Chapter Five: Paying the Piper

Paladin paced in front of the couch in his study; all three children were lined up sitting on it--Merry and Pervinca were now dressed in dry clothes. Paladin had a method to his pacing; he knew it filled each child with the dread of what was to come--the exact effect he was looking for. Paladin was aware that three pairs of young eyes followed his every move.

Both he and Eglantine took their parental responsibilities seriously. It was up to himself and his wife to ensure their brood was well brought up and behaved respectably. Running off without telling a grown-up he considered the worst offense; especially when they knew it was the wrong thing to do. He could deal with a saucy child, and he could deal with tantrums. And when it came to their safety, he made sure he dealt with that, too; because if anything ever happened to any of his children, he could never forgive himself.

He paused momentarily in his pacing, put his pipe down on a nearby table, and blew out a long tendril of smoke.

"I'm very disappointed in you, Meriadoc," he finally said, and he then looked at his son, "and you, too, Peregrin." He stood with arms crossed, "I would swear that we had already been through this just last week!"

Merry swallowed down the anxiety in his throat at what he was about to do, but he felt he had to do something; it was his fault they got into this mess. If he had stayed in his room as he was told to do, neither of his young cousins would be sitting here. He took a deep breath, "Uncle Paladin...sir. May I say something?"

Pippin and Pervinca both looked at Merry as if he were utterly mad. Now we're in for it!, Pippin thought to himself.

Paladin glared at his nephew, "Be quick!"

"Sir," Merry's knees quaked as he stood up, "if each of us is able to give one good lesson we've learned today, will you forgo the swatting?

Paladin stood without a sound and thought on this. He knew Merry stood up because he believed himself to be the one responsible--and inwardly, Paladin agreed. Merry was the one told to stay in bed; if he had done so, Pippin and Pervinca wouldn't have been so inclined to follow him.

The silence was eating at Merry; Now what have I done? I've really brought it on this time!

Paladin decided to play along with Merry's idea. After the long arduous silence, he finally spoke: "I will forgo the swatting if I deem the lesson good enough." Then he walked in front of Pippin. "You will be first, Peregrin."

Pippin licked his lips in nervousness; Why am I always first?, he thought as he stood. He was a natural for thinking on his feet, and for all the outlandish "lessons" he could tell his father he learned, he opted for the truth: "I....", he faltered, "I, um....I thought I was the one at fault for Pervinca's fall into the water. And I felt horrible knowing that for a split moment...." He looked at his sister, "...there was a chance she wouldn't be alive now." Tears sprang from his eyes and he wiped them away. "Both she and Merry could have drowned and....and..." Pippin couldn't finish, and sat back down with his head in his hands.

"Pippin!", Paladin called, "You may go. But we will speak later."

Pippin was still wiping he eyes as he stood up from the couch and left; he could be heard sniffling as he closed the door behind him. Pervinca and Merry were left.

Paladin next nodded to his daughter. "Pervinca, now you will tell me what lesson you learned today."

She looked at Merry as she stood up before her father, eyes wide open. She was not as adept as her brother in thinking on her feet, so she did as she always did: she told the truth. She spoke in a small voice that could barely be heard: "I learned that," she started.

"Speak up, child!" Paladin interrupted her, "I cannot hear you."

Pervinca cleared her throat and tried to speak a little louder. "I learned that I've behaved foolishly today; I knew that we shouldn't have gone so far without telling a grown-up." Then she glanced at Merry sitting beside her, "And I will be forever grateful to my dearest cousin.", then she added, "and before I go near another stream, I will learn how to swim first!"

Paladin inwardly smiled at his daughter's last statement. "Very well, Pervinca; you, too, may go."

Before her father could change his mind, Pervinca quickly made her exit. It was just Paladin and Merry left in the study.

Paladin stood in front of his nephew, "And what, pray tell, have you learned today, Merry?"

Merry stood up and addressed his uncle; "That I am the one who disobeyed Mrs. Longbottom and Aunt Tina, and that I am responsible for all that happened today."

"Well put." His uncle said. "And do you believe I will dismiss you for taking full responsibility?"

"No, sir."

Paladin reached inside a desk drawer and pulled out a long narrow paddle. He motioned for Merry to turn around and bend over. Merry did as instructed and grimaced at the expectation of several stinging blows.