CHAPTER 5
The two boys stood with their hands in their pockets under the shade of an Elm tree and waited for Paladin to finish giving instructions to one of the workers. When he finished, he turned and walked over to them. For a moment he stared at the young hobbits. "You had a simple task; bring the pig to the butcher, then come to the fields to work. Did you do as I asked?", Paladin's tone had an edge to it.
"Yes, sir."
Knowing the boys would say just about anything to escape punishment, he asked more directly, "Did you both come straight here after the butcher?"
They eyed each other. "No, sir.", Merry replied, his eyes cast down to the ground.
"Hmm. What took your attention away from the task I gave you?"
They said nothing.
Even after the heated argument, neither boy would snitch on the other. Merry thought to say, Gee, uncle Paladin, I snuck out of Brandy Hall with my father's pipe and leaf, and well, your son and I decided to have a smoke before coming to work! He imagined that going over well with Paladin!
"I ask again" , Paladin was growing impatient, "what took your attention away from the task I gave you?!"
Again, silence.
"One day, when the two of you are grown hobbits and have children of your own, you may understand. For over three hours--THREE HOURS!--I had no idea where two of my children were!! Did something happen to them? Is all well at home? Were they waylaid in the road on their way here?", Paladin paced. "I don't expect that you would understand the torment you put me through!" He turned away. Again, he paced back and forth in front of them. Finally, he faced them and said, "Peregrin, you're first." Pippin looked up with dread. "Me?"
Paladin undid his belt. Pippin was worried. His father used his full name; but he'd been through this exercise many times--he was not a stranger to punishment! Pippin turned around and bent over. His father didn't hold back. He felt all five swats and their sting; his eyes welled with tears as he felt each lash. He went back to stand against the tree sniffling and wiping his eyes.
"Meriadoc.", Paladin called, "you're next."
Merry, on the other hand, was not as familiar with punishments as his younger, more saucier cousin. But he was to blame this time, and he would take his punishment. Yet Paladin's words kept echoing in Merry's mind; two of my children..., and then his confusion about his father, or lack thereof, surfaced--and he thought of his argument with Pippin over who truly cared for him.
He bent over and felt five lashes on his backside. He didn't really feel them though; not as much as the lashes his own father inflicted on the inside of his heart. As he stood up, he tried to hold together his swirling unsolved anger, but the tears sprang up anyway. Perhaps it was just as well; Paladin would think the punishment took affect. Merry just stood there as a stone, and stared straight ahead. Don't cry!, he heard himself inwardly. He bit his lip until it nearly bled. Don't cry!! But the weight was too much; his legs became weak and he sunk to the ground to sit. He was still trying to swallow the lump rising in his throat, when he just couldn't control it anymore. The tears fell, barely touching his face before hitting the ground, and he couldn't stop them.
Paladin knew his nephew almost as well as his own son; something was really wrong with Merry. He was crying--though Paladin could tell it wasn't from the lashing, but of something far deeper. His shoulders heaved with sobs. He walked up to his nephew and sat down next to him. "Merry, your tears are not from your punishment, are they?"
Still sobbing, Merry looked at the ground and slowly shook his head. He sniffed and tried to wipe away the tears as his sobs grew deeper; years of heartache rising to the surface.
Paladin hardly had to guess the cause of Merry's tears was his father, Saradoc, but he had to get him to open up. Merry had become closed as of late, and if Merry continued to keep his anguish to himself, he'd be doomed to a life of misery. He knew of Merry running away to stay with their cousin Frodo a month earlier. Merry had been such a wonderful lad to have around during his visits; the boy was always eager to help with the chores or in the fields. Only recently did Merry take to a few minor bad turns. Merry desperately needed a father who had a constant eye on him. Paladin remembered a vow he took upon himself several years earlier; he took Merry in his arms and held him, just as if he was his own son.
A little while later, Paladin remained on the ground next to Merry with his arm around him, and Merry's face buried in his uncle's shoulder. Merry had stopped crying....for now. Merry had been so upset that Paladin could feel him gasp for air every minute or so.
Pippin sat on the other side of Paladin, quiet, and worried about his cousin. Paladin put his other arm around Pippin and drew him close. He wanted Pippin to know he was not like Saradoc. But why should that happen? Though Paladin had guessed Pippin was going to be a bit more of a challenge to raise than he first thought, he made sure Pippin knew he was loved. He kissed Pippin's curly head.
"Papa?", asked Pippin, barely audible.
"Yes?", Paladin spoke softly.
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
CHAPTER 6
The sun was setting as they rode up the lane to the smial. Merry and Pippin sat behind the buckboard, bouncing the whole way home. Pippin noticed Merry stared into nothing the whole ride. He tried to talk to Merry, but he'd only shrug; even with a simple yes or no question. Maybe he's still angry with me, Pippin thought.
Pippin hopped out of the wagon as they pulled to a stop. He could hear the dishes clinking inside the kitchen, the chatter of women preparing supper. The aroma of bread baking made it's way to Pippin's nose; he could feel the warmth of it all spill out into the night. He thought about Merry; the only warmth Merry ever felt at home came from his mother; and she was only one candle in the chasm between Merry and his father.
Merry crawled out the back of the wagon. "May I please be excused from supper?"
Merry spoke so softly that Paladin barely heard his request. Merry looked like he hadn't slept in a week. He was a typical sixteen-year-old lad, usually full of energy and mischief. This evening, though, he carried a huge weight on his shoulders.
Paladin understood Merry wished to be alone right now. "Shall a platter be brought to you?", Paladin offered.
"No, thank you, sir." Merry almost whispered. He remained where he stood waiting to be excused.
Paladin's heart went out to his nephew. "Very well, I will look in on you after supper."
"Yes, sir." Merry said, and walked to the back entrance.
Paladin and Pippin carried the few tools they brought back from the fields into the barn. Neither spoke until they were walking towards the kitchen door.
"Papa?" Pippin walked slowly with his hands in his pockets, dragging his feet, feeling the dry loose earth under his toes.
"Hmm?" Paladin stopped walking to let Pippin catch up. He knew his young son was troubled over Merry's relationship with Saradoc.
Pippin stopped, and looked as if he was about to speak, he held his breath and hesitated. "I wish there was something we could do to help Merry", he finally said.
"So do I, Pip." He placed his hand on his son's shoulder and guided him through to the kitchen door.
No sooner had they walk in the kitchen, Pim grabbed Pippin by the arm and took him to task. "Look at my lip!" Pim's upper lip was red and chafed where she scrubbed to get the cosmetic paint off. It took all the strength Pippin had to not bowl over laughing.
"How am I supposed to attend the dance when I have a red and swollen lip?!" Pim was angry.
"What dance? You haven't even got an invitation I'll wager!", he teased his sister. "He probably changed his mind and burnt it!", Pippin retorted.
This only angered is sister all the more. Pim grabbed his arm and almost yanked it out, "You think you're so smart, eh? Mother says for your punishment you can wash every dirty dish after supper tonight and first breakfast tomorrow!! And I'll make sure every dirty dish and caldron is what you get!!"
To Pim's surprise he didn't argue. He let out a sigh and said nothing further. Pim thought for sure Pippin would whine and run to mamma or papa to get out of his duties, but Pippin looked out of sorts. All battles aside, she grabbed his arm again and took him into the hallway. "Pippin, what's the matter--are you sick?"
Pippin looked further down the hallway to the darker, unlit portion. Merry's door was there in the darkness, which told Pippin that Merry hadn't even bothered to light a fire for the night.
"Pippin?" Pim grew concerned.
Without looking at his sister he replied, "I'm worried about Merry."
Pim relaxed; she thought something serious was wrong with her brother. "He's a big hobbit, you know, Pip. He can take care of himself."
Pippin went into the day's events...well, the important ones, anyway. Then Pim knelt down to look him in his eyes. "Pip, you can't heal the world. Even papa will tell you that. Merry will be alright.", Pim tried to force a smile. The truth was, now she was worried. Merry was like another brother to Pim, and she loved him as such. They were close in age, as hobbits go, and she was naturally concerned over him.
"I'll leave you alone this time, Peregrin Took", Pim warned with a finger, "but don't count on it a second time!", and then she left to help in the kitchen.
