Swaying like a branch
in the wind, or rather on a branch in the wind, Merry felt safer than
he had in what seemed like a very long time, and it gave him a chance
to think - and to remember.
'Pippin?'
'Hmm?'
Pippin sounded sleepy, which was no surprise as they had been gently
rocked in Treebeard's arms with every step he took for countless
miles now.
'I miss The Shire too, Pip. I do.'
'I
know, Merry.'
Merry sighed. 'This reminds me of old times, when we would stay out all night, just exploring. Or when we would sleep out under the stars.'
'Yes, Merry,' Pippin agreed, 'though we weren't hiding from any orcs at the time.'
'No, but nor were we making friends with an ent
like Treebeard. We didn't ever know there were ents.'
Treebeard
gave a deep, rolling brhoom of laughter, pulling them a bit closer.
'Ah, little ones, you may yet see your Shire again. For now you
are as safe as you were under the stars there, so rest easy in your
Shire dreams while you are able.'
The slow rumbling of
Treebeard's booming yet comforting voice had sent them drifting into
sleep well before he had ended his speech with his bid for them to
rest, and he continued to stride on in the quiet darkness for many
more miles, bearing his special cargo in careful, caring
hands.
'Yes,' he thought 'I do hope that they will
find their Shire still waiting for them in the end.'
