Merry took another bite
out of the apple in his hand, and then looked over at his cousin
lying next to him. "Remember when we were with Treebeard?" Merry
and Pippin had been doing what they did every anniversary of the day
that they left the Shire with Frodo: laid down in a quiet field
somewhere and talked about everything that had happened to them on
the quest. Today, they happened to be lying under a huge oak
tree, eating a picnic.
"Yes, remember how uncomfortable it was
sitting in those darn branches? I swear my bum is still sore from
it!" Pippin laughed and munched on a piece of bread. Merry
laughed along with his friend, then remembered something.
"When
we were talking to him, before we left, he said he wanted us to look
for something back here in the Shire, the girl versions of him, oh
darn it, what were they called?"
"Entwives?" Pippin said
helpfully
"Yes, entwives. Have you been looking for
them?"
Pippin sat a bit thinking, "Well, yes I have been
looking, but since we don't really know what they are supposed to
look like, I didn't really know what to look for! What do you
suppose they look like?"
"Well, I've always imagined they
look like Treebeard, but more female."
"How does a tree
look more female? Does it wear a dress" Pippin and both burst
out laughing.
"Oh yes, complete with curly golden hair"
Merry said, laughing harder still.
"A tree might look a little
ridiculous with golden hair and a dress, I mean Treebeard and the
other ents were already weird looking!"
"WEIRD LOOKING!"
The tree above them shuddered.
"Pippin…did that tree
just….just yell?" Merry stammered, looking over at his
cousin
"Tree, I am not an ordinary tree! I am an ent!" The
tree then swung one of its branches, knocking the apple from Merry's
hand "How DARE you insult my kind!"
"Merry! It's an ent!
We found an ent!" Pippin laughed "Imagine what Treebeard would
say if we ever told him we found an ents in the Shire!" Pippin
lowered his voice and imitated Treebeard, "Hoom Hoom, You've
found ents? Well done Master Hobbit Hoom hoom!"
"Treebeard?
You have heard of Treebeard?" The tree bent closer to the hobbits,
eager to learn more.
"Yes, we are quite good friends of his, do
you know him?" Merry gazed up at the tree Ents in the Shire, Frodo
and Sam are never going to believe us!
"Of course I know
Treebeard! I was his wife some time ago!"
"You're an
entwife?" Pippin looked the tree over, it didn't look much
different than Treebeard, he had expected something…different.
"Yes,
hoom, I am. Is that a problem young hobbit!" The tree glared
at Pippin, her kind air disappearing in an instant.
"No problem
at all!" Pippin sqeaked, hiding behind his cousin, "Treebeard
mentioned you to us a few years ago, we've been looking for
entwives such as yourself, and well, you just didn't look like I
thought you would that's all."
The tree's demeanor changed
instantly back to kindness "He has been looking for us?"
"There
are MORE of you?" Merry gaped, as long as he had lived he had never
seen any hint of living trees, and now this tree said there were
many?
"Yes, not as much as before, but a fair amount of us are
left. Tell me, where could I find Treebeard? We lost him
and the other ents years and years ago, we assumed they had died off,
but you say they are still alive?"
"Very much alive! They live
in Fangorn Forest!" Pippin came out from behind his cousin, glad to
see the tree had decided to become friendly again.
"Fangorn!
This is great news! Thank you Master Hobbits, I shall take my leave
now, along with the other entwives, we are forever in your debt!"
"No
problem at all Miss" Merry bowed to the tree, then nudged Pippin
into doing the same.
"Yes, no problem at all! But, we have one
favor to ask you." Pippin bowed quickly then looked up at the tree
again. Merry glanced, confused, over at his cousin.
"What
could I do for you Master Hobbit?" The tree said kindly.
"Just
tell Treebeard that Merry and Pippin say hello and send their hopes
that he is all well!" Pippin smiled at the tree, Merry nodded and
smiled at the oak as well.
"Very well Master Pippin, I will give
him your message. Again, thank you in assisting me, goodbye."
The tree then uprooted itself, made a very loud noise that sounded
very much like "COME!" and to Merry and Pippin's amazement,
half the forest they were sitting in, also uprooted itself, and
followed the oak they met away in the direction of Fangorn.
"Wow,
ents in the Shire! I never thought I would see the day!" Pippin sat
back down and gazed up at the sky. "Do you think Sam and Frodo will
ever believe us?"
Merry plopped down next to his cousin,
grinning broadly and said quietly "Not a chance!"
