Title: Fields of Gold

Author: Anso the Hobbit

Beta: Marigold

Rating: PG

Characters: Pippin, Merry, Eglantine, Paladin, Pearl, Pimpernel, Pervinca, Esmeralda and Saradoc, Frodo and Bilbo, Daisy Took (OC)

Timeline: Whitwell SR 1398, so Pippin is 8, Merry 16, Pearl 23, Pimpernel 19, Pervinca 13 and Frodo 30.

Summary: When an innocent childhood illness proves to be quite contrary, promises are given and eventually kept.

Note: Written for Marigold’s Challenge 12, as a sequel to War of Wills. You do not need to have read War of Wills to enjoy this story, but it is recommended. ;) War of Wills can be found on Stories of Arda or here: http//:www.geocities.com/cityandmark.

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PART ONE: Tea and a nap

“Merry? Don`t you want your tea?” Pearl said, looking closely at her cousin. Merry was known for being almost as ravenous as Pippin when a mealtime came around, and even in between, but now he sat pushing the preserved strawberries and clotted cream around his plate. The lads had been helping Paladin in the barn this day, tending to the animals. Merry loved that part of farming, especially working with the ponies, Pearl knew, and was usually full of talk about them after a day in the barn but today he looked tired and subdued. Had he had a fight with Pippin?

“Merry?” Pippin said, as Merry didn`t respond to Pearl’s question. “Why don’t you eat?” Pippin couldn`t comprehend Merry not eating, and he was being so quiet. Most unlike his usual self. His cousin was always so full of life and joy and answers to all of Pippin`s questions, but now he just sat on his chair, sipping his milk occasionally and shoving food around his plate, taking very small nibbles of this and that.

“I don`t suppose I`m hungry.” Merry finally answered, struggling to swallow a perfectly beautiful bit of strawberry. He hadn’t even touched his first scone.

“Have you lads raided the larders again?” Eglantine said, coming back to the table after fetching another bowl of clotted cream. She couldn`t think of any better explanation for Merry not wanting to eat, though raids on the larders didn’t usually affect Merry’s appetite.

“No!” Pippin said. “We`ve been in the barn all day. Haven’t we, Da?”

“Yes, they have. Merry, what is it?”  It suddenly struck Paladin that Merry hadn`t been his usual cheery, energetic self all day. He couldn`t pinpoint anything in particular Merry had or hadn`t done, but he had had an air of weariness over him and been far more quiet than usual.

“I suppose I`m just a little tired.” Merry put his fork down, giving up all pretence of eating.

“Maybe you should take a nap,” Pervinca suggested.

“I think that is a very good idea.” Eglantine said. “You do look a little tired, dear. Why don`t you go lie down on the parlour sofa and we`ll save you some scones for later.”

Merry nodded. “I think that I will Auntie, thank you. Excuse me please, everyone.” Pippin craned his neck to keep an eye on Merry as he went to lie down on the sofa. He curled up on his side and seemed to fall asleep immediately.

Pippin looked about in confusion. Merry taking a nap, just like that? Pippin knew that older hobbits also needed to take a nap sometimes, but he had been too old for having an afternoon nap for ages himself, unless he was ill, and couldn`t remember Merry ever taking a nap unless it was because Pippin needed one.

“Go put a blanket over him, will you Pippin?” Eglantine said, looking through the door at her nephew with concern.

Pippin went to the big armchair by the hearth to fetch the woollen blanket and covered Merry up. Merry stirred a little, but snuggled down and slept on.

This wasn`t right, Pippin decided. He stood watching his cousin sleep for a little then went back to the table to finish eating.

“Come along, Pippin, eat up.” Paladin said. But Pippin found it difficult to finish his meal. He looked at Merry`s empty chair and the scarcely touched plate on the table. If he listened hard, he could hear Merry`s slow and regular breathing from the other room. If Merry couldn’t eat, he didn’t want to eat either. Feeling his family looking at him, he grasped his fork and tried to swallow down another bite or two, but it didn`t taste right anymore. What was wrong with his Merry?

Thinking the day over a little, Pippin realised that Merry hadn`t been as fun to be around as he usually was. He had been a lot quieter than usual. He had done his chores, and helped Pippin with his, and helped Pippin’s Da with that great, heavy water trough that had been mended and needed to be put into place again, but he had looked very tired just after and had not wanted to jump in the hay with Pippin when Da gave them a little break. Merry had just lay down in the hay and Pippin had jumped down a time or two, but it wasn`t as much fun as when Merry jumped with him and there was no tickling or putting hay down the back of Merry`s shirt afterwards. Merry had ruffled his curls and given him a hug when he had jumped down the last time, but he hadn`t joined him in the play. After, Pippin had tried to come up with fun things to show him but Merry hadn`t really been interested, though he had kindly pretended to be. Maybe he was getting tired of having Pippin around all the time? That could never happen, could it?

Asking and receiving permission to be excused, Pippin left his own tea unfinished and went outside to his favourite thinking spot in the tool shed.

Eglantine watched her lad go and wondered what had put him in so solemn a mood. Pippin usually kept his cheery spirit long after others fell to despair or sorrow. Certainly he was worried about Merry. Eglantine found herself worrying about her nephew herself. She directed the lasses to wash the dishes after tea and set about sweeping the floors. After that they finished the ironing, and then she set the lasses to beginning supper while she saw how Merry was faring. He had slept rather long. The sun had already set, and Pippin had not come in either. She took off her apron and went to Merry where he slept on the sofa. It was odd that Merry was so quiet and tired, and had no appetite; she couldn’t ever remember such a thing. Her nephew was a cheerful whirlwind, only her own son surpassed him in energy, and the two of them could eat more than the rest of her family combined. She sat down beside him, and stroked his curls.

“Wake up now, Merry. It`s almost time for supper and you have slept for over two hours.” She frowned. He felt a little hot to the touch, but she decided it was due to the heavy blanket Pippin had covered him with. They were inside a snug smial after all, with a cheery fire in the parlour grate. 

Merry blinked his eyes open. “All right.” He said, sitting up and drawing his hands through his curls. He felt a little better for the nap, but his head ached a little. Maybe some fresh air would do him good.

As if reading his thoughts, Eglantine said, “I think you should go outside and talk to Pippin. He has something on his mind and maybe talking to you would help.” She hugged him tight for a moment. “Don`t forget your coat.”

Merry hugged her back and went to find Pippin.