For days Merry had traveled alongside Elessar through sun and rain, despite the raw pain of his backside. A number of guards rode with them, taking the rear while their king rode in front with Merry. At certain intervals the party had to stop to allow the hobbit a moments rest from the saddle. Embarrassment crept over Merry every time he had to take a break. He knew the guards were complaining to Elessar; whining about how they could reach the destination a lot sooner if the hobbit wouldn't waste so much time sitting around. He also knew that a few in the bunch were sniggering about his 'internal wound', which only increased the humility. How they found out about his ravaged and raped body was beyond him. He had only told Elessar about what had taken place in the cave.
Nestled against a trunk, Merry took to gazing about the cloudless sky. It was his only escape from the argument proceeding behind him. The guards were in an uproar again, though, more infuriated then normal.
"We cannot waste our time taking a hobbit all the way around Middle-earth just to reunite him with a son," one of the guards grumbled.
Merry turned to look over the guard. He recognized the man to be Coronus, Captain of the Guard. In the past he had encountered the guard and the memories were far from pleasant. Coronus was one of the few that tried to convince Elessar not to let him stay in the tower, saying it was not fit nor proper for a hobbit to live there. The man hated him and Merry returned the sentiment.
"I'll be the judge of that," Elessar snarled. "Who are you to question me, your king?"
"I mean you no disrespect my liege," Coronus bowed, his dark brown eyes focusing on Merry, "but I worry about our kingdom. It is unwise for you to leave this realm. Gondor needs a king to rule over it."
"Someone is substituting for me and I'm certain they will do a fine job," Elessar noted.
"Yes, you left everything in command of a woman who is an elf for that matter," Coronus snarled. "A human male is only fit to rule here."
"Once more, you insist on questioning not only my authority but also my decisions Coronus," Elessar snapped. "I shall have to remove your title and banish you from Minas Tirith."
"You cannot do that!" Coronus yelled.
"Oh, yes, I can," Elessar said. "You make light of my dear friend's predicament and you insult your queen, my beloved wife, right in front of me. I also know what you have been up to for the past seven days. You speak to other guards behind my back and tell them lies. It has come to my attention that you have spread a secret about the hobbit that I told you in confidence. Every one of the guards knows it and that has brought shame to my friend. You're lucky I don't put you to the sword at this moment."
"If there is any shame over his head, it's by his doing," Coronus snorted.
"No, Coronus, it's by your doing," Elessar said with a threatening tone. "How stupid do you believe me to be? I know of the role you played in Merry's escape from the tower."
"But King Elessar he never helped me," Merry interrupted. "I escaped on my own."
"Oh, but he did help you Merry you just didn't see it," Elessar sneered. "I was informed by one of my more faithful guards how you snooped around and told the others to let Merry out of the city, stating that it was by my orders. You are the reason for all this recent grief over Merry's head, only because you wanted him out of the tower." The king stood tall over the man and ordered him with a powerful tone. "There is no place for ones such as you within the guard. Your title has been revoked therefore you are longer Captain of the Guard. For now, you remain with us until we reach The Shire. Once returned to the city you shall stand trial before me and the council to receive your fair punishment."
"Why don't you banish me now?" Coronus asked. "If am I not a guard then what is the point of me staying?"
"Because I do not trust you," Elessar replied, stepping away from the man. "I doubt you would return to Minas Tirith if ordered. As for the rest of you, you shall stop this nonsense. The subject has been dropped."
Merry sighed in relief as the guards resumed their normal activities, speaking of loved ones and future plans. Only Coronus stayed in place, still in shock and denial over what had taken place. His fierce gaze shifted onto Merry, sending a shiver down the hobbit's spine. In the corner of his eye, Merry saw Elessar mount his horse and limped from the spot to do the same on his pony. Again, he could hear the guards snickering as he attempted to mount the steed. It was more then difficult given the nature of his injuries. A different guard bolted over and gave the hobbit a hand. Merry smiled at the guard when he recognized him as an old friend, made on his first day entering the tower nearly twenty years ago.
"Good to see you Markus," Merry said. "I wish it could be under better circumstances. It has been a long time since we chatted last."
"Good to see you too Merry," Markus chirped, beginning to back away. "Any time you need a hand make sure to call out for me. I won't be far behind. Perhaps, later, we could catch up for old time sake. I must ride in the back. Oh, and don't pay any heed to my brother, Coronus. He talks well enough but I doubt he would ever act out. I apologize."
"It's not your fault how your brother acts," Merry said, waving at the man. "I would like to talk later also."
The party traveled through the woods finally emerging in the fields of Rohan. The vast landscape brought back distant memories to Merry. He began to reminiscence about the days that he had marched side by side with Theoden. It brought back happiness yet sadness at the same time. It had been a long time since those days and the end of his time was quickly coming.
Nightfall fell upon the land and camp was set up bordering the woods. Merry sat beside Elessar and Markus.
"I must go into the wood to search for athelas," Elessar said. "The pouch I carry is running low."
"Is it really necessary?" Merry whimpered.
"Yes, I fear so, considering the fact that your wounds could become infected," Elessar answered. "The last thing I want is for you to become ill and there not be enough herbs to cure you. Do not fear. I will take a small portion of the troop to lend a hand and Markus will stay here with you."
"What about Coronus?" Markus inquired.
"He will stay here," Elessar said. "Keep a watchful eye on him."
"Yes my lord," Markus replied.
The king stood from the ground and beckoned a few guards to his side. Merry turned back to Markus to talk about the old days they had shared in the tower. The instant Elessar disappeared Coronus inched toward him, disrupting their conversation.
"I must say, that it really is such a disgrace what happened to you," Coronus said, eyes glassy.
"Thank you for your concern," Merry snarled, trying to back away. Coronus' hand stretched out, trailing over Merry's smaller one. The hobbit gazed into the man's eyes and gasped. "Good God man you're drunk!"
"So what?" Coronus chuckled. "That no good king will never notice. He's become so senile that he can't even notice when one of his men have been drinking."
"For shame Coronus!" Markus bellowed. "A guard of Minas Tirith would never bring such dishonor on his unit such as this! The king probably didn't notice because you were sneaking in and out of the woods! Don't tell me you've been hiding wine in the water pouch again?!"
"Please, I'm no longer a member of the unit remember?" Coronus growled lowly. "And it's all thanks to this wonderful little hobbit."
Merry shuddered and crawled away until his back pressed on Markus' forearm. He knew the tint glowing in the man's eyes all too well. The man reached for Merry's face but Markus shot up and gripped the other's hand tightly.
"I think you need to sleep it off," Markus snarled. "Preferably someplace a great distance from us."
"Aw I'm sorry," Coronus said, jerking his hand away and giving it a good rub. "I'll leave you be."
The man staggered to his feet and entered the wood.
"My brother the ass," Markus groaned.
"So I'm not the only one who feels that way about him," Merry laughed.
"Yes, you of all people should know how I feel about my low-life of a brother," Markus said. "I suppose in a way this turn of event is good. How my brother ever managed to get a high position is beyond me. Then again, he was employed back in Denethor's days. When Elessar took the throne he kept the guard as they were."
"I wish I understood why he despises me so much," Merry muttered. "What did I ever do to him?"
"Nothing," Markus answered. "Coronus hates almost everything so it's not just you. Why, he even hates me, his own brother."
Merry cried out when he saw a shadow loom over the soldier. By the time Markus turned it was too late for him to move. The butt end of a sword struck the man across the head. Markus fell flaccidly to the grass from the force of the blow. Coronus emerged from the darkness glaring menacingly at the hobbit.
"Hello again little hobbit," Coronus laughed. He strode toward the quivering form. "I believe you and I have unfinished business."
"So, you plan on killing me?" Merry said.
"I was contemplating that but I figured death would be too great for you," Coronus laughed. "No, I had to think up a way that would cause you the most agony and I have the perfect thing. Tell me, when that man took you did you enjoy it?" Merry's eyes went wide. "I guess that's my answer."
For a moment each stood perfectly still in the firelight. The hobbit turned his head to seek aid from the other guards but they had vanished from sight. He pondered on the idea of running but in his feeble condition he wouldn't get far before being tackled to the ground. He had only one option.
"Elessar!" Merry screamed. "Eles--"
A hand wrapped tightly around his neck while the other drew back to deliver a harsh slap to the side of Merry's cheek. The hobbit howled and tried to shield his face by placing his hands in the way. The blows continued to descend on him, knocking his hands out of the way leaving his face at the mercy of the man. His head snapped back and forth as the hand grazed across his flesh. Blood was trickling down the edge of his lips and his cheeks were becoming puffy. The violence momentarily stopped.
"Why are you doing this to me?" Merry sobbed.
"You ruined my life," Coronus growled. "And I hate hobbits. You filthy creatures have no place in Gondor. But most of all, I hate you because from the first moment I laid eyes on you I knew I must have you. Such a pretty thing. For years, it drove me crazy watching you move all over the tower and not being able to get you. When I saw you trying to leave I thought it would be best to help you out. After all, I wanted to get rid of you and what better way. But now, everything has changed. I was forced to march with Elessar and search for you. I can't fight it any longer."
"You're insane!" Merry screeched. This was an unexpected turn of events and didn't like it one bit. "Get off me at once! You are drunk you idiot! You don't know what you are doing! Stop before you regret it!"
"Don't fight me little one," Coronus scowled. "This could get a lot worse for you if you so choose. But I think you could learn to enjoy it."
"No, please, don't!" Merry cried as the man yanked his pants down. "Stop, it could kill me!"
"Do I look like I care hobbit?" Coronus yelled.
Merry felt himself being turned on his belly and hindquarters positioned in the air. It was going to happen all over again. He waited for the inevitable.
*
When Merry's eyes opened he gazed about the landscape in confusion. It was still nightfall but Coronus was no where in sight. To his left he found Elessar, crouching over him. Humility crashed over him when he realized that the king must have found him with Coronus.
"How much did you see?" Merry asked weakly.
"I do not follow," Elessar said.
"Coronus," Merry whispered.
"Coronus is long gone," Elessar replied. "At hearing your cry I ran from the woods and found him hovering over your unconscious form. When I approached him he became even more agitated and it was obvious at that point he wasn't going to relinquish his hold on you without a fight. I had to dispose of him; there was no other alternative. But I fear that was eight days ago. We've managed to travel over The Gap of Rohan. "
"Eight days?!" Merry bellowed.
"Yes, he struck you in the back of the head," Elessar replied. "The wound was terrible and became infected, which only made matters worse. It's a miracle you've woken up at all given your other injuries."
"I could have sworn I was still back there with him," Merry sighed, massaging his temple. "I was dreaming of him....Was he doing anything to me when you found him?" Elessar eyes darkened with sorrow. "So it wasn't just a dream. Well, at least I was out cold for the last part of it."
He shuddered at the images racing through his mind. He could only imagine the look on the king's face, and his troops for that matter, when they emerged from the woods to find the man abusing him. Heat rose to his cheeks and he fought back the tears that forming over his eyelids, threatening to spill. He wiped at them furiously.
"I'm afraid so," Elessar muttered. "He's damaged you insides further. I do not know if you will be able to ride without assistance. I've been carrying you on my horse for the past few days. But I'm sure Markus would help lend a hand if any were needed."
"He's all right then?" Merry beamed, trying to change the subject. "He received such an awful blow."
"Of course," Elessar chuckled. "Markus is a hardy fellow and it will take more then that to keep him down. You will see him later but for now he is on watch." He grew stern. The hobbit shifted in his seat uneasily when he realized what the man was going to speak of. "I am so sorry for what has happened to you Merry. I should never have left Coronus in the camp with you. How I could have made such a dreadful error is beyond me."
"It wasn't your fault," Merry cried. "Believe me, the man probably would have gotten to me eventually. He's had it planned out for some time now I think. No one could have stopped it." He wiped at his eyes. "I want to talk about something more cheerful. Is there any good news you could tell me about?"
"But Merry it is unwise to keep all these emotions pent up inside," Elessar said. "I can see it's starting to take its toll on you again. You really must speak about it, to get it off your chest. You do not have to feel ashamed for the acts committed against you. No one is judging you. You must speak."
Merry choked on a sob. "I know, I know. I just...I don't want to talk about it right now. I'm not comfortable speaking of such matters to anyone. Perhaps some other time but I just need to talk about something else. I need to get my mind off of it."
The king groaned but didn't press the issue. "I do have a bit of good news for you. A messenger has from The Shire. He was able to find the Smallburrows and give them word of our arrival. Also, he's given news of someone traveling to meet us somewhere between Gwathlo` river or the Brandywine. In about three days, depending upon weather, we will be meeting Sam."
Merry's eyes brightened. "Sam?! I thought he would have sailed to the Grey Havens years ago."
"Apparently not," Elessar answered. "Keep in mind though that it may take longer than normal to reach the river. Not only do we have to watch the weather but your injuries as well."
"Yes," Merry said.
A smile formed over his face. The darkness and sorrow over his heart momentarily lifted and the events of the past week drifted from thought. He was going to see his dear, old friend again. Sam.
More to follow.