Title: Master in Training

Author: Anso the Hobbit

Characters: Merry, Pippin Saradoc

Timeline: Buckland, SR 1408, so Merry is 26 and Pippin 18

Summary: When Old Rory dies, Saradoc finds it’s necessary to increase Merry’s lesson in mastery and young Pippin is in for a few lessons on his own.

Note: Written from one of Marigold’s bunnies. Not yet betaed

Disclaimer: Not mine. They just own me.

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PART ONE: The Old Master

The Master’s study was one of Merry’s favourite haunts at the Hall and now that Grandda Rory was dead and Da was Master and Merry the official heir, Merry found himself looking at the familiar room with new eyes now that Da was taking over. The room had already a different smell and some things had been replaced for new ones. Not that that was a bad thing, it was only different and Merry thought he had to look at the room in a bit different way now.

The Master’s study was located at the end of a hallway and you could see the double doors from the main hallway that went from the middle of the three large doors and straight through the Hall before ending up in the Great Hall. In the back of the study, to each side of the hearth were two doors, one leading to the Great Hall through a narrow hallway and the other directly to the Master’s apartments. Guests were always led to the Master’s study through the middle main door but the study and the apartments were in fact located at the southernmost corner of the Hall so that the windows overlooked the private garden and the Ferry landing. 

The Master’s study was a cosy room, Merry thought. It was almost square and had two large windows covering the southernmost corner and Merry had found that if he sat in the corner of the window seat he could just barely make out the people coming and going on the Ferry Lane leading from the landing to Bucklebury through the trees. If he sat in the other corner and looked north he could see the boats on the Brandywine as the River made a curve just before it reached the Hall and bent again to make room for a lovely bit of garden with grassy plains, flower beds and trees.

The study was rather large, sporting an ancient, large desk in oak that Merry had been told had been standing there since Merry’s great-great-grandfather Marmadoc’s time. Behind it was a just as old leather chair with high backrest. The chair was covered in golden leather, softened after generations of use. The desk was placed just so that when sitting at it you could look out through the windows. On each side of the desk stood two lamps that shone with a golden light on the paper-strewn surface of the desk. On a table just to the side of the desk the Book of Brandybucks always lay on its honorary position, bound in burgundy leather with the Master’s seal with its double B’s and the M on the cover. It was the reckoning of every Brandybuck born since the Oldbucks time and also held the information about how many people resided in the vast Hall each year. In front of the desk two good and comfortable arm chairs stood so that those who came to see the Master could sit down when presenting their errand or discussing business.

The study was full of bookcases and originals of the History of Buckland and other important books were held here along with both ancient and new maps of the land and the Hall. There were some pictures adorning the walls, including portraits of previous Masters. There even was a drawing of Bucca of the Marish, but that was so faded and old that it was kept in a leather binding to be preserved and only brought forth on special occasions.

Mathoms and heirlooms stood on shelves and tables. Most of them were old and had been in the family for many generations. In front of the hearth a great rug in a green, red and yellow pattern lay. Merry had loved sitting there with his toys as a child, listening to his parents or grandparents talk and sometimes if he were quiet and the business wasn’t too unsuitable for a child’s ears, he’d been allowed to sit there on the rug and listen to his Grandda talk with hobbits from all over Buckland and the Shire.

Once, when he and Berilac had been sitting on the rug playing at farmers checkers, there had come a Man in with the Master. Apparently they had talked in private somewhere else first since the children were allowed to stay. Da and uncle Mac had been there too, Merry remembered. Merry learned the Man was a Ranger and someone Grandda had said it was very important to be in good standing with as the Rangers worked with the Bounders and it was the Master’s job to talk to this Ranger once in a while to hear what was happening on the borders of the Shire. Merry had found that curious business, but had later learned that it was to protect the Shire from the Wild of the Outside, something the Brandybucks always had lived with and thus also taught every lad or lass growing up in Buckland that the doors had to be locked at night. Grandda had been rather vague but Merry had remembered to ask Frodo about it later and he too had said that this was the purpose of the Rangers and the Bounders, and living with the tales of the Old Forest Merry had no doubt in the tales he was told. He had felt honoured though to be present at such a great meeting.

There was also a very large armchair with an identical foot rest and a tea table on the rug. It was in this chair Merry now sat, or rather lay sprawling, his head resting on a cushion on one armrest and his feet dangling over the other, a book in his lap and a mug of tea and a plate of sandwiches and tea cakes within easy reach on the table. Merry had given up reading and was thinking about his Grandda and all the memories he had from this study.

When he was little the study had been a room of secrecy and out-of-reach for children, but as he grew older and was allowed to stay more and more he discovered that this was the room where Grandda lived. Among the Mathoms and books and scrolls and reports were things that made this rather formal room into a cosy haven. There was Grandda’s pipe and pouch on their stand on the mantle, the smell of leather and pony and Gandalf’s toffee and pipe weed and sheep and hay that was his Grandda lingering in the air, the lovely throw Grandma Gilda had made and which Merry to this day loved to snuggle down in to keep warm on cold days or just to have a bit of a nap under thrown over the back of the armchair and at last the quills and ink wells from Cousin Bilbo intricately lain with foreign patterns coming from the Dwarves.  

Merry’s Grandda had been a busy hobbit. He was about the fields and villages as often as not but always had time for Merry if he needed to talk. Buckland and the Shire had been Grandda’s life and his duty and Merry knew that that was what it was to him too. Since he’d been little he’d always put the needs of others before his own, protecting Frodo or looking out for Pippin, riding to the aid of Bucklanders suffering from flood or running errands with firewood to an old gammer on a cold winter’s day or a sack of vegetables to a family who’d lost their crop in draught or illness.

Merry sighed and after hearing Da mutter to himself for some time while trying to put Grandda’s portrait on the wall Merry stood to help his da put up the portrait, as was the custom when the funeral and grieving, singing and remembering was officially over and the new Master took up his task.

“A bit more to the left, Da,” Merry said, stepping back so that the painting of his Grandda hung straight. It was a very good painting. Rory was sitting in the armchair Merry just had vacated with the back turned to the fireplace and he was smiling, his pipe in his hand and the Book of Brandybucks in his lap. Merry found the painting very comforting. “There, just so. Now you can look at it from the desk and he will always be able to look down at you and any visitors from here.”

Saradoc stepped back and looked at the painting. He looped an arm around Merry’s shoulders, squeezing a little and together they stood watching their predecessor for some time. Merry put his head on Saradoc’s shoulder – he was just as tall as his Da now. “I miss him dreadfully,” Merry said after some time.

“I know, my lad. I miss him too,” Saradoc turned a bit to kiss Merry’s curls, enveloping him in a tight embrace before letting go, tears streaming down both their cheeks. “Why don’t you finish your tea and then we can go for a walk. It will do us both good I think.”

Merry nodded and sat down in the armchair again, taking up his plate and mug while Saradoc went to his own plate on the desk and continued sorting through the papers and books lying there.

Merry was eating his last tea cake when there was a knock at the study door and Pippin entered. “Hullo, Pip,” Merry said and sat up in the chair. “We’re about to go for a walk now. Do you want to join us?” Merry looked at his father and Saradoc nodded. “I’m thinking that you too are a bit tired of being cooped up inside in this cold?”

“Actually,” Pippin said, “I was coming to ask Merry if he wanted to come outside for some time, so I’ll be happy to join you.”

“Good,” Merry said, rising. “We’d better put on some warm clothes then. I suppose you’ve had your tea?”

PART TWO: The New Master

“Of course I had tea, Merry. What did you think? That I didn`t eat just because you were locked away in that study with Uncle?”

“No I suppose not,” Merry laughed. They bundled up in warm jackets and scarves and walked outside. “Come on, let’s go.”

Saradoc was silent as they walked up on the top of Buck Hill, stopping just to the side of where a large vent from the Hall’s main kitchen was hidden in a bush just by revealing that they would have roast pork, sautéed potatoes and stewed mushrooms for supper. “Ooh, that makes me hungry,” Pippin said, sniffing expectantly as his stomach rumbled and Merry laughed, taking a sniff himself and nodding appreciatively. Saradoc didn’t join them in the appreciation of the upcoming dinner and seemed to be lost in his thoughts.

“Da?” Merry said a little worried, studying Saradoc. He had been unnaturally quiet as they walked and now he stood staring out at the lands around them. He turned from the vent. “You`re so quiet. Is everything all right?”

Saradoc smiled and pointed to the landscape around them, making a large arch with his arm. “Look at all of this, lads.”

From where they were standing they could see almost all of Buckland and also a good bit of the River and the Marish on the horizon. Below them lay the great garden of Brandy Hall with its orchards and lawns, the front yard, the barns and the stables, everything now covered in a thin layer of frost. A few ponies with blankets covering their backs could be seen in the paddock and in the distance a rider was trotting towards the Gate. Turning they saw the village of Bucklebury through the trees just below them and beyond the fields meeting the Hedge with the Old Forest looming darkly with its coniferous trees behind it. Farms were strewn about the rolling hills and in the distance were more villages and farms.

Mist from the River was wafting through the air over the frozen landscape, chilling hobbits and ponies, but also making the world look magical as the mist rolled over the fields and caressed the trees. Some leaves that had not been blown away by the wind yet were strewn about the fields and hills as pale shadows of their former selves with frosted edges, crumbling as soon as you trod on them or picked one up.

“Look,” Saradoc said again, his voice full of suppressed emotion, fire brightening up  the dullness of grief and loss in his eyes. He looked at them both in turn and Pippin gasped a little when the gaze met his. This wasn’t anger, it was something else. Saradoc turned a little and held Merry’s gaze as he spoke. “All this is for you. This is what your grandfather and his father before him and all the generations before them have built up and made into what it is so that you can stand here and know that you live in a prosperous and safe country with enough food on your table and a roof over your head for this year and many to come.”

“Yes, Da,” Merry said, wondering what had brought this on. He had heard speeches like this before and he loved Buckland deeply, but never had he heard Da talked like this. Merry wondered if he had done something unspeakable to harm Buckland and its inhabitants, but the last thing he could remember having done was to tease the lasses at the market, and that hardly hurt anyone. The lass in question hadn’t even been angry, she had just swatted at him and shooed him away. It couldn’t be as simple as his Da being anxious as the task now lying before him?

“Buckland is dependent on its Master,” Saradoc continued. “Without a Master to guide and teach them, to know the history and traditions who knows what might happen,” he mused more than warned. “There has always been a Master and there always will be. There has to.” He looked at Merry. “It’s in your blood.”

“I know, and I love Buckland. I could never live anywhere else,” Merry said. “It is my home and will always be. I may visit other places but I belong here Da. In Buckland and at your side, I know that. You know that. I do think though that if there ever should come a time where there would be no Master that the Brandybucks would manage. We*re are after all known for being bright, Da.” Merry tried to smile but the moment was too sombre for that.

“That might be so and I am glad of that and also that you love Buckland my lad. There is much for you to learn and it is time that you pick up on your studies.”

“I thought I was finished with having lessons,” Merry said.

“Do you think you know all there is to know about being a Master then? You’re not even of age yet,” Saradoc said, smiling slightly. “Even I don’t know that, and your Grandda didn’t either. We learn as long as we live and I should like to meet he who knows everything about his job. Being Master is more than a job, Merry. It is a lifestyle and a way of living.”

“I know, Da. You have told me often enough, and Grandda too.”

“Yes,” Saradoc continued. “We have. And you will hear it again. It is one of the most important lessons you will ever learn. It goes for you too, Pippin. Being a farmer isn’t an office job that ends at tea time.”

Pippin nodded. “My Da says that often enough too.”

They stood some time looking at each other, each occupied with his own thoughts, when Merry finally broke the silence.

“Da,” Merry began, wanting to reassure him that he’d do a marvellous job as Master and that he needn’t worry about a thing. Saradoc had in many ways been Master for some years now and was well liked and trusted as far as Merry knew. “I hope there will always be a Master. And I will learn everything I have to know to be a good one too.” Merry found it strange that he was reassuring his father. It was usually the other way around. Something was definitely amiss. Saradoc had never lacked self-confidence and from what Merry could see after following him around since he was little, he always did what he thought was best for Buckland and its people. “I do after all have a very good teacher!”

Saradoc smiled. “He’s not too bad, is he?”

Merry shook his head. “He’s the best.”

“Good. I wouldn’t want anything less than the best for my lads. Saradoc gathered Merry and Pippin in a hug.

“Thank you Uncle,” Pippin said a little surprised at the sudden burst of emotion.

“This,” Saradoc said, excitement and eagerness in his voice again, the solemnity passed. He pointed to the surrounding lands again “is your future. Tell me, Merry, what would you do if someone came to you after a crop failure saying that he had nothing to feed his family with? Say that this crop failure had afflicted all of Buckland and that you couldn’t just hand him a sack of grain? Or if a young lad with a newborn baby came to you after losing his wife to an illness that claimed her life after a hard birth, begging for help with no family to turn to? Or what if the Bridge broke? These are decisions you more than likely will have to face one day.”

“But uncle, it isn’t likely that the Bridge will break, is it?” Pippin ventured a little worried, mostly for his the possibilities of Merry or his uncle facing that dilemma, not so much for the Bridge.

“It hasn’t so far and it has been standing for a good many years. But it has been a near thing a few times.” Saradoc said, softening a little. Merry was fidgeting and not meeting his gaze and Pippin was looking anxiously from uncle to cousin. “I’m sorry my lads but these are real dilemmas.”

“I would offer the farmer work,” Merry said quietly after thinking a little. “I’m sure there’s something he would be able to do so he could feed his family in some way, even if we’d have to get flour or grain from other parts of the Shire or even from the Outside. And I’d offer his family food from the Hall’s larders if he had to leave the farm for some reason.” Merry looked up, again daring to meet Saradoc’s gaze. Saradoc nodded approvingly. “And I’d find a mother with a wee one herself to help feed the baby until it was old enough to manage without if he didn’t have anyone in the family who could help.”

“Good,” Saradoc said. Merry had turned more and more confident as he spoke and looked Saradoc straight in the eye. The lad had a great and generous heart and a mind for knowing what people needed. Saradoc never doubted that Merry would be a very good Master but he was playing more than he was working and that needed to change now that he was the official heir and Merry needed to see the importance of that. Merry was always one to take on too much responsibility but lately he had been careless and thoughtless and got himself in more trouble than usual. It was a part of growing up and stretching his wings, Saradoc knew, but it was a side of his Merry he was not often used to see. Still, it looked like he had paid attention to his lessons “And what about the Bridge? What would you do if it broke?”

“Well, there is the Ferry, of course, but that would be a detour for those not really needing to go to the Marish or Woody End but only wanted to come to or travel from Buckland. And if the activity on the Ferry would increase too much then I suppose we*d have to build another Ferry or fuse one of the larger fishing boats to use as Ferry.”

“There should be a crossing down by Haysend,” Pippin said.

“That would definitely be a detour,” Merry retorted, smiling.

“It would,” Saradoc said. “But beyond Haysend is the Outside and that is why we have the Bounds.”

“We could build it on the inside, just north of where the Withywindle runs out in the Brandywine.” Pippin was bouncing by now. Why hadn’t someone thought about that before?

“I do not know if that is a good idea. Men and other creatures might find that too tempting I should think,” Saradoc said not wanting to tell any more in front of Pippin. He lad was still a child. “All right, lads. It’s getting cold. Why don’t we go inside again? We’ll continue the lesson later.”

“But it would be fun seeing Men,” Pippin said as they started walking. “Merry saw one once, and I know Frodo has too.”

“I know, Pip, but many of them are dangerous and we don’t know which ones. That is what the Rangers are helping us with.”

“Do they know the difference then?”

“Yes they do.”

Pippin didn’t want to leave the subject and continued asking questions about Men and the Old Forest and everything he could think of from the Outside. It was a sad thing indeed that Bilbo was not longer amongst them for he would have had more answers to Pippin’s questions than his uncle and cousin. The old Master had also been a good source for this kind of information, a good friend of Bilbo as he had been, but now he too was gone. Pippin hadn’t realised before now how sad that actually made him. Old Rory had been Merry’s grandfather and not someone Pippin knew all that well, but he was always friendly and patiently answered his questions if Pippin met him.

Pippin found the speech Uncle had held up on the Hill a bit strange though, why wouldn’t Merry appreciate Buckland? Pippin knew for a fact that Merry was very fond of Buckland, just as he was of Whitwell and the Tooklands.

“Da?” Merry said as they came to the orchards outside the Hall again. “I know that things have been going well while Grandda was Master, but what would happen if there was nothing we could do at the Hall for those needing our help? What if there was no food to give out or money or goods to pay for work with?”

“You daft Brandybuck!” Pippin said, elbowing Merry. “Have you completely forgot that there is more to the Shire than Buckland? What do you have cousins for, eh? You would have to ask the Thain of course. Or you could always come to the farm if you’re hungry.”

“Thank you, Pip. I knew I always could count on you. But what if you don’t have any food either? And the Thain’s larders are empty?”

“Merry! Don’t paint things darker than they need be. We have plenty of food and enough to feed you and dozens more.”

“Merry is right, though,” Saradoc said. “And there is no harm in being prepared if so should happen. There might come a time when all or the Shire is suffering from bad or failed crops. We never know that, but it is on those occasions that cousins and friends need each other the most and need to depend upon each other.”

“Do you think Da will be Thain, uncle?” Pippin suddenly asked. “Thain Ferumbras has said he wants Da to be Thain after him.”

“I do not know, but that is very likely, Pippin,” Saradoc said, wondering about how much to tell him.

“What is the use of us living on a farm then? Why do I have to learn all about farming if I am not to be a farmer anyway?”

“Knowing how to farm is very important, even for a Thain. I am a farmer too, Pippin. You know that.”

“Yes, but you don’t seem to do much actual farming,” Pippin said.

“He does,” Merry said. “I’ve been with him many times out in the fields or visiting farms talking to the people living at them. I suppose you were too little to remember, but when Da was younger and Grandda still functioning as Master Da used to help out in the fields just like everyone else. Now he supervises what’s going on but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t know how to do the job. You have to know what’s right to do if you are to lead others. And you have been here at harvest or planting to see enough of what is done and Da has always been in the thick of things.”

“Yes I have, and so will Merry one day and you too if Paladin becomes Thain and you after him. You have been helping out enough times to know that I have been there too, haven’t you?” Saradoc said gently while looking Pippin in the eye. “Or have you been too busy playing instead of working perhaps?”

“I don’t know, uncle. I help out in the fields, but Merry is so busy being with you and learning to do things all the time that I suppose I have spent more time wanting for him to come back than paying proper attention to what I have been doing.” Pippin bent his head, feeling ashamed.

Saradoc sighed. This was another conversation they had had before. Pippin was both jealous and angry at Merry for him having to learn so many things and help out all the time while he himself was considered too young. Saradoc had tried to remedy that but Pippin was still a child and had not the interest or the concentration to learn these things yet. It could be quite trying to teach Merry what he saw fitting that he learned, but Saradoc knew that deep down, Merry knew he didn’t have any other choice and that he had to learn these things if he were to succeed as Master one day. Saradoc knew and cherished that Merry showed both keen interest and talent for many of the things Saradoc taught him. And It could not be denied that Merry missed the carefree life Pippin still led. He knew Merry wanted to spend as much time with Pippin as possible, but Merry was growing up now, and the time for play and games would soon be over. Saradoc had after all been a lad himself and still remembered how nice it was to run through the fields or play with lads his own age instead of working. He was a grown hobbit with an almost grown son now but could still play a little, couldn’t he? After all, lads would always be lads, no matter what age they are and it didn’t hurt the Brandybucks to see their new Master smile and laugh and play with his lads. It would be a sign that life was back to normal now and although the grief still was tangible, he could not stop living when he had so much to still enjoy. He tapped Merry and Pippin on the shoulder and shouted “I’ll race you to the Hall. First one to reach the table gets the biggest slice of pie for dessert!”

Merry and Pippin hesitated for a split second trying to comprehend what had happened and ran after him.  “Do you think we’ll beat him?” Pippin panted, skirting through a corner as they entered the Hall after running through the orchards and over the courtyard, Saradoc still in front of them.

“I hope so!” Merry said. “We can’t have someone twice our age outrun us, now can we?”

As it turned out the match was even but Merry had barely sat down when Pippin drew out his chair to sit and Saradoc came into the room, all of them laughing and leaving residing hobbits and guests and servants in a state of half-shock. The talk would run high this night and many would wonder what had the Master come running laughing through the hallways chasing after his son and nephew. Saradoc decided to let them wonder.

Esmeralda was ready to scold when the trio burst into the Great Hall but thought better of it as all of them were laughing. When dinner was over and the dessert was served, Saradoc ceremoniously handed Merry his price and Merry accepted the large slice of pie with a wide grin before tucking in.

PART THREE:  Sons

The next morning dawned cold and sunny and the mist from the day before was gone. Pippin had wanted to get to the bottom of the issue of the potential crossing at Haysend and had demanded Merry's attention long into the night, something that left Merry yawning his way through first breakfast. Meticulous about making himself presentable Merry had also managed to arrive so late that it was only his obvious tiredness that prevented a scolding from Cook.

“You ought to sleep at night, Master Merry," Cook said and tsked at him while placing a generous helping of sausages, eggs and beacon on his plate and pouring tea in his mug.

"I'm sorry, but Pip kept me up all night talking,” Merry said, yawning hugely before tucking in.

“Well, he’s not the only one who’s been up all night,” Esmeralda said. “Sunshine gave birth to Dapple¨s foal last night."

“She did?” Merry looked up. Dapple was the pony the Brandybucks used to teach children to ride on and foal of the pony Dancer which Merry had learned to ride on when he was little. He was calm and steady and not afraid of anything. “How are they?”

“It was difficult,” Esmie said. “Your Da is in the stables still, but Harry was there all night and he saved them both. I really don’t know what we would do without him.” Esmie shook her head. The stable master was the best Buckland had seen in generations. “They came in about an hour ago to eat a bit after the colt was born but went out again to see to them. The poor thing came out with the legs first and she lost a lot of blood."

“I am sorry,” Merry said, shaking his own head. He loved ponies almost as much as he loved people and was always emotional when it came to the ponies he knew.

Esmeralda looked lovingly at her son. She knew what he was thinking about. "Why don't you go out to them when you are finished? You can take some second breakfast with you."

*****

In the stables Saradoc was sitting on a stool by Sunshine and her foal. It had been a long night but the foal was now asleep by his mother and they were both going to live. Saradoc looked up as Merry and Pippin entered. Being the Master was hard work, he knew that, and missing Rory didn't make things better. He had been so great with the ponies. Rory had always known how to handle a pony and what it needed. Saradoc thought Merry had inherited that and was suddenly very happy that he had Merry. He had someone who kept alive one of the things he loved so much about his father. He would concentrate on tutoring Merry now and teach him all the things that his own Da had taught him over the years. It was a comforting thought. Rory had been wise in many things beside how to handle ponies and Saradoc was looking forward to share the wisdom he in turn had gained with Merry, and perhaps they together could make things better for the people living in Buckland.

The talk they had had the previous day confirmed something Saradoc already knew: Merry had learned a great many things and already showed wisdom in his decisions and thoughts. His head was in the right place and he was always open to new knowledge. Saradoc sighed. Having the future to think about was a good thing - no matter how difficult the present was and his drifting thoughts came back to the present as Merry spoke.

“Da?”

"Oh. Good morning lads.”

“Mum said to come and see how you are doing and brought you this.” Merry held out the food package. "Do you need any help?"

“No thank you. There is nothing more to be done now but wait.”

Merry looked at the ponies. The colt looked to be well but Sunshine did not look all that good. "How are they?"

“The colt will be just fine, but I am worried about Sunshine. She should be up and attending to her foal, not just lie there," Saradoc said sadly and petted the mare.

“She will in a bit,” Harry said, coming up to stand behind Merry and Pippin at the entrance to Sunshine’s stall. “She is very tired now and need to rest.”

Saradoc rose. “Come on, lads. Let’s go outside for a while. Harry will care for Sunshine."

“Who will name the foal, Uncle?” Pippin asked as they came outside the stables. ”He needs a name.”

“That depends. It is usually the owner of the father who gives the foals names, but sometimes it is the stable master."

“But you own all the ponies here," Pippin said. "Then you get to name them."

“I do. But I rarely take the time to do it. I leave that to Harry." Saradoc smiled. Both lads had looked so sad a moment ago, but now Pippin was his usual cheerful self again, asking more questions than Saradoc knew the answers to. Merry still looked solemn but Saradoc knew he would brighten up soon enough. He just needed a bit of time.

“Will you name this one?”

“I don’t know. Do you have a suggestion?"

Pippin shook his head. “When was he born?"

“What do you mean?” Merry asked.

“I mean, if he was born just before dawn you could call him Dawn, but if he was born in the middle of the night he should have another name."

“Dawn is not a name for a colt, Pip," Merry said.

“He was born in the middle of the night,” Saradoc said amused. Pippin’s logic was never this... well, logical.

“You could call him Blacky."

“He’s brown!” Merry said. “You don’t call a brown pony black."

“He's not completely brown,” Pippin objected. “He has a white blaze. And two white socks.”

“We'll call him Blaze then," Saradoc said, raising his hands to stop the discussion. This could turn into a full-blown argument if he didn't rein the lads in before they took completely off. Merry and Pippin liked to argue about things like this but he had yet to see a lasting disagreement between them. They had had few quarrels and made up quickly because none of them could stand seeing the other one hurt or sad. “Let’s go see how things are going in the paddock, shall we? I am curious about how Ally is doing."

“Who’s Ally?” Pippin asked.

“Oh, it’s Da's new wonder. He is a golden pony that Da has been training for the Tunnelly's in Bucklebury."

“Why are you training him?" They had come to the paddock now and Pippin climbed up on the fence, his feet dangling.

“It’s for the Shire Races. Tom Tunnelly is determined to win this year and asked me to help him train his pony.”

“But you don’t do the training,” Pippin objected.

“No, but I have the best trainer in the Shire," Saradoc smiled.

“Everyone knows that the best ponies in the Shire come from Buckland, Pip. We breed and train the best ones," Merry stood beside Pippin, a hand at his back to steady him as Pippin continued to dangle his feet.

They stood watching the training for some time. Nibs, who was Buckland’s best pony trainer had saddled Ally and was about to take him out for a run when one of the stable lads came with three year-old foals in a row to let them run in the paddock for some time. Two were black with a white blaze and one was grey.

Pippin looked at the new arrivals for some time wondering. How could the trainer know which pony was best for the races? So he asked.

"Well," Saradoc said. Pippin lived at a farm so he would know about how new foals were born and how they were conceived. “First you have to have the right mare and the right stallion. You need to know what kind of racing pony you want. For racing you want a fast one, but he would also need to endure the race. It is not good if the pony is very fast but don't last until the race is finished. Then you need to think about the character of the pony. You do not want one that is shy with other ponies but not one that is so individualistic that he can't behave around others for that reason. You also need to think about how the pony is built. Is it tall and lean or little and round?"

“All racing ponies I have seen are lean,” Pippin said.

“Yes. Long legs and lean muscles are good when you want racing. Long, lean muscles means it races faster. Small ponies have to run more to cover the same distance as the larger ones.”

“What about Blaze. I think he would be a great racing pony,” Pippin said. “All good racing ponies I know are brown."

“But you don’t get to decide the colour of it.” Merry said as Pippin gave pouted.

Saradoc tried not to laugh. “No, that is the same with ponies as it is with hobbits. Children are usually a combination of the genes of their mother and father and resemble both.”

“But, Merry doesn’t look like a Took at all! And they say I don’t have any Banks in me."

“No he doesn’t.” Saradoc looked at his son. Merry looked Brandybuck through and through, mirroring himself and Merimac and his Grandda with the askew features, blue eyes and golden curls. People who didn’t know better often took Berilac and Merry for being brothers, even twins, but Saradoc had no problem seeing the difference in their looks. Merry was not as tall as Berilac, but he was thinner and there was something about the set of his eyes that was not quite as Brandybuck as Berilac was. "But he acts like one. And in that way he is Took."

“He does look like you though,” Pippin mused.

“Yes he does,” Saradoc agreed. "Just like you look like a proper Took." No-one was more Tookish than Pippin. The cinnamon-coloured curls, green eyes, the long, narrow nose, the freckles and the bowed mouth were all features that shouted Took. In fact, Saradoc thought, having blue eyes was just as sure a proof of having Brandybuck as the green eyes was of being Took. Almost no other hobbits had blue eyes. He looked to Merry. And almost no other hobbit has so fair curls either. There had been a comment or two about that over the years. Why did Merry have so fair curls? Most Brandybucks were sandy headed or golden haired, but Merry was uncommonly fair.

“Thank you for discussing me as if I was not here," Merry said and Pippin turned to embrace him. “The ponies too know that we are talking about them. See?” Merry nodded towards the paddock where the pony ears were tilted in their direction.

“I’m sorry, Mer.” Pippin said.

The three ponies in the paddock had started running now and were running in neat circles along the inside of the fence. The grey one was smaller than the other two and had to run faster to keep up.

“What do you suppose will become of them?” Merry asked. "And what about Blaze? What will he be?"

Saradoc looked at him. “What do you think? You have read enough about breeding and training ponies for your opinion to be heard."

“I think…” Merry looked at the ponies for some time. The black ones were brothers and the grey one was a mare. Both black ponies neighed and raced each other but the grey trotted steadily along not bothering about the others, just doing her thing. "The grey one should be a good riding pony. She is strong and her back is broad which means it will be good for Mum or some other lady with lots of skirts to ride on." Merry stopped talking and looked at Saradoc for approval or corrections.

Saradoc nodded. “You might be right about that. She is still young yet and has to show her true spirit, which I think she won’t as long as those two lads are with her. She is a little shy.”

“Yes. But those black ones are maybe a bit too high spirited to be racing ponies. They need more taming of course, and are also young."

“That is where I disagree with you,” Saradoc said. Merry had been right so far. "High spirits are good for racing. I thought you knew that?"

Merry shrugged. “I suppose. But too high spirits are not good."

“No that is true. And as you said, they are young still.”

“Blaze is another matter. Sunshine is high spirited but Dapple is slow and gentle as the day is long. Sunshine is a good riding pony and Dapple would work well in the fields if it wasn't for all the children needing to learn how to ride.” Merry said. “I don’t think Blaze won't be a racing pony though, Pip, even if he is brown. He looks too much like Dapple."

“By being brown?" Pippin asked.

“That too, but also by being small."

“It`s a baby pony. Of course it is small!” Pippin said. There were times Merry wasn't as bright as people would have him be.

“I know that. But his legs are short for a foal and his neck is not very long either." Merry retorted. Sometimes Pippin didn't think before talking.

“That is a good observation Merry. I think though, that we shall wait a year before we start thinking about his future and how he is to be trained.” Saradoc said.

Pippin was starting to fidget by now. Merry and his uncle had started discussing breeding now. Which mare to mate with which stallion? Would that one go with this or would that be too much spirits and too little gentleness? And what stallion would breed best plough ponies and cart ponies? And which ponies would represent the Hall in the Shire Races, except Ally of course? Soon the names of foals and sires and mares started spinning around in Pippin's head. This pony discussion had been interesting at first, and he liked watching the ponies run, but enough was enough. He sighed. The ponies were standing still in the middle of the paddock now, waiting for new orders. Pippin looked down at the sandy bottom of the paddock. Here and there a full footprint could be seen but most of it the prints were ruined by hundreds of hoof prints. He sighed again and wondered if discussions would be so boring when he grew up.

“Pip?” Merry grabbed his arm to steady him just as Pippin was about to fall of the fence in his restlessness.

“Can we go now, Merry? I am bored."

“Why don’t you run ahead and I`ll be in shortly?” Merry liked these talks with his Da and wanted to make the most of it. It was nice to feel his opinion being valued and heard and he was really interested in this pony breeding business. Saradoc was awfully busy and Merry felt it was important to treasure the moments they got alone together.

“All right," Pippin slid down from the fence and ran in the direction of the barn.

“That lad has too much energy,” Harry said, coming out of the stables to check on the ponies in the paddock.

“Yes he has. How is Sunshine?"

“She is getting better. She has woken up and is tending to her foal now, so I decided to leave them alone for a bit.”

“That sounds wise,” Saradoc said. “Oh, and we have a name for him. Pippin wanted to call him Blacky, but we settled on Blaze."

“A good name. We haven’t had that around here for some time now," Harry agreed. “You will write in the book then?” There was a book in the Master’s study containing the names and dates of birth of all ponies in Buckland with the names of the pony's sires going back through many generations. Ponies were after all almost as important as hobbits to a Bucklander.

“I will. In fact, I think we should go do that now, Merry-lad. And if I am not too mistaken there is a cousin who wants your company and he is a blaze of his own." Saradoc put his arm around Merry's shoulders and steered them towards the Hall, the both of them laughing.

Merry nodded. “Yes I think he got enough education on ponies and breeding to last him a lifetime today."

“Well, I hope it sits then because he will need it sooner or later.”

“I am sure it does. Pip is a fast learner when he pays attention."

“Just like you. And I am pleased with the attention you have been paying lately."

“Thanks, Da. I know how important this is to you and I want to learn what I can too,” Merry said, stopping to look his father in the eyes. “After all I will have to be Master after you and will have something to live up to.”

Saradoc smiled then and embraced him. “Thank you, Merry for being such a good lad."

Merry blushed. “Well I do suppose you know where I have it from?"

“I suppose I do,” Saradoc said and laughed.

--------------------------------------

A/N: Harry is my creation. He is stable master at Brandy Hall and appears in several of my stories. Any mistakes about the ponies and breeding are all mine. I really don’t know anything about those things.

Title: Accounted For
Author: Anso the Hobbit
Beta: Marigold
Characters: Merry, Pippin, Saradoc, various Brandybuck cousins
Timeline: Brandy Hall, SR 1408 so Merry is 26 and Pippin 18.
Note: This serves as chapter four in my series “Master in Training” which is a series of stand-alone ficlets about Merry’s training to become Master after his grandfather dies. Also written for Marigold’s Challenge 27 where I was to include the four elements air, fire, water and earth and also the time "study time".
Disclaimer: Not mine. They just own me.
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Merry rested his head in his hands and looked gloomily down at the sheet of paper in front of him. It was blank and he was at a loss on how to fill it. That is, it wasn't completely blank as there were lines going both vertically and horizontally across it to make columns and rows. The problem was that Merry didn't know how to fill in the numbers that were to go in them. He lifted his head and looked out the window for perhaps the hundredth time in the last hour. The sky was a clear, crisp blue and he could almost smell the spring air through the window.

Merry closed his eyes and fondly remembered how it was for the first time each year to walk on the sun-warmed earth and watch the gardeners work to help the first signs of spring to sprout. He remembered how the soil tickled his feet and how soft it felt after walking on frozen ground for months. He opened his eyes again and studied the garden outside his window. From his desk Merry could clearly see the lads who played on the lawn and he didn't need to open the window to hear their shouts and laughter or strain his eyes to find Pippin amongst them. The sun glinted in his coppery curls and Merry could clearly hear his laughter.

“Merry?” Merry hadn’t heard the door open and his da come in. "How are you getting on with those numbers?" Saradoc came over to the desk and looked down at the empty sheet and sighed. “Look at me Merry,” he said and went to stand in front of his son. Merry lifted his head and looked at him.

“Yes Da?”

“I know you find it hard to sit inside and work when the other lads are free to go outside, but I also know how important it is that you understand this. Some day you knowing how the accounts are done will make all the difference between a good and a bad decision and since you will be the one to decide what is to be done, you need to know enough about how the accounts are done to make a good and just decision."

“I'm sorry, Da, and I know how important it is. You have explained this to me before and you have been very helpful in making me understand it but I just can't grasp it when I'm on my own." Merry was actually quite good with numbers. He didn't have any problems when it came to the more elementary parts of mathematics and he liked keeping things in order and systematised, but these accounts got the better of him.

Saradoc sighed. He looked around the room and pulled a chair that stood in front of the fire up to Merry's desk. "All right, let's go over this one more time then. You know the difference between the rows and columns, right?"

Merry nodded. “Yes and I know which column is for debit and credit but what I find hard to understand is how to account for the value of the crops and livestock. It's sort of sad to think that I have to make numbers out of them when they have such a greater value.”

“I know how you love the animals Merry-lad, and I am very grateful for that. They are however part of what we own and to know what we have also makes us able to find out what we can or cannot do."

Merry was about to protest, but Saradoc held his hand up. “Don't. I know the animals have greater value than what we can put down in numbers, but they are still something we buy and sell. How else would we be the best pony-breeders in the Shire if we didn't know what the ponies are worth and what to pay or take for them?”

“You’re right," Merry said. "I shouldn't have complained."

“Don’t worry Merry. It’s all right to stop up and think about things before doing them. It means you’re thorough and I couldn’t wish for anything else. Now, let’s see about these figures, shall we?"

“Yes, Da.”

*****

“Pippin! You were supposed to catch that ball, now we're losing again," Berilac said and picked up the ball Pippin hadn't seen because he'd been lost in his thoughts.

“I'm sorry." Pippin found his place among the team again and tried to focus on the game they were playing.

“What’s wrong with you today?” Ilberic asked. "You usually love this game.”

“I know what’s wrong,” Doderic said. “It’s because Merry’s inside and studying and can’t play with us. He's the best player in the Hall and his team always wins. For my part I’d say I’m happy he’s stuck in that study because that gives the rest of us a chance to show what we're worth too."

“Dody!” Pippin said indignant on Merry's behalf. “You know that isn’t true. Merry is good at this, that is right, but he’s not mean. He doesn’t even always play team leader."

“No,” Ilberic agreed. "But if he's playing, he always decides who is on his team."

“That isn’t fair,” Pippin protested. “Merry’s not like that and you know it. Why are you so mean all of a sudden? Do you envy him sitting inside having to do accounts perhaps? I’m sure he’d love to trade with you.”

Ilberic laughed and went to his own spot on the field, but Pippin could see that he'd hit the nail square on the head. Ilby was envious of Merry's position at the Hall. Pippin also knew that there was something in what Ilberic said. Merry was usually the one who led a game and it had always been like that. He missed Merry being in charge and supposed the others did too. Merry was never mean or unfair when playing but Pippin supposed Merry wasn’t the best loser there was. He was a fair player and sometimes went quite far to get the best players on his team. Pippin however, wasn't very good at ball games but if Merry initiated a game he took Pippin on his team anyway.

He however was not envious of Merry being cooped up inside. Merry’s lessons had increased quite a lot after his grandda had died and Pippin had sometimes partaken in them but he'd had the choice to not do so when he wanted and that meant he could avoid boring accounting lessons when he wished to. He never got his head around numbers the way that Merry did.

When the game finished, and Pippin’s team did really lose, Pippin said no to another round and went to find Merry. Perhaps his cousin was finished by now, or at least would be allowed a break? It was one of the first really wonderful spring days and it was sad that Merry couldn't enjoy it. Pippin liked playing with the other lads and he had fun, but it was never really the same as when Merry was there.

He found Merry in the study he used when he had lessons indoors. He knocked softly on the door in case Merry was deep in concentration about something and wouldn't want to be disturbed, but when Merry said, "Come in." Pippin could clearly hear the relief in his voice.

“Hullo Pip,” Merry said, looking up from his papers. “Is the game over? I saw you playing through the window.”

“Yes."

“Don’t you want to play any more then?”

“No, we lost and you weren't there.” Pippin shuffled his feet a bit and cast his eyes down.

“I’m sorry you lost. You know I couldn’t be there, Pip.” Merry reached for Pippin’s hand to get his attention. When he did Merry smiled and squeezed Pippin’s hand reassuringly.

“I know, I’m sorry,” Pippin said, then brightened. "I thought I'd come save you."

“You did? That's wonderful!" Merry smiled. "I'm afraid Da won't release me until I am finished with this though." He sighed. "He has explained it to me several times but I still find it hard to get my head around.”

“I’m sorry about that, Mer.” Pippin came over to the desk and looked at the papers. His stomach rumbled. “Have you had elevenses yet?”

“No,” Merry shook his head. “I’m thirsty though so I wouldn‘t mind something to drink at least. Would you get us something? I’m sure Da won’t mind if we had elevenses together.”

“All right, what would you like?”

*****

A few minutes later Pippin was back with a tray laden with stewed apples-with-cinnamon, scones, honey butter, clotted cream, raspberry jam, a large pitcher of fizzy pear juice and tea. “It’s the last of the apples and Aunt Esmie is making apple pie for tea today. She said that you'd get the rest of the day off when you finish the accounts your working on." Pippin put the tray on Merry's desk and sat down in the chair his uncle had vacated earlier. "So you could keep an eye on me, she said! Stuff and nonsense! I don't need looking after."

“I'm sure she only meant that I should be able to spend time with you when you're here and not always be buried in books and papers."

“I suppose. It’s not fair that you have to spend so much time working.“ Pippin started buttering a scone.

“I know, Pip, and I’m sorry. You know why though, don’t you?" Merry poured himself some of the pear juice and drank it all in one go before refilling his own glass and pouring some for Pippin.

“Yes I do, and I shouldn’t complain about it but I can’t help wanting you to come play too.” He watched as Merry downed the second glass of juice. “You really were thirsty!"

“All these papers dry me out.” Merry said and attacked the apples. They ate in silence for a while before Pippin spoke up again.

“I know Father is buried in work with being Thain, and I suppose I will be when my time comes too, but I can't say it looks like he’s having fun."

“I’m sure he does have fun too, Pip, but work isn‘t supposed to be fun. It’s something we have to do. Da, and Grandda before him, always told me what would happen if we didn't look after Buckland and the Bucklanders as we should. I sometimes wish that I could do something else, but then I think of all the people who'd suffer if I didn't accept my responsibilities and then I find that I have no other choice but to learn what I can and help Da as much as possible."

“You can decide not to be Master, Merry, there’s lots of cousins who I’m sure would like to trade.” Pippin said.

“You really think so? Who would want that?”

“Well…” Pippin wasn’t sure if he wanted to tell Merry about the argument during the game earlier in the morning. “I’m not sure, but there’s many to choose from.”

“There’s lots of Tooks too, Pippin, but that isn’t really the point. Uncle Paladin and Da and you and I are destined to be Thain and Master because we're the first sons.”

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it when you're buried in books and studying.” Pippin pouted but when Merry sent him a stern look he stopped.

“I don’t always like it either and especially when I can see you playing just outside my window.”

“Well," Pippin said, when their plates were empty and the only thing left was half a pot of tea, "if anyone has to be Master I'm glad it's you. I'd much rather have it be you than anyone else."

“Even if I have to study a lot and not always have time to be with you as much as we both want?" Merry raised his eyebrows and looked at Pippin.

“Yes.”

“Thank you, Pip. I am very glad to hear that. I don't always find it easy to watch you have your lessons when I am visiting either but it helps that Uncle Paladin often finds me something to do so I can work with you or help you."

“I’m glad he does, and I'm happy to be of help here too Merry, but on days like today I'd rather be outside enjoying myself."

Pippin rose and lifted the tray from the desk. "Do you think we could take your boat out for a trip later today?"

“I would love that, but I’d better get on with this then if I am to finish before it gets dark. We should make the boat ready for the season anyway."

Pippin turned to leave, but Merry spoke up just as he was about to open the door. “Pip? Thanks for making my day brighter. Now I have something nice to look forward to later today.”

“You’re welcome,” Pippin said and smiled brightly. “That’s what friends are for.”

END