Chapter Five - 2 Yule

Still cold to the bone, Merry crawled under the covers in his bed and at once curled into a ball for warmth. His toes were like ice. After a few twists and turns they still felt like ice, which made it impossible for him to find sleep though he felt weary enough that he could sleep for a week.

Wrapping a blanket around himself, Merry got out of bed and sat in the rocking chair near the fire, feet propped up on a stool towards the warm fire in the hearth. He stared at the flames licking up into the chimney; mesmerized by the glow of the cinders rising up into the dark void. The wood hissed and crackled as Merry finally found the warmth his toes so desperately sought.

Out of the blue, as clear as a sunny afternoon in the Shire, his father's face was before him, dancing with the flames in the hearth. Merry wasn't startled; he knew it was his fatigue manifesting itself in this manner. He began to study the face once more. The lines drawn around the mouth still did not have a story behind them, but it was the warm, beating heart beneath that drew his attention. He stared not at the lines of age around the eyes or the mouth, but at the kindly expression the face held. The only thought that came to the tween's mind was that this hobbit--his dad--nearly perished today. And it was all for the love of the lady who stayed with him through thick and thin. Merry decided he wanted that sort of love between him and his future wife, though he vowed he would not tread the same path in life that his father did. It was that love that Merry saw in the face of his father that suddenly inspired him.

Rising up from the rocking chair, still wrapped in the blanket, Merry shuffled over to his office. It was a bit chilly in here as the fire he'd built earlier that day had died down to embers. No matter; he turned up the lamp, put another log on, and then set to making a cup of tea for himself. As the tea was steeping, he sat at his desk and uncovered the half-finished portrait. His mother was complete, though his father needed quite a bit of work--especially now after the recent revelation in the parlor. Taking a deep breath, he picked up a piece of charcoal and began where he left off.

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Salinda held a small candle to the left of Saradoc's face, and then moved it slowly to the right, watching his eyes following the light. His eyes were no longer large, but were now their normal size, and his color had returned during the night. She smiled and turned to Esmeralda, "He's going to be fine, Essie. Just make sure he stays in bed today, and keep him warm."

Saradoc sighed in disappointment. "Of all days--today is our wedding anniversary."

Salinda shook her head firmly, "You'll just have to celebrate your anniversary in....bed." The healer blushed when she realized what she'd said. Picking up her bag and shawl, she wished the couple a happy anniversary and left. "If you need anything, you both know where to call for me."

Once the outer door had shut, Esmeralda and Saradoc burst into laughter. "Oh, the poor woman!" Said Saradoc, wiping the tears of laughter from his eyes. "I would love to take her advice a little later, though right now, I could eat for a month! I haven't eaten since yesterday morning."

"Then you should have something to eat right away, dear." Esmeralda got up from the bed, went to the door and ordered a large breakfast for two from a servant that was stationed outside their quarters. However, when she returned, she had a young guest with her. "Look who I found outside our door!"

"I was about to knock when Mum opened the door. I have a gift for you both." Merry handed his mother a long, narrow roll of paper tied with a red ribbon. "Happy anniversary."

"Wait!" Said Saradoc. "Your Mum and I haven't exchanged gifts yet."

"I can always come back." Merry turned as if to leave.

"No!" Saradoc motioned for Merry to come sit on the bed. "I want you to sit with us as we do." He winked. "But would you please hand me my coat?" Merry gave his father the coat he'd worn the day before to Haysend, and then sat on the bed next to him.

Saradoc reached inside the breast pocket and pulled out a small wooden box. He cracked it open to make sure the items had not fallen out, then took the hand of his wife sitting next to him in the bed, and placed it in her palm. "Happy anniversary, love."

As Esmeralda opened the box, she saw the smiles on her husband and son's faces. "You know what it is, don't you, Merry?" Merry only smiled back at her. Her jaw dropped at the sight of the fine-crafted jewelry inside. She looked up at her husband, mouth still gaping wide. "Sara!" She held aloft a charm made of mithril attached to a chain made of the same material. Inlaid upon the charm were a diamond and two rubies on either side. Tears were welling in her eyes. "It's so beautiful!" She leaned towards Saradoc and wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.

"But that isn't all!" Saradoc took the box and emptied the last item into his hand. He took Esmeralda's right hand, and then slid onto her ring finger the same styled diamond and ruby ring. "The diamond," He said, "represents us in our marriage; a symbol of strength and endurance. The rubies, represents each of our sons." He then he smiled sadly as he latched the pendant around her neck, "Fortunately, they were born in the same month, so the stones match."

Merry watched as his mother embraced his father. She whispered something in his ear, for his hearing alone. Saradoc smiled, hearing the sweet things his wife was saying.

Wiping away her tears, Esmeralda announced she had a gift for her husband. She walked over to their wardrobe and opened a lower drawer. She hid her gift behind her back as she returned to the bed. "Close your eyes." She waited as he shut his eyelids. Merry was delighted watching his parents exchange gifts. Esmeralda held out the gift for her husband. "You may open them now."

"Oh!" Saradoc held up the dark blue smoking jacket that his wife had made.

Esmeralda was expecting a little more than 'oh". "You don't like it?"

Saradoc paused in examining the fine details of his new jacket. "Yes, I love it! It's exquisite....but I thought you hated my pipe smoking. You said long ago that it nauseated you. I had planned on quitting today as yet another gift for you."

The last three months of painstakingly sewing every stitch came to Esmeralda's mind. "Oh, no you don't!" She sidled up to her husband. "Besides, I've come to like the smell of pipeweed again of late. I don't know how or why, but....when you sit in the common room and smoke, I want you to think of me."

Saradoc tenderly kissed his wife, "Always."

Now it was Merry's turn. He crawled over the bed and sat between his mother and father so both could view the portrait at the same time. He untied the red ribbon and carefully unrolled the paper. He heard his Mum and Dad gasping in awe. "It needs to be put in a frame." Said Merry.

Saradoc was amazed at the detail of both faces. "This is truly marvelous, Merry. You are very talented!" He looked over to his wife, "We have an artist in the family."

Esmeralda was also viewing Merry's portrait with wonder, and without missing a beat, she replied, "He gets it from my side of the family."

Merry covered his mouth as he yawned, rubbing his tired, swollen eyes. "I worked all night to finish it after I stopped shivering." He blinked wearily, leaning back onto his mother's pillow.

"But the quality..." Saradoc trailed off. "It all looks so real...right down to the circles under my eyes!" He smiled and touched his own eyes. "This is lovely, Merry. Absolutely lovely. We shall treasure this forever."

"You stayed up all night?" Said Esmeralda. "Goodness, lad, you must go straight to your own bed and get some rest!" But when she looked back at her son, she found she was too late; his eyelids were already closed and was breathing deeply in sleep. She looked at her husband, whispering, "Should I wake him?"

"No, let him rest here." He whispered his reply, quietly rolling up the portrait and laying it aside on the table along with his brand new smoking jacket. He looked at Merry and smiled.

Esmeralda grinned. "What are you smiling about?"

"Actually, it's a joy--that is...well, unspeakable, and so I smile."

"Speak it to me; I'd like to hear it."

Saradoc took in a deep breath before softly speaking, so as not to waken Merry. "Well, to begin with, I have my beautiful wife and our remarkable son here at my side. I have come through the last thirty years only because of your love and devotion. There were many times, Essie...I questioned why you stayed with me, but..." He faltered, "I am glad that you did." He squeezed her hand. "I love you."

Esmeralda smiled warmly, and gazed into her husband's hazel eyes. She leaned in and kissed him.

As they kissed, neither one noticed the smile on Merry's lips.

The End.