Moria's Revenge, chapter 25: Calmed
Authors: Kookaburra, Llinos
***
Pippin sobbed into the towel as he was lain on the soft coverlet. Strider was holding him, and talking to the white elf. Pippin managed to look over to the basin. The scouring powder and vomit had not been cleaned up yet.
"I-I', s-s-sorry Master." Pippin whispered to Aragorn. "ma-ma-made a mess..."
Aragorn stroked Pippin's hair and smiled sadly down at him. "Shh, little one, don't worry. It's nothing...shh..." The towel was becoming soaked with blood, and Aragorn motioned to Deilen for another.
"Let us move him to the adjoining room," suggested Deilen, "where it will be easier to treat his wounds, and give the attendants a chance to clean up this one." As he and Aragorn started to leave, Merry immediately started to follow them, anxious to be near Pippin.
"No, Merry." Strider admonished. "You must not be involved with this. Stay here and help straighten the room." They turned and left, leaving Merry forlorn and lonely.
"Oh, Merry." Said a soft voice behind him. Frodo, Sam, and Legolas had just entered, thinking that Pippin would be finished with his breakfast by then. The three stared around the chamber, at the scattered fruit, vomit, scouring powder and blood.
Merry collapsed, sobbing. Warm arms encircled him, and Frodo murmured into his hair. Merry began to babble. "He was doing so much better, why was he scrubbing, I should have never left him, Oh, my poor little Pip..." Legolas reached down and lifted Merry from Frodo, sitting on the side of the bed and pulling the perian into his lap.
"Shh, Merry. Be at peace. Now, tell us what happened. And where is Pippin?"
Merry choked down a sob, took a deep breath and related what he had seen when he walked into the room.
***
Aragorn was hard put to keep Pippin still. The halfling kept squirming out of his grasp, trying to rub at himself. The fact that Pippin was still slippery with soap and blood did not help the situation. Finally, the ranger had had enough, and took Pippin's head between his hands.
"Peregrin, listen to me." The green eyes widened and fixed on Aragorn's face. "Tell me, why were you..." Aragorn hesitated to use the term 'washing' for what Pippin had been doing, "scrubbing yourself? You're not dirty, you are a very clean little hobbit, and you will only hurt yourself if you try this again."
Tears started to slide down Pippin's cheeks. He had made Master angry. Now he was going to be beaten for stealing the soap and brush, and wasting it on himself. And he could not tell them his wild hope - that if he were cleansed, they might let him see the bright lady again. Now that he thought about it, the notion was foolish. He would never be allowed to see her; he would never be clean again. Not for her, not for Merry, not for anyone.
Deilen was terribly upset at what had happened. "I am so sorry I did not observe the little one better. I was distracted and I thought he was sleeping."
"I know," Aragorn was gently rocking Pippin again, "One of us should have stayed with him also."
"I will prepare a soothing ointment for the little one's abraded skin." Deilen was especially anxious to make amends for his lack of vigilance.
It took a long time to stop Pippin crying, but Aragorn finally made him calm enough that they could lay him on a high table so Deilen and Melystra could gently sponge away the blood and Aragorn very gently soothed in the ointment that Deilen had prepared. It was not only healing, but served to numb the nerve endings to reduce pain. After the scrapes were dressed, Melystra helped Aragorn wrap them in soft gauze and secure the padding with bandages.
Pippin coughed a little, and worked his mouth busily. Aragorn noticed this, and called Melystra's attention to it. "What do you suppose is making him do that?" she asked.
"I have not the faintest idea." Aragorn took Pippin's head in his hands again, and looked into the wide eyes. "Pippin, what is wrong with your mouth?" Instantly Pippin pursed his lips and refused to move them. "Does your mouth hurt?" Aragorn was concerned that Pippin's delicate mouth had suffered permanent damage from the gag.
The shorn curls barely moved as Pippin ducked his chin quickly in a nod. Aragorn reached out and gently felt around Pippin's jaw. He could not feel any breakage or dislocation, and Pippin did not seem to flinch at any one spot.
Melystra leaned over Pippin and queried, "Does your mouth taste bad?" This was also confirmed by a small nod. Aragorn then opened Pippin's mouth, and looked inside.
He could see a strange, pale substance clinging to Pippin's teeth. After reaching in with one finger and scraping some out, he sniffed it.
"Oh, Pippin." He sighed sadly. "Poor little Pippin. Why did you eat lye soap?"
The little body began to shake with sobs again, and tears leaked from the corners of Pippin's eyes. "I-I," he stuttered "dirty, th-they were s-s-so dirty, an' an'...in m-my m-m-m-mouth...tasted so bad..." When Aragorn figured out what the abused hobbit was telling him, his jaw dropped in shock.
"Poor little Pippin," He said again. The horrors the little one had gone through were almost unimaginable. "I know you feel dirty, but you are not." Aragorn took Pippin's hands between his own and placed a kiss on the pale brow. "From now on, if you want a bath, or a mouth wash, tell me, or Merry, or...anyone. We don't want to have to go through this again, now do we?" Pippin shook his head. Aragorn turned to Melystra. "I don't suppose you would have a horse hair toothbrush and peppermint about?" She chuckled, and started to rummage in various cabinets for the said items.
Deilen stepped into the bedchamber, where the hobbits were helping remake the bed, scurrying around the edges, tucking the sheets under the mattress. Most of the mess had been cleaned up, except for a few errant bloodstains that would likely become a permanent part of the decor.
When Merry spotted him standing in the doorway, the hobbit dropped the stack of pillows in his arms and rushed over. "How is Pippin, is he all right, what..."
Deilen held up his hands to stem the flood of questions. "Do not fear, young Merry. The Dunedin and Melystra are finishing tending to him. When the scrapes are healed, he will bear no mark." By this time the other halflings had padded over and stood in front of him as well.
"When can we see him?" asked Frodo. Legolas came over at this time and placed a hand on Frodo and Sam's shoulders.
"You will see him when someone comes for us telling us that we may see him, Master Baggins. Now, come. Pippin did not get a chance to have his breakfast. Let us go and find things to amuse Pippin with when he is ready to receive us."
"Well let us just stay with Merry until we see that Pip is all right." Frodo insisted.
"Very well." Deilen agreed, "But then you need to give him a little time, perhaps just with Merry."
***
They wrapped Pippin in yet another towel and Aragorn held him over a basin while Melystra washed the turmeric from his hair, then lifted his head so she could comb his shorn locks through to remove the nits. The whole time Pippin whimpered and trembled. "Don't be afraid, Pippin," she whispered to him, "why do you quiver? There is nothing to fear."
Aragorn laid him on the high table and he too made reassuring noises, breathing soft, gentle words into the hobbit's pointed ear. "Pippin, little one, don't fret so. I won't let any harm come to you."
Eventually Pippin spoke with a shaky voice, "Mas-master, p-please don't hurt me, I'm sorry, sorry. No more, please."
Aragorn sighed. "I'm not your master, Pippin and I won't hurt you. You used to call me Strider, do you remember? Or Aragorn, can you say that?"
Pippin opened his eyes wide again and stared at the shaven face, it did not seem familiar. He remembered Master's face, the one who beat him and abused him and then that face sometimes looked like Strider's face, he remembered Strider and Boromir with the whip, beating him. But this face looked different again. Why could he not keep his thoughts in order, everything got muddled all the time.
But one memory suddenly came hurtling back. Merry! He remembered he had been on the big bed with Merry. That was when he knew he was too dirty for Merry and had tried to clean himself. Perhaps he still couldn't touch him, but at least Merry stayed the same, he could look at him and listen to him talk again. He whispered the word hopefully to Master, "Merry?" Then quickly cringed his head down as if expecting a blow.
Aragorn gently lifted his chin up with one finger, "Pippin, you want to go to Merry? Is that what you want?"
"Please Master." Pippin confirmed anxiously, still obviously expecting to be in trouble.
Aragorn considered this was progress. The only other time Pippin had actually asked for anything was to go to the warg. To actually ask for Merry was a real breakthrough. But he needed to bargain. "You can go to Merry, but you must tell me your name and my name first."
Pippin gulped in obvious terror. He hated these questions, always expecting a trick of some kind. The memory of the three Uruks came tumbling back at once.
"Dog."
"No, Pippin. Think, remember what I told you."
"Wh-what must I say, Master?" Pippin stuttered in terror.
"Your name is Pippin - Pippin! Say, 'my name is Pippin'."
"Pippin - my name is Pippin," he repeated obediently.
"and my name is?" Aragorn tried.
"Master."
Aragorn sighed in defeat. Pippin was getting too stressed again and half right was better than nothing. "It's Strider, but it's all right, you can go to Merry. Here, Pippin," Strider said quietly, "take my hand." Pippin had been dressed in a new loose shirt, and a pair of overlarge hose. Tentatively, he reached out and grasped Strider's thumb. "That's right, little Pip." Aragorn reached behind Pippin and pushed up the small of his back, helping him to sit up. Pippin made as if to let go of the ranger's thumb, but Strider closed his hand around Pippin's tiny one and held it. Melystra took his other one, and together they lifted Pippin gently down to the floor. The hobbit swayed and teetered as if he were a babe learning to walk, and was bent over from the sutures on his abdomen.
"Come along, dear heart." chimed Melystra leading him towards the door. Pippin followed her, clutching her hand.
Once in the bedchamber, Aragorn lifted Pippin up onto the bed once more and laid him gently on the pillows.
Merry was waiting there with Frodo, Sam and Legolas. "How is he?" Merry asked anxiously.
Aragorn smiled. "Better, he asked for you, Merry. We'll leave you alone with him for a little while, see what you can do." Strider turned to the other three, "Come let us see if we can replace the little one's breakfast."
"Some more fruit Mr Strider?" Sam asked.
"We'll find that and perhaps we can come back and keep Merry and Pippin company for a while?" Frodo suggested.
"That would be good," Aragorn agreed "and your assignment for today is to teach him that his name is Pippin and my name is not Master." With that he lifted Merry up onto the bed and ushered the others out of the door.
**** "What do you think we should do to help Pippin?" Frodo wondered as he and Sam sat at the table carefully cutting up more fruit. That is to say, Sam cut up the fruit and Frodo arranged it on the tray and then, when his master wasn't looking, Sam rearranged it.
"I'm not sure, Master Frodo," Sam measured several pieces of apple and trimmed them until they were all the same size. "What did Mr Pippin used to like to do when he came to visit with you?"
"Well," Frodo absent-mindedly ate one of Sam's carefully sized apple slices. "He used to like to go to the pub."
"I don't think we could give him ale," Sam pointed out, cutting another apple slice for the design he was making to replace the one Frodo had eaten. "But as I remember he used to like to sing at the pub."
"Yes and dance," Frodo agreed taking a chunk of peach now and nibbling at it, "but I don't think he'll be up to that."
"Anything else he liked to do?" Sam patiently took another peach from the bowl and started to cut that, this time putting some on the tray and the rest on a plate for Frodo.
"He used to love to paint!" Frodo remembered with enthusiasm. "Perhaps we could get paints and brushes and see if he'll do that."
"Who would we ask?" Sam had never actually painted in his life and had no idea how to set about such a thing.
"I shouldn't think that activity would be difficult here." Frodo picked at the cherries Sam had pitted and popped two in his mouth. I'm sure Melystra would find us painting equipment. I'll go and ask her now." Frodo took another piece of apple. "Are you sure you can manage here all right Sam?"
"Erm I'll struggle by master, don't you worry." Sam said with a certain amount of irony as he began to peel yet another apple.
****
When Pippin saw Merry, the little hobbit buried his face into the bed and started crying, but Merry was determined now it was time to reach out to him. He tentatively touched his short hair, now clean but still damp, and whispered softly. "Pip, it's only me, only your Merry. Come on out, come and play. Do you want breakfast? How about second breakfast?"
Pippin eventually peeped out from under his arm at Merry's insistent presence. Merry immediately flattened down on the bed and peeped back at him from under his own arm. "Peep-bo!" he teased. Pippin immediately hid his face again, but after a minute, when he could still hear Merry there, he peeped out once more.
Merry lay there quietly, still peeping at him, and he hid again. But Merry would not go away, and eventually Pippin lay there looking at Merry, looking back at him. Then Merry very slowly kissed the tip of his finger and blew the kiss to Pippin.
Pippin hid again, but the next time he looked Merry blew the kiss once more and then kissed his finger and held it out to Pippin. Very slowly Pippin struggled his own little hand out of the sleeve of the big nightshirt and started to put his finger to his own lips, but thought better of it. But he looked at Merry's finger still held out to him and pushing his hand across the bed touched Merry's finger with his.
Merry felt as if a lightening bolt had hit him. Except it was a feeling of elation that shot through his whole being. Pippin had touched him!
Very, very carefully, Merry curled his finger around Pippin's until their fingers were entwined and Merry wriggled just a tiny bit closer. For now it was enough and they lay still like that until Aragorn whispered, "Merry, Pippin, let's try breakfast again."
The ranger and the three healer elves had watched the little pantomime from beginning to end. Melystra and Silael had arrived shortly after Aragorn had placed the two hobbits on the bed.
"Merry is doing splendidly," Melystra said very quietly so as not to disturb them.
"These two must stay together henceforth." Silael concluded. "For good or ill, any separation now will cause more harm than anything else. Whatever treatment Pippin receives, I think at this stage he will handle it better with Merry to hold his hand."
Melystra went to the bed and tapped Merry gently on the shoulder. "Do you want to change your things Merry?" She asked gently.
Merry suddenly realised that he was still covered in Pippin's blood from where he had tried to stop him scrubbing. "Yes I'd better," he agreed.
"If you go and wash in there," Melystra indicated the other room, "and put this on, I will see that your clothes are cleaned and returned to you." Melystra handed him a large nightgown, identical to one Pippin was wearing.
By the time Merry returned, Pippin had been propped up with pillows on the bed with the tray of fruit beside him, Aragorn was tentatively offering him a slice of peach. He did not really expect the hobbit to take it and Pippin just looked fearfully up at him, wondering what he wanted.
Merry was lifted up onto the bed again and took the piece of fruit from Aragorn and ate it with great relish. Pippin watched him suspiciously. He looked down at the nightgown he was wearing and then frowned at Merry. He was wearing the same thing. That was strange Pippin thought. And he ate the thing that Master gave him, was he Merry's Master too?
Merry took two cherries and held one to his own mouth and offered the other to Pippin. The hobbit just looked at it and looked up at Merry, then at Aragorn. The ranger nodded and smiled. "Put it in your mouth Pippin. It's good, eat it."
Pippin shook his head and backed away from Merry. Merry shrugged and ate both the cherries, then took two pieces of peach. Again he offered one to Pippin and held the other to his own mouth.
Pippin suddenly realised that he really wanted to eat. Merry was next to him, he was dressed the same and he was eating the fruit, it had to be safe. He took the peach slice and put it in his mouth.
Instantly his body reacted. Although his brain had told him it was all right, his automotive reactions disagreed. He retched and choked and spat the fruit out.
Melystra was watching and understood what had happened. In spite of Pippin's logic reasoning that it was safe to eat, his subconscious was causing his body to reject anything solid that was put into his mouth. It was still too soon.
"Here Merry," she brought a small cup filled with fruit juice to the bed. "See if you can get him to drink from a cup instead."
Merry looked firmly at Pip and took a pretend sip from the cup and then held it up to Pippin's lips although he didn't tip the vessel up. After a moment or two, Pippin brought his hand up to the cup and tilted it. He sipped the fruit juice, some of it running down his chin but most of it down his throat. It tasted wonderful.
Several more sips and Pippin held the cup on his own and eventually drained the whole cup. "Try again with a little fruit," Melystra suggested. "Half a slice of peach."
Merry took a piece of peach and bit it in half and put the other half in Pippin's hand and nodded for him to try again. "Chew it Pip," he said. "Try not to swallow, just keep chewing."
Obediently Pippin chewed the piece of fruit round and round trying hard not to swallow it. Eventually it vanished down his throat anyway. "Sorry Merry." Pippin whispered fearfully, "It just went."
"That's good!" Merry smiled encouragingly, "Do it again, just chew and don't think about eating."
Pippin let Merry feed him another sliver of peach and again, he chewed it until it was gone. The little hobbit managed a dozen small pieces of fruit this way and then shook his head at any more.
"That's enough," Melystra agreed. "You've done very well Pippin. Look Frodo and Sam have come to see you and they've brought something for you to do."
The two hobbits struggled into the room laden down with tins and brushes and parchment. Legolas came behind with more equipment and once Melystra and Deilen laid a large cloth on the floor they began to lay out their wares. There were tins of different colour powder paints and Frodo started mixing up the different colours in several little palettes. There were lots of sheets of rough paper and good parchment, as well as charcoal and thick pencils for drawing. There was even a slate with chalk for making very rough sketches.
Frodo raised his eyebrows to Pippin, "Do you want to come and draw Pip?"
Pippin shook his head, not too sure what he was being invited to do, although it didn't seem too threatening.
Frodo started to make a little sketch on the rough paper of Sam, making the embarrassed hobbit sit still in a profile pose. Legolas began a freehand painting straight onto the rich vellum parchment, using greens and yellow to make a pretty woodland scene.
Pippin watched this activity with interest and Merry watched Pippin watching it. After a while Merry tried again. "Do you want to paint Pippin? You like painting, come on, I'll do some too."
Pippin finally nodded and Legolas carefully lifted him down from the bed and Merry brought three pillows, one for him to sit on and two to prop him up. They gave Pippin a choice of paintbrush or pencil and he chose the latter and Merry rested some rough paper on the little slate so he could draw.
Merry began a painting of a cake with icing and candles on it that looked just like the cake at Bilbo's last birthday party. Legolas had finished his woodland scene and was painting a mallorn tree in gold and green. Frodo finished his sketch of Sam and showed it to him, making Sam smile with surprised delight. Pippin just sat with the pencil in his hand still watching.
"You paint something Sam," Frodo suggested, "or can you sketch?"
"I don't know Master Frodo," Sam was a little nervous at the prospect, "I haven't done proper painting before."
"Well it's easy enough." Frodo handed him a paintbrush, "it doesn't matter if you mess it up, it's whatever you feel."
Sam took a piece of the rough paper and dipped his brush in the blue pallet and nervously dabbed a little on to the blank sheet, then he washed the brush and added a little green. Gradually growing in confidence, Sam's picture took shape, a green verge scattered with little blue flowers. Frodo looked over his shoulder. "That's lovely Sam, blue flowers."
"Well er, yes begging your pardon, Master Frodo," Sam pointed to each of his flowers in turn, "that's meant to be a grape hyacinth, and this is willow gentian, and these are germander speedwell."
Frodo laughed, "Forgive me Sam, I'm always forgetting how much you know about flowers and it seems you can paint them as well as grow them."
"Pippin, are you going to draw something?" Merry whispered to the little hobbit, who still sat clutching the pencil and looking at Sam and Frodo as they bantered to and fro.
"How about the paints Pip?" Frodo suggested. "Come on, we'll put the pallet right here, I'll help you." He moved the colour pallet up to where Pippin could reach it and taking the pencil from his hand gave him a brush instead. Frodo held the paper steady and Pippin dipped the brush into the nearest colour, black, and daubed it on the paper. Pippin frowned at that and Frodo washed his brush and turned the pallet a little. Pippin dipped again and added some blue to his picture. The little hobbit seemed to like that effect better and painted more blue making a sky across the top of the paper.
"That's good Pip," Merry looked at what he'd done. "Do you want to put the sun in now?"
Pippin nodded and Merry guided his hand to the yellow paint and Pippin managed a large yellow blobby sun on his own.
"He used to paint quite nicely," Frodo observed sadly. "Let him do it on his own, perhaps it will come back in a minute."
"He's probably a bit muddled, Master Frodo," Sam pointed out. "Look how he blinks all the time, like he wasn't really here."
"Hello little hobbits, how's young Peregrin faring?" Gimli and Boromir had arrived with Icicle in tow unexpectedly and been ushered into the room by Deilen.
"What is this you're doing?" asked Bormir rehetorically, sitting down on the edge of the bed to observe. Icicle went immediately to Pippin, and, after snuffling him all over to make certain he was safe, curled up in a corner and went to sleep.
"Icicle is certainly acting odd." noted Aragorn with a hint of irony in his voice. "I certainly wish I could sleep so soundly after leaving others to care for my charges."
Boromir chuckled. "Both she and I are weary. I have spent the morning trying to convince her that the fauna of the Golden Wood are not for warg fodder. Oh, Valar, but she is fast. The trees now are home to some very nervous squirrels."
"Do you draw, Master Dwarf?" Legolas smiled, holding up his completed works of art, "or paint maybe?"
"Aye," Gimli nodded taking up a pencil and paper. "I do a little. We dwarves learn it from our first apprenticeship in designing and forging precious metal. Gimli settled down on the floor between Sam and Merry and took a slate to lean his paper on. "Hold still Master Elf, I will attempt your likeness."
The sketch Gimli made was fast and a remarkably good. "You have a keen eye and an accurate hand," Legolas looked at his drawing appreciatively. "This is excellent."
"So what are you doing Pippin?" Bormir leaned over to look at the hobbit's efforts. "Oh dear," Bormir winced a little. They had left Pippin to get on with his painting and the little hobbit had discovered the red. His whole picture was now covered in red paint, obliterating everything he had done before.
Frodo put his hand on Pippin's and he paused from his work to look up at his cousin. Pippin dropped the paintbrush as if in a panic. "Master?" he squeaked.
"What? Pippin why did you call me that?"
"What's wrong Master Frodo?" Sam asked. Suddenly the reason hit Frodo and Merry at the same time.
"Sam, it's you." Frodo said, "You keep calling me 'Master', Pippin sees that as a bad and frightening word."
"But it's not Pippin." Merry said gently. "Sam says it to Frodo in a nice way. Do you understand that?"
Pippin shook his head, looking from one to the other fearfully.
"Aragorn said we should try and teach Pippin his own name," Frodo remembered, "and teach him not to call him 'Master', I thought he was joking."
Frodo squatted in front of Pippin again. "What's your name, little cousin? Come on tell Frodo."
"P-Pippin, I'm Pippin." He looked anxiously at the others, wondering if he had got it right.
"and who is this?" Frodo put his hands on Merry's shoulders.
"Merry." Pippin answered.
"and this?"
"Sam."
"That's very good Pippin." Frodo patted him on his shoulder gently.
"Master?" Pippin looked anxiously at Frodo now. After hearing Sam call his cousin Master so many times he was becoming certain that was who he was.
"No Pippin, Frodo! Remember? Your cousin Frodo."
"Frodo, Master Frodo?" Pippin tried.
"Come on Pippin you know better than that." Frodo said desperately.
"Don't push him Frodo." Merry laid his hand gently on Frodo's shoulder, "He's doing much better than he was. He's still quite traumatized."
"Do you remember, Mr Frodo," Sam piped up, "When we were talking about what to do, we thought Mr Pippin might like some singing."
"What lullabies again?" Gimli asked, sounding as if he were about to make his excuses and leave.
"No more like pub songs, we thought." Sam chimed in, "just to cheer him up a bit."
"Pippin used to love to sing in the pub." Merry chuckled at the memory, "usually on the table with too much ale inside him."
"What was his favourite?" Gimli asked with interest. "Dwarves are quite fond of ale carousing you know."
"Really?" Legolas asked with a smile. "I had no idea you had a musical inclination."
Merry had no hesitation. "He likes anything lively, he used to like to dance as well as sing."
"Begging your pardon, Sirs," Sam put in shyly. "But what about 'The Keeper'?"
"That's in two parts Sam," Merry said, "and it's sung by the Master and his servant. Do you think that might upset Pippin again?"
"Well I chose it because it's got the word 'Master' in it." Sam explained, "and when Mr Strider said as how we had to teach Mr Pippin his name and all, I did some more words to it."
"You'd better sing it then Sam," Frodo clapped him on the back. "Do you need any help?"
"With the chorus, yes please." Sam knelt down in front of Pippin. "This song is for you Mr Pippin, out of my head. I hope you like it."
Pippin looked at Sam with interest, his painting abandoned. Merry took a little pipe from his pocket and played the tune. Pippin perked up at the sound and watched as Sam and Frodo stood together in front of him and began to sing the verse and at the chorus, first Frodo and then the others joined in with the answers.
The hobbit did a' scrumping go
't weren't no one to bid him 'no'
In the field where the mushrooms grow
Among the leaves so green-o
The first mushroom he scrumped was bad
The second one he gave to his dad
The third mushroom 't weren't there to be had
Among the leaves so green-o
Pippin lad? (Master)
Sing ye well (Very well)
Hey down (Ho down)
derry, derry down
Among the leaves so green-o
To my hey down down (To my ho down down)
Hey down (Ho down)
derry, derry down
Among the leaves so green-o!
The hobbit did adventuring go
and under his cloak he carried a bow
Said he'd be back in a month or so
Among the leaves so green-o!
The first adventure was most droll
The second scared him into a hole
The third one he got squished by a troll
Among the leaves so green-o
Pippin lad? (Master)
Sing ye well (Very well)
Hey down (Ho down)
derry, derry down
Among the leaves so green-o
To my hey down down (To my ho down down)
Hey down (Ho down)
derry, derry down
Among the leaves so green-o!
The hobbit then came home again
Over the mountain, across the plain
Where he is now he will remain
Among the leaves so green-o!
Now that hobbit's tale is told
He lives in The Shire just growing old
Telling tales of dragon's gold
Among the leaves so green-o!
Sam stopped singing. Pippin was looking at him with a half smile. Merry had noticed too so he knelt down in front of the little hobbit and took his hand. Pippin didn't pull away or resist. "Come on Pippin, you sing the chorus now, you can it's easy."
And Merry sang "Pippin lad?"
They waited, a pause, then in a tiny voice Pippin sang rather than said. "Master"
"Sing ye well?"
Pippin stuttered it out "Ve-Very well"
"Hey down"
Pippin wasn't sure and Merry mouthed the words until finally he managed, "Ho down"
Everyone sang, "derry, derry down
Among the leaves so green-o
To my hey down down (To my ho down down)
Hey down (Ho down)
derry, derry down
Among the leaves so green-o!"
Pippin looked up at the three other hobbits. He found it hard to take in, they were all with him, him, and talking to him and singing to him. They even made a song about him, Pippin! Perhaps they did want him back. If only it hadn't happened.
Pippin suddenly felt an enormous grief wash over him. For the first time he was looking at what he had lost, his dear, dear cousins and friends, just because of his own stupidity in dropping a stone. But they still forgave him, he felt terrible, he didn't deserve this.
Pippin buried his head in his hands and wept as if his heart would break. Merry knelt beside him and gently enfolded his arms about his little cousin. For once Pippin didn't fight but clung to Merry and sobbed until it hurt. Merry kissed his hair and stroked his back whispering sweet nothings. "It's all right Pip, I'm here, it's all right."
Deilen and Melystra came silently into the room and watched the little scene with knowing nods. The lady elf noticed Sam and Frodo's worried expressions. "This is good my friends," she whispered. "It is the first time he has really cried in grief rather than fear or confusion. He is beginning to wake up and know what has happened and he is experiencing the pain of loss."
"Loss?" queried Frodo.
"The loss of his precious innocence." Melystra explained. "It is very painful, but he has just taken the first step to becoming whole."
***
The Hobbit's Song © Samwise Gamgee S.R. 1419
The tune for this old English song which is called The Keeper may be found here:
http://www.chivalry.com/cantaria/lyrics/the_keeper.html
Authors: Kookaburra, Llinos
***
Pippin sobbed into the towel as he was lain on the soft coverlet. Strider was holding him, and talking to the white elf. Pippin managed to look over to the basin. The scouring powder and vomit had not been cleaned up yet.
"I-I', s-s-sorry Master." Pippin whispered to Aragorn. "ma-ma-made a mess..."
Aragorn stroked Pippin's hair and smiled sadly down at him. "Shh, little one, don't worry. It's nothing...shh..." The towel was becoming soaked with blood, and Aragorn motioned to Deilen for another.
"Let us move him to the adjoining room," suggested Deilen, "where it will be easier to treat his wounds, and give the attendants a chance to clean up this one." As he and Aragorn started to leave, Merry immediately started to follow them, anxious to be near Pippin.
"No, Merry." Strider admonished. "You must not be involved with this. Stay here and help straighten the room." They turned and left, leaving Merry forlorn and lonely.
"Oh, Merry." Said a soft voice behind him. Frodo, Sam, and Legolas had just entered, thinking that Pippin would be finished with his breakfast by then. The three stared around the chamber, at the scattered fruit, vomit, scouring powder and blood.
Merry collapsed, sobbing. Warm arms encircled him, and Frodo murmured into his hair. Merry began to babble. "He was doing so much better, why was he scrubbing, I should have never left him, Oh, my poor little Pip..." Legolas reached down and lifted Merry from Frodo, sitting on the side of the bed and pulling the perian into his lap.
"Shh, Merry. Be at peace. Now, tell us what happened. And where is Pippin?"
Merry choked down a sob, took a deep breath and related what he had seen when he walked into the room.
***
Aragorn was hard put to keep Pippin still. The halfling kept squirming out of his grasp, trying to rub at himself. The fact that Pippin was still slippery with soap and blood did not help the situation. Finally, the ranger had had enough, and took Pippin's head between his hands.
"Peregrin, listen to me." The green eyes widened and fixed on Aragorn's face. "Tell me, why were you..." Aragorn hesitated to use the term 'washing' for what Pippin had been doing, "scrubbing yourself? You're not dirty, you are a very clean little hobbit, and you will only hurt yourself if you try this again."
Tears started to slide down Pippin's cheeks. He had made Master angry. Now he was going to be beaten for stealing the soap and brush, and wasting it on himself. And he could not tell them his wild hope - that if he were cleansed, they might let him see the bright lady again. Now that he thought about it, the notion was foolish. He would never be allowed to see her; he would never be clean again. Not for her, not for Merry, not for anyone.
Deilen was terribly upset at what had happened. "I am so sorry I did not observe the little one better. I was distracted and I thought he was sleeping."
"I know," Aragorn was gently rocking Pippin again, "One of us should have stayed with him also."
"I will prepare a soothing ointment for the little one's abraded skin." Deilen was especially anxious to make amends for his lack of vigilance.
It took a long time to stop Pippin crying, but Aragorn finally made him calm enough that they could lay him on a high table so Deilen and Melystra could gently sponge away the blood and Aragorn very gently soothed in the ointment that Deilen had prepared. It was not only healing, but served to numb the nerve endings to reduce pain. After the scrapes were dressed, Melystra helped Aragorn wrap them in soft gauze and secure the padding with bandages.
Pippin coughed a little, and worked his mouth busily. Aragorn noticed this, and called Melystra's attention to it. "What do you suppose is making him do that?" she asked.
"I have not the faintest idea." Aragorn took Pippin's head in his hands again, and looked into the wide eyes. "Pippin, what is wrong with your mouth?" Instantly Pippin pursed his lips and refused to move them. "Does your mouth hurt?" Aragorn was concerned that Pippin's delicate mouth had suffered permanent damage from the gag.
The shorn curls barely moved as Pippin ducked his chin quickly in a nod. Aragorn reached out and gently felt around Pippin's jaw. He could not feel any breakage or dislocation, and Pippin did not seem to flinch at any one spot.
Melystra leaned over Pippin and queried, "Does your mouth taste bad?" This was also confirmed by a small nod. Aragorn then opened Pippin's mouth, and looked inside.
He could see a strange, pale substance clinging to Pippin's teeth. After reaching in with one finger and scraping some out, he sniffed it.
"Oh, Pippin." He sighed sadly. "Poor little Pippin. Why did you eat lye soap?"
The little body began to shake with sobs again, and tears leaked from the corners of Pippin's eyes. "I-I," he stuttered "dirty, th-they were s-s-so dirty, an' an'...in m-my m-m-m-mouth...tasted so bad..." When Aragorn figured out what the abused hobbit was telling him, his jaw dropped in shock.
"Poor little Pippin," He said again. The horrors the little one had gone through were almost unimaginable. "I know you feel dirty, but you are not." Aragorn took Pippin's hands between his own and placed a kiss on the pale brow. "From now on, if you want a bath, or a mouth wash, tell me, or Merry, or...anyone. We don't want to have to go through this again, now do we?" Pippin shook his head. Aragorn turned to Melystra. "I don't suppose you would have a horse hair toothbrush and peppermint about?" She chuckled, and started to rummage in various cabinets for the said items.
Deilen stepped into the bedchamber, where the hobbits were helping remake the bed, scurrying around the edges, tucking the sheets under the mattress. Most of the mess had been cleaned up, except for a few errant bloodstains that would likely become a permanent part of the decor.
When Merry spotted him standing in the doorway, the hobbit dropped the stack of pillows in his arms and rushed over. "How is Pippin, is he all right, what..."
Deilen held up his hands to stem the flood of questions. "Do not fear, young Merry. The Dunedin and Melystra are finishing tending to him. When the scrapes are healed, he will bear no mark." By this time the other halflings had padded over and stood in front of him as well.
"When can we see him?" asked Frodo. Legolas came over at this time and placed a hand on Frodo and Sam's shoulders.
"You will see him when someone comes for us telling us that we may see him, Master Baggins. Now, come. Pippin did not get a chance to have his breakfast. Let us go and find things to amuse Pippin with when he is ready to receive us."
"Well let us just stay with Merry until we see that Pip is all right." Frodo insisted.
"Very well." Deilen agreed, "But then you need to give him a little time, perhaps just with Merry."
***
They wrapped Pippin in yet another towel and Aragorn held him over a basin while Melystra washed the turmeric from his hair, then lifted his head so she could comb his shorn locks through to remove the nits. The whole time Pippin whimpered and trembled. "Don't be afraid, Pippin," she whispered to him, "why do you quiver? There is nothing to fear."
Aragorn laid him on the high table and he too made reassuring noises, breathing soft, gentle words into the hobbit's pointed ear. "Pippin, little one, don't fret so. I won't let any harm come to you."
Eventually Pippin spoke with a shaky voice, "Mas-master, p-please don't hurt me, I'm sorry, sorry. No more, please."
Aragorn sighed. "I'm not your master, Pippin and I won't hurt you. You used to call me Strider, do you remember? Or Aragorn, can you say that?"
Pippin opened his eyes wide again and stared at the shaven face, it did not seem familiar. He remembered Master's face, the one who beat him and abused him and then that face sometimes looked like Strider's face, he remembered Strider and Boromir with the whip, beating him. But this face looked different again. Why could he not keep his thoughts in order, everything got muddled all the time.
But one memory suddenly came hurtling back. Merry! He remembered he had been on the big bed with Merry. That was when he knew he was too dirty for Merry and had tried to clean himself. Perhaps he still couldn't touch him, but at least Merry stayed the same, he could look at him and listen to him talk again. He whispered the word hopefully to Master, "Merry?" Then quickly cringed his head down as if expecting a blow.
Aragorn gently lifted his chin up with one finger, "Pippin, you want to go to Merry? Is that what you want?"
"Please Master." Pippin confirmed anxiously, still obviously expecting to be in trouble.
Aragorn considered this was progress. The only other time Pippin had actually asked for anything was to go to the warg. To actually ask for Merry was a real breakthrough. But he needed to bargain. "You can go to Merry, but you must tell me your name and my name first."
Pippin gulped in obvious terror. He hated these questions, always expecting a trick of some kind. The memory of the three Uruks came tumbling back at once.
"Dog."
"No, Pippin. Think, remember what I told you."
"Wh-what must I say, Master?" Pippin stuttered in terror.
"Your name is Pippin - Pippin! Say, 'my name is Pippin'."
"Pippin - my name is Pippin," he repeated obediently.
"and my name is?" Aragorn tried.
"Master."
Aragorn sighed in defeat. Pippin was getting too stressed again and half right was better than nothing. "It's Strider, but it's all right, you can go to Merry. Here, Pippin," Strider said quietly, "take my hand." Pippin had been dressed in a new loose shirt, and a pair of overlarge hose. Tentatively, he reached out and grasped Strider's thumb. "That's right, little Pip." Aragorn reached behind Pippin and pushed up the small of his back, helping him to sit up. Pippin made as if to let go of the ranger's thumb, but Strider closed his hand around Pippin's tiny one and held it. Melystra took his other one, and together they lifted Pippin gently down to the floor. The hobbit swayed and teetered as if he were a babe learning to walk, and was bent over from the sutures on his abdomen.
"Come along, dear heart." chimed Melystra leading him towards the door. Pippin followed her, clutching her hand.
Once in the bedchamber, Aragorn lifted Pippin up onto the bed once more and laid him gently on the pillows.
Merry was waiting there with Frodo, Sam and Legolas. "How is he?" Merry asked anxiously.
Aragorn smiled. "Better, he asked for you, Merry. We'll leave you alone with him for a little while, see what you can do." Strider turned to the other three, "Come let us see if we can replace the little one's breakfast."
"Some more fruit Mr Strider?" Sam asked.
"We'll find that and perhaps we can come back and keep Merry and Pippin company for a while?" Frodo suggested.
"That would be good," Aragorn agreed "and your assignment for today is to teach him that his name is Pippin and my name is not Master." With that he lifted Merry up onto the bed and ushered the others out of the door.
**** "What do you think we should do to help Pippin?" Frodo wondered as he and Sam sat at the table carefully cutting up more fruit. That is to say, Sam cut up the fruit and Frodo arranged it on the tray and then, when his master wasn't looking, Sam rearranged it.
"I'm not sure, Master Frodo," Sam measured several pieces of apple and trimmed them until they were all the same size. "What did Mr Pippin used to like to do when he came to visit with you?"
"Well," Frodo absent-mindedly ate one of Sam's carefully sized apple slices. "He used to like to go to the pub."
"I don't think we could give him ale," Sam pointed out, cutting another apple slice for the design he was making to replace the one Frodo had eaten. "But as I remember he used to like to sing at the pub."
"Yes and dance," Frodo agreed taking a chunk of peach now and nibbling at it, "but I don't think he'll be up to that."
"Anything else he liked to do?" Sam patiently took another peach from the bowl and started to cut that, this time putting some on the tray and the rest on a plate for Frodo.
"He used to love to paint!" Frodo remembered with enthusiasm. "Perhaps we could get paints and brushes and see if he'll do that."
"Who would we ask?" Sam had never actually painted in his life and had no idea how to set about such a thing.
"I shouldn't think that activity would be difficult here." Frodo picked at the cherries Sam had pitted and popped two in his mouth. I'm sure Melystra would find us painting equipment. I'll go and ask her now." Frodo took another piece of apple. "Are you sure you can manage here all right Sam?"
"Erm I'll struggle by master, don't you worry." Sam said with a certain amount of irony as he began to peel yet another apple.
****
When Pippin saw Merry, the little hobbit buried his face into the bed and started crying, but Merry was determined now it was time to reach out to him. He tentatively touched his short hair, now clean but still damp, and whispered softly. "Pip, it's only me, only your Merry. Come on out, come and play. Do you want breakfast? How about second breakfast?"
Pippin eventually peeped out from under his arm at Merry's insistent presence. Merry immediately flattened down on the bed and peeped back at him from under his own arm. "Peep-bo!" he teased. Pippin immediately hid his face again, but after a minute, when he could still hear Merry there, he peeped out once more.
Merry lay there quietly, still peeping at him, and he hid again. But Merry would not go away, and eventually Pippin lay there looking at Merry, looking back at him. Then Merry very slowly kissed the tip of his finger and blew the kiss to Pippin.
Pippin hid again, but the next time he looked Merry blew the kiss once more and then kissed his finger and held it out to Pippin. Very slowly Pippin struggled his own little hand out of the sleeve of the big nightshirt and started to put his finger to his own lips, but thought better of it. But he looked at Merry's finger still held out to him and pushing his hand across the bed touched Merry's finger with his.
Merry felt as if a lightening bolt had hit him. Except it was a feeling of elation that shot through his whole being. Pippin had touched him!
Very, very carefully, Merry curled his finger around Pippin's until their fingers were entwined and Merry wriggled just a tiny bit closer. For now it was enough and they lay still like that until Aragorn whispered, "Merry, Pippin, let's try breakfast again."
The ranger and the three healer elves had watched the little pantomime from beginning to end. Melystra and Silael had arrived shortly after Aragorn had placed the two hobbits on the bed.
"Merry is doing splendidly," Melystra said very quietly so as not to disturb them.
"These two must stay together henceforth." Silael concluded. "For good or ill, any separation now will cause more harm than anything else. Whatever treatment Pippin receives, I think at this stage he will handle it better with Merry to hold his hand."
Melystra went to the bed and tapped Merry gently on the shoulder. "Do you want to change your things Merry?" She asked gently.
Merry suddenly realised that he was still covered in Pippin's blood from where he had tried to stop him scrubbing. "Yes I'd better," he agreed.
"If you go and wash in there," Melystra indicated the other room, "and put this on, I will see that your clothes are cleaned and returned to you." Melystra handed him a large nightgown, identical to one Pippin was wearing.
By the time Merry returned, Pippin had been propped up with pillows on the bed with the tray of fruit beside him, Aragorn was tentatively offering him a slice of peach. He did not really expect the hobbit to take it and Pippin just looked fearfully up at him, wondering what he wanted.
Merry was lifted up onto the bed again and took the piece of fruit from Aragorn and ate it with great relish. Pippin watched him suspiciously. He looked down at the nightgown he was wearing and then frowned at Merry. He was wearing the same thing. That was strange Pippin thought. And he ate the thing that Master gave him, was he Merry's Master too?
Merry took two cherries and held one to his own mouth and offered the other to Pippin. The hobbit just looked at it and looked up at Merry, then at Aragorn. The ranger nodded and smiled. "Put it in your mouth Pippin. It's good, eat it."
Pippin shook his head and backed away from Merry. Merry shrugged and ate both the cherries, then took two pieces of peach. Again he offered one to Pippin and held the other to his own mouth.
Pippin suddenly realised that he really wanted to eat. Merry was next to him, he was dressed the same and he was eating the fruit, it had to be safe. He took the peach slice and put it in his mouth.
Instantly his body reacted. Although his brain had told him it was all right, his automotive reactions disagreed. He retched and choked and spat the fruit out.
Melystra was watching and understood what had happened. In spite of Pippin's logic reasoning that it was safe to eat, his subconscious was causing his body to reject anything solid that was put into his mouth. It was still too soon.
"Here Merry," she brought a small cup filled with fruit juice to the bed. "See if you can get him to drink from a cup instead."
Merry looked firmly at Pip and took a pretend sip from the cup and then held it up to Pippin's lips although he didn't tip the vessel up. After a moment or two, Pippin brought his hand up to the cup and tilted it. He sipped the fruit juice, some of it running down his chin but most of it down his throat. It tasted wonderful.
Several more sips and Pippin held the cup on his own and eventually drained the whole cup. "Try again with a little fruit," Melystra suggested. "Half a slice of peach."
Merry took a piece of peach and bit it in half and put the other half in Pippin's hand and nodded for him to try again. "Chew it Pip," he said. "Try not to swallow, just keep chewing."
Obediently Pippin chewed the piece of fruit round and round trying hard not to swallow it. Eventually it vanished down his throat anyway. "Sorry Merry." Pippin whispered fearfully, "It just went."
"That's good!" Merry smiled encouragingly, "Do it again, just chew and don't think about eating."
Pippin let Merry feed him another sliver of peach and again, he chewed it until it was gone. The little hobbit managed a dozen small pieces of fruit this way and then shook his head at any more.
"That's enough," Melystra agreed. "You've done very well Pippin. Look Frodo and Sam have come to see you and they've brought something for you to do."
The two hobbits struggled into the room laden down with tins and brushes and parchment. Legolas came behind with more equipment and once Melystra and Deilen laid a large cloth on the floor they began to lay out their wares. There were tins of different colour powder paints and Frodo started mixing up the different colours in several little palettes. There were lots of sheets of rough paper and good parchment, as well as charcoal and thick pencils for drawing. There was even a slate with chalk for making very rough sketches.
Frodo raised his eyebrows to Pippin, "Do you want to come and draw Pip?"
Pippin shook his head, not too sure what he was being invited to do, although it didn't seem too threatening.
Frodo started to make a little sketch on the rough paper of Sam, making the embarrassed hobbit sit still in a profile pose. Legolas began a freehand painting straight onto the rich vellum parchment, using greens and yellow to make a pretty woodland scene.
Pippin watched this activity with interest and Merry watched Pippin watching it. After a while Merry tried again. "Do you want to paint Pippin? You like painting, come on, I'll do some too."
Pippin finally nodded and Legolas carefully lifted him down from the bed and Merry brought three pillows, one for him to sit on and two to prop him up. They gave Pippin a choice of paintbrush or pencil and he chose the latter and Merry rested some rough paper on the little slate so he could draw.
Merry began a painting of a cake with icing and candles on it that looked just like the cake at Bilbo's last birthday party. Legolas had finished his woodland scene and was painting a mallorn tree in gold and green. Frodo finished his sketch of Sam and showed it to him, making Sam smile with surprised delight. Pippin just sat with the pencil in his hand still watching.
"You paint something Sam," Frodo suggested, "or can you sketch?"
"I don't know Master Frodo," Sam was a little nervous at the prospect, "I haven't done proper painting before."
"Well it's easy enough." Frodo handed him a paintbrush, "it doesn't matter if you mess it up, it's whatever you feel."
Sam took a piece of the rough paper and dipped his brush in the blue pallet and nervously dabbed a little on to the blank sheet, then he washed the brush and added a little green. Gradually growing in confidence, Sam's picture took shape, a green verge scattered with little blue flowers. Frodo looked over his shoulder. "That's lovely Sam, blue flowers."
"Well er, yes begging your pardon, Master Frodo," Sam pointed to each of his flowers in turn, "that's meant to be a grape hyacinth, and this is willow gentian, and these are germander speedwell."
Frodo laughed, "Forgive me Sam, I'm always forgetting how much you know about flowers and it seems you can paint them as well as grow them."
"Pippin, are you going to draw something?" Merry whispered to the little hobbit, who still sat clutching the pencil and looking at Sam and Frodo as they bantered to and fro.
"How about the paints Pip?" Frodo suggested. "Come on, we'll put the pallet right here, I'll help you." He moved the colour pallet up to where Pippin could reach it and taking the pencil from his hand gave him a brush instead. Frodo held the paper steady and Pippin dipped the brush into the nearest colour, black, and daubed it on the paper. Pippin frowned at that and Frodo washed his brush and turned the pallet a little. Pippin dipped again and added some blue to his picture. The little hobbit seemed to like that effect better and painted more blue making a sky across the top of the paper.
"That's good Pip," Merry looked at what he'd done. "Do you want to put the sun in now?"
Pippin nodded and Merry guided his hand to the yellow paint and Pippin managed a large yellow blobby sun on his own.
"He used to paint quite nicely," Frodo observed sadly. "Let him do it on his own, perhaps it will come back in a minute."
"He's probably a bit muddled, Master Frodo," Sam pointed out. "Look how he blinks all the time, like he wasn't really here."
"Hello little hobbits, how's young Peregrin faring?" Gimli and Boromir had arrived with Icicle in tow unexpectedly and been ushered into the room by Deilen.
"What is this you're doing?" asked Bormir rehetorically, sitting down on the edge of the bed to observe. Icicle went immediately to Pippin, and, after snuffling him all over to make certain he was safe, curled up in a corner and went to sleep.
"Icicle is certainly acting odd." noted Aragorn with a hint of irony in his voice. "I certainly wish I could sleep so soundly after leaving others to care for my charges."
Boromir chuckled. "Both she and I are weary. I have spent the morning trying to convince her that the fauna of the Golden Wood are not for warg fodder. Oh, Valar, but she is fast. The trees now are home to some very nervous squirrels."
"Do you draw, Master Dwarf?" Legolas smiled, holding up his completed works of art, "or paint maybe?"
"Aye," Gimli nodded taking up a pencil and paper. "I do a little. We dwarves learn it from our first apprenticeship in designing and forging precious metal. Gimli settled down on the floor between Sam and Merry and took a slate to lean his paper on. "Hold still Master Elf, I will attempt your likeness."
The sketch Gimli made was fast and a remarkably good. "You have a keen eye and an accurate hand," Legolas looked at his drawing appreciatively. "This is excellent."
"So what are you doing Pippin?" Bormir leaned over to look at the hobbit's efforts. "Oh dear," Bormir winced a little. They had left Pippin to get on with his painting and the little hobbit had discovered the red. His whole picture was now covered in red paint, obliterating everything he had done before.
Frodo put his hand on Pippin's and he paused from his work to look up at his cousin. Pippin dropped the paintbrush as if in a panic. "Master?" he squeaked.
"What? Pippin why did you call me that?"
"What's wrong Master Frodo?" Sam asked. Suddenly the reason hit Frodo and Merry at the same time.
"Sam, it's you." Frodo said, "You keep calling me 'Master', Pippin sees that as a bad and frightening word."
"But it's not Pippin." Merry said gently. "Sam says it to Frodo in a nice way. Do you understand that?"
Pippin shook his head, looking from one to the other fearfully.
"Aragorn said we should try and teach Pippin his own name," Frodo remembered, "and teach him not to call him 'Master', I thought he was joking."
Frodo squatted in front of Pippin again. "What's your name, little cousin? Come on tell Frodo."
"P-Pippin, I'm Pippin." He looked anxiously at the others, wondering if he had got it right.
"and who is this?" Frodo put his hands on Merry's shoulders.
"Merry." Pippin answered.
"and this?"
"Sam."
"That's very good Pippin." Frodo patted him on his shoulder gently.
"Master?" Pippin looked anxiously at Frodo now. After hearing Sam call his cousin Master so many times he was becoming certain that was who he was.
"No Pippin, Frodo! Remember? Your cousin Frodo."
"Frodo, Master Frodo?" Pippin tried.
"Come on Pippin you know better than that." Frodo said desperately.
"Don't push him Frodo." Merry laid his hand gently on Frodo's shoulder, "He's doing much better than he was. He's still quite traumatized."
"Do you remember, Mr Frodo," Sam piped up, "When we were talking about what to do, we thought Mr Pippin might like some singing."
"What lullabies again?" Gimli asked, sounding as if he were about to make his excuses and leave.
"No more like pub songs, we thought." Sam chimed in, "just to cheer him up a bit."
"Pippin used to love to sing in the pub." Merry chuckled at the memory, "usually on the table with too much ale inside him."
"What was his favourite?" Gimli asked with interest. "Dwarves are quite fond of ale carousing you know."
"Really?" Legolas asked with a smile. "I had no idea you had a musical inclination."
Merry had no hesitation. "He likes anything lively, he used to like to dance as well as sing."
"Begging your pardon, Sirs," Sam put in shyly. "But what about 'The Keeper'?"
"That's in two parts Sam," Merry said, "and it's sung by the Master and his servant. Do you think that might upset Pippin again?"
"Well I chose it because it's got the word 'Master' in it." Sam explained, "and when Mr Strider said as how we had to teach Mr Pippin his name and all, I did some more words to it."
"You'd better sing it then Sam," Frodo clapped him on the back. "Do you need any help?"
"With the chorus, yes please." Sam knelt down in front of Pippin. "This song is for you Mr Pippin, out of my head. I hope you like it."
Pippin looked at Sam with interest, his painting abandoned. Merry took a little pipe from his pocket and played the tune. Pippin perked up at the sound and watched as Sam and Frodo stood together in front of him and began to sing the verse and at the chorus, first Frodo and then the others joined in with the answers.
The hobbit did a' scrumping go
't weren't no one to bid him 'no'
In the field where the mushrooms grow
Among the leaves so green-o
The first mushroom he scrumped was bad
The second one he gave to his dad
The third mushroom 't weren't there to be had
Among the leaves so green-o
Pippin lad? (Master)
Sing ye well (Very well)
Hey down (Ho down)
derry, derry down
Among the leaves so green-o
To my hey down down (To my ho down down)
Hey down (Ho down)
derry, derry down
Among the leaves so green-o!
The hobbit did adventuring go
and under his cloak he carried a bow
Said he'd be back in a month or so
Among the leaves so green-o!
The first adventure was most droll
The second scared him into a hole
The third one he got squished by a troll
Among the leaves so green-o
Pippin lad? (Master)
Sing ye well (Very well)
Hey down (Ho down)
derry, derry down
Among the leaves so green-o
To my hey down down (To my ho down down)
Hey down (Ho down)
derry, derry down
Among the leaves so green-o!
The hobbit then came home again
Over the mountain, across the plain
Where he is now he will remain
Among the leaves so green-o!
Now that hobbit's tale is told
He lives in The Shire just growing old
Telling tales of dragon's gold
Among the leaves so green-o!
Sam stopped singing. Pippin was looking at him with a half smile. Merry had noticed too so he knelt down in front of the little hobbit and took his hand. Pippin didn't pull away or resist. "Come on Pippin, you sing the chorus now, you can it's easy."
And Merry sang "Pippin lad?"
They waited, a pause, then in a tiny voice Pippin sang rather than said. "Master"
"Sing ye well?"
Pippin stuttered it out "Ve-Very well"
"Hey down"
Pippin wasn't sure and Merry mouthed the words until finally he managed, "Ho down"
Everyone sang, "derry, derry down
Among the leaves so green-o
To my hey down down (To my ho down down)
Hey down (Ho down)
derry, derry down
Among the leaves so green-o!"
Pippin looked up at the three other hobbits. He found it hard to take in, they were all with him, him, and talking to him and singing to him. They even made a song about him, Pippin! Perhaps they did want him back. If only it hadn't happened.
Pippin suddenly felt an enormous grief wash over him. For the first time he was looking at what he had lost, his dear, dear cousins and friends, just because of his own stupidity in dropping a stone. But they still forgave him, he felt terrible, he didn't deserve this.
Pippin buried his head in his hands and wept as if his heart would break. Merry knelt beside him and gently enfolded his arms about his little cousin. For once Pippin didn't fight but clung to Merry and sobbed until it hurt. Merry kissed his hair and stroked his back whispering sweet nothings. "It's all right Pip, I'm here, it's all right."
Deilen and Melystra came silently into the room and watched the little scene with knowing nods. The lady elf noticed Sam and Frodo's worried expressions. "This is good my friends," she whispered. "It is the first time he has really cried in grief rather than fear or confusion. He is beginning to wake up and know what has happened and he is experiencing the pain of loss."
"Loss?" queried Frodo.
"The loss of his precious innocence." Melystra explained. "It is very painful, but he has just taken the first step to becoming whole."
***
The Hobbit's Song © Samwise Gamgee S.R. 1419
The tune for this old English song which is called The Keeper may be found here:
http://www.chivalry.com/cantaria/lyrics/the_keeper.html