Chapter 19: There's Something about Merry
Still gingerly rubbing the burns at his wrists, the ghosts of the ropes that held them just moments before, Frodo stood shoulder to shoulder with Sam. At the center of their field of vision was an increasingly more alert Meriadoc, bound hand and foot, laying face down upon the floor.
"Well, what's to be done with him?" asked Sam. "Leave him tied up so as he can't come sneaking after us no more, I say."
Frodo remained silent a moment, lost in his thoughts as he gazed at his cousin on the floor. He felt no pleasure in the power of the current reversal of their positions and the pity in his heart surprised him - he had expected to feel anger and satisfaction at the turn of affairs, not the deep compassion that stirred his heart and prickled his eyes with unshed tears. This was, after all, the hobbit who had held him prisoner for countless days and had been gleefully reducing him to a mess of pain such a short while ago. His shins and thighs sang with the sharp sting of the welts rising inexorably under the fabric of his torn trousers. He catalogued every injury and hurt that had been inflicted upon him in the past days - from the knock on the head with a frying pan to the strapping inflicted upon his bound and unmovable legs - and it seemed not a single part of his body had been spared. Blows to the head, slaps to the face, belts to the legs.he decided to stop counting before the list brought him to madness. So why could he not feel hatred toward Merry?
He roused himself with an obvious effort and looked toward his friend
"For how long, Sam?" said Frodo. "Who would find him? No, Sam, I cannot leave him and Pippin here to starve."
Sam sucked in his breath as he remembered the pathetic figure presently whimpering in the other bedroom.
"Pippin," sighed Sam. "Mr. Frodo, Pippin -"
"I know," Frodo cut in. "I saw, as you obviously did as well. Pippin is a special problem."
Frodo suddenly realized that he had no idea where the lad in question was being stored. He knew Sam must have subdued Pippin in some way to break out and rescue him, but he did not wish to bring any such thing to the attention of Merry. Merry could obviously be brought to violence with no provocation at all - Frodo had no wish to provide twisted justification for more perverse punishments to be carried out upon lad.
"Frodo?" croaked Merry, finally back to full awareness. "Frodo - you must not leave us." His voice was weak, but the commanding tone was unmistakable. Frodo quailed at it despite himself. He suspected that even long after this business was finished and the Ring in the hands of those able to handle Its dangers far better than he, it would be a very long time before he was able to forget these few endless days and settle back into the comfortable love they had once shared.
"I daresay we must - scoundrel!" snorted Sam. Things were not so complex for Sam - to him the matter was simple and clear as sunshine. Mr. Merry had hurt his master and deserved whatever punishment Frodo would allow him to dole out - which to Sam's mind, would probably not be enough.
Frodo plodded over to his cousin and looked down upon him with stern pity.
"I'm afraid Sam is right, Merry. We shall not stay. But we shall not leave Pippin at your mercy either."
"Pippin needs me!" answered Merry in a voice suddenly strong and clear. "As do you, Frodo. More than you know. You cannot leave."
"Oh, can't we?" huffed Sam, hands on hips and wearing a glower that would melt ice. "See here, Mr. Merry, you're in no place to tell anyone much o' anything at present! Mr. Frodo does not need the likes of you now or ever. You are lucky I don't take that belt of yours and wrap it around your neck for the harm you've done us!"
Frodo remained silent, allowing Sam to vent.
"Listen to me, Frodo," continued Merry, utterly disregarding both Sam's words and his presence, "Do not do this! You must not leave Buckland! I shall not allow you to leave! This is far too important!"
Sam stepped toward Merry, bristling with wrath. Nope. No punishment was going to be enough to satisfy Sam's anger right now. He wondered for a moment if Frodo would consider allowing him to use the poker on his cousin's head - just to shut him up for a few more minutes - just a small thump, mind you. He dismissed the thought immediately. He knew Frodo would never dream of permitting such a thing but it was gratifying to imagine it for a moment or two.
"I say we gag him, Mr. Frodo," groused Sam, "To give us some peace from this endless stream of nonsense!"
"Frodo!" exclaimed Merry, a trace of desperation creeping into his voice. "Frodo! You must listen to reason! You must not go!"
Frodo sighed. Reason, indeed. It was almost comical to hear this being who had been anything but reasonable since his arrival in this house pleading - no, demanding - that Frodo listen to reason. Frodo kept the sneer from his face and the guffaw at the back of his throat only with a mighty effort.
"Merry," said Frodo, "you are not yourself. Perhaps you will snap back to normal once me and my burden are far away. For now you are a danger to us, a danger to Pippin, and a danger to yourself. Sam and I now must decide what is to become of you for now. And this we shall decide alone." Sam."
Frodo and Sam turned toward the door and plodded out.
"Frodo!" hollered Merry. "Frodo! I will not allow this! Do not disobey me! Frodo!"
Sam began to open his mouth, but was headed off by Frodo.
"Do not provoke him, Sam!" Whispered Frodo calmly as they stepped out of the room. "Best to keep quiet. As I said, Merry is not himself!"
Sam reluctantly stood down. Frodo would never know the heroic restraint Sam called upon to resist the urge to brush past his master, march back to the center of the room, reclaim his poker and just start swinging.
Frodo turned one last time and looked into Merry's fiery eyes.
"Merry, we are right down the hall. Do not panic. When we leave Crickhollow, you shall know it. We will be back in here soon. Try to relax."
"Frodo! Frodo! Frodo!" cried Merry.
Frodo and Sam continued walking, left the room, and shut the door. Merry noted Frodo's limp with satisfaction and his eyes followed the trail of blood that dripped from his cousin's legs to stain the oak floor with scattered splashes and blotches. Frodo may be free for the moment, but Merry knew he wouldn't get far. His mark was upon him now. Frodo would never really be free of Merry, no matter how far he ran.
* * *
Sam exhaled loudly as soon as the door clicked shut. He had been holding in both his breath and his anger with a mighty effort and once the breath had been let loose, the anger threatened to follow. He swallowed hard and doused the flames within his heart to concentrate on more pressing matters.
"What happened to Pippin?" asked Frodo. "I'd have asked sooner, but did not want Merry to find out anything about Pippin that he did not need to know."
"I handled him," answered Sam. "He's tied up in my old room. Mr. Frodo, Mr. Pippin's in miserable shape, in his mind, if you catch my meaning. Something about him is off. Like a little child he is."
Frodo nodded sorrowfully.
"Merry has damaged Pippin in more than one way, I'm afraid," Frodo said. "Well, let's see how my young cousin is fairing. We have some tricky decisions ahead of us. Let us see what exactly we have to work with."
The hobbits plodded down the long corridor, now lit with uneven rays of sunlight filtering in from small windows along the hall. As they drew closer, the muffled sounds of sobbing came into their range of hearing. The sounds grew louder as they approached the door.
"Oh dear," sighed Sam. "Still at it, poor lad!"
Sam pulled the brass key from his pocket and thrust it into the lock. Gently he pushed the door open.
Frodo and Sam were met by a pitiful sight. Pippin was lying belly down on the floor next to the bed, still bound and gagged, and still whimpering and crying. In his paroxysms of despair, Pippin had obviously rolled himself off the bed onto the floor, bloodying his nose and chin in the process.
His face was a mess, his tears cutting rivulets into the blotches of red. Pippin's bloodshot eyes displayed the obvious signs of a drawn out weeping. Pippin's copper hair matted around his red puffy face, damp with sweat and tears. Pippin's face bore the expression of a newly kicked dog.
Pippin wearily lifted his head to make eye contact with his cousin and his captor, whimpering plaintively as their eyes met before flopping his head back down to the floor with a clunk.
"We've come back, Mr. Pip!" announced Sam. "And I've brought Mr. Frodo with me. Merry won't be hurting you again, so stop your sobbing!"
Frodo knelt down by his cousin with a noticeable wince at the pain in his legs and began running his fingers through Pip's hair to sooth him. He took Pippin gently in his arms and untied his gag. Pip responded to the action with a new spasm of sobbing.
"Sam," asked Frodo, "Do you still have your knife?"
Sam nodded, drawing out his knife and without being told, cut through the wrist and ankle bonds that he had tied.
"There you go, Mr. Pip," soothed Sam.
Pippin acted as if he barely noticed that he had been untied. He newly- freed arms flopped to his sides like wet string, and his ankles remained in exactly the same position as they had when he had been tied. And if anything, Pip was crying harder.
"Sam," said Frodo with genuine concern, "help me lift Pippin onto the bed so we can turn him over. Pip? Is that alright?"
Pippin nodded, but continued to sob.
The two hobbits lifted their crying bundle onto the bed and placed him very gently onto his back. Frodo sat himself down near the pillow and eased Pippin's head into his lap, ignoring the painful singing through his own legs and stroking his cousin's hair, shushing him gently.
Sam's avuncular instincts were beginning to kick in again. He certainly didn't trust the young Took - Pippin's mind was too tightly wrapped around that abomination lying in the other room for Sam to consider him the least bit trustworthy - but Sam was smart enough to know that the evil that had been perpetrated against his master in the past days had not been Pippin's doing. Pippin was just as much at Merry's mercy as the two of them had been. But not trusting him did not rule out pitying him and pity the young Took Sam did. He plucked one of the abandoned linen strips from the floor and dipped it the basin of water that had been brought to him the day before.
"Let's clean you up a bit, Sir," said Sam regarding the mess of a Took.
Pippin gasped a little as Sam ran the wet cloth over his forehead, eyes, checks, nose, and chin - removing the blood as he could, and the tears. Sam noted with satisfaction that his action had caused Pippin's sobbing to subside into whimpers. Frodo shot Sam a grateful smile and eyed the end of the bed. Sam, taking this cue, plopped himself down by Pippin's feet and lifted them lovingly into his lap.
"There, there, Mr. Pippin," cooed Sam as he rubbed Pippin's feet. "You're among friends."
Pippin responded with a weak whimper, followed by a weaker smile. His crying has ceased, replaced by the erratic sound of the occasional hitched breath. He turned his eyes up to his cousin, who was busy finger combing his disheveled locks.
"Pippin sweet," said Frodo in a voice he hadn't used with his cousin since Pip had been six, "You are my cousin and I love you dearly."
Pippin sniffled and nodded. Two fat tears fell from his blinking eyes.
"Pippin," continued Frodo, newly serious, "Sam and I need to speak with you now. We all need to make some very difficult decisions, some of which involve you and Merry."
"Merry!" sighed Pippin as if in a haze. Then his face fell and his eyes went wide. "Frodo, Merry will me be so angry with me!" he cried. "I can't do anything properly!"
Sam cringed.
"Merry hurt you badly, Pippin," said Frodo. "And we'll not let that happen again. But we will need you to do something that might be difficult. But, Pippin, I know that you will be able to do it. You are an adult, Pippin, a mature young hobbit. I have every faith that you will come through."
Pippin brightened visibly. Frodo and Sam smiled inwardly as Frodo continued. This might work yet!
"Pippin, Merry is not himself right now. The Merry we know would never have hurt you like that. But in order to bring Merry back to normal, back to the Merry we love, Sam and I will have to go away."
Pippin began to tear up again.
"You cant!" Pippin whined plaintively, though he had no specific reason why they couldn't other than Merry's words.
"We can and we must," answered Frodo. "But we need your help, Pippin. It is crucial. It is a big job that only you can do. Will you help us Peregrin? The fate of Middle earth may rest in your hands, Pip. Will you?"
Pippin began to puff back up to normal size. Pippin nodded.
"Pippin," explained Frodo, "This is what Sam and I will do. We will untie Merry and lock him in this room. We will not hurt him. But we may give him some of that special tea to keep him calm while we arrange things. Do you know where Merry keeps it?"
Another nod.
"Good Lad!" Now, Pip, that tea will put Merry to sleep just long enough for us to get him settled in here. But Pip, we will absolutely have to keep this door locked." Frodo paused to wait for another nod from Pippin. "We shall give Merry everything he will need to be comfortable for a day or two. If he needs more food, you may slip it under the door, just like you did for Sam."
Another nod.
"Sam and I will send help for you that should come within a day, two days at the very longest. Then you may let Merry out and return to your family in Tuckburough for a well deserved rest." I hate to leave you alone here, but I have no choice at the moment. I've been delayed too long already and I must leave Merry's proximity if there is to be any hope of his recovery. Do you understand, Pip?
Another nod.
"Point is Pip," continued Frodo, "You cannot be alone with Merry without a locked door between you -not yet anywise. He will hurt you again if you let him out before it is time. We will give you the key - but you must NOT use it until other hobbits arrive. Do you understand, Pippin? This is terribly important."
Pip nodded emphatically.
"Pippin," warned Frodo, "Merry will beg and plead for you to let him out. He may even lie and tell you that he is injured (or) we've harmed him." Sam blushed at the reference to his own ruse. "But, Pip, I promise that we shall not hurt or injure him, so no matter what Merry tells you, no matter what he says or does, do not unlock that door. Pippin, your own safety depends on this."
Pippin nodded.
"Good lad!" exclaimed Frodo. "Now, Pippin, you need to show us where that tea is that you gave to Sam."
* * *
The kettle hummed to life as Frodo and Sam sat across from each other on the wooden benches along the stocky kitchen table. They were busy both gobbling down slices of bread and cheese as they put together what food they could for their journey to Bree, and for Merry's enforced stay in Sam's room. Pip grabbed the complaiming kettle with a rag and poured it into a cup full of strange looking herbs. Pip seemed to take his assigned task very seriously, pouring the water with utmost care, and glancing up at Frodo intermittently for nods of approval.
Frodo gathered up a few plates of food covered with cloth and motioned for Sam to follow.
"Pip, we will be preparing Merry's quarters," said Frodo. "We'll be right back."
The two hobbits plodded over to Sam's room at the end of the hall and set down their burdens on the bed stand. Sam pulled the dirty sheets from the bed, and replaced them with clean linens as Frodo picked up the fallen basin, and replaced it with fresh water. When they were finished, the two hobbits quietly examined what would be Merry's lodgings; two days worth of food, clean sheets, two basins of water, two chamber pots, fifteen candles, and no sharp objects.
"I sincerely hope that Pippin follows our instructions, Sam," sighed Frodo. "Or it may go very ill for him."
"And us," grumbled Sam.
"That is what the tea is for, I guess," replied Frodo. "I wonder how we shall force Merry to drink the tea."
Sam responded with a roguish smile. He grasped a long wooden tube from the bed stand.
"Mr. Frodo, you just leave that to me!"
* * *
Merry startled awake at the sound of the door creaking open. He had called and called, and when no one came, he'd let his aching and immobilized body fall into an uneasy slumber. But now they were back, his erstwhile captives, and it was time to wake up.
Frodo and Sam stepped in, Frodo with a calm but stern demeanor, and Sam, holding a steaming cup and of something, and smiling slightly more than seemed appropriate.
Merry lifted his head from the floor, a question mark in his eyes.
"Pippin is fine, if you were wondering," answered Frodo to a question that Merry never asked. "but you shan't see him face to face for awhile. Not until you are well and yourself again."
A flash of fury meshed with panic came into Merry's eyes with the mention of Pippin's name. This was unexpected. Pippin was balanced on a delicate thread of love and fear, pain and trust. He could not risk Frodo's influence upon the lad. One push in the wrong direction and Pippin could be lost to him. He'd hate to see all of that effort wasted because of the soft heart and compassionate nature of his elder cousin.
"Let me see the boy, Frodo!" stormed Merry. "I need to speak with him!"
"Sorry Merry," answered Frodo. "I think not."
"I need to make certain Pippin is well," replied Merry angrily. "What have you done with him!"
"What have WE done?!" began Sam incredulously on the cusp of another diatribe. "What have WE done?"
"Be still Sam," said Frodo, placing a calming hand upon Sam's shoulder. "It will serve no purpose."
Sam gritted his teeth together and continued to scowl at Merry.
"Merry," announced Frodo, "we are going to move you to Sam's room. We've prepared it so that you will be comfortable. But at present we cannot trust you, so we are going to need you to go to sleep while we arrange for our departure. When you awaken, we shall be gone."
"Frodo!" yelled Merry. "You cannot leave! You cannot go! It is folly! Frodo! Folly!"
Neither Frodo nor Sam uttered a word as they approached the now thrashing figure on the floor.
"Frodo!" cried Merry, now in a dead panic. "Frodo! You will be very sorry if you do this! I shan't be merciful -not this time! Frodo!"
(") But Frodo was unswayed. He knelt down beside Merry and turned his cousin over, pulling Merry into his lap in a move that would have seemed tender if not for Merry's barrage of dark threats and his violent thrashing. Frodo grimaced and clenched his teeth at the re-awoken pain in his legs as his cousin battered against them.
"Frodo," continued Merry in a voice so filled with fury that it bore little resemblance to the jolly tone his words usually carried. "Frodo, you shall learn the meaning of pain and obedience. Mark me, Frodo! You will pay for this before the end. Do not leave! Do not take it (It) from your people! Frodo! Do not force my hand!"
"Sam," said Frodo calmly, "Please bring over the tea now."
"NOOOO!!! Frodo!" screeched Merry.
Sam knelt down and pulled a foot-long wooden tube from his belt, dangling it like torture implements in front of a prisoner. Frodo gave Sam a reprimanding glance in response to his satisfied chuckle.
"Remember this Sir?" asked Sam, earning another stern look from Frodo.
"Let's get this over with, Sam," said Frodo.
Frodo gently, but firmly placed his hand on Merry's forehead and forced it back. Merry at this point had ceased his cursing and threats to clinch his jaw shut.
"In we go!" chirped Sam as he forced the tube between Merry's protesting lips. Frodo held the tube in place as Sam poured some of the tea down the top of it. Both hobbits noted with dismay the liquid rolling down Merry's checks and chin, obviously not being consumed by the struggling figure below. Sam immediately squeezed Merry's nose, cutting off all air until he drank. Merry drank.
"You think I'd not remember that little trick-eh? Mr. Merry!" gloated Sam.
When the tube and the cup had emptied, the hobbits removed the tube. They noted a change in Merry within minutes. His yells of anger became more subdued, and his thrashing went limp until finally he was able to be carried down the long hall without struggle or undue noise.
Frodo had made sure to send Pippin on a pony-feeding errand as this unpleasant task was done, taking no chances with contact with the emotionally vulnerable little Took. It was with a sigh of relief that Frodo and Sam set Merry face down upon the bed. The sat on either side of his moaning form, waiting for Merry to at last surrender himself to sleep.
As soon as Frodo and Sam heard soft snores, Frodo nodded to Sam.
"Are you sure, Mr. Frodo? Seein' what e's capable of?"
"We have no choice, Sam" answered Frodo. "He needs to get to his food. The door is very strong."
"But is Pippin?" muttered Sam as he reluctantly sawed off Merry's bonds.
Frodo rolled the sleeping Merry over and pulled a blanket over him.
"Sweet dreams, cousin," sighed Frodo. "I hope you wake up in a better mind."
Sam growled to himself. "Let's go then, Mr. Frodo. I'm ready to leave this place."
Frodo nodded, taking one last look at his sleeping cousin tucked under the blanket. He looked strangely peaceful, unlike the strange creature who minutes ago had verbally assailed them with dark threats and black fury.
Sam lingered in the doorway, no longer able to fight an irresistible urge. He whirled around to face the bed, and announced in a booming voice-
"We're going to Bree now, Mr. Merry! Sorry, but you are no longer invited!"
Sam slammed the door with a force that made the whole house shake, and with a brusque motion, turned the key. Not as satisfying as feeling bone and cartilage crunch under his fist, but it would have to do.
Inside the room, the slumbering figure opened his bleary eyes halfway.
"Bree," Merry mumbled.
TBC
To the Reviewers- Cailen Braern-More Sam heroics-and angst to come! And-yes-I just read your new chappie, and will review it later today! Great stuff!
Pointy-Eared Archer-I hope you liked theis chapter too-the next 2 chapters are really exciting!
Sue-I hope you like the Pippin/Sm/Frodo interaction in this chapter too!
Calla- More Pippin coddling coming up! I wonder if Pip will listen..
QTPie- the escape-so far so good-but-uh-oh-I think I hear something.
Tesekian-Yes-I am mean to poor Pippin-but you just had the poor thing tied, chained and whipped ;)
Alisaundre - Sam has some EXCELLENT lines in chapter 22I hope you like them!
MBradford-I love your new story, and will attach the link next chapter! And I think your comment about compassion might be right! It wont work as well as in "Way of Vengeance! Natta-The next chapter is really full of action.
Endymion-Oh-you know how I love to hear quotes you like! I think you will love Sam in the next few chapters!
Aratlithiel-My lovely Beta!!! I may get Sam just right, but, boy-do you know your Frdo angst!!!
Christina-welcome aboard! Please come back and talk. I do not think you will be disappointed!
Still gingerly rubbing the burns at his wrists, the ghosts of the ropes that held them just moments before, Frodo stood shoulder to shoulder with Sam. At the center of their field of vision was an increasingly more alert Meriadoc, bound hand and foot, laying face down upon the floor.
"Well, what's to be done with him?" asked Sam. "Leave him tied up so as he can't come sneaking after us no more, I say."
Frodo remained silent a moment, lost in his thoughts as he gazed at his cousin on the floor. He felt no pleasure in the power of the current reversal of their positions and the pity in his heart surprised him - he had expected to feel anger and satisfaction at the turn of affairs, not the deep compassion that stirred his heart and prickled his eyes with unshed tears. This was, after all, the hobbit who had held him prisoner for countless days and had been gleefully reducing him to a mess of pain such a short while ago. His shins and thighs sang with the sharp sting of the welts rising inexorably under the fabric of his torn trousers. He catalogued every injury and hurt that had been inflicted upon him in the past days - from the knock on the head with a frying pan to the strapping inflicted upon his bound and unmovable legs - and it seemed not a single part of his body had been spared. Blows to the head, slaps to the face, belts to the legs.he decided to stop counting before the list brought him to madness. So why could he not feel hatred toward Merry?
He roused himself with an obvious effort and looked toward his friend
"For how long, Sam?" said Frodo. "Who would find him? No, Sam, I cannot leave him and Pippin here to starve."
Sam sucked in his breath as he remembered the pathetic figure presently whimpering in the other bedroom.
"Pippin," sighed Sam. "Mr. Frodo, Pippin -"
"I know," Frodo cut in. "I saw, as you obviously did as well. Pippin is a special problem."
Frodo suddenly realized that he had no idea where the lad in question was being stored. He knew Sam must have subdued Pippin in some way to break out and rescue him, but he did not wish to bring any such thing to the attention of Merry. Merry could obviously be brought to violence with no provocation at all - Frodo had no wish to provide twisted justification for more perverse punishments to be carried out upon lad.
"Frodo?" croaked Merry, finally back to full awareness. "Frodo - you must not leave us." His voice was weak, but the commanding tone was unmistakable. Frodo quailed at it despite himself. He suspected that even long after this business was finished and the Ring in the hands of those able to handle Its dangers far better than he, it would be a very long time before he was able to forget these few endless days and settle back into the comfortable love they had once shared.
"I daresay we must - scoundrel!" snorted Sam. Things were not so complex for Sam - to him the matter was simple and clear as sunshine. Mr. Merry had hurt his master and deserved whatever punishment Frodo would allow him to dole out - which to Sam's mind, would probably not be enough.
Frodo plodded over to his cousin and looked down upon him with stern pity.
"I'm afraid Sam is right, Merry. We shall not stay. But we shall not leave Pippin at your mercy either."
"Pippin needs me!" answered Merry in a voice suddenly strong and clear. "As do you, Frodo. More than you know. You cannot leave."
"Oh, can't we?" huffed Sam, hands on hips and wearing a glower that would melt ice. "See here, Mr. Merry, you're in no place to tell anyone much o' anything at present! Mr. Frodo does not need the likes of you now or ever. You are lucky I don't take that belt of yours and wrap it around your neck for the harm you've done us!"
Frodo remained silent, allowing Sam to vent.
"Listen to me, Frodo," continued Merry, utterly disregarding both Sam's words and his presence, "Do not do this! You must not leave Buckland! I shall not allow you to leave! This is far too important!"
Sam stepped toward Merry, bristling with wrath. Nope. No punishment was going to be enough to satisfy Sam's anger right now. He wondered for a moment if Frodo would consider allowing him to use the poker on his cousin's head - just to shut him up for a few more minutes - just a small thump, mind you. He dismissed the thought immediately. He knew Frodo would never dream of permitting such a thing but it was gratifying to imagine it for a moment or two.
"I say we gag him, Mr. Frodo," groused Sam, "To give us some peace from this endless stream of nonsense!"
"Frodo!" exclaimed Merry, a trace of desperation creeping into his voice. "Frodo! You must listen to reason! You must not go!"
Frodo sighed. Reason, indeed. It was almost comical to hear this being who had been anything but reasonable since his arrival in this house pleading - no, demanding - that Frodo listen to reason. Frodo kept the sneer from his face and the guffaw at the back of his throat only with a mighty effort.
"Merry," said Frodo, "you are not yourself. Perhaps you will snap back to normal once me and my burden are far away. For now you are a danger to us, a danger to Pippin, and a danger to yourself. Sam and I now must decide what is to become of you for now. And this we shall decide alone." Sam."
Frodo and Sam turned toward the door and plodded out.
"Frodo!" hollered Merry. "Frodo! I will not allow this! Do not disobey me! Frodo!"
Sam began to open his mouth, but was headed off by Frodo.
"Do not provoke him, Sam!" Whispered Frodo calmly as they stepped out of the room. "Best to keep quiet. As I said, Merry is not himself!"
Sam reluctantly stood down. Frodo would never know the heroic restraint Sam called upon to resist the urge to brush past his master, march back to the center of the room, reclaim his poker and just start swinging.
Frodo turned one last time and looked into Merry's fiery eyes.
"Merry, we are right down the hall. Do not panic. When we leave Crickhollow, you shall know it. We will be back in here soon. Try to relax."
"Frodo! Frodo! Frodo!" cried Merry.
Frodo and Sam continued walking, left the room, and shut the door. Merry noted Frodo's limp with satisfaction and his eyes followed the trail of blood that dripped from his cousin's legs to stain the oak floor with scattered splashes and blotches. Frodo may be free for the moment, but Merry knew he wouldn't get far. His mark was upon him now. Frodo would never really be free of Merry, no matter how far he ran.
* * *
Sam exhaled loudly as soon as the door clicked shut. He had been holding in both his breath and his anger with a mighty effort and once the breath had been let loose, the anger threatened to follow. He swallowed hard and doused the flames within his heart to concentrate on more pressing matters.
"What happened to Pippin?" asked Frodo. "I'd have asked sooner, but did not want Merry to find out anything about Pippin that he did not need to know."
"I handled him," answered Sam. "He's tied up in my old room. Mr. Frodo, Mr. Pippin's in miserable shape, in his mind, if you catch my meaning. Something about him is off. Like a little child he is."
Frodo nodded sorrowfully.
"Merry has damaged Pippin in more than one way, I'm afraid," Frodo said. "Well, let's see how my young cousin is fairing. We have some tricky decisions ahead of us. Let us see what exactly we have to work with."
The hobbits plodded down the long corridor, now lit with uneven rays of sunlight filtering in from small windows along the hall. As they drew closer, the muffled sounds of sobbing came into their range of hearing. The sounds grew louder as they approached the door.
"Oh dear," sighed Sam. "Still at it, poor lad!"
Sam pulled the brass key from his pocket and thrust it into the lock. Gently he pushed the door open.
Frodo and Sam were met by a pitiful sight. Pippin was lying belly down on the floor next to the bed, still bound and gagged, and still whimpering and crying. In his paroxysms of despair, Pippin had obviously rolled himself off the bed onto the floor, bloodying his nose and chin in the process.
His face was a mess, his tears cutting rivulets into the blotches of red. Pippin's bloodshot eyes displayed the obvious signs of a drawn out weeping. Pippin's copper hair matted around his red puffy face, damp with sweat and tears. Pippin's face bore the expression of a newly kicked dog.
Pippin wearily lifted his head to make eye contact with his cousin and his captor, whimpering plaintively as their eyes met before flopping his head back down to the floor with a clunk.
"We've come back, Mr. Pip!" announced Sam. "And I've brought Mr. Frodo with me. Merry won't be hurting you again, so stop your sobbing!"
Frodo knelt down by his cousin with a noticeable wince at the pain in his legs and began running his fingers through Pip's hair to sooth him. He took Pippin gently in his arms and untied his gag. Pip responded to the action with a new spasm of sobbing.
"Sam," asked Frodo, "Do you still have your knife?"
Sam nodded, drawing out his knife and without being told, cut through the wrist and ankle bonds that he had tied.
"There you go, Mr. Pip," soothed Sam.
Pippin acted as if he barely noticed that he had been untied. He newly- freed arms flopped to his sides like wet string, and his ankles remained in exactly the same position as they had when he had been tied. And if anything, Pip was crying harder.
"Sam," said Frodo with genuine concern, "help me lift Pippin onto the bed so we can turn him over. Pip? Is that alright?"
Pippin nodded, but continued to sob.
The two hobbits lifted their crying bundle onto the bed and placed him very gently onto his back. Frodo sat himself down near the pillow and eased Pippin's head into his lap, ignoring the painful singing through his own legs and stroking his cousin's hair, shushing him gently.
Sam's avuncular instincts were beginning to kick in again. He certainly didn't trust the young Took - Pippin's mind was too tightly wrapped around that abomination lying in the other room for Sam to consider him the least bit trustworthy - but Sam was smart enough to know that the evil that had been perpetrated against his master in the past days had not been Pippin's doing. Pippin was just as much at Merry's mercy as the two of them had been. But not trusting him did not rule out pitying him and pity the young Took Sam did. He plucked one of the abandoned linen strips from the floor and dipped it the basin of water that had been brought to him the day before.
"Let's clean you up a bit, Sir," said Sam regarding the mess of a Took.
Pippin gasped a little as Sam ran the wet cloth over his forehead, eyes, checks, nose, and chin - removing the blood as he could, and the tears. Sam noted with satisfaction that his action had caused Pippin's sobbing to subside into whimpers. Frodo shot Sam a grateful smile and eyed the end of the bed. Sam, taking this cue, plopped himself down by Pippin's feet and lifted them lovingly into his lap.
"There, there, Mr. Pippin," cooed Sam as he rubbed Pippin's feet. "You're among friends."
Pippin responded with a weak whimper, followed by a weaker smile. His crying has ceased, replaced by the erratic sound of the occasional hitched breath. He turned his eyes up to his cousin, who was busy finger combing his disheveled locks.
"Pippin sweet," said Frodo in a voice he hadn't used with his cousin since Pip had been six, "You are my cousin and I love you dearly."
Pippin sniffled and nodded. Two fat tears fell from his blinking eyes.
"Pippin," continued Frodo, newly serious, "Sam and I need to speak with you now. We all need to make some very difficult decisions, some of which involve you and Merry."
"Merry!" sighed Pippin as if in a haze. Then his face fell and his eyes went wide. "Frodo, Merry will me be so angry with me!" he cried. "I can't do anything properly!"
Sam cringed.
"Merry hurt you badly, Pippin," said Frodo. "And we'll not let that happen again. But we will need you to do something that might be difficult. But, Pippin, I know that you will be able to do it. You are an adult, Pippin, a mature young hobbit. I have every faith that you will come through."
Pippin brightened visibly. Frodo and Sam smiled inwardly as Frodo continued. This might work yet!
"Pippin, Merry is not himself right now. The Merry we know would never have hurt you like that. But in order to bring Merry back to normal, back to the Merry we love, Sam and I will have to go away."
Pippin began to tear up again.
"You cant!" Pippin whined plaintively, though he had no specific reason why they couldn't other than Merry's words.
"We can and we must," answered Frodo. "But we need your help, Pippin. It is crucial. It is a big job that only you can do. Will you help us Peregrin? The fate of Middle earth may rest in your hands, Pip. Will you?"
Pippin began to puff back up to normal size. Pippin nodded.
"Pippin," explained Frodo, "This is what Sam and I will do. We will untie Merry and lock him in this room. We will not hurt him. But we may give him some of that special tea to keep him calm while we arrange things. Do you know where Merry keeps it?"
Another nod.
"Good Lad!" Now, Pip, that tea will put Merry to sleep just long enough for us to get him settled in here. But Pip, we will absolutely have to keep this door locked." Frodo paused to wait for another nod from Pippin. "We shall give Merry everything he will need to be comfortable for a day or two. If he needs more food, you may slip it under the door, just like you did for Sam."
Another nod.
"Sam and I will send help for you that should come within a day, two days at the very longest. Then you may let Merry out and return to your family in Tuckburough for a well deserved rest." I hate to leave you alone here, but I have no choice at the moment. I've been delayed too long already and I must leave Merry's proximity if there is to be any hope of his recovery. Do you understand, Pip?
Another nod.
"Point is Pip," continued Frodo, "You cannot be alone with Merry without a locked door between you -not yet anywise. He will hurt you again if you let him out before it is time. We will give you the key - but you must NOT use it until other hobbits arrive. Do you understand, Pippin? This is terribly important."
Pip nodded emphatically.
"Pippin," warned Frodo, "Merry will beg and plead for you to let him out. He may even lie and tell you that he is injured (or) we've harmed him." Sam blushed at the reference to his own ruse. "But, Pip, I promise that we shall not hurt or injure him, so no matter what Merry tells you, no matter what he says or does, do not unlock that door. Pippin, your own safety depends on this."
Pippin nodded.
"Good lad!" exclaimed Frodo. "Now, Pippin, you need to show us where that tea is that you gave to Sam."
* * *
The kettle hummed to life as Frodo and Sam sat across from each other on the wooden benches along the stocky kitchen table. They were busy both gobbling down slices of bread and cheese as they put together what food they could for their journey to Bree, and for Merry's enforced stay in Sam's room. Pip grabbed the complaiming kettle with a rag and poured it into a cup full of strange looking herbs. Pip seemed to take his assigned task very seriously, pouring the water with utmost care, and glancing up at Frodo intermittently for nods of approval.
Frodo gathered up a few plates of food covered with cloth and motioned for Sam to follow.
"Pip, we will be preparing Merry's quarters," said Frodo. "We'll be right back."
The two hobbits plodded over to Sam's room at the end of the hall and set down their burdens on the bed stand. Sam pulled the dirty sheets from the bed, and replaced them with clean linens as Frodo picked up the fallen basin, and replaced it with fresh water. When they were finished, the two hobbits quietly examined what would be Merry's lodgings; two days worth of food, clean sheets, two basins of water, two chamber pots, fifteen candles, and no sharp objects.
"I sincerely hope that Pippin follows our instructions, Sam," sighed Frodo. "Or it may go very ill for him."
"And us," grumbled Sam.
"That is what the tea is for, I guess," replied Frodo. "I wonder how we shall force Merry to drink the tea."
Sam responded with a roguish smile. He grasped a long wooden tube from the bed stand.
"Mr. Frodo, you just leave that to me!"
* * *
Merry startled awake at the sound of the door creaking open. He had called and called, and when no one came, he'd let his aching and immobilized body fall into an uneasy slumber. But now they were back, his erstwhile captives, and it was time to wake up.
Frodo and Sam stepped in, Frodo with a calm but stern demeanor, and Sam, holding a steaming cup and of something, and smiling slightly more than seemed appropriate.
Merry lifted his head from the floor, a question mark in his eyes.
"Pippin is fine, if you were wondering," answered Frodo to a question that Merry never asked. "but you shan't see him face to face for awhile. Not until you are well and yourself again."
A flash of fury meshed with panic came into Merry's eyes with the mention of Pippin's name. This was unexpected. Pippin was balanced on a delicate thread of love and fear, pain and trust. He could not risk Frodo's influence upon the lad. One push in the wrong direction and Pippin could be lost to him. He'd hate to see all of that effort wasted because of the soft heart and compassionate nature of his elder cousin.
"Let me see the boy, Frodo!" stormed Merry. "I need to speak with him!"
"Sorry Merry," answered Frodo. "I think not."
"I need to make certain Pippin is well," replied Merry angrily. "What have you done with him!"
"What have WE done?!" began Sam incredulously on the cusp of another diatribe. "What have WE done?"
"Be still Sam," said Frodo, placing a calming hand upon Sam's shoulder. "It will serve no purpose."
Sam gritted his teeth together and continued to scowl at Merry.
"Merry," announced Frodo, "we are going to move you to Sam's room. We've prepared it so that you will be comfortable. But at present we cannot trust you, so we are going to need you to go to sleep while we arrange for our departure. When you awaken, we shall be gone."
"Frodo!" yelled Merry. "You cannot leave! You cannot go! It is folly! Frodo! Folly!"
Neither Frodo nor Sam uttered a word as they approached the now thrashing figure on the floor.
"Frodo!" cried Merry, now in a dead panic. "Frodo! You will be very sorry if you do this! I shan't be merciful -not this time! Frodo!"
(") But Frodo was unswayed. He knelt down beside Merry and turned his cousin over, pulling Merry into his lap in a move that would have seemed tender if not for Merry's barrage of dark threats and his violent thrashing. Frodo grimaced and clenched his teeth at the re-awoken pain in his legs as his cousin battered against them.
"Frodo," continued Merry in a voice so filled with fury that it bore little resemblance to the jolly tone his words usually carried. "Frodo, you shall learn the meaning of pain and obedience. Mark me, Frodo! You will pay for this before the end. Do not leave! Do not take it (It) from your people! Frodo! Do not force my hand!"
"Sam," said Frodo calmly, "Please bring over the tea now."
"NOOOO!!! Frodo!" screeched Merry.
Sam knelt down and pulled a foot-long wooden tube from his belt, dangling it like torture implements in front of a prisoner. Frodo gave Sam a reprimanding glance in response to his satisfied chuckle.
"Remember this Sir?" asked Sam, earning another stern look from Frodo.
"Let's get this over with, Sam," said Frodo.
Frodo gently, but firmly placed his hand on Merry's forehead and forced it back. Merry at this point had ceased his cursing and threats to clinch his jaw shut.
"In we go!" chirped Sam as he forced the tube between Merry's protesting lips. Frodo held the tube in place as Sam poured some of the tea down the top of it. Both hobbits noted with dismay the liquid rolling down Merry's checks and chin, obviously not being consumed by the struggling figure below. Sam immediately squeezed Merry's nose, cutting off all air until he drank. Merry drank.
"You think I'd not remember that little trick-eh? Mr. Merry!" gloated Sam.
When the tube and the cup had emptied, the hobbits removed the tube. They noted a change in Merry within minutes. His yells of anger became more subdued, and his thrashing went limp until finally he was able to be carried down the long hall without struggle or undue noise.
Frodo had made sure to send Pippin on a pony-feeding errand as this unpleasant task was done, taking no chances with contact with the emotionally vulnerable little Took. It was with a sigh of relief that Frodo and Sam set Merry face down upon the bed. The sat on either side of his moaning form, waiting for Merry to at last surrender himself to sleep.
As soon as Frodo and Sam heard soft snores, Frodo nodded to Sam.
"Are you sure, Mr. Frodo? Seein' what e's capable of?"
"We have no choice, Sam" answered Frodo. "He needs to get to his food. The door is very strong."
"But is Pippin?" muttered Sam as he reluctantly sawed off Merry's bonds.
Frodo rolled the sleeping Merry over and pulled a blanket over him.
"Sweet dreams, cousin," sighed Frodo. "I hope you wake up in a better mind."
Sam growled to himself. "Let's go then, Mr. Frodo. I'm ready to leave this place."
Frodo nodded, taking one last look at his sleeping cousin tucked under the blanket. He looked strangely peaceful, unlike the strange creature who minutes ago had verbally assailed them with dark threats and black fury.
Sam lingered in the doorway, no longer able to fight an irresistible urge. He whirled around to face the bed, and announced in a booming voice-
"We're going to Bree now, Mr. Merry! Sorry, but you are no longer invited!"
Sam slammed the door with a force that made the whole house shake, and with a brusque motion, turned the key. Not as satisfying as feeling bone and cartilage crunch under his fist, but it would have to do.
Inside the room, the slumbering figure opened his bleary eyes halfway.
"Bree," Merry mumbled.
TBC
To the Reviewers- Cailen Braern-More Sam heroics-and angst to come! And-yes-I just read your new chappie, and will review it later today! Great stuff!
Pointy-Eared Archer-I hope you liked theis chapter too-the next 2 chapters are really exciting!
Sue-I hope you like the Pippin/Sm/Frodo interaction in this chapter too!
Calla- More Pippin coddling coming up! I wonder if Pip will listen..
QTPie- the escape-so far so good-but-uh-oh-I think I hear something.
Tesekian-Yes-I am mean to poor Pippin-but you just had the poor thing tied, chained and whipped ;)
Alisaundre - Sam has some EXCELLENT lines in chapter 22I hope you like them!
MBradford-I love your new story, and will attach the link next chapter! And I think your comment about compassion might be right! It wont work as well as in "Way of Vengeance! Natta-The next chapter is really full of action.
Endymion-Oh-you know how I love to hear quotes you like! I think you will love Sam in the next few chapters!
Aratlithiel-My lovely Beta!!! I may get Sam just right, but, boy-do you know your Frdo angst!!!
Christina-welcome aboard! Please come back and talk. I do not think you will be disappointed!