Chapter Six: A Grateful Piper
Merry was waiting to hear the wind and feel the sting of the paddle. He felt nothing. He was still bracing for impact when he heard his uncle sit down in a chair somewhere nearby. Not knowing what else to do, he remained bent over.
"Do you want me to swat you?" Merry heard his uncle at the far end of the study. He looked up and saw that Paladin had put away the paddle and had sat in his favorite overstuffed chair, re-lighting his pipe.
Not one to take unnecessary risks, he stood straight up, "No, sir! But I thought..." Merry stammered.
"I know what you thought," he puffed, "and you deserve some sort of punishment for upsetting your Auntie, but I've decided the last swatting you received was indeed your last."
Merry took his uncle's remark to mean he was washing his hands of him, "Very well, Uncle, I will begin packing at once."
Paladin observed the grim expression on his nephew's face, "Why? Do you plan on running away?"
Merry hesitated. "No, sir", Merry answered, "Will you not send me away?"
"No, Merry," He said, "You will not be sent away."
"Then what shall my punishment be?", Merry asked.
"You will be restricted to the Smial for three days.", Paladin answered. He saw Merry's face become ashen. "How is your head today?"
"Fine, Uncle." Merry said.
Paladin knew Merry wasn't entirely truthful. "You have no headache?"
Merry was silent.
"Then your headache remains?"
Merry knew he had to give an answer. "Only a little."
"Hmmm," Paladin bit his pipe, "You see, that's why it's three days and not one. It was only yesterday you left Bag End--and your breakfast in the hallway, and today you're suddenly better? How long have you rested today?"
Merry was again silent.
"I thought as much." Paladin replied. He stood up, "Let me see the wound."
Merry went over to his uncle and let him search through his hair above his right ear. It looked clean to Paladin; probably due to Merry's earlier swim. "It's all right for now, but I still mean for you to stay abed for the next day or so."
"Yes, sir." Was all Merry said.
"Lastly," Paladin said, "I want you to know I, too, am forever grateful; thank you for my daughter's rescue." Paladin put his arms around his nephew and hugged him tight. After a moment, he loosed Merry, and said, "I know you're angry at the moment, but I don't see any other way to get you to rest."
Still downcast, Merry said, "I'm am angry, but only with myself; now I shall miss three days of fresh air and walking about the meadows."
"You don't have to miss it, Merry!", Paladin grinned. "We will use tomorrow for your punishment day, as long as you stay in bed. If you do so, we will see about your 'walking about the meadows' on the third day." Then he cautioned the teen, "However, if you get out of bed for any reason other than nature, then all three days shall be punishment!"
The sparkle came back into Merry's eyes; he threw his arms around Paladin, "Thank you, Uncle!"
"Another last word; once you are up and walking about again, do not leave this area without telling your Auntie or Pearl, or myself even. Am I clear this time?"
"Yes, sir."
"Now to bed you go! "
