Chapter Four - Runaway Merry

Merry and his uncle rode together in silence, listening to the clip-clop of the ponies' hooves. Paladin breathed in deeply the fragrances of spring. He loved this time of year; everything was new. He thought about the young lad sitting next to him. Where did the little boy go? The one who so willingly divulged his most inner thoughts? His eyes gazed at his nephew; his heart as mute as the trees they passed by.

Merry caught his uncle's glance. It made him feel uneasy; he knew his uncle was speculating about him. He sought to divert whatever was on his uncle's mind. "Are these new ponies? These look familiar."

Glad to have a moment of respite, Paladin replied, "Yes. As a matter of fact, I got Dumpling and Molasses from your father's stables this past Yule."

"I thought I'd seen them before. I wondered what happened to them." Merry said. "He didn't say a word to me--naturally--that's nothing unusual. One day I walked into the stables and they were gone."

Paladin grew anxious. "They weren't your ponies, were they?"

"No," Merry shook his head, "but I was always helping the stable master feed and groom them. I learned to ride last summer on Molasses there. Both will make fine work ponies."

"I think so." Paladin caught onto the my-father-doesn't-talk-to-me phrase. "Merry...does your father say anything to you at all?"

"One time I could hear my Mum and Dad arguing in his study. Then Mum came to me and took me into Dad's study and shut the door. I didn't know what to do, and the air became stifling. I didn't stay long." Merry answered. "He says good morning or good night, depending on the time of day, but he never says any more than he can bear."

He's finally opening up!, Paladin thought to himself. "How do you feel about all that?"

Merry shifted awkwardly in his seat. "I don't know." He stared out at the trees moving past.

"Does it make you sad, or does it make you angry?" Asked Paladin.

"I...I don't know."

"I'm only trying to help, Merry. I can't help you unless you open up and talk to me."

Merry's eyes were filling with tears--but he wouldn't dare cry. "I can't be helped." He finally spoke. "I'm cracked." He wiped away a tear streaking unbidden down his cheek.

"Now that is enough of that word, Merry! I won't have you saying that about yourself. Why are you behaving so?"

Merry became very agitated and whirled around in his seat, as if looking for a way of escape.

Paladin had a sense of what his nephew was about to do and pulled the ponies to a stop. "Oh, no you don't!" Just as the boy stood up, he almost grabbed a fistful of his cloak, but Merry had already jumped. Paladin scrambled out of the cart and ran after the boy. Merry was fast on his feet, however, he was no match for a grown hobbit; Paladin also noticed he was favoring one leg. Merry tried to wrestle out of his uncle's grasp, but was soon pinned to the ground.

"Merry! Stop it!" Paladin yelled, a bit winded from his sprinting. "What's the matter with you?"

Merry, also out of breath, said nothing. His eyes stung from the drying, salty tears in his eyes.

Both had calmed down after a few minutes. "Very well, Merry. If you refuse to speak, then I can't make you." He got up and offered his hand to the lad.

Merry hesitated to take the offered hand, but then, it wasn't his uncle he was angry with. So he took it.

"Just one thing, Merry." Said Paladin, brushing off the old leaves and twigs from Merry's clothes, "We're not far from the Smials. You will be on your best behavior, understand? None of this running away because you don't like what's being said. All right?" Merry nodded. Paladin kneeled down to take a look at the boy's leg, but he readily saw it was the ankle. It was a tad swollen, but it wasn't blue, and Merry was able to move it a some, albeit slowly. "It's not broken, but you should stay off of it as much as possible." He lifted and carried Merry to the waiting cart.

The rest of the trip was uneventful, and not a word was spoken. Never before had so much silence passed between these two. Soon the looming hills of Great Smials appeared in their path.

After leaving his ponies and cart in the stables, Paladin trudged up the lane carrying Merry pig-a-back. He warily eyed the Thain's entrance. He'd heard a bit of talk about Cousin Thain Ferumbras III. This is the reason he was visiting his cousin today. Rumor was that Ferumbras would probably never marry--mostly because of his mother, Lalia. Lalia was the current head of the Took clan, also known as The Took; an inherited and respectable title in and of itself. A lovely woman, extremely healthy, and quite domineering towards her only son. No lass in the Shire would ever be good enough for him, and so they all stayed away. Paladin was relieved as he passed by the lane--that no one opened the door to call for him, or even acknowledge him. He loved Lalia dearly, but she could talk a hobbit's pointed ears down to nubs.

He walked on until he came to another narrow lane with low, neatly trimmed hedges. His back was beginning to ache. He set Merry down to take a small rest.

"I can manage, Uncle. It's not far."

Paladin wiped the sweat from his forehead, "Don't overdo it, Merry. You may end up injuring your ankle further."

Merry was slow, but he hobbled very nicely up to the door, with a concerned uncle right behind him to catch him if he faltered. Paladin lifted the brass knocker and rapped the door with it three times. They could hear children running up behind the door, with muffled laughter, "No! I shall open the door! I won the race!" However, when the door finally opened, it was cousin Addie, who greeted them--wearing an apron and holding a spatula.

"You made it, cousin! I was about to send out my children to look for you! Elevenses is ready on the board." He hugged Paladin, giving a warm and inviting smile. "And hullo to you too, my little Bucklander! My you're growing very tall." It was then the laughing children peeked from behind the door. "Now's not the time to be shy, children. Come out and greet the lad."

Merry threw a questioning glance towards his uncle. Paladin explained, "He's met you before, though you may not remember it." Merry shook his head.

"This is Everard--he's nearly eleven," Announced Addie, "and this is Sadabelle--she's thirteen." Then he spoke to his children, "This is Merry Brandybuck, and you're ten years old, am I correct?" Addie winked.

Merry smiled at Addie's erroneous observation. "No, sir, I'm eight--but I'll be nine years old this summer!"

"My apologies, Master Merry!" Addie turned once again to the children, "He's come all the way from Brandy Hall in Buckland to visit us. So make sure you welcome him nicely."

"Aye, father." They chorused.

"Didn't Pimpernel come this time?" Sadabelle seemed disappointed that no lass was among the visitors.

"I'm afraid not." Paladin replied. "The barn cat had kittens, and so that is where her interest is lying right now."

Sadabelle smiled, "Oh, father! May we have a kitten?"

"Thanks, Paladin!" Addie gave a look of exasperation.

Smiling as he entered, Paladin replied, "Always aim to please."