Another piece of good has come from the troubles. Facing the prospect of losing his son, Ferdinand has been persuaded to recognize Rosemary and thus gains back his daughter. God writes straight with crooked lines.
So Merry is instrumental in helping find Twig (and Pippin's reaction is about what I expected). But, you have not made it simple after all. I wonder if the farm Mum had the thought that the boy's diggings would make a good escape hole if need came? Not much is coincidence in Tolkien's world. I'm going to hope that all have escaped the ruffians, and the bloody bits of creatures strewn around the farmyard are nothing more than some unfortunate chickens. If everyone stays quiet and safe, hiding in the hole, it's likely Merry, Pippin and Rudi will come and go without ever knowing that Estella and the rest are just over the next hill, and the reunion will be put off for a while longer. The anxiety is certainly heightened for family and friends by the evidence of her drawing that Stell was present at the farmhouse that very day. Certainly this experience will convince Stell that it's not safe enough to try to come home yet. The searchers are one step behind at every turn. But the farmer's famly will have to go somewhere, and they will have to leave word with someone, so that Da can find them when he finishes "ruffian duty," or perhaps he knows where they are likely to end up - isn't he fighting with Pippin's troop? He'll have to be told about the destruction of his hole, but the trail to Estella is not cold yet. |
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