Author's Note: It's been a while since my last update… Uhm, I don't think I have anything to say about this episode really. Other than that I hope you'll enjoy )
Disclaimer: You know the drill…
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"Théodoc are you listening to me?" Merry asked, trying to hide how annoyed he was.
"Yes sir" Théo said, hearing but not listening.
"This is important."
"Yes sir."
Merry gave him a glare and then showed him the next item on his list. They were going through herblore, and Théodoc was more bored than he dared to let on. He knew he had to learn because even if he wasn't going to be a medic like his father he had to have some basic knowledge as the Master. But no matter how hard he tried he couldn't seem to muster up enough interest. Aramac and Lucky happily went with their father when he went looking for different roots and plants but Théo hated that he had to go. He wasn't much for being out in nature at all; he preferred staying indoors.
By now Merry was getting quite annoyed with him. They had gone over several different herbs and Théo had only been able to name three so far and hadn't had the slightest clue what more than two did. Merry was trying to teach him, but it was as if you had to pound the knowledge into his oldest son's head. Sometimes Merry wished he would be more like his brothers, who all seemed to have easy to learn. Sam had gently suggested that perhaps Merry put too much pressure on Théo and that's what made it difficult, but Merry didn't want to listen. The child had to get used to pressure; he had to learn not to be such a slow thinker.
"Now, what is this?" Merry asked and showed Théo the bark of a tree.
"… Willow?" Théo guessed.
"Are you guessing or do you know?"
"I know."
"I'm sorry to hear that. This is pine…"
Merry kept in a sigh and Théo looked unhappy. If only he could get a few more answers right. He wanted to make his father happy and proud but it was difficult.
"Just take these all with you and learn about them" Merry said, giving up for the day. "By tomorrow I expect you to know at least half! If not, you will not be joining us for the party at the Smials next weekend."
"But Father…" Théo began.
One look from Merry quieted him down. Théo collected the herbs and left; furious inside but not daring to show it. He was 28 years old; his father could not tell him what to do and not do anymore! Théodoc hated having to learn about herbs, he hated having his future mapped out for him and he hated being nothing at all like Merry. Merry had always been proud that he would one day be the Master of the Hall and had taken the upcoming title seriously. Théo had no interest in farming or what little politics would be his role, and the title only seemed as a burden to him. Everybody seemed so pleased with his father; what would they say if the son of the Magnificent couldn't measure up?
The only ones who weren't appreciative of his father, the HAM group, would probably throw a tantrum when Théo took over. Since the group had formed he had felt more and more anxiety over his role in life. He wanted so desperately to prove himself worthy, to show that even though he wasn't as much like his father as his three brothers were he was still a good lad. Some of his father's courage and devotion had to be in him, or at least he hoped so.
He stopped by a hallway window and looked outside. Early April still had snow this year, but even though it was chilly outdoors the yard was full of life and commotion. He could see Éowyn taking Blizzard out for a ride, accompanied by Lucky and his sturdy Hobbit pony. Lúthien was helping their mother carry baskets of food to the Hobbits repairing some broken fences, and at least a dozen Hobbits were running back and forth all over the place. Théo decided to go outside and see if they needed any help repairing the fence. At least that he knew he could do. He had always had a way with things like that.
When Merry stopped by the same window half an hour later he could spot Théo hammering with the rest. He couldn't understand how is son could seem so afraid of working sometimes, yet at other times work with a passion. It seemed as if whenever he got to decide on his own that he wanted to help out he worked very hard and with devotion, but if he was asked or told to do some work he could be lazier than anybody Merry had ever known. Théo had to grow out of that habit; he needed to learn to work hard no matter what he had wanted to be doing instead.
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"Samwise!" Pippin said and his face lit up in a grin. "Good to see you, old lad! Come in, have a seat!"
"It's good to be here, Pippin" Sam grinned and sat down next to Pippin. "And I have some good news!"
"Really?" Pippin said. "Do tell!"
"I have a granddaughter! Elanor had a baby lass just a few weeks ago! I think the name was Firiel, but I'm not sure."
"Congratulations Sam, that's wonderful news!" Pippin said and gave his friend a pat on the back. "Fastred must be so happy, and Elanor too! Now they have one of each."
"Rosie and I are going to travel there to see the little treasure" Sam said. "And I was kind of hoping that you would keep an eye on things in Hobbiton for me while we are away. We won't be long, just a month."
"Of course, Mayor Sam!" Pippin said. "And you must promise to give my love to Elanor and Fastred! How are things at Bag End, everybody is thrilled I presume?"
"Pretty much" Sam grinned. "Frodo's Rosa has settled in wonderfully, as you know. No grandchildren there just yet, but she's been a wonderful help to my two Rosies. Little Rose will come of age this year, as you know. Unlike Elanor she hasn't got her heart set on marriage; I think we'll have her around at least until Robin turns 20."
"I remember she and Éowyn were so close when they were little" Pippin said. "Then they grew apart, much to Merry's dismay. It's a shame our children didn't get to see each other as much as we would have hoped."
"Well you sure see a lot of my Pip these days" Sam said. "He will be returning to Brandy Hall for a month or so this summer."
"Well enough chitchat about families…" Pippin said and got up. "Can I offer you some mushroom pie?"
"What Hobbit in his right mind would say no to that?" Sam asked with a grin.
Pippin ran off to get something to eat and drink and something to eat and drink it on. Sam leaned back in his armchair and relaxed while his old friend ran about in every direction. It was good to get to sit down and rest for a minute; he was not in quite as good shape as he had once been.
"There is one thing I would like you to do for me especially" he told Pippin as they began to eat of the pie.
"Name it" Pippin said.
"I am having a new market place set up" Sam told him. "Hobbiton has grown prosperous over the last decades, a lot of Hobbits from other towns have moved there."
"Of course" Pippin said. "I'm not surprised. Mayor Gamgee has done wonders with the place. If I didn't have the Smials I would move there in a heartbeat."
"Thank you, Pippin" Sam said with a slight blush. He was incredibly proud of Hobbiton; it was the most beautiful part of all the Shire in his humble opinion. "Anyways, the marketplace we have is far too small; we need a much bigger one. So I've made plans to create a larger one, and I've even had Bolly Baggins draw a design for the whole thing… But then this thing with Elanor came up, and I won't be around to keep an eye on things."
"And you want me to make sure things run smoothly?" Pippin concluded. "That shouldn't be a problem. I can come have a look say once a week? And while I'm not there one of the shriffs can offer their assistance."
"Oh it's not that important, that the shriffs need be involved!"
"Oh nonsense" Pippin said. "I'm only glad to give those slowpokes a chance to make themselves useful."
"Alright then" Sam nodded. "This pie is excellent!"
"My son made it" Pippin said with a proud grin. "He's quite the little cook, that one. Takes after his mother!"
"I'll say" Sam said under his breath, remembering all the times he'd had to force down some of Pippin's cooking.
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An hour later Sam was getting ready to leave and Pippin decided to accompany him a bit on the way. It was the month of June and the sun shone bright in the sky making the day warm. It was lovely weather to be out in, Pippin was only happy to get some fresh air.
"Perhaps this summer will be really nice" he said to Sam as they walked slowly towards the main road to Hobbiton.
"I doubt it" Sam said. "With spring having been so slow… I think we're in for a cold summer this year, Pip."
"I wouldn't say that just yet…" Pippin said. "Sometimes summer is slow. And it's hot out today."
"Well, slow summer or not… I had better get moving faster or I won't make it home in time. And young Rosie gets surprisingly cranky when someone arrives later than expected. Don't ask me where she gets that from, certainly not from me!"
Pippin held Sam's pony for him as Sam got up in the saddle. If he knew young Rose as well as he thought he did, Sam had better get a move on. When that lass got cranky she could give you the silent treatment for hours. Pippin had often wondered where on earth that quality had come from, neither Sam nor Rose were like that.
"Rose and I will stop by on our way to see Elanor" Sam said and took the reins. "Give my love to Diamond and Faramir."
"And you give mine to Rosie and the children" Pippin said. "Bye now Sam…"
"Oh that's just great!" a voice grumbled, startling both Sam, Pippin and the pony. "We spend an hour trying to find you, and as soon as we do you're getting ready to up and leave!"
"Gimli!" Sam and Pippin exclaimed.
"The one and only!" Gimli confirmed with a wide grin. "Now Samwise get down from that pony and come say hello, I haven't seen you since the days when you were still sending letters every year to tell us you'd had another child!"
"Pippin get me down" Sam said, tossing the reins to Pippin and with the help of his friend getting out of the saddle rather clumsily.
"Gimli where on earth did you come from?" Pippin asked while trying to help Sam.
"The Glittering Caves, where else?" the dwarf teased. "I arrived in the Shire just a couple of hours ago; Legolas and I have been looking all over for you Master Took!"
"Legolas is here too?" Sam said.
"Yes, but we parted ways and he went to look for Merry instead" Gimli said. "We figured by parting ways we'd double our chances of finding one of you, and finding one of you usually means finding the other as well. Though not today I see! Good to see you again, Samwise!"
By now Gimli had marched over to the Hobbits and pulled Sam close for a tight hug. The pony trotted around nervously and Pippin had more than a little trouble keeping tabs on him.
"You have no idea how difficult it is to find the two of you" the Dwarf said to Pippin when had finally let go of Sam and hugged the other Hobbit. "Why is it that Legolas and I constantly find ourselves trying to track you down? Luckily this time we weren't trying to track down a bunch of stinking--"
Pippin shushed him angrily before he could finish the sentence. He cast a nervous look around and saw that nobody was close enough to hear them. But you could never play it safe enough. Hobbits had good hearing.
"You know what we've said about talking about the journey!" he said under gritted teeth to Gimli.
"What's the matter really, can't take a little pride in having been out on an adventure? You Hobbits…"
"Hobbits don't like adventure" Sam said and took the reins to his pony. "We ain't meant to. We're already considered queer enough as it is, the less people know the better. Do you suppose Legolas is anywhere nearby? I would love to say a quick hello before I go."
"Go?" Gimli echoed. "You are not going anywhere!"
"I have to go back to Bag End" Sam said. "I'll return tomorrow morning, but Rose needs to know I'm here for a few days or she'll worry about me."
"You can't leave" Gimli said. "Legolas and I are only here for the day and night. The last of our Elf friend's family is leaving Middle-Earth tomorrow; Legolas is going to see them off."
"He's not going with them?" Pippin asked.
"He's meeting them in a small village close to the ocean" Gimli said. "He says he doesn't want to be near enough to hear the seagulls. Don't ask me what that is all about, but you know the Elves… Legolas is staying in Middle-Earth, at least as long as the Fellowship is still mostly alive and well."
"Let's hope he doesn't hear those seagulls then" Sam said. "As you wish Master Dwarf, I shan't go to Hobbiton. But I do need to get back to the Smials and send a messenger. Why don't we all meet up at Crickhollow in two hours time? I'll ride by Brandy Hall and fetch Merry; you can go straight to the house."
"Sounds like a splendid idea" Pippin said. "Oh, and while you're at the Smials, ask Diamond to send some food with you! I happen to know that there is a huge steak waiting to be eaten, I think that would be an excellent meal to serve our friend the Dwarf."
"Never let it be said that a Hobbit does not know how to feed their guests properly" Gimli said. "Come Pippin, let's make haste to Crickhollow!"
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"You really need to be more careful with your belongings, Lucky" Merry sighed and lifted a fine leather piece into a bag. "This is the second saddle strap you have broken in three years. They are expensive and take time to make; we can't have things going on like this. This time you make the strap yourself."
"I don't know the first thing about making them" Lucky complained.
"Maybe your magic will help you" a voice snickered in a whisper right by his ear.
Lucky turned and saw Largo Delvering grin at him. He glanced over at his father and Lúthien, neither seemed to have heard the comment, and he wondered if maybe he had imagined it. Usually Chet Delvering and his gang left Lucky alone. But it made him uncomfortable to have them so close by when his sister was there. Not that he worried that Lúthien couldn't fend for herself, but lately she had developed quite a temper and he didn't want them to agitate her.
"Lucky are you listening to me?" Merry asked.
"Sorry" Lucky mumbled and wondered how on earth he would be able to make his own strap. He had never made anything like it before.
"Lúthie have you gotten everything you wanted?" Merry asked and his daughter nodded. "Good. It's still early; we can have you working on that leather well before lunchtime, Lucky. Let's get going."
He took Lúthien's arm under his and cast a quick glance around to see where the marketplace was the least crowded. He hated having to crowd and rather took a longer way around if necessary. His eyes fell on the hilltop right by the marketplace and he noticed the figure standing there. Most Hobbits around him were noticing him too, and everybody who did stopped what they were doing and stared.
"I cannot believe it… Are my eyes cheating me?" Merry whispered. Then he shouted so that his friend would hear him up on the hill, even though he knew his hearing was good enough anyway. "Legolas!"
"Mighty fine to see you again, Merry old friend!" Legolas answered, shouting back so that Merry, whose hearing was not as good as the Elf's, could hear. "I've been looking all over for you, Master Hobbit!"
"You found me!" was all Merry could think of to reply at the moment.
Lucky stared at the Elf in awe. He had not forgotten Legolas, ever since he had spent time with him when the Shire was under the Fever he had often thought of the fair Elf with the starlit eyes. The face of the Elf had not aged a day, even though ten years had nearly passed.
He couldn't resist glancing over at Chet Delvering and his gang, to see the looks on their faces. They all looked like a group of nesting boxes. A grin spread across Lucky's face.
"What's the matter, Delvering?" he said. "Don't you know an Elf when you see one?"
"Young Master Lucky!" Legolas shouted from his hilltop, and the look on the HAM Hobbits' faces made Lucky grin even wider. "My how you have grown since last I saw you!"
"And you have not aged a day, Master Elf!" Lucky replied and hurriedly followed his father and sister who were making their way through the crowds to greet Legolas.
"I cannot believe it's really you!" Merry cried when he reached his friend and hugged him. "Where is Gimli, is he not with you?"
"He's searching for your other half" Legolas said. "It was surprisingly difficult to find the two of you, the Hobbits don't even dare talk to me and as soon as Gimli opens his mouth they're scared by his brisk questions."
"Good old Gimli, never realizing that unless you know him you don't understand when he's joking or when he's actually upset" Merry said with a smile. "You remember Lucky, right?"
"Of course I do" Legolas said and kneeled to look at Merry's youngest son. "But you were only a child when last I saw you. You must be over twenty now."
"Twenty-one in a few weeks" Lucky proudly said. "And I have not forgotten you, Master Legolas, or any of the Elves! I've dreamed of the time I spent with you many times. Havo dan!"
"You're Legolas?" Lúthien asked. She hadn't met Legolas the last time he came to the Shire. "My father calls me his legolassie sometimes, because I have golden hair. Your hair is golden too, like mine." She looked the Elf up and down. "But other than that we don't look much alike."
"Lúthien!" Merry said, ashamed of his daughter's childlike straightforwardness.
"Lúthien…" Legolas said. "That is an Elf's name. Lúthien was the most beloved among Elves. You and I both have Elven names; we have that in common too."
"Her mother chose her name" Merry said and gave his daughter a nudge and a look that told her to behave. "I had nothing to do with it."
"The fairest of all the Elves… sharing her name with a Hobbit…" Legolas said, finding the thought almost amusing. Merry's daughter was cute, but nowhere near the beauty of Lúthien Tinuviel.
"And the Hobbit is going to make haste back to Brandy Hall" Merry said and took his daughter by the arm again. "You have chores to do, young lady."
With a sight Lúthien followed her father back towards the Hall. Legolas walked beside Merry and Lucky walked as close to the Elf as he could. It was very exciting to see Legolas again, the Elves were very fascinating to Lucky and this particular Elf was a friend of the family. It made Lucky feel very important to be in his company. He glanced over his shoulder and hoped Chet Delvering and his friends were seeing this.
XX
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The sun was shining bright at Crickhollow when the five friends sat down to eat together. Sam had indeed brought the steak from the Smials, though he couldn't help but wonder if there would be any left for the Hobbits once Gimli had feasted.
"I can't believe that so many Elves have left Middle-Earth" Sam said to Legolas while waiting for his turn with the steak. "It makes me really sad. I was sad when they begun to leave all those years ago and even sadder now!"
"One Elf will still be around to bother us" Gimli said and helped himself to a large part of the steak.
"Gimli's right, I won't be leaving for many years yet" Legolas said. "The Elves are done here; it's time for us to return home, all of us. There are still a few who linger here but I don't suspect they will for long. I alone have some unfinished business here; I shall wait until you are all gone before I make my leave."
"If so then it wouldn't hurt you to come visit us more often" Pippin said and poured wine into glasses.
"The Three Hunters have many close ties to Gondor and Rohan yet" Legolas said. "But you're right; I should come and visit more often. As should you, Master Samwise! Gondor hasn't seen you for more than ten years!"
"I'm not as fit for travel as I once was" Sam said and patted his large belly. "And I have a lot of responsibilities here still. It's difficult for me to come."
"Let's not argue over who should be visiting whom more often" Merry said, not willing to waste their short time bickering. "You are here, and that's what's important right now. Will you be visiting us on the return journey as well?"
"Nay" Gimli said. "Legolas has some woodland he wants to explore. We're traveling north, and we'll meet up with Aragorn in his north kingdom."
"What a shame" Sam said. "Too bad Strider can't come down here to us, instead of hiding away up north!"
"You know he can't come here" Merry said.
"He can still visit Bree, can't he? Humans live there still; it can't be unallowed for Strider to go there either."
"Unallowed?" Pippin echoed. "Is that even a word?"
"You know what I meant" Sam said and sulked over his wine.
"Don't know if I do" Pippin teased. Then he turned to Legolas and Gimli. "So tell us all about the southeast! What is happening? Is there any news to report? I'm dying to hear the latest gossip, not to mention get a full update on what they've been building since last we visited."
Legolas and Gimli set off on a long and detailed description of everything that had happened in Gondor and Rohan since the Hobbits had last heard. The three Hobbits continuously interrupted them with questions, and after a while Gimli complained that Hobbits were far too inquisitive for their own good.
Before long the food was finished and the five friends made their way over to other topics, constantly directed by the questions asked by the Hobbits. They wanted to know everything about everyone and often asked questions about things the Elf and Dwarf knew nothing about, and yawned at the information Legolas and Gimli did have.
Finally Gimli asked them to tell the news of their families, and that caused Sam to spend the next fifteen minutes bragging about the new grandchild that he had never even seen.
"Elanor had a child and you didn't even tell me?" Merry exclaimed.
"Well I was going to" Sam said. "I just never got the chance, that's all."
"But you told Pippin!"
"And now I'm telling you."
Pippin shook his head at them and told Sam to continue on. His old friend still had nine more children to update Gimli and Legolas on, and at this rate they would never be finished. He glanced over at the darker clouds coming from the east and wondered if maybe they were getting rain. After a while, when Sam had managed to get as far as his son Merry, Pippin could hear thunder starting to roll in the distance.
"Looks like our beautiful day is coming to an end" he said, interrupting Sam in the middle of a sentence.
"It's at least five kilometers away" Sam said. "You're not afraid of the thunder, are you?"
"Of course not!" Pippin said.
"Anyways, Merry has been in charge of the stables for five years now and everything is in perfect shape!" Sam continued on.
Pippin knew all about the Gamgee children already, haven gotten the update earlier in the day. He got up from his spot on the grass and walked over to the old apple trees which were still bearing fruit.
"My Daisy is doing great as well…" Sam's voice carried on in the background.
Pippin picked one of the blooming flowers off one of the trees and looked at it. This apple tree had been in bloom this month of the year for as long as Pippin could remember. He wondered how much longer it would keep blooming. Would it still be bearing fruit long after everyone present at Crickhollow at the moment were either dead or at least no longer in Middle-Earth? Probably. It would most likely still be in bloom when Pippin's grandchildren passed away. It was strange to think that a tree could live for so long.
"Pippin!" Gimli's voice called, reaching through Pippin's thoughts.
"What?" Pippin asked, turning to look at his friends.
"I asked you how your son is doing" Gimli said and walked over to the apple tree. "You've been staring at that flower for a long time now."
"Sorry, I got lost in my thoughts…"
Legolas, Merry and Sam got up as well and walked over to the tree. Legolas glanced over at the clouds in the east, rumbling closer now than before.
"What in the world were you thinking about?" Gimli asked and grabbed the flower Pippin had been holding in his palm. "And why are you staring at a flower like it was the answer to all of your problems?"
"No reason, I just… thought of how odd it is that this apple tree stood here when Merry and I first moved in. And it will stand here when my son moves in, and when his son moves in."
"Perhaps then you Tooks should find something better to do with your time than move in and out of this old house" Gimli suggested. "Now speaking of your son, what has he been up to lately? Still a curious rascal?"
With a grin on his face Pippin began to update his friends on Faramir. But before he was halfway finished a sharp bang was heard, causing them all to stop in their tracks and look up.
"Thunder" Legolas said. "We had best be getting inside. It's coming close, and it just struck somewhere."
"Lovely" Merry said. "I have two daughters who are both afraid of the thunder, and just between us I think Théo is too. And then there's the other two crazy heads, Lucky and Cordy, they'll probably be outdoors trying to chase the flashes."
"Come on, let's go inside" Sam said. "It will probably start to rain soon. And Legolas is right, the thunder is close. I wouldn't want to stand here under the tree if lightning strikes it."
"Perhaps the apple tree won't still be here when young Faramir moves in" Gimli said to Pippin and put his arm around his shoulders. "Now come along, inside we go."
They hurried over to their picnic spot and shoved everything up on the tray Pippin had brought everything out on. As they were getting ready to go back inside Pippin squinted to get a better look at the rider he could hear approaching.
"Who would be out riding in this weather?" Merry muttered. "If it's Lucky or Cordy they are in big trouble!"
"No…" Pippin said. "It looks like Fatty Bolger. What could he want?"
"Fatty!" Merry said to his brother-in-law as the Hobbit halted his pony a few yards away. "You crazy old Hobbit! What are you doing riding around in this weather? Didn't you just hear the lightning strike?"
"I did" Fatty said. "But listen Merry, I…" He sighed. "My nephew is going to be furious with me for this!"
"Come inside and tell us there" Merry said.
"No, I think… I think you'd better come with me!"
"Why?"
"I wasn't supposed to tell you, but Théo is missing."
"What do you mean?" Merry asked, thinking his old friend had finally lost his mind.
"He rode into the Old Forest."
"He what?" Merry said, for a moment mostly shocked that out of all his children Théodoc was the one in question.
"He can't go in there!" Pippin exclaimed. "It's not safe! Especially not with the thunderstorm! Fatty are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure!" Fatty said.
"How could you let him do that?" Merry angrily said and shoved the basket in his hands over to Sam. "Fredegar you know better than that! How long ago did he leave?"
"About an hour ago…"
"An hour? It took you that long to come tell me?"
"I… wasn't going to tell you at all" Fatty admitted as Merry strode over to him. "He made me promise not to! But with the thunderstorm I thought maybe it was best…"
"Fatty Bolger you imbecile!" Merry snarled. "Get down from that pony right now, I need it! He cannot wander in there alone!"
Fatty obediently dismounted his pony, allowing Merry to get up in the saddle instead. Pippin hurried over and untied the pony Sam had ridden earlier in the day, and looked over at Sam and their two visiting friends.
"The Old Forest" Gimli echoed. "Now that can't be good, I know what that forest is all about! You're going after him, aren't you Merry?"
"I most certainly am" Merry said. "I have to get to Brandy Hall first, make sure nobody else is missing. The two adventure heads might have decided to go with him!"
"We're coming with you" Legolas said and walked over to the pony Pippin was getting ready to ride. "I think I can manage riding on one of these ponies, small as they may be. Don't look so angry Pip, you can ride with me."
"Then I'm riding with Merry" Sam decided.
"And I'm running back" Gimli firmly decided and cast a glance at Fatty. "And this twit of an uncle to your son is running with me. Wait for me at the Hall before you go into the woods."
"No I am going alone" Merry said firmly. "I need to have a serious word with my son, if I do find him."
"You can't go in there by yourself" Sam objected.
"I appreciate that you would go in there with me" Merry said. "But you won't."
"You know we will" Gimli said. "We won't let you go on your own, laddie."
"I have to go alone" Merry said. "And I have to go now."
Sam had barely gotten up on the pony behind Merry before the pony galloped away towards Brandy Hall. Legolas and Pippin followed closely behind on the other pony, while Gimli grabbed Fatty Bolger by the ear and started running.
XX
XX
At Brandy Hall nobody was to be seen outdoors. Everybody had gone indoors for shelter from the storm. Merry halted his pony and leaped from its back. Pippin, Sam and Legolas were only seconds behind him.
"Go inside and make sure the rest of your children are safe" Legolas said. "Then we are going out into the woods. Together."
"Legolas I need to find other ponies to saddle" Merry said. "Would you mind going inside and seeing that everybody is there for me? You know who my wife is, just talk to her and she will be able to tell you whether or not they are all at home."
Legolas hurried off inside and Sam gave Merry a confused look.
"Why send Legolas and not Pippin or me?"
"Because I don't want Legolas to come with me" Merry said and got back up on the pony's back. "At least with you two I know I can trust that you stay here if told to."
"It can be dangerous in those woods; you need someone there to help you!" Sam objected.
"No. I need to find my son, that's what I need to do. And I need to talk some sense into that head of his. And I cannot do it with all of you there."
"Merry!" Pippin said with a frightened voice and grabbed Merry's stirrup. "Merry think of Old Man Willow! Théo is out there all alone! You have to go now! Think of the Barrow Weights! Think of… You have to get him; you can't let him be hurt!"
"Tell Gimli and Legolas that I'm sorry" Merry said and drove his pony to a gallop.
Pippin swung himself onto the other pony's back and raced after Merry, leaving Sam to explain what had taken place to Legolas all by himself. When Merry saw that Pippin was following him he got even angrier and was just about to yell something less than flattering to his cousin when he reached the gates to the Old Forest and Pippin dismounted his pony.
"Go find him before Willow does" Pippin said and opened the gates for Merry with the key tossed to him. "Bring him home… Safely!"
"I will" Merry said and dashed off into the woods.
"I bet you will…" Pippin said and closed the gates behind Merry. "And judging by the look on your face, Théo should be more concerned over meeting you than Old Man Willow."
XX
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Théodoc was cold, and trembled with fear even though he told himself it was only the chill of the rain. He had never liked the forests, and this one seemed particularly sinister. He had of course known that when he entered it, but he had not imagined it to be like this. He had for some reason never truly believed all the stories people told about the Old Forest. He believed it was dangerous, but that the danger came from wolves or other such animals, not from trees that came alive. Though now he wasn't so sure. The trees around him seemed to be reaching out for him, and he thought he could hear a moaning sound coming from them.
He shivered and pulled his thin cloak around him. The cloak was soaking wet, the heavy rain reached him even under the branches of the trees and for some time now he had been wet through and through. He could hear the thunder rolling closer and cursed the wicked fate that had brought on this weather on this very day.
It had been his plan for a few weeks now. Only his Uncle Fatty had known about it, and he had only known for a few hours now. Théo wanted it to be a secret. He wanted to take everybody by surprise. And he hadn't wanted anybody to know of his plans in case he hadn't dared to follow through with them. But he had followed through, he had taken the spare key to the gates and ridden into the Old Forest, comforting himself with the thought that if it was really that dangerous then his pony would have refused to go in there. Truth was, the pony had objected. But Théo was not a very skilled rider and he had written it off as his own poor abilities to command the animal.
The courage he had felt when he rode through the gates had soon vanished. He wondered how much further he would have to ride until he reached the other side. That was all he wanted right now, to reach the other side and get to sit by a nice, warm fireside at an inn in Bree. That was his whole plan, once he reached the end of the forest he would have proven himself worthy. Everyone would know that he was not a coward. He would have ventured into the woods where only the Mayor, the Thain, Frodo Baggins and his father had dared go. Nobody would be able to snicker at him behind his back anymore; no one would call Théodoc Brandybuck a coward. And his father would think him worthy.
The sound of the rolling thunder was getting closer. When he looked around him he noticed that a thick fog was creeping up around him. Fog and thunder at the same time. Théodoc wrinkled his nose. He hated fog; it was cold and damp and made it hard to see what was around you. For as long as he lived he would never understand his two youngest brothers who would run out in the fog and look for hidden treasure. Lucky always said that there were creatures called Mist Watchers who looked after the fog and hid treasure in it for those brave enough to find it. So far no treasure had been found, and Théo thought it all to be ridiculous.
He could feel how tired he was, riding through the woods. It was no wonder, the rain always made him feel sleepy, and now he had been on his guard for hours. Every minute spent in the forest had he been on his guard. Now he had allowed himself to relax for a moment and he could feel how tired he was.
He dismounted his pony and tied it to a tree. Then he sat down on the ground, on a spot where the rain hadn't been able to find its way through the thick branches and the leaves. He leaned back against the trunk of an old willow tree and fell asleep.
XX
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Théo woke up with a start, and at first he couldn't recall where he was. Then he remembered that he had ridden out into the forest, but it still didn't seem to make any sense. Where was he? He was someplace dark, where no wind blew, but he could feel the wind brush his lower legs.
He could hear loud moaning noises, the kind you could sometimes hear from trees being cut down. The sound seemed to be coming from all around him. And he heard something else too, what seemed like an echo of a voice talking in imperatives. The walls seemed to be closing in on him and he was beginning to think he was having a very vivid nightmare. Then suddenly someone grabbed a firm hold of his ankles and tried to pull him. With a bolt of fear going through him he realized that wherever he was, his feet and part of his legs were not yet trapped. And the only place he could be trapped was inside the tree. Claustrophobia hit him and he began fighting like mad to be freed of his prison, but to no avail. Then the hands gripping his ankles were gone, and he could hear a familiar voice from somewhere far away.
Ho! Tom Bombadil! Tom Bombadillo!
By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow,
By fire, sun and moon, harken now and hear us!
Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!
Shaking with panic he felt himself being dragged further into the tree. The hands came back and gripped his feet, holding on to them but no longer attempting to pull. The realization that whoever was holding on to his feet had given up on pulling him out became too much for Théo, and he fainted on the spot.
XX
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When he came to the fog had begun to lift. He sat up and rubbed his spinning head. It had all been just a crazy nightmare, probably brought on by the fog. He glanced at the willow tree behind him; it was just an ordinary tree. He was not caught inside of it, he had just dreamed that he was because he had been told those silly stories of trees that came alive and moved.
He thought he could hear voices speaking nearby. One voice told the other he ought to come stay over the night, but the other replied that he just needed company over some place called the Barrow Downs. Then through the fog his father stepped into the small glade where Théo had taken his nap. Théo stared at him for a second; unsure of whether or not this was all just a dream. What was his father doing there?
"Get up" his father angrily said and tossed him his rucksack.
He seemed real enough, Théo deemed, and did as he was told. He followed his father through the fog to three ponies that were waiting on the path. One was the pony Théo had ridden out with and he went over to it and grabbed the reins. On the back of the third pony sat a fellow with the strangest appearance Théo had ever seen in his life. The fellow sang a strange tune, which mostly sounded like gibberish to Théo's ears, and as they made their way through the woods the figure would sometime address Théodoc's father. They seemed to know each other since before, which would have surprised Théo normally, but on this day he felt nothing could surprise him anymore. All Théo knew for sure at this moment was that he had failed in proving himself.
XX
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After riding for what seemed like forever the company finally halted. Théo pulled his cloak even tighter around him and wondered why they had stopped here. It seemed just like any other part of the woods.
"We must part ways now" the odd fellow said and lifted his hat to them. "Goldenberry waits for her Tom Bombadil!"
"My gratitude" Merry said and dismounted his pony. "Thank you."
The odd fellow rode off in the direction they had arrived from. Théo got down on the ground and followed the fellow with his eyes for as long as he could see him. Whatever that creature had been, he was by far the queerest person Théo had ever met.
His father came up to him and grabbed him by the wrists, so firmly that it almost hurt, and Théo turned his attention back to him. He wondered what would happen now. His father seemed anything but happy to see him.
"Are you alright?" his father asked, briskly giving him a quick exam. "Are you hurt at all?"
"Only my pride" Théo admitted.
"Sit."
Théodoc did as commanded and sat down on a nearby log. He looked at his father, but was intimidated by the sight and looked down on his hands. His father was looking at him with eyes Théo had never seen before, and the firm placing of his hands by his hips was a sure sign that trouble was to be expected. Théo felt like his father was towering over him like he were three years old and it made him feel humiliated.
"I don't know what on earth you thought you were thinking going into these woods…" began the lecture. "Have I not warned you? Have I not told you to stay away? Have I not explained to you that the Old Forest is one of few horror stores which is actually true? For goodness sake, Théodoc! You be glad your uncle told on you, had I arrived much later than I did you would be dead now. Do you hear what I'm saying to you? I have never been this angry at any of my children! And never this disappointed!"
"I just…" Théo stuttered, fighting back his tears. He looked up at his father. "I just wanted to prove that I am your son. That I am worthy of being your heir! You're so brave, and everybody thinks I am a coward, but there has to be some of your courage in me! There has to be! I know you think I'm just a no-good who shames your name, and that you wonder how you could have ended up with a son like me. All I wanted was to show that I am not just a coward who hides in the corners, the least apt of the Brandybucks, the failure… I wanted you to be proud of me for once."
"You failed miserably" Merry said. "First of all do not presume to tell me what I think of you and how I feel about you. Secondly stop feeling so sorry for yourself all the time. Self pity is useless and it's the worst trait you have ever had. Thirdly you have done nothing courageous today; your actions have only been stupid and proven great lack of judgment."
Théo lowered his head and tried to fight back the burning tears of shame. He had never been so humiliated in all his life, never felt half as small.
"Starting from the top, you nearly got yourself killed today!" the lecture carried on. "Exactly what were you planning to do before I showed up? For goodness sake, I never ventured into these woods without the company of friends before today, Théodoc you know this! I would never be so stupid as to go in here by myself, except when my child's safety is at stake."
"I just wanted to show I had at least some of your courage!"
"You think I am brave?" Merry said. "I'm not. I'm not brave at all, I spent a lot of days on my journey scared silly! You scared the living daylights out of me today! I've been petrified at least a thousand times since I returned to the Shire. I'm afraid of the dark, I'm scared that bad years will come and there will be famine in the Shire, I get nervous whenever your brothers go out on their crazy 'adventures'. And just between you and me I'm terrified of spiders! Théodoc throwing yourself in harms way for no reason at all is not proof of courage! I never did a single brave thing in all my life that wasn't something I had no other choice but to do, in order to save or help someone I love!"
Théo glanced up at him, then back down on his hands. Merry sighed. He couldn't understand how his son's mind worked. Théodoc didn't seem like an almost 28 year-old lad, sitting there on his log looking like a ten year old who had just been caught doing something he wasn't supposed to. Was his son ever going to grow up?
"You don't know how hard it is to live in the shadow of you!" Théo said, finally daring to speak up now that his father was quiet for a moment. "Meriadoc the Magnificent! Living up to the image of you is impossible, yet everybody requires it from me! Every trait I have that is not one of yours, they scoff at. Every trait of yours that I have I cannot perfect in the way you can, and for that they scoff as well. I'm surely going to be known as Théodoc the Meek!"
"There you go again, with your self pity" Merry said. "Know this Théodoc; there is nothing more harmful to oneself than self pity! Every problem you face is ten times harder if you pity yourself and nothing good comes from it. Stop feeling so sorry for yourself!"
"How can I not feel sorry for myself when I have spent my entire life being constantly assured that I'm not good enough?" Théo cried. "I'm forced to be someone I'm not, I cannot live up to you, and I cannot follow in your footsteps! Every day I am made painfully aware that I am not like you, I'm not brave and noble and wise. And I'm a disappointment to you."
"Fool" Merry snorted. "I don't care what you do or who you are, whether or not you're brave, you are my son and I love you!"
Théo looked up at him, and the surprise in his eyes hurt Merry far more than anything else any of his children had ever said or done.
"How can you not know that?" he said and kneeled down to get in eye level with his son. "My firstborn son, my child… What you need to see is that you can never be a good Master, husband, friend, Hobbit, anything at all, as long as you strive to be a copy of me. You are not me, you are different from me, and you can be a wonderful Master who people look up to, on your own credit. If you try to be just like me you will never succeed but if you try to be yourself you might very well be known as one of the best Hobbits the Shire ever saw."
"That's not true and we both know it" Théo said, looking back down on his hands again.
"You are a very compassionate Hobbit" Merry said. "You are gentle, you have a calm spirit. You don't lose your head very easily. You are reasonable and just, and you can work harder than anyone I've ever known when you put your mind to it. You never look down at people and you have an enormous patience. You will be a fine Hobbit on your own accord. Why do you strive so much to be like me? There is no room anymore for someone like me. There are no adventures to see which can form you into what I have become. I was not like this when I was younger. And you do have a lot in common with me. I was as tranquil and together as you are now when I was your age. I'm not going to deny that there are things about you which need to be worked on. You still need to focus more on what lies ahead of you and take your duties seriously. But I think you'll find that when you try to shape your own personality and your own way of doing things then your future duties will seem much more interesting."
Théo nodded slowly. He didn't agree with his father but he didn't want to object. Not now, when the lecture seemed to be over. He looked at his father and hoped that what he had said was true. That he wasn't disappointed or ashamed of him.
"All the others are so special" he said, thinking of his siblings. "And I am mundane… People must think I don't belong in this family! My greatest fear is that I'll never be able to take charge and take control and lead Buckland when I need to."
"When I was on my journey…" Merry began, "I got to know the king of Rohan. You've heard of him."
"Éomer."
"No, not him."
Théo blushed. He couldn't even remember this! But he sharpened his ears, for it seemed like he was about to get a clue to his father's past which even his mother never had.
"He was a just king, just like you are a just lad" Merry continued his story. "But he had been put under a spell by the forces of evil, and had turned into an old man without any willpower or urge to stand up for himself or fight. He let his land begin to fall; he was deaf to the despair of his niece and nephew. He did not even muster the strength to take control of himself when his son was killed. He let his country down. When Gandalf the White freed him from this evil spell he was in a deep pit which would be difficult to get out of. He had allowed himself to be duped; he had let his country decay and his son perish without him by his side. I don't believe any king has ever had a tougher challenge ahead of him with regaining the respect of his people and making good for what he had done bad. One of the first things that happened after his recovery was an ambush which nearly killed all of his people. But he didn't let that hold him down. When those who hadn't come to his aid called for him to aid them he rode out. He led his people to a hopeless war, knowing that they would most likely perish. He led them to war because that was the only right thing to do, the only responsible thing to do. He stood up and took charge and led himself and his people to glory, against all hope and odds. He died on the fields of Pelennor; I sat by his side as he slipped away from this life. In spite of how dark things had looked only a short time earlier this king died a hero, a noble man, one his people will never forget. He died with me at his side, as a father was he to me in life and a role model in death. I loved him. And when you were born I named you for him, the most special name in the world to me, safe for your sister's."
"Théoden King" Théodoc said and nodded his head. "I remember now. You've mentioned him to me."
"Let the king you were named after be the king whose example you follow" Merry said. "Never forget that no matter how dark things look you can always rise again with one act of nobility and honor. And remember child… I gave you his name because I loved you so. I have loved you all your life and it's never going to stop."
Théodoc closed his eyes and fought back the tears that were fighting to come. Everything that had happened that day was proving to be too much but he didn't want to begin to cry again. Not here, not now.
"You're my little boy and no matter where life takes you I will always be proud to call you my son" Merry assured him and put his hand on his son's shoulder. "There is nothing I wouldn't give for your safety. I feared I might lose you today and I couldn't stand the thought. I am proud of who you are and what you have become; you are most definitely worthy of me. How you could ever think otherwise is beyond me. Don't listen to what others say, or what you think they might say about you. If they tell me that you are not a competent Hobbit, one others should look up to, then I know they're wrong. Don't change who you are. Just work a little harder on some of your sides, sides we all must work on, duty and determination. For the first time in your life stand on your own two feet and be your own Hobbit. When you pass your title on to your son people will say that Théodoc Brandybuck was not like his predecessor, but well worthy in his own way."
"I love you too" Théo said spontaneously hugged his father for the first time in twenty-five years. "I want you to be proud of me."
"I am, little lad…" Merry said. "My boy who grew up and became an adult."
XX
XX
When sun began to set that evening at Crickhollow Sam, Pippin and their two guests took their refuge to one of the sitting rooms. With large cups of tea, or at least large in the eyes of Pippin and Sam, and a large plate of sandwiches they sat down by the fireplace and enjoyed each other's company.
"I wonder when Merry will return" Pippin said. "I hope nothing bad happened…"
"If it did then there's nothing we can do about it now" Legolas said. "We cannot ride into the woods and search at random during night. If he's smart he brought his son someplace warm and safe and will stay there over night."
"Tom Bombadil's house!" Sam said.
"I'm worried" Pippin said and frowned. "What if something has happened to Théodoc? The Old Forest is dangerous! We nearly got killed there and we were four Hobbits traveling together, used to hiking in the woods! Théo is alone and has hardly any experience with woodlands, especially not the kind that comes alive on its own."
"I'm sure Merry's smart enough to go to Tom Bombadil" Sam insisted. "He wouldn't have left on his own if he wasn't confident he could find help from him."
"I must say Pippin, seeing your son is like taking a step back in time to when the Fellowship were all traveling together" Gimli said to change the subject before they got too worried. "My goodness… He's the spitting image of you."
"Only I am a lot older" Pippin said.
"Imagine that Legolas…" Gimli said. "Our young Hobbits have young Hobbits!"
"To think that this was the place where it all started…" Pippin said. "This was the place whence the first group of the Fellowship set out. This is where the Journey began!"
"I beg your pardon, but that's not correct" Sam had to differ. "You, me and Mister Frodo sat out from Bag End and that was the real beginning!"
"It was only a warm up" Pippin objected. "Frodo's plan was to start his journey here. He just needed to get here from Bag End first."
"You're not going to argue, are you?" Gimli asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It's just good to have you here, in the house we set out from" Pippin said.
Legolas smiled at him and Pippin felt a little lighter at heart. Out of all his old friends, Legolas was the one he was always happiest to see. The Elf's face never seemed to grow older and was a comforting reminder that some things always stayed the same. It was amazing how Legolas and Gimli had stayed close friends over the years, as different as they were from one another. But perhaps that was one of the reasons why time and space had been unable to push them apart. Opposites attracted after all, and what bigger opposites could one find than an Elf and a Dwarf? Pippin remembered how odd he used to think it was that Bilbo Baggins was often visited by Dwarves. Now it didn't seem so strange anymore. Had you once befriended one it was hard to let them go.
"I will have to come back and visit you soon" Legolas said. "I promised Lucky I would teach him how to use a bow and arrow and take him out hunting."
"Oh no" Sam exclaimed. "Hobbits don't hunt with a bow and arrow! Lucky will be considered queer! And since he's a Brandybuck he's already in danger of that!"
"He seems to have taken a liking to me" Legolas said. "Him and I, we grew close when I looked after him ten years ago. I like the idea of having one of your children around me, so young and full of life! It gives me a form of legacy."
"Just don't teach him anything… magical" Sam said.
"A lot of silly Hobbits think Lucky can do magic" Pippin filled in. "Personally though I think some form of magic or grace is looking after him. He has survived a lot of illness and a premature birth. And managed to go through life without getting a single bruise or cut, that I know of at least. How is that possible? I can see why he feels connected to you Legolas, it's almost as if there is something elflike over him, but in a Hobbit way… He's not like an Elf but his great fortune reminds me of how you live forever."
"They don't call him Lucky for nothing" Sam said and finished his tea. "Does anybody want anything more to eat? I'm starved!"
"You just had three sandwiches" Legolas pointed out.
"And if we don't feed him something more his stomach will growl all night, keeping us all up" Pippin said and got up on his feet. "I'm making some more sandwiches, and when I get back I want to hear a story about your father, Gimli! Preferably one old Bilbo hasn't told a thousand times already."
XX
XX
They passed slowly through the gates of Bree, closer to that town than to Buckland, an hour after sundown. Théodoc rode in silence next to his father instead of behind him, hoping that the silent tears falling down his cheeks weren't visible in the dark. It had been a very long and emotional day for him.
Years later he would look back on that day, still unsure of what had happened in the woods by the willow tree. Most of his days he believed the hungry tree and the odd fellow to be figments of his imagination, parts of a mysterious dream he had had. The talk with his father out in the woods became blurry as the years went by and in the end all he could remember was the things they had talked about, not exactly what had been said. But there was one thing he never forgot until his dying day. He never forgot when he found out that Legolas and Gimli had been visiting the Shire that day, staying only over night and not likely to return for a decade more. His father had known this but left them behind to ride into the forest after Théo. And he had gone with him to Bree that night instead of rushing back to the Shire to be with his friends, those friends he loved so much. Théo knew what a sacrifice that was for Merry, yet his father never spoke a word about it, he had never said that one of the bad things about Théo's little adventure was that he missed the chance to be with his friends. No words his father ever said to him ever made Théodoc feel more strongly that his father really did love him, than the knowledge that he had forsaken time with his friends that night to keep Théo company in Bree.