Chapter Seven - Heart to Heart

A somber mood pervaded the dining room like a dark cloud over the family and guests. Supper was quiet; hardly anyone spoke. After the initial affair of passing food platters and carafes of water around the table, only murmurs of 'please pass the rolls' or 'may I have the salt' was all that was said. Paladin broke the silence when he asked the whereabouts of Merry and Pippin; both were absent from the table.

Merimas answered, "I believe they went riding, sir." When he finished his statement, Merimas caught the stare of pretty lass sitting across from him.

"They should have returned by now. They know when supper takes place." Paladin was concerned; both lads were always on time for meals, unless they were sick.

Merimas still held her gaze when he answered, "I'm finished. If I may be excused, I shall go looking for them."

Pervinca blushed, averting her eyes. When she thought his attention was elsewhere, she found herself drawn to gaze in his direction. So well mannered he was; so handsome, she thought. Would he…? But no, she thought. He was an older, more mature tween with no time for younger tweens such as herself.

~ ~ ~

Merimas was riding his pony along the same bridle path he knew his cousin to take earlier before supper. He saw the path was forked in the distance; the right lane followed a bend on the outer rim of the meadow, while the one to the left went through a grove of trees. Both lanes merged back together on the far side of the field where the trees ended. He leaned on the pommel of his saddle trying to decide which way his cousin would have gone. He saw the group of trees on the left path, but thought the lowering sun would make it too dark to travel under. He decided on the path to the right. Merry and Pippin had been gone long enough to have gone farther than these trees.

Earlier, after Merry stormed out of his room, guilt began to work at Merimas. He did recall telling his cousin that he would spend less time studying, but unfortunately, he could not abandon it altogether. Maybe he could reduce it some. With that decision made he put his books away. He thought perhaps they would all do something together after supper, but when the lads were absent from the table, he, too, wondered what was keeping them away. He went out to the stables to fetch his own pony, as he volunteered to be the one to search for the lads. He felt could still catch up to them.

As he was pondering this, he was surprised to see a pony running out from the grove. He puzzled at this; was the pony spooked? When the pony ran past, he recognized it as belonging to Pippin. Something was not right. Merimas kicked his pony into a run, heading for the trees. As he drew close to the trees, he saw someone emerge from the lengthening shadows of the trees, carrying a small burden. The figured walking towards him looked to be…"Merry!"

~ ~ ~

When Pippin woke up, it was dark inside his room. Through the twilight seeping through the window, he could see two slumped figures in sitting chairs on either side of the bed. The door was open to his parlor; it's dull light of several lit candles spilled into his room. He determined one of the slumped figures was Merimas when he saw some of the light flickering on his face. He was asleep. Pippin could not see the face of the other hobbit so he lifted himself onto his elbows for a better look. He felt a wave of nausea come over him then rolled over onto his side to ease the sensation.

"Do you need the pail again?"

"No."

Neither hobbit spoke for a while. It was an uncomfortable silence for both. They were life-long friends, and for the first time in their lives they had nothing to say to one another. Merry got up after a minute and took a couple cloths from the ice water to change the ones that were already about his cousin's head. As he wrung out the water, he caught sight of a small scar on the skin just inside of his hand, between his left forefinger and thumb. As he remembered the meaning of the scar he paused. He stared at it for several minutes; enough time to warrant dipping the cloths into the ice again.

The small scar was almost invisible now after eight years. The 'ceremony' took place after one of the most disastrous birthday parties that he had ever attended. One day, while he and Pippin were on the mend at Whitwell, they took an excursion down to the stream. Merry had lit a small fire near the trees and then revealed the paring knife he pinched for just this purpose. He had whetted it using a small rock he found, then washed it in the stream. As the fire became hot, Merry held the knife edge over the fire; imitating what he saw the healers to. It was then and there that they declared their undying friendship to one another. They would be more than cousins--and to some degree, more than friends. They would be brothers. If they couldn't be brothers through their parents, then they would be brothers through a promise.

The ice in the bowl brought Merry back to the present when his hands began to feel numb.

Pippin saw that his cousin was standing still for a long time then pulled his hands out of the bowl with a jerk. "What's wrong?" he asked.

Merry dried his hands with a towel. Rubbing his hands together to warm them up, he ventured his third attempt to wring out the cloths.

He gently put the cool cloths around Pippin's head. "How does that feel?" he asked.

The teen shivered when Merry touched him. "Cold--and so are your hands," he answered.

"To match a cold heart, eh?"

"What are you talking about? Are you insulting me again, Merry?"

"I was speaking of my own," Merry replied. "Do you remember these?" He held his hand out at an angle for Pippin to view his scar.

Taking his hand out from under the blankets, Pippin looked at his own scar that lay in the same place as Merry's. It seemed so small, so long ago. He was a little boy when he pledged his love to his cousin; to be friends and brothers for life.

"I'm sorry, Pip. Above all others--except your mum and dad, I should be the most understanding of everyone. I should have accepted the new Pippin before anyone else, but…," he hesitated, "I was being a pigheaded, stubborn Brandybuck again." He added sadly, "I'm going to miss the old Pippin."

Pippin reached out with his left hand to grasp Merry's and drew him down to sit on the edge of the bed; their scars touching as he spoke. "You weren't entirely wrong, Mer. At first, I changed because I felt so wretched over what I said to Pervinca. But when I saw that my 'changing' wasn't liked by some," Pippin smiled at Merry, "then I think the Brandybuck blood that mixed with mine long ago boiled up and got stubborn. I thought if everyone believes Pervinca can change, then why can't I?"

"But she didn't change, Pip--she just," Merry searched for the right word, "grew up--and you will, too. In fact, I think it's started already. You have to admit it, Pippin; changing overnight like that is quite drastic. It took everyone by surprise. When you let the change come gradually as you mature then it's not so severe. Am I making sense?"

Pippin was elated. "You really think I'm starting to grow up?"

"Yes," Merry smiled, "It was bound to happen sooner or later, Pip." The momentary silence was broken by a loud grumbling noise, then Pippin held his stomach. Both hobbits went into a fit of quiet snickering, trying not to awaken the others. "But I don't think you'll ever be done growing on the outside!"

~ ~ ~

Merry was on his way to the kitchens to get breakfast for him and a very hungry Pippin when Pervinca stepped out of her room, nearly bumping into him. He walked on the far side of the hallway.

"Merry," Pervinca called after him. Merry kept on walking. "Please!"

Merry stopped and turned on his heels. "What?"

"I want to apologize for what I said yesterday."

Merry put his hands in his pockets. "Really? What changed your mind? Am I still not the same lazy hobbit who stood before you then?" A few dining room servers passed by in the hallway. Pervinca looked as if she were about to burst into tears. Now he was feeling bad for what he just said. "Let's go into the sitting room, shall we?"

Merry felt the morning chill in the room as they entered. The cousins settled themselves next to each other on a couch so they could speak privately. He noticed his cousin fidgeting with the fringe on the pillow she set in her lap. "Well?"

Her eyes remained fixed on her fingers. "I want to say that I'm sorry. You have never been lazy, Merry; you've always been good to me, helping me whenever I have asked for it." She continued to look at her fingers. She noticed a catch in one of her nails and proceeded to pick at it.

"Then why did you say what you did?"

Pervinca took a deep breath and plunged in. "I was angry that you had guessed what I wanted. You always see through my schemes, Merry, and it made me angry. I was also afraid that you would guess the other half of it and laugh at me, so in order to keep you from guessing it, I…I created an argument."

Merry puzzled. "The other half? You mean…" Then he understood. "You mean Merimas? You wanted to visit Merimas?" He smirked, "Then why were you asking me to take the letter to him?"

"Because I was going to go with you, silly boy," she sheepishly answered, nudging his leg with her own.

Merry nudged her leg in return. "I didn't guess it--and I would not have laughed, silly girl. I think it's wonderful that you like him." This was good news, he thought to himself. Perhaps he would have a heart-to-heart talk with Merimas after breakfast.

Pervinca threw her arms around her favorite cousin, "Thank you, Merry."

Chapter Eight - Pervinca in Demand

It was after lunch when Paladin was sitting at his desk, alone in his study. He heard someone knock upon the door then boldly enter the room. He looked up and saw it was his dearest Tina. He smiled, walked over to his wife and kissed her in greeting. "What brings you to my humble dwelling, love?"

"I am entreating on behalf of a young lad to beg for just a half hour of your precious time…," she pretended to be confused, "yes, I believe that is how he said it."

Paladin laughed, sitting down next to his wife on the couch, "Who is he and why does he want a half hour of my time?"

She returned a tender kiss to her husband before she arose from the couch saying, "Sit here, and you will see."

He watched his wife depart his office; so elegant she looked in the simple frock she wore. After Thirty-one years of marriage, Paladin still thought she was the most beautiful lass in the Shire. He was musing on their courting days when the guest walked in. Paladin stood up and offered his hand to the young hobbit. "Merimas! Are you the lad my wife was imploring for?"

Merimas was used to addressing important elders. He was only a tad nervous, but he laid it aside. He smiled his reply, "Yes, I must confess that I solicited your lovely wife for my own gains."

"What can I do for you?"

Merimas did not dance around the issue; he went straight to the purpose of his visit. Taking a deep breath, he spoke, "I would ask for your blessing to escort your beautiful daughter, Pervinca, to Miss Estella's birthday party."

~ ~ ~

Later that afternoon, once Pippin was feeling better, he stood in the sitting area of Pimpernel's room and called to her. He smiled, as he yelled out, "Someone left you a gift out here, MISS Pimpernel! I suggest you come out here and get it before it runs away!"

Pimpernel was in the bedroom; she looked up from the letter she was writing and smiled at the recognition of the voice. Her smile momentarily disappeared in order to give full affect to her response, "If you dared enter my room without so much as a knock, I am going to flay you for supper, Peregrin Took!" Then her smile reappeared.

"That's only after you catch me, you indolent lass!"

Pippin was smiling as Pimpernel came running out into her sitting room. He held out a bouquet of wild flowers to her.

Taking the flowers, Pimpernel gave her young brother a warm embrace, "Don't you ever worry me like that again, you wicked little boy!"

Pippin had a wry grin on his face when he answered, "I'm not little!" He felt her give him a gentle squeeze.

~ ~ ~

Paladin was again sitting at his desk. Merimas had left mere minutes ago when he was interrupted by another knock on his door. This time it was Merry who walked in.

"What is it, son?"

Merry tried to keep from smiling, but he did like it when his dear uncle called him that. "I, um…," he stammered, "I would like to ask your permission to…"

It was obvious to Paladin that Merry had no more experience in this than young Mirto Boffin had. He leaned back in his chair, quite amused by his nephew's gallant gesture. "My permission for what?"

"To…accompany Pervinca as her escort to Estella's birthday party," he continued. "I've heard that she is still in need of an escort."

"I am afraid I must inform you, Merry," Paladin answered, "that Merimas has already asked."

"And?" Merry was eager to know the results. He was happy to hear his cousin had in fact left his books long enough to summon up the courage and ask.

"I gave him my blessing," he said, "but Pervinca must agree to it. It really is up to her."

~ ~ ~

Nearly an hour had passed since Merry had left his study when Paladin sat down on his couch to enjoy a belated cup of tea. Just as he was taking his first sip, he heard another knock upon the door. "Come in." Paladin set his cup down on the tea table.

"Sir?"

"Degger! How nice to see you today. How is the gardening coming along?" Paladin was truly happy to see the young gardener; he could leave Pervinca's matters aside for a moment.

Degger held his straw sunhat in his hands--it helped to keep them from shaking too much. He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out; his tongue was clinging to the roof of his dry mouth.

"Glass of water?"

Degger nodded. He took the cool refreshment and drank the entire glass in just several gulps.

Paladin noticed that the lad was trembling. "Please, sit down, Degger." He wondered to himself what in Middle-earth could have happened in the gardens to make him appear so anxious. It was rather cool in the Smials for a fine summer's day, yet Paladin could see perspiration glistening on the lad's face.

The tween placed the empty glass upon the table, dabbed his chin with a handkerchief then used it to wipe the sweat from his brow. "Sir," he began nervously, "I…I am here to…" He wiped his brow again. "Oy," he muttered more to himself. "I am here to ask about Miss Pervinca, sir."

~ ~ ~

It had been a long afternoon for Paladin. He breathed a sigh of relief after Degger had left and decided to stretch out upon the couch for a well-earned nap. He groaned when he heard yet another knock upon his door. "What is it?"

"Father?" It was Pippin.

Paladin draped one exasperated arm across his eyes, "No, Pippin," he moaned, "you cannot take your sister to Estella's birthday party. You are too young to perform such a task, or even make such request. I am trying to recover from the other three who came in before you, so please, do us both a favor; turn around and march back to whatever activity you were engaged in prior to coming here."

Pippin ignored his father's plea. He came round towards the couch, sitting down in the chair on the other side of the table. "What other three?"

Paladin lifted his arm just enough to glare with one eye at his son. "You know very well which three I am speaking of--or at the very least, you ought to know one of them."

"Merimas?"

"He's one; try again."

The guilty teen looked away from his father's gaze, "Degger?"

"He's another; he told me everything."

At those words, Pippin looked back at his father, "Everything?"

"Everything." Paladin wearily sat up on the couch, then said, "It seems you and a couple others had a talk with Mirto before I did. No wonder the lad ran out of here like a frightened rabbit."

"We were only--," Pippin began, but was interrupted.

"I'm not concerned about Mirto, Pip, but what I would like to know is how you could put Degger up to something like that? You have no idea the position you put him in."

"What do you mean?"

This was going to be another long talk…Paladin could feel a headache coming on. He braced himself and forged ahead. "Pip, you have spent most of your life living on a farm, and I never want you to forget that. I never want you to forget what it is like to put in a day's work. But, at the same time, lad, you have to remember where you are now. The title you will one day inherit holds sway over the things you ask your friends or members of our staff to do today."

Pippin let out a long sigh. "I'm not doing so well this week, am I Father?"

"I am not scolding you, Pip. I've had a very long day and I am overdue for bit of sleep. I only want you to be mindful that some folks are eager to do your bidding. More times than not, it is because you will one day be Thain of the Shire, though I know that wasn't the reason in this instance."

Pippin fell silent as he thought about the few awesome responsibilities that he had already been privy to in recent months as their cousin, Thain Ferumbras III, became more aged. "I'm sorry, Father. I think I understand what you're saying. I will go now and apologize to Degger."

"No, son," said Paladin, "I have already talked to him and he--we know that you asked him to do this out of love for your sister. And I want you to know that he responded in kind because of his love for you and Merry--and yes, Pervinca, too, but Pip, he doesn't see her as…well…as--"

"Merimas?" Pippin was grinning, "Merry told me about him."

"Yes, as Merimas," Paladin answered, sprawling out on the couch again. With that, Paladin took in a deep breath to relax.

Pippin took this as a sign that the conversation was over. "Have a good sleep, Father." He stood to his feet and left.