_{Pippin looked at Degger for a long minute then spoke up. “Me, neither,” he said. “Here, is where you belong.” - Chapter 18}

Chapter 19, In the Family Way

With a satisfied grin Paladin shuffled the papers before him, tucked them neatly inside a leather portfolio then laid it aside. In a little while that portfolio will be a key element in a momentous occasion. His customary meeting with the Thain this morning didn’t go exactly as he planned...then again, Paladin didn’t expect it to.

The Thain’s short-term memory barely functioned. However, Cousin Ferumbras could recall every detail about a particular Yule or one of his fondest memories of childhood. Consequently, this morning when Paladin presented the newest member of the Took clan to the incumbent Took and Thain, Ferumbras failed to retain the information regarding Degger and minutes later would ask why a servant was in attendance at their meeting. Pippin, who was with them, opened his mouth to speak his mind, however, Paladin stayed his son’s words with a gentle squeeze on his arm. Twice, the Took and Thain’s mind had wandered to places unknown and had to be coaxed back into the meeting. Realising they were getting nowhere with their infirm cousin, Paladin ended the meeting and eventually took his leave.

Sitting at his desk, Paladin’s thoughts went back Pippin’s heartfelt question as they returned to their own quarters.will be presented today.”

“Father, why does Cousin Ferumbras say things like that?” Pippin asked.

“Because he cannot help himself, Pip,” Paladin responded. “His mind is addled.”

Pippin furrowed his brow in thought. “I remember Mistress Besom saying his memory wasn’t as good as it once was, but he seemed to remember some things very well.”

“Some things, yes, but not all things. Before his accident, Ferumbras considered Degger nothing more than a servant, and, more than likely, always will. To change his way of thinking now will be very difficult indeed, if ever that could happen. In spite of what I know of our cousin’s illness, I still held out hope that Ferumbras’ faculties remained intact--even just a little for this occasion.”

“Now what do we do?” asked Pippin. “Degger still has to be presented, does he not?”

“He does,” said Paladin. “And I’ve an idea--later this afternoon I shall come and fetch you children from the parlour.” He looked at Degger walking sombrely beside him. “Degger

Just as Paladin was cleaning up his writing area, there came a knock at the door. He looked up to see his best friend.

“Hello, Addie!” he said, “You know you don’t have to wait for an invitation, dear cousin, so come right on in.”

“I like to maintain decorum, you know, regardless of our fellowship,” Addie replied to his friend in a light-hearted manner. “Everard gave me a message that you wished to meet with me?”

“Aye,” answered Paladin, “I should hope that you will attend a very special meeting this afternoon?”

Adelard raised his eyebrows in thought. “I had not planned on it, but if you like, I shall.”

“Aye, I would like it,” said Paladin. He sat back in his soft leather chair wiping the tip of his favourite quill-pen with a soft cloth and then placed inside his pen holder. “I should like to have another witness present, if you please.”

“You’re going to present him, aren’t you?”

“I am,” said Paladin. He smiled absently, then added, “Well, somebody is.”

“You and he had a long discussion the other day?”

“Yes, and we discussed many things,” Paladin replied. “One of which was today’s presentation. I felt it important and necessary--not only for him, but for everyone to know of what took place at Ivy Bellflower and acknowledge his rightful place in this family. Today is Degger’s birthday--and his party will be a splendid opportunity to present him to the rest of the Tooks.”

Adelard smiled, “I understand it will be a party of special magnificence?”

“He doesn’t even suspect!”

“Oh, come, Paladin!” said Addie. “I overheard him telling my Ev what a grand birthday feast you’ve ordered.”

“He knows about the feast, of course,” said Paladin, “I sent him on that errand to the kitchen long ago, but he doesn’t know about the party that follows.”

Addie chuckled, “After all of these years you are still a crafty hobbit.”

Paladin comically wiggled his eyebrows in response. “You know, I got some excellent ideas for his party from a very respectable source.”

“What very respectable source would that be?”

“Pippin.”

Addie laughed, “Very respectable, indeed! He’s exactly like his father.”

“Are you ready, then?” asked Paladin, purposely ignoring his cousin’s remark--no matter how truthful it may seem. Paladin prayed that whatever impact he had on his children, it was for good and not ill. He took up the portfolio to carry with him. “We have a brief stop to make at the parlour to gather the lads and then we shall proceed to the Thain’s formal office.”

Both hobbits stood and walked out of Paladin’s study door and into the hallway.

“How are they faring?”

“The lads?” Paladin shrugged indifferently. “They returned just after first breakfast this morning--and a little foot-sore, mind, but I don’t believe Frodo harmed them much with a wee ramble about the Green Hills. They were still famished at second breakfast.”

“A wee ramble? They were marching for two days! I’ll wager you got them out of the way so you could prepare the party in secret.”

“They left the evening before last, spent the night and yesterday outdoors, and then returned home this morning,” Paladin corrected his cousin. “And I’ll wager that you are quite right on your second point. Besides, the lads wanted to know if Degger had a greater amount of adventurous-Took blood in his veins than typical-hobbit Greenhill blood.”

“And which does he have?”

Paladin smirked in response. “He has both, you goose, but we shall soon see which one he is made more of.” Seconds later he and Addie stood in the doorway of the family parlour. Paladin announced their presence when he spoke. “Lads? Are you ready?”

Pippin looked up from the chess board he and Merry were playing on. Frodo casually glanced around the room to ensure those who needed to be were present. Frodo knew the importance of Degger’s meeting.

“Degger,” Frodo whispered to the sleeping form curled up next to him on the couch. Before Degger had succumbed to his weariness, he and Frodo were reading passages from his grandfather Diggory’s personal journal.

“Mmm..all right,” Degger answered drowsily then sat up wiping his eyes. “I’m awake, sir.”

“Oh come, Degger!” said Pippin, then winked at Merry, “We only walked about for a day or so. Perhaps we ought to get you out more often to get you into better shape.”

Degger winced as he stood upon his sore feet. “I’m all right, Mr. Pippin, though I don’t think I’ll ever be able t’ find my feet an’ ramble about the countryside as well as you, Mr. Merry, and Mr. Frodo do.”

“True,” Pippin remarked a bit smugly, “However, I suspect even Frodo’s starting to get a bit stiff in the legs, if you understand me.”

“Don’t overdo it,” Merry whispered earnestly to his young cousin then nudged Pippin’s shin with his foot under the game table. “Be easy on poor Degger,” he said aloud, “after all, this was only his first time out.”

Frodo could have sworn that he heard Degger mumble something about this outing having been his last. Nevertheless Frodo hid his grin; Degger had recently begun to show some real Took spirit. Besides, the lad had to know his friends were all having a jest with him. Frodo then turned his attention to his younger cousins, “And be easy on this poor cousin! Pippin, I’ll kindly ask you to keep my legs out of the conversation, if you please. They’re doing just fine, thank you very much.”

Paladin glanced round the parlour. “Pippin, where is your dress jacket?”

“I left it in my room,” Pippin answered his father.

“Go to your room at once and fetch it.”

Pippin brushed past his father in a dash to his room, all the while masking his face from the painful cramping he felt settling in his legs and feet. Pippin didn’t want to let Degger in on the jest too soon; timing was everything.

Laying a affectionate hand on Degger’s shoulder, Paladin asked, “Ready?”

Degger nodded while buttoning his jacket then slipped between the two adults through the doorway to walk beside the one person whom he knew loved and cared for him the most. Frodo and Merry followed in their wake, as Merry was to be a witness of events. The small group stood just inside the apartment hallway to await Pippin, for his tasks in this meeting was also to bear witness to events recounted at the Presentation in addition to being the presenter.

“Come along, Pippin,” Paladin said when his son returned after a brief wait, then gently ushered his son forward to walk with Degger. Before long, they were walking through the door of the Took and Thain’s formal office.

Once inside and settled in chairs, everyone awaited Paladin. The Acting Took and Thain sat down in the chair of office and opened the upper right-hand drawer of the enormous desk. Taking out a red leather wallet, Paladin untied the leather thongs then removed two large, round medals that symbolised their respective titled office. A ribbon made from silk had been run through a hole at the top of each medal to be worn about the neck by the titular head. The Thain’s ribbon was red, and the Took’s ribbon was yellow. Paladin placed the medal with the yellow ribbon round his neck.

“We are gathered here for the presenting of a new member of the Took family,” Paladin stated for all to hear. “The presenter will come forward.”

Pippin looked at his friends anxiously before he stepped up to the Thain’s desk; never before had he heard his father speak so ceremoniously. Until this moment, the young lad had never observed his father perform this particular sort of duty. Pippin secretly hoped that he wouldn’t be the one to make a silly mistake.

“State your name.”

Pippin hesitated for a mere second and then spoke up. “My--my name is Peregrin Took.”

“And whom is being presented to me?”

Pippin turned to Degger, motioning for the tween to stand beside him. “I bring Deg--, I mean, Diggory Greenhill, sir.” Pippin winced at his error.

Paladin had a twinkle in his eye, but kept a straight face. “Diggory, are you of age to speak for yourself?”

Degger started at the sound of his “new” name. “Aye, sir.”

The Took’s eyes softened, a slight smile played on his face. “Diggory, please tell us how you have claimed the name of ‘Took’.”

Degger was quiet for a long moment; Paladin let the lad fumble a bit for words before gently intervening. “Degger, this may all seem ostentatious to you, however, when one of your curious Took cousins asks you about your lineage or how you suddenly came by the name of Took, you need to be able to articulate your answer--and be resolute enough about it so that they do not take you to task over it. Do you understand?”

Degger swallowed hard then nodded. “Aye, sir.” The tween began his tale in Michel Delving and being discovered by a well-to-do visitor, then his voice grew stronger, more confident, concluding with the trip to Ivy Bellflower that ended a fortnight ago.

“Meriadoc and Peregrin--you both are of age to be witness in ceremonies such as this. You were present in Michel Delving seven years ago; do you agree with Diggory?”

Pippin and Merry both assented with “Yes, sir.”

“Peregrin, you were in Little Delving with Diggory, do agree with his account?”

“I do.”

Paladin surveyed the group before him as if studying them. “As do I,” he finally said. “I was at both places as well, however, as I am acting in an official capacity my testimony should be taken only if there were conflicting elements to De--, er, Diggory’s story.” Paladin looked at Pippin then smiled. “I deem that Diggory Greenhill be officially known henceforth as Diggory Took-Greenhill. He shall be head of his family and descendants from this day on. Does anyone contest my decision?”

The room was silent, but full of smiles.

“There are a few things for you to sign, Degger,” said Paladin, now putting off all formality. Here, he took out the papers he had placed inside the portfolio earlier. “Come, Degger. Sign here--you must sign your full and correct name...and then your birthday...”

“May I ask what this is?” asked Degger, noticing the document had seven signatures in red ink.

“It’s your adoption into the Took family,” Paladin answered, then laughed at Degger’s expression.

“Adopted?”

“Don’t you want to be adopted, Degger?” Pippin asked the lad.

Paladin didn’t know if perhaps he had misunderstood Degger the other day. “I’m sorry, I thought you’d be happy with being adopted as a Took.”

Degger, still gaping at the parchment replied, “I am happy...we talked about my presentation ceremony, but I don’t remember us talkin’ about me bein’ adopted.” The tweenager smiled wide, “I’m part o’ a real family now.”

Now Paladin understood; Degger was merely surprised, although happy of it. “Yes, you are!” he said with a laugh, pulling Degger into a hug, “and a very big family it is, too!”

Pippin, Merry, and Frodo all gathered round Degger to clap him on the back or embrace him.

“Wait, lads--let him sign his name first,” laughed Adelard, making his way over to the little crowd.

Continued...