Chapter Twenty-Four: Making an Effort

A week later, Merry sat under a large Birch not far from the Barn. He was deep in thought as he watched the fluffy white clouds float by. A chilly breeze swept past him, and so he wrapped his cloak tighter around himself to keep warm. The colorful leaves weren't as plentiful as they had been the week before, and Merry knew then that winter was closing in fast.

"Hullo, Merry!"

Merry startled. He looked up at the figure the voice belonged to and shaded his eyes to see better, but it wasn't necessary. He recognized the silhouette of this hobbit, and immediately knew who it was.

"Hullo, Uncle!" Merry saw he was holding two mugs with steam rising from each.

"Care for some tea?" Paladin leaned down to hand a mug to his nephew.

"Thank you!" Merry took the mug in his cold hands and sipped the hot liquid, nearly burning his lip in the process.

"Careful!" Paladin cautioned him. Keeping an eye on the contents in his own mug, Paladin sat down next to the teenager. "How do you like being an official part-time member of this family?"

Merry actions spoke more loudly than words; he leaned onto his uncle and lay his head on his shoulder. "I wish you were my father all the time."

Paladin sighed. "That's a nice wish, Merry. And I must admit, there have been times I've dreamed you were my son." Merry looked at his uncle. Paladin continued, "but we both know that's all it is: a wish." He smiled, "I can't tell you how many times I've told others that I have five children!"

"But I am your son!" Merry interjected, wanting to believe it all himself. "For all intents and purposes, you are my father--not my uncle!"

Paladin put his arm around his nephew and brought him closer. "I love you, Merry, as if you were my own flesh and blood! But we both know there is change in the air."

"Why must it change like this? Why couldn't he have stayed in his study without complicating things?"

"Now Merry!" Paladin squeezed him in a tighter hug. "You do have a father, and he wants you back as soon as you are able. He loves you, too, Merry--and don't forget your mother! Why, not a month ago I had a certain sixteen-year-old crying on my shoulder that he wanted his father to love him and take an interest in him! Do you remember that?"

"No."

"Yes you do!" Paladin laughed.

"I said all that because I didn't know then that it would all come true!"

"Well, I suppose it has." Paladin said. "Isn't that a good thing, though?"

It took Merry a few seconds to decide. "I'm not sure--and I don't think I ever will be."

"Perhaps that may be true, but isn't your Brandybuck inquisitiveness coming out? Don't you want to know for sure--beyond all doubt that you have honestly made an effort to get to know the hobbit that sired you?"

"I dare to say that that is all he's done so far!"

"Be reasonable, Merry!"

"I am being reasonable! I'm reasoning that after I make an effort to get to know him, he's going to trot back into his study and forget all about me again."

"Didn't he tell you the story of how he hurt his knee before he left?"

"Yes--and what an embarrassment!"

"Embarrassment?" Paladin chuckled. "I will tell you that when he told me the story, I almost split my gut laughing!" Merry eyed his uncle. "Merry, I was so happy to hear that tale! I knew then that the grumpy-old Saradoc that you've suffered through your whole life was gone--never to return! That's the Sara I grew up with--that's the Sara that was my best friend as a lad." Merry's eyes went wide. "You didn't know that, did you?"

Merry shook his head. "You and my father were...best friends?"

Paladin nodded. "Oh, and I can tell you, he was completely mad! Doing things like riding down a hillside in a wagon was normal for him!" Paladin smiled at the memories. "Between your father, cousin Addie, and myself, we went tramping everywhere in the Shire!"

Then Paladin grew serious. "Please promise me one thing, Merry."

"What is that, Uncle?"

"That you will make an effort, and that you will allow him to know you. At least try to. Please? For you old uncle's sake?"

Merry paused for a moment. "I will...for you."

Paladin hugged Merry closer, "That's all I ask, and you won't regret it!"

Merry enjoyed the comfort of his uncle's shoulder. "That remains to be seen, but I will give him a 'try' as you say."

The two hobbits, young and old, sat in comfortable silence for a while before going back inside the warmth of the smial. Merry savored the last few moments with his uncle--this being the last page of his life without Saradoc, his own father.

~~The End!!~~

Until a new continuing saga comes to mind!