Disclaimer: All characters and places depicted are the sole property of the JRR Tolkien estate, my only claim to fame is this small piece of fiction. No copyright infringement is intended.
Medical Disclaimer: While extensive research has been done, none of the cures or procedures depicted in this story should be used without first consulting a medical professional.
This story is AU.
Smoke and Mirrors Chapter 14
Aragorn and Saleth moved quickly down the corridor with Faramir trailing close behind.
"In here, my Lord." Aragorn looked quizzically at Saleth, for this was not the hobbits quarters. "The treatments the small perian shall be receiving will be intensely painful. I think it best if we put he and Master Brandybuck far away from the ringbearer, so as not to disturb him," Saleth explained.
"A wise decision, let us proceed," Aragorn said grimly. Just thinking about what lay in store for Pippin made his heart ache. They moved into a comfortably, large room. One large bed occupied the center of the room, shelves with towels, bandages and ointments lined the facing wall. Aragorn gently lay Pippin on the bed and began removing the hobbit's cherished livery of the land of Gondor. He had removed all but the leggings when he quickly drew a short blade and cut them off the small hobbit. A low moan escaped Pippin's lips. As Aragorn peeled back the leggings, his breath caught in his throat. The most serious break Pippin had received from the troll in defense of Gondor, had been a compound fracture below the right knee. It now lay exposed, re-fractured, the bone standing up and out like a jagged tooth, blood oozing slowly from the wound. Merry, upon seeing the re-mangled leg, gasped and began to sob. Faramir, eyes damp with empathy for this small one, hobbled over to where Merry sat perched at one corner of the large bed, and pulled him close.
"Saleth, I want Pippin and Merry sedated," said Aragorn. Three pairs of eyes looked up as one, questioning the King. "I am sorry, Merry, but Pippin will be in a lot of pain when we reset this fracture. I do not wish you to witness this procedure as it will be quite gruesome and unnerving," Aragorn said softly.
"NO! I will not be sedated. I plan to sit right here and hold Pip's hand and help him through this," cried Merry. "He needs me, Aragorn," he finished, eyes pleading.
"You have all ready had too much excitement this night. I do not think it wise for you to continue to tax yourself beyond your limits," Aragorn said sternly.
"No. I am not leaving him. I'll fight you on this, Lord Aragorn," Merry said firmly. " Please don't make it come to that," Merry said sternly, eyes bright with passion for his cause and his jaw set squarely.
Aragorn and Faramir both smiled a little at the comment, but knew better than to openly laugh. The hobbits had shown themselves to be worthy opponents despite their small stature. Aragorn knew he could physically remove Merry from the room and force the sleeping draught upon him, but he would not risk injuring the pride of the hobbit or their friendship. He held a deep, abiding respect and love for Merry and knew he would lose it all if he pressed the issue.
"Very well, Meriadoc," Aragorn said slowly. "You will hold Pippin's hand, but you will not interfere with our treatment. This includes questioning us or distracting us in any way, from our care of Pippin," he said sternly. Merry gulped but nodded his assent. Faramir moved them both closer to the head of the bed so Merry could hold Pippin's hand.
Aragorn and Saleth gazed at the crumpled figure before them. Pippin's tousled locks were sweaty and hung lank about his face. His eyes were closed, a small furrow lay between them, indicating even while unconscious, the pain he was enduring. Sweat beaded on his upper lip and his breath came in ragged gasps. Saleth ran his hands down the leg to see if any of the other previous breaks had been refractured.
"His original breaks are still healing, except for one here at his ankle and the one below his knee," he said.
"We will need the pulley and brace in order to completely immobilize the leg and insure the bones fall back into place," said Aragorn.
"I agree, though I am loathe to use it. It brings to mind some ancient system of torture every time I have need of it," murmured Saleth.
Aragorn smiled grimly at this. "That is exactly what it is, my friend. But, unfortunately, we have little recourse." Saleth motioned to an orderly and had him bring a cream infused with crushed poppy seeds. Then a strange looking device was brought into the hobbits new quarters. It had a long board, with a small perpendicular board at the end. Ropes were attached and ran down the sides of the board ending in a loop over the smaller board. A small pouch of sand hung down from a pole attached at the end. Merry looked at this monstrosity, confusion evident on his face. Saleth pried open Pippin's mouth and placed the poppy cream on his tongue, then rubbing the small throat, watched as it was swallowed. He repeated this three times until he was satisfied that Pippin was sedated.
"I dare not give him anymore...he is so small he could stop breathing," said the healer. Merry's eyes grew large and he looked quickly at Aragorn. Aragorn nodded to Saleth in understanding, and then looked briefly at Merry, raising an eyebrow .
Aragorn
and Saleth washed Pippin's leg in althelas water, allowing some to
drizzle over the exposed bone. Pippin groaned in response. "I
wish to insert a small drain here at the base of the break so that if
it becomes infected, we will be better able to treat it," Saleth
said. Aragorn nodded grimly. A small reed was inserted next to
the broken bone, causing Pippin to cry out. The reed was secured in
place with a strip of gauze. Saleth then moved to the foot of the bed
as Aragorn slid himself behind the limp body of the hobbit. With
a nod, Saleth then grasped the leg around the calf and pulled while
Aragorn pulled from above the knee. Pippin's eyes flew open and a
loud keening shriek issued from his tiny mouth. He clutched
convulsively at Merry's hand.
Merry squeezed Pippin's hand back
and whispered reassurances in his cousin's small ear, tears silently
coursing down his face all the while.
The fracture below the knee made a wet popping sound as it slipped back under the skin and into place. A leather strap was placed securely over the fracture as a temporary hold fast. Pippin was panting and sweating profusely at this new agony.
The mechanism that had been brought into the room was moved to the bed. "The board is too long to accommodate his small leg," observed Aragorn.
"We have a smaller board used for children, perhaps that would suffice," said Saleth.
The child size board was brought in and the other removed. Thick towels were wrapped about it to cushion the surface. Aragorn bent and lifted Pippin so that his right leg lay along the length of the board, his hairy foot now rested against the upright board at the end of the apparatus. Aragorn soaked cloths in the althelas water and wrapped them gently around the mangled limb.
"Now for the ankle," said Saleth. The ankle was manipulated so that the bones were in alignment and tied down to the footboard. Pippin screamed anew as they pulled and twisted his bones back into their proper form. Great large tears fell from his eyes, then he closed his eyes once again, drifting back into his drug induced stupor.
The loop at the end of the footboard was placed around the foot and the leg lashed with many layers of gauze strips which were then attached to the ropes running along the sides of the board. The board was pulled up to a 45 degree angle and Pippin's back elevated slightly with pillows. The rope ran down the length of the board and to a pole where it hung down. To this a very small pouch of sand was attached. Pippin moaned and whimpered at the addition of the sand. Merry watched, transfixed by the intricate pulley and lever system. Aragorn, noticing Merry's curiosity, began to explain the system and how it worked.
"The rope and weight pull the bones into place while the loop holds the foot straight and steady, so that they can knit properly," he explained.
"I don't remember you using this on his leg before," commented Merry.
"That is because, dear Merry, the initial break, while extensive, was somewhat smaller and easier to pull back into place. Pippin has undone all the progress he has made and caused the old fracture to splinter the main bone. This bone," he pointed at the bone below the knee, " has splintered under the stress of walking and especially, kneeling. If you will recall, when Pippin insisted on kneeling, we all heard a loud popping noise. That was the sound of the bone re-breaking and the fracture spreading down this long bone," he said grimly. Merry looked sadly at his cousin.
Once they were satisfied with the angle and positioning of the hobbit, he was draped in blankets, avoiding the leg to prevent putting added pressure on the wound. Pillows were placed around him, under his arms and behind his head.
"I am most concerned about the possibility of infection. The bone and wound has been exposed for an extended period of time," said Aragorn to Saleth, looking in concern at the sweaty face of the smallest hobbit.
"I too, am concerned. If the infection should get into the bone we could find ourselves having to remove the leg in order to spare his life," replied Saleth. Merry had been listening, his eyes went wide and his mouth dry at the prospect of taking Pippin's leg off.
"Aragorn, surely you can treat him. Don't cut off his leg," he whispered earnestly.
"Merry, forgive us for discussing this in front of you. We will do whatever we can to save the limb. But if it should come down to a choice of Pippin's life or his leg, I will remove the leg," Aragorn said quietly.
Merry's eyes filled with tears. His whole body shook from exhaustion and the stress of what his cousins' had been through and had yet to go through, before being healed. Aragorn motioned to Saleth who then brought Merry a sleeping tonic to drink.
"Now Merry, let me examine your arm, for you too, have been hurt this night," said Aragorn softly. Merry struggled to remove his shirt, but was unable to get the right arm to respond. Aragorn noticed the hobbit's difficulty and moved to assist him. He slowly peeled the shirt off and upon touching the arm, drew back sharply at its frigid temperature. He gathered a cloth that had been soaking in hot althelas water, wrung it out and applied it to the wounded arm. He pushed Merry gently back so that he was lying next to Pippin. Pillows and blankets were brought and bricks, that had been heated on the fire, were wrapped in cloth and placed around the arm. Merry sighed as the warmth infused his limb. The tonic was offered, and Merry drank it gratefully.
"Thank you, Aragorn ....Saleth, for all you have done for us," he said smiling wanly.
"Yes, you have been far more troublesome than normal, this night. But all is forgiven if you will but rest and promise to stay put for its duration," Aragorn whispered with a smile.
"I promise....my....King," Merry slurred, his eyes slowly closing. He rested.
Aragorn sighed. "Troublesome, headstrong and stubborn. Yet also faithful, loving and .....most enduring," he murmured softly, stroking Merry's fine bronze curls.
to be continued