Notes to Readers:
Xena, what excellent, helpful, and encouraging reviews! When you reviewed Ch 8, you mentioned thinking the outcast was despicable for joining Lotho. You know, I rather feel sorry for him. This was really the only way for him to return to the Shire, you know, to join forces with the invaders, since the legitimate ruler had cast him out. Since you've already R&R'd chapter 9 you know how he redeems himself. As to Ferdi and the price on his head, well, he's earned it, what with sneaking in and out of Tookland, gathering news, and setting little surprises for the Ruffians. If he were stealing from the rich and giving to the poor he'd be a regular Robin Hood. Guess you could compare him to the Resistance workers in WWII, ever read any of their stories? Fascinating.
Pansy, thanks, it's nice to be missed. It's even nicer to be back. Are you reading over my shoulder? Funny how often your reviews accurately forecast future developments. As a matter of fact, in this chapter, the Thain asks the same question about the hole-digging...
LadyJea, You're not pathetic at all. (hug) You are a blessing to this writer.
eiluj, Welcome! Have you reviewed before? Thanks for the kind words. Yes, the Muse moved in back in February when I was suffering a spell of pneumonia, all the kids were sick, dh was out of town, and there was nothing else to do but lie around and write (when not reading aloud to the little ones). Prolific? Perhaps, though "obsessed" might be a better word. I try to write a chapter a day on both stories I'm currently working on. If I hit a block on one of the stories, a short, one-chapter story often pops up to take the place of the daily chapter. I do not know how long this will last, but am enjoying it in the meantime...
Marion, well, Paladin did weep over his son's return; deep down, he really does love Pippin, though he usually doesn't let himself show it. And for a little while, things will be pretty smooth between father and son, not because I have changed the character of the characters, but because "absence makes the heart grow fonder", they love each other, and for awhile Pippin will be doing exactly what his father orders him to do, i.e. scour the remaining ruffians out of the Shire. However, as soon as Pip starts showing signs of thinking for himself, the old troubles might reappear...
Hai, yes, Ferdi has become full-blown in my imagination. I keep wanting to look for other stories about him on ffnet... silly, eh?
FantasyFan, the next installment is up, and the one after that is here in this very post, so enjoy. But you might want to bring a hankie.
***
Chapter 10. Restoration
Old Tom Clayburrow stood over the body of his son, looking down in silence. Regi came, stooped to check for life, started to lift the outcast.
'Where are you taking him?' Tom bestirred himself to ask.
'To the waggons,' Regi answered.
'Back... to Tookland? But, I thought...' Tom said, confused.
'He saved Pippin's life,' Regi said quietly. 'That counts for something.' He looked up at Old Tom. 'He's dying,' he said bluntly. 'I'm no healer, but I can read the signs. He might as well die at home, after what he's done.'
Old Tom nodded and bent to help lift his son. The outcast stirred and moaned slightly. 'It's all right, lad,' Old Tom said reassuringly. 'We're taking you home.'
'Da?' the outcast whispered, half opening his eyes, then he closed them again with a sigh. They carried him to the waggons and laid him down beside Ferdi; Regi climbed up to sit between them in case either should stir. Old Tom marched alongside, holding his son's hand.
When they were halfway to Tuckborough, darkness fell, and the waggons proceeded slowly by torch- and lantern-light. A score of Tooks had been injured in the battle, struck down by clubs, fists, kicks, hacked by knives, pierced by arrows. Some moaned softly as the waggons bore them along, others lay ominously still. Nineteen hobbits had died in the battle, some Tooks among them, and these had been buried together in a grave upon the hill-side in Bywater.
Tuckborough was lit up as if it were already Yuletide, and shouting, singing hobbits were in the streets. They quieted as the waggons entered the town, seeing the cargo, and fell in line behind the procession, silently following all the way to the Great Smials.
The Thain came out to meet them, his broad grin fading as he saw the occupants in the torchlight. 'Pippin?' he said to Regi as the latter hopped down from the first waggon.
'He had some business to discuss with Lotho Baggins, I was told,' Regi said.
The Thain's eyes went to the outcast. 'What's he doing here?' he asked sharply. Regi explained, and Paladin nodded. 'Of course,' he said. 'I would have done the same.' He turned to Old Tom. 'I reverse my judgment.'
'Thank you, Sir,' Old Tom said with a nod.
The Thain's eyes went over the other occupants of the waggon, stopping on Ferdi. 'Who...?' he started to say, then stopped. The bloody bandages, the purpling bruises, the swelling had made it difficult, but he recognised Ferdi at last.
'He was in the thick of it,' Regi said with a sigh. 'Saved me from gaining a few extra holes in my head.'
'Of course,' Paladin said, then raised his voice. 'Let's get them all inside,' he ordered. He looked down the line of waggons, spotting several healers already at work. 'Woodruff!'
***
Thain Paladin sat by the bed where the outcast lay. One of Healer Woodruff's assistants, Mardibold Took, finished his examination and shook his head sadly.
'Thank you, Mardi,' Paladin said. 'You may leave us.'
Old Tom, his wife Tansy, and the rest of their children hovered at the foot of the bed. The Thain looked up, nodded to them, and Tom and Tansy stepped to the other side of the bed, Tansy taking her middle son's hand and Tom encompassing both their hands in his.
'Nibs, can you hear me?' Paladin said.
The eyes opened, to look at him in surprise. The Thain smiled. 'Yes, lad,' he said, 'You have your name back.' Tansy suppressed a sob, and Paladin continued. 'With no thought for yourself, you saved my son from a ruffian's arrow.'
'Aye,' the outcast whispered. 'Couldn't let him... couldn't let him shoot... Pippin.'
'Can you tell me why you dug those holes?' Paladin asked.
'Gold,' Nibs breathed. 'They offered... gold, said it was just... mischief.'
Paladin sighed. 'Gold,' he said. 'I'm sorry, lad. Gold shines with a pretty gleam, but I've found it fairly useless when it comes to the things that matter.' Nibs nodded, and Paladin felt the fingers flutter weakly in his handclasp.
'I know,' he whispered. 'It wasn't worth... being cast out.'
Paladin nodded. 'It couldn't buy me my son back, when I thought him lost,' he said. '...but you kept me from losing him again, and I'm that grateful to you.'
Nibs smiled.
The Thain continued. 'I have rescinded my order. Your offences have been pardoned. You are no longer outcast, you have been restored to your place amongst the people of the Shire. I have written your name again in the Book this night, with my own hand. May it stand there forever.'
Nibs sighed, still smiling, and his mother bowed her head and began to sob softly. Old Tom reached out, gently closing his son's eyes. 'Good night, my lad,' he said softly. 'May all your dreams be of peace.'
Xena, what excellent, helpful, and encouraging reviews! When you reviewed Ch 8, you mentioned thinking the outcast was despicable for joining Lotho. You know, I rather feel sorry for him. This was really the only way for him to return to the Shire, you know, to join forces with the invaders, since the legitimate ruler had cast him out. Since you've already R&R'd chapter 9 you know how he redeems himself. As to Ferdi and the price on his head, well, he's earned it, what with sneaking in and out of Tookland, gathering news, and setting little surprises for the Ruffians. If he were stealing from the rich and giving to the poor he'd be a regular Robin Hood. Guess you could compare him to the Resistance workers in WWII, ever read any of their stories? Fascinating.
Pansy, thanks, it's nice to be missed. It's even nicer to be back. Are you reading over my shoulder? Funny how often your reviews accurately forecast future developments. As a matter of fact, in this chapter, the Thain asks the same question about the hole-digging...
LadyJea, You're not pathetic at all. (hug) You are a blessing to this writer.
eiluj, Welcome! Have you reviewed before? Thanks for the kind words. Yes, the Muse moved in back in February when I was suffering a spell of pneumonia, all the kids were sick, dh was out of town, and there was nothing else to do but lie around and write (when not reading aloud to the little ones). Prolific? Perhaps, though "obsessed" might be a better word. I try to write a chapter a day on both stories I'm currently working on. If I hit a block on one of the stories, a short, one-chapter story often pops up to take the place of the daily chapter. I do not know how long this will last, but am enjoying it in the meantime...
Marion, well, Paladin did weep over his son's return; deep down, he really does love Pippin, though he usually doesn't let himself show it. And for a little while, things will be pretty smooth between father and son, not because I have changed the character of the characters, but because "absence makes the heart grow fonder", they love each other, and for awhile Pippin will be doing exactly what his father orders him to do, i.e. scour the remaining ruffians out of the Shire. However, as soon as Pip starts showing signs of thinking for himself, the old troubles might reappear...
Hai, yes, Ferdi has become full-blown in my imagination. I keep wanting to look for other stories about him on ffnet... silly, eh?
FantasyFan, the next installment is up, and the one after that is here in this very post, so enjoy. But you might want to bring a hankie.
***
Chapter 10. Restoration
Old Tom Clayburrow stood over the body of his son, looking down in silence. Regi came, stooped to check for life, started to lift the outcast.
'Where are you taking him?' Tom bestirred himself to ask.
'To the waggons,' Regi answered.
'Back... to Tookland? But, I thought...' Tom said, confused.
'He saved Pippin's life,' Regi said quietly. 'That counts for something.' He looked up at Old Tom. 'He's dying,' he said bluntly. 'I'm no healer, but I can read the signs. He might as well die at home, after what he's done.'
Old Tom nodded and bent to help lift his son. The outcast stirred and moaned slightly. 'It's all right, lad,' Old Tom said reassuringly. 'We're taking you home.'
'Da?' the outcast whispered, half opening his eyes, then he closed them again with a sigh. They carried him to the waggons and laid him down beside Ferdi; Regi climbed up to sit between them in case either should stir. Old Tom marched alongside, holding his son's hand.
When they were halfway to Tuckborough, darkness fell, and the waggons proceeded slowly by torch- and lantern-light. A score of Tooks had been injured in the battle, struck down by clubs, fists, kicks, hacked by knives, pierced by arrows. Some moaned softly as the waggons bore them along, others lay ominously still. Nineteen hobbits had died in the battle, some Tooks among them, and these had been buried together in a grave upon the hill-side in Bywater.
Tuckborough was lit up as if it were already Yuletide, and shouting, singing hobbits were in the streets. They quieted as the waggons entered the town, seeing the cargo, and fell in line behind the procession, silently following all the way to the Great Smials.
The Thain came out to meet them, his broad grin fading as he saw the occupants in the torchlight. 'Pippin?' he said to Regi as the latter hopped down from the first waggon.
'He had some business to discuss with Lotho Baggins, I was told,' Regi said.
The Thain's eyes went to the outcast. 'What's he doing here?' he asked sharply. Regi explained, and Paladin nodded. 'Of course,' he said. 'I would have done the same.' He turned to Old Tom. 'I reverse my judgment.'
'Thank you, Sir,' Old Tom said with a nod.
The Thain's eyes went over the other occupants of the waggon, stopping on Ferdi. 'Who...?' he started to say, then stopped. The bloody bandages, the purpling bruises, the swelling had made it difficult, but he recognised Ferdi at last.
'He was in the thick of it,' Regi said with a sigh. 'Saved me from gaining a few extra holes in my head.'
'Of course,' Paladin said, then raised his voice. 'Let's get them all inside,' he ordered. He looked down the line of waggons, spotting several healers already at work. 'Woodruff!'
***
Thain Paladin sat by the bed where the outcast lay. One of Healer Woodruff's assistants, Mardibold Took, finished his examination and shook his head sadly.
'Thank you, Mardi,' Paladin said. 'You may leave us.'
Old Tom, his wife Tansy, and the rest of their children hovered at the foot of the bed. The Thain looked up, nodded to them, and Tom and Tansy stepped to the other side of the bed, Tansy taking her middle son's hand and Tom encompassing both their hands in his.
'Nibs, can you hear me?' Paladin said.
The eyes opened, to look at him in surprise. The Thain smiled. 'Yes, lad,' he said, 'You have your name back.' Tansy suppressed a sob, and Paladin continued. 'With no thought for yourself, you saved my son from a ruffian's arrow.'
'Aye,' the outcast whispered. 'Couldn't let him... couldn't let him shoot... Pippin.'
'Can you tell me why you dug those holes?' Paladin asked.
'Gold,' Nibs breathed. 'They offered... gold, said it was just... mischief.'
Paladin sighed. 'Gold,' he said. 'I'm sorry, lad. Gold shines with a pretty gleam, but I've found it fairly useless when it comes to the things that matter.' Nibs nodded, and Paladin felt the fingers flutter weakly in his handclasp.
'I know,' he whispered. 'It wasn't worth... being cast out.'
Paladin nodded. 'It couldn't buy me my son back, when I thought him lost,' he said. '...but you kept me from losing him again, and I'm that grateful to you.'
Nibs smiled.
The Thain continued. 'I have rescinded my order. Your offences have been pardoned. You are no longer outcast, you have been restored to your place amongst the people of the Shire. I have written your name again in the Book this night, with my own hand. May it stand there forever.'
Nibs sighed, still smiling, and his mother bowed her head and began to sob softly. Old Tom reached out, gently closing his son's eyes. 'Good night, my lad,' he said softly. 'May all your dreams be of peace.'