Chance Encounter, part 34
May. 4th, 2005 11:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dreamflowerThe day after the party...
Part 34
A the morning sun slanted in through the wide windowed doors to the courtyard, it glinted off the four curly heads peeking out from the coverlet. The wizard sat by the large bed, thinking how some things never changed, and yet that some changes were inevitable.
In the way hobbits had, they slept huddled together. Although at home in the Shire they would have beds to themselves, Gandalf knew that was a recent development, and in any time of stress hobbits naturally reverted to the older behavior. They slept with the most vulnerable on the inside, the protectors on the outside. But whereas in the early days of their journeying, that had meant Frodo and Pippin on the inside, with Merry on the outside by Pippin and Sam on the other side of Frodo, now Sam was on the inside, and Pippin was one of the protectors.
Gandalf smiled, thinking of how very well his little “fool of a Took” had grown. It was the nature of Tooks ever to be inquisitive, impulsive and impatient, and that was unlikely to change, but those qualities in Pippin had now been calmed to a certain extent by experience, wisdom and understanding. And Gandalf was pleased to see that in spite of all the darkness the lad had encountered, his heart remained as generous and compassionate as it had always been. But now his tender-heartedness was tempered by the realization that he could protect the helpless, and a fierce righteous anger would make itself felt with bullies and villains. It was a quality that would stand him in good stead today, as he played out his part in Aragorn’s plan.
That last was a quality Merry had always had. From the first time he had met the young Brandybuck, a sturdy seven-year-old, and Frodo’s willing shadow, he had seen that in him. Merry’s love was deep and fierce, with the tenaciousness that was a part of his Brandybuck heritage. Pippin needed to have anger awakened in him--his temper was slow to rise; Merry was quick to anger, but his anger was always aimed at any who would try to hurt or harm those he loved. Yet Merry had also had a brightness to him; he lived up to his name, with a sunny, easy nature. He rarely cried or had tantrums as a child, and he loved to laugh. He had been so good for Frodo, who had needed some sunshine in his life. But this quest had been hard on Merry. Even now, Gandalf could see that the Shadow had not been wholly dissipated by Aragorn. It lurked about him still, especially at night. In fact, last night it was Merry whose dreams had been disturbed, and only Gandalf’s presence had managed to overcome them. But last night it was understandable. Merry was feeling a bit sad, with the duties that would call him away this morning: saying a farewell to Éomer and Éowyn, who would be heading to Edoras to set in motion the plans for Théoden’s funeral. He then would accompany them as far as the edge of the Pelennor, and return with a few others of the Rohirrim to be a part of the honor guard standing over the fallen king’s bier. Not a pleasant task at all, yet he would face it without stinting, for he had loved Théoden dearly. Still it was no wonder he would have been plagued with nightmares the night before, had Gandalf not been there.
Sam stirred briefly, and then subsided. The wizard looked at him fondly. This was one hobbit who, in spite of all the pain and hardship he had endured, had truly benefited from their journey. He had finally admitted to himself that he was friend and equal to these other three, though he would stubbornly refuse to admit it out loud, and he had gained a confidence and boldness that he never would have found, had he not gone with his master from the Shire. Of the four hobbits, Sam was the most typically hobbity, with a narrow view of the world, and even now that he had seen more of the world than most hobbits would ever imagine, his opinions were still grounded in what he called “hobbit-sense”--and rightfully so.
Frodo. The wizard looked at him sadly. That sense of transparency, first observable by him in Rivendell, as Frodo recovered from the Morgul-wound, was not only still there, but it had grown. There was a brilliance to Frodo’s being that rivaled that of Elves now, and yet woven within that light was more than a hint of darkness, clinging to the Ringbearer like a parasite. His dreams too, had seemed headed for trouble last night--but that was nearly a nightly occurrence until they had moved in here, and Legolas had begun his unauthorized vigil. Gandalf was beginning to understand where Frodo’s fate was leading him; yet still, it was his nature to hope that he might be wrong.
The brief stirrings as the four reached towards wakefulness increased. He knew who would waken first. Merry opened his eyes, and seeing Gandalf, felt alarmed. Before he could say anything, Gandalf winked to reassure him, and put a finger to his mouth to enjoin silence. Almost at the same moment Sam awakened, followed by Pippin and then Frodo.
Frodo sat up with alarm. “Gandalf? Is something wrong?”
“No, Frodo, nothing is wrong. But I do not believe you can attribute your pleasant sleep recently to the new surroundings. We need to talk.”
Part 34
A the morning sun slanted in through the wide windowed doors to the courtyard, it glinted off the four curly heads peeking out from the coverlet. The wizard sat by the large bed, thinking how some things never changed, and yet that some changes were inevitable.
In the way hobbits had, they slept huddled together. Although at home in the Shire they would have beds to themselves, Gandalf knew that was a recent development, and in any time of stress hobbits naturally reverted to the older behavior. They slept with the most vulnerable on the inside, the protectors on the outside. But whereas in the early days of their journeying, that had meant Frodo and Pippin on the inside, with Merry on the outside by Pippin and Sam on the other side of Frodo, now Sam was on the inside, and Pippin was one of the protectors.
Gandalf smiled, thinking of how very well his little “fool of a Took” had grown. It was the nature of Tooks ever to be inquisitive, impulsive and impatient, and that was unlikely to change, but those qualities in Pippin had now been calmed to a certain extent by experience, wisdom and understanding. And Gandalf was pleased to see that in spite of all the darkness the lad had encountered, his heart remained as generous and compassionate as it had always been. But now his tender-heartedness was tempered by the realization that he could protect the helpless, and a fierce righteous anger would make itself felt with bullies and villains. It was a quality that would stand him in good stead today, as he played out his part in Aragorn’s plan.
That last was a quality Merry had always had. From the first time he had met the young Brandybuck, a sturdy seven-year-old, and Frodo’s willing shadow, he had seen that in him. Merry’s love was deep and fierce, with the tenaciousness that was a part of his Brandybuck heritage. Pippin needed to have anger awakened in him--his temper was slow to rise; Merry was quick to anger, but his anger was always aimed at any who would try to hurt or harm those he loved. Yet Merry had also had a brightness to him; he lived up to his name, with a sunny, easy nature. He rarely cried or had tantrums as a child, and he loved to laugh. He had been so good for Frodo, who had needed some sunshine in his life. But this quest had been hard on Merry. Even now, Gandalf could see that the Shadow had not been wholly dissipated by Aragorn. It lurked about him still, especially at night. In fact, last night it was Merry whose dreams had been disturbed, and only Gandalf’s presence had managed to overcome them. But last night it was understandable. Merry was feeling a bit sad, with the duties that would call him away this morning: saying a farewell to Éomer and Éowyn, who would be heading to Edoras to set in motion the plans for Théoden’s funeral. He then would accompany them as far as the edge of the Pelennor, and return with a few others of the Rohirrim to be a part of the honor guard standing over the fallen king’s bier. Not a pleasant task at all, yet he would face it without stinting, for he had loved Théoden dearly. Still it was no wonder he would have been plagued with nightmares the night before, had Gandalf not been there.
Sam stirred briefly, and then subsided. The wizard looked at him fondly. This was one hobbit who, in spite of all the pain and hardship he had endured, had truly benefited from their journey. He had finally admitted to himself that he was friend and equal to these other three, though he would stubbornly refuse to admit it out loud, and he had gained a confidence and boldness that he never would have found, had he not gone with his master from the Shire. Of the four hobbits, Sam was the most typically hobbity, with a narrow view of the world, and even now that he had seen more of the world than most hobbits would ever imagine, his opinions were still grounded in what he called “hobbit-sense”--and rightfully so.
Frodo. The wizard looked at him sadly. That sense of transparency, first observable by him in Rivendell, as Frodo recovered from the Morgul-wound, was not only still there, but it had grown. There was a brilliance to Frodo’s being that rivaled that of Elves now, and yet woven within that light was more than a hint of darkness, clinging to the Ringbearer like a parasite. His dreams too, had seemed headed for trouble last night--but that was nearly a nightly occurrence until they had moved in here, and Legolas had begun his unauthorized vigil. Gandalf was beginning to understand where Frodo’s fate was leading him; yet still, it was his nature to hope that he might be wrong.
The brief stirrings as the four reached towards wakefulness increased. He knew who would waken first. Merry opened his eyes, and seeing Gandalf, felt alarmed. Before he could say anything, Gandalf winked to reassure him, and put a finger to his mouth to enjoin silence. Almost at the same moment Sam awakened, followed by Pippin and then Frodo.
Frodo sat up with alarm. “Gandalf? Is something wrong?”
“No, Frodo, nothing is wrong. But I do not believe you can attribute your pleasant sleep recently to the new surroundings. We need to talk.”