Oh, this is just delightful! The characterizations are perfect, and the mood is very believeable.
"We’ll be setting a watch..." began the Man.
"Setting a what?" Pippin asked him.
"A watch."
"Do you have one in your pocket?" Pippin asked. "Frodo didn’t bring his, you see, but sometimes he’d have to set it."
Oh man. Poor Aragorn! :)
"But how does the one who stayed up first know it’s been about three hours if he doesn’t have a watch? Now, my Cousin Bard has a watch--well, he’s
my third cousin, actually, for he’s----"
"Pippin! He’s a Man--they don’t care what degree of cousin you are to a cousin he’s not even met! Honestly!" Merry’s voice was becoming very annoyed.
"You’ll have to pardon him, Mr. Strider," he explained, apparently deciding the honorific was necessary to counter the bother Pippin must be becoming.
"He’s overtired and nervous and hungry, for he’s not had more than one proper meal today and he’s not certain how to deal with it all. And then, to be
traveling with a Man, and one who speaks as little as you do, and to have worried over whether or not those Black Riders are maybe coming after us--well,
anyway, put all that together and he’ll start blathering."
"I do not blather, Meriadoc Brandybuck!"
"You most certainly do, Pippin, and you’re blathering right now."
"I do not! Take it back!"
*laughing* Oh dear, one overtired Hobbit, and Pippin at that, and another who is annoyed. Not good!
"Pippin! Merry! That’s enough, do you hear? Be quiet and let Strider talk, and listen to what he says, for he knows what he’s talking about. And
stop talking so much anyway--I have a headache." Frodo’s voice was pitched softly, but nevertheless carried sufficient authority that both his companions
immediately complied.
The Man felt his lip twitch, and he knew a moment’s admiration for his primary charge. Well, Bilbo had told him Frodo Baggins had a very natural
authority to him--a couple times during the day’s stops he’d looked at Strider himself and said something along the lines of "Will you please get me five
sausages from the roll Sam’s carrying?" and he’d automatically complied. Obviously he was as vulnerable to that natural authority as these three.
Ah, yes, this is Frodo's way. And of course that authority would impress all, even Aragorn, who has just as much himself.
"Tonight it’s going to be between you, Merry, or Samwise, for I’ve had no sleep for three nights already, and your Master had less than an hour last
night."
"He’s not our Master--he’s our cousin. He’s Merry’s first cousin once removed and my second cousin once removed----"
"Pippin." Frodo’s tone was enough to restore quiet.
*giggles*
"I’ll go first," Pippin sighed. "I know how to tell now, and I’m already awake anyway."
"But you’re tired."
"And you aren’t? And I bet Sam’s even more so, for he’s been carrying the heaviest pack of all--probably has lots of things Frodo didn’t think he’d
need that Sam knew he would anyway, just as he always does when we go for a tramp."
Aww! That's our Pippin. :)
tin plates and spoons and mugs washed, and at a look from Frodo the other three Hobbits slipped into their bedrolls. Strider came over to check them out,
and could see a line was visible between Frodo’s brows even in the dim light of the stars and the small fire. "Your head still aches?" the Man asked softly.
"Yes, really."
"I’ll prepare a draught for it," Strider offered, and immediately returned to the fire. Merry had brought some more fuel earlier and set it to hand,
so it took little enough to stir up the blaze a bit and set a pan of water over it.
Merry, he realized, was sitting up on his elbow watching. "You know about draughts?" the Hobbit asked in a low voice.
"Anyone who must spend as much time in the wild as I do had best know something about at least simple draughts," Strider replied. He found his satchel
where Frodo and Sam had set it while unloading the pony, and opened it to remove a smaller red bag with an elaborate knot about its throat. In moments
he’d found the willow bark, slippery elm, and chamomile and had measured out what he believed was needed into his palm and poured them into a clean bit
of cheesecloth he’d also brought out of the red bag. Then he restored all else and set the red bag aside, bringing the twist of cheesecloth and a cup back
to the fire to wait on the water to boil.
Pippin was watching him curiously. "You carry healing herbs with you?" At the Man’s nod he continued in a whisper, "Merry will be interested for
he’s always liked puttering about with herbs, and Sam will be interested because he’s a gardener and just loves plants, and Frodo will be interested just
because he’s interested in about everything."
"I see."
After a moment’s silence Pippin asked, "Since getting supper took so long, shouldn’t I watch a bit longer than when Ancalimaë reaches the tree?"
The Man felt himself smiling. "If you wish, but not far beyond it."
He saw the small nod of understanding.
Once the water was boiling and he’d poured it into the mug, he dipped the twist of fabric carrying the herbs into it until he felt it had steeped
enough, then crossed quietly to where Frodo lay. The taller Hobbit sat up and accepted the warm mug, and made a face as he drank the draught. "We have
no honey, apparently," he sighed.
"I’m sorry, but I’d thought to save what I purchased in Bree in case it was needed for wounds, what we don’t use in our meals. I hope you can bring
yourself to drink it all. You’ll sleep the better if you’re not in pain."
Aha! Aragorn as the healer already. Lovely! And Pippin shows his caring, even while talking too much. :)
Frodo had bested a barrow wight!
Yes, no wonder he had a headache.
"Mister Strider--it’s time as----"
It was as well the gardener had spoken before he touched the Ranger’s shoulder, for the Man was instantly upright, half on his knees, knifeblade
ready for instant defense.
At last we see what happens when someone is unaware of that instant reaction and tries to wake Aragorn! Poor Sam--that would scare me to death!
the Ranger made a startling realization--there was no real sound there other than the rub of one trouser leg on the other. He took a deep breath. "Oh,
I see. It’s to be like traveling with Elves."
This interests me, for some reason. Is there a story behind this--of an Elf almost being scewered? :)
He smiled as he accepted a plate of the breakfast Sam had prepared before he’d awakened the others. It appeared he would be properly fed along the
way, although he was certain the Hobbits would be complaining about no elevenses soon enough; and he was certain to learn a good deal more about Hobbits
in general before they reached Rivendell. He set himself to enjoy the meal, anticipating the most diverting journey through the wild he’d had since he
himself was young.
Oh yes, it will be quite diverting. :) He has no idea. :) I love this! Just what I wanted to read right now, and very refreshing after a prolonged battle with one dead and one messed-up notetaker that's going to drive me out of my mind before it's over with! :( Thanks so much, Larner! :)
God bless,
Galadriel
Author's reply
I know I have a tendency to talk too much when nervous and tired, and it's even more pronounced in the Kid; that Pippin would show this tendency just seemed natural--but it does allow Strider to learn a good deal of information he'd probably not otherwise know.
Yet Pippin is still showing promise of the wise leader he'll be when he's Thain, as well as showing the reasoning for which Aragorn chose to make him one of his personal advisors.
Each of the four Hobbits is showing his personal strengths at this time, and Aragorn is beginning to appreciate just what they are capable of. It's too bad the entire journey couldn't have been so pleasant, and that the diversions offered along the way should prove so potentially deadly.
But the Hobbits are learning also, and are coming to fully appreciate that this ISN'T another Hobbit walking party.
As for traveling with Elves, I was thinking more of the fact that when doing so, as opposed to traveling with other Men, Aragorn would again not have the vibration of footsteps to awaken him, and they'd probably have worked out a different system to let him know it was his turn to waken. I suspect any Elf finding Aragorn's knife aimed at him would probably have his own blade out to counter it before Aragorn was quite awake.