Rising Waters

44. Rising Waters

A quiet knock sounded at the study door and then Pippin entered, a far cry from the half-drowned hobbit who had blown through the front entrance of the Hall a scant twenty minutes earlier. He was clad in fresh, dry clothing, though his hair was still wet and his face was still strained.

The Master nodded from the desk as the Steward rose to greet him and pour him a glass of brandy. The hobbit looked as if he could use it.

'How bad is it out there?' Saradoc asked.

'It's blowing fit for a hurricane,' Pippin answered soberly. 'Many trees are down – we'll lose more before the storm is out, I venture – and the River is continuing to rise.'

'Where is Meriadoc?'

'He came in with me... He just wanted to look in on Estella before we go out again.'

Carodoc asked, 'How far did you ride?'

Pippin grimaced. 'We turned around at Brandywine Bridge. Tomorrow, Merry wants to ride along the other side of the River, all the way down to Deephallow – if the road hasn't washed out by then. The western bank down there is lower than our side.' He took a deep breath and ran his hand over his head, then looked from Master to Steward and added, 'If this rain keeps up as it started, we're going to need to get more hobbits in the Marish to turn out with sandbags.'

'How close are the fields in the Marish to flooding?' Saradoc questioned.

The young assistant to the Steward shook his head, staring into space, obviously viewing in his mind's eye the landscape he'd spent hours already this day surveying and assessing. At last he nodded to himself, looked up to meet his uncle's steady gaze, and said, 'Closer than I want to think about.'

'And our side?' the Master persisted.

'Our bank is a little higher, but it wouldn't hurt to have sandbags in place, and a plentiful stock of bags filled and held ready in reserve.'

At that point, Merry entered, moving more slowly than his usual brisk manner. His curls were damp and tousled, and he'd obviously dressed in haste in the dry clothing he wore now. Saradoc, who'd been informed of his son's drowned-rat appearance upon arriving back at the Hall, rose to pour Merry a glass of brandy, which he took with thanks as he eased himself wearily into a chair.

'Are you all right, Son?'

Merry smiled and waved a nonchalant hand, though the effect was rather spoiled by the yawn he stifled afterwards. 'Oh, I'm fine, just glad to be out of that wind and rain.'

Saradoc moved back to his desk and sat down, continuing to scrutinise his son.

Pippin laughed as if to divert Saradoc's attention and concern from Merry. When the others looked at him, he shrugged and said, 'It seems a pity to put on dry clothes only to wet them!'

'You're going out again?' Carodoc questioned, rising from his chair, his concern plain on his face.

'Yes,' Pippin answered. 'I thought – Merry and I thought we ought to check the banks all the way down to Standelf, and let the hobbits there know the situation upriver.'

'How's the Bridge holding up?' the Steward asked.

Merry shook his head and lifted a hand to rub at his eyes. 'There are some big trees and other flotsam coming down the River, fetching up against the Bridge. If too much piles up there, it could form a natural dam, and if the Bridge gives way...'

'There could be a flash flood that would make all floods of the past seem mere trickles by comparison.' Pippin finished his cousin's thought to spare Merry the reminder of another dam that had given way in the past. He waved Carodoc to be seated again, for there was really nothing more the Steward could do about the situation than everyone was already doing. 

'And so...?' Carodoc said, even as he sat down again.

Pippin took another gulp from his glass and answered, 'We've set some crews to work, trying to chop up the wood pressing against the Bridge, pull the dam apart as fast as it forms.'

'Dangerous.'

'Yes,' Merry agreed, 'It is difficult, dangerous work.'

'All the workers are volunteers,' Pippin put in. 'They know how high the stakes are for their families... as well as everyone else in Buckland and the Marish.'

Merry continued, 'But hopefully their efforts will save us all some danger down the road.' He drained his glass and stood. 'I want to get going, Pippin. I've been dry all of twenty minutes and I don't want to get too used to it.'

'What about—?' his father started to ask.

'We'll go out by way of the kitchens and grab a bite to eat to take with us.' Worry and impatience had chased away Merry's fatigue and straightened his stance. 'I don't want to wait,' he said, holding up a staying hand to avoid any argument on the part of the Master or Steward. 'I think the hobbits down at Standelf should be informed as soon as possible regarding what's happening upriver; we need to warn them to pull out of the lower lying homes.'

Pippin stood up and swallowed the last of the brandy in his glass. 'If they're wise they're already laying sandbags,' he said.

Merry caught his cousin's eye. 'I'll meet you by the stables,' he said. 'I just want to check with Merimac to see how we're doing with making up sandbags of our own here at the Hall.'

Saradoc stood up from his chair. 'Come back safe,' he said to son and nephew. As if they might have some choice in the matter! Still, he felt compelled to speak the blessing over them, offering what protection he could, little as it might be. 

Pippin grinned – or tried to – and lifted a hand in farewell, and Merry nodded to the Master and Steward. And then they were gone.

Saradoc sat heavily back down at his desk. 'I'm glad we have those two.'

Carodoc nodded. 'Peregrin will turn out to be a fine Steward for your son, I'm thinking.'

The Master shook his head. 'It is such a waste.' He looked up at his Steward's protest. 'I'm not denying that that Hall and Buckland have gained a great asset. It's Tookland's loss; the Thain was a fool to throw his son away as he did.' He pushed at the letter resting on his desk, that he'd been reading when Pippin had knocked a few moments earlier. 'It's starting to look as if the Thain is realizing the fact.'

'Another letter?'

'Yes – in this one, he's asking Peregrin to consider making a visit to the Great Smials.' The Master of Brandy Hall shook his head, thinking of the dear friend he'd once known so well, and the ruin the Thainship had made of the simple farmer. He drew a deep breath and concluded sadly, 'Though he became infamous for his saving ways when they foisted the Thainship on him, in this case, I think he's wasting the ink.'

***

Diamond set her tray down on the table by the bed and turned to help Estella sit up. 'There,' she said, 'all comfortable, I hope? I've brought you some nice custard.'

Estella said miserably, 'I don't want any nice custard.'

'You've got to try to keep something on your stomach, now, for the little one's sake if not your own. Your husband's worried about you.'

'Ah, so my beloved is the one who put you up to this! How cruel he has turned out to be! Torturing a poor sick lass with food! And worse, food that sends its aroma into the air so that you cannot get away from it, even if you close your eyes!' Her face twisted and she put her hand to her mouth.

'There's no such thing as food that has no smell. Why, it would have no taste, and what would be the point in eating it?'

'Don't change the subject!' Estella snapped.

'Who's changing the subject?' Diamond said, unruffled, then began to coax again. 'Come, now, old Ossilan says you'll feel better if you'll just eat something.'

'Mayhap, if I could keep it down. It feels better when I don't eat.'

Diamond tried another tack, rather like one of the little sailboats the Brandybucks were fond of using to sail upon the River on days when the wind was brisk but not dangerously high. Pippin, of all hobbits, had explained the basics of sailing to her, though she had no intention of trying the pastime for herself and had only reluctantly gone out onto the water with him once. And never again, she hoped. Forcing a bright tone, she said, 'Pansy says she always feels better if she keeps nibbling on cheese or hard-cooked eggs or meat. Does any of that sound appealing?'

'Nothing sounds appealing!' Estella wailed. But Diamond stared her down until she relented. '...oh, all right, I will try to nibble on some cheese. Me and the other mice...'

***

The situation at Standelf was not as dire as the Master's son and the Steward's assistant had feared. Though the River was high – nearly to the top of the bank – the hobbits there had been laying sandbags since the previous day and had put up a wall as high as Pippin's head and three sandbags deep.

'We're trying to make it five deep, but the lads are tired and I'm afraid we'll be running short of sand before we're through!' the local Shirriff shouted to be heard over the howling of the wind.

'What about the houses on that lower ground, there?' Pippin shouted back, pointing.

'We've already cleared them out, and moved as many possessions as we could to buildings above the highwater mark for the last hundred year flood.'

'Good!' Merry shouted. 'You look to be ahead of the game.'

The Shirriff pressed them to rest a bit, but the cousins paused only long enough to gulp down a hot drink before turning back to the Hall.

***

The next morning, the wind still rattled the windows and roared in the chimneys. Merry rose early, trying to slip quietly from the bed so as not to disturb Estella. The slight movement jarred her, and she began to retch. He tendered a bowl and rubbed her back, miserable that he was so helpless to do more. When the fit had eased, he shoved the bowl aside and hugged her gently.

She smiled wanly up at him. 'Are you off again so soon?'

'I wish I could stay,' he said sincerely.

'No,' she said, bracing a hand on his chest and weakly pushing him away. 'You go and do your duty.' She tried to smile as she added, 'Hobbits have been having wee hobbits for more years than you can count, even if you used all your fingers and toes!'

He smiled and stroked her hair. 'Try to eat something. For me, if not for your own sake.'

Estella huffed. 'You're as bad as Diamond! She's always nagging at your cousin to eat...' she grumbled, then gave him a push. 'Go on with you. The sooner you're gone, the sooner you'll be back, hopefully.' Her eyes narrowed in thought. 'Can't you cut some miles off the travel by using the Ferry?'

Merry shook his head. 'We chained up the Ferry. It's too dangerous for anyone to use right now, even the intrepid—'

'Foolish?' she interrupted. 

'—Brandybucks,' Merry finished determinedly, and added, 'We won't be back until teatime, probably.'

She scrunched up her face. 'Don't mention food!'

Merry tenderly kissed his beloved's forehead and rose from the bed. 'Go back to sleep,' he said. 'It's early yet.'

'Hurry home!'

'I will,' he promised.

***

On the way back from Deephallow, the cousins reined up to gaze in dismay at the River overlapping part of the road they were travelling.

'What happened to the bank?' Pippin shouted to Merry, ducking as the wind blew a bucket of rain directly into his face.

'It's gone; don't know if it's washed away or just underwater!' Merry shouted back. 'Come on, we had better press on before the River washes out the entire road!'

The ponies tossed their heads nervously as another gust of wind blew their riders' cloaks about. Merry patted Jewel as they began to move out. Suddenly, the pony snorted in alarm and half-reared. Merry clung to the pony's back, even as he tried to make sense of what was happening.

Pippin watched in horror as the road gave way beneath his beloved cousin. 'Merry!' he shouted as Jewel gathered himself for a desperate leap in an attempt to gain safe footing. The pony launched himself forward in a wide jump, but even as he landed, the road continued to crumble under his forefeet, causing him to scramble frantically as he inexorably slid with his rider into the fast current.

Even as the River claimed them, Merry felt Jewel struggling beneath him and realized his weight was hampering the pony. There was nothing for it – he slipped from the saddle into the churning waters and made a wild grab for the long tail as the racing floodwaters carried them away.

Pippin's heart was in his throat as he saw Merry slide from the pony's back until he realized what his cousin intended. He kneed Socks away from the collapsing road and onto safer ground, his eyes following the pair downriver. 'Go Socks go!' he shouted, driving his heels into the stallion's sides. As if he were in a race – and it was a race, Pippin thought much later, long after he'd stopped shaking from the cold rain and near disaster, a race for Merry's very life – the smoke-coloured pony galloped along the grassy verge at top speed to catch up with the pony and rider  being borne along. They then galloped alongside, Pippin shouting encouragement to the struggling flame-coloured pony, until they reached a place where Jewel could mount the bank. 

Once his rider signalled him to stop, the grey pony lowered his head and stood, flanks heaving as Pippin threw himself from Socks's back and grabbed at Jewel's trailing reins. Slithering away from the rampaging current just beyond them, the younger cousin fell backwards on the slippery bank even as he kept pulling with all his might to help Jewel gain his footing. Once on solid ground, the pony shook the river-water from his sopping coat and stood shivering, while Pippin rolled to his feet and scrambled forward to give Merry a hand up the bank.

When Pippin thought they were far enough from the raging waters to escape any further collapses of the bank, he stopped pulling at Merry's arm 'That was close!' he panted.

'Close only counts in horseshoes,' Merry gasped, raising his face to the sky and gulping large breaths of air – and rain. He lowered his chin to level a grateful look at Pippin and then slapped his cousin's back. 'Oh well! I don't think I can get any wetter!'

'P'rhaps if you were to try a little harder!' Pippin shouted.

'I'd have to practise!' Merry bellowed in return. 'And you know I'm much too lazy for that!' He took Jewel's reins from Pippin and walk backwards a few steps, scrutinising the pony's steps as best he could with the wind buffeting them and the rain pouring down. At last he nodded and moved to the pony's side.

Pippin mounted Socks at the same time, and together, they turned their ponies' heads in the direction they'd been going when the near-disaster had occurred.

They were able to borrow dry clothes for Merry in Rushy, then pressed their ponies towards the Bridge. When they reached that point, they found a large body of hobbits – all volunteers, as Pippin had told the Master and Steward – working desperately to keep the snags from building up.

While Pippin carried on a shouted conversation with the forehobbit, Merry consulted with the guards at the North Gate. 'I don't like the looks of things,' he said. 'If a snag upriver gives way, those hobbits on the Bridge won't stand a chance.'

'What do we do then?' Hob Hayward asked. 'This is worse than any flood I've ever seen, and I've seen a few! I'm open to suggestions.'

Merry thought quickly, then nodded. 'Send some hobbits upstream, tell them to plant themselves on high ground overlooking the River. If they see a flood come down they can sound the Horn-call of Buckland; at least the hobbits on the Bridge will have a little warning to jump free.'

'I'll get right on it,' Hob said, clapping his soaking hat with its bedraggled feather back onto his head and exiting the guard house, nodding to Pippin who had gathered what scraps of information he could, under the circumstances. Pippin gratefully accepted the steaming cup Merry held out in greeting.

As Pippin finished his hot drink, Merry touched his arm. 'We'd better get going.'

'Oh, aye,' the younger cousin drawled, rolling his eyes. 'No rest for the weary.'

Merry paused at the door and stared out through the pouring rain. The Brandywine Bridge was barely visible through the deluge. 'What'll we do if it goes?'

Pippin smiled without humour. 'Have you ever considered running a toll ferry?'

Merry shook his head. In silence, they returned to their ponies for the wet ride back to the Hall.

They rode in a little late for teatime; the washout had set them back somewhat. As they entered the Hall, Merry said to Pippin, 'As soon as you've kissed your wife, get some fresh ponies saddled; I don't want to push Jewel and Socks any further today. They've done their bit.'

'Given their all, you mean?' Pippin said. 'I'll be surprised if Jewel isn't lame in the morning after what he's been through today...'

Diamond met them just inside the entrance, but she did not smile at Pippin's greeting, and as Merry turned away to give the couple some space to exchange a few private words, she caught at his arm.

'You can't go out again!' Diamond protested.

'What is it?' Merry asked. 'What's the matter?' Wearily, he could think of any number of things that might've gone wrong when they'd been gone. His father... had the emergency strained Saradoc's heart?

Diamond held tight to Merry's arm and spoke, but her eyes were locked with Pippin's. 'Merry, Estella needs you.' As she turned then to Merry, he saw to his consternation that her eyes were red and swollen.

Pippin had also seen Diamond's distress, and he slipped his arm around her waist. 'What is it, love?' he whispered.

'What is it? What has happened?' Merry echoed, fear seizing his heart.

'Oh, Merry, I'm so sorry...' Diamond broke off with a sob. Pippin's arm tightened around her. 'I'm afraid... she's losing the child. Ossilan says...' 

But Merry did not wait to hear more – he was off, his long strides rapidly carrying him to his waiting wife.

'Is Ossilan sure about this?' Pippin asked Diamond. She sobbed again in answer and buried her face in his shoulder, heedless of his sopping cloak and drenched clothes. 

Reeling at the bad news piled atop the unfolding disaster, Pippin held Diamond tightly to him for a moment, then put her away from him, looking earnestly into her eyes. 'Can you find Merimas for me? Tell him to dress for riding and meet me at the stables.'

'Must you go out again?' Diamond whispered, gulping back her sobs and dashing away the tears.

He nodded. 'The River is over the bank at Deephallow; the road has washed away a little to the north of there – and the water is still rising.'

'Won't the flooding on the western side give us some relief here?'

'Perhaps. But not enough, I fear. We've warned everyone from the Bridge to the Hall,' he drooped as weariness tried to claim him, straightened again and determinedly shook off exhaustion, and said, 'We just need to ride down to Standelf... and then I'll be back to join the sandbag crews here.' He kissed Diamond's forehead. 'I'm sorry love. I promise to do my best to stay safe... but at this point, I'm not sure if anyone's safe.'

'Of course you must go,' she whispered.

Pippin buried his face in her curls and drew as deep a breath as his lungs would allow, taking comfort and strength from her presence.

And then he put her back from him, looked for a long moment into her face, and was off again.

***

Merry found Ossilan exiting their rooms. The healer greeted him with relief.

'How is she?'

'I'm sorry, lad. I've done all I can do.' At the young master's gasp, the old healer placed a reassuring hand on his arm. 'Estella will be fine... At least,' he said honestly, 'I hope she will be fine. She's a good, strong lass. I gave her something to help her sleep. What she needs most right now is rest and comfort.'

Merry nodded and entered the room. 

Estella lay curled on her side in the big bed. He shed his dripping things, slipped on dry clothes, and sat down tentatively by her. She awakened with a whimper, and he gathered her into his arms, murmuring broken words of comfort as they wept together.

***