Pippin slept fitfully. Legolas shifted. Aragorn and Merry had been in the room some time now. Or at least it seemed so to the worried elf prince. He was about to rise to check on Merry, when the door opened and Elessar himself walked out. The king looked very worn. He also had an odd expression of puzzlement and relief on his drawn features.
"What is wrong, Elessar?" the elf asked in Sindarin.
The king answered in the same language. "Nothing. That is what is amazing. Nothing is wrong with the Hobbit. He has very few bruises, is very weary and has a minor, clean break in his left arm, but other than that he is unharmed."
"A miracle." Legolas whispered in awe.
"Yes. I...I can’t explain it. I don’t know how. He should have been dead. Wake Pippin and send him in."
Legolas needn’t wake Pippin, for the tween had been listening intently during the whole conversation. "What..what’s wrong with Mer? Is...he...um... And why were you speaking in Elvish? You have to tell me. I don’t care how bad it is, I just want to know."
Aragorn smiled as he knelt down to Pippin’s level. "Your cousin is perfectly alright."
Pippin could hardly believe it. "What do you mean? He’s not even hurt a little bit?"
"I think he may be sore for a few days. He broke his arm, but the break was very small and should heal quickly. He is also very weak from being exposed to the cold and the rain unprotected."
Pippin still couldn’t grasp it. "But how? He...they said he fell at least ten feet. And I know that’s true because each wall is ten feet high. How could Merry have come out perfectly fine? Are you just telling me this..."
Aragorn held up a hand. "Nay, Pippin. I am not lying. The only thing I can think of that saved your cousin was the Hand of Iluvatar. Why don’t you see Merry for yourself?"
Pippin found Merry lying on a bed. He was covered in warm blankets and seemed to be sleeping. A little colour had returned to his cheeks. As Pippin approached, Merry opened his eyes.
"Hullo, Pip." He rasped.
Pippin fell to his knees at Merry’s cot and took his cousin’s hand. "Mer, you had me very worried. Don’t ever, ever do that again! Please! Oh Merry! You’re alright."
"Well...my whole body aches and I feel cold and my head hurts. And I’m starved."
Pippin laughed. "I’ll see about that, Merry dear. Just you wait." As Pippin rose to leave, Merry grabbed his hand.
"Wait! Where are Frodo and Halmir?" Merry asked. Pippin’s face fell, and Merry’s heart with it. "They don’t know, do they? They don’t know I’m alright. I have to go to them!" Merry made to rise, but Aragorn was at his side in an instant.
"No, Merry. Stay here with Pippin. I will personally tell Frodo the news. You must stay here until tomorrow morning. I want to make absolutely sure that there is nothing wrong. I will return tomorrow." Aragorn left the Houses of Healing and made his way to the Guest house.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Miriel needed some tea herself. She crept out of Halmir’s room and made her way down the hallway. As she passed Frodo’s room, she heard a cry followed by heart breaking sobs. She peeked her head in.
Sam was now on the bed with Frodo, cradling Frodo’s thrashing head against his body. "Frodo, dear. It’s only a dream. Please wake up. Please. Your Sam’s here."
This seemed to calm Frodo, for he stopped his sobbing and seemed to wake up. At first the blue eyes darted about the room. And then he looked Sam right in the face and whispered, "I killed him, Sam. Merry is dead because of me. Dead." Sam started to protest, but Frodo continued, "No. Don’t say it, Sam. You weren’t there. It was my idea to go out without a guide. I got lost. I lost track of the time. And I should have known that wall...it was...everything in this city is unstable...and...he...died!" Frodo clutched at Sam’s shirt, burying his tear washed face into Sam’s comforting embrace.
"But, Mr. Frodo, he’s not dead." Sam whispered. Frodo gradually stopped weeping as the words sunk in. Not dead?
"Impossible. He...Halmir and I saw him. I held him in my arms. He...are you sure?"
Now Sam had tears tracking down his cheeks as well. "Yes, as sure as I’m here right now. Lord Strider, he and Legolas and Gimli and Lord Gandalf and Pippin and me found you three in that house a couple of hours ago. Lord Strider said that Merry ain’t dead! He took him to the Houses of Healing."
Frodo was very quiet and still for a long time. "Is he that bad then?"
"We don’t know, yet. We’ll find out soon enough."
"Oh Sam!" Frodo cried. He embraced his brother in tears of joy. Merry was not dead! Frodo thought he would burst from the sheer ecstasy that filled his heart. Miriel crept in and waited until Frodo noticed her. He bowed his head. "Miriel. I ought to thank you, for taking care of me. And how is Halmir?" Frodo barely finished before a huge yawn took him.
"You need not thank me, Frodo. Sam and Halmir did the most for you. I just put Halmir to bed. The poor lad..." Miriel caught herself before she could say how he was so disturbed about the events of the day. She quickly covered up her slip of the tongue. "..he’s so tired after being up so long."
Nonetheless, Frodo had a feeling that Halmir had had a rough time of this whole ordeal. But he let it pass for the moment for Miriel continued.
"Frodo, I think you need your rest. The king ordered it, sir. I must say you’ve been through a lot and being out in the rain and cold in such a state has left you with a fever and chills. I was just making myself some tea, and I’ll make some for you and Sam, if it would please you."
"It would please us, thank you. And I’ll help you with it." Sam said. He stopped Frodo from rising. "You stay and rest, Mr. Frodo. Miriel’s right. And she’s a trained healer, so you’d best mind her." Sam hurried away after the young healer, trying desperately to hide a smile. Mr. Frodo always looked so comical when he got flustered! His jaw would set and he pursed his lips. He would glare at whoever was the offender and flare his nostrils, looking like he desperately wanted to say something but just couldn’t get his mouth to work. Then a racking cough sounded from down the hall that stopped Sam dead in his tracks. It was the first time Frodo had coughed, but he knew that it wouldn’t be the last.
When Sam entered the kitchen, his eyes were greeted with a welcome surprise. Besides Gandalf, Miriel, and Gimli, Aragorn and Legolas were also standing in the kitchen.
Sam asked, "What’s the news of Mr. Merry?"
"My dear boy, that rascal of a Brandybuck was saved by a miracle besides his remarkable Hobbit resilience. The worst of his is injuries is a minor break in his arm!" Gandalf said jubilantly.
"Where is he? And where’s Mr. Pipin?" Sam asked.
"I want to keep Merry at the Houses of Healing to be monitored, at least until tomorrow night. By then I will be sure that he is perfectly well. Pippin stayed to keep him company. Where is Frodo?"
"I’m right here. Did you say Merry will be alright?" Frodo asked from the doorway. Halmir and Anna were right behind him.
"Yes, is alright?" Halmir worried.
Miriel and Sam shot their patients reproachful looks, but remained silent. They hoped Aragorn would put them to rights. But the king only quirked his eyebrow at the would-be invalids. "I see nothing could keep you two abed. Since you are here, however, I will give you news of Merry. He is miraculously unharmed, save a minor break in his arm." This was stated professionally, but everyone could see the relief and awe on Elessar’s face.
"May we see him tomorrow, milord?" Halmir asked quietly.
"You possibly can, but I want Frodo to stay in the house tomorrow with as little activity as possible. It is not cruel, Frodo Baggins, because Merry is returning here tomorrow night anyway. So you will see your cousin, only not as soon as Halmir."
Frodo looked so let down that Halmir laid a comforting hand on his shoulder and said, "If Frodo’s not going, neither am I."
"You don’t have to do that, Halmir. You go and see Merry. Give..."
"No, Frodo. I’m not going without you. Besides, I shouldn’t be out either." The boy smiled wryly at Frodo, who saw that he had lost.
"Very well. I am very tired. And perhaps I don’t feel all that well. Let’s get to bed, Halmir." Frodo and Halmir, followed closely be Sam and Anna, made their way to the bedrooms.
Aragorn stifled a yawn. "Miriel, when Merry comes back he will need a residential healer. Can you be spared from the Houses?"
"I would be glad to be of service to my friends. They have plenty of help at the Houses of Healing, milord. Thank you."
"Thank *you*. I would stay, but alas, my duty as king is more pressing than my duty as healer. I will be needed elsewhere. The Hobbits can double up and you can have Pippin’s room."
"I’ll be going then, milords. Goodnight." Miriel was by now well acquainted with the house, and found Pippin’s room with ease. She was relieved that it was near Halmir’s room.
Gandalf, Gimli, and Legolas made their way to their rooms as well. It had been decided since Aragorn was so weary that he should spend the night in Merry’s bed. The Ranger found that the bed was much too short for his long legs, but he was far too tired to care. Tomorrow was a new day, but for now, Aragorn lost himself in blissful sleep.
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TBC....
Copyright Frodo Baggins 2006