Notes to Readers:
The co-author on this chapter is, of course, Jodancingtree. I forget who wrote
what part, so... thanks, Jo!
Thank you for the comments! Reviews are very motivating and give me insights
into the stories that make me dig deeper in writing, which I probably wouldn't
do were I the only one reading these stories... (I am sending them on to Jo,
and she thanks you as well.) And thank you for your patience as well! We are
getting there—there are more than two chapters left after this one. The next
one will go up in the New Year, as it merely needs a little dusting before it
is posted. The last chapter is written, but there are a few in-between chapters
in the works to tie up loose ends.
Aemilia, things are tending more towards "okay" than previously. Poor Ferdi
indeed. I hope his head feels better soon. Of course, a headache is a good
excuse to avoid a lecture from an irate wife... (hmmm, that chapter's not
written yet. What to do?)
Bookworm, I think you're right about that "small" talk.
Hai, you get your wish in this chapter.
Xena, the Tooks are pretty good at putting together two plus two, though on
occasion they sometimes come up with five.
If you cannot access ff.net, try www.storiesofarda.com.
You can leave reviews there, as well (thanks SoA reviewers! See replies at SoA
as well), and there is a "reply" feature where an author can reply to
a review right there rather than within the text of the story. I have also
discovered the "author alert" feature. Amazing place, that SoA.
The next chapter of "A Small and Passing Thing" will be posted on the morrow,
if all goes well. Pearl Took's story is within five chapters of completion,
upon which my editor will deign to look at it, which means you will be seeing
that story soon, I hope.
Enough admin notes. Let's get to the story.
***
Chapter 29. Resolution
When the Thain's party reached the yard before the Smials, hobbits were
spilling out the entrances like ants disturbed in their nest. Tweens perched
atop the roofs of stables and other outbuildings; the stairs down from the
Great Door were filled with hobbits craning to see, and the courtyard itself was
carpeted with excited Tooks and servants. The crowed fell silent and parted
before the riders, allowing the Thain to ride to the centre of the yard. There
the little group of riders remained, motionless except for the occasional stamp
of a restless pony.
Regi and Mardi had taken Pimpernel between them, walking her slowly towards one
of the lesser entrances to the Great Smials. 'There's no hurry,' Reginard
assured her. 'Your husband's not going anywhere.' Meadowsweet had the children
in hand, big ones carrying little ones and keeping the middle ones in their
midst.
'I am well,' Pimpernel said stoutly,
but when she saw the surging sea of Tooks in the courtyard she was not so sure.
It reminded her of a public trial she'd seen when her father was Thain. There
were hobbits who had been overenthusiastic in helping the ruffians during the
Troubles. Thain Paladin and Master Saradoc had consulted together, deciding
which could be rehabilitated and placing these under the Ban for long enough to
consider their actions, and which could not be salvaged and banishing these
from the Shire, to go to Breeland, perhaps, or to wander homeless evermore.
The Took guarding the entrance nodded to them without expression, wary of the
Steward. He'd heard all manner of rumours and did not know what to think. Best
not to think anything until it all came out officially.
'Make way!' Reginard bellowed, and the
hobbits near them squeezed more tightly together. 'Ready?' he whispered to
Pimpernel. She gave a sharp nod, and they stepped out into the crowd,
proceeding with difficulty through the packed bodies.
'It's all right, poppets,' Meadowsweet
was murmuring. The children were frightened, Nell saw. It was hardly
remarkable; she was frightened herself, no matter what reassurances Reginard
might have spoken beforehand. She kept her eyes fixed on the little group of
riders sitting motionless in the middle of the crowd.
Pippin watched their progress soberly, following the ripple in the crowd as
Reginard led Pimpernel and Meadowsweet forward, their children following in a
tight little bunch, to stand by their husbands. He'd told them that all would
be well, but from their expressions it was clear they were not sure whether to
trust his assurances. Ferdi sat his pony with drooping head and the rest of the
riders might have been carved from stone. At a word from Tolly, Ferdi
straightened but did not look around. He was ill, Nell realised, and chafed at
their slow progress. Why in the world was Pip making her beloved sit in the
cold wind, when he plainly belonged in bed?
Coming closer she saw the bonds on Ferdi and Tolly, and though Regi had warned
her it was a shock, more so when she saw her husband's pallor and the lines
about his eyes. Tookish temper stirred within her and she took a tight rein on
herself. Pippin knew what he was doing, Regi had said. Well, they'd see about
that.
When the families reached them the riders got down from their ponies, all but
the Thain. He remained on his pony's back, grimly surveying the crowd, as the
escort dismounted and then made a show of helping Ferdi and Tolly from their
ponies, although in Ferdi's case it was rather more than show.
Meadowsweet would have thrown her arms about Tolly, but he warned her off with
a shake of his head. This isn't over yet. his eyes said.
But Regi told me you said, "All is well!" her protesting look replied.
He smiled and nodded, then his look swept the faces of his children. Though his
heart knew that Meadowsweet would leave all behind and follow him into exile,
his mind had not been so sure. A part of him had thought he'd never see them
again.
Ferdi did not at first see Nell or his children. The noise of the crowd was a
torment to his ears; the light from the sky assaulted his eyes and he wished
only for a hole to be buried in, layers of earth muffling him from sight and
sound. He sagged in Haldigrim's grip. One soft voice broke through to him.
'Ferdi?'
Straightening, he blinked, groping like one half-blind until his eyes found the
face of his beloved. 'My Nell,' he breathed, and then felt Haldi tighten his
grasp in warning. He was not yet free.
The smaller children were crying in fear and confusion, seeing their fathers
bound, hearing the whispers about them, and Meadowsweet bent to croon comfort
to her own little ones and Nell's. Nell stood transfixed, her gaze locked with
Ferdi's.
Pippin waited while hobbits continued to
spill from the buildings surrounding the courtyard. When the crowd had swelled
to fill the enormous yard, he spoke at last. 'Tooks and Tooklanders,' he said.
'We are gathered here to dispense justice.' Meadowsweet gathered her little
ones closer, a mother hen pulling her chicks under her wings as the shadow of a
hawk passes over. A look passed between Pimpernel and Ferdibrand, and she relaxed
subtly, nodding to her children. All is well. The lads stood a little
straighter, and the lasses swallowed hard and blinked back their tears.
'Before you are two who have been accused—' Pippin said, and the crowd waited
for the details of their crimes. Instead, they heard the Thain repeat, 'two who
have been accused falsely of a serious crime, when in fact they were
loyally carrying out their duty of protecting the Thain and the family of the
Thain.'
There was a murmur, and silence again as Pippin raised his hands. 'You saw one
of these escorted from the Smials bound and under guard.' He nodded at Tolly.
'You may well have heard rumours about the other.' He nodded at Ferdi. The
expressions on the faces before him confirmed his words; o how the Tooks loved
their Talk.
'The false accusations have been dealt with, the accusers have been confronted,
judgment has been passed, and restitution has been awarded. Now all that
remains is to clear the stain on the reputations of these two fine Tooks.'
Pippin surveyed the vast crowd, then slid down from his pony. Taking his knife
from his belt, he cut Ferdi's bonds, then Tolly's. The crowd began to murmur
again; the murmur grew to a tumult, and Ferdi and Tolly were engulfed in the
embrace of their wives and children. Haldi and Isen stood close behind Ferdi,
catching him when he staggered, taking his arms over their shoulders and
bearing him into the Great Smials, closely followed by Nell, still supported by
Mardi, and the children.
Tolly was kissing Meadowsweet as if he'd never let her go again, and the
hobbits about them were cheering. The head of escort did release his wife at
last, falling to his knees on the icy stones to gather his children in his arms
as tears ran down his face. Meadowsweet spread her arms to encompass as much of
her husband and family as she could, and they stood so a long time, heedless of
cold or of the press of congratulatory hobbits around them.
Pippin stood watching until he felt a hand on his arm. Turning, he saw Reginard
regarding him with concern. 'You're tired,' the steward said just loudly enough
for Pippin to hear over the noise of the crowd. 'You've done all that's needed.
Come in now and rest. Diamond's waiting.' The Thain started to protest, then
caught the watching eye of his son upon him and all the fight went out of him.
'Very well, Reg,' he said. 'I could stand to take a rest, indeed.' He held out
a hand to Faramir and the lad came to him. Arms about each other, father and
son walked through the crowd and into the Great Smials.
