The East Gate
Authors The Eastgaters (actually Llinos)
Cast list: Frodo, Samwise, Pippin, Merry, Legolas, Aragorn, Boromir and Gimli and everyone else – Llinos
In this chapter none of the original players were available and were all understudied by Llinos
Story Editor Llinos
Beta Marigold
Chapter 18
Drugs and Desperation
How is that, Merry-lad?" Frodo asked, turning and placing a hand on Merry's cheek. "Did you like Sam's song?"
Merry muttered sleepily, he was still resisting rest but far more weakly now and was having to fight to stay awake.
"You always loved a droll song when you didn't feel good as a lad." Frodo carried on talking in a low soporific voice. "Do you remember when your mother threw me out of your room when you were sick with a stomach upset and I decided to cheer you up by singing that funny song about the goat-herder and the milking maid and the hay waggon that Uncles Dinnie and Donnie taught me? I didn't know myself what it was really about; poor Aunt Gilda nearly fainted when she heard about the whole mess. Your mum told me years later that she locked herself in her room and laughed until she cried about it though; did you know that, Merry?"
Merry would not forget that song in a hurry. The hobbit had a good memory for words and although he had been too ill at the time to recall all of the song Frodo had sung to him, he realised afterwards that it had produced a violent reaction from Grandma and his mother had tutted with her warning frown, as well as getting Fro banished from his room.
After that Merry, his curiosity burning, had hunted the song down and managed to coax fragments of it from his Uncles until eventually, unknown to his mother or Frodo, he had learned the whole thing and had been known to perform it in the Green Dragon on rare, male only, occasions. Now, as Frodo stroked his hair and murmured softly about those happy days, the bawdy song about the goat-herder came back and ran through Merry's mind.
But in his sleepy state though Merry could not quite remember it all and suddenly it seemed important that he should. Rousing a little he grabbed at Frodo's hand, "Sing it for me Fro, please, sing it now."
"Merry this is hardly the place… I mean Sam and…" Frodo nodded towards the elven healer and Aragorn. "I already got into trouble for singing it to you the first time."
"Please Fro," Merry mumbled, "Sam won't mind, he knows bawdier songs than that one. I can't remember the words and if I start to forget things… then I know I'm losing my mind and… and…"
"Merry-lad," Frodo patted Merry's hand in his. "You're not losing your mind, but if I sing it to you will you try to rest?"
"Uhum… will Fro… will try…"
Frodo cleared his throat and, his face turning slight red, began in a light skipping voice…
"A goatherd lived in days of yore
Who loved his ale and baccy,
He'd lie abed all day and snore,
But he was the Master's lackie!
Chorus
Sing barley oats and billy goats!
Sing nanny dids and little kids!
The goats would cry around his door,
Their coats weren't clean or silken,
They'd eaten all the grass before,
And the nannies needed milkin'.
Then one day the Master saw
His lazy servant shirking,
He whacked his sit-upon out the door,
And said "now get you working!"
The goat-herd spied a comely lass,
She was the farmer's daughter,
He called to her as bold as brass,
And her legs turned into water.
"Oh can you milk my goats?" he said,
"Most handsomely you'll be paid."
The lass she blushed and nodded her head,
She was the silliest milkmaid.
The goatherd climbed a wagon tall,
And slept in the hay so soft,
He snored until she'd done it all,
And called to him aloft.
"Master come your flock to see,"
Called out the pretty miss,
"What now shall my payment be?"
He answered back, "A kiss!"
Down he jumped and caught her arm,
And pulled her bosom close,
The maid wailed out in great alarm,
And hit him on the nose.
"Come now pretty wench," said he,
"Your breasts are soft and silken,
"I'll give you bonus in your fee,
"This bosom's ripe for milkin'!"
"Oh sir unhand me now!" she said,
"I'm a damsel pure and chaste,
"You may not pluck my maidenhead,
"Please to curb your haste!"
"But I insist you shall be paid!"
The goatherd cried in rage,
"This kiss is yours, you foolish maid,
"Come and get your wage!"
The maiden struggled her dress all torn,
The goats began to bleat,
Till the big old Billy lowered his horns,
And butted him off his feet.
Over the wagon the goatherd flew,
To the far side he was flung,
And was upside-down before he knew,
Headfirst in the dung.
The moral of this story true,
Is choose your friends with wit,
Then treat them kindly, for if you do,
You won't wind up in the shhhhhhh… now go to sleep Merry!"
"Thank you Fro," Merry sleepily giggled and yawned as Frodo finished his song. Then, although still fighting the weariness caused by his terrible injury, lost the battle to keep his eyes open. This was also greatly aided by the drink that Gaeaf had given him, the sleeping draught took a while to work, as it was gentle, but still most effective once it took hold. "Whassat… what you say-sayimmumm…" Another yawn followed as Merry tried to open his eyes once more, but failed and gradually his breathing evened out into a rhythm that would be quick for a human but was a slow sleeping pace for a little hobbit.
Even the sound of the door opening and closing did not awaken the sleeping hobbit as Legolas came quietly into the chamber. He looked down at the peaceful form on the bed and smiled. "I am glad Merry is resting, I feared greatly during our journey here that he would worry himself into a terrible state in his anxiety for Pippin." Legolas leaned forward and kissed Merry's brow, eliciting a slight whimper and sigh. "You obviously calmed his fears better than I could."
"Well," Frodo admitted with a wry grin, "I know his brand of lullabies."
"It was not completely plain sailing," Aragorn stepped forward and raised his eyebrows tellingly at Gaeaf, "I think your kinsman here aided Merry's repose with a little tincture of something."
"There was no need for the little one to fret so," Gaeaf did not look up from his present task of measuring various coloured liquids from one glass vial to another. "It achieves nothing but to make him feverish and sick."
"We however, can do something." Aragorn looked meaningfully at Legolas, "That is if you are quite recovered yourself, my friend?"
"I am rested thank you." Legolas bowed slightly towards the Ranger, "I was somewhat… drained, but am assured that no long term damage has occurred."
"You gave Merry of your life-force in order to save him." Aragorn spoke quietly now, not wanting Frodo or Sam to hear his words, "or so I understand. It was a noble act Legolas."
"My intent was to do anything to save Merry," Legolas whispered also, "but the Valar took little from me and intervened on Meriadoc's behalf. The hobbits… well these particular hobbits, dwell within Their Grace it would seem."
"There may still be one in need of the help we can render." Aragorn nodded towards the sleeping Merry with Frodo and Sam still sitting by him; concern written on their anxious, careworn faces. "Pippin is still not accounted for and Merry is fretting deeply for news of him and I know the others are equally concerned, although they are trying to mask it for fear of increasing Meriadoc's anxiety. Gimli and Boromir are with him, but they too may be injured and the scouting parties of elves from Lórien have yet to bring word of any of them."
"You think we should go in search of the missing ones?" Legolas, in spite of the gravity of the situation, could not prevent a small half smile at the thought of rescuing an indignant Gimli. "I would be more than willing to set out again. Shall we leave at once?"
"I see no reason to delay." Aragorn knelt to take Frodo's hand and smiled kindly, "Legolas and I are going in search of the others, if your fretful little cousin awakes again, please tell him we are doing all we can to find Pippin, Boromir and Gimli."
Without waiting for a response, Aragorn stood and, patting Sam reassuringly on the shoulder, followed Legolas out of the door and down into the sanctuary of the Lórien trees.
"As I understand the situation," Legolas began as he collected his bow and light pack, "scouting parties of the Galadhrim have come back from the North and North West. I doubt there would be news of our friends from the South or East, so I suggest we travel directly West and hope to find some trace of them."
"I have what little I need," Aragorn smiled, glad to be called to action once more. "Let us waste no time."
After begging leave from the Lady Galadriel and telling her of their plan, the two intrepid companions set out in hope that they might succeed where the Galadhrim had so far failed and retrieve their lost friends. Although both Aragorn and Legolas admired and trusted the elves of Lothlórien, there was a rapport that had grown among the Fellowship of the Ring that might give them an advantage.
They journeyed the whole of that day and by nightfall, just as the light was deserting Aragorn's tracking eyes and Legolas's far vision, they found an Elven arrow stuck high in a tree and not retrieved.
"A battle took place here," Aragorn examined the ground carefully, "there are tracks of both orcs and elves here… and something else."
"A hobbit do you think?" Legolas suggested, "Or perhaps a dwarf."
"No, a hobbit I would know." Aragorn rubbed a little of the dirt through his fingers. "Blood has been spilt here, but I think it is from an orc. The tracks are very mixed and hard to discern, but I think at least one body was being carried and another was using some kind of crutch or walking stick."
"So you think the party that was attacked by orcs were most likely injured?" Legolas looked at the earth frowning. Although his eyesight was keen and his senses good, the ground did not reveal its secrets to him as it did to the Ranger.
"A group of about three, maybe four, elves stood here and one carried a body, possibly a hobbit by the depth of the footprints. Two others, in armour, Boromir and Gimli I hope, rested here, but it is hard to tell." Aragorn stood up and dusted his hands off, "Whoever they were, the group was attacked by orcs and either fled the scene or were defeated and carried off."
0-0-0-0-0-0
"Well Sam," As Legolas and Aragorn left the room Frodo looked down fondly at the deeply sleeping Meriadoc. "At least if Merry wakens again, we'll have something positive to tell him about the hunt for Pippin."
"Do you think they'll find him Mr Frodo?" Sam had great faith in the Ranger, but even more in his Master's opinion. "I mean, it didn't look so good when we left them, if you see what I mean."
"Oh Sam," Frodo sighed a deep breath, "please don't you start thinking the worst. It's bad enough having to chivvy Merry along. I really need you to be strong right now."
"I'm sorry Mr Frodo," Sam could find very little to be optimistic about the possibility of the survival of the three they had abandoned to their fate in the mines, and yet, if Frodo needed him to be positive, then he'd do his very best. "Maybe we should think on other things. Will you stay and watch over Mr Merry? The Healer says he'll be asleep a long while now."
"It wouldn't be the first time I've sat vigil over this one." Frodo smiled, "like the time he fell out of the party tree."
Sam remembered the occasion as his father had told the story in great detail, particularly is own role in finding Pippin. Nevertheless, Sam decided the retelling would be a good distraction. "What happened Mr Frodo?"
0-----------------------0
Of course, Merry himself knew little of what had occurred at the time and for several days afterwards. That had made the enormity of the situation worse. It had been an accident, but Merry still felt an abiding guilt, that had never really left him.
He had been keeping an eye on Pippin in the field behind Bag End. Or rather was supposed to be watching him, but he had been distracted by some older lads who had caught frogs and were having jumping races with them. When the lads had gone, Merry turned to his little cousin and Pippin was suddenly nowhere to be seen.
Merry realised that he had probably just wandered off into the long grass and, as he was so small, would be hard to spot. Rather than traipse all around the field shouting, knowing that the two year old would probably not come when called anyway, Merry climbed up into the Party tree to see if he could spot him from there.
He saw him almost at once, about to put something in his mouth. Merry fearing it might be a poisonous berry, the brightest ones were always deadly, shouted out in panic, "No Pip! No! Not in your mouth!" But as he called out, he had lost his balance and tumbled headfirst out of the tree and lain still, unconscious and deathly white.
Although he had not known about it until Frodo coaxed the tale from the little one a week later, Pippin had apparently toddled over to Merry and sat stroking his face, trying to make him talk. Eventually, realising that his big cousin wasn't going to answer, he had attempted to go through the gate to Bag End, but, as he was too small to open it, had crawled under the hedge and out onto the road instead. There Pippin had actually wandered as far as Hobbiton and was found sitting and crying at the edge of The Water by Hamfast Gamgee.
When questioned, The Gaffer had not been able to make out what the toddler was sobbing, "My Mer goed bumpsy daisy on the twee!"
He had picked the little one up and carried him, shivering with fright, to Bag End. Frodo had then questioned him gently and, speaking fluent baby Pippin, had ascertained that Merry had fallen 'bumpsy daisy' out of the tree and "gone night-nights and not sayed no things to Pip."
He and Bilbo fled to the spot and found their young cousin in a bad way. Frodo had wanted to send for Saradoc and Esmeralda at once, but Bilbo fetched the healer, who cautioned against panic and advised them to wait 24 hours. She had also suggested they talk and sing to him, which both hobbits had done through the anxious hours.
0-----------------------0
"The rest you know of course," Frodo reached out and touched his sleeping cousin's cheek with the back of his fingers. "Merry pulled through, Pippin was none the worse for the incident and your gaffer mended the hole in the hedge."
Sam chuckled at this. "Aye, it wouldn't have done to let even a two year old Pippin out loose again – not for many a year."
"You knew this story already," Frodo frowned at his gardener, "didn't you?"
"Yes, Mr Frodo," Sam admitted, "my gaffer told it to me many times. But it's good to hear it again."
"Yes Sam, you're right." The recounting of the story gave both the hobbits some heart. "When Merry fell from the tree, Pip was only two going on three. He was very little and must have been so scared." Frodo remembered how fragile the toddler had felt nestling in his arms and stuttering out his story. "But he still coped and he probably saved Merry's life. We should have more faith in him – especially now."
0-0-0-0-0-0
Aragorn, working against the fading light, quickly found more telling signs. "An orc ran through here and…" The Ranger stopped mid-flow as the sight of four piled up orc bodies told the rest of the story. "Ah! Here then are the attackers. The only question is, did the opposition manage to kill all, or did some escape to fetch reinforcements?"
"Let us hope they did not." Legolas viewed the heap of orc carcasses with distaste. "These foul creatures have caused enough havoc amongst our Fellowship for the past few days."
"I fear that may be a vain hope my friend." Aragorn walked a little further on, his eyes sweeping back and forth across the ground. "The company moved on in great haste I would think, in this direction, North of Caras Galadhon. It would seem they were seeking urgent refuge."
They travelled on through the dusk, finding clues; newly disturbed grass, the odd broken twig, sometimes a mark or print on sandy ground, things that normal, unschooled eyes would not even register. At length they paused again, standing quietly to catch the sound of cries upon the wind. Mixed voices, the screech of orcs and over it the unmistakable cry of a distressed hobbit.
"I will climb aloft and see what may lie ahead." Legolas swiftly fled up the tallest tree in their vicinity and surveyed the terrain. Above the enclosing branches there was still enough light for Elven eyes to see a great distance. "There is something about half a league due East of here. It looks like smoke." Legolas climbed back down, "Do you suppose they would light a fire, it would seem folly to me."
"Perhaps," Aragorn said, "although maybe the smoke is not of their making. But the tracks lead in that direction anyway, so I think we must take that path with all haste. That cry – it was Pippin!"
The pair spoke no more but ran as fast as the uneven ground and trees would allow, following first the sounds and then the pungent smell of the smoke as well. They approached the circle of orcs with stealth, one moving to the left and the other to the right, until they were at opposite sides of the ring.
The thirty or so orcs stood around the tree, shouting and jeering, their backs were to the two hunters so they could not see two well sprung bows drawn back, twenty arrows apiece waiting in each quiver to find its way to an unsuspecting orc's throat.
0-0-0-0-0-0
Boromir was relieved that the medicine had finally taken effect on Pippin. The little one was now sleeping like a newborn babe in his arms as the orc fire began to take hold below.
The three elves were still attempting to pick off the orcs from above, but the angle was difficult and the creatures wise to where the offending arrows were likely to come from.
Keeping under the cover of the flet itself, they piled dead leaves up against the bole of the tree and set light to it, then ran a safe distance away to begin a wild whooping dance in a circle around it.
"Ach! We did our best." Gimli sighed in exasperation. "Too bad for it to end here, caught in a tree like my father before me. Except he had Gandalf to summon the eagles to get him out of such a mess. I doubt you know any eagles do you Boromir?" Gimli did not look especially hopeful at the prospect, but it seemed appropriate to ask.
"I'm sorry my friend," Boromir gave a half smile, "I'm afraid I must move in different circles to your kin. I know no eagles, or other birds for that matter. I just regret the fate of the little one. What should we do with him? Dispatch him now, painlessly, in his sleep? I dread to think what the orcs might do with him."
"It would be a hard task for you I think my friend." Gimli sighed. "I have seen the care you have taken of the hobbits, especially this one and his cousin. Perhaps you should ask one of those elves to give him some extra medicine if you know what I mean."
Boromir nodded, "That might be the kindest way."
Below the orcs' screeching had seemed to reach a frenzied pitch, as if they sensed the end was near. Certainly Boromir could see the flames now beginning to catch light to the edge of the flet. "Wiwer," the man called to the elf with the wooden box. "Could you give the little one more of the medicine? Perhaps enough to ensure he does not suffer."
Wiwer looked at his brothers and shrugged. They both nodded in tacit agreement. The elf took the box from his bag and came over to where Boromir sat cradling Pippin. Silently he removed the lid and scooped up a large amount of the paste and, catching hold of Pippin's jaw, forced his mouth open and pushed the opiate inside.
To Be Continued (sorry)
Author's Notes: Pippin here for once! Thought I'd just get a word in before anything else dreadful happens to me! I must aplopo… polgyz…apol… say sorry on behalf of the authors again. They really should have finished the story by now, especially as I'm not looking too good at the mo!
However, I have good news and bad news.
The good news is, that the next chapter will be the last! (I think that's good news)
The bad news is, that the next chapter will be the last! (I think that's also bad news)!
The other news is, that it is already written! And will be along in two shakes of a lamb's foot!
Merry: That's lamb's tail Pippin!
Pippin: Not on my lambs Merry, they like to shake feet when they meet someone.
Merry: Don't be silly!
Pippin: Why not?
Merry: Umm… Are you going to do the Questions and Answers?
Pippin: No, I'm going to the pub.
Merry: So it's me again then? Pip? Pippin! Sigh!
Q&A
EVIL MANIAC: A lot of your elves have Welsh names: Squirrel, Hedgehog, Mouse, Winter... and you've also got the Cottage Flet. I notice these things...
Merry: Yes, it's because Llinos confuses Sindarin with Cymraeg all the time. She is a writer of little brain and even less imagination!
EVIL MANIAC: Poor Merry… Can you give him this (extraordinarily large) box of chocolates for me?
Merry: snarffle, chomp, chomp! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Mmfanks a glob… yummglump!
EVIL MANIAC: And don't forget Merry's chocolates:)
Merry: Groannnnn! My tummy hurts – but I think I love you! Will you marry me?
lindahoyland: Poor Merry and Pippin! I hope they escape the orcs. Sam was great in this chapter.
Sam: Just this chapter? Hmmmpff!
Merry: Oh ignore him. Thanks for the good luck wishes with the orcs!
IceEmber: OO Good gracious! Well I have to admit, I love a bit of Pippin torture every now and then. Poor Merry, he really loves his cousin.
Merry: Yes… yes I do! You noticed that eh?
Sawyerslover: that was really good please continue as soon as possible
Merry: You mean like a pizza with extra toppings (onions, olives, mushrooms and more mushrooms, pepperoni, and mushrooms.) Or good like two pints of ale followed by a pint of ale? Because those are the sort of things I like to continue.
Pip4: Poor Pippin, I didn't know Lembas could do that, it kinda sounds like what rice does to birds.
Merry: Yes…it almost put him off eating (almost)! Although it apparently hasn't curbed his appetite for ale! Pip! Wait for me! Get a round in, you son of a hobbit!