Mean What You Say Part Two
In the throne room, Gandalf leaned close to Aragorn to whisper to him after that startling pronouncement. "That could be interpreted as a command, King Elessar."
"I hope the Haradric Ambassador thinks so," Aragorn whispered back. "But even if Pippin misses the embedded clue, Merry won't; he's quite a bright little fellow. Surely speaking Breeland dialect is like waving a flag saying it's Strider talking, not the King, for those who met me first in Bree."
"An obscure point, Lord."
"Sufficiently obscure so that the Haradrim will not understand, I trust. It will be fine, Gandalf, do not worry. I have already taken precautions against just such an event. Ah, here comes the Ambassador. We'll continue this later."
Aragorn turned to the tall Man from Harad, who was wearing bright green and orange robes, heavy with gold embroidery, and a large gold chain of office. "Ambassador Oortowe. I hope that the punishment of the one who offended you repairs the insult."
"It will," said the Ambassador, "when the proof arrives. My reception is this city gives evidence of the reception of the messages and offers I bring. I do not find that vaguely worded order to that impertinent boy sufficient redress. I would have expected him to be sent off under guard."
"I see," said Aragorn. "Then we shall wait until he returns. So that our subsequent discussion is not poisoned by this unresolved issue, let us put off the opening of the trade negotiations until tomorrow. In the meantime, please avail yourself of whatever luxuries my servants can provide you. Walk where you will in Minas Tirith, save those areas denied to all its people; you will know them by the standing guard. Or remain and observe the court, as you wish. Come and go as you like, and be free within the walls of the city."
"I thank you for this courtesy," replied the Ambassador. "Perhaps I shall revise my first impression."
"I do so hope, Ambassador."
As the Haradric man moved off through the crowd, Gandalf stepped close again. "What precautions have you taken, Aragorn?"
"I have ordered the Mast Room in the Citadel shut and locked, all its equipment destroyed, and its attendants reassigned to other duties. I have substituted—"
At that point, a disturbance between two courtiers demanded the King's attention. There were longstanding rivalries and enmities in Gondor, and Aragorn found himself playing peacemaker far too often for his liking. It was nearly half an hour before he returned to Gandalf.
"As I was saying, I have substituted a list of less violent punishments. I cribbed the list from the rules of the Rangers, in fact, taking out what did not apply, and filling gaps by copying from Rivendell and Lorien, where there are walls and borders to defend."
"Mm. The wisdom of such matters among your Men I leave to you. However, I do not think you quite understand the ways of hobbits. Pippin will not go to the Citadel. Not unless he is dragged there in chains. Hobbits have a taboo against public punishments, and an even greater taboo against those of lower station striking or even witnessing the beating of one of higher station. Hobbits expect to be punished by their adult relatives, or by their betters, or the occasional rural landowner, if one is caught trespassing; I have no doubt Pippin is well acquainted with the latter situation. None of which applies to a sergeant of the Citadel. As the only son of the Thain, Pippin considered himself of approximately equal rank with Boromir, before his death. And with Faramir, now."
"Well then, there is nothing to fear. Except to worry over how I am going to counterfeit proof for the Ambassador."
"You misunderstand me. Pippin left with Merry. Merry is one of Pippin's adult relatives."
Aragorn's eyes widened. "Oh no. I must track them down before anything happens."
"It is too late, Aragorn. They could be anywhere in the city by now, and very likely 'anything' is already happening." Gandalf sighed. "I have been advising you for weeks now, that as the King you must learn to say only what you mean, when you give a command, or say anything that could remotely be taken as a command. The people of Minas Tirith are used to the blind obedience that Denethor demanded. And so is Pippin. He served him in the darkest hours of his madness. There are things that happened, the details of which Pippin will still not reveal even to me. And even if that were not so, it would not be wise to train your people to second-guess your orders. That would result in a much larger problem than one sore hobbit."
Aragorn looked away for a moment, thinking, his eyes resting on a marble statue, of some distant relation perhaps. "Then I must simply hope that Merry and Pippin's friendship will prevent any harm from coming to Pippin."
"Mm. For my part, I will trust in the endurance of hobbits. Their kind can withstand things that would kill you, Aragorn, and walk away laughing."
Then one of the men of the city approached Aragorn to talk up some favored project. Reluctantly, Aragorn turned his thoughts to the business of governance.
End of Part 2
