon have the opportunity to be able to walk about again.

“A very fine one.” Gandalf nodded, “It was made so you can walk around a little while your ankle still is healing.”

Merry looked at each and one of them in turn, pondering whom to thank. “Thank you,” he finally said to them all.

“Oh, don`t thank us, it`s Fermund who made this,” Gimli said.

“Fermund? He made this for me?”

“Yes. He`s quite skilled when it comes to working with wood,” Aragorn said. “He offered during my meeting with him to make this gift for you.”

“How kind of him,” breathed Merry, admiring the craftsmanship. The stick was the perfect length for Merry and the handle was carved in the likeness of a horse`s head and neck and wound about the length of the stick was the same pattern that edged Merry`s livery cloak. The bottom was bound with a ferrule of silver on which were etched the banners of Éomer’s household. “This is beautiful!” Merry held the stick with both hands and looked at it admiringly. “But what`s this?” At the top, as the winding pattern widened out to meet the handle, runes in Westron proclaimed that the stick belonged to Sir Meriadoc, Holdwine of the Mark, but there was also written something in elvish. Merry recognised one of the words immediately. “Alasseo?” Merry said in wonder. “Legolas, did you have something to do with this?” Merry looked at the rest of the text. “And what`s this? Elen Sila Lύmenn' Omentielvo?” He stumbled a little over the pronunciation but Frodo looked at him proudly.

“Don`t you remember your elvish, Merry? Frodo laughed. “You should know enough to translate what it means.” He smiled fondly at his cousin.

“Frodo!” Merry said. “It was you!”

“No, it was I,” Legolas said. “Fermund came to me and asked if I would help him with writing an elvish text upon the stick. He had heard that an elvish blessing is said to bestow special luck.”

Merry smiled at Legolas. “Thank you!”

“You`re very welcome.” Legolas smiled back, resisting the urge to ruffle Merry`s curls. Instead he squeezed his shoulder. “Can you translate it? Frodo tells me you know some elvish.”

“Let`s see. I know Alasseo at least. It is the first elvish word that Frodo ever taught me.”

“What does it mean?” Pippin asked.

“It means “merry”, Merry answered, smiling.

“Oh, that`s perfect!” Pippin said, all but bouncing on the cot.

“Yes it is. Frodo, you have to help me with the rest. It`s something… something about a star I think, yes, a star that shines, and something about to see, no, meet?”

“Yes that`s right. Very good! It says “Merry - a stars shines upon the hour of our meeting”.”

“That`s beautiful!” Merry felt tears pricking in his eyes. He didn`t deserve such a gift from the Ranger. “Where is Fermund? I must thank him for this at once. How kind of him!”

“I am here,” Fermund said, from where he was standing, hidden behind Gandalf. He had come in quietly when Aragorn had presented Merry with the gift and had watched the whole exchange. “And it is true. A star did shine upon our first meeting, and will continue to do so whenever we meet.”

“Indeed it will!” Merry said. “Thank you so much! This is wonderful and I will never forget your thoughtfulness. How did you manage to make this so quickly?”

“I had a bit of help,” Fermund said, pointedly nodding at Legolas and Gimli.” Our friend Gimli here provided the ferrule, and Legolas as you know assisted me with the elvish characters. Thanks to our combined skills it was finished but an hour ago.”

Merry beamed up at them all, grateful and happy to have such friends. “Thank you. All of you,” he said. He felt his eyes fill with tears and hurriedly wiped them away.

“You`re very welcome young hobbit, ” Gimli said gruffly, his own eyes suspiciously bright.

“Strider? Can I try it, please? I`m sure I`ll be able to walk a few steps if I have something to lean on and this is just perfect!”

“All right, Merry. But be careful.” Aragorn helped Merry rise and put the walking stick in his hand. The grip fit his hand perfectly. “Careful now.”

Merry swayed just a bit and many pairs of hands reached out to help him. Then he found his balance and placed the stick firmly on the ground and it held him upright as he leaned on it. Tentatively he took a step and he found that he could hobble a bit, not easily, but the effort was not too much for him to manage. He walked around the bed and went to stand in front of Fermund. “Thank you again.” He shot a glance at Aragorn before he continued. “Now, would you like to accompany me outside for a smoke? I believe I promised to teach you how to properly smoke Longbottom Leaf.”

“I would indeed!” Fermund said and took Merry’s other hand to support him.

THE END

A/N: Apparently I am not the first to think Merry’s first Elvish word would be "Allaseo". Marigold thought it up before me and it is first mentioned in Baylor's story "I Always Know You."

Story update - The Prophecy: Part three

Fri, 16 Sep 2005 15:58:28 GMT

Title: The Prophecy
Author: Anso the Hobbit
Beta: Part one and two are betaed, but not part three
Characters: Merry, Éowyn, Glorfindel. Aragorn, the Fellowship
Timeline: Rohan SR 1419
Summary: Long, long ago, Glorfindel spoke a prophecy about who could kill the Witch-king. How did those who finally fulfilled that prophecy feel about having such a destiny? And what does Glorfindel think when he learns about his prophecy having come true?
Note: The first two parts were written for Marigold’s challenges 9 and 10 but now the muse has struck again and here is finally the last and third part. I am assuming that the elves (and thus Glorfindel) that were present at Aragorn and Arwen’s wedding also were present at king Théoden’s funeral not long after as they did ride with the hobbits and Gandalf to Rivendell. To the best of my knowledge and ability this story is as I always strive to write, book-verse.
Disclaimer: Not mine. They just own me.
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”There is someone you should meet,” Aragorn said taking Glorfindel aside after the formal banquet of Théoden’s funeral was over and the guests and family was spread around in little groups talking and remembering the great old king. Merry had asked Aragorn to help him find Glorfindel so that he and Éowyn could speak to the Elven lord about Glorfindel’s prophecy. Éowyn had not been at Arwen and Aragorn’s wedding and so Merry had had to wait until the funeral so that they could talk to Glorfindel together. He had briefly discussed it with Éowyn earlier and although they were both reluctant to talk about such dark matters, Merry had felt the need to tell Glorfindel about his prophecy coming true himself and sent the King of Gondor off to find the Elf for him.

“There is?” Glorfindel asked curiously, excusing himself from talking with Legolas.

“Yes, Two in fact. One you know a little, but I do not know if you have been properly introduced to the other one,” Aragorn said, smiling. Glorfindel had taken Sam, Merry and Pippin and Aragorn to Rivendell from the Ford of Bruinen after doing what he could for Frodo. He had also met the hobbits several times while they stayed in the Last Homely House. Aragorn led him to where Éowyn and Merry sat a little to the side for the rest of the hobbits and Gandalf.

“Strider! You found him!” Merry said, getting to his feet.

“Indeed I did, Merry.”

“Master Meriadoc?” Glorfindel said puzzled and sat down when Aragorn nudged him so that Merry didn`t have to crane his neck to talk to him. “Did you seek me?”

“Yes. I wanted to talk to you,” Merry said and turned to Aragorn. “You haven’t said anything, have you?”

“No,” Aragorn said and walked over to sit beside Gandalf and the other hobbits, curious about what Glorfindel would say.

“Good,” Merry turned to Glorfindel again. “I want you to meet someone. This is the Lady Éowyn. She is a shield maiden of Rohan and is also betrothed to Faramir, the Steward of Gondor.”

Glorfindel greeted Éowyn with many fair words before sitting down again. “What was it you wanted to talk about?”

Merry turned to Éowyn. “I… we have something to tell you.”

“I have heard,” Éowyn said, “that Elves have very long memories. Do you remember having said once that no man was destined to kill the Witch-king?”

“Yes I do. It was many years ago,” Glorfindel said still puzzled. “I heard he was destroyed but I have yet to hear what exactly happened.”

There had been rumours about how the Witch-king had come to be killed but Merry had asked those who knew the truth to not say anything to Glorfindel until he or Éowyn got a chance to tell him themselves. “Well, we would like to tell you what happened. Your prophecy came true.”

“It did? Tell me what happened.”

“You said that no man could kill him and that is what happened,” Éowyn said matter-of-fact.

“Who did it then?” Glorfindel looked at the Lady and the hobbit. “It can’t be any of you? Surely, a woman or a hobbit has nothing to do in a battle!”

“Perhaps not, but we were,” Merry answered. “The Lady Éowyn did it. She struck down his foul steed and stuck her blade between his crown and mantle and so he crumbled and died,” Merry said quietly.

“That was a great and valiant deed!” Glorfindel said, looking in wonder at Éowyn.

“I could not have done it had it not been for Merry here,” Éowyn said. “He dared to strike at his knee and so allowed for the distraction which made it possible for me to smite him down.”

“I couldn`t let you die alone!” Merry said. “You were – well are – so fair and beautiful and your true identity had just been revealed to me although I do not think you were aware of that then. I had to do what I could to aid you. The king was dead and all the Riders were either dead or too far away to be of any assistance.”

“You had to hide your true identity?” Glorfindel asked.

“Yes, I wasn’t allowed by my uncle, the king, to join the men in battle so I disguised myself as a man and rode unrecognised with them. I am a shield maiden so I have had sword training and there was nothing else I wanted in life than to go to battle and die in honour.” Éowyn said.

“That is a sad story. Had you nothing to live for?”

“No, there was nothing left for me at Edoras to bring me joy or hope in life. My mother died when I was a child, my cousin at the hands of wild Men defending Rohan’s borders. My uncle was old and ill under the spell of Saruman through his servant Grima and my brother was at war defending our lands against Saruman and his forces. I did not want to be caged at home without being able to be of use.”

“That is a sad story and indeed I say you have been of great use,” Glorfindel said. What about you Merry? Did the king allow for you to ride to battle?”

“No, I disobeyed him. I was so tired of being left behind and overlooked and I also wanted to be of some use. I begged him to let me come with them but he would not allow it. Éowyn here found me and let me ride with her, hidden under her cloak. I did not know it was she before her helm fell off just before she killed the Witch-king. She bid me to call her Dernhelm and since we had to ride in secrecy and stealth we did not have time to talk much and thus I did not learn her identity until then.”

“I assume you are glad now though, that you were overlooked?” Glorfindel asked gently.

“Yes, I am, but it was a hard trial at times.” Merry said.

“Amazing,” Glorfindel said after some time, letting all he had heard sink in. “I did not know at the time that this was a prophecy, I only wanted to bring comfort to Eänur and I had a feeling that the Witch-king’s doom was far in the future and not something he should be concerned about.”

“Who was Eänur?” Merry asked. “I have read books about the lords of old, but memory fails me now. Is he also an Elf?”

“He was the last king of Gondor and son of Earnil,” Aragorn said. “descending from Isildur`s brother Anarion and Elendil.”

“You have lived since the first Age then?” Merry asked, amazed.

“Yes I have.” Glorfindel smiled.

“And you knew Isildur and Elendil too?” Frodo asked, leaning forward, eager to learn more about the history of Middle-earth. “Just like Merry I too have been reading about you and them in the books in Lord Elrond’s library.”

“Yes. They were great Men.”

“And now all of you will be in the books people will read in the future,” Gandalf said.
“Is that a prophecy, Gandalf?” Pippin asked.

“I should hope so!” Aragorn laughed. “You all deserve songs about your deeds.”

“That might be so but we are only hobbits and not used to being part of great deeds,” Merry said. “I did ask Théoden that there would be more said in song about me than that I was left behind, though. I guess I’ll get what I want then.”

“I am sure you do, Merry,” Glorfindel said. “Many are the songs that shall be sung about the great deed of the Lady and the Perian who killed Sauron’s greatest servant.”

“Do not forget the Elf behind the prophecy either!” Éowyn said. “For without him, then there would be no prophecy to fulfil.”

THE END

What Gandalf Saw

Fri, 16 Sep 2005 10:32:39 GMT

Title: What Gandalf Saw
Author. Anso the Hobbit
Beta: Marigold
Characters: Merry, Pippin, Esmeralda, Saradoc, Gandalf
Timeline: Brandy Hall, SR 1419
Summary: Despite all that Merry and Pippin went through during their time away, some things never changed.
Note: Written for Marigold`s Challenge 20 where I was asked to include in my story an ill or injured Pippin asking for a story about little Merry and Esmeralda and Saradoc meeting the lads on their return to the Shire.
Disclaimer: Not mine. They just own me.
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Esmeralda Brandybuck had taken up humming again now that the lads were safely back home. She`d stopped for some time, too given in to the sorrow and despair that all of them had felt so keenly, she and her husband most of all. Now she hummed an old lullaby while preparing a huge tray of second breakfast for four hobbits – herself, her husband, her son and her nephew. The tray was groaning with breads and jams, scrambled eggs, boiled ham, broiled tomatoes, sautéed potatoes, three kinds of cheese, honey, and a large pot of tea.

She added a dish of sweet butter to the tray, and thought about the day her lads had finally returned.

It had been early in the morning when they came that first time after being gone so long. Later Merry had told them that they rode through the night and camped on the other side of the River so that they could arrive with the rising of the sun. The very first news of the lads` arrival in the Shire that came to the Hall had come from the hobbits at the Gate. The hobbit who had come to bring the news to Saradoc was quite surprised at the manner of Merry`s return and he eagerly told them that Merry and the others had returned clad in shining armour and with swords and helms, stern and authoritative as never before seen.

Still, Esmeralda was not prepared for the sight that met her in the courtyard of Brandy Hall the morning Merry and Pippin had arrived. Frodo and Samwise Gamgee were staying behind in Hobbiton, living with the Cottons until Bag End and Bagshot Row could be restored into proper living quarters again. It was the unfamiliar but compelling and high note of a horn that heralded that someone was coming, that Merry and Pippin were back. As they rushed out to greet them Esmie had tried to prepare herself for what she would see. The image she had held fast to was of a joyful Merry, a gleam of mischief in his eyes and a happy smile on his face. The face she beheld at first when she saw him jumping down from his pony was not that, but the face of a hobbit burdened with the toils of hard work and a rough life. Seeing her though, his face lit up, and Esmie had felt like one does when the sun comes back after being hidden behind heavy clouds for a very long time, warming up the cold and frozen earth. Her Merry-lad was back! A bright smile lit up his face, making his features joyful and as merry as his name. She drank in the sight of him, taking in every line and curve of his face, the unfamiliar brown scar on his brow, the light in his eyes - everything. Merry had happily dove into her outstretched arms and she had hugged him so tight, so tight, drinking in the smell of leather and pony and her very own Merry, kissing his face over and over before standing on tip-toe to cup it in her hands, earnestly looking into the blue depths of his eyes, recognising that there were tales he probably never would tell before hugging him again and finally, finally letting him go to Saradoc, who with tears of pride and relief on his cheeks, pulled their son into his own arms, looking as if he meant never to let go again.

She had hugged Pippin just as tight, and then Merry and Saradoc had pulled them both into their embrace, and for long moments there was laughter and tears and everyone talking at once. When all of them finally let go, she had shooed them inside and laid a welcoming feast in the Great Hall, despite the rationing and shortage of food. There had been song and dance and merry laughter wafting through the Hall that day, with the smell of dishes they had only dreamt about in the months that had gone by after Lotho and later Sharkey took over management of the Shire. It was a feast and homecoming that would be remembered for a very long time.

Buckland had not been spared in the destruction and the vast, sprawling Hall was bursting at the seams with sheltering hobbits from all over Buckland. Farms and homes and businesses had been taken over here as everywhere else and ugly brick buildings had been built here and there to no good purpose. They hadn’t tried to destroy the Hall yet. Esmie thought that perhaps they had figured that if they wanted to keep the hobbits alive to work and feed them, it was probably better that all of them lived in the same place than having them strewn about the country like. It would make it easier to keep an eye on them.

Thus it was that when night fell and the feast had come to an end, Pippin and Merry were sharing Merry`s room – Esmie had managed to keep the room just as it was when Merry had left over a year ago to celebrate Frodo`s birthday and help him move. At the moment old Aunt Lavender slept in Pippin`s room on the other side of the wall from Merry`s room so that Esmie could keep an eye on her, fragile and forgetful as she had come to be lately. As soon as things settled back to normal and other hobbits could return to their own homes, she could move back to her own apartments near Aunt Hyacinth.

Esmie had suggested she could put Aunt Lavender in Frodo`s room now that Pippin and Merry had come back, but Merry and Pippin`s reaction made it perfectly clear to her that there was really no other option than to have them together in one room. Even a single wall to separate them was too much now and she wondered what had happened to make them so dependent upon each other, as they had not been since Pippin was very small and often ill. Both lads had blanched at the suggestion and shared a quick, frightened glance. Certainly they had always been uncommonly close, but for the most part had always slept in separate rooms, although as a little lad Pippin had been found waking up in Merry`s bed more often than not. Now Pippin had stepped closer to Merry and gently touched his arm, while Merry had given Pippin a quick, relieved glance before turning back to her, smiling. “Aunt Lavender must stay where she is Mum, we don’t wish to displace her. We`ll just put a spare bed in my room. I`m sure there must be at least one somewhere that`s not in use.”

During those first days Merry and Pippin had been in and out of the Hall almost like the old days. They had much to do with the reconstruction of the Shire and with chasing out the remaining Ruffians. When they were at the Hall they often held long meetings with Saradoc and the Steward to see what could be done for Buckland. They travelled often between Hobbiton and the Great Smials, but no matter where they went or what they did, they were always together.

Esmie had hoped that things would soon settle back to normal again, but so far they hadn`t. Both lads had stories to tell and what they didn`t say while awake was revealed through nightmares or talking in their sleep. On more than one night Esmie or Saradoc had found one or both of them awake and seated in the kitchen or the parlour, a cold cup of tea on the table or a slice of bread gone stale on an untouched plate. If they were both awake they talked with each other, sometimes they cried, other times they stared into the distance, lost in their memories. Sometimes, Esmie and Sara could find one of them tucking the other up nicely in bed with a hot water bottle or heated bricks and often they kept the room bright with lit candles and the fire burning fiercely. In the morning they would be merry and happy again but Esmie had seen the haunted look in their eyes and the sorrow and exhaustion that slowly made it clear that neither of them were doing as well as could be hoped. At last they had started discussing if maybe it was for the best if they moved out to Crickhollow for some time over Yule.

It was closing in on Yule when a sudden storm of snow and ice cold winds hit Buckland fast and hard. They all breathed a sigh of relief when the Brandywine didn`t freeze, but the storm brought illness to the Hall and never had the healers had their hands full of so many cases of colds, influenza, and even the Winter Sickness. People had not exactly been starving but they keenly felt the shortage of food and more people than usual became sick. Merry and Pippin had not been at the Hall when the storm first hit but they arrived with a second bout, taken completely by surprise as the foul weather hadn`t reached Hobbiton yet where they had been staying for a week with Frodo. When they arrived at the Hall they were covered in snow and stiff with cold.

Quickly, mindful of Pippin`s former fragile health, Esmie saw to it that they had a hot bath and got some hot food and drink down them before she bundled them both up in bed with hot water bottles and hot bricks and insisted that they get a good nights sleep.

Now she carefully carried the heavily loaded tray to Merry`s room, so that the smell of breakfast would wake the lads up, hoping that they were no worse for wear. Opening the door with her shoulder she deliberately rattled the tray and just as she had thought it would, a bit of curly head poked out from beneath the covers.

“Auntie?” Pippin said muzzily, coughing a little. “Is it morning yet?”

“Yes it is my love.” Esmie put the tray down on Merry`s desk and walked over to the window to draw back the curtains. “Time to rise.”

Pippin emerged and drew his hands through his curls, mussing them even more. In the bed next to Pippin Merry was still snoring on, and Esmie went over to him, watching her son sleep for a moment and treasuring the ability to do so before kissing his brow and stroking his hair back from his face, just as she had done countless times over the years. “Time to wake, Merry-lad. It`s second breakfast already.”

“You`d better remove the cover from those eggs, Auntie, you know how hard it is to get Merry up in the morning. The smell of food always does the trick though!” Pippin said, sitting up.

Esmeralda laughed and gave Pippin a hug, then ruffled his errant curls on her way over to the desk to remove the cover from the eggs.

A few minutes later Saradoc entered and the four of them made a lovely breakfast. Merry had protested having his breakfast in bed, but Esmie didn`t want to take any chances with the two of them, after they had arrived so cold and wet the day before, both of them sniffling and sneezing, and Pippin with a worrying little cough. “Also,” Saradoc said, looking at them in turn, “you`re both exhausted, it won`t do you any harm to take a day off and take some rest. You both need to sleep more.

“We still have to chase out the last of the Ruffians,” Merry said, yawning and setting his teacup down on the bedside table.

“You can`t do that all by yourselves, and no-one expects you to. Besides, what good will it do anyone if you lads became sick? Then you wouldn`t be able to chase them out at all,” Saradoc said. “I`m sure the others will manage a day without you.”

Merry sighed. He was bone-weary tired and sleep was sneaking up on him again fast, warm and full that he was. “You`re right Da, and I do think I could do with a nap.” He yawned again and snuggled down in his blankets, asleep even before he could draw the covers up around himself.

Saradoc watched as Merry fell asleep again and tucked the covers nicely up around him. “Merry doesn`t sleep much, does he?” He stated more than asked.

“He sleeps,” Pippin said, busying himself with the last of his food.

“Yes,” Esmie said. “But he doesn`t sleep as much as he needs to. I can see that for myself, Pippin.”

“How are you sleeping lad?” Saradoc added. “You don`t seem to get as much sleep as you need to either.”

Pippin sighed and put his fork down. “I suppose not.” He looked at his uncle. “Merry has a lot of nightmares.”

“I know that he does,” Saradoc said, looking at Pippin for a long while. “And you have them too.” There hadn`t been much time yet to talk in depth about what had happened, but Saradoc had a fairly good idea about some things, the things that troubled the lads the most and came out in their dreams or when they talked in their sleep.

“Yes.” Pippin`s face clouded over and he looked long at the softly snoring Merry. He shook himself a little and turned his gaze back to them and smiled brightly. “Well, let`s talk about something else, shall we? Will you tell me a story? Something from when Merry was little? Something I wouldn`t remember.”

Esmie laughed. Despite all that had happened, in one aspect Pippin hadn`t changed. He still wanted a story when he was forced to stay abed and he had always best loved stories of times before he was born or before he could himself remember.

“All right sweetie. Sara, why don`t you carry the tray out into the kitchen and I`ll keep our favourite nephew company before he too has to take a nap?”

“I will.“ Saradoc collected Pippin`s plate and cup and piled them on the tray and bent to kiss him loudly on the head, which had all of them laughing. “I`ll be going then,” Saradoc said when the laughter died down a little. He kissed Esmie on the head too and closed the door silently behind him.

“Now then. A story from when Merry was little then, hm…?” Esmie rose to plump Pippin`s pillows and tucked the blankets up around him. “Let`s see… Oh, yes. Have I told you about the first time Gandalf saw you and Merry together?”

“No, I don’t remember that one!” Pippin snuggled down in his blankets. “Please, tell me. Gandalf was with us for most of our travels but he seldom had time to tell us stories.”

“No, I suppose he was as busy as the rest of you! Well then. I think you were about a year old, maybe two. We were all staying at the Smials for a birthday… it must have been Thain Ferumbras’ birthday, and your family was still living at Whitwell then. There had been a great party and Gandalf was there to talk to the Thain about something. I don`t know what it was, but I saw him as he came out from talking to Ferumbras...”

~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~

The Great Smials, SR 1391, so Merry is 9 and Pippin is a little more than a year…

Gandalf had come to the Shire to visit his old friend Bilbo and to have a bit of a holiday, when the Thain invited him to the Smials to take part in the celebration of his birthday. Bilbo and Frodo were also of course invited, along with numerous Tooks and also a few Brandybucks that were either relations or of sufficient importance. Gandalf had just finished talking to the Thain and wanted to go outside to have a smoke and stretch his back. The Smials sported quite high ceilings, but not high enough for the old Wizard to walk comfortably. He was used to it though, visiting Bilbo as often as he could, and now and again visiting at the Great Smials or Brandy Hall.

Now, getting from the Thain`s cosy office to the gardens could be a tiresome task for someone so tall as Gandalf was. Numerous hobbits always wanted to talk to him as he walked the hallways, and chandeliers hanging from the ceilings and the low doorways made it quite a back-bending trial. Gandalf was just negotiating a bend in the hallway when he heard a baby begin to cry. Before he could even poke his head through the open door a little lad darted out from the room adjacent, shouting to who Gandalf supposed was the baby`s mother that he`d take care of the baby. Gandalf watched with interest as the lad ran into the room and took the baby up from the cradle, cuddling the wee one close and singing softly while walking back and forth.

Gandalf stood for some time watching them, and wondered how it was possible that such a little lad would handle a baby with so much tenderness and care. Gandalf knew the Master of Buckland was here with his children and grandchildren, and he was quite sure that the older of these two lads was a Brandybuck. If his memory served him right, Gandalf had seen this Brandybuck lad once before but the child had been just a bit older than a toddler then. The Brandybuck lad kept murmuring the baby`s name - Pippin - and Gandalf remembered that he had heard about the arduous birth of the lad that probably would be Thain some day if Ferumbras got his way and made his cousin, farmer Paladin Took, his heir.

The lads hadn`t noticed him yet, and Gandalf watched in marvel as baby Pippin soon responded to his cousin`s gentle ministrations, laying his weary head on the other lad`s shoulder and sucking his thumb. The little Brandybuck - Meriadoc was it? - was stroking Pippin`s curls and patting his back while whispering soothing nonsense and reassurances into the baby`s ear. When the baby finally stilled, the other lad hugged him tight and carried him back to his cradle. Gandalf watched as the little one tucked the baby in, singing a lullaby and gently rocking the cradle. Baby Pippin kept his eyes on his cousin and fell asleep with a contented smile on his face, one hand around his cousin`s finger.

The older child continued for some time to rock the cradle and softly sing, never taking his eyes off the baby and never seeing Gandalf peering in at them through the doorway. When the baby was sleeping peacefully he looked up and saw Gandalf standing there. Gently he extracted his finger from the baby’s hand and the little face beamed in joy. “Gandalf!”

Gandalf drew a breath to greet the little one but before he could even say hello the hobbit lad threw himself at him and Gandalf had to catch him up in his arms to prevent him from falling. “Hullo yourself,” he said, smiling. “That is a nice little cousin you`ve got there.”

“He`s my Pip,” the lad said proudly and now Gandalf remembered. Bilbo had told him about the affection little Meriadoc showed for the new Took baby, and indeed Gandalf had now seen it for himself.

Merry chattered away, and taking a better hold of the little one, Gandalf bent to close the door to Pippin`s nursery. Merry squirmed around in his arms and hid his face in the voluminous cloak, giving a tiny whimper.

“Merry?” Gandalf stood up and gently extracted the little hobbit from the folds of his clothes. “What`s wrong?”

“Too high,” Merry muttered, not wanting to look.

“If my memory serves me correctly I think you were quite happy to ride in an old Wizard`s arms the first time I met you?”

Merry nodded. It was just last year, really, that Merry had started to be scared of heights after falling down from a small ladder in the kitchen while getting an old bowl that stood high up on the top of the cupboards for his mum. “I wasn`t scared before, but I fell down from a ladder and since that happened I`ve been a bit scared. .”

“Ah, I understand.” Gandalf smiled at that and shifted Merry around a little so that Merry couldn`t look down but was safely nested in the crook of his arm instead. “Better? Or do you want down?”

“No, it`s better. Thank you.” Gandalf felt Merry lean in against his chest and he started walking, mindful of not jostling too much. “Merry, I was about to go outside for a pipe and a stroll. Would you like to join me for a walk in the gardens?”

“Yes!” Merry squealed, forgetting his fear of heights and bouncing in Gandalf`s arms while instantly starting to chat about the Thain`s birthday party and Frodo going to live with Bilbo and everything else that he could remember that had happened since he had last seen Gandalf, a very long time ago. Taking a breath he said, “It`s awfully long since I saw you last, Gandalf. What have you been up to? You should come to visit more often!”

“Indeed! That is what Bilbo says too, and I suppose it has been some time. Now, how about that trip outside, eh? I do believe I have a toffee somewhere too. Would you like that?”

“Yes, please!” Merry said.

“I thought so,” Gandalf chuckled. The last time, well, the first time, he had given Merry toffee, the lad had fallen asleep in a pile of toffee paper after a rather glorious celebration of Frodo`s birthday.

“How old are you now?” Gandalf asked.

“I`m nine and Pippin is already one,” Merry stated.

Gandalf nodded. “He is?” Gandalf frowned to himself. The baby hadn’t appeared to be as old as that.

“Yes. But he is small for his age. And he has been sick,” Merry said sadly.

Gandalf stroked his hair. “I know. But after I saw you with him tonight I can imagine that you are very good at looking after him.”

“I try to look after him. I love him very much.”

“I am sure that you do. And I think he loves you just as much.”

“I know that he does. He always stops crying when I come to rock him or sing to him. He can`t talk yet but he`s already making a sound that sounds like ‘Merry’,” Merry said proudly.

“He is? Well, I`m sure he`ll learn to speak very soon and then you can teach him everything you know.”

“I will,” Merry said. ”I have so many things to teach him. I can read and write a little now, and I can swim and draw and make apple tarts if Mum helps me just a bit.”

“That is wonderful, Merry. I am sure you`ll be a good teacher to Pippin when he grows up.”

“Yes. And Frodo can help too.”

“I`m sure he`d like that,” Gandalf said.

“Gandalf?” Merry said after they had walked for a while in silence, his mouth full of toffee. “Do you think Frodo is happy living with Cousin Bilbo? I mean, Bilbo is a very nice cousin, but he is a bachelor and Mum says that Frodo needs a mother too, but I think she says that because she misses Frodo just like I do, and wants him to come live with us again. Just like I do.” The sunny face clouded over a little, and Gandalf watched the smile being replaced by a quivering frown. “I miss him horribly you know,” Merry whispered.

“I know, Merry-lad.” Gandalf sat down on a bench, Merry in his lap. “I think both Bilbo and Frodo are very happy now though. But, you know, Frodo told me that he misses you a lot too, and has never forgot how much he loves you. Surely he must have said that to you?”

Merry nodded. “He has, but that doesn`t make me missing him go away.”

“No, I suppose not. But you do visit?”

“Oh, yes! And we`re together here now, and Da said that we`re going to Hobbiton with them when we leave here next week. And then Frodo and Bilbo are coming to the Hall for Yule, and so is Pippin and his family.”

“That is excellent. And I`m sure you`ll have lots of visits later too, and in a few years you`ll probably be old enough to pay visits all on your own.”

Gandalf looked down at Merry. The little lad was earnestly looking back up at him. There was no doubt that he loved both Pippin and Frodo very much. Gandalf knew Frodo loved Merry just as much as Merry loved him, and Frodo had talked a lot about his little cousins before they had left Bag End. As the ways of Wizards are, Gandalf knew then, that those three lads meant the world to each other and that no matter what happened, they would always remain the closest of friends.

“There you are!” Gandalf and Merry turned simultaneously as Frodo came walking towards them. “We`ve been looking all over for you Merry. It`s time for bed.”

“No!” Merry squirmed further into Gandalf`s arms, trying to hide in the voluminous robes, covering his head with Gandalf`s long, grey beard.

“What`s the matter Meriadoc?” Gandalf said, gently plucking his beard free of Merry`s small hands.

“Oh, it`s the usual trick,” Frodo said, scooping Merry up from Gandalf`s lap. “You`d think he`s as sunny as the day is long but try put him to bed, and you`ll see another side altogether.” Frodo hoisted Merry up on his shoulder and tickled him while turning to go back inside the Smials. “He could wake the dead the way he fusses sometimes. But you`re too old for that now, aren`t you?” Frodo playfully swatted Merry`s behind as the younger cousin dangled over Frodo`s shoulder.

“I want to go to bed when I`m tired. Not when you say I should,” Merry protested.

“Well, let`s ask your mum about that then, shall we? Say goodnight to Gandalf.”

“`Night Gandalf,” Merry said cheerfully and waved, still dangling upside down over Frodo’s shoulder.

“Good night Merry. Sweet dreams.”

“Will you tell me a story about Gandalf, Frodo?”

Gandalf chuckled and watched the two lads disappear into the Smials.

~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~

“Pippin?” Esmeralda looked at her nephew, but he had fallen asleep and he looked so peaceful, a small smile on his face.

Gandalf had come to her that night long ago and told her what he had seen, and that he sensed a special bond between the three lads. She had known that already of course, and she smiled fondly as she tucked the blanket up around Pippin. The exact troubles that had brought Merry and Pippin to follow Frodo into danger were not yet fully revealed to her. But she was not in doubt. They had done it out of love, for Frodo, for each other, and for the Shire. She kissed them both then turned down the lamp and settled back into the chair to watch her lads sleep.

END

Sneaky Snakes And Broken Bones - Part three

Thu, 01 Sep 2005 13:41:09 GMT

“Now, let`s have a look at you.” Aragorn said as he finished examining Merry and turned to Pippin. “No, don`t get up.” Aragorn said as Pippin started to rise.

Pippin nodded and slowly sat back again on the chair beside Aragorn`s bed where Merry lay. Aragorn examined Pippin closely and when he was satisfied that the hobbit hadn`t taken any serious damage he helped him up while supporting the hobbit so he didn`t have to put too much weight on the injured leg. Pippin hunched over a bit as Aragorn steadied him, trying to lessen the pain in his healing ribs.

Aragorn felt along Pippin`s legs now and satisfied that Pippin hadn`t jarred his injured bones too much he prepared a pain reducing tea and ordered the hobbit to not move about more than absolutely necessary.

*****

Gandalf sighed deeply and sat down wearily on a conveniently upturned barrel by one of the supply tents. He`d searched the camp with the others and when there was no sign of the missing hobbits, he decided to search for them in his mind. Pippin`s persistent life spark had stopped nagging, but it was still shining brightly. Gandalf couldn`t tell if the young hobbit was physically closer than he had been when he first felt for the spark, but the long ages of men that he had spent in Middle-earth told him that such might be the case. Merry`s spark was
still dull and that worried Gandalf more than he liked. If Merry had merely been sleeping he should have woken up by now.

“Mithrandir!”

Gandalf returned his thoughts to the world around him again when a young soldier came running towards him. “Yes?”

“The missing Halflings have been found. They are in the King`s tent! I was sent to inform you of this and tell you that the King wishes that you and the Ring-bearers join him there.”

Gandalf thanked the soldier and went to find Frodo and Sam. A short while later the three entered Aragorn`s tent.

Frodo was overjoyed to learn that Merry and Pippin had been found but the cry of joy died on his lips as he saw Merry lying on Aragorn`s cot and Pippin sitting stiffly by the bed, clearly in discomfort.

“Pippin!” Frodo ran to embrace Pippin and was hugged just as warmly back, then both cousins turned to the bed where Merry lay so still. Frodo couldn`t help but gasp as he saw how pale and still Merry was.

“Merry!” Frodo released Pippin and reached for Merry`s hand, patting it and calling his name. When he didn`t get a reaction, he turned to the healers. “Strider?” Frodo demanded.

“I`m sorry, Frodo, but Merry has broken his ankle.” Aragorn said when Frodo looked at him inquiringly.

“I can see that,” Frodo said, gently caressing Merry`s good leg “but why is he so still and pale? This pallor and stillness is caused by more than a broken bone.” Frodo moved to Merry`s head and stroked his cheek. “He`s cold!”

“Yes,” Aragorn said, coming over to kneel in front of the hobbits. Sam and Pippin stood by Frodo now too, both keeping a steadying arm around him. “Frodo, Merry suffers too from a much graver affliction. It`s the Black Breath.”

“Black Breath?” Sam said, interrupting. “That`s some of what Mr. Frodo suffered from after that dreadful creature stabbed him on Weathertop!”

“Yes,” Gandalf said. He`d come in with the others but hadn’t spoken as yet, not wanting to interrupt Frodo’s reunion with Pippin, and himself shocked at Merry’s appearance. He went to the bed and gently touched Merry`s face, while closing his eyes, trying to find the hobbit`s wandering spirit.

All the hobbits had told some tales of what had happened to them since they wer separated, but many things lay still in the dark and Frodo understood that this was a good time to bring some of them out into the light. “I know Merry was touched by Shadow in Bree, but I have not heard of him being touched by it since.”

“All of you were touched by Darkness on Weathertop though only you, Frodo, took a wound then. The others were merely stunned.” Gandalf said. He too crouched down in front of the hobbits now, gently patting Merry`s hand as he lowered his stiff and old body down to hobbit eye level. “What do you know of Merry`s deeds on the Pelennor?”

“I know that he and the Lady Éowyn slew the chief Nazgûl,” Frodo said. “And that he hurt his arm in some way that day.” He shook his head. “He`s been very reluctant to give away much detail of what happened, and Pippin has not revealed what Merry would not. I begin to understand better now I think. When Merry stabbed the Witch-king he too was hurt.”

Gandalf nodded. The hobbits needed to talk about these events between themselves and in their own time, but being under the spell of the Shadow was no light ailment and hard as it might be to hear the other hobbits needed to know what ailed their dear one.

“But, sirs,” Sam said. “That evil is destroyed now. How can Mr. Merry still be suffering from that… that thing!”

“The evil may be conquered, but the Shadow is of such a nature that once it has taken hold of someone, it is a difficult fight to hold it back. Merry has fought valiantly, but he has been weakened by this new injury, and the Shadow is quick to seek a hold when it may. It is not Merry’s ankle that I am most concerned about at the moment.” Aragorn said.

As if hearing his name, Merry twisted his head a little on the pillow and all the others turned as one to face him. There was no doubt the hobbit was in great discomfort. “Have you not given him anything to reduce the pain?” Gandalf asked.

“I feared giving him too much with the Black Breath upon him so heavily, and I also hoped that the pain might rouse him from the darkness the Shadow has cast upon him. I will give him something stronger now.” He moved to prepare a tonic from several phials on the table by the bed and then administered it to Merry as the others watched worriedly. Frodo and Pippin huddled together by Merry`s head and Sam stood anxiously on the other side of the bed, all of them keenly watching Aragorn`s every movement.

“Have you not called him back?” Gandalf said, looking from the King to the hobbit suffering hobbit.

“Yes I did, but his mind is wandering far. I brought him then from the brink, but could not awaken him, even with athelas. It is not safe for him to wander so long, and I was about to try again when you arrived. I will try now. I`m afraid that if his mind wanders for too long it might wander too far for me to reach him.”

“Oh!” Frodo and Pippin huddled closer together and Sam moved over to the other side of the bed, laying a comforting hand on Frodo`s arm. Aragorn looked from one to the other. “I do not mean to frighten you my friends, and I will give another attempt now.”

“Why didn`t the athelas work the first time?” Frodo asked.

Aragorn sighed. “As I said before, this isn’t the first time Merry has been touched by Shadow and he is still weak from his old injuries in addition to this new one. One could think that Merry would learn to fight against the Shadow more easily the more he is touched by it, but he is not as strong as the he was. He may gain that strength again, and I have no doubt that he will, but for the moment he isn`t strong enough to withstand the force of Shadow. Also, the Shadow knows him and his weakness.

Frodo nodded at this. That made sense. Still, he was frightfully worried for his cousin and if Aragorn hadn`t stopped him, he`d climbed up on the bed with Merry and gathered him in his arms. Instead he tightened his hold on Pippin and watched as Aragorn leaned over Merry again. Frodo had seen Merry injured before but he stillness of his cousin and the cold hand scared him. Getting answers to his questions didn`t make it less frightening to see Merry so. Aragorn had also said that a gentle touch and the familiar voice of a loved one might help Merry back into the Light, and Frodo understood that, from his own experience. Still, it wasn`t easier being the one who comforted and soothed when he knew something of how it was to be under that wretched spell. And Merry had been exposed to it not once, but three times, and had actually set blade to the foul creature. What terrible darkness must hold his cousin in its icy grip? He knew of the nightmares and the struggle and how hard it was to fight back. Whatever could he do? What had the others done for him when the lure of the Ring became too much or when he`d been so wretched with cold and dreams after he was stabbed?

He couldn`t really remember, but they were all there for him, in their different and equally important ways. Sam with his practicality and constant flow of blankets and food and other little things that made it possible to go on, made it a bit easier to continue, and to take just one more step closer to Mount Doom. Pippin, his cheerful little cousin who despite, or rather because of his penchant for mischief and trouble-making, always made him smile and laugh, easing the road with talk of home and food and keeping him light-hearted with memories. And Merry, sweet Merry, practical and dependable, yet in different ways than Sam. Always ready with a shoulder to cry on or with a bit of advice or solution to a problem. Merry, who loved maps and books just as much as Frodo himself and who was a willing and eager student if Frodo had something to teach him. Baby cousin, wise peer, and valued friend, all at once.

Frodo sighed, and brushed a stray lock away from Merry`s face. He wished he could teach Merry how to fight off the Shadow, but he wasn`t sure he had the answer to it. The only thing he knew was that he couldn`t have managed it without his dear cousins and friends.

Frodo sat like that for a while, thinking and remembering as Aragorn again tried to call Merry back. Pippin was equally engrossed in his own thoughts.

Pippin hadn`t seen Argorn call Merry back in the Houses of Healing as he and Gandalf had arrived just after and the only thing he had seen Aragorn do was touch Merry`s eyes and draw a hand through his curls before calling his name.

Aragorn sat down on the cot and took Merry`s face in his hands. He leant in and concentrated on pouring energy and life into the injured hobbit again. Finally Aragorn sensed the Shadow retreating as the hobbit struggled toward Aragorn’s voice and the Light. After struggling for several minutes Merry took a deep breath, then slowly opened his eyes.

“Merry!” Three hobbits, a Wizard and a Man slowly came into focus. At first Merry didn`t know anything but a bone chilling cold that numbed everything in a painful way and utter darkness, but slowly another sort of pain entered his world. Anxious faces looking at him. What had he been dreaming? And what was this pain that seared through his body. Merry thought it might emanate from his leg but he wasn`t sure. As the faces slowly came into focus the anxiousness that had covered them gave way for genuine smiles and so Merry tried for a smile of his own.

“Welcome back Meriadoc.” Gandalf said as Merry`s eyes fastened upon him, before closing in proper sleep this time.

*****

They moved Merry to his own cot and Legolas and Gimli joined them there. The companions ate a late supper and Pippin told the rest of the company what had happened in the woods. The hobbits and Gandalf sat down to watch over Merry, a tonic ready for him if he should wake up before the morning. Aragorn had examined Merry once more and was now ready to leave with Legolas and Gimli when there was a sound by the tent entrance.

“My lord!” The soldier standing there said. “We`ve found another.”

“Another what?” Demanded Gandalf.

“Another snake, sir. We searched the campsite and found no snake that matched the description we got but as we were to finish the search a Guard found one close to the stream. It was killed but I was told to come get the King at once if we found another snake.”

“Thank you.” Aragorn said and hastily left the tent with the elf and the dwarf. “I gave him herbs for the pain but he will likely still be in discomfort when he wakes,” Aragorn said. “Do not hesitate to send for me if there is any change.”

*****

“Another snake?” Pippin didn`t feel very comfortable at that thought. He had hoped that the one he and Merry had stumbled upon was the only one. He was glad this new one was dead now though, and hoped that the Man who killed it didn`t get hurt.

“Yes, the Dark Lord has many ways of spreading his poison.” Gandalf said, glumly. It would still be some time before all of Sauron`s servants were killed. “You are safe here though. Do not let the troubles of others burden you. Watch over your cousin and try to not worry too much about other things. You are all still weary.”

Frodo and Pippin sat down on either side of Merry`s cot, both watching keenly for any sign of Merry wakening or being in pain. Hours passed before Merry suddenly started muttering and tossing his head from side to side. Frodo and Pippin leant over the cot and Sam looked up from where he`d been making a bracing cup of tea for all of them. Pippin lay his hand on Merry`s cheek to try and calm him and drew back in surprise. “He`s hot! Gandalf!” Pippin tugged on Gandalf`s robes and the Wizard knelt down and lay a large, but gentle hand on Merry`s brow.

“Yes indeed!” Gandalf said just as surprised as Pippin. He`d seen how carefully Aragorn had washed Merry`s wounds and dressed them. The sudden heat in the young hobbit`s skin couldn\t be caused by infection? “Sam fetch a basin and some water, Pippin find some clean cloths. Frodo you stay beside him. I`ll go and get Aragorn. I fear he might injure himself further if he continues to toss about like that.”

“What about the Shadow?” Pippin asked. “Can that have come back? He can`t get a fever from having a nightmare? Can he?” Pippin knew all too well that nightmares haunted also Merry`s sleep also and shuddered a little at the thought. He could still remember his own most recent nightmare, only a couple of night ago.

“I doubt it” Gandalf said. “Still, I will take no chances.” He hurried out of the tent.

Frodo tried to wake Merry but didn`t get any response. He took Merry`s face in his hands in an effort to stop his thrashing in the grip of a fevered nightmare. “Merry! Come back to us, please!” Pippin was weeping soundlessly and hovered over Merry from the other side of the cot. Sam took one of the cloths Pippin had found and wet it before handing it to Pippin so he could soothe Merry`s warm skin before moving to the foot of the bed, trying to immobilize the injured leg.

When Aragorn arrived with Gandalf a few moments later, the other three hobbits were more or less up on the cot with the unconscious Merry, trying to reassure him, cool him or keep the injured leg still.

“Strider!” The hobbits said all at once.

Aragorn moved Frodo and Pippin gently to the side and the two hobbits clung to each other, both crying freely now. Sam tried not to cry and choked down a sob as he kept careful hold of Merry`s foot, not letting go until he was asked to. For a few minutes there was a frenzy of activity before Aragorn decided he had done what he could for the moment. He didn`t understand where the fever came from at first but after unbinding Merry`s leg with Sam`s help, found that one of the wounds he`d so carefully cleaned had become a little infected. He rinsed and cleaned the wound again before wrapping Merry`s leg up again in poultices.

Merry slept obliviously now after being given another sleeping draught. Aragorn stayed with them the rest of the night, continuously monitoring Merry`s pulse and temperature. Sam and Frodo fell reluctantly at last to sleep in their chairs, and Gandalf carried them to lie on Pippin`s cot. Pippin stayed awake as long as he could, but eventually fell into an exhausted doze, curled up in a ball on the foot of Merry`s Man-sized cot.

*****

The sun was high in the sky when the first stirrings of life came from the hobbits. Sam stretched and rose, not at first remembering where he was and looked about wildly for a moment before understanding that he was in Pippin and Merry`s tent.

“Good morning, sirs. How is Mr. Merry?” Sam rose and splashed a little water in his face to clear his head.

“Meriadoc is sleeping and Aragorn has gone to fetch more healing herbs,” Gandalf said, and just then the tent flap opened and Legolas came in, holding the flap to the side so Aragorn could enter with a tray full of herbs and bandages and other medical items. Behind him Gimli came carrying a tray groaning with food enough for an army or a few hungry hobbits.

Aragorn went straight to Merry and started to check him over. He had a low fever and the sword arm was still cold, but the injured ankle was no worse and the Shadow didn`t seem to have taken a new hold of him. To be on the safe side Aragorn took a few leaves of athelas and steeped them in hot water before wringing out a cloth and placing it on Merry`s brow. Frodo and Pippin woke then, revived by the refreshing scent of athelas and very hungry. They refused to eat though until Aragorn had seen to Merry.

The athelas also woke Merry up and he scrunched up his face in pain and closed his eyes tightly. “Ow! What have I done?”

“And good morning to you too.” Aragorn said, smiling and helping Merry when he tried to sit up, propping pillows behind his back and lifting him slightly.

“Merry!” Frodo and Pippin were at his side in an instant. “You`re finally awake! How do you feel?”

“Finally awake, eh? Have I slept over something of importance since you`re all so enthusiastic to see me wake?” Merry said, trying to jest. Something was wrong, but his cousins and friends looked so worried that he couldn`t help but try to lighten their moods. There was a smell of athelas in the air and something hurt fiercely but he was too muddled to figure it out just now. He turned his head a little. “Sam, you haven`t celebrated your birthday and let me sleep right through the party, now have you?”

“No, Mr. Merry, I wouldn’t think of it!” Sam beamed, relieved that Merry seemed to be nearly his old self. Merry had been teasing Sam about celebrating his birthday doubly since he had slept right through it, but there had been too many banquets and formal celebrations of the Ring-bearers to have a proper hobbit party yet.

“Merry?” Aragorn tapped Merry on the shoulder to get his attention again. “How do you feel?”

Merry thought a little. “I am not sure. My leg hurts.” It all came back to him now – the forest, the tumble and the snake. He had no clue on how he had managed to get back to camp though. Still muddled and suddenly very tired again Merry yawned and closed his eyes. “And it feels like I`ve been working awfully hard. I`m tired...” He slid down a little deeper under the covers, his eyes refusing to remain open.

“Yes, you have, terribly hard,” Pippin said clasping Merry’s hand tightly. “But the Shadow is gone for now. Rest and sleep Merry and we`ll be here when you wake up.“

*****

When Merry woke next Frodo was sitting on a chair by his bed and Pippin was sleeping peacefully on his cot. Sam and Aragorn could not be seen, and Gandalf was not there either.

“Good afternoon!” Frodo said and handed Merry a cup of tea and placed a tray on his lap with enough food for them both and some to spare. “Eat, Merry. You`ve slept over both breakfasts and elevenses.”

“I have?” Merry said and tried to eat the lunch of chicken soup and bread but didn`t really feel too well and soon pushed the tray aside. He was hot and lethargic and wanted only to rest and sleep and his foot hurt despite the drought Frodo also had pressed upon him. “What happened?” Merry asked, sipping the tea instead.

“What do you remember?”

Merry thought a bit. “I fell when trying to fend off a snake and my leg twisted. I can`t remember much after that. How did I get back here?” He looked at Pippin`s sleeping form. “Pippin didn`t carry me, did he?” Merry hoped Pippin hadn`t tried to do that as he was not well himself and to support Merry`s weight would only make his injuries worse.

“No, he didn`t. Your ankle was badly broken. Pippin splinted it and then watched over you and kept you warm for several hours until you were found. A Ranger from Ithilien happened to find you on his way back to camp. He carried you back here. Aragorn tended you in his tent and then you were brought here.” Frodo looked Merry in the eye for some time. “Merry…” His voice broke and he caught Merry`s right hand between his own, rubbing it slightly. “You were under the spell of the Shadow for a long time and at first the athelas didn`t work on you.”

Merry opened his eyes wider at that and sat up, putting his other hand on Frodo`s. “I…” What could he say? He could still feel the Shadow lurking at the edge of his consciousness but he wouldn`t give in as long as he had anything to say in the matter. But because he had been overwhelmed by the pain of the broken ankle he had let his guard down. And now he had scared the others too. “I`m sorry,” Merry finally said.

“Don`t be silly Merry. It certainly wasn’t your fault, any of it.” Frodo sat on Merry`s bedside and hugged him tight. “I`m just glad you came back to us.”

Merry hugged Frodo tightly, relishing the feeling of holding close the cousin he`d been so worried about for so long now safe at last. Both of them were crying now. They`d lost too much to not feel grateful for what they had.

At last Frodo pulled back and wiped away his own and Merry`s tears with trembling fingers. Merry`s skin was a little hot and he looked tired. “Go back to sleep now. I`ll sit with you. You`re still a bit feverish I think.” He gently pushed Merry back down onto the pillows and went to the washstand to wet a cloth and washed Merry`s face with it before wetting it again and putting it on his cousin’s brow.

Turnabout is Fair Play

Thu, 21 Jul 2005 21:03:59 GMT

Title: Turnabout Is Fair Play
Author: Anso the Hobbit
Beta: Lindelea
Characters: Pippin, Merry, Bilbo, Aragorn
Timeline: Rivendell, SR 1419
Note: Written for Lindelea`s “To Tell A Tale” on livejournal.
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“Merry, wake up!” Pippin said, shaking Merry's shoulder eagerly. It was one of those extraordinarily beautiful days in Rivendell – where the sun made the leaves shine like gold and copper and the air was crisp and clean and all you wanted was to run out into the beauty of it all. That was what Pippin wanted now and he wanted Merry with him.

They'd all been too anxious for Frodo to manage much more than to watch and to hope since they arrived, but now Lord Elrond had said he would be all right! Pippin thought it felt like the whole of Rivendell breathed a loud and long sigh of relief. That is, all except Merry. Merry'd been worrying more than usual, and was working himself into quite a state. Pippin had tried all the tricks he knew but whatever he did, Merry just brushed them away. Mock anger, teasing, jokes and downright childish attempts to make his Merry smile and laugh and stop worrying: Nothing seemed to work. He talked to Gandalf and Strider, and Sam and Bilbo, but whatever anyone did, the effects of it didn't last long, if it worked at all. Bilbo was the one who seemed to manage best but when their old, beloved relative took a nap or wrote in his book Merry started to worry again.

Pippin wanted to talk to Frodo and had decided upon doing it this very day if Merry didn't stop worrying. It was a wonder Frodo hadn't commented upon it already, knowing Merry as well as he did.

“Merry! Get up! It's a beautiful day and I know the cooks are making pancakes and they have apple syrup and mushrooms and freshly baked bread just waiting for us. Merry?”

Merry tried to make believe he was still asleep but Pippin's chattering felt like a whole group of people shouting inside his head. As soon as he opened his eyes the sun stabbed him mercilessly. He moaned and covered his head with the blankets. For a moment he tried to think back, to see if he could remember having drunk too deeply of the dwarven ale Gimli had introduced them to, or perhaps the fine elven wine, but however much he tried to believe it, no memory of such activity surfaced. Pippin was talking about breakfast now and as much as Merry loved pancakes and apple syrup the thought of it made his stomach churn. He hastily curled up into as tight a ball as he could manage, hugging his middle. Those movements made his head start to throb in earnest, though, and he moaned again.

Waiting for Merry to come awake, Pippin padded about their room, doing his morning ablutions and thought about that day's plan, not hearing Merry moan or seeing him curl up tight. He knew Merry needed his time to wake and didn't rush him. Merry would be a much happier cousin to have around if he could wake in his own time. That didn't prevent Pippin from pressing just a little though. When Merry didn't wake as fast as he usually did, Pippin walked over to the bed again and looked down at him.

Merry lay still for a moment or two, trying to keep Pippin's chatter out of his mind while he assessed his situation. The problem was that his head was hurting so much, he couldn't think. He could only remember having had such a horrid headache once before, and that one had lasted for a week. It had been around the time he came of age and started to feel the responsibility of being the son of the Master of Buckland weigh more heavily on his shoulders. His parents had warned him then to watch for the signs of too much worry, but it didn't look like he'd managed that now, now did it?

Merry turned over on his back. The acute nausea was reduced to a slight feeling of sickness now. He experimentally opened his eyes to see Pippin looking worriedly, even anxiously back at him. The younger cousin had stopped talking now and was just watching Merry wake up.

“Are you all right?” Pippin asked as soon as Merry's eyes opened.

Merry nodded, but immediately regretted it. He clenched his eyes shut and put his hands over them, trying to rub the sleep and headache away. “It's just a little headache,” Merry answered. There was no need to make Pippin start worrying over him too; they'd had enough with Frodo.

“Don't even bother, Merry,” Pippin said, perturbed, and gently but persistently pulled Merry's hands away to get a closer look at him. Merry was pale, and from his squinting, the light was evidently hurting his eyes. “By the looks of things, your head hurts a whole lot. Am I right?”

“How…?” Merry managed, surprised. Pippin had seen him indisposed of course, but nothing as bad as this.

“I've three sisters and a mother, Merry; they get bad headaches once a month. It's something they have from the Bankses.”

Merry just gaped in surprise. He tended to forget that Pippin knew more about the world than he sometimes let on. He hastily shut his mouth. Growing up in a smial full of lasses certainly gave you a different perspective on life!

Pippin didn't give Merry time to answer. “How bad is it? Do you feel up to eating something?”

Merry started to shake his head, then remembered himself just in time. “No. But I could do with some tea.”

“All right,” Pippin said, but in that moment there was a knock on the door and two elves came in with trays laden with pancakes and bread and mushrooms and all good things a hobbit could want for breakfast – the cooks quickly having learned that a bit of bread and fruit and water doesn't make a hobbit happy if it was considered to be a proper meal. Seeing Merry still in his nightshirt and in bed one of them stopped briefly in the doorway. He looked out on the sunny morning, then back at Merry, and arched an eyebrow in query, but didn't say anything.

Pippin was occupied with the food and didn't notice, but Merry did. He held the elf's gaze, forcing a smile as he slowly sat up and slid down the side of the bed, feeling for the floor with his feet. The door shut behind the elves, and Merry moved to the washstand. He managed to pour water into the basin and dip a cloth in the cool water before Pippin managed to tear his attention away from breakfast and the tea he was pouring for Merry.

“What do you think you are doing?” Pippin said, immediately hurrying to Merry's side and taking the cloth from him.

“Getting up, of course,” Merry said, taking the cloth back and starting to wash his face, letting the cool wet fabric rest over his eyes for a moment. “What did you think?”

“Merry,” Pippin said in his sternest voice, hands on his hips and his mouth in a thin line. “If I'm reading you correctly, with this kind of headache all you want to do is curl up in bed in a quiet, cool room and not be disturbed by anything. Am I right?” Again Pippin took the cloth from Merry.

Merry paused in pulling the nightshirt over his head and pulled his head back into it. “Yes. But what I want and what I can are two different things. Although Lord Elrond said Frodo will be well, he did also say that Frodo would need quite a bit of time to recover. It might be weeks before he'd be well enough to take a proper walk or do anything that could remotely look like exercise. And if there's something all the Big Folk say we need before we set out on this journey, it's exercise!” Merry winced as he stopped speaking. He'd been too loud for his own ears.

“Yes. And what are you thinking of doing? Did you plan to exercise for him?”

“Pippin…” Merry started to protest.

“No, Merry. Listen to me. You can't do that. You can't hold off a whole army of orcs or evil men or protect Frodo all by yourself. Why, it's not even certain that Lord Elrond will let us go!” Pippin paused as Merry winced again. “Enough of that,” Pippin said in a softer voice, seeing Merry's face turn even paler. “Let's get you back to bed, Merry.” Silently and gently he manoeuvred Merry's arms back into the nightshirt and led him back to the bed, and as Merry climbed up, Pippin gave him a boost to propel him into the bed. He fluffed the pillows and with a hand to Merry's chest leaned him back against them.

Merry wanted to protest but involuntarily sighed in relief as his body rested against the pillows. A heartbeat later Pippin was there with a cup of tea. “Drink this now,” Pippin whispered. “Do you mind if I eat something? I'm awfully hungry, Merry.” As Pippin knew, with this kind of headache the mere smell of food could make one sick. He didn't want to make things worse than they were.

“No. You eat something, Pippin.”

Pippin had barely managed to start on his second helping of breakfast before Bilbo and Aragorn entered. Merry had slid down in the bed as soon as he'd finished his tea and was lying with a blanket over his head to keep out the light. He would've asked Pippin to draw the curtains if he had the energy. Perhaps Pippin could light a single candle, placed just so that he didn't see the source of light but still could make use of it if he needed.

“Good morning, Pippin,” Aragorn said as he entered. “Where's Merry?”

“Oh, he's here.” Pippin peeled the blanket away to reveal Merry's head.

Merry clenched his eyes shut again as the blanket came off and turned so his head was buried in the pillow. He heard soft footsteps come closer and soon Bilbo's familiar hand was stroking through his curls before softly calling his name. “Merry? Are you awake?”

“Yes.” Merry turned and sat up.

Seeing the hobbit sit up, Aragorn came over to the bed and stood behind Bilbo. “Then why are you still in bed? This isn't like you, Merry,” the old hobbit said. “We were waiting for you and Pippin in Frodo's room but when none of you showed up we started to worry. Is everything all right?”

Merry opened his mouth to answer but Aragorn beat him to it. “I think not. One of the elves who was here to deliver breakfast told me that he didn't know that the Periain were so slow in rising. He mentioned that one of them looked unwell.” Aragorn kept his gaze on Merry as he said this.

“It's true,” Pippin said. He'd stopped eating as soon as the others came in, but now he absently picked up his fork. “Merry has a headache, and a bad one at that, but he won't admit it.”

“Pippin!” Merry's protest came out as a whimper. Bother! He didn't need this.

Pippin quickly abandoned his food and reached out to gather Merry in a soft hug. “Sssh, Merry.” Holding Merry close and laying his head to rest on his shoulder, Pippin looked fearfully from Bilbo to Aragorn.

“Help me up!” Bilbo urged and Aragorn lifted the old hobbit up to sit on Merry's bed. Both lads looked exhausted, something Bilbo didn't find strange at all after everything that had happened. Pippin drew Merry closer to make room for Bilbo on Merry's other side. Bilbo crawled up to the head board, and leaned back against the pillows Aragorn fluffed. Finding a good position to sit, he gently took Merry from Pippin's protecting embrace and leaned him against himself. “Can you manage to scoot down a little, Merry-lad?”

When Merry was positioned just so, Bilbo turned to Aragorn. “Close the curtains and light a candle, but put it out of Merry's line of sight.” Bilbo gestured to a table on the far side of the bed. Pippin, by his position, would shield Merry's eyes from the candle flame. Before Aragorn could ply Merry with some herbal tea that likely would make the lad throw it up for the foul taste, Bilbo decided to try something else. He reached out to ruffle Pippin's curls before starting to gently rub Merry's shoulders. “There, there. It will be all better soon.”

Merry's only answer was a low moan as Bilbo's fingers found muscles he didn't really knew had been so tense.

“There,” Bilbo said a little while later, patting Merry gently on the shoulder. “All better?”

“A little,” Merry said and sat up. “Thank you.” He started to slide out of the bed again but Aragorn stopped him when Bilbo gave him a meaningful look.

“What are you doing?”

“Getting up, of course,” Merry said, sliding off the bed. “It's a glorious day and Pippin wanted to explore, and I want to see how Frodo is doing.” Merry turned to look at Pippin who looked more scared than eager to go out and enjoy the day.

“Not so fast, young hobbit,” Bilbo said, managing to catch hold of Merry's sleeve. “Come back here.”

Knowing that disobeying his dear old relative was the last thing he'd want, and wanting to make Pippin happy again, Merry willingly climbed back up and sat down between his cousins once more, putting an arm around Pippin and squeezing encouragingly. “It's all right, Pip. I'm better now.” He tried to smile but his head hurt too much to manage a proper one.

Bilbo lifted the blankets and sternly eyed Merry until he crawled under them. With a satisfied smile, Bilbo tucked the blankets nicely in about the younger hobbit. “The massage might have released the tension a little, my lad, but the way you're squinting in this almost-dark tells me that the headache is not at all gone. Am I right?”

“Yes,” Merry said quietly, looking from Pippin to Bilbo to Strider and back to Pippin. Pippin had been awfully quiet since Bilbo and Strider had come in and even in the dim light Merry could see he was fighting to hold back tears, so he reached out again and gathered Pippin in a hug. “Don't worry, Pip. I'll be fine.”

“Don't worry?” Pippin said, pulling out of Merry's embrace and failing to hold back the anger and worry that he had worked up since he discovered that Merry was unwell earlier in the morning. “Don't WORRY? Merry… Oh, you're a fine one to talk!”

Pippin's voice, shrill as it was with anger, felt like piercing needles in Merry's sore head. With his head feeling as if it were about to explode, he wasn't going to try to talk reason with his cousin. He covered his ears and slid down in the bed, hoping that the pillows would muffle Pippin's voice. Merry loved Pippin dearly but when he became too excited with something he forgot that he didn't necessarily have to raise his voice.

“Stop!” Bilbo said. “The both of you. Stop now.”

Merry peered out from under the blankets again and Pippin snapped his mouth shut.

“A lot has been going on since you all arrived and you're both exhausted. We're all tired.”

“I'm sorry, Merry, for yelling at you,” Pippin said, stroking Merry's hair tentatively.

“I'm sorry too, Pippin. I should have known I was starting to worry too much.”

“Yes, you should,” Aragorn said quietly from the foot of the bed, where he still stood. He thought he knew hobbits after travelling with them a month. He'd known Bilbo from the years he'd spent in Rivendell, but shaking his head he found that he still had much to learn about them. Gandalf had once said that you could learn all there is to know about hobbits in a month, but after a hundred years they could still surprise you. Well, these five he'd come to know had surprised him many times over in the short while he'd known them.

Merry sat up. “What do you know about it?” he said, exasperated.

“I've lived among the elves for many years, Merry. And we mortals worry a lot more than is necessary. The elves have at least taught me that. Now I know your head hurts, and seeing how Frodo has responded to the various herbs and tonics given to him, I fear that what I have to offer you is not something you would relish but it would help with the pain. Then I think we shall all leave you to try and sleep. I know that sleep is hard to come by when your head hurts, but try anyway.” Aragorn sat down on the side of the bed and looked at the hobbits. “Are you willing to let me help you, Merry?”

Merry nodded. He had seen for himself how Frodo reacted to the medication he was given, but he'd rather take a foul-tasting tonic than have this horrid headache any longer. The tension was starting to build up again and he was feeling definitely unwell.

“There's a good lad,” Bilbo said, and he patted Merry on the cheek before sliding down of the bed with Aragorn's help. “You do as he says now and I'll go check on Frodo-lad for a while. No doubt he and dear Sam are wondering where everyone is. I'll come back and check on you later. And I'd better find you still abed, Meriadoc, unless I hear that our friend the Dunadan here or Lord Elrond himself has released you. Good-bye, my lads!”

“Yes, Bilbo. Good-bye,” Merry said meekly, and then wearily he lay back against the soothing softness of the pillows.

“Now then,” Aragorn said, “let's see what we can do about this headache. Pippin would you fetch me a bowl of cool water and a cloth?”

Pippin scrambled off the bed and ran to the washstand, pouring water in the washing bowl and fetched a fresh cloth from the stack on a stool beside it. Aragorn took a little phial from his pocket and poured a few drops of it into the water before stirring with his finger and wringing the cloth out in it. He folded it and placed it over Merry's eyes.

“What is it?” Merry asked, lifting the large cloth a little. The fabric smelled nice and soothing. “It smells of lavender.”

“Yes. It's a mixture made of relaxing herbs and flowers from Rivendell's garden,” Aragorn said. “I was going to take it to Frodo. He too needs to rest after the surgery so that he can heal properly.” Aragorn rose. “I'll go prepare that tonic now. Why don't you finish your breakfast, Pippin? I'll be back shortly.”

“All right.” Pippin had forgotten about his meal and it had gone cold now, but he didn't care. As soon as he put the first forkful into his mouth, his stomach rumbled and he ate hungrily, watching as Merry lay still on the bed.

Merry turned onto his side when Aragorn stood back up. He raised his hand to hold the cloth in place. Lying this way, he faced the covered window with his back to Pippin and the single lit candle. The smells of Pippin's now-cold breakfast still made him nauseous and he curled up further. He couldn't ask Pippin to cover it up and stop eating! A hungry Pippin was not a happy Pippin, and Merry wanted more than anything for his Pippin to be happy. He felt a little ashamed though, over worrying so much that he made himself sick, but he couldn't help it. It had been so close for Frodo and he was still not well…

“Merry. Stop thinking,” Pippin's voice suddenly said from beside him. He'd finished eating then. “You'll only worry yourself worse. Try to sleep.”

Merry turned to lie on his back again and unerringly reached out to take Pippin's hand. “All right. I'll try. Stay with me?”

“Of course, Merry. I won't go anywhere. Why, in this dark I'll probably sleep some myself.” Pippin lay down beside Merry and within a few moments he was asleep.

“My poor Pippin.” Merry tugged on a blanket and covered Pippin up. Now, if he could only manage to fall asleep himself…

*****
But Aragorn returned quickly and kept his eyes on Merry until the hobbit had taken the tonic, stalling his questions about the drink with a raised hand and a quick glance to Pippin's sleeping form.

“It's something to make you rest and take the pain away,” was all he'd say.

When Merry was finished, Aragorn gave him a mug of fresh water and Merry gratefully drank from it, making the foul taste go away sip by sip. At last the water was gone as well, and he lay back. Aragorn tucked him back in and soon Merry also was asleep.

*****

The next time Merry woke up, his head felt better and he immediately sat up. Pippin lay on the bed beside him, watching him wake up.

“How's your head?”

“It's much better now.”

“Good. Because Strider was in just a moment ago to see if you were awake, but since you still slept he went out again, promising to come by later.” Pippin looked searchingly at Merry. Merry'd been sleeping for several hours and it was nearing lunch time. He did look better, though. “Are you hungry?”

Merry thought about that a little. He didn't feel hungry, but he didn't feel nauseous at the thought of food, either, so he nodded, suspecting that he would be able to get something down.

“Good. Because Strider said that if you were able to eat and you felt better he might let you get up to go see Frodo for a bit, but then you would have to go back to bed and rest for the rest of the day.”

Merry pouted a little at that. He did feel better, so why should he go back to bed then? He looked at Pippin, wanting to voice his questions.

“Ah. Don't even think about it,” Pippin said firmly. “Strider said that even if you feel better now, you aren't well yet. The headache can come back with greater force if you don't do as he says.”

Merry nodded slowly. He wasn't sure if he liked this mature, stern Pippin as much as he liked the "old" Pippin. But then, Pippin – all of them – had grown quite a bit during their journey so far. Deep down, he was really happy to see more of this side of Pippin too. It was, after all, inevitable; he had to grow up some time. Better to do it now than later, Merry thought, and smiled before climbing over to Pippin's bed and gathering his cousin in a hug. “Thank you, Pippin-dear, for looking out for me and telling me what's what when I can't see it for myself.”

“Oh. You're very welcome, Merry-mine. You did, after all, teach me all the tricks I could ever want to learn about how to look out for someone.” Pippin hugged Merry back and looked at him closely again. “If you're ready for some food then, I'll go alert the cooks that they have some hungry hobbits to feed and then we'll go see about Frodo. And maybe, if you're good and go back to bed, Bilbo will let you read some of his books. By his leave this time!” Pippin nudged Merry and winked.

“Was he here, too?” Merry said as he climbed down from the bed to wash and dress.

“Yes. And Sam. We've all been worried about you, and no doubt Frodo will have a thing or two to say if he's up to it.”

“I don't doubt it, Pip.” Merry said and laughed heartily, for it was good to be a hobbit in Rivendell, and to have cousins and friends who loved you and looked out for you when you didn't have the wits to do it yourself.

Story update - Sneaky Snakes And Broken Bones

Thu, 14 Jul 2005 07:53:09 GMT

Frodo stretched and yawned as he came awake. Sam was not in the bed beside his but Frodo saw his silhouette through the tent canvas, and the smell of pipeweed close by told him that he wasn`t alone. Frodo looked at the canvas to see if Merry or Pippin was with Sam outside, but the only other person he saw was Gandalf`s familiar form. That was strange. No matter what his other duties Merry seemed to always be there when he woke up, and sometimes Pippin was there as well.

Frodo dressed and went outside to sit with the others by the fire. The sun had gone down and it was time for supper, Frodo thought, as he smelled food cooking. “Hullo,” Frodo said and sat down beside Sam. “Have either of you seen my cousins?”

“Not in a while, no,” Gandalf said. “I saw Peregrin this afternoon and Meriadoc was with Éomer earlier today.”

“Sam?” Frodo thought that maybe Merry had left when Sam woke up for some reason.

“No. Neither of them was with us when I woke up. Maybe they are in their tent?”

“On a fine evening like this? I don`t think so. Unless Pippin isn’t feeling well perhaps?” Frodo mused. “We should go and see.”

“I agree,” Gandalf said, rising slowly, suddenly getting a feeling of unease. He could often sense before seeing or speaking to one of the hobbits or the rest of the Fellowship if something was wrong or someone was hurt. The life-spark he knew as Pippin was shining quite persistently, almost nagging somehow, while Merry`s spark was quiet and not at all as bright and clear as it usually was. Hopefully the young hobbit was sleeping or resting, but the combination of the persistency of Pippin`s spark and the dullness of Merry`s told him that that might indeed not be the case.

“They`re not here,” Frodo said after peeking into Merry and Pippin`s tent. In fact the tent looked not to have been used for some hours. Merry always tried to keep their tent tidy and made the beds and washed their cups and teapot after use. Everything was neat and in its place, the brazier cold. Maybe both had been called on duty? Pippin didn`t have much duty yet and Merry had already been on duty that day. No, that was not it…

“They probably went to find something to eat,” Sam suggested, steering them towards the food tents.

Inside the main tent many of the soldiers were seated for their evening meal, and in a corner Gandalf spotted Legolas talking to Elfhelm and Gimli. Merry`s éored leader was talking animatedly and the elf and dwarf laughed heartily.

“Have any of you seen Merry or Pippin?” Frodo asked when Elfhelm had finished his tale.

“No, I`m afraid not. Not since this morning at any rate,” Legolas said, thinking a little. He`d seen both hobbits earlier in the day, but that was many hours ago now.

“We can`t find them,” Sam said, stretching to stand on his toes to look around the spacious tent.

“We`ll come with you and look for them,” Gimli offered. “We`ll spread out and search much quicker that way. I`m sure those young rascals are hiding away somewhere. Perhaps some of the soldiers have invited them to taste some of their homemade brews?”

*****

Pippin was starting to get cold despite the fire, and the cold in Merry`s hand had started to creep up his arm, and he was clearly in the clutches of a dark dream. From what Pippin could see of his cousin`s face in the starry night Merry was ashen and his skin clammy and cold. Pippin was frightened, and the severity of Merry’s broken ankle was starting to seem pale next to this onslaught. He chafed Merry’s cold hand in desperation. Why would the Shadow attack Merry just now? Pippin remembered that Strider had said that the Shadow was only held at bay by Merry’s will, that it wasn’t gone. Perhaps it was only waiting for Merry to be tired or hurt, for any vulnerability that would enable it to overpower his cousin, perhaps irretrievably if Strider was not there to call him back. That would not happen though, Pippin told himself firmly. It could not happen, not now when the Quest was won. They would get back to camp somehow, and Strider would make poor Merry well again. He held Merry to him even more tightly.

Pippin made himself a mental note to watch more carefully for signs of Merry getting overtired after they got back to camp. His cousin took so much upon himself, worrying and watching over Frodo, Sam, and Pippin himself. His cousin had difficulty sleeping and Pippin was aware that Merry awoke and checked on him several times a night. Merry had always been loving and protective of those he cared about, it was his nature, but his own health had always been good, and so could better take the strain and stress when things were amiss with those he loved. Now he was a recovering invalid himself, and he was neglecting his own health out of care for the others. It was heart wrenching to see his cousin like this and Pippin didn`t know if he could take much more of it, though he knew that he must. He couldn’t let Merry down, he needed to be strong for his cousin. Oh, please, Pippin thought, his voice raw from shouting for help, someone find us soon. In Pippin’s arms, Merry stirred, and whimpered in distress. Pippin stroked his curls and, trying to soothe him, began to sing softly.

*****

It was a beautiful night and taking a leisurely walk after watching the camp`s borders all day was exactly what Fermund needed. Even if the war was over, orcs were scattered here and there and trolls and evil Men were still about and the time was not yet come when they could afford to lower their watchfulness completely. Fermund had been born in the Westfold and been a Rider of Rohan for many years, but after marrying and moving to Gondor to be near his wife’s family he had become a Ranger under the command of Faramir. He was walking through what in daylight probably was a lovely little bit of wood, when he saw a small fire flickering through the trees. He heard a slight shifting noise and what sounded like a quiet sob, followed by the faint sound of singing. He stopped and listened keenly. It sounded like a child. Maybe a child had ventured out in the forest to pick berries or flowers, the Ranger thought, but the only children here were the few pages that had come with the ships from Minas Tirith, and they were not allowed outside the camp perimeters unless accompanied by an adult. Maybe one of them had ventured out anyway and was lost and couldn`t find his way back?

He stood still for another minute. Aside from the soft sounds coming from the direction where he had heard the sob the wood was silent and no animals could be heard or sensed close by. Slowly and stealthily he ventured closer. There was a little opening in the trees and he clearly saw the child now, the back turned to him. The lad was holding another lad in his arms. Fermund could only see the top of one lad’s head and by the look of things he probably was hurt as the other child was rocking him to and fro in his arms, singing softly. He came closer and was only a few feet from where the lads were when a small twig snapped under his feet. The lad cradling the other was on his feet, a sword in his hand and standing protectively over the other one almost faster than Fermund could blink. Fermund clearly saw the White Tree of Gondor on the child`s chest and he recognised that this was no child at all but the Ernil i Pheriannath.

“Who are you? Declare yourself” Pippin said, determined to defend Merry, but hoping that this was one of their own men from the camp.

“I`m Fermund, a Ranger of Ithilien, and I know who you are, my lord. What happened?” Fermund nodded his head to Merry.

Pippin let his guard down a little and surveyed the Ranger carefully. He wore the same type of clothing that Pippin had seen Faramir in. “You are one of Faramir`s men?”

“Yes,” Fermund confirmed. “I was with Captain Faramir when we found the Ring-bearers.”

Pippin lowered his sword and sank down beside Merry again, his own injured leg throbbing. “Then I am very glad to see you. Merry is hurt and I can`t move him and now he`s unconscious. We`ve been out here since before dark. I am very frightened for him, and need to get him to Str…the King Elessar at once.”

Fermund knelt down beside Pippin and looked at Merry in the firelight. He`d seen him before too, at the campsite. “What happened?” He repeated.

“A snake threatened me and my cousin tried to save me, coming behind it to try to kill it before it could strike at me. The snake whirled at him and trying to avoid being bitten, Merry stumbled and caught his foot in a tree root. He broke his ankle badly as he fell,” Pippin said. “He did manage to kill the snake though!” Pippin was quite proud of Merry`s actions.

Fermund took the cloak off Merry and started to assess the injuries. He felt along Merry`s body and was shocked to feel his cold right hand and arm. The Ernil i Pheriannath’s kinsman looked pale even in the warm light of the fire and he was chilled and seemed caught in some foul nightmare. The ankle was clearly broken, but the splint that had been applied would be adequate until they reached the camp. The halfling was shivering and Fermund quickly replaced the cloak and added his own.

“He`s so cold!” Fermund exclaimed and felt for Merry`s pulse, feeling the beat beneath his fingers. How could this come to pass? He took Merry`s small hands in his, the one ice cold and the other warm, but nothing aside from his leg seemed to be hurt. Fermund knew only of one thing that could do this. He looked at Pippin. “The Black Breath lies heavily on him,” Fermund whispered. The Black Breath was nothing to jest with.

Pippin nodded sadly. “Yes. He helped to slay the Witch-king and was hurt when he stabbed him. He is still suffering from the effects of that blow.”

Fermund looked from Merry to Pippin and back to the unconscious hobbit. He had heard of the valiant deed that killed that hideous creature of course, and was quite impressed by what he had heard, though some of it seemed hard to countenance. Now, feeling the hobbit`s cold hand made up his mind that the tale had to be true. Still, this child-sized person and a woman…? Astounding. He shook his head then looked at Pippin. “I have heard told the tale of what happened that day and your kinsman was very brave to strike at that creature.”

“Yes,” Pippin said, shivering just thinking of that day. Merry had been very brave and Pippin was incredibly proud of him, but now Pippin longed with all his being for Merry to be awake and well and wished for Frodo and Sam and home.

Fermund nodded gravely. He knew of tall and doughty soldiers who`d succumbed to the Black Breath. He looked to Merry again. The little one needed to be tended to as soon as possible. “We`d better get back to the camp.”

“Yes, at once please, and thank you for your aid,” Pippin said, happy that Merry finally was getting help. He staggered to his feet and limped as they started walking back.

“I wish that my aid were not needed, but you have it gladly. Are you also hurt?” Fermund asked, looking closely at Pippin as he matched his pace to the young lord, carrying the injured halfling as carefully as he could, trying not to cause him even more distress.

“Not to speak of. I tumbled down that hill over there, that`s how we ended up in this predicament. I`m a little achy but that is all,” Pippin lied, trying to force himself to hobble faster, so that Merry could be brought more quickly to Aragorn.

Pippin thought the walk back would take forever. Each step hurt but he wouldn`t take time to rest now that they finally were on their way back to camp. Pippin tried to forget about his own injuries and how each step jarred the healing ribs and sent pain shooting up through his leg and he concentrated instead on watching the Ranger closely as he carried Merry, the man carefully trying not to jolt the broken bone. It was not long though before they came to the stream and Fermund carefully waded over. Pippin came right behind him.

Shortly after they crossed the stream they were back in the camp, and a Captain of Guards who was speaking to the honour guards stationed outside Frodo and Sam`s bower saw them and came running towards them. “It is good to see you! Everyone has been searching every bit there is of the campsite for you!” He looked at Merry in Fermund`s arms and his expression changed from relief to distress. “Sir Meriadoc is hurt! I`ll take you to the King at once.” Several people had gathered around them now and the Captain turned to one of the other soldiers. “Alert the King that the esquire to Éomer King is hurt and needs his attention!” The soldier nodded and ran off to find Aragorn.

*****

Aragorn had set Riders and soldiers of Gondor to search in and around the campsite as soon as he heard that the hobbits were missing and was just about to send parties into the woods when the soldier brought the news that they had been found and Merry was injured. He set the soldier to boiling water, and began to prepare himself for whatever Merry might require of him. Soon Pippin entered, limping badly, followed by a Captain of Guards and a Ranger carrying Merry. “Thank you,” Aragorn said, gently taking Merry from Fermund’s arms. “I thank you for finding my friends. Please present yourself tomorrow for more adequate thanks.” He looked down at Merry in his arms. “I have no doubt that Merry here will want to see you also.”

Pippin had breathed a sigh of relief as soon as he saw Aragorn. Now he too turned to Fermund, looking earnestly at him. “Thank you, Fermund, for finding us and bringing Merry to safety.”

Fermund blushed a little at all this attention. He`d only been taking a walk and stumbled upon the Halflings by chance. By the sincere thanks the King had bestowed upon him, he guessed that the injured Halfling – all of the Halflings – were held high in esteem by the King. He`d seen the respect with which the King treated the Ring-bearers, and knew that he had spent many hours battling for the life of the valiant Ernil i Pheriannath, but he hadn`t had the opportunity to watch him interact with the Ernil i Pheriannath and the esquire to Éomer King before now. “It was my pleasure(,)” he managed, awed by their regard.

Aragorn turned to the soldier. “Go find Mithrandir and the Ring-bearers and tell them that the hobbits have been found, and that I am tending them in my tent, Also, send one of the healers to assist me.“ The soldier bowed deeply and left the tent like an arrow from the bow. Aragorn turned to the other men. “Captain, take this worthy Ranger and draw for him an extra measure of wine by my order.”

“Yes, my lord.” The Captain and Fermund bowed and left behind the soldier.

Aragorn lay Merry down carefully on his own bed and unwrapped him from the blanketing cloaks. He lit several lamps and took Merry`s face in his hands, trying to sense where Merry wandered. His skin was clammy and cold and Merry did not respond. Aragorn loosened Merry`s clothing and listened to his shallow but even breathing. He then started to feel along Merry`s arms and when he felt the cold right hand he quickly took two leaves of athelas and breathed upon them, then crushed them into a bowl of hot water Pippin had poured out for him, anticipating his need.

Pippin then hobbled over to sit on a chair by Merry`s head, his bad leg trembling and weak. The athelas felt reviving. He`d been awfully tired and worried and aching but felt refreshed now that the athelas started to work. Merry lay unmoving though, and Pippin hoped the athelas would soon take effect on him too.

Aragorn had watched as Pippin hobbled to and fro with the water and turned away from Merry for a moment to kneel in front of him as Pippin sat down. “Are you all right? Your leg is paining you. How are your injuries treating you today?” He cocked his head a little to the side and looked the hobbit in the eye.

“I`m just a bit achy, Strider,” Pippin said.

Aragorn nodded. “I`ll have a closer look at you later, but first we need to take care of Merry. What happened?” Aragorn turned to lay an athelas infused cloth on Merry`s brow and moved to take a closer look at his broken ankle while Pippin told him about the snake and the tumble and Merry`s stumble and twisting fall as he slashed at the snake.

“What kind of snake was it?”

“I don`t know. It wasn`t anything I`ve seen before, or want to see again. It was at least as long as I am tall, and black and sort of glittery and at least as thick as my arm. Maybe a funny green underneath, it was hard to see in the shadows of the trees.“

Aragorn gasped. “Did it bite either of you?” His voice was sharp with worry.

“No.” Pippin shook his head, feeling a cold lump of fear in his belly at Strider’s reaction.

“That is very fortunate.” Aragorn raised his eyes up from examining Merry and looked Pippin earnestly in the face. “What you describe sounds like a very deadly species of snake that has apparently escaped from the destruction of the Black Land and I am very happy Merry managed to kill it. You were both very lucky. Had it bitten one of you…” His grim voice left no doubt as to the outcome of such a bite. There was no antidote to the poison from snakes from the Black Land.

Pippin blanched a little at hearing this. “Oh.”

Aragorn called for his esquire and told him to inform the Rangers and the guards on watch to look out for more of the deadly black snakes and that no one was to leave camp until further information was given. He didn`t want to frighten people, and it was doubtful that there would chance to be any others, but it was best to be cautious.

Aragorn gently took away the splint from Merry`s ankle. Merry had still not made any signs of awakening but a whimper had Pippin leaning over the bedside and Aragorn taking Merry`s face in his hands again, hoping to reach him. “Merry? Merry, can you hear me?” Merry whimpered again but fell silent and lay as still as he had done only a moment ago. Pippin sighed and tried to keep the tears that threatened to fall at bay.

“That must have been quite a fall,” Aragorn said, more to himself than Pippin as he saw the awkwardly twisted leg and the broken ankle.

“I hope he`ll wake up soon,” Pippin said, adjusting the cloth a little.

“Yes, but it is for the best that he sleeps at the moment,” Aragorn said, “Though I would wish that it was a more natural sleep. His stillness is worrying. I`m also worried by the grip the Black Shadow has on him.” He looked at Pippin. “You did well in splinting the break,” Aragorn said. “It looks like this is something you`ve done before?”

Pippin blushed a little. “Merry told me how to do it,” he said. “He knew just what I should do.”

Just then the other healer came and under Aragorn’s direction he held Merry`s leg still while Aragorn examined it more closely and cleaned several cuts and abrasions. The break was clean but some dirt had got into the other wounds and Aragorn made certain to get it all out. Even so he hoped that Merry wouldn`t get an infection. He dressed the wounds in poultices and with the help of the other healer he set the bone and splinted Merry`s leg again. Aragorn then prepared some herbal tea to prevent infection and to make Merry sleep more peacefully. After feeding it carefully to the unconscious hobbit, Aragorn wrapped him warmly, then turned his attentions to Pippin.

New story - Sneaky Snakes And Broken Bones

Mon, 04 Jul 2005 11:11:40 GMT

Title: Sneaky Snakes And Broken Bones
Author: Anso the Hobbit
Beta: Marigold
Characters: The Fellowship, Fermund (OC)
Timeline: Ithilien, SR 1419
Summary: On a walk with Beregond Pippin discovers a beautiful bit of woodlands just outside the camp site in Ithilien and he and Merry go exploring…
Note: Written for Marigold`s Challenge 18 where the starter was a “mystery starter” with these clues: Pippin falling and Merry breaking his leg when saving someone from harm. Enjoy! :)
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The soft sound of the breeze in the trees and the bustle of camp life and smells of food cooking not too far away woke Merry. He stretched and sat up, looking around the tent. He was alone and Beregond`s voice from somewhere outside told him that Pippin probably was close by too, as Beregond had whisked him away when Merry had come off duty and wanted a nap. Though he had some light duties, Pippin still spent a good deal of time in bed, but Beregond and his other friends always spent some time with him each day, just talking, or perhaps taking short walks.

Merry stretched a bit more, and smiled lazily. He`d had a lovely dream about picking strawberries with Frodo in Bag End`s garden and stuffing little Pippin with the lovely berries until they thought he would burst. He`d go sit with Frodo and Sam later but right now Merry needed a cup of tea and a walk. Merry`s duty this day had been to help review the condition of Rohan`s horses that had been injured in the battle as they soon were going back to Minas Tirith, and he`d been perching on a high chair in Éomer’s tent all day. He was looking at how the light shone on the tent to try to judge the time when the flap opened and Pippin entered.

“Hullo Merry,” Pippin said cheerfully, coming to sit down on his own cot, across from Merry.

Merry yawned. “Hullo Pip. Did you have a nice talk with Beregond?”

“Yes! He took me to see a lovely bit of forest on the other side of the stream,” Pippin said enthusiastically. “Ithilien reminds me so much of the Shire, Merry, even if it is so much further south.”

“Yes it is lovely.” Merry stood and put their little kettle on to make tea. “Maybe you can show me where it is. I think I napped too long and I`ve been sitting still all day so I need to move about a bit. Do you think you can manage?” Merry looked searchingly at Pippin. His cousin seemed happy and well and although he limped and favoured his right arm, he looked much better than he had not too long ago.

“Yes. I could easily manage some more walking. Beregond and I didn`t really enter the forest, we just sat down by the stream and talked. I`d like to explore it.

“That`s settled then,” Merry said. “Now, where is your mug?”

*****

“I forgot we could cross the stream here,” Merry said as they came to the softly rippling stream that was just on the edge of the plain where the camp was.

“Yes. And it`s not even deep, so if we miss the stones we can always wade over.” Pippin bent to roll up his breeches just in case.

“Well, that`s convenient,” Merry said and gingerly put his foot upon the first stepping stone that made a nice little walkway to the other side of the stream. He was a little worried if Pippin would manage with his injuries or if his own injured arm would make it difficult for him to keep his balance on the slippery stones, but the crossing went perfectly and soon they entered the lush forest on the other side.

“Oh, look!” Pippin exclaimed, stopping to look around him. The forest was beautiful and pristine, the sounds of the camp had been left behind, and both hobbits revelled in the silence. They went on and had been walking for a few minutes when they saw a lovely sight. A small glade appeared between the trees, covered in wildflowers.

“I wonder what all these flowers are,” Merry said, going into the glade. He started picking some of them to study more closely and ask Strider or Faramir about. Maybe Sam would know some of them too. Some flowers were of course familiar, and it was interesting to see them growing in this place so far from home. “This is definitely a place Sam will want to see. I wonder if any of them have any medicinal uses?”

“I don`t know.” Pippin sat down on a rock perfectly shaped for a hobbit to use as a resting place almost in the centre of the meadow and watched Merry pick flowers. Flowers were pretty, Pippin thought, but they were best enjoyed in a garden or the forest or sometimes in a vase on a lovely laid table. He could never understand Sam and Merry`s interest for them beyond them being pleasant to look at. Growing up with lasses had made Pippin see colours and decorations in a different light than some lads, but to take plants home to study for hours and write about them, was something he`d never understood. Though, of course, he was grateful for the uses they had, with the numerous tonics and teas he had been dosed with over the years. Despite his injuries and his need to rest, Pippin soon became bored with watching Merry pick flowers. He had a good-sized bouquet now, of many different types of blossoms. It was good to see Merry so interested in something besides how Pippin was feeling, or Frodo and Sam, and so Pippin tried very hard to be still until Merry was finished with his inventory of the flowers, but it was difficult.

“I`m sorry,” Merry said, contrite after hearing Pippin fidget on the rock behind him. “I`m done now. Let`s move on.”

Pippin stood up from the rock and together they walked out on the path again. The way was lined with tall, old trees on each side, winding downwards and soon getting narrower and looking unused. Roots were sticking up from the ground here and there and small stones were strewn about, making the hobbits walk single file, watching their step carefully.

Merry walked behind Pippin, seriously pondering if they should return to the camp. Pippin‘s limp was worse and he looked to be having trouble picking his way along the path. A noticeable falter in his cousin’s step made up Merry’s mind. “Pip,” Merry said decisively, “I think we should turn and go back. This path doesn`t look to have been used much.”

Pippin turned to answer, and lost his balance. He slipped and stumbled over his own feet, falling down. Merry was there in an instant, reaching out to help Pippin to his feet, taking a firm hold of Pippin`s arm. Unfortunately he let go too soon as Pippin stood and the sudden lack of support had Pippin sprawling on the ground again, the momentum of the fall sending him rolling down a steep slope.

“Pippin!” Merry shouted, springing down the hill after him. A large stone blocked his way, but he had built up too much speed and though he tried to slow so that he could go around it, he toppled over the rock instead and came to a jerking halt as his foot caught in a root, the flowers he had picked scattering about wildly. He stumbled to his feet but stood stock still as Pippin lay tense on the ground, not moving. At first Merry thought he was injured, but then there was a hissing sound and now Merry saw what Pippin was staring at through the high grass.

“It`s a snake,” Pippin whispered. “Merry, I`m scared.” Warrior though he might be, Pippin suddenly felt like a little lad again, faced with this slithering, hissing, and threatening creature he`d never seen before. Coming a bit more to his senses, Pippin very slowly reached for his sword, but the snake rose into the air, its head weaving from side to side in agitation. It hissed more fiercely, the split tongue going quickly in and out of its mouth.

“I know you’re scared, Pip. But don`t move.” Merry tried to stay calm and looked closely at the snake. It didn`t look like the grass snakes of the Shire and not like the adder which was the only dangerous snake Merry knew of. Merry had never met an adder close up, but he was sure this was a totally different kind of snake, much larger than he knew an adder to be, and much more aggressive. And possibly more poisonous as well. Pippin was still weak from his injuries, and Merry didn’t know if there was an antidote to its poison. And they were far enough from the camp that Merry did not know if he could get Pippin there in time, should he be bitten. He had to keep Pippin safe at all costs. Seeing that the snake wasn’t aware of him yet, Merry reached for his own sword and used all of his hobbit stealth to cautiously creep around behind it.

The ground was rocky and old trees with their roots above ground surrounded him, but Merry couldn`t risk taking his eyes from the snake and suddenly stumbled. In a flash the snake whirled, hissing and rising up higher, above the grass, swiftly flying at Merry. Merry threw himself to the side reflexively, slashing at the snake even as it twisted in the air to follow his movement. The snake struck him hard in the chest and Merry staggered, trying to keep from stumbling, but didn`t see the large root just beside him, catching his foot and twisting and falling down hard on his back, the body of the snake landing heavily upon him.

“Merry!” Pippin was on his feet in a flash despite the painful tumble and the healing injuries he still suffered from. His only thought was for his cousin and he ran to Merry ignoring the growing pain in his leg, and the throbbing ache in his ribs. He eyed the snake warily but it did not move and he saw that Merry had managed to sever the head, and he grabbed it and hurled it away from them. Then he threw himself down at his cousin’s side. Merry was awfully pale and his face was scrunched up in pain. He lay at an awkward angle, sprawled on his back, arms out to each side and one leg hooked in a root under him. Pippin stroked his face to get his attention and as Merry`s eyes opened tears leaked down his face and into his hair.

“Did I get it? Is it dead now?” Merry managed between clenched teeth.

“Yes.” Pippin stroked Merry’s curls soothingly.

“Good. Because I don`t think I can move.”

“What?” Pippin said, but already knew something was terribly wrong by the way Merry was lying. “Merry?”

“My foot. It’s stuck. And I’ve broken something, my ankle I think,” Merry managed. He tried to sit up but the white-hot pain was too much and he slumped back, closing his eyes and trying to stay conscious. “Help…help me get free. Then we’ll worry about what to do next.” Merry closed his eyes for a moment, the pain almost too much. “Can you lift me?”

Pippin nodded determinedly. His injuries hurt after the fall but he would lift Merry if that was what needed to be done. “Of course, Merry.”

“All right. Lift my shoulders and try to move me sideways so that my leg comes free…. ” Merry looked Pippin in the eye and nodded firmly, before closing his eyes again.

“But that will hurt you!” Pippin said. He wanted to try to go for help but couldn`t let Merry lie here in the forest unprotected and without being able to protect himself.

“I know, but it`s our only choice. We’re too far for anyone to hear us calling. It’s too tight and close around my ankle to use a sword to cut through it, and we can`t wait for someone to find us,” Merry said. He knew he was going to faint as soon as the leg was moved, and that was probably for the best. “When you`ve moved me, find something to splint it with. Don’t try to pull it straight, just splint it as it is.”

Seeing the determination in Merry`s eyes Pippin reached down and hugged him, trying to give as much comfort as possible before easing his left arm under Merry`s shoulders. The slight movement made Merry gasp and go even paler and Pippin blinked away the tears that threatened to fall as he lifted Merry up into a semi-sitting position.

“Good!” Merry managed, but now the pain was too much and he slumped senseless in Pippin`s arms.

“Merry!” Pippin cried openly now and he carefully hugged his cousin very tight to his chest, his tears dampening Merry`s hair. He gathered himself and with his free hand dried his tears on his sleeve and looked about. The root that trapped Merry`s foot was bent so that closer to the tree the root was higher from the ground and Pippin thought that if he moved Merry there, he`d be able to bend the leg and slide Merry free. But Pippin knew that moving Merry could be dangerous, no matter how gentle and cautious he was. He looked at the sky. They had left not long after tea and it would soon be dark. Someone should miss them soon.

Pippin filled his lungs with air and screamed as loud as he possibly could “HELP!” Because of all the trees and vegetation the cry didn`t reach far and after several desperate tries Pippin whispered more to himself than to the still unconscious Merry, “I`m so sorry. Please, someone come find us.” He could find the way back he knew, but he couldn`t let Merry lie here alone. What if wild animals were around or more of the dangerous snakes? If he could be swift he might risk it, but he knew from the pain he felt in his own leg that he would not be able to do more than hobble.

Pippin lay Merry down with great gentleness and went to kneel on his other side. He grasped Merry`s tunic and jerkin and after several tries, ignoring the increasing pain in his own arm and ribs, managed to pull him free. He pulled Merry completely away from the tree and squelched a sob when he saw exactly how bad the break was. Merry`s foot lay in a frighteningly awkward angle, and he was bleeding where the skin was cut and broken. For a moment Pippin was afraid that bone was protruding because that would have Merry bedridden for months, but as he peered closer he could see that the bleeding was caused by cuts Merry had sustained in his rush down the hill after Pippin. Pippin took a clean handkerchief from his pocket and gently tried to wipe away the blood and the dirt and grass, relieved that Merry wasn`t bleeding overly much and that the break probably was clean. Pippin found some fallen branches he could use as a splint and took off his surcoat and mail to rip pieces of his under tunic to bind the splint to Merry`s leg.

After carefully splinting his cousin’s leg Pippin looked Merry over again. Merry hadn`t said anything about being hurt other places, but to be sure Pippin started to feel down his cousin`s body, trying not to remember the similarity to when he`d found Merry walking the streets of Minas Tirith, dazed and numb. The memory hit him hard though, when he felt Merry`s right hand. It was cold. Pippin then took some bits and pieces of fallen wood he found and made a small fire to try and keep Merry warm, and hoped that perhaps someone would see the flame and soon find them. Pippin stood and removed his cloak and laid it over Merry before sitting down again and taking Merry`s head in his lap, stroking his hair and face, occasionally rubbing the cold hand, singing softly. Now and again he cried out for help but no one came and the sky became deep blue before night fell.

The pain and aches in his own body kept him awake. Merry never stirred.

Story update - A Merry Life

Mon, 27 Jun 2005 18:18:42 GMT

This is the last chapter of A Merry Life:

Title: A Merry Life: Ale
Author: Anso the Hobbit
Beta: Marigold
Characters: Merry, Frodo (Fredegar)
Timeline: Bag End, SR 1404, so Merry is 22, Frodo is 36 and Fredegar 24

"Merry?"

Dimly you heard Frodo´s voice as he opened the door to your room. Feet shuffled closer and a hand was put on your brow, stroking your hair in the process. "Merry? Are you not feeling well? Wake up now, it´s past second breakfast." A hand shook your shoulder and you came awake reluctantly.

You didn´t think it was possible to feel so very, very sick and have such a terrible headache after drinking a little ale. Or wait, had it been just a little? The cask you and Fredegar had got your hands on wasn’t actually that little... When your foggy mind cleared up a little and you had emptied the contents of your stomach - twice, Frodo placed a wet cloth over your forehead and firmly told you that it was quite possible to feel like this after indulging and that it was your punishment for obviously drinking too much. You just had to learn not to drink that much in the future and where had you come by the ale anyway?

"Ale?" You croaked, feigning innocence.

"Meriadoc," Frodo said, sternly. "You reek of ale, and if you don`t tell me how you came by it, you`re on your way home this very minute."

"Frodo..." You weren´t prepared for this, and your stomach made a dreadful lurch and before you knew it you were once again heaving into the basin Frodo held in front of you.

"You can just be glad that Bilbo or your father is not here, Merry, or they would have given you a lecture you´d never forget. But fortunately for you I found Fredegar in the same state as you are in, and he was too miserable not to give up the details about your misdeed." Frodo said, brushing your hair away and muttering something about not learning a lesson as he set the basin on the nightstand.

*****

Gimli had enthusiastically introduced you to dwarven ale, and you had sampled it with zeal. Once you almost fell into the large barrel while getting yet another mug for yourself and your companions. Gimli laughed at you then, and took hold of your ankles and braces as you nearly tipped headfirst into the barrel with mugs in hand.

“Now, I know you hobbits are fond of ale, but no one benefits from you drowning yourself in it Meriadoc,” he had harrumped and hauled you up, and you laughed along with the others, glad that drowning in a barrel of ale was the worse danger that you faced that day.

Story update - A Merry Life

Sun, 19 Jun 2005 16:44:37 GMT

Title: A Merry Life: Burrow
Author: Anso the Hobbit
Beta: Marigold
Characters: Merry, Pippin, Frodo
Timeline: Bag End, SR 1403 so Merry is 21, Pippin is 13 and Frodo is 35

"Merry! Come on! Merry!" Pippin was close to wailing your name, and you felt small hands groping around the large feather bed for you. Silently you burrowed deeper in under the blankets. You loved to sleep, to feel the softness and warmth of the pillows and blankets and bed around you. Since you had grown out of that overly energetic part of childhood, you felt the bed was a place of freedom, where you could think and dream. Your energy still came by the bucketful, and once you were awake and up, it was no less abundant than before, it just didn´t start quite as early in the morning as it once did. When Pippin was very little and slept beside you, you would silently climb into the bed and enfold him in your arms, burrowing the two of you down in the bed together. As Pippin grew he didn`t let you do that anymore, and started kicking and flailing in his sleep, to come free of your loving but restricting arms. Once, his kicks were so strong that you awoke abruptly, hitting your head against the floorboards. You hadn´t let Pip sleep with you for a while after that.

"Merry!" Pippin was angry now. "Get up!" Of all your numerous relations and friends, Pippin, and maybe Sam Gamgee were the only two people you knew that voluntarily rose before dawn.

The bedroom door opened again, and you heard sounds muffled by the blanket over your head and you knew that it was Frodo coming closer. Pippin had gone for reinforcements. Blankets were yanked off, and a moment later a little body was plastered to yours tickling mercilessly. "Merry! Merry get up." And you finally did.

But when the chance came, and you could snuggle down in a soft feather bed beneath blankets and pillows or a bedroll on a soft and grassy spot, you burrowed down and disappeared, supremely content.

******

"Where´s Merry?" Gimli´s deep and grumbling voice rumbled, obviously counting hobbits in the dusk.

"Oh, he`s here," Pippin piped, yanking the blanket off you, and nudging you with his foot. "Get up Merry. Time to move on.”

Story update - A Merry LIfe

Wed, 08 Jun 2005 10:06:19 GMT

Title: A Merry Life: Pippin
Author: Anso the Hobbit
Beta: Marigold
Characters: Merry, Pippin
Timeline: Whitwell, SR 1402, so Merry is 20 and Pippin 12 years old

"Pip?" Your voice felt raw and your throat sore after being awake all night and watching over your young cousin. It hadn´t been the Winter Sickness this time, but a glorious snowball fight that had left all of you wet and with runny noses, but Pippin had become worse during the night, and you blamed yourself for not managing to keep him dry, but you hadn´t the heart not to allow him to play along with the rest of you. Why shouldn´t Pippin have at least some of the fun you and the others had, just because he was of frailer build and got sick more often than you and the others? It was not good for the lad to always be cosseted and treated like fragile crystal, sometimes he had to be allowed to be a lad, and seeing to it was your job, as much as was looking out for him and caring for him when he was ill.

You knew that you yourself were exceedingly healthy and in all of your twenty years of life, you could only remember being ill twice, the time when the Brandywine had flooded and you had ridden to Standelf and back in the cold rain, * and the time you had been visiting in Whitwell and come down with the common pox**.

Why Pippin? You loved your little cousin more than life itself, and sometimes your heart was so full of love for him that you couldn’t understand how you had any room left for the others you also loved, but of course you did. Why did he have to be so sick, so very often? It wasn´t fair. Pippin did all he could to prevent becoming ill, but lads are lads, and snow is a rare treat in the Shire, at least in amounts large enough to make a decent snowball fight.

Pippin coughed again, and once more you wrung out the cloth you had ready in a basin on the nightstand. Tears gathered in your eyes, as you again remembered the times you´d almost lost him. His first two or three years had been so difficult, and many times you had wondered if he´d survive at all. Auntie Tina had been ill to start with too, but had improved just as her lad had. As he had grown older, Pippin had done all he could to keep up with lads his own age, and often failed. It broke your heart to see that he couldn´t run as fast or jump as far or continue as long as the rest of the lads, and you set your mind to finding new and exciting things for Pippin to do that would push him yet not tax him, and that would amuse him quietly while he was recovering from his illnesses. A winter rarely passed without Pippin being cooped up in bed for at least a fortnight here and there, and you could never predict if his sniffling and coughing would end in a bout of the Winter Sickness or not.

*****

You contemplated this as you counted the bruises on Pippin´s body and watched them fade hour by hour as you devotedly sat by his bed, watching and hoping and waiting for a miracle while praying to the Valar that he would be well this time too.

* "Heir to Buckland"
** “Fields of Gold”

A/N – The “Winter Sickness” was invented by Baylor and Marigold, and first used in Baylor’s story, “Handkerchiefs and Mushroom Soup”.

Story update - A Merry LIfe

Sun, 29 May 2005 16:30:11 GMT

Title: A Merry Life: Broken
Author: Anso the Hobbit
Beta: Marigold
Characters: Merry, Pippin, Paladin and Eglantine, (Frodo, Berilac, Saradoc)
Timeline: Buckland, SR 1394 so Merry is 12 and Pippin almost 4

Pippin had somehow clambered up into a tree, determined to pick the plums he saw hanging there. "Merry!" Pippin had been sobbing and yelling for a good ten minutes now. You hadn´t been there to keep an eye on him as you were summoned to see your grandda in the study to explain a whole tray of missing tarts from yesterday. You had told Berilac to watch out for Pip, but he had been more interested in jumping in the hay in the barn and Pippin had wandered away. Thus you found yourself reluctantly, but determinedly climbing the tree Pippin sat in. Frodo had tried to teach you to climb trees, but you always got dizzy and sick while being that high up, so you never really got the hang of it. It was certainly nothing that you would ever do if you had any choice in the matter.

However, nothing mattered as you climbed up to reach the shrieking toddler. Calming words and reassurances were not enough. Your presence was demanded immediately, and so you climbed higher than you´d ever thought you´d dare. "Shh Pippin. I´m coming. It will be all right. Ssh...."

Finally you reached your frightened little cousin, and gently hugged him, brushing tears away before you put his arms around your neck and started the descent. Not more than halfway down, Pippin started wriggling, and squirming as there was now an audience at the base of the plum tree. Grown hobbits and lads and lasses all watching your every move, but you didn´t dare look down. "Mama!" Pippin shouted. "I climbed a tree!"

"Yes you did, darling. Now, hold still so Merry can get you down." Your aunt had been calm and reassuring, and a few moments later you were low enough to the ground to let grown hobbit hands take Pippin from your grasp. But in the same moment, you lost your own hold of the trunk and slipped, falling. Hands reached out to you, but none got hold and suddenly you were lying on the ground, a searing pain shooting through your right arm, and now it was you who cried out. More hands touched you, and faintly you heard grown hobbits talking above your head, voices asking if you were hurt and if anything was broken. Your arm hurt so much that you couldn´t even cry and you shook like a leaf trying to control the pain. Gently you were lifted right-side up and turning your face, you saw Uncle Paladin. "Shhh… Merry-lad. Let`s take you inside, and have a look at that wrist, shall we?"

Firmly seated in your da´s lap you tried not to scream when the bone was set, but it hurt too much, and your senses gave way and you slumped in your da´s arms when it was over. When you regained consciousness you were lying in your bed and a little form was perched beside you, patting your good arm. You heard soft crying.

"Pip?" You said, and the crying changed.

"`m sorry Merry, I broke you," Pippin said, snuggling in beside you.

"You didn´t break me, Pippin. I broke myself. But I´m all fixed now." You lifted your splinted, bandaged arm off the cushion it was resting on and looked at it with interest. "It´s not your fault Pip."

Instead of an answer, your small cousin burrowed more deeply into your side, and you had to shift your body to prevent your arm from being hurt worse. You lifted your free hand and gently stroked Pippin‘s hair while whispering reassurances into his ear.

“I`ll be all right. But next time you want to pick plums, come ask me first, all right?”

*****

As you woke up, you couldn´t feel your arm, and thought for a moment that it was broken all over again, but then you became aware of the sweet smell of athelas lingering in the air. As your eyes focused, your gaze met Pippin´s. "I´m hungry. What is the time?"

Fading Scars

Fri, 27 May 2005 08:43:02 GMT

Title: Fading Scars
Author: Anso the Hobbit
Warning: Not betaed.
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Merry/Estella

"Merry my sweet." Estella says, reaching out and stroking Merry`s curls as they lie tousled and damp from the spring rain on the pillow beside her. He`d crawled into bed completely exhausted and she had woken up by the dipping movements of the mattress, suddenly feeling lonely.

"Hmph?" Merry`s voice is muffled by the heavy blanket he has drawn up around himself to ward off the chill from spending hours outside in the fields.

"Come here." Estella moves her hand from Merry`s curls to rest it on his shoulder, rubbing slightly to ease tense muscles. He`s working to hard again. She can tell by the tension in his shoulders. Too many hours spent over the scrolls and books in the study or working in the fields. She tugs slightly and Merry rolls over to lie on his back and slowly turns his head to face her, smiling tiredly and looking at her expectantly.

"I`m tired, love. What is it?" Merry rubs his eyes and yawns.

"Come here." Estella repeats, scooting a little closer herself to encourage him, quickly and playfully kissing his nose. "I love you." She reaches out to draw her stubborn-headed husband close, hugging as his head comes to rest on her shoulder. Sometimes Merry needs more encouragement than words. He is heavy and sleepy in her arms but she persists and draws him closer yet, rubbing her hands down his arms to remove the chill the blankets have yet to remove and kisses him.

"Love you too." Merry mumbles, slowly but passionately kissing back. He is almost asleep with his face pressed against his love`s fragrant and springy dark curls as the kiss ends. He wraps his arms around her drawing her as close as possible.

Estella sighs contentedly then and leans back against her Merry. She can sleep now. She reaches down to clasp his hand in hers and kisses the fading scars on his wrist. He`s here and he`s warm and well and they love each other and the world is perfect.

End

A Merry Life: Mapping

Wed, 25 May 2005 07:44:16 GMT

Title: A Merry Life: Mapping
Author: Anso the Hobbit
Beta: Marigold
Characters: Merry, Bilbo
Timeline: Bag End, SR 1392, so Merry is 10

The rain was pouring down in earnest outside Bag End, but inside the study you were cosy and warm, sitting in Bilbo´s lap to reach the top of his desk.

"See here, Meriadoc," Bilbo´s voice rumbled behind you as he pointed to a line on a map on the table in front of you. "This blue line here is the Brandywine...."

"Why is it blue?" You interrupted, “Because everyone knows that the Brandywine isn’t blue, it is brown”.

"I know that, Merry, but you see, on maps all rivers are marked as blue to tell they are water. Just like the Water down in Hobbiton and Bywater. That is blue."

"Not always. Sometimes it´s grey, or even brown," you persisted. Rivers or streams or ponds and such were only blue in sunshine. Surely Bilbo knew this? "What´s this green line here?" You asked, pointing at a bowed line just above Tuckborough.

"It´s a hill. It´s bent to show that the area is hilly. It´s the Green Hill Country."

That made sense, a green line for a green hill. But..."They are not always green, the hills. In winter they are brown or even white if there´s snow. Will there be snow this year, Bilbo?"

"Oh, Merry," Bilbo said behind you, laughing a little, and you leaned your head back to hear the rumble of the laughter in his chest. Bilbo picked you up, turned you around and sat you face to face with him. "Everything is brown or white in winter. The maps only have different colours to separate different sorts of things from each other. If everything is painted in black or green, then it´s more difficult to see what is a road and what is a river. The colours are all different so that a person doesn’t get lost when taking the map with them on a hike or a camping trip."

"Yes, Cousin Bilbo," you said. You thought for a while, then added, "Can we go camping Cousin Bilbo? You and me and Frodo?”

“Yes, I suppose we could.”

“We`ll even take a map so we won`t get lost?” You suggested hopefully, eager to see a map put to actual use.

“Yes Merry-lad. We`ll do that.”

*****

"Do you remember how I pestered you with all my questions about maps when I was little?" You asked Bilbo one day when you were looking over the maps in Rivendell. "It must have been quite a trial for you."

"You were quite clever already then Merry-lad, and I had no doubt that you would know where to go if given a map and a bit of instruction."

“Thanks to you I received both,” you said and gave your wise and elderly cousin a hug before you both began pouring over the maps again.

A Merry Life: Letters

Mon, 16 May 2005 11:19:34 GMT

Title: A Merry Life: Letters
Author: Anso the Hobbit
Beta: Marigold
Characters: Merry
Timeline: Brandy Hall, SR 1389, so Merry is seven years old

You had looked forward with anticipation and glee to the day you would start learning your letters and numbers, and you had followed Berilac´s progress with close eyes. When you´d turn seven, you would attend the formal tutoring sessions just like all of the Brandybuck children, but for a long time before that, you had diligently tried to write your name and draw little numbers under your mum´s or Frodo´s watchful eye. When the great day finally arrived, you entered Brandy Hall´s schoolroom with your head held high and your slate and chalk under your arm.

After a few days you discovered that just writing your name and the alphabet over and over wasn´t all that fun, so you soon became bored. Knocking your chalk against the edge of your slate, you found that it broke easily, and in pure boredom you started tossing little pieces of chalk around the room to get the other lads´ attention. Wouldn`t any of them soon be finished so you could go outside and play? You got your attention, but in addition to the lads, you also got the tutor’s, and when you didn´t stop throwing chalk when asked to, you were for the first time in your life hauled by your ear to the Master´s study and prompted to explain your actions to your da and grandda.

*****

Assisting Èomer with writing missives to Aragorn, and Rohan, and seemingly every dignitary there was, you felt like a child wielding the large billowy quill that you wrote with. Gandalf had firmly told the new King of Rohan that he could do far worse than make use of your head. And you had blushed when he said that there was a bright brain beneath those bright curls, and that Èomer would lose a good counsellor if he didn`t pay heed to your opinions. Èomer had appointed you to be his personal scribe while still in Minas Tirith, and asked you for advice often. Privately you thought that maybe there was another King behind this too, and as you rubbed your right hand and wrist, trying to take away the throbbing ache, you could almost hear Strider as he encouraged you to use your hand as much as possible.

A Merry Life: Flying

Wed, 11 May 2005 09:35:51 GMT

Title: A Merry Life
Author: Anso the Hobbit
Beta: Marigold
A/N: These small ficlets are sequels to "Climbing", which I wrote for Marigold`s challenge #5 and are glimpses into young Merry`s life. Featuring Pippin, Frodo, Bilbo and other familiar hobbits. All ficlets are independent and may be read separately. Dedicated to my wonderful, helpful and ever inspirational beta Marigold, as a birthday present.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Title: A Merry Life: Flying
Author: Anso the Hobbit
Beta: Marigold
Characters: Merry, (Saradoc)
Timeline: Buckland SR 1389 so Merry is seven years old

"Come on, you can do it," your da said, as he lifted you onto the pony, adjusting the cinch and stirrups to make you secure and comfortable. The pony, Dancer, was used to having little hobbits on his back, and stood very still while you got used to sitting way up there all by yourself. You had of course ridden a pony before, but then you had been safely seated before your da or Frodo. Slowly your da led the pony into the paddock just beside the stables, and walked you around in circles on the inside of the fence. It was quite some distance down, and you wondered what might happen if you fell off. The pony was tall enough to leave you seated just above your da´s head, and it made you dizzy to think about falling so very far down to the ground.

A few days later, after you were secure enough to ride in the paddock alone, your da saddled his own pony too, and the both of you rode through the gate together and over the grassy slopes of Buckland. You felt like you were flying as Dancer quickened his pace into a trot. Your da laughed then, as you waved to him, both of you grinning wide and proud. This was fun, and your earlier thoughts about falling off were soon forgotten. You wished that Frodo could see you now, but you knew he´d be proud of you, and as soon you had put the pony away under your da`s careful tutelage, you ran to find Frodo and tell him about your wonderful achievement.

*****

You were glad now, that you had been taught how to master a pony, as you rode together with the Rohirrim, astride Stybba. Stybba, who seemed to know his rider´s distress and worries, was gentle and easily ridden despite his high spirits as he ran alongside the horses. When you put him to bed for the night, he nibbled your hair and bumped your chest, accepting your ministrations and putting his nose in your pockets, searching for treats, just like the ponies at home.

On The Great River - PART SIX: The Journey Continues

Thu, 05 May 2005 08:30:43 GMT

PART SIX: The Journey Continues

Merry woke up to the feeling of dampness on his face. For a moment he thought it was raining, and turned away to hide under his blankets, but realised that something wasn`t right. He opened his eyes to see Pippin`s concerned, red-rimmed eyes looking back at him hopefully from a few inches away. Pippin looked like he had been crying and Merry reached out his good hand to stroke his young cousin’s face.

“Pip?”

“Hullo Merry. Are you feeling any better?” Pippin took Merry`s hand in his own.

“You`ve been crying.” It wasn’t a question, it was clear that Pippin had been greatly distressed. Merry licked dry lips as he remembered everything.

Pippin nodded, visibly pulling himself together. “I was so worried about you. And Frodo.”

“Oh, Pippin,” Merry said and was enveloped in a careful hug. “I`m here now. I`ll be all right.” Merry felt Pippin nod against his shoulder. “How about Frodo? Is he better?” Merry asked.

“He`s right here,” Pippin said and released Merry.

Merry turned his head on his blanket-pillow and took in Frodo`s unconscious form. As he was about to reach out to him in concern, Aragorn knelt beside them.

“How`s Frodo?” Merry asked again, trying to sit up, just to be guided back down by both large and small caring hands.

“He`s better, but he hasn’t woken up yet.”

“He`s unconscious? Not just sleeping?” Merry stated more than asked, looking more closely at his cousin and reaching out with his good hand to gently stroke his face. “He`s hot!”

“Yes. His fever is still high. The fact that you can feel it is a great comfort though. It means that your fever at least is down a few degrees and I hope it also means that your hand is healing well.”

“What happened to us? What is wrong with Frodo?” Aragorn stalled the flow of questions with a gentle hand on Merry’s shoulder.

“None of that now. First things first. How are you feeling Merry?”

Merry considered. He felt weak as a new kitten and could feel the fever lingering in his body and he felt slightly sick to his stomach, but otherwise… he lifted his arm a little and felt a wave of relief, remembering that he hadn`t been able to move when he woke up during the night. He looked at his bandaged hand. “I`ll be all right. Just weak and a little nauseous. How about my hand? I can move it a little now.” Merry flexed his hand a bit more, and he curled his fingers experimentally.

“That is good.” Aragorn removed the poultice that he had wrapped around Merry`s hand the previous night. The bite mark was still red but looked to be healing in the early morning light. “This looks much better. It`s not swollen anymore, but I`m putting on a new poultice just in case. And you are to not use this hand until I say so. You are to ask others for help rather than risk aggravating the injury. Understood?” He waited for Merry to nod in acceptance, then turned to look at the sky. They should get moving soon. He set about applying the new poultice and rewrapping Merry’s hand. “We need to set out soon, and I think you should try and sleep as much as you can today. Boromir and Pippin will manage the paddling if any needs to be done.” With that he squeezed Merry’s shoulder reassuringly, and moved to care for Frodo.

Hearing his name, Boromir came over to them. He was carrying a plate of breakfast for Pippin.

“Do you want some breakfast, Merry?” Boromir asked, sitting down beside Pippin. “You should at least drink something. Do you want tea? Or perhaps water? You must be thirsty.”

“Water sounds very nice, thank you. I don`t think I`m up to eating yet.” Pippin helped Merry sit up a little and handed him a water bottle before sitting down with his own breakfast.

“Are you feeling sick?” Pippin asked as he watched Merry carefully taking little sips from the bottle.

Merry nodded, watching intently as Aragorn examined Frodo. “Just a little.”

“I think you should try and eat a little all the same. Perhaps Sam has some broth?” Aragorn said, looking up from where he was studying the bite on Frodo`s palm. “You should have something in your stomach when we set out. Or would you like some lembas? That is soothing.”

“I`ll get some!” Pippin, seeing that there was something he could do, put down his own plate and fetched a wafer of the elven waybread. He broke off a bit of it and gave it to Merry.

Taking a very small bite, Merry found that he could manage to eat and soon he had eaten what Pippin had given him and another small piece besides. To his satisfaction he saw Pippin visibly relax as he watched Merry eat.

“I will prepare the boats. Pippin, why don`t you gather Merry and Frodo`s things and make your packs ready?” Boromir said as they all were finished with breakfast and Gimli and Legolas began the washing up. Sam had eaten in silence, sitting by Frodo`s side, but after checking that Frodo was in good hands started to pack his own things.

“All right.”

Merry, still weak and shivering a little, watched as Pippin and Sam worked. He reached for a blanket and wrapped himself up again, leaning his back against the tree. It wouldn`t hurt to take a nap while everyone made ready to go… Sleepily he watched as Pippin packed their things and then carried Merry and Frodo’s down to the bank. He smiled a little. He would need to repack his pack later and give Frodo what was his, as a clearly worried Pippin had more or less just stuffed clothes and possessions into them, not really looking at what belonged to Merry or himself or what belonged to Frodo. Sam was disturbed too, Merry saw. He was constantly looking back to check on Frodo as he worked just as Pippin constantly looked over at Merry and Merry smiled reassuringly.

“Are you up to continuing, Merry?” Aragorn asked, still kneeling beside Frodo and turning from his examination to look keenly at Merry.

“I think so.” Merry rubbed his eyes and looked to Frodo. “How is he?”

“He`s doing better than I dared hope. He should regain consciousness soon.” Aragorn had finished examining Frodo now and was wrapping his hand in a fresh poultice.

“That is good. How is his hand?” Merry was grateful that Frodo would be in Aragorn’s boat, that way he would have the best of care, and of course, Sam was there to watch out for him too.

“It is healing. I feared that as his bite was more serious that it would not do so and that I would have to drain the poison from it, but as things look now I`m almost positive that I will not have to do that.”

Merry blanched at the thought of Aragorn having to drain the poison from Frodo`s hand but seeing the bite just now as Strider wrapped it up again, Merry found it was just as Aragorn had said, it appeared to be much better. He sighed in relief.

“Oh, that is good news!” Pippin said, coming to fetch his own pack.

Sam wrapped another blanket around Frodo, his own pack ready to go.

Suddenly Merry had a thought. “What happened to the fish? We should destroy it shouldn’t we? It could be dangerous should some animal come upon it.”

“Animals generally know what is safe for them to eat, better than people do, but I am not certain of the origins of that creature,” said Aragorn. “I thought as you do, that it should be destroyed and it was burnt upon the fire before you awoke. Nothing of it remains to trouble any living thing.”

Merry sighed with relief. He hadn’t wanted to even look upon the evil thing again.

Now the Company had everything packed and was ready to go. Sam saw to it that Frodo had enough blankets to keep him warm and Aragorn carried him, laying him down on the soft nest on the bottom of the boat. Pippin and Boromir and Legolas and Gimli loaded their own boats with their packs and bedrolls, and then Pippin and Boromir came for Merry.

“I can walk,” Merry said, slowly getting to his feet, blanket still wrapped around his shoulders, but instantly feeling dizzy and nearly falling down again.

“Or not,” Pippin said, hurriedly wrapping an arm around Merry to steady him.

“Let me carry you Merry,” Boromir said. When Merry would have protested, he added, “It is no shame to accept assistance when it is needed.” At Merry’s reluctant nod, he reached down and lifted Merry in his strong arms, carefully walking to the boat and settling him down gently in the cosy nest of bedrolls and blankets made ready by Pippin.

Merry watched as Aragorn surveyed their campsite for any telltale hints that anyone had been there before climbing into his own boat and pushing from shore. Boromir and Legolas pushed off behind Aragorn, and they were soon moving with the current.

“Are you comfortable Merry?” Boromir asked.

“Yes, very thank you.” Merry felt sleepy again and lay down on the blankets that Pippin had arranged with such care. Pippin tucked another blanket around him and lulled by the soft movements of the boat Merry soon slept.

On The Great River - PART FIVE: Interlude

Wed, 20 Apr 2005 08:13:01 GMT

PART FIVE: Interlude

“Merry!” Pippin looked on in rising fear as Merry struggled to speak, then slipped into unconsciousness. He did not look good at all and he was burning up with fever! Pippin patted Merry’s cheek gently, trying unsuccessfully to rouse him, then looked across to Frodo, reaching over to feel that he burned with fever too. Frodo did not look to have moved since Pippin had gone to sleep. Both of his cousins were obviously very ill, and terribly frightened, Pippin shot to his feet and ran over to where Strider was sleeping. He came awake at once as Pippin touched his shoulder and was at Frodo and Merry’s side bare seconds after Pippin explained what was wrong. With Pippin hovering anxiously beside him, Strider began to check them over, beginning with Frodo as he had taken the more serious wound. Feeling Frodo shifting, Sam came awake and sat up, rubbing his eyes.

“Is it my watch?” He asked groggily.

“No. Not yet.” Aragorn said.

Sam sat bolt upright when he saw that Aragorn was feeling Frodo`s wrist, gauging his pulse. “Mr. Frodo? Strider? What is happening?”

“Merry woke up, feeling ill and tried to check on Frodo but couldn’t manage,” Pippin said brokenly, tears running down his cheeks. He sat by his cousins` heads and stroked first one curly head, then the other. “He woke me and then passed out and I went to get Strider.”

Kneeling on the hobbits nest of blankets, Aragorn next felt Merry and Frodo`s faces to measure the fever before he gently shook them to see if they would wake up. Neither of them responded. Both Sam and Pippin were wide awake and alert by now, watching Aragorn`s ministrations keenly.

“I will need your help, both of you. Sam, would you build up the fire, then get some cold water? Pippin, you will find some clean cloths in my pack. We need to get their temperatures down first, before anything else. They are burning up, Frodo especially.”

Both hobbits sprang into action and a moment later Sam`s biggest pan was placed by the blankets, filled to the brim with cold water. Pippin lay a pile of cloths down beside it. Sam dipped one of the cloths in water and carefully started washing Frodo`s face. Pippin took another cloth and started on Merry, gently wiping away the sweat that gathered on his brow. Reassured that Sam and Pippin had their tasks well in hand, Aragorn looked more intently at the unconscious hobbits. After his examination he reached for Frodo`s bandaged hand and peeled away the wrapping. The red marks on his palm were livid and his hand was swollen. Both Pippin and Sam paled a little as they saw the red flesh. Next Aragorn unwrapped Merry`s hand and probed the red mark on his palm. Merry`s hand was also livid and swollen but not nearly as bad as Frodo`s. Neither Frodo nor Merry so much as stirred during his examination.

“Continue what you are doing. I will make a tonic for them both to drink and then make another poultice. Call me if either of them awakens.” Aragorn fetched his pack and one of Sam`s pans before heading for the River.

“How are they?” Legolas whispered. His elven hearing had not missed Merry`s whimper and he had heard everything that had happened since, but as the situation was being handled competently by others he had remained at his post.

“They both have been overcome by the fish’s poison, and I`m worried about Frodo. And Merry. Merry has been awake but just barely and Pippin tells me he couldn`t seem to move without great effort. As Frodo was more badly bitten than Merry I`m afraid he might be completely paralysed. I badly misjudged the potency of the fish’s poison I fear, but I have never heard of one so dangerous to a creature so much larger than itself. It is well we did not eat it, or I fear the Quest would have ended for all of us.”

“Is there anything to be done?” Legolas asked, deep concern written on his ageless features.

“Yes. I`m making a tonic and a poultice now and if Pippin and Sam can manage to get Frodo and Merry’s temperatures down I think they will be all right. The poison will wear off, and I believe the paralysis to be temporary; it is the side effects that will cause them harm if we do not prevent it.”

A few moments later, Aragorn returned to the hobbits` sleeping place with a steaming mug. Gently he lifted Frodo from Sam`s care and fed the tonic to him, stroking his throat to encourage Frodo to swallow. Filling the mug anew he repeated these actions with Merry. He then proceeded to wrap first Frodo`s then Merry`s hands in the freshly made poultices. If the swelling was not down by morning he would have to cut into them to drain the poison and he very much hoped that would not be necessary.

Both Pippin and Sam were silent as Aragorn worked. Pippin felt too scared to say anything. What if he lost his Merry, or Frodo? What if he lost both his cousins? Could the fish bite be that serious?

“Mr. Pippin?” Sam scooted over to where Pippin sat by Merry`s side and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Without noticing, Pippin had started to cry and silent tears ran down his cheeks. “It`s not as bad as that. Mr. Frodo and Mr. Merry are strong, and we’ve got Strider here to look after them. They`ll get through this, just you wait and see.” Sam was scared himself, but Pippin was just as scared, if not more so.

Sniffling, Pippin nodded and dried his tears with his sleeve. “Yes I know, Sam. But Merry sounded so ill when he talked to me and hasn’t stirred since, and Frodo hasn’t woken up at all. What if they die? I can`t lose both my cousins! Oh, Sam…”

“Sssh. Don`t you worry Mr. Pippin. Strider knows what to do and he has healed both of them before and they have both been right as rain after. I`m sure they’ll be all right this time too.” Sam`s voice quavered a little as he said this. He was awfully worried about his master and his friend.

“Sam is right, Pippin. The tonic I just gave them and the poultice should help a great deal. Just you continue to try and keep their fevers down and Merry and Frodo should wake up in the morning feeling much better.”

“All right Strider, Sam. If you say so.” Pippin dried his tears and tried to be brave for the two hobbits he loved most in the whole world. Sam had gone back to sit by Frodo now, and was lovingly wiping the wet cloth over Frodo`s brow. Even in the dim light of the fire and the faint stars, Pippin could see the hectic red spots on his face. Merry was no better and softly brushing Merry`s curls away, Pippin traced the wet cloth over his beloved cousin`s features.

And so the night passed. Aragorn gave the unconscious cousins another dose of tonic and when there was no more water in Sam`s pan, he refilled it, directing Sam to stay with Frodo. When the time came for Sam to take his watch Legolas came over and with soft words said that Sam had enough with watching over his master now and that he would take Sam`s watch too. Relieved, Sam thanked him and remained in his place by Frodo`s head.

The night deepened and as the first light of dawn brightened the sky Aragorn woke Boromir and Gimli and told them what had happened and they held a little council. Neither Merry nor Frodo had woken, but to everyone’s relief both patient‘s fevers were reduced and the livid marks looked to be healing nicely, especially on Merry`s hand.

Aragorn debated with himself a moment before speaking to the others. “We need to get an early start. However, I would like to see both our patients awake at least before we enter the boats and set off downstream again. Let us wait here until the sun is up and then I shall examine them both carefully in the light of day before we set out.” Aragorn looked at them one after another and all nodded in agreement.

“What if they remain unconscious? Could we not let them sleep in the boats? Surely that would not harm them?” Boromir said.

“That is true. It would not harm them to sleep in the boats but I cannot look after both of them while we are on the River and I would like for at least one of them to be alert and awake as we set out, even if he sleeps again soon after. Gimli, would you see to it that the fire is burning brightly and Boromir, would you assist Sam in making breakfast? Pippin can watch over both his cousins for a while.”

Pippin, who still sat by Merry, looked down as a small movement caught his eye. Merry was moving his head and then moaned slightly.

“Strider! Merry is waking up!”

On The Great River - PART FOUR: A Fish Story

Wed, 20 Apr 2005 08:11:58 GMT

PART FOUR: A fish story

“I assume it`s to be fish for supper too?” Pippin said as he jumped out of the boat, his pack and bedroll in hand.

“Yes,“ Aragorn laughed. “It`s a bit difficult to hunt from a moving boat even for a Ranger, and it`s too dark to set out now. Perhaps our skilful fisher-hobbits will take pity on us?”

“Well, Merry,” Frodo said. “It looks like it is up to us to feed this Company once more! It appears we have to go fishing again. There is plenty of starlight, even if there is almost no moon, so we ought to catch something.”

Frodo picked up two straight sticks from the wood Sam and Gimli had already gathered and handed one to Merry and again they made spears. They waded into the river and started to look around for the glint of starlight on silvery, slim bodies that would pass before them in an instant and disappear down the river if they weren`t fast enough.

A flash of silver caught the corner of his eye and Merry whirled around as fast and silently as he could and thrust his spear down. He lifted the spear with the fish, and was disappointed to see how small it was. Frodo caught his eye and shrugged, Merry understanding him perfectly. It was a start. Merry took the fish off his spear, tossed it to the bank, and began searching the water again. A few minutes later, eight more small fish lay on the bank with the first one.

“That should be enough, don`t you think?” Merry said, wading back to shore with the last one he had caught.

“Yes,” Frodo said and thrust down with his spear one last time. This one seemed to be a lot larger than the others. “Merry!” He turned to his cousin. “It`s a big one! Lend a hand, would you?”

Merry put down his own spear by the fish and ran back in and reached under the water, taking hold of Frodo`s spear and forcing it deeper into the struggling fish. It was a big one. He could feel the slick surface of it under his hands and when it stilled, he reached around it with both hands and lifted it up. Frodo let go of his spear and reached to help. The fish had not been killed however, and it began struggling violently around in their grasp. Frodo had hold of the head and with a swift movement the fish slid lower in Merry`s grasp and bit down on Frodo`s palm just as Merry managed to grab it again. Frodo yelped and within seconds the whole Fellowship – minus Gimli who was guarding the camp – was down on the shore, Aragorn and Legolas running into the water. Boromir stayed Pippin and Sam with a hand on each shoulder as both hobbits set out after the others, Sam forgetting in his haste to reach his master that he couldn`t swim.

In the water the fish was still fighting, thrashing with such force that both Frodo and Merry lost their balance, the fish now in Frodo`s arms. They both went under and when the hobbits surfaced Aragorn was there and lifted both a spluttering Frodo and the belligerent fish out of the water. An instant later, arms reached around Merry`s waist and Legolas helped him to his feet, standing aside as Merry shook his head and water flew from his drenched curls. Aragorn took the fish from Frodo and slammed it against a rock with such force that the head almost was dislocated.

Everything happened so fast that no one saw that Frodo wavered on his feet before he made it to shore and sat down, shocked by the violence and by the stabbing pain in his hand.

“Are you both all right?” Aragorn asked, laying a steadying hand on Frodo`s shoulder as the hobbit stood up again. The Ranger looked him over critically before turning his gaze to Merry who was making his own way to shore. Both hobbits were dripping wet.

“Yes, I`m quite all right,” Frodo said as Sam draped a blanket over his shoulders.

“I`m fine. Just very, very wet,” Merry declared accepting a blanket from a hovering Pippin. But had he heard a quaver in Frodo‘s voice? He resolved to have a quiet word with his cousin later as Aragorn offered them both a supporting hand and began steering them towards the fire.

“Good. Let`s get back to camp. Both of you should change into dry clothes immediately. It`s late and it`s getting colder. Sam, can you and Legolas get more firewood? We shall need it tonight.”

Back near the fire Pippin looked from one cousin to the other and sat down on the warm nest of blankets that was the hobbits` bed while his cousins changed into dry clothes and hung the wet ones to dry on low branches. Frodo favoured his right hand, and when he single-handed buttoned his jacket both Merry and Pippin looked at him sternly.

“Frodo? What`s wrong with your hand?” Pippin rose and went to his cousin.

“Did you hurt yourself?” Merry was beside them in a heartbeat, buttoning his shirt as he spoke. “Frodo?” Merry took Frodo`s hand between his own and turned it with the palm up, peering at it in the firelight. “It`s a bite. That fish actually bit you. I think Strider should take a look at it, don’t you?”

“No, no. I`m fine. It`s just a little bite, it doesn`t even hurt that much any more,” Frodo lied, wincing when Merry turned the hand to better see.

“No? Then why couldn`t you use it when you buttoned your jacket? Have Strider look at it,” Merry said, letting go of the hand.

“All right,” Frodo lied. He had no such plans and could only hope Merry and Pippin would forget about it.

The three cousins went over to the fireside where the rest of the Fellowship had gathered. To show his cousins that nothing was wrong, Frodo went to Sam and helped him cut some of the greens he had been gathering before the adventure with the fish. He couldn`t hold the knife properly though, and it slipped out of his hand, landing with a loud clink on the stone. Frodo muttered something under his breath and tried to hide his hand from Sam`s view.

“Mr. Frodo?”

“It`s nothing, Sam. It just slipped right out of my hand.” Frodo took up the knife again and started cutting.

“Begging your pardon, but that’s not what I saw. I think Strider should have a look at it,” Sam said and took the knife from Frodo.

“I should have a look at what?” Aragorn had been piling up firewood just by where Sam and Frodo sat, and heard the exchange. He knelt down beside Frodo in concern.

“It`s nothing,” Frodo said, trying to hide his hand.

“Let me be the judge of that,” Aragorn said. “Now, let me see that hand.”

Reluctantly Frodo held out his hand for Aragorn to see. On the other side of the fire, Merry noticed and moved over to them, standing close behind Frodo and Aragorn. Pippin joined them and stood beside Merry, both of them watching anxiously as Aragorn examined Frodo’s injury. On the palm of his hand there were several red marks. They had stopped bleeding but it was clearly a bite mark.

“The wound is shallow,” Strider said after scrutinizing it. “Can you flex your fingers?” Frodo wriggled his fingers a little and tried to curl his hand into a fist but only managed to slightly bend his fingers. Aragorn scowled. “Do you feel any numbness around the wound?” At Frodo’s grudging nod, Aragorn spent a few moments manipulating Frodo’s fingers and then seemed to come to a decision. “I think that perhaps that fish had the power in its bite to paralyse its food for a time, prey much smaller than you, to stop it struggling. Such ability is not unknown. It should wear off soon given your size, but I cannot say exactly when, not being familiar with the creature. I shall bathe it well, and I`ll wrap a poultice around it in case there is any chance of infection but it looks clean, so I do not fear that.”

A little while later, Frodo`s hand was wrapped in an herbal mixture that Aragorn had instructed Sam on how to make. Usually Merry tried to pay close attention when Aragorn talked about herbs or instructed someone in their use, but he was finding it difficult to concentrate. He must be very tired, he thought, to be so distracted.

“Tell me if you feel any changes or if you start feeling unwell,” Aragorn told Frodo. “I`ll look at it again tomorrow morning.” Now Aragorn turned to look sharply at Merry who was still standing behind Frodo. “How about you? You battled that fish too.”

“Yes, but it didn`t bite me,” Merry said.

“Let me see your hands,” Aragorn demanded.

“Really Strider, I am fine,” Merry insisted.

“Merry!” Pippin attached himself to Merry`s side and Frodo stood up, facing them. Aragorn held his ground. Knowing that he was outnumbered, Merry sighed and held out his hands.

Aragorn turned Merry`s small hands over in his own large ones. At first he couldn`t see anything but by turning Merry’s hands to a slightly different angle he saw that there was a faint scratch along Merry’s palm that looked like it could have come from the point of a sharp tooth scraping across it.

“How did you get this?”

Surprised, Merry looked closer. He hadn`t noticed the scrape. “I don`t know. I haven`t seen it before.”

Gently Aragorn felt the scrape with his own fingers.

“It`s nothing,” Merry said, wincing slightly at the touch. It was a little sore. He didn`t see the need for Aragorn to be concerned about a little scratch though. They all got them from time to time and both he and Aragorn had other things to be concerned about.

“That may be, but I think you got this from the fish. Does it hurt?”

“No.”

“Merry!” Frodo had seen Merry`s little wince and knew he wasn`t telling the truth. “Don`t lie.”

“All right,” Merry said, defeated. “It is a little sore.”

“And numb?”

Merry flexed his fingers, and was surprised that his hand was numb, just a bit.

Aragorn nodded. “I thought so. I’ll put a poultice on that too, and look at it again in the daylight.”

When Aragorn had finished, Merry looked around. “Where are the fish?” Merry asked.

“Mr. Boromir went down to clean them,” Sam said.

Merry went down to where Boromir knelt on the bank, cleaning the catch. The man had gutted five of the fish, three bream and two chub, and was working on another chub, but three more bream and the strange fish that had fought them were still untouched. “Boromir? Do you know what kind of fish this is?” Merry asked, pointing to the strange one. It was pretty to look at - the skin multicoloured and it had large fan-shaped fins and a wide mouth. Merry could see the sharp teeth, and couldn’t help but think that he and Frodo had come off lightly.

“No,” Boromir said. “I`ve never seen anything like it before.”

“It might seem like well deserved revenge, but I don`t think I would like to eat a fish that bit my cousins,” Pippin said, coming up to stand beside Merry.

“That is understandable,” Boromir said. The whole Fellowship was now gathered around to have a closer look at the odd fish.

“I say we stay away from fish from now on,” Gimli said, not much liking the look of the thing.

“I`m not sure we have the luxury of that,” Legolas commented.

“Maybe not,” Aragorn replied. “But I think we will stay away from that particular fish. We will have enough for our supper without it. It will be safer so, as we do not know its kind.“

Uneasiness had come over the whole Company now that they had all had a closer look at the vicious fish and they were rather subdued as they ate their supper. Frodo didn`t eat much at all. His hand was beginning to really hurt and he felt faint. Merry sat beside him, looking searchingly at him from time to time, feeling uncomfortable and a bit sick himself. Was nothing safe? Could they not even have a meal in peace? He had learned many things during the Quest and one of the most important ones were that things that looked safe quite possibly were not and that some of the birds and beasts they saw could be harmful and slaves of the Enemy. Was this fighting fish a device of the Enemy, or was it just a natural predator of the River? Merry didn’t want to ask the question in Frodo’s hearing. He looked at Frodo again. It wasn’t surprising that he wasn’t eating much, he seldom had a good appetite anymore, but Merry thought that Frodo had paled and that he was sweating a little. He leaned closer, but as he was about to ask his cousin if he was all right, Merry yawned hugely and quite unexpectedly and to everyone’s joy Frodo laughed.

“Looks like someone is tired,” Pippin said, elbowing Merry but shooting a concerned glance at Frodo. He had seen Frodo go pale too.

“Yes, and to bed we should all go,” Aragorn said. “We will start early tomorrow, so three watches should suffice. Pippin will take the first, Legolas the next and Sam the last.”

*****

“Are you feeling all right?” Merry whispered as he and Frodo snuggled down in their blankets. “Do you want to talk?” He put a hand on Frodo`s shoulder, squeezing gently. “You`ve been so quiet today.”

Frodo turned to lie on his side, and looked at Merry. “Why did you lie about your hand hurting you?”

“What?” Merry shook his head. Was Frodo angry?

“Don`t ‘what’ me. Did you think that not telling that your hand hurt you was going to help me?” Frodo looked at him sternly. “Merry. You know that any little scrape or injury can cause infection if it`s not looked after properly.”

“You’re a fine one to talk. Are you any better? You weren’t intending to tell Strider at all, and you actually tried to hide your injury from Sam, and you know he sees everything Frodo. He knows you perhaps better than I do,” Merry said, looking over Frodo`s shoulder at the slumbering Sam.

“All right,” Frodo said, smiling a little. “I guess I deserved that.” Frodo turned even more now, looking his younger cousin in the eye, his smile gone. “Merry,” he whispered. “I`m so scared. Is nothing safe? I should not have allowed you to come at all, or sent you home earlier, or made you stay in Lothlòrien until the elves could escort you back to Rivendell.” Frodo shook his head.

Merry felt tears gather in his eyes as Frodo spoke. Merry was scared too, but he couldn`t tell Frodo that. And if he was scared, how much more scared was Frodo? Oh, how he wished he could take the Ring away from Frodo and bear his burden, and make his cousin happy and carefree and safe once more! But there was nothing he could do. Frodo had to go through with this and Merry would help him in any way that he could. He would not leave his side. “I know you are scared my dear. And that you are scared for Pippin and me, and Sam too. But you know that would not have worked, don`t you, that we would not have stayed? And they told us before we left the Golden Wood that the borders there aren`t necessarily safe any more. We wouldn`t have been safe there either. We`ve been over this before, Frodo dear, and you know we would only have followed after you anyway if you had tried to leave us in the Shire, or in Rivendell, or any other place along the way.”

“I know Merry, and I really am glad you came along, though I do feel guilty for wanting you with me. If I`m not safe then you and Pippin and Sam aren`t either. I don`t want any harm to come to you or to lead you into peril,” Frodo said.

“Frodo! Pippin and Sam and I walked right into this of our own initiative, with our eyes wide open. We chose to come with you, remember?”

“Yes Merry, I do. I remember that. You all got the best of me that night at Crickhollow. I didn`t know how to tell you that I was leaving you all and then you unmasked your conspiracy! I still marvel at how you all managed to keep from me that you knew I was going away for all that time.”

“Well,” Merry laughed. “We know you very well, you know. And we had our chief conspirator in Sam. He could tell us exactly what you were doing and alerted us when you started pouring over Bilbo`s old maps.” Suddenly Merry felt a pang of homesickness and he wondered how much hold of Frodo the Ring had got. “You do remember the Shire, Frodo?” He asked, tentatively.

“Yes of course I do. What makes you say that?” Frodo said, surprised.

Merry thought a little. He could see the Ring taking hold of Frodo`s soul and being, but he didn`t know to what extent it did so, and Frodo had never talked much about it. “I`m worried about you, is all.” He tried to smile despite the seriousness of their conversation. Then he yawned again.

“We should sleep,” Frodo said mirroring Merry`s yawn. “I suppose it`s no use telling you to stop worrying, but you could try to worry a little less Merry.”

“All right. I shall try. And you need to stop hiding what hurts you. We love you and we care about you and are here for you. Come to us.” Merry said, looking his cousin earnestly in the face. “Does your hand hurt now?”

A moment passed before Frodo answered. “Yes it does. And yours?”

Merry tried flexing his fingers and curling them over the bandage on his hand, but couldn`t move them. “It is still sore and my fingers feel numb.”

“My whole hand feels numb,” Frodo said. “Let`s hope it`s over by tomorrow.”

“Yes,” Merry yawned again, so hugely that it brought tears to his eyes. “We need to get some rest.” He reached over and gave Frodo a hug. “Good night, Frodo.”

“Good night, Merry dear.” Frodo returned the hug and curled up beside his cousin, pillowing his head on Merry`s shoulder. Within moments the two of them slept, Sam long since asleep on Frodo`s other side.

*****

In the disorientation of his first waking moments, Merry thought he was somehow trapped or pinned down. He was shivering, feeling cold as ice at the same time as his face felt on fire and his stomach ready to turn on him at any moment. He managed with difficulty to twist his head a little, his neck stiff and sore. Pippin was lying fast asleep beside him, an arm draped lightly over Merry`s chest, and Legolas could be seen standing on the shore. He`d only been asleep for a few hours then. Why was he suddenly feeling so bad? He tried to reach for his blankets, wanting to draw them up higher, but he could barely move, his arm completely numb, a very scary sensation, Merry thought. Not pins and needles like he had slept on it wrongly, but dead, as though it just was not there at all. Merry fought down a rising panic. What if he never could use it again? What had happened? Why couldn`t he move? Then he remembered: Frodo and the odd fish and the bites came rushing back to him and Merry suddenly felt much worse. If he felt so sick from a small scratch, how was Frodo feeling? Merry tried to turn his head in Frodo`s direction but could barely move and let out a whimper in distress, immediately waking Pippin.

“Merry?” Pippin sat up and tried to study his cousin`s face in the dim starlight, a hand touching his cheek to get his attention.

“I don`t… feel…so good. I…can`t move,” Merry managed, feeling suddenly very faint. “Frodo?” His eyes shut and the world spiralled away and he knew no more.

On The Great River - PART TREE: On The Great River

Wed, 20 Apr 2005 08:10:55 GMT

PART THREE: The River

The Fellowship paddled on for quite some time. Merry and Boromir soon found a rhythm that was not too slow for the long-armed man or too fast for the little hobbit. At first they didn`t talk much. The sadness over leaving Lothlòrien lay heavily on them all and now and again Merry observed Pippin brushing away a tear. The sun was covered in mist as they paddled on and dusk came early. They ate a little of the waybread for tea and by the time it was nearing suppertime Merry felt stiff and sore from sitting in the same position for hours, plying the oar. He and Pippin had switched positions a few times so that both Merry and Boromir could use the other arm to paddle with, but other than that Merry had allowed himself no relief. As they switched again, Pippin protested.

“I can paddle, Merry! Let me take a turn!” Pippin said, crossing his arms and glaring at Merry. “You have been paddling for hours and you are stiff and cramped from sitting in the same position for so long.”

“So are you, Pippin.” Merry retorted, but when Pippin mentioned it, he realised that he did feel stiff and he rolled his shoulders uncomfortably. He couldn`t remember ever paddling for this long and his hands felt sore and stiff too. He flexed his fingers, feeling his skin tighten. He himself had taught Pippin to row and paddle but Pippin was still a tweenager and so sometimes a bit clumsy and they didn`t have more than one set of oars for each boat. What if he lost one in the river and they couldn`t pick it up again?

“I can`t believe that you`re sitting there thinking I might lose an oar Merry!” Pippin was angry now. “Give me that.” He held out his hand demandingly and stared at Merry until his cousin reluctantly relinquished the paddle. “I cannot believe you.” Pippin said and thrust the oar into the water, pushing hard.

“Lads!” Boromir said. “I beg you not to quarrel. Let Pippin take a turn Merry. I`m sure he`s capable of it. I presume you taught him yourself, and knowing you, you wouldn`t give up until his proficiency met your satisfaction, hmm?”

“I`m sorry Pippin.” Merry finally said, then turned and looked at Boromir. “And you are right. There`s no reason to quarrel.”

“The sun has gone down now, Merry. Why don`t you lie down and get some sleep? I`m sure you can make a suitable nest out of our bedrolls.”

“All right.” Merry crawled down from his seat and sat down in the bottom of the boat, searching through the packs for their blankets. He knew that standing up in a boat was never a good thing unless you had someone or something counter-balancing the weight. Before they left, the elves had told them that even the slight weight of a hobbit might turn these boats upside-down very quickly if they were put off balance. And Merry knew from countless years of playing in round little coracles and sturdy rowboats in and about the streams and ponds and rivers of the Shire that these elven boats were balanced differently than the type of watercraft he was used to. These elven boats were balanced in the centre, but had several points of balance. Two people of approximately the same weight could stand up in the boat and it would float even if they stood as far apart in the boat as possible.

Boromir was sitting at the stern and Pippin in the bow, leaving Merry in the middle with the gear and facing a dilemma. The problem was that he needed to relieve himself, which could be a tricky proposition, and not one that any of them in their boat had yet attempted. Probably Pippin and Boromir were equally apprehensive and it just happened to be Merry’s luck to have the first try. Merry carefully placed the bedrolls, food and packs on the starboard side of the boat and positioned himself on the port side opposite to Pippin. Standing up slowly he spoke.

“Could you both stop paddling for a minute? I need to…” He blushed a little. This wasn`t something the Company ever really needed to talk about. If one of them needed to answer nature`s call he`d just step behind a convenient rock or tree and get it over with without any fuss. This was different however. There was nothing Merry could use for privacy here. “You know. I need to go.”

“Ah!” Boromir said, smiling. He pulled his oar up and out of reach of where Merry was aiming and politely turned his gaze in the other direction. Pippin, who had his oar on the other side of the boat also pulled the paddle up and turned and grinned at Merry before he too looked away.

Merry balanced himself carefully and leaned forward. The boat moved a little sideways beneath them, but didn`t tip over. His endeavour successful, Merry sat back down in the bottom and Boromir and Pippin started paddling again.

How to manage to sleep at the bottom of this slender boat was another problem. The wooden frame of the boat was on the inside, and it was too narrow between the wooden ribs for Merry to lie down and sleep, even if he curled up. Thinking a little, he folded a blanket across one of the ribs as a pillow and tried to place his body so that if he lay along the bottom he had his head and a shoulder on one of the ribs and his ankles propped across another. Finally he managed to find a position where he could sleep, and lulled by the movement of the boat and the rhythmic sound of the paddles in the water, Merry slept.

Pippin and Boromir paddled on, and when Aragorn hailed them to make camp, Boromir simply lifted the still sleeping Merry out of the boat and put him down beside where Aragorn had placed a sleeping Frodo. Sam carefully put an additional blanket over them both. Pippin took their gear out of the boat and watched as Boromir turned it upside down. He then helped Legolas find firewood before seeking his own bedroll.

*****

“Wake up, Mr. Frodo!” Merry heard Sam say. He felt a hand shake his own shoulder and he turned over and rubbed his eyes. How did he come to be sleeping beside Frodo and not in the bottom of the boat? When had they stopped?

“Good morning, sleepyheads!” Pippin said as his cousins sat up. Frodo and Merry looked at each other for a moment, clearly not remembering falling asleep beside each other.

“What? Morning?” Frodo said, muzzily.

“You fell asleep in the boat and when we finally stopped Strider carried you over to sleep the rest of the night here.” Pippin said. “Boromir did the same with Merry, saying that he had been rowing half the day and into the evening so he needed the rest.” Pippin yawned and mock-glared at Merry. “I paddled half the night and it seems to me that I’ve barely closed my eyes, but I suppose that I can sleep a bit more in the boat when we set off.”

“Yes, yes.” Merry said, not quite awake and a bit out of sorts. But to himself Merry was glad that Pippin had managed so well. That was no little feat for one who wasn`t accustomed to such an effort for any length of time.

Gimli started a small fire, and Sam saw to it that tea was brewing.

“I wonder,” Merry said, “are there fish in the river? Do you know, Boromir?”

“Yes. There should be enough fish in this river to sustain even the hungriest hobbit until he grows gills Meriadoc.”

Merry laughed. “I`ll get some for us then.” The Company had done some fishing earlier during their Quest, but mostly it had been Aragorn or Legolas catching it from remote streams that were too difficult for the hobbits to reach. Merry felt a chill go down his spine as he remembered the result of a fishing trip Pippin had set out on and which had left Pippin with a cold and himself with a case of the Winter Sickness.* None of the hobbits cared to fish after that.

“I`m not sure if that is wise, Merry.” Aragorn said.

“He`s a Brandybuck,” Pippin chimed in. “They`re born with a fishing pole in their hands!”

“Don`t exaggerate.” Merry said and gave Pippin a playful swat.

“That is good and well! But I do remember what happened the last time this Brandybuck tried to fish, or shall we say help a certain Took who went fishing, hmm? I do not want a repetition of that.” Aragorn said,

“Strider!” Merry walked over to stand in front of the Ranger and crossed his arms over his chest. “Both the water and the weather are warmer, the river is shallow here by the bank and I’ll bet there`s fish aplenty! The conditions are far from what they were when Pippin tried to fish back then.” He glared at the Ranger. “And I can swim. You know that.”

After looking at the slow current of the river, Aragorn turned his gaze back to the determined hobbit in front of him. He should give the lad a chance. After all, during the unfortunate episode before, he had only jumped in to save Pippin and also important to the hobbits, their meal, and he shouldn`t be gainsaid for that. He had taken enough responsibility on himself back then and had blamed himself for getting ill and slowing their journey long after he was well again.

“All right. But be careful.” Aragorn finally said, looking sternly at Merry, but with a twinkle in his eye.

“Thank you.” Merry said and immediately started to look for sticks he could make spears of. “Frodo? Do you want to go fishing with me?” Merry said, seeing Frodo sitting lost in thought and thinking that maybe his cousin needed a distraction. There was no response.

“Frodo?”

“Yes? Hm… Oh, fishing. Yes, I`ll come fishing with you Merry.”

Merry walked over to Frodo and handed him a stick and they went back to the shore and sat down on one of the boats. They had all been turned upside down so they wouldn`t float away and also to provide shelter for their things if it started to rain.

Merry took out his knife from his belt and expertly started to sharpen the end of his stick. Frodo did the same with his stick and for a while they sat silently whittling. Merry sensed Frodo wasn`t in a mood to talk and knowing when not to pry, he put his knife back and waded knee-deep into the river. The current was slow, just as he had said, and Merry could stand firmly on the bottom without struggling to keep his feet. Frodo joined him a moment later.

As Boromir had predicted there were plenty of fish, and soon Frodo and Merry had caught enough for breakfast for them all. Sam fried the fish with some greens he had found and so they all sat down to breakfast.

*****

When breakfast and washing up was done, Aragorn summoned them all for a little council.

“I sense within you the same that I feel,” he said as they all had sat down around their dying fire. “None of us wishes to hurry to meet the peril that lies ahead of us. We are content to let the day go as it may, and for the nonce we might do that. However, we should not tarry and we will start early each day and continue well into the night. Time is passing. We have been in the lands beyond time and I think that you, like me, felt that time had no meaning in the Golden Wood. We must shake off that feeling now. Let us rest and let the current take us downstream as it will, for we will need our strength for the days to come.”

With that they packed up and entered the boats again. In Merry and Pippin`s boat Boromir steered them out from the shore and now and again gave a gentle push with the oar so that their boat would stay in the middle of the river with the others. It wasn`t long before Pippin became bored and started to fidget.

“Stop that, will you?” Merry said after a while. There was only so much you could do while sitting in a boat and the banks on each side of the river didn`t have very exciting views either. They were still covered in trees and aside from a bird here and there flying over them, the world seemed quiet. “Why don`t you get some rest? You slept little enough as it was last night.”

“All right.” Pippin yawned and stretched and lay down as Merry had the night before on the bottom of the boat. Merry wrapped a blanket snugly about him and within a few minutes Pippin slept.

Merry spent most of the day thinking. Boromir was quiet and avoided conversation for the most part. That was unlike him. Boromir was a warrior, but Merry thought that he and Pippin had managed to loosen him up a bit and get him to talk a bit more as they had journeyed together. Of course, being a man, Boromir didn’t chatter away continuously as he and Pippin often were accused of doing. He answered questions, would tell an occasional story if asked, and would talk for some time if the mood took him. Merry decided that it was some time since that mood had taken him. There was something about him that had changed since Lórien.

Then there was what lay ahead of them to think about. How long would they be relatively safe? How was Frodo doing? Merry wished he could be in Frodo`s boat and talk to him or that they would stop and make camp soon, but Aragorn had said they were to continue a good while after it was dark. Merry sighed.

“What are you thinking so hard about?” Pippin asked, awake from his nap. He sat watching Merry`s concentration, his faraway eyes and furrowed brow out of the corner of his own eye, almost seeing the workings going on inside his cousin’s head. A bit of conversation would not go amiss about now.

“Hmm? Oh, nothing really. Just this and that.” Merry answered, his thoughts far away.

Pippin positioned himself to properly look at him. “You`re not worrying yourself into a state again, are you?”

“No, no. Nothing like that.” Merry reassured him, looking him in the face, smiling.

“Good.” Pippin returned the smile then turned to look at their surroundings again.

Merry didn`t feel at ease talking with Pippin about what he was actually thinking about in front of Boromir and Boromir could use some distraction too, Merry decided. “Do you have boats like these in Gondor?” He asked.

“No, not as narrow and slim as these.”

“What are they like?” Merry asked, genuinely interested.

“There are several kinds, depending on their use.“ Boromir continued to explain about the different boats in Gondor and what they were used for. Merry found that they had several similar types of boats in Buckland and so they discussed similarities and differences for a while. The hobbits learned that Gondorian children played with toy boats and that the warriors learned to row as part of their training. “So you see, lads, even if much is different between men and hobbits, there are things that are the same.”

“Yes,” Pippin said. “Except that no proper hobbit plays around in boats and swims. That`s mostly a Brandybuck peculiarity.”

“But you know how to swim and row and you aren`t a Brandybuck.” Boromir said.

“No, I most certainly am not. But Merry has taught me.”

“Who taught you to swim and master boats, Merry? Your father?”

“Yes, partly, but I learned a good deal from Frodo actually. He`s a Brandybuck too you know.” Merry said proudly.

It wasn`t long before Pippin had Boromir laughing by telling him about happy summer days spent fishing and messing about in the boats of Buckland and swimming in the shallows of the Brandywine, and so the rest of the day passed pleasantly. After a few hours, Merry took the paddle so Boromir could get some rest. He had not slept much the previous night and he now slept until Merry roused him when Aragorn hailed them.

“Wake up Boromir, we`re making camp.”

“It`s dark already!” Boromir said, rubbing his eyes.

“Yes. You`ve slept for several hours.” Pippin said.

“I have.” Boromir said, sitting up and looking about when suddenly his stomach rumbled loudly.

“You`re hungry!” Pippin said gleefully. It was still a bit of a marvel to him that the Big Folk could go with so little food when they were so very big.

“That`s a first!” Merry laughed. He couldn`t remember having heard Boromir`s stomach rumble before.

Boromir laughed. “Well, if I`m hungry then you two must be famished.”

“Oh, we`ll survive.” Merry said. “We had a bit of lembas for tea.”

“Speak for yourself.” Pippin said. “I`m hungry again.”

Boromir laughed. “There you have it.”

“We didn`t eat that much lembas Merry. And if you had let me eat some more I wouldn`t be hungry now and neither would you.”

“How do you know he is hungry?” Boromir asked.

“I know him. He`s just pretending to not be hungry because we have to ration the food.”

“Merry?” Boromir said.

“Yes, yes. It`s true. You do know me all too well Pippin.” Merry said. “But we do have to ration the food and if you eat all you want every time you are hungry there won’t be enough.”

“Enough for what?” Pippin said, suddenly serious.

“To last us until we can re-provision somewhere of course.” Merry answered lightly. “But I am not sure where that might be exactly, as we don’t know which way we are going to go yet.”

”The need to replenish our supplies is yet another good reason for us to make for Minas Tirith before beginning the darkest stretch of our journey,” Boromir said. The provisions we have now should at least be enough to last us until we can get to Rohan. There we can acquire new provisions before continuing to the White City.” Boromir said.

“How far is Rohan?”

“At least a week`s travel on these boats and then some days on foot I should think.” Boromir said.

“That isn`t too long.”

“No, but we need to be prepared for every eventuality and ration the food nonetheless.” Boromir said and steered them to shore.

The hobbits didn`t have any reply to that. It was once again brought home to them that this was no boating trip on the Brandywine with a large picnic basket and a warm smial and a soft bed at the end of the day.

* Of Fish and Feverish Hobbits

On The Great River - PART TWO: Farewell to Lòrien

Wed, 20 Apr 2005 08:07:58 GMT

PART TWO: Farewell to Lòrien

The next morning, elves who spoke the Common Tongue came to help them pack what little they had, but also to give gifts. Merry was very grateful for the clothing they had been provided with in Rivendell, but they were in a warmer climate now, and the heavy fur-lined coats and cloaks were too warm, really.

Merry looked in wonder at the elven waybread they were given. The thin cakes were brown on the outside, but had the colour of cream on the inside. Gimli seemed to know what it was, and tasted one, calling it cram, but the elves said it was called lembas and that it was more strengthening than cram. As Merry received a parcel of the lembas, he smelled the strange bread and broke off a tiny piece to taste. It tasted wonderful! The waybread was wrapped in leaves and would keep fresh for a long time if left so.

“Pippin!” Merry said as Pippin immediately started to eat one of his own cakes of lembas. “Don`t eat so much. Didn`t you hear what they said? One of these should be enough to keep a tall man going for a whole day.”

“Aye.” Pippin said, eyes shining. “But they didn`t say how long it would keep a hobbit on his feet. We need more food than the Big Folk, Merry. You know that!”

“Yes, yes. Just be careful with it, all right?”

Next, they were given cloaks, woven of a light stuff that felt like silk to the touch and that had none and every colour there was, blending perfectly in with the nature surrounding them, be it rock or leaf. The cloaks were fastened about the neck with a clasp shaped like a green leaf with silver veins. They were beautiful, and Merry traced the silver veins with his finger.

“Are these magic cloaks?” asked Pippin, looking at them with wonder.

“I do not know what you mean by that,” answered the leader of the Elves. “They are fair garments, and the web is good, for it was made in this land. They are elvish robes certainly, if that is what you mean. They are garments, not armour, and they will not turn shaft or blade. But they should serve you well. You are indeed high in the favour of the Lady! For she herself and her maidens wove this stuff; and never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people.”

Merry found it only fitting that the Lady held Frodo in high honour. He did after all have the fate of Middle-earth in his hand, or rather, around his neck.

After their morning meal the Company said farewell to the lawn by the fountain. Their hearts were heavy; for it was a fair place, and it had become like home to them. As they stood for a moment looking at the white water in the sunlight, Haldir came walking towards them over the green grass of the glade. Frodo greeted him with delight.

“I have returned from the Northern Fences,” said the Elf, “and I am sent now to be your guide again. The Dimrill Dale is full of vapour and clouds of smoke, and the mountains are troubled. There are noises in the deeps of the earth. If any of you had thought of returning northwards to your homes, you would not have been able to pass that way. But come! Your path now goes south”'

As they walked through Caras Galadhon the green ways were empty; but in the trees above them many voices were murmuring and singing. They themselves went silently. At last Haldir led them down the southward slopes of the hill, and they came again to the great gate hung with lamps, and to the white bridge; and so they passed out and left the city of the Elves. Then they turned away from the paved road and took a path that went off into a deep thicket of mallorn-trees, and passed on, winding through rolling woodlands of silver shadow, leading them ever down, southwards and eastwards, towards the shores of the River.

They had gone some ten miles and noon was at hand when they came on a high green wall. Passing through an opening they came suddenly out of the trees. Before them lay a long lawn of shining grass, studded with golden elanor that glinted in the sun. The lawn ran out into a narrow tongue between bright margins: on the right and west the Silverlode flowed glittering; on the left and east the Great River rolled its broad waters, deep and dark. On the further shores the woodlands still marched on southwards as far as the eye could see, but all the banks were bleak and bare.

The elves had made ready three boats for the Fellowship and now the elves stored their gear in them. Merry couldn`t help but touch the boats as soon as they came to them. Being a Brandybuck and growing up on the banks of the Brandywine, Merry found boats and everything about them interesting. Now he stood watching the slim, grey elven crafts being loaded and prepared. There were three of them. Aragorn was to ride with Sam and Frodo in one, Gimli was to ride with Legolas, and he and Pippin were to join in with Boromir. The elves had told them to get accustomed to the boats and to step in and out of them a few times here where there was a landing place before setting out.

“What are these?” Sam said, blushing a bit when a surprised elf gave him the obvious answer. The poor hobbit had gone on about not taking rope since they left Rivendell, and now they got more than they needed, as the elves put three coils in each boat. And fine rope it was too, fine enough to have distracted Sam from his worry, if only for a moment.

As they arranged themselves and their baggage, Merry couldn`t help his heart going out to poor Sam. He was pale and seemed scared out of his wits. Vaguely Merry remembered that Sam had held on for his very life as they crossed the Brandywine on the Ferry. Of course, all of them were scared by the Black Riders, but Sam held on all the way across the Brandywine, long after Merry had told him the riders couldn`t reach them as they had to go twenty miles up the road to the Bridge and cross there. Now Merry went over to the stocky gardener to reassure him.

“Don`t worry Sam. These boats are completely safe and you won`t be in danger as long as you do what Aragorn says. And besides, Frodo also knows how to row, so you should be doubly safe.”

“I know, Mr. Merry. It`s just that they are so wobbly.” Sam said, gripping the edges of the perfectly still boat.

“Yes I know, but you will get used to it soon enough.” Merry squeezed his shoulder and smiled. Poor Sam. Merry could only hope that he would be all right. He walked over to his own graceful little boat and jumped confidently down in it. The boats were fashioned so that they were long and slim. There were two boards lain across the breadth, providing seating for one elf or man or two hobbits on each. Each boat had two short-handled oars with broad blades shaped like leaves, also fashioned of the same grey wood as the boats. Merry lifted an oar and studied it. As he put it in the water and pushed he found to his delight that it was light and easy to manoeuvre.

At first they took a trial trip up the swiftly flowing Silverlode. Boromir steered them along nicely. Merry took the other paddle. The crafts were low in the water, making it easy for a hobbit to reach the oar over the side and use the appropriate force when stroking through the water. It was not like rowing any of the boats they used on the Brandywine. Those boats were of course smaller and they weren`t slim and narrow like this. Some were coracles made of hide stretched over wooden frames, others rowing boats, square at the stern and with a pointed bow, and there were larger wooden ones as well, of several different sorts, made for transport, not for fishing or just having a nice trip on the River.

Suddenly, they turned a sharp bend in the river and sailing towards them was a great swan shaped ship.

“Oh!” Pippin said, staring wide-eyed in surprise and wonder at the beautiful boat. He had soon become accustomed to their own boat and found it no more frightening to sit in than the boats the Brandybucks had and that he had been in many times with Merry and Frodo, fishing in the Brandywine or just lazing about on the River. This swan-shaped boat, now that was something different! It was white with black eyes and a beak that shone like gold. Two elves steered it and in the midst of it stood Lady Galadriel. Music came from the boat and it was a sad and beautiful song and both Merry and Pippin listened in awe as the Lady sang. They all steered their boats to the great swan and then Celeborn invited them to a parting feast. Merry felt his stomach rumble pleasantly with the thought of lunch. They had after all done a fair march that morning before they came to where the boats were moored and set out in them.

It was a grand feast. Frodo didn`t eat much, Merry noted. He seemed to stare in awe at the Lady Galadriel, and pay little heed to things about him.

“Are you all right?” Merry whispered, leaning over to where Frodo sat on the grass. “You haven`t eaten.”

“I’m fine, Merry.” Frodo answered softly, his thoughts far away.

Merry frowned but said no more. Suddenly the Lady Galadriel rose and filled a cup with a white liquor giving it first to Celeborn and then to the Fellowship to drink of in parting. As Merry drank he couldn`t quite place the taste but as all things were in Lothlòrien, it was pleasant and delicate. Celeborn now told them about the lands they were to travel in, and again Boromir and Aragorn talked of Minas Tirith. Those two seemed to know these lands pretty well, Merry understood, and he felt at ease with that. Aragorn he could trust. Boromir though, seemed to be growing more and more uneasy and edgy and Merry was a bit surprised to realise that he did not, in fact, trust the man completely. He resolved to think about this, and to keep his eyes and ears open.

As they had drunk the cup of farewell, Galadriel and Celeborn seated themselves on chairs placed out for them, and Merry waited to see what would happen next. They were comfortable here on the grass, and beside him Pippin stretched out, looking about with an expression of contentment and awe upon his face. This was all too grand for him to put into words, and when Frodo and even Merry failed to describe the beauty of it adequately, then Pippin had decided he`d not even start to try and would simply try to remember the beauty as best he could with his heart and mind.

Again the Fellowship was given gifts. Merry and Pippin received silver belts with clasps shaped like golden flowers. They were beautiful to look at and fit nicely. Merry couldn`t help but wonder what had been said as the Lady spoke so long in private with Aragorn. She had given him several gifts, and one was a beautiful stone he had pinned to his tunic. Merry couldn`t help but smile as Sam stuttered his thanks for the wooden box filled with earth and the fair words she spoke to him. When Gimli blushed and stumbled over his words Merry did his best to hide a laugh. They were the opposite of two poles, the Lady and the dwarf. It was wonderful to see though, that even if the elves weren`t too happy with letting Gimli into their wood at first, that he too was blessed by Galadriel. Frodo, Merry was pleased to see, was given a little phial of crystal, shining with a white light that was beautiful beyond the bounds of the world, and yet somehow Merry understood that its light was dimmed, its power as yet veiled. And suddenly he realised that Frodo probably had talked more to the Lady than he and the others had, as a look of peace came to Frodo`s face as he took the phial and she spoke to him. Maybe that was what happened yesterday, Merry realised. Maybe Frodo had met the Lady as he and Sam were out walking and she had talked to them? He would ask Frodo about that later. Now they were called upon to go to the boats again.

Once again they entered the boats and elves with great poles thrust them out into the stream and they were slowly borne away. No one said anything as the boats were carried away from the Golden Wood. Lady Galadriel stood watching them and as they floated by her it seemed like Lothlòrien was floating away backwards. After a little while, the boats turned in the current and they were more swiftly borne away. The Lady disappeared from their sight and as the last trees vanished she sang to them in elvish, the song carried to them on the fair breeze.

Suddenly they came to a bend and Merry shook himself, focusing his attention on the river in front of them. A deep sadness took him, and as Pippin sniffled, Merry turned to look at him. Tears were running freely down his cheeks, and Merry felt himself tearing up too. They had left safety behind and would they ever look upon such beauty again? He drew a sleeve over his eyes.

“It will be all right, Pip.” He said, putting an arm around Pippin`s shoulders and squeezing a little, trying to bring comfort, but knowing that words really were in vain now.

Pippin nodded. “I know Merry, it`s just so sad to leave.”

Boromir said almost nothing as they journeyed on but Merry could see Gimli and Legolas talking but he couldn`t make out what they said. It looked like Gimli too was crying. This had been a hard farewell on them all, and the depth of their parting was brought home to him even more as the stalwart dwarf wept. Gimli had been hard to understand at first, not given to emotions as the hobbits were, but silent and stoic. Of course, as they went on they had got to know him better and discovered there was a very fine and sensitive person indeed beneath the beard and armour.

On The Great River - PART ONE: Summoned

Wed, 20 Apr 2005 08:06:49 GMT

Title: On the Great River
Author: Anso the Hobbit
Beta: Marigold
Characters: The Fellowship, but mostly Merry
Timeline: Lothlòrien and the Anduin, SR 1419
Note: There are quite a few quotes in the first two chapters, I apologise for that, it’s not due to laziness on my part, but rather that Tolkien writes those bits best himself. Some of the dialogue is taken from the Fellowship of the Ring, chapter 8 ”Farewell to Lòrien” and chapter 9 “The Great River”.
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“Pippin?” Merry said, reclining upon a heap of pillows in the bower the Fellowship shared while they stayed in Lòrien. “Have you seen Frodo and Sam?” He had just woken up from a nice little nap and discovered that it was drawing towards supper and he and Pippin were alone. They had been gone for some time now and Merry was starting to worry about them.

Pippin, similarly arranged, shook his head. “No, I haven`t seen them for a long while.”

“Who haven`t you seen for a long while, Pip?” Frodo asked as he and Sam entered the bower.

“You,” Merry answered, yawning before sitting up a bit more and slowly sipping a little of the refreshing water that was always set out for them in large silver ewers. “Where have you been?”

“Oh, just taking a walk.” Frodo plopped himself down beside Merry and put his head in Merry`s lap. Sam sat down beside Pippin, lost in thought it seemed.

“See anything interesting?” Merry stretched and placed his goblet on a convenient table just by.

Frodo thought a bit and shook his head. He didn`t feel like talking about what he had seen in the Mirror, he probably never would. “Oh, pretty much the usual; lovely trees, beautiful flowers, sunny glades and shadowy copses, a stream here and there. You know,” he waved his hand around, “just the Golden Wood.” Merry laughed beneath him. Everything was so beautiful that they found it difficult to put words to everything. But Merry sensed that something had happened, although he couldn`t put his finger on what it was. Frodo suddenly seemed more solemn and worried than he had done during their stay here. Oh, well, he`d talk if he wanted to.

”How about you Sam?” Pippin asked.

Sam shook his head. He would not speak of the Mirror either. At that moment Aragorn and Legolas returned from speaking to the elves and just behind them Gimli and Boromir entered, having also taken a long walk in the Golden Wood.

“Everyone ready for supper?” Gimli asked as the surviving Fellowship once again were gathered together and chatting about their day.

“Yes!” Pippin declared eagerly, and they all set to the serious business of eating. They sat on pillows or on the ground around a low table that they moved to the centre of the pavilion when they ate, but was used as storage when meals were over. The pavilion was placed near by the tree where Galadriel and Celeborn lived, and outside it was a lawn with a beautiful fountain. At night the wood glowed with a silvery shimmer, as silver lamps were lighted and hung in the trees. Elves came with food three times a day, and after the first days understood that hobbits needed to eat more often than that, so they provided bowls of fruit and small tarts and cakes in between.

Everything they were served was delicious and Merry felt himself relishing in the feeling of a full stomach and the possibility of filling up the corners if he wanted, which of course he always did. He noticed that Frodo ate heartily too and that he had lost some of that thinness that the journey so far had brought them all. Merry looked down at his own stomach and found it once again slightly protruding, nicely growing into a proper hobbit belly as was suitable for a hobbit his age. He could get used to this! They had eaten heartily in Rivendell too, but there they had been occupied with worrying about Frodo, and then preparing for the journey and Merry didn`t know for sure that he and Pippin were going as official members of the Fellowship himself until the last week before they set out. All the same they had prepared as much as they could and found some time to explore and they had also started to learn how to wield their swords and protect themselves. That training had continued during their journey and still Boromir gave them sword-fighting lessons nearly every day.

At first they had been so exhausted and numbed with grief and travel that the hobbits had slept more than they had been awake and even if he tried Merry couldn`t manage to work out the passage of time. Then, when the exhaustion diminished and the grief became bearable, their days were filled with long and quiet conversation or just walking or sitting, staring in awe and wonder at the Golden Wood. Merry felt dizzy and faint just thinking about the flets and the tree houses, but they were so beautiful that he several times had found himself scaling the stairs that wound themselves around the trees to have a better look at them and admire the construction and colours of it all. And the trees themselves! They were nothing like any he had seen before and reverently he touched them, thinking he could feel the beat of their lives under the bark beneath his hand.

The grief over losing Gandalf was still tangible and suddenly Merry felt himself tear up and quickly, so that none of the others should see, he brushed away a tear. He had spent so much time comforting Pippin or talking to Frodo that he found that he hadn`t really had time for his own grief and he felt it coming back at the most unbidden times, like now. Sam too, he could see wasn`t finished grieving over Gandalf yet. Not that any of them ever would be, but there were stages to grief, Merry knew, and he and Sam weren`t as far along as Frodo and Pippin Merry thought. His main concern was for those two and he found himself once again pushing his grief back.

“Merry?” Pippin said softly, watching his cousin intently. Merry was brooding again. His brow was furrowed in thought and had Pippin seen a tear quickly brushed away?

“Hm…?” Merry hurried to gather his composure, smiled and looked at Pippin. “Are you still eating?”

“Well, yes,” Pippin looked down at his plate, then turned to earnestly look his cousin in the face. “And you should be too. Merry, are you all right?”

“Yes of course, Pip. Why do you ask that?”

“It`s just that you`ve been so quiet tonight and I thought I saw you crying a wee bit.”

Merry sighed. He knew he couldn`t hide anything from Pippin and that Pippin would get him to talk sooner or later. “I was just thinking, is all, about the Quest and this lovely wood and everything.”

“All right, Mer.” Pippin said, humouring him.“ But tell me if you want to talk, all right?” He gave Merry a quick hug and turned back to eating.

“I will.” Merry determinedly steered his thoughts to more pleasant matters and joined in on the conversation, once the important business of eating was finished.

*****

Later that night, an elf came to summon them to Galadriel and Celeborn`s chambers where they had been the first night of their arrival. The great elven rulers lived in a talan, a house built in the tree, and its floor was as large as the deck of a great ship, so Aragorn had told them. On it was built a fair house so large that it could have been a great hall among men. It was hard going for the hobbits as the steps were made for tall elves, and even though they rested on the flets adorned around the tree on the way up, the hobbits were still quite puffed and red-faced when they finally entered the lofty chambers. Once seated, they were greeted with fair words and the elven lord spoke long. Merry found himself having trouble keeping awake, lulled by the gently flowing voice. To keep himself awake, he looked again around at the beautiful place. They were in a chamber of oval shape, in the midst of which grew the trunk of the great mallorn, now tapering towards its crown, and yet making still a pillar of wide girth. The chamber was filled with a soft light; its walls were green and silver and its roof of gold.

”Now is the time,” Merry heard Celeborn said, and he pricked up his ears. Time for what? “When those who wish to continue the Quest must harden their hearts to leave this land. Those who no longer wish to go forward may remain here, for a while. But whether they stay or go, none can be sure of peace.”

“Do we have to leave already?” Pippin whispered, nudging Merry.

“Sssh!” Merry hissed back. He knew they had to leave at some point of course, but he was suddenly sad that it was so, that they would have to leave this lovely place out of tide and time. And what was that next thing Celeborn had said? That those who wanted could stay behind for a while. Not bloody likely! Merry thought. He had set his will to follow Frodo to the end and he would not stay behind if he could help it. Lòrien was a lovely place to visit, but it was not for ever and Merry felt a stirring in him, and he was ready to continue now.

Suddenly his mind flew to the day they had arrived and Galadriel had challenged them all by showing them what they could attain if they went home. Merry had never wanted to talk about what she had shown him and neither had the others, but suddenly he longed for home, for Brandy Hall and his family there. He longed to run through the soft grass, have an ale at the inn or tend to the ponies. He thought of his parents, cousins and friends. He missed them all.

When Galadriel had shown him what he could have if he went home, he had seen a prosperous Buckland, a lovely family of his own and more gold than he could ever want to have or know what to do with, certainly enough to keep the many hobbits over which he would be Master one day well cared for and comfortable. Merry wanted all that, but he loved Frodo and he had promised to do all he could. Surely he`d see a prosperous Buckland when they came home? Surely he`d get married and have children of his own one day? Following Frodo didn`t mean that he never would have what he wanted when he got home again, now did it, and there was more chance of these wonderful things never happening if the Ring was not destroyed and so did not that mean even more that he must help Frodo, not just because he loved his cousin, but for his love for the Shire? No, if it was possible, Merry was even more resolved to help as best as he could.

The conversation now turned to where they were going. Boromir wanted to go to Minas Tirith, but Aragorn wasn`t comfortable with that. ”Beyond Lothlórien I do not know what Gandalf intended to do. Indeed I do not think that even he had any clear purpose.”

Good, Merry thought. At least someone still tries to do what Gandalf wanted. He had been the one with the most foresight among them.

” The way to Minas Tirith lies upon this side, upon the west; but the straight road of the Quest lies east of the River, upon the darker shore. Which shore will you now take?” Celeborn said, and so the discussion went on.

Merry didn`t say much, he mostly listened, trying to picture the road before them from his memory of the maps he had studied in Rivendell. He knew the Great River they talked about was also called Anduin and that it was long, so long that it went all the way to Gondor and Minas Tirith, and beyond even to the Sea. Even if they were to go by boat some of the way they would have to go by foot sooner or later. If he remembered correctly there were waterfalls and other hindrances along the waterway. But boats would travel much faster than they could manage on foot, and each day they tarried, the Darkness grew. It was in their hands to save Middle-earth, well in Frodo`s hands really, and Merry would do all he could to see to it that Frodo succeeded. Perhaps if they could somehow acquire a boat or two they could travel far and fast before any decision would have to be made about what side of the River they should journey upon.

”I see that you do not yet know what to do.” said Celeborn. “It is not my part to choose for you; but I will help you as I may. There are some among you who can handle boats: Legolas, whose folk know the swift Forest River; and Boromir of Gondor; and Aragorn the traveller.”

Just what he had been thinking! Merry raised his eyes to look at the lord with excitement. Then he turned his gaze to the rest of the Fellowship. Frodo and Pippin looked to be in some sort of shock, half frightened and half sad that they had to leave this safe place, Frodo no doubt thinking about the Quest and the dangers lying ahead of them. Pippin probably feeling the same as himself; anxiety for what the journey would bring now and regret for not being able to stay and enjoy all the good food and the pleasant woodland. Sam paled significantly when the elven lord spoke of boats, but Legolas and Aragorn all looked at ease and fine with the plan, although Merry thought he saw Gimli fidget a little. Boromir, Merry thought, looked plain uneasy, but Merry had a feeling it was not about boats at all and he was troubled.

But now Celeborn had named Legolas, Boromir and Aragorn as capable of handling boats, and Merry forgot about Boromir’s unease. Someone had to stand up for the hobbits! Suddenly Merry felt small and insignificant again, but quenched the feeling. He would show them that the hobbits could be useful in this situation too. “And one Hobbit!” cried Merry. “Not all of us look on boats as wild horses. My people live by the banks of the Brandywine.”

Merry felt himself blush a little as everyone turned their gaze to him. Frodo looked at him searchingly for a moment then smiled and nodded in approval. He knew Merry could handle a boat very well. Pippin stared at him in awe that he had dared to speak up among all these great elves and Sam shot him a quick glance before turning his eyes away, no doubt thinking it was not his place to question Merry`s rowing skills and that boats were as bad as wild horses, at least in his book. Celeborn looked at him with a mix of amusement and loftiness but as Merry steadfastly looked back he finally nodded, pleased at Merry’s demeanour.

”That is well,” said Celeborn. “Then I will furnish your Company with boats. They must be small and light, for if you go far by water, there are places where you will be forced to carry them.”

Merry watched as Aragorn thanked the elf lord over and over, and felt grateful himself. He`d love to see an elven boat and to ride in one would be wonderful fun too! Frodo, Pippin and the others, save perhaps poor Sam, looked more hopeful now and Merry was glad.

” All shall be prepared for you and await you at the haven before noon tomorrow,” Celeborn said, and so the Fellowship descended the great mallorn again.

When they reached their pavilion, they sat for a long time discussing what to do in greater detail. It was mostly the Big Folk talking. Merry noticed that Frodo didn`t say anything and he found himself trying to once again remember the maps and which way was the most logical to take. Pippin started to nod and soon went to his bed. Merry felt sleep overtake him too, and soon he too crawled down in his bedroll, listening to the conversation. As his eyes closed he saw Boromir staring at Frodo, as if he tried to read Frodo`s thoughts.

New Year`s Day

Fri, 25 Mar 2005 12:41:59 GMT

New Year`s ficlet for March 25.
Characters: Merry and Pippin
Timeline: Crickhollow, March 25, SR 1420
Note: I`m dedicating this to my regular beta, Marigold.Thanks to Ariel for super-quick and excellent beta!
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“Happy New Year Merry!” Pippin said, coming into the kitchen at Crickhollow. He sat down across from Merry and poured himself a cup of tea.

What? Merry looked up from his own cup of strong, hot tea. New Year? It was spring as far as he knew; they`d celebrated New Year at Yule. Unless…. How come time flew so fast? Was it already a year ago? He remembered that day as if it was yesterday

*****

As everyone else confined to the Houses of Healing and well enough to stay awake and think did, he waited. Waited and longed. For news and his friends. At first, when Pippin had left with Aragorn and the others to try to divert the Dark Lord`s gaze from Frodo and his perilous quest, he`d been crushed with fear for Pippin and a renewed fear for Sam and Frodo. Mostly he waited for the world to end. He tried to keep up hope. He talked to Èowyn and Faramir, trying to bring hope and encouragement to them at least. But in the dead of the night, when the world was silent and he lay awake in fear of falling asleep just to wake up to the news of the death of his friends or to the end of the world, his thoughts spun in circles, always winding down to three little words that named the world to him. Pippin, Frodo and Sam. How was Pippin managing among the Men and the soldiers with no other hobbit around to look out for him and see to that he had what he needed, that he didn`t eat too many sweets or that he got his rest? How were Frodo and Sam faring? Merry`s heart had leapt with joy when Pippin told him Faramir had seen them together a few days earlier and it leapt with joy again when Faramir told him about it himself. But how were they faring now? Where were they? Merry tried to remember the maps he had learned by heart in Rivendell, but either his thoughts were too muddled to think straight or he hadn`t found any maps with details of Mordor because he couldn`t remember reading the names of the places Faramir had said they were going to. And that wretched Gollum was with them! That could not mean anything good, now, could it?

Finally, the healers had started to give him sleeping draughts with his supper. He fell into an exhausted sleep one morning after breakfast as he sat in the garden surrounding the Houses, and slept the sleep of the oblivious until he awoke to a late breakfast the day after.

March 25th. Ten days after he was wounded. Seven days after Pippin and the others left. His days had become a routine. After breakfast he would take a walk in the gardens, alone or with Èowyn or Faramir. Sharing fate and fears, they had fast become friends. Merry felt himself striving harder and harder to keep hope up as the days went by, but for the sake of his friends he tried. On the morning of the 25th, he had woken to an uneasiness and an apprehension he couldn`t quite place. Something was about to happen, but he couldn`t figure out what it was. The sleeping draughts left him sluggish and groggy for a good while after waking, but this new feeling had nothing to do with the despair and fear he had felt earlier. As was his wont, he went to the garden, but found it empty.

Suddenly the earth began to shake and Merry fell more than sat down on a bench. The ground rumbled and for an instant he wondered if the City would fall, clinging to the peak of a mountain as it was. When nothing so dire happened, Merry shot to his feet, looking about wildly for a moment to see if any damage was done, but everything looked to be like it had just a moment ago. He ran over to the wall and tried to see over it, the need to know winning over his numbing fear of heights. He wasn't quite tall enough so he scrambled up on a bench and looked down on the buildings and streets below, but it didn`t look like any houses had fallen in or any people come to harm. He could see some of the people on the fifth and sixth level though, all of them looking to the east and so he followed their gaze. Smoke seemed to be rising from afar and a shadow that had been lying over the City seemed to be drawing back to reveal clear daylight and an unveiled sun.

A cheer rose up from the City and Merry wondered if Frodo had succeeded. Was the Ring destroyed? A surge of joy and hope suddenly rose up like bubbles inside him and Merry felt himself smile – a genuine, wide smile. He felt the last week`s despair and fears lift off of him and he felt like singing. Calming a little, Merry sat down on the bench to think and take stock. He felt fine, well, his arm still ached and some bruises he had gained during the battle weren't completely healed and he was a mite groggy from the last night`s sleeping draught still, but he wasn`t delirious and he wasn`t dreaming. He needed to confirm his thoughts and find out what was happening so he went inside to search for Faramir and Èowyn.

*****

Now, sitting in the house at Crickhollow, he knew it had been true. Frodo had indeed succeeded and the world was saved.

“Merry?” Pippin said, reaching over to take Merry`s right hand in his.

“Hm… Oh, yes. Happy New Year, Pippin!” Merry said, clasping Pippin`s hand over his and squeezing a little, smiling. “Happy New Year indeed!” He rose his cup and looked Pippin in the eye.

“To Frodo!”

END

>/lj-cut>

Fields of Gold - PART TWELVE: Promises kept

Fri, 18 Mar 2005 08:17:00 GMT

Merry awoke late the next morning. He had slept long and well. He couldn`t remember his dreams save for a vague satisfaction that they had been good. Coming awake, Merry felt a gentle hand stroking his curls and the familiar and comforting scent of pipe weed, spices and pony told him it was his father. He opened his eyes and looked into his father`s concerned and loving gaze. “Da!”

“Hullo, Merry-my-lad.” Saradoc said his voice full of emotion. He helped Merry to sit up a bit before hugging him long and tight. “It is good to see you are on the mend. Tina and Paladin told us everyone has been awfully frightened for you, but that now you’re almost as good as new. We came as soon as we got their letter.”

A few seconds later, the door opened and his Mum entered, carrying a laden tray in her hands.

“Mum!” Merry said, looking up from where his face was buried in his father`s shoulder and without letting go of him reaching an arm out to her. She hurriedly put the tray down and joined their embrace.

“Merry." It was all Esmie managed to say for a few moments. She pulled back a little and looked intently at her child. She and Saradoc had arrived to find that Merry had improved greatly just the day before, and that the healer thought his fever would break today. Esmeralda had wished for wings as they drove towards Whitwell. They had not stopped more than absolutely necessary on the road and she was tired and hungry, but after receiving that letter, there was only one thought in her mind, beating along with her heart. Merry. Merry. Merry. Now that she was here, she was overcome by joy. She had had plenty of time to imagine the worst of scenarios and more than once had wondered how she would bear it if she lost her merry Merry-lad. Seeing him now, she pushed all her fears away. Merry didn`t look like his usual healthy self but he was awake and he was much better than he had been and they were together. A bit more sleep and rest and he would be right as rain. She hugged him tight, stroking his curls and caressing his face. Her Merry would be all right.

“Everyone at the Hall sends their greetings and wishes you a speedy recovery, dear. Aunt Peony sent you some of her raspberry and strawberry tarts and Berilac and Merimas said they counted upon your swift recovery so you can help them copy down those old history books that are falling apart. And Uncle Mac says he counts upon you to help him with the new ponies from Dwaling that are arriving just after Yule.”

Merry couldn`t help but laugh in delight at this. He loved his family dearly and was happy to be on the mend. As much as he loved to stay with his aunt and uncle and the lasses and Pip at the farm at Whitwell and with Frodo and Bilbo at Bag End in Hobbiton, there was no place like Brandy Hall and Buckland. Home. As pleased as he would be to go home when the time came, he had promised Pippin not to leave early, and besides, he wasn`t fully recovered yet.

*****

“Don`t scratch Merry.”

Merry stopped scratching his shoulder and folded his hands in his lap. A moment later his head itched and he absently reached up to rub at his curls.

“Merry!”

“All right, all right. Distract me then, so that I don`t notice the itching.” Merry sighed and clasped his hands together once more. After his parents had arrived that morning, Merry had eaten breakfast with them and slept a little. Now his Mum sat in the bedside chair.

“Maybe you should try to sleep a little more.”

“I don`t think I’m sleepy at the moment, I have just woken up.”

“I know, dearest, but you do need to rest. I`m sorry you are so uncomfortable. It will be better soon. Lie back and see if you can sleep some. You`re still a bit hot and your body needs to rest.”

Sliding down in the bed, Merry closed his eyes and felt his Mum tuck him in. As it happened, he did actually fall asleep and woke sweaty and clammy in time for lunch and smelled something delicious cooking. He was alone at the moment, but not for long. It was barely a minute or two before Auntie Tina brought in a heavy tray, Pippin right behind her with a jug of fresh milk. Feeling hungry Merry sat up, thanked her, and eagerly dug in to the food on the tray.

“Where`s Mum and Da?” Merry asked after a few bites.

“They are sleeping at the moment dear. They rode almost straight here from Buckland and were very tired. They insisted on seeing you first though. They should wake up in a little while.” Eglantine said. She`d keep their lunch warm in the oven.

“All right.” Merry said. They continued to eat and Pippin was once again bouncing with good spirits, happy that his Merry was getting well, almost spilling the milk onto Merry`s plate in his eagerness to help.

“Whoa there, Pip,” Merry smiled. “Slow down.”

“I`ll leave you to it then, lads,” Eglantine said as Merry righted the milk jug and left to see to the rest of her family and guests.

After eating, Merry decided he`d attempt to get up. He hadn`t been out of bed on his own for many days and he needed to get up and move about.

Pippin sat cross-legged on the foot of the bed, watching as Merry rose and padded over to the wash stand, a little wobbly at first after lying about for so long, but soon he was steady and calculated in his movements. Merry washed and after a few moments consideration put on shirt and breeches instead of a fresh nightshirt. It felt good to wear real clothes again. The healer had said he needed to stay in bed this day, but no one had said he had to wear a nightshirt. Going back to the bed, he noticed the sweaty sheets and decided to change them. As Merry started to take off a pillowcase Pippin spoke.

“What are you doing?”

“I`m changing the sheets. Why don`t you come help me?” Merry pulled off the pillowcase and put the pillow on the chair.

Pippin crawled to the head of the bed and pretended to accidentally hit Merry over the head with a pillow as he took the case off. One thing led to another, and soon there was a veritable pillow fight going on. Merry didn`t last for long though and slumped down in the chair after a few minutes, calling for a truce. Pippin laughed uncontrollably and Merry couldn`t help but join him.

“Just give me a moment, Pip.”

Seeing that Merry indeed looked weary, Pippin sat down on the bed, watching his cousin. Oh, but he was glad Merry was better! Was it just a little over a day ago that Merry had been so dreadfully ill? Suddenly a pillow hit him in the face. Merry had taken advantage of Pippin being lost in thought and hit him square on the head with his pillow. Merry was going to be right as rain very soon, Pippin thought and threw his own pillow back at Merry laughing breathlessly.

Hearing the ruckus both Frodo and Saradoc entered, putting an end to it, and soon Merry was back in the freshly made bed, this time sitting with only a light blanket over him so that he would not get a chill. They talked for a while and Saradoc had all the lads laughing with stories of the latest goings on at the Hall. Afterward, feeling a little tired, Merry slept until it was time for tea.

That night for the first time since he became ill, no one sat to watch over Merry as he slept.

*****

It took another few days before Merry was well enough to manage a whole day without any rest. He tried not to scratch, but couldn`t always help himself and did it anyway. On a sunny and unseasonably warm day a week after Merry`s fever broke, Pippin decided to take Merry up on the promise he had made the day he fell ill as Merry would return to Buckland with his parents in a few days, the time for this visit at an end.

Searchingly Pippin looked Merry over. When he was satisfied with what he saw he spoke. “Merry,” Pippin said solemnly. They sat in the sun on the front step and except for a few red spots here and there Merry looked to be back to his normal self. “How do you feel?”

“I feel fine.”

“You`re not tired?”

“No.” Merry looked at Pippin suspiciously.

“Good!” Pippin grinned. “That is good. I want to run some after sitting inside for so long and I wouldn`t want to do that if you couldn`t do it with me.“ Pippin shot to his feet and before Merry could as much as stand up his little cousin was half way across the lawn towards the barn. “I`ll race you to the old oak!” Pippin called over his shoulder.

“Oi, Pippin, that’s not fair!” Merry said and ran after him. To his amazement he found that he managed to run without getting tired and also that Pippin had become a much faster runner since they`d done this last. As Pippin rounded the huge old oak that had stood at the far end of the wheat field for hundreds of years, Merry caught up and swept Pippin off his feet and tickled him mercilessly until they both laughed so hard their ribs ached. Merry plonked down on the frozen ground and Pippin sat down on top of him.

“I won!” Pippin exclaimed, sitting victorious on top of Merry and tickling him in his turn until they both once again were out of breath, reduced to gasps and giggles.

Lying side by side, Pippin propped himself up on an elbow and looked seriously at Merry. “I`m so glad you`re well again and didn`t die! Thank you for keeping your promises.”

Sensing the sudden change in his cousin`s mood, Merry propped himself up on his own elbow and solemnly looked Pippin in the eye. “You`re very welcome, Pippin dear. I always try to, you know.” He pulled Pippin into a great hug. “Thank you for looking out for me when I was sick.”

“I always know when you are there when I am sick. Did you feel I was there too?” Pippin said, his voice muffled from his face being buried in Merry`s shoulder.

“Yes I did. I wasn’t so frightened because I knew that you were with me.”

Pippin fell silent for some moments before he spoke again. “You had some awful nightmares though.”

“Yes I remember that, though I can’t remember all of the dreams. I am sorry. Did I scare you?”

Pippin nodded. “You screamed out for me and it sounded like you couldn`t find me and you cried and then you called out for Frodo too and it sounded like you couldn`t find any of us. I was so scared Merry!”

“I am sorry, Pippin. They were only dreams though. You are here with me and so is Frodo.”

“Will you promise to not dream like that again, Merry?”

“That’s not a promise I can make Pip. I can`t guarantee that I won`t ever have bad dreams again. I think that the dreams I had were because I was sick, and that I won`t have such dreams again unless I get very sick again. And I wouldn`t want that to happen.”

Merry thought a little. “What I can promise, Pippin, is that I will try to stay well and we can hope that I won`t ever get so sick again. Is that a good enough promise for you Pippin-my-lad?”

Pippin considered this for a moment, and then nodded. “Yes it is. And I promise to always be there for you when you need me.”

“Thank you, Pippin. I know you will be.”

They both fell silent and then Pippin asked curiously, “What did you dream of?”

“Well, as I said, I can’t remember them all… but I remember that I dreamt that I couldn`t find you and Frodo, as you guessed. And then I dreamt that orcs came to find us and that you and I had to distract them so that Frodo could get away.”

“That doesn`t sound very good, Merry. Did Frodo get away?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“That is good then. I am glad that we helped him, even if it was just in a dream. I wouldn`t want Frodo to be captured by orcs.”

“Me neither, Pippin.”

Again there was silence.

“Merry. You don`t think that we ever will have to help Frodo run from orcs, do you?”

“No. I don`t. We`re safe here in the Shire and when we go on our adventure one day, we`ll not go where there might be orcs.”

Pippin rose and wrapped his arms around Merry`s neck, hugging him tight. “All will be fine then. I am so glad that you are well Merry.”

Merry hugged Pippin back. “Yes Pippin. I am well now.”

THE END

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Snow and Ice

Tue, 15 Mar 2005 17:17:33 GMT

Title: Snow and Ice
Author: Anso the Hobbit
Beta: Marigold
Characters: Frodo, Merry and Esmeralda
Timeline: Brandy Hall, early SR 1387 so Frodo is 18 and Merry 4 as neither of them has had their birthdays yet.
Summary: A cold winter day is perfect for adventure!
Note: Written for Marigold`s Challenge 14 where I was told to write a story set on ice. I have to thank Marigold for the idea of this story and also the very cold weather we have had in my corner of Norway lately (with down to -16 C/3 F during the day).
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“Merry? What are you doing?” Frodo said half amused as he watched his little cousin sitting in the windowsill in the nursery, his nose pressed against the cold glass of the window, staring out on the downy white world outside the Hall.

Merry turned when he heard Frodo approaching. “Look Fro! It`s snow!” Merry had seen snow before but not this much. It had been very cold for several days, but the snow had been slow in coming. This day, while Merry was taking a little afternoon nap, the snow had fallen in abundance and now the world was covered in white.

“Yes, Merry it`s snow. Would you like to go outside and have a closer look at it?”

“Oh yes Frodo! Can we?” Merry bounced down off the windowsill.

“Let`s go ask your mum, all right?” Frodo took Merry by the hand and together they went to the parlour where Esmeralda was sitting by the fire, putting the last finishing touches on a green scarf she was knitting for Merry. Another scarf, larger and in blue, was lying ready for Frodo in her basket.

“There you are!” Esmie said as the lads entered. “Merry, come here, I have something for you to try on.”

Merry wasn`t very fond of trying on things his mum knitted for him, but he obediently went over to her all the same. Esmeralda wrapped the soft length of green wool around his neck and looked at him approvingly. “There. Very nice.” She unwrapped the scarf and gave him a quick hug.

Merry bounced up and down in her embrace. “Mum? Can we go outside? It has snowed!”

Esmeralda smiled. “Yes, of course you can sweetheart. Just don’t be late for tea and remember to put on your warmest clothes.”

“We will,” Frodo said. “Shall Merry wear his new scarf?”

“Yes,” Esmeralda nodded. “And I have made one for you too Frodo dear.” She reached down in her basket and picked up the blue scarf for Frodo. “Put it on love, and let’s see how you look.”

Frodo took the scarf and wrapped it around his neck. “Thank you Cousin! It is very soft and warm.”

“You`re welcome dear. Now off with you lads, and have a lovely time.”

Back in the nursery Frodo helped Merry dress in woollen smallclothes, woollen breeches, his favourite blue flannel shirt, a thick jacket buttoned up tight and the new scarf wrapped snugly around his neck before he quickly dressed himself similarly. They went to the wardrobe in the hall and Frodo dressed them in mittens, cloaks and woolly hats to protect sensitive ears and so they were ready to go.

For about an hour they played in the snow, Merry running from one place to another, exclaiming in wonder over the trees and bushes covered in snow and asking about this and that. He made snowballs and threw them at Frodo and hurled his little body into deep snow banks just for the fun of being dragged out again by a small foot and brushed off briskly so that he wouldn`t get snow under his clothes. All the same, he squealed with joy and shivered a little as a bit of snow managed to sneak its way down his back, making a wet track along his warm skin.

“Come, Merry,” Frodo said at length. “I have something to show you.” He looked up at the now clear, blue sky. If they didn`t tarry too long they would have just about enough time before they had to be back for tea.

“Where are we going?” Merry asked, eating a little of the snow off his mitten, just to see how it tasted.

“It`s a surprise,” Frodo answered mysteriously.

“Oh!” Merry loved surprises and eagerly followed, stepping into Frodo’s footprints to make walking easier.

Frodo led them to a nice little spot Merry had been many times over in spring and summer, but not in winter. It was a copse of trees and between them was a lovely pond that the littlest children liked to splash in, as it was very shallow. Merry had been allowed to splash around in this pond just this summer and it was a splendid thing to do. It looked a silvery grey now in winter, not the nice blue it had been in summer, and there were little heaps of snow floating on it here and there, which looked rather odd, but very pretty. Merry wasn`t certain what to expect when Frodo stopped by the edge of the pond, looking intently at it for a moment then turning to see if Merry was beside him. Then suddenly Frodo grinned and walked out onto the pond! On top of it! How was that possible? Could Frodo walk on water? Now Frodo was a few feet away from the edge and he was still standing on the water. Very tentatively Merry stepped closer, looking in awe at his older cousin, but Frodo only turned to him and smiled.

“Come on Merry,” Frodo tapped his foot on the ice. ”It`s frozen solid. The water has turned to ice, because it is so cold. It isn`t dangerous at the moment.” Frodo came back to the edge and reached out a hand. “Take my hand.”

Gingerly Merry took his cousin’s hand and put one foot on the cold and slightly wet surface that used to be the pond. His foot slid a little and he held on tighter to Frodo. Gaining his balance he put the other foot onto the ice too and looked up at his big cousin in surprise and delight.

“See? It is safe, you can walk on the ice too, Merry!” Frodo kept hold of his hand and lead them further out on the pond`s frozen surface. As they walked Merry became more sure and let go of Frodo`s hand. Merry took two steps on his own, lost his footing on the slippery surface and landed hard on his backside.

Immediately he started crying. That hurt! He tried to get to his feet and take the hand Frodo held out to help him up but slid again, this time landing on his front, arms and legs sprawling.

“Oh, poor Merry! Don`t worry, it`s all right. Everyone slips and falls sometimes, and this is your first try.” Frodo said and picked him up hugging him and setting him firmly back on his feet, but not letting go.

Merry was still crying. Frodo kept hold of him with one hand but took the mitten off of the other hand, fishing through a pocket for a handkerchief. “There. Blow your nose now. No harm done.”

“It hurts, Frodo,” Merry said, rubbing his rear.

“I`m sorry dear,” Frodo bent down and turned Merry around, blowing at his rear and giving him a light pat. “There. All better?”

Merry sniffed a bit more, but nodded and giggled. It didn’t hurt too badly, and it was fun being on the ice. He was quite proud that Frodo thought he was old enough to see and do this very special thing, and he wasn’t going to act like a baby and make his cousin change his mind.

“Do you want to try something else?” Frodo asked. “I promise I won`t let go of you unless you want me to, all right?”

Merry nodded and Frodo took both his hands, starting to walk backwards on the ice, increasing his pace as he did so that they were sliding. He turned them around and pushed Merry before him, the both of them squealing with laughter. After a while he stopped and let go of one of Merry`s hands and together they slid across the ice, making curves and twists as they went, now and again increasing the pace. Frodo spun them around in a circle and they both lost their balance as they came to a stop, landing in a giggling heap with Frodo at the bottom and Merry sprawled out on top of him. At last and upon Merry`s request, Frodo let go completely and Merry slid across the ice by himself. It was a wonder to him how this was possible and he scrunched up his face in thought.

Why had this water turned to ice? Merry looked over to the Brandywine, but he could see the water moving on the gently curving river. Why this water, and not the river? Frodo had talked about teaching Merry to fish here in the summer, but that wouldn`t be possible now that the water was gone, would it? Unless the pond somehow transformed itself back into water after winter?

“Frodo,” Merry said taking Frodo`s hand again, making them both stop just by the edge of the pond. “Where is the water?”

“It`s still here Mer,” Frodo said. “Come, I`ll show you.” Frodo led Merry to the edge and showed him a hole in the ice where they could see the water rippling against the rocks on the bank. “See? The water is just hiding. It is only the top of the water that has frozen, though sometimes, when the winter is very, very cold, all of the water in this pond might turn to ice.” He crouched down in front of his cousin and looked Merry earnestly in the face. “Merry. There is something important you need to know, all right?” Frodo waited for Merry to nod and then continued. “You can`t come sliding on the ice unless a bigger hobbit tells you it is all right, understand?” Again Merry nodded. “It can be very dangerous if you do so. The ice can become thin and it is possible for it to break, and a little hobbit could fall through into the water underneath, and that would be very bad.”

“All right, Frodo. I won`t,” Merry answered, trusting his Frodo to know best, and besides, he didn`t think it would be fun sliding on the ice unless Frodo was with him.

“That`s my good lad.” Frodo hugged him and together they slid around a bit more on the ice until they got cold and it was time to go inside to have their tea. Merry had a lot more questions about the ice and how the water froze and Frodo answered as best he could, explaining that except on very rare occasions, the Brandywine never really froze because the water always was moving. This of course led to more questions about where the water in the Brandywine came from and at last Frodo was exhausted by Merry`s insatiable appetite for knowledge, so he made up a story of a very brave hobbit lad who always listened to his elders and never went out onto the river or the pond unless someone said it was all right for him to do so.

The End
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