Hiders and Seekers
The Hobbit walking party (An in joke by Peregrin, in memory of a friend) crossed
The Water and set of in the general direction of Tuckborough, although they
didn't really have a final destination planned as this was considered much more
adventurous. As they walked they sang songs and told stories, eating quick lunches
and afternoon tea but not tiring until early evening when Meriadoc finally ordered
the stop for rest and dinner. Despite having walked since elevenses the younger
Hobbits were still full of energy and excitement, and with an hour before food
would actually be ready, a game of Hiders and Seekers was quickly devised.
"Don't go too far from the camp". Peregrin warned as the Gardener
boys ran off to hide, leaving Faramir to count.
"One"
"I think I'll cook the meat tonight". Meriadoc decided. "It won't
keep otherwise".
"Five"
"We could take them fishing tomorrow". Peregrin suggested.
"Seven"
"Are you sure we can keep them still for long enough?"
"Tenseeker seeking". Faramir quickly disappeared into the thicket.
***
"He's gone the wrong way". Pippin stifled a laugh as he watched Faramir
run off in the opposite direction. Behind him his brothers were searching for
a really good hiding place.
"Look, a hole". Hamfast whispered, and sure enough hidden away beneath
a tree root was a perfectly formed, and remarkably well hidden, animal burrow
leading right into a knoll. Without a further word between them the three boys
crawled into it, following it round and down until they came to a small cavern.
It was so dark that no one could see, but they held each others hands and waited,
laughing amongst themselves. They had this game won.
Time passed, and they waited, at one point thinking they had heard Faramir walking
over the knoll, but saying nothing. More time passed, and they started to feel
hungry.
Faramir, who had been walking around the forests near the camp, was even hungrier,
and finally he admitted defeat. "Seekers surrender, Hiders out".
"Finally". Merry said in the darkness. "Come on, the entrance
is over here". He groped around until he had found a hole in the wall.
"No it's not, it's over here". Pippin said, having found a similar
hole on his side of the cave.
"There's a hole over here, it's this one".
With no wind to guide them, and the air musty wherever they went, there was
no way to distinguish the holes. Silence followed, then through the pitch darkness
three shrill voices called in unison. "Help!"
Through sheer luck their cry was heard by Peregrin, whose own search for the
boys had brought him to the top of the knoll for a better look.
"Merry they're over here!" Where had the cry come from? It wasn't
loudest in any particular direction, save up or
"Help!"
down.
"Oh no". Carefully, Peregrin knelt down on the ground, feeling the
vibration of movement under his hands as he placed an ear against the grass.
"Boys".
"Uncle Pippin, we can't see the entrance any more".
"I'm scared".
Faramir and Meriadoc were now standing at the bottom of the knoll, Meriadoc
shaking his head. "Tell me they're not inside that hill".
"It was Hamfast's idea". Pippin's voice called from the mound.
"Was not".
"Was so". Merry and Pippin chorused.
"Was not".
"Just stay calm boys, Uncle Merry and I will get you out". Slowly,
as if afraid that too much movement would collapse the knoll, Peregrin climbed
down. "Look for the way in". They started to search the bottom and
brow of the knoll frantically.
As soon as Faramir was out of immediate ear shot Peregrin turned to his cousin.
"Sam is going to kill us".
Merry, who was somehow staying extremely calm, shook his head. "Rose can
run faster".
*** *** ***
