Disclaimer: I do not own these characters and make no money off of these
stories.
All Creatures Great and Small
Chapter 3: MERRY IS CAUGHT AND SAM TRIES TO LEAVE THE CAMP
Not even a league away, there sat an encampment clustered in the small valley. White tents mainly dotted the landscape except for two buildings made of logs, mud and a straw thatched roof. Smoke was billowing out of the widest one. This is where the residents gathered in the evening to eat, drink and discuss business of the day. The second, which was next door to it was just a tad smaller. Its sole purpose was for storage of the harvest. It also bore a chimney, but no smoke was coming from its stack today.
Two men, each different as night and day exited the bigger building. The tall, gruffy beard man was the height of six foot, maybe just a couple inches taller. His shirt bore the stains of perspiration and dirt even though he had cleansed it the night before, was tucked into dark colored trousers, being held up by suspenders. Because of his height, they seemed to ride up and expose his ankles, making him a funny site indeed since his well worn black boots did not cover that area of his legs. His head bore a wide brimmed straw hat to cover his light colored unkempt stringy hair hanging to his shoulders. The man's calloused covered hands clasped tightly to the handle of a reaper slung over his left shoulder as he strode alongside a younger slender man.
"Ready to harvest, Bartholomew?" the bigger man asked.
Bartholomew thought kindly of Larson, but he knew he did not like being called by his formal name. He had preferred Bart, but he knew his friend called it in teasing. Bart was of shorter stature, being only of five foot eight, slender build. Considered a weakling among his townfolk, he could still bring in a harvest as well as the next big man. He was a little bit more kempt than Larson, his dark hair shorter and thicker. He also wore a straw hat to keep the sun from reaching his fair face. A fair colored shirt was tucked into his trousers as well being held with suspenders. The choice tool he was toting over his shoulder was a hoe. They were the last men to leave the encampment and were to meet the rest of the farmers in the field. "I feel ready to tackle the field and get back home to my lady. I dant feel too cumfortable with them bein' all alone, if you know what I mean," Bart stated looking distantly to the field.
"That was the only way I could get rid of 'em. You know we din it have a choice, Bart. It will be over soon. Did ja set the trap last evenin'?" Lars looked down to Bart.
Eyes retreating from the distance looking down to his feet. With a slow regretful nod he answered,"Yep,did."
"Let's go check it. Maybe we have what we need," Bart said walking slightly to the left changing his direction towards an innocent grove of trees.
Just as the two men were approaching, they saw a small figure rushing out from the trees, running in the opposite direction of the farmers. Bart and Lars realized that the blond headed figure had come from the trap that was set. "He'll tell someone for sure. Who's kid is he anyways?" Lars asked breaking into a run not letting Bart get a word in.
The men were quick to catch up with the kid. Lars reached out with his long arm just as he got within reach of the boy and yanked him back by his collar, catching the boy off guard.
"Let go! Let go...of me!" Merry managed to get out, unable to see his assailant at the time.
Lars turned the feisty boy around. He was not going to let some sniveling little imp destroy his plan. He spun the boy around to face him taking in full view. Lars was appalled at what he saw. Someone who looked like a blond child, short stature but with big hairy feet. He did not know what this was, but this was no child. "What are you?" Lars gasped still having a hold onto Merry's collar.
Merry did not answer, he took advantage of the mans grip slacking. Using his big foot, Merry kicked the big man in the knee cap. CRACK! The man was brought down crying in pain. Lars let go and Merry ran, but in the wrong direction. He had gotten turned around when the men caught up with him, that he forgot his bearings and did not realize he was not going back into the direction of the camp to get help for Frodo.
"Get him, Bart! He could be one of 'im!" Lars yelled out, trying to get back up after recovering from the blow to his knee. Bart took off after Merry, with Lars trailing behind. Merry soon realized he was heading back towards Frodo, but did not want to lead these Big men to him. He diverted to the left and ran as fast and swiftly as he could.
Bart smiled when the boy turned off the main path and slowed down. Lars caught up to Bart, "Why'd you stop?" Lars coughed out catching his breath.
"He's trapped. 'Member we laid out the hay? It is a solid wall. He has no where to go but back out this way," Bart explained reminding the farmer not just a couple days earlier they had harvested this side, but did not bring it in yet.
Just as Bart thought, Merry came running back out and they were ready for him. But Merry was ready for them as well. As they tried to rush him, a rock sailed through the air with accuracy striking its target in the head, stunning the same man he had kicked earlier. Lars hands flew up to his forehead cursing, missing the boy as he ran past. On the other hand, Merry only had time to truly aim one stone, and hoping that he could out run the slender looking man. He was wrong. Bart leapt on him quick, grabbing Merry's hands wrestling him down to the ground. He made sure to stay away from those feet. Placing his knee in the small of his back, he had successfully subdued the boy. Lars had again recovered, coming upon the now subdued boy. "Turn him over, Bart, I want to throw a stone on his head, but much bigger!" he growled with a gleam in his eye, a rock in his hand. Merry tried to squirm away, fear in his eyes.
"You can't! He might be one of 'em. I want to go home soon and not haf to worry about eatin this winter," Bart said staying Lars hands.
Merry's breathing slowed a bit, hoping the slender man would realize to set him free. He noticed Lars lowering the big rock and the other man Bart had loosened his grip upon Merry's arms.
"What are you?" Lars asked peering down into Merry's face. "He doesn't look like them silver people. What you doin' in there?" Lars asked pointing back towards the trees that Merry had come out of.
Merry did not answer. He did not trust them that well. The man was still peering into his face holding his chin roughly. "Maybe we can still give 'im to..."
"Give him to whom?" a familiar voice to Merry's ears brought a smile to his face.
*****************
Back at camp, Sam was wringing his hands in his jacket. Pippin was trying to comfort himself as well as Sam. Gandalf had set them on a task to collect more firewood and to stack them neatly. Sam then busied himself with washing the pans, then trying to brush Bill. Then he just could not stand it anymore. Noticing that Gandalf had occupied himself at the other end of the camp, Sam made towards the direction Frodo and Merry had gone. Sam looked back towards where Gandalf was, seeing him still there, he turned and abrubtly met up with Gimli's ax barring his way to Mr.Frodo.
"Where do you think you be goin' Master Gamgee?" Gimli asked, lowering his ax just a bit.
"I need to make sure Mr.Frodo is safe. He needs me. I can't be staying here while he is out there and...and..."
"And what Samwise?" Gandalf answered. "that we could lose you too? That when Frodo does come back with the others, we would then be tracking you as well. I understand your worry. I really do," Gandalf said as he gently knelt down and placed a hand upon Sam's shoulder. "I am worried for them, too. Frodo means more to me than a mere friend. So, let's just wait over here for them to return. Pippin needs comforting too. I know you can give him the support he needs while Merry is away as well," he coaxed guiding Sam back to the logs to sit beside Pippin.
Gandald wandered back towards Gimli and nodded, thanking him silently for intervening. He leaned on his staff asking the Valor to watch over Frodo and Merry.
******************
tbc
Thank you to Budgielover, Shirebound, Iorheal, linreal,pharaohess, jules6, t.l.arens. Thanks to you all for all your encouragement to continue this story.
All Creatures Great and Small
Chapter 3: MERRY IS CAUGHT AND SAM TRIES TO LEAVE THE CAMP
Not even a league away, there sat an encampment clustered in the small valley. White tents mainly dotted the landscape except for two buildings made of logs, mud and a straw thatched roof. Smoke was billowing out of the widest one. This is where the residents gathered in the evening to eat, drink and discuss business of the day. The second, which was next door to it was just a tad smaller. Its sole purpose was for storage of the harvest. It also bore a chimney, but no smoke was coming from its stack today.
Two men, each different as night and day exited the bigger building. The tall, gruffy beard man was the height of six foot, maybe just a couple inches taller. His shirt bore the stains of perspiration and dirt even though he had cleansed it the night before, was tucked into dark colored trousers, being held up by suspenders. Because of his height, they seemed to ride up and expose his ankles, making him a funny site indeed since his well worn black boots did not cover that area of his legs. His head bore a wide brimmed straw hat to cover his light colored unkempt stringy hair hanging to his shoulders. The man's calloused covered hands clasped tightly to the handle of a reaper slung over his left shoulder as he strode alongside a younger slender man.
"Ready to harvest, Bartholomew?" the bigger man asked.
Bartholomew thought kindly of Larson, but he knew he did not like being called by his formal name. He had preferred Bart, but he knew his friend called it in teasing. Bart was of shorter stature, being only of five foot eight, slender build. Considered a weakling among his townfolk, he could still bring in a harvest as well as the next big man. He was a little bit more kempt than Larson, his dark hair shorter and thicker. He also wore a straw hat to keep the sun from reaching his fair face. A fair colored shirt was tucked into his trousers as well being held with suspenders. The choice tool he was toting over his shoulder was a hoe. They were the last men to leave the encampment and were to meet the rest of the farmers in the field. "I feel ready to tackle the field and get back home to my lady. I dant feel too cumfortable with them bein' all alone, if you know what I mean," Bart stated looking distantly to the field.
"That was the only way I could get rid of 'em. You know we din it have a choice, Bart. It will be over soon. Did ja set the trap last evenin'?" Lars looked down to Bart.
Eyes retreating from the distance looking down to his feet. With a slow regretful nod he answered,"Yep,did."
"Let's go check it. Maybe we have what we need," Bart said walking slightly to the left changing his direction towards an innocent grove of trees.
Just as the two men were approaching, they saw a small figure rushing out from the trees, running in the opposite direction of the farmers. Bart and Lars realized that the blond headed figure had come from the trap that was set. "He'll tell someone for sure. Who's kid is he anyways?" Lars asked breaking into a run not letting Bart get a word in.
The men were quick to catch up with the kid. Lars reached out with his long arm just as he got within reach of the boy and yanked him back by his collar, catching the boy off guard.
"Let go! Let go...of me!" Merry managed to get out, unable to see his assailant at the time.
Lars turned the feisty boy around. He was not going to let some sniveling little imp destroy his plan. He spun the boy around to face him taking in full view. Lars was appalled at what he saw. Someone who looked like a blond child, short stature but with big hairy feet. He did not know what this was, but this was no child. "What are you?" Lars gasped still having a hold onto Merry's collar.
Merry did not answer, he took advantage of the mans grip slacking. Using his big foot, Merry kicked the big man in the knee cap. CRACK! The man was brought down crying in pain. Lars let go and Merry ran, but in the wrong direction. He had gotten turned around when the men caught up with him, that he forgot his bearings and did not realize he was not going back into the direction of the camp to get help for Frodo.
"Get him, Bart! He could be one of 'im!" Lars yelled out, trying to get back up after recovering from the blow to his knee. Bart took off after Merry, with Lars trailing behind. Merry soon realized he was heading back towards Frodo, but did not want to lead these Big men to him. He diverted to the left and ran as fast and swiftly as he could.
Bart smiled when the boy turned off the main path and slowed down. Lars caught up to Bart, "Why'd you stop?" Lars coughed out catching his breath.
"He's trapped. 'Member we laid out the hay? It is a solid wall. He has no where to go but back out this way," Bart explained reminding the farmer not just a couple days earlier they had harvested this side, but did not bring it in yet.
Just as Bart thought, Merry came running back out and they were ready for him. But Merry was ready for them as well. As they tried to rush him, a rock sailed through the air with accuracy striking its target in the head, stunning the same man he had kicked earlier. Lars hands flew up to his forehead cursing, missing the boy as he ran past. On the other hand, Merry only had time to truly aim one stone, and hoping that he could out run the slender looking man. He was wrong. Bart leapt on him quick, grabbing Merry's hands wrestling him down to the ground. He made sure to stay away from those feet. Placing his knee in the small of his back, he had successfully subdued the boy. Lars had again recovered, coming upon the now subdued boy. "Turn him over, Bart, I want to throw a stone on his head, but much bigger!" he growled with a gleam in his eye, a rock in his hand. Merry tried to squirm away, fear in his eyes.
"You can't! He might be one of 'em. I want to go home soon and not haf to worry about eatin this winter," Bart said staying Lars hands.
Merry's breathing slowed a bit, hoping the slender man would realize to set him free. He noticed Lars lowering the big rock and the other man Bart had loosened his grip upon Merry's arms.
"What are you?" Lars asked peering down into Merry's face. "He doesn't look like them silver people. What you doin' in there?" Lars asked pointing back towards the trees that Merry had come out of.
Merry did not answer. He did not trust them that well. The man was still peering into his face holding his chin roughly. "Maybe we can still give 'im to..."
"Give him to whom?" a familiar voice to Merry's ears brought a smile to his face.
*****************
Back at camp, Sam was wringing his hands in his jacket. Pippin was trying to comfort himself as well as Sam. Gandalf had set them on a task to collect more firewood and to stack them neatly. Sam then busied himself with washing the pans, then trying to brush Bill. Then he just could not stand it anymore. Noticing that Gandalf had occupied himself at the other end of the camp, Sam made towards the direction Frodo and Merry had gone. Sam looked back towards where Gandalf was, seeing him still there, he turned and abrubtly met up with Gimli's ax barring his way to Mr.Frodo.
"Where do you think you be goin' Master Gamgee?" Gimli asked, lowering his ax just a bit.
"I need to make sure Mr.Frodo is safe. He needs me. I can't be staying here while he is out there and...and..."
"And what Samwise?" Gandalf answered. "that we could lose you too? That when Frodo does come back with the others, we would then be tracking you as well. I understand your worry. I really do," Gandalf said as he gently knelt down and placed a hand upon Sam's shoulder. "I am worried for them, too. Frodo means more to me than a mere friend. So, let's just wait over here for them to return. Pippin needs comforting too. I know you can give him the support he needs while Merry is away as well," he coaxed guiding Sam back to the logs to sit beside Pippin.
Gandald wandered back towards Gimli and nodded, thanking him silently for intervening. He leaned on his staff asking the Valor to watch over Frodo and Merry.
******************
tbc
Thank you to Budgielover, Shirebound, Iorheal, linreal,pharaohess, jules6, t.l.arens. Thanks to you all for all your encouragement to continue this story.