Chapter Twelve: The Arrival

"He's here!!" Pervinca yelled. She was in the kitchen passing in front of the little window when she saw her uncle--and aunt! "Aunt Essie is here, too!" Pervinca was debating if she should haul the box of discarded items from the guest room out to the burn pile as the guests walked in, or if she should hide it in the wash room until later when it could be sent out discreetly. She opted for the latter and just in the nick of time; the bell rang as she made haste to shut the wash room door and pulled the scarf off her head. She patted the dust off of her dress and smoothed out the wrinkles, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

"Uncle Saradoc! Aunt Essie!", she smiled, "What a pleasant surprise!"

Saradoc eyed his young niece, "Did you not get our letter?"

"Umm...yes, Uncle, but we didn't know we'd have the pleasure of seeing Aunt Essie as well!", she quickly replied.

By this time, the rest of the family, minus Pearl and Merry, were in the kitchen greeting the guests.

"Ah, well, I do apologize for the change in plans; Essie dearly misses her son, and also wishes to see him."

Pippin replied, "Is he not your son as well?" Out of the mouths of babes!

The room went silent. Thinking quickly, Paladin spied Pearl's knitting bag on a chair nearby. He grabbed it and thrust it into his son's hands, "Pippin! Go take this to Pearl! She'll be needing it!"

Pippin took the bag, but hesitated, "But Papa! She's--"

"Now, Pippin!", and Paladin gave his young son a gentle shove down the hallway.

Paladin stepped forward and offered his hand to Saradoc, "I'm sorry, Sara! Pippin has a mind of his own!"

Saradoc took Paladin's hand and shook it, "He speaks the truth, Paladin; I wasn't careful of my words!"

Paladin gave Saradoc a firm pat on the shoulder, and led him away from the rest of the family, now chattering away and exchanging hugs. "It's good to see you, Sara, but tell me--why have you come so soon to claim Merry?"

Saradoc awkwardly looked about him, "Actually, I haven't come to claim him--yet. I've come to visit him--just as the letter stated." Then he added, "You said I got his attention at Bag End." Saradoc looked at his friend, "I want more than my son's attention, Paladin."

Outwardly, Paladin smiled and congratulated his sister's husband on his decision. Inwardly, though, his earlier conversation with his wife came to mind, and once again Paladin felt his heart troubled at the prospect of losing Merry.

"Well, before you visit him, you must know that he hasn't been feeling well; in fact, we just came from his room. He fell asleep in front of the fireplace and nearly succeeded in roasting himself. He says he still has a headache, though I thought it would've been gone by now."

Saradoc thought for a moment then looked at Paladin, "From his fall at Bag End?"

"So it would seem, but I think it's more from things on his mind." Paladin replied. "He's just a lad, yet he's making very grown up decisions about his life right now. We should be glad that a headache is all he has!"

By this time, Eglantine and Esmeralda were listening to their conversation. Esmeralda grew worried, "My son is ill?"

Eglantine took hold of Esmeralda's arm to lead her down the hallway, "Come, Essie! I'll take you to him."

As Esmeralda walked into her son's room, she saw Merry sitting up as Pearl helped him to drink more water. Seeing her aunt, Pearl quickly jumped up to surrender her seat on her cousin's bed. "Auntie!"

Merry looked over to where his cousin Pearl was gazing. "Mum!", he called and opened his arms out to her.

Esmeralda sat down and held her son in her arms wanting never to let go. Her tears fell freely down her cheeks as she whispered in his ear, "Oh, Merry! You have no idea how much I've missed you!" She sat next to her nearly grown baby and rocked him.

Eglantine shepherded her brood outside the bedroom so that Esmeralda and Merry could have a private moment.

Merry was also in tears, "I'm so sorry, Mum!"

Esmeralda hugged her son tight for a long while until she finally held his face in front of her own, feeling his feverish cheeks in her hands. She took out her handkerchief and wiped his tears away, "Gracious me, child, what in the Shire do you have to be sorry for?"

Merry sat back onto his pillows wiping his eyes with his hand, "Well, I've went and got myself into this fix, and I don't know how to get myself out now."

Esmeralda stroked Merry's damp curls away from his face. "Shhhh! You didn't get yourself into any sort of "fix"; your father got himself there!" Then she smiled, "I've done something I should have done long ago! I've dragged him out of his study, stole away the key, and forced him to take a look at his family; and most importantly, his son. For now, I want you to think about getting well!" She poured more water into the mug and put it up to Merry's lips, "Now I want you to drink up on water now; it will cool you and help rid you of your fever." She watched as Merry sat up and sipped more of the mug.

Having drank nearly half of the mug, Merry sat back again to relax and wiped his mouth, "I'm glad you're here, Mum."

"Your father thought to visit all by himself, but wild horses couldn't have kept me away!" Their small talk was momentarily interrupted when Pervinca knocked on the door and opened it. Pim walked in carrying a huge tray with supper for two. Having put aside the water pitcher, Pervinca helped her sister set up the little table.

"Do you think you can stand up, Merry?" Esmeralda asked.

"I think so, Mum." Merry swung his legs down and was able to stand up holding onto his mother's shoulder, but had difficulty letting go of the bed with the other hand; the room would still spin a bit.

"Let go, son! I can bear you!" Merry wasn't too sure, though....

Pim and Pervinca stood to the side watching the whole scene. Finally Pim went to the other side of her cousin, "Hold on to my shoulder as well, Merry!" Pim brought Merry's arm around her shoulder, and she supported his waist. Between his mother and Pim, Merry walked to the tiny supper table in his room.

"Another picnic indoors!", he said as he sat down.

"Yes--but I'm afraid your window won't be open like before!" Pervinca said. This time, it was she who helped Merry into his chair. Pervinca then lingered over her cousin, paying special attention to adjusting his plate, cup, and fork.

"Come on, Pervinca!", Pim took her little sister by the arm, "Let Merry and Auntie eat in peace!"