PART THREE: Healing hobbits

“Now, let`s have a look at you.” Aragorn said as he finished examining Merry and turned to Pippin. “No, don`t get up.” Aragorn said as Pippin started to rise.

Pippin nodded and slowly sat back again on the chair beside Aragorn`s bed where Merry lay. Aragorn examined Pippin closely and when he was satisfied that the hobbit hadn`t taken any serious damage he helped him up while supporting the hobbit so he didn`t have to put too much weight on the injured leg. Pippin hunched over a bit as Aragorn steadied him, trying to lessen the pain in his healing ribs.

Aragorn felt along Pippin`s legs now and satisfied that Pippin hadn`t jarred his injured bones too much he prepared a pain reducing tea and ordered the hobbit to not move about more than absolutely necessary.

*****

Gandalf sighed deeply and sat down wearily on a conveniently upturned barrel by one of the supply tents. He`d searched the camp with the others and when there was no sign of the missing hobbits, he decided to search for them in his mind. Pippin`s persistent life spark had stopped nagging, but it was still shining brightly. Gandalf couldn`t tell if the young hobbit was physically closer than he had been when he first felt for the spark, but the long ages of men that he had spent in Middle-earth told him that such might be the case. Merry`s spark was

still dull and that worried Gandalf more than he liked. If Merry had merely been sleeping he should have woken up by now.

“Mithrandir!”

Gandalf returned his thoughts to the world around him again when a young soldier came running towards him. “Yes?”

“The missing Halflings have been found. They are in the King`s tent! I was sent to inform you of this and tell you that the King wishes that you and the Ring-bearers join him there.”

Gandalf thanked the soldier and went to find Frodo and Sam. A short while later the three entered Aragorn`s tent.

Frodo was overjoyed to learn that Merry and Pippin had been found but the cry of joy died on his lips as he saw Merry lying on Aragorn`s cot and Pippin sitting stiffly by the bed, clearly in discomfort.

“Pippin!” Frodo ran to embrace Pippin and was hugged just as warmly back, then both cousins turned to the bed where Merry lay so still. Frodo couldn`t help but gasp as he saw how pale and still Merry was.

“Merry!” Frodo released Pippin and reached for Merry`s hand, patting it and calling his name. When he didn`t get a reaction, he turned to the healers. “Strider?” Frodo demanded.

“I`m sorry, Frodo, but Merry has broken his ankle.”  Aragorn said when Frodo looked at him inquiringly.

“I can see that,” Frodo said, gently caressing Merry`s good leg “but why is he so still and pale? This pallor and stillness is caused by more than a broken bone.” Frodo moved to Merry`s head and stroked his cheek. “He`s cold!”

“Yes,” Aragorn said, coming over to kneel in front of the hobbits. Sam and Pippin stood by Frodo now too, both keeping a steadying arm around him. “Frodo, Merry suffers too from a much graver affliction. It`s the Black Breath.”

“Black Breath?” Sam said, interrupting. “That`s some of what Mr. Frodo suffered from after that dreadful creature stabbed him on Weathertop!”

“Yes,” Gandalf said. He`d come in with the others but hadn’t spoken as yet, not wanting to interrupt Frodo’s reunion with Pippin, and himself shocked at Merry’s appearance. He went to the bed and gently touched Merry`s face, while closing his eyes, trying to find the hobbit`s wandering spirit.

All the hobbits had told some tales of what had happened to them since they wer separated, but many things lay still in the dark and Frodo understood that this was a good time to bring some of them out into the light. “I know Merry was touched by Shadow in Bree, but I have not heard of him being touched by it since.”

“All of you were touched by Darkness on Weathertop though only you, Frodo, took a wound then. The others were merely stunned.” Gandalf said. He too crouched down in front of the hobbits now, gently patting Merry`s hand as he lowered his stiff and old body down to hobbit eye level. “What do you know of Merry`s deeds on the Pelennor?”

“I know that he and the Lady Éowyn slew the chief Nazgûl,” Frodo said. “And that he hurt his arm in some way that day.” He shook his head. “He`s been very reluctant to give away much detail of what happened, and Pippin has not revealed what Merry would not. I begin to understand better now I think. When Merry stabbed the Witch-king he too was hurt.”

Gandalf nodded. The hobbits needed to talk about these events between themselves and in their own time, but being under the spell of the Shadow was no light ailment and hard as it might be to hear the other hobbits needed to know what ailed their dear one.

“But, sirs,” Sam said. “That evil is destroyed now. How can Mr. Merry still be suffering from that… that thing!”

“The evil may be conquered, but the Shadow is of such a nature that once it has taken hold of someone, it is a difficult fight to hold it back. Merry has fought valiantly, but he has been weakened by this new injury, and the Shadow is quick to seek a hold when it may. It is not Merry’s ankle that I am most concerned about at the moment.” Aragorn said.

As if hearing his name, Merry twisted his head a little on the pillow and all the others turned as one to face him. There was no doubt the hobbit was in great discomfort. “Have you not given him anything to reduce the pain?” Gandalf asked.

“I feared giving him too much with the Black Breath upon him so heavily, and I also hoped that the pain might rouse him from the darkness the Shadow has cast upon him. I will give him something stronger now.” He moved to prepare a tonic from several phials on the table by the bed and then administered it to Merry as the others watched worriedly. Frodo and Pippin huddled together by Merry`s head and Sam stood anxiously on the other side of the bed, all of them keenly watching Aragorn`s every movement.

“Have you not called him back?” Gandalf said, looking from the King to the hobbit suffering hobbit.

“Yes I did, but his mind is wandering far. I brought him then from the brink, but could not awaken him, even with athelas. It is not safe for him to wander so long, and I was about to try again when you arrived.  I will try now. I`m afraid that if his mind wanders for too long it might wander too far for me to reach him.”

“Oh!” Frodo and Pippin huddled closer together and Sam moved over to the other side of the bed, laying a comforting hand on Frodo`s arm. Aragorn looked from one to the other. “I do not mean to frighten you my friends, and I will give another attempt now.”

“Why didn`t the athelas work the first time?” Frodo asked.

Aragorn sighed. “As I said before, this isn’t the first time Merry has been touched by Shadow and he is still weak from his old injuries in addition to this new one. One could think that Merry would learn to fight against the Shadow more easily the more he is touched by it, but he is not as strong as the he was. He may gain that strength again, and I have no doubt that he will, but for the moment he isn`t strong enough to withstand the force of Shadow. Also, the Shadow knows him and his weakness.

Frodo nodded at this. That made sense. Still, he was frightfully worried for his cousin and if Aragorn hadn`t stopped him, he`d climbed up on the bed with Merry and gathered him in his arms. Instead he tightened his hold on Pippin and watched as Aragorn leaned over Merry again. Frodo had seen Merry injured before but he stillness of his cousin and the cold hand scared him. Getting answers to his questions didn`t make it less frightening to see Merry so. Aragorn had also said that a gentle touch and the familiar voice of a loved one might help Merry back into the Light, and Frodo understood that, from his own experience. Still, it wasn`t easier being the one who comforted and soothed when he knew something of how it was to be under that wretched spell. And Merry had been exposed to it not once, but three times, and had actually set blade to the foul creature. What terrible darkness must hold his cousin in its icy grip? He knew of the nightmares and the struggle and how hard it was to fight back. Whatever could he do? What had the others done for him when the lure of the Ring became too much or when he`d been so wretched with cold and dreams after he was stabbed?

He couldn`t really remember, but they were all there for him, in their different and equally important ways. Sam with his practicality and constant flow of blankets and food and other little things that made it possible to go on, made it a bit easier to continue, and to take just one more step closer to Mount Doom. Pippin, his cheerful little cousin who despite, or rather because of his penchant for mischief and trouble-making, always made him smile and laugh, easing the road with talk of home and food and keeping him light-hearted with memories. And Merry, sweet Merry, practical and dependable, yet in different ways than Sam. Always ready with a shoulder to cry on or with a bit of advice or solution to a problem. Merry, who loved maps and books just as much as Frodo himself and who was a willing and eager student if Frodo had something to teach him. Baby cousin, wise peer, and valued friend, all at once.

Frodo sighed, and brushed a stray lock away from Merry`s face. He wished he could teach Merry how to fight off the Shadow, but he wasn`t sure he had the answer to it. The only thing he knew was that he couldn`t have managed it without his dear cousins and friends.

Frodo sat like that for a while, thinking and remembering as Aragorn again tried to call Merry back. Pippin was equally engrossed in his own thoughts.

Pippin hadn`t seen Argorn call Merry back in the Houses of Healing as he and Gandalf had arrived just after and the only thing he had seen Aragorn do was touch Merry`s eyes and draw a hand through his curls before calling his name.

Aragorn sat down on the cot and took Merry`s face in his hands. He leant in and concentrated on pouring energy and life into the injured hobbit again. Finally Aragorn sensed the Shadow retreating as the hobbit struggled toward Aragorn’s voice and the Light. After struggling for several minutes Merry took a deep breath, then slowly opened his eyes.

“Merry!” Three hobbits, a Wizard and a Man slowly came into focus. At first Merry didn`t know anything but a bone chilling cold that numbed everything in a painful way and utter darkness, but slowly another sort of pain entered his world. Anxious faces looking at him. What had he been dreaming? And what was this pain that seared through his body. Merry thought it might emanate from his leg but he wasn`t sure. As the faces slowly came into focus the anxiousness that had covered them gave way for genuine smiles and so Merry tried for a smile of his own.

“Welcome back Meriadoc.” Gandalf said as Merry`s eyes fastened upon him, before closing in proper sleep this time.

*****

They moved Merry to his own cot and Legolas and Gimli joined them there. The companions ate a late supper and Pippin told the rest of the company what had happened in the woods. The hobbits and Gandalf sat down to watch over Merry, a tonic ready for him if he should wake up before the morning. Aragorn had examined Merry once more and was now ready to leave with Legolas and Gimli when there was a sound by the tent entrance.

“My lord!” The soldier standing there said. “We`ve found another.”

“Another what?” Demanded Gandalf.

“Another snake, sir. We searched the campsite and found no snake that matched the description we got but as we were to finish the search a Guard found one close to the stream. It was killed but I was told to come get the King at once if we found another snake.”

“Thank you.” Aragorn said and hastily left the tent with the elf and the dwarf. “I gave him herbs for the pain but he will likely still be in discomfort when he wakes,” Aragorn said. “Do not hesitate to send for me if there is any change.”

*****

“Another snake?” Pippin didn`t feel very comfortable at that thought. He had hoped that the one he and Merry had stumbled upon was the only one. He was glad this new one was dead now though, and hoped that the Man who killed it didn`t get hurt.

“Yes, the Dark Lord has many ways of spreading his poison.” Gandalf said, glumly. It would still be some time before all of Sauron`s servants were killed. “You are safe here though. Do not let the troubles of others burden you. Watch over your cousin and try to not worry too much about other things. You are all still weary.”

Frodo and Pippin sat down on either side of Merry`s cot, both watching keenly for any sign of Merry wakening or being in pain. Hours passed before Merry suddenly started muttering and tossing his head from side to side. Frodo and Pippin leant over the cot and Sam looked up from where he`d been making a bracing cup of tea for all of them. Pippin lay his hand on Merry`s cheek to try and calm him and drew back in surprise. “He`s hot! Gandalf!” Pippin tugged on Gandalf`s robes and the Wizard knelt down and lay a large, but gentle hand on Merry`s brow.

“Yes indeed!” Gandalf said just as surprised as Pippin. He`d seen how carefully Aragorn had washed Merry`s wounds and dressed them. The sudden heat in the young hobbit`s skin couldn\t be caused by infection? “Sam fetch a basin and some water, Pippin find some clean cloths. Frodo you stay beside him. I`ll go and get Aragorn. I fear he might injure himself further if he continues to toss about like that.”

“What about the Shadow?” Pippin asked. “Can that have come back? He can`t get a fever from having a nightmare? Can he?” Pippin knew all too well that nightmares haunted also Merry`s sleep also and shuddered a little at the thought. He could still remember his own most recent nightmare, only a couple of night ago.

“I doubt it” Gandalf said. “Still, I will take no chances.” He hurried out of the tent.

Frodo tried to wake Merry but didn`t get any response. He took Merry`s face in his hands in an effort to stop his thrashing in the grip of a fevered nightmare. “Merry! Come back to us, please!” Pippin was weeping soundlessly and hovered over Merry from the other side of the cot. Sam took one of the cloths Pippin had found and wet it before handing it to Pippin so he could soothe Merry`s warm skin before moving to the foot of the bed, trying to immobilize the injured leg.

When Aragorn arrived with Gandalf a few moments later, the other three hobbits were more or less up on the cot with the unconscious Merry, trying to reassure him, cool him or keep the injured leg still.

“Strider!” The hobbits said all at once.

Aragorn moved Frodo and Pippin gently to the side and the two hobbits clung to each other, both crying freely now. Sam tried not to cry and choked down a sob as he kept careful hold of Merry`s foot, not letting go until he was asked to. For a few minutes there was a frenzy of activity before Aragorn decided he had done what he could for the moment. He didn`t understand where the fever came from at first but after unbinding Merry`s leg with Sam`s help, found that one of the wounds he`d so carefully cleaned had become a little infected. He rinsed and cleaned the wound again before wrapping Merry`s leg up again in poultices.

Merry slept obliviously now after being given another sleeping draught. Aragorn stayed with them the rest of the night, continuously monitoring Merry`s pulse and temperature. Sam and Frodo fell reluctantly at last to sleep in their chairs, and Gandalf carried them to lie on Pippin`s cot. Pippin stayed awake as long as he could, but eventually fell into an exhausted doze, curled up in a ball on the foot of Merry`s Man-sized cot.

*****

The sun was high in the sky when the first stirrings of life came from the hobbits. Sam stretched and rose, not at first remembering where he was and looked about wildly for a moment before understanding that he was in Pippin and Merry`s tent.

“Good morning, sirs. How is Mr. Merry?” Sam rose and splashed a little water in his face to clear his head.

“Meriadoc is sleeping and Aragorn has gone to fetch more healing herbs,” Gandalf said, and just then the tent flap opened and Legolas came in, holding the flap to the side so Aragorn could enter with a tray full of herbs and bandages and other medical items. Behind him Gimli came carrying a tray groaning with food enough for an army or a few hungry hobbits.

Aragorn went straight to Merry and started to check him over. He had a low fever and the sword arm was still cold, but the injured ankle was no worse and the Shadow didn`t seem to have taken a new hold of him. To be on the safe side Aragorn took a few leaves of athelas and steeped them in hot water before wringing out a cloth and placing it on Merry`s brow. Frodo and Pippin woke then, revived by the refreshing scent of athelas and very hungry. They refused to eat though until Aragorn had seen to Merry.

The athelas also woke Merry up and he scrunched up his face in pain and closed his eyes tightly. “Ow! What have I done?”

“And good morning to you too.” Aragorn said, smiling and helping Merry when he tried to sit up, propping pillows behind his back and lifting him slightly.

“Merry!” Frodo and Pippin were at his side in an instant. “You`re finally awake! How do you feel?”

“Finally awake, eh? Have I slept over something of importance since you`re all so enthusiastic to see me wake?” Merry said, trying to jest. Something was wrong, but his cousins and friends looked so worried that he couldn`t help but try to lighten their moods. There was a smell of athelas in the air and something hurt fiercely but he was too muddled to figure it out just now. He turned his head a little. “Sam, you haven`t celebrated your birthday and let me sleep right through the party, now have you?”

“No, Mr. Merry, I wouldn’t think of it!” Sam beamed, relieved that Merry seemed to be nearly his old self. Merry had been teasing Sam about celebrating his birthday doubly since he had slept right through it, but there had been too many banquets and formal celebrations of the Ring-bearers to have a proper hobbit party yet.

“Merry?” Aragorn tapped Merry on the shoulder to get his attention again. “How do you feel?”

Merry thought a little. “I am not sure. My leg hurts.” It all came back to him now – the forest, the tumble and the snake. He had no clue on how he had managed to get back to camp though. Still muddled and suddenly very tired again Merry yawned and closed his eyes. “And it feels like I`ve been working awfully hard. I`m tired...” He slid down a little deeper under the covers, his eyes refusing to remain open.

“Yes, you have, terribly hard,” Pippin said clasping Merry’s hand tightly. “But the Shadow is gone for now. Rest and sleep Merry and we`ll be here when you wake up.“

*****

When Merry woke next Frodo was sitting on a chair by his bed and Pippin was sleeping peacefully on his cot. Sam and Aragorn could not be seen, and Gandalf was not there either.

“Good afternoon!” Frodo said and handed Merry a cup of tea and placed a tray on his lap with enough food for them both and some to spare. “Eat, Merry. You`ve slept over both breakfasts and elevenses.”

“I have?” Merry said and tried to eat the lunch of chicken soup and bread but didn`t really feel too well and soon pushed the tray aside. He was hot and lethargic and wanted only to rest and sleep and his foot hurt despite the drought Frodo also had pressed upon him. “What happened?” Merry asked, sipping the tea instead.

“What do you remember?”

Merry thought a bit. “I fell when trying to fend off a snake and my leg twisted. I can`t remember much after that. How did I get back here?” He looked at Pippin`s sleeping form. “Pippin didn`t carry me, did he?” Merry hoped Pippin hadn`t tried to do that as he was not well himself and to support Merry`s weight would only make his injuries worse.

“No, he didn`t. Your ankle was badly broken. Pippin splinted it and then watched over you and kept you warm for several hours until you were found. A Ranger from Ithilien happened to find you on his way back to camp. He carried you back here. Aragorn tended you in his tent and then you were brought here.” Frodo looked Merry in the eye for some time. “Merry…” His voice broke and he caught Merry`s right hand between his own, rubbing it slightly. “You were under the spell of the Shadow for a long time and at first the athelas didn`t work on you.”

Merry opened his eyes wider at that and sat up, putting his other hand on Frodo`s. “I…” What could he say? He could still feel the Shadow lurking at the edge of his consciousness but he wouldn`t give in as long as he had anything to say in the matter. But because he had been overwhelmed by the pain of the broken ankle he had let his guard down. And now he had scared the others too. “I`m sorry,” Merry finally said.

“Don`t be silly Merry. It certainly wasn’t your fault, any of it.” Frodo sat on Merry`s bedside and hugged him tight. “I`m just glad you came back to us.”

Merry hugged Frodo tightly, relishing the feeling of holding close the cousin he`d been so worried about for so long now safe at last. Both of them were crying now. They`d lost too much to not feel grateful for what they had.

At last Frodo pulled back and wiped away his own and Merry`s tears with trembling fingers. Merry`s skin was a little hot and he looked tired.  “Go back to sleep now. I`ll sit with you. You`re still a bit feverish I think.” He gently pushed Merry back down onto the pillows and went to the washstand to wet a cloth and washed Merry`s face with it before wetting it again and putting it on his cousin’s brow.

TBC