Inspired by Grey Wonderer’s “Concerning Ladders” (recently re-published at http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=3126), here is a glimpse of Merry on the roof of the little house at Crickhollow, not a place he’d normally be found, save for the fact that the road to (a very unpleasant place) is paved with good intentions.

Up on the Housetop, Click, Click, Click!

Lovely! Merry thought sourly. How do I get myself into these scrapes?

After last year’s debacle, acting as king and executioner when Pippin had been innocent on all charges, Merry had thought he’d make this Yule a memorable one, and start things off on the right foot.

He’d got out the Yule decorations and the ladder he’d gifted Pippin, last year, managed to climb to the rooftop and string the decorations in the rising wind, and finished, to find the ladder—fallen.

It’ll be a memorable Yule all right, he thought, hugging himself against the cold.

Pippin! Hurry home! Please!