Chapter Twenty Three - The Stuffed Pony

Lilas stood surveying her work in the eerily silent room. Toys were still strewn about the floor and the bed unmade. The only thing she really had done so far was empty the bureau and wardrobe. Next, she’d strip the bed and then take down the sheers.

It was sad; any minute now Lilas expected young Gelly to run excitedly into the room to bring Auntie Lilas a new storybook to read. It was something the two found amusing together as Lilas was now at the same reading level as her six year old nephew. The longer Lilas sat in reflection, the more she was aware there were no children running about. She absently put her hand to her swelling tummy. The image of children being whisked away from the only home that they knew came to her mind, making her shudder.

The reality of it all, as Eglantine had told Lilas, was that young Gelbrin and Tilbrith Brownfield were swept up from their toys and naps by their distraught parents and hastily carried out to a waiting wagon at mid-morning to take them to Great Smials. Rumor of ruffians posing as authority for The Chief went throughout the Tookland pillaging villages and helpless farmers before the rightful Took and Thain learned of it. Hilfred was by no means helpless, but he worried over his young family just the same as any other hobbit. One morning, Pimpernel witnessed the tail-end of a conversation that her then five year old son had with a ruffian out by the gate. He asked Gelly who lived at the farm, how many farm workers abided there, and how much food supply was kept. The small child had no idea what would befall in the coming days, so he answered each question truthfully. The hasty flight occurred when Pimpernel told her husband about the ruffian when he returned home from the fields later that morning for luncheon.

The late afternoon sun shone through the window as Lilas sat on the bed contemplating the gravity of the situation. What would she do in like circumstances? How would she react? Her heart went out to her sister-in-law. Then she sighed, thinking to herself, the room won’t clean itself up, ye know! Get movin’, lass! Lilas rose up to start stripping the bed linens when she heard footfalls drawing near.

“Pervinca said you needed help with the sheers.” Pippin stood in the doorway, hesitating to enter. He could feel the air tensing while he stood there at the door. His own anger had long dissipated during their ride to Whitwell; however, Pippin wasn’t so sure about his wife.

Lilas acknowledged her husband’s presence when she paused briefly, holding the blanket in her arms. Then she went back to stripping the bed. She spoke not a word.

Pippin, tall as he was, needed no footstool. He walked over to the window then proceeded to take down the rods and slip the curtains off. When he was finished, he folded the dusty sheers and placed them in the box with the blanket. He placed the rods back up against the window, then quietly left the room.

When her husband was out the door, Lilas watched him walk back down the hallway. “Pippin!” Pippin stopped, turning towards his wife’s voice. “I need help with bendin’ over t’ pick up the toys.” She crouched down--as bending was really out of the question--to pick up an old, tattered stuffed pony lying on the floor. Just as her hand clasped the toy, another hand was upon her own, then an arm around her waist.

“Lilas, sit on the bed for a moment, all right?” Pippin was crouching beside his wife.

Lilas silently let go of the object. She allowed her husband to help her up, then set her on the bed. She watched as Pippin made quick work of the wooden blocks and toy soldiers. The stuffed pony he kept hold of, then sat down next to his wife upon the bed. Several minutes passed by before either of them spoke.

“This was his favorite,” Pippin finally said.

Lilas nodded, “And it will be again.”

Pippin looked at her oddly, then realized the confusion. “No,” he said, a slight grin appearing on his face. “This was Hil’s favorite.”

Lilas shook her head then spoke, “But Hilly’s only been around for…,” then she understood who Pippin was referring to. “This was Hilfred’s? As in, Pimpernel’s husband?” She couldn’t help but quietly laugh when Pippin nodded.

“Hilfred said it was made by his mother when he was a babe,” said Pippin, “then he gave it to Gelly when he became a Faunt almost four years ago.” Pippin spoke barely above a whisper, “it’s hard to believe Gelly will be seven this summer.”

“Children grow up so fast,” Lilas added.

Pippin gazed at the toy in his hands. “I’m sorry about arguing this morning, Lilas,” he said. “I’m sorry that I didn’t ask you to come with us today.”

“I’m sorry, too,” Lilas replied sincerely, then yawned. She playfully took the toy from Pippin and lay down with it. “I’m tired now, though,” she said.

Pippin curled up next his wife, “I found it first.”

“I’m claiming it until we can give it t’ Gelly,” Lilas answered sleepily.

Pippin reached over to grab the toy, but fatigue suddenly took hold of him. He dropped his arm, letting it rest upon his wife. Both had risen earlier than their usual time this morning. Both were now feeling the effect. They snuggled together…then fell asleep.

* * *

“Has anyone seen Pippin?” Paladin asked, resting upon the rake handle he held as the sun began her descent upon the Shire.

“I sent him into the smial to help Lilas with Gelly’s room earlier, Father,” Pervinca answered. “Why do you ask?”

Sweating heavily, Paladin raked and shoveled the last of the old, soiled straw into the wheelbarrow Merry held ready to take to the burn pile. “What was it that he needed to do?”

“Umm…,” said Pervinca, thinking quickly, “I asked him to help Lilas with the curtains and such.”

Paladin gazed at his youngest daughter, “And you couldn’t help her?”

“Umm…,” Pervinca was once again searching for suitable words, “It’s a lass matter, Father,” she mollified him, turning to her own task of sweeping the barn behind him. “When we’re nursing…,” she then trailed off, all reasoning escaping her. She looked to her cousin for help.

Merry only smiled at her laborious attempt to placate her father--his uncle. “Why tell us, Pervinca!” Merry grinned wickedly. He was enjoying this. “Tell us, dear cousin, as to why a nursing lass cannot sweep a babe’s room, but can sweep out--”

“All right!” Pervinca stood with narrowed eyes at her cousin. “I sent him inside so that he and Lilas would have a chance at talking!”

Merry set down the wheelbarrow, then smiled; folding his arms in triumph. “And I say that was a noble thing, Pervinca.”

Then Paladin recalled the unprecedented silence between his son and daughter-in-law earlier that day. “Perhaps I ought to look in on them--to make sure they’re not at each other’s throats.”

Paladin had visions of pulling apart a combatant, pregnant hobbit and his son from one another locked in verbal battle. He walked the back hallway of the little smial looking into each bedroom, starting from what used to be Pearl’s room--when his family lived here years and years ago. Then Pimpernel’s room. He crossed over the hallway to Merry’s old room; still no sign of the young tweens. Then he looked inside Pippin’s old bedroom--now Gelly’s. He spied two slight figures--though one had a somewhat curved tummy--nestled upon the bed asleep. Paladin smiled, then quietly shut the door.