Passing for Underhill Chapter Twenty-One
It took three tries for Pippin to get on the pony. When he finally managed to plant his seat, he shrieked, startling the beast, and it threw him.
"Pippin!" Merry dismounted and ran over to him as he lay in the dust. "Are you alright?"
"No. I wasn't alright before I tried to get into the saddle, Merry. I can't do this."
"Nothing broken?"
"Nothing broken," Pippin sighed. He creaked to his feet and dusted himself off. He was dressed to kill, in the black uniform of the Tower Guard of Minas Tirith, with the barrow-blade once again in its scabbard. But he moved like an arthritic old miracle-seeker.
"I'm sorry," Merry said. "I shouldn't've asked you to try to ride. Eldarion said it was too soon. But I need you to come with me. I'll have someone get a cart."
There were plenty of 'someones' from which to choose. Half the inhabitants of the Hall had come out to see them off, not just Brandybucks but the servants as well. Merry reflected that someone must have told Melilot what they planned to do.
Sam, the third member of the expedition, got down from his pony. He walked over to his children, to pass the time while a cart was found and brought around. All his youngsters were there except Frodo Gardner. Sam wondered what the lad was up to, but it was just as well he stayed away from the Ring-bearer. Eldarion was also missing from the crowd in front of the Hall. Sam hoped that meant the two were together, doing something fun, innocent, and age-appropriate. Eldarion had spent most of his time in the Shire among the adults, in accordance with his disguise.
Diamond carried Faramir over to Pippin and inquired as to his health.
"I am in pain, thank you," Pippin replied. "Gah, Diamond, I hate being a soothsayer."
Berilac told Merry that someone had already taken out the cart this morning. Merry was just considering sending the children away before informing Pippin, to spare their ears the inevitable swearing, when the Brandybuck cart came around the bend, driven by Eldarion.
He pulled up in front of the Hall, speaking to the cart-horse in Elvish. "As you are resolved on going today to Stock, I shall of course accompany my patient. I have had a pallet set for you."
"Hey, now wait a minute!" Pippin protested. "Nobody said you were coming along."
"Pippin, you are a soothsayer, but I have the gift of foresight. It is common, in my line, from both sides. I have something to do before the end."
Taken aback, Pippin did not respond.
Elanor came forward from the crowd, batted her eyelashes at Eldarion, and cooed, "You make a fine drover. Animals love you."
"Ah, thank you," Eldarion said awkwardly. His nearly half elven genetics and consequent slow rate of growth meant that at 13, he was not quite ready to flirt with girls.
Merry and Sam remounted their ponies. Pippin stood looking dubiously at the cart. "Yes, yes, you're doing a fine job with the horse, but can't you ride one of the ponies, and let someone else drive?"
Merry rolled his eyes. "I can't believe you still resent Eldarion for saving your life."
"I don't," Pippin claimed. That was the truth, too, he reflected. He resented Eldarion for touching him and penetrating him without his permission. Pippin congratulated himself on becoming clever about getting around his soothsayer's gift.
"Then get in the cart, Pip," Merry ordered curtly.
Pippin sighed and climbed into the cart. He did not lie on the pallet, but knelt on it, and waved to Diamond in as jaunty a fashion as he could manage.
Merry patted his pocket before starting off down the road. It was empty. He had one very bad moment, suspecting everyone of taking it: Pippin, Frodo-lad, little Faramir, Berilac, Celandine, Estella, Sam, Meli, and assorted wildlife. Then he remembered he had rummaged in Estella's jewelry box for a chain, and now had it around his neck like Frodo Baggins. Merry put his hand over his heart, and touched the Ring on its chain beneath his white shirt and yellow waistcoat.
Then he spurred his pony, and the Travelers moved off down the road.
The spectators dispersed. As soon as Diamond set him down, Fairy bounded away toward the copse in back of the lawn. There he found Frodo Gardner with a pony, saddled and standing ready. Faramir-lad reached up his arms, and Frodo set him on the pony's back, and then climbed up behind. Without a word, they sped away.
The boys kept to the trees, making detours away from the road when necessary, to stay out of sight. Frodo-lad trotted the pony the whole way. He wanted to gallop it, but knew the pony would not last if he did, much as he was tempted to try to ride like the wind. "I don't know why I'm doing this," Frodo-lad grumbled. "I was still red and puffy at bed-time last night, and when we catch up with them, my dad's going to give it to me so bad I'm not going to be able to ride back."
"We can't let them ruin such a Beautiful Thing," Fairy said.
"What can we do?" Frodo asked. "They're the Travelers. They've fought in real wars. Merry and Pippin were wearing swords when they left. Eldarion might not fight, but even if he doesn't, it's still three of them to two of us, and I don't think you'll be of much help in a brawl, not for another ten years yet anyhow."
"We have to stop them," Fairy said. "Just let me get my hands on the Beautiful Thing and everything will be alright. He told me so."
"Who?"
"The wizard. I can hear him in my head. Ever since I put on the Ring."
"That's creepy, Fairy."
"I like him! He's nice. He says I can save you. And everybody else, too. I can make all dads like my dad. Nobody ever needs to get hurt again."
"Oh, Fairy. You're doing this for me?"
"For you and all your brothers and sisters, too. And all the children in the Shire. The wizard says when I'm the Chief, all children will be loved and given lots of cake and pie and nobody will ever be spanked, not even if they start a fire."
"I love you, Fairy!" Frodo gave his friend an extra squeeze around the middle, where he was holding him to keep him on the pony, since Faramir's short legs did not reach the stirrups. Frodo-lad had the pony's reins in his other hand.
They raced to their selected ambush spot, tethered the pony in a grassy meadow out of sight of the road, and climbed a tree that overhung the roadway. Then they waited. They passed a water-bottle back and forth, and munched on some roasted squash seeds. Presently the clip-clop of hooves and the clatter of a cart announced the arrival of the party bound for Stock.
When the lead pony was directly beneath the branch, Fairy whispered, "Now!" and they both dropped out of the tree onto Merry.
End of Chapter 21