CHAPTER Eight - Three Children, A Man and an Elf
Thorongil dropped his sword to the ground and easily caught the young hobbit in his arms. Merry tried to put up a fight, but was too weak. To Thorongil, Merry was no bigger than a small Man-child of about four years of age. He held him firmly in his arms until the hobbit was spent. He then sat the hobbit child upon a large rock. He could see the boy was trembling with cold--or fear. Thorongil took off his cloak and put it on Merry.
"D-do Men like their q-quarry warm or c-cold?", Merry shivered; he was too tired and cold to care about any backlash.
Thorongil looked at the boy, then a realization came to him; the child saw the sword! "No need to fear, boy!", replied Thorongil. "What is your name?"
Merry said nothing.
Thorongil knew the hobbit was frightened, but needed to gather more information to be able to help. He kneeled down to Merry's level and tried once more, "Lad, what is your name?" Thorongil looked deep into the child's blue eyes. "Neither my friend, or I, will harm you, or let harm come upon you. That is my word."
Merry's gaze traveled down the road; it didn't seem to him his uncle was coming any time soon. He wanted to go home.
"Merry.", he finally said. A tear fell down his cheek.
"Merry", Thorongil used his name, "Don't be frightened! Where are your mother and father?"
Merry wiped his eyes with his wet shirtsleeve, "Please...", Merry sniffed.
"Please don't hurt them", he looked towards the tree, "I will go with you."
Elladan spoke more Elvish to Thorongil. Thorongil looked worried and spoke to Merry, "Merry, the wolves will be coming back, and in greater numbers. We need to get your friends down from the tree and leave here. Where do you live?" Thorongil tried to soothe Merry's fears, "Elladan and I are traveling far tonight, and can give you safe passage home."
Where is Uncle Paladin?, thought Merry. "Whitwell, near Tuckborough", Merry said wearily. "Those in the tree are my cousins, Perva and Pippin Took."
Took? Thorongil turned to Elladan standing nearby and spoke in Elvish, I know of this family, but why these little ones are abroad this late at night, and all alone worries me." Thorongil nodded to Merry's foot. "This one has an injured foot, the other two are cold and weary; they all will need nourishment before we go further."
Thorongil turned back to Merry, "Come, Merry', he said, "We must make
haste and get you home. But first, we must see to your injured foot--and I can see hunger in your eyes."
It was a bit of a task to coax Perva and Pippin out of their safe tree but when she noticed Elladan setting out food, her hunger and cold got the best of her. As Pippin was being handed down to Thorongil, he took one look at the big Man and his eyes went wide. "Are you Big Fokes gon' ta eat me? Or my tongue?"
"No, little one, we eat the same food as you!" I mean Really, Elladan!, Thronogil threw a look to his companion, Where do they get such ideas? Elladan only shook his head.
Thorongil took Perva and Pippin over to the blanket Merry sat on. He took from his pack a loaf of bread and a flask. He broke the loaf into three sections and handed each child a piece. The children ate the bread hungrily and washed it down with the liquid Thorongil offered. It tasted sweet and fresh as clear spring water, and it made them feel warm inside. As Merry ate, Thorongil quickly bathed and bandaged his foot, and wrapped a new bandage around it.
Pippin sneezed. He sniffed and wiped his nose with his shirtsleeve. Thorongil took Pippin, while still stuffing bread in his mouth, and tucked him inside his cloak to warm him up. He and Elladan each gave an extra blanket to Merry and Perva to keep warm with.
After Thorongil settled the older children on the horses, he hoisted himself
into the saddle. Merry held a death grip on the saddle. Perva rode with Elladan. With a flick of the reins, off they rode in the direction of Tuckborough
