more more more

[rabidsamfan]

“So you have,” said the King, “but no one was asking you to sign treaties, then. Still, Merry is of age, and if the two of you are together you can take turns at staying awake. Legolas and Gimli will be needed too, and Gandalf will probably choose to come, but those three are well enough.” He sat carefully on one of the hobbit sized chairs and beckoned to Bergil, who approached him nervously. “How much longer are you on duty, lad?”

“Until Master Tollovand says I can go,” Bergil said. “Though I do not think he will keep me here much past the time that people are waking. And I heard him tell Ansell that he should be the errand runner come morning.”

“Sir Peregrin tells me that you were his guide to the city when he first came.”

“And a good guide too,” Pippin added, reaching for the jam.

The King nodded. “And you were running errands for the Healers, were you not? Do you know the look of a fever, or when someone is hiding pain?”

“I think so,” Bergil said, and because that didn’t seem to be enough he explained. “You can’t just see if people have a fever, you have to touch them, but if their eyes get shiny, and their faces get red or pale you know you should check. And when people hurt inside they get tight eyebrows.”

“Tight eyebrows?”

“Yes, and they make their mouths all stiff. Like this.” Bergil pulled his eyebrows together and made his mouth a straight line, the way he’d noticed that the soldiers who wanted to go back to the walls even though they were bleeding made their faces when they talked to the Healers. It had never fooled Mardil, of course, although sometimes the herbmaster pretended that it did.

“You’ve good eyes,” the King said, smiling. “Think you you can stay by Sam and Frodo this morning? Lead them to the garden or about the city and watch to see if either of them falters or falls ill?”

“Do you think they will?”

There was a shadow on the king’s face when he answered. “I do not know. But they were sorely tried and their strength has been slow to return. I would have them rest today, if they can. But though I cannot stay to tend them, and needs must have the other Companions by my side, I would not want to leave them alone.”

“Frodo’s not likely to want an honor guard escorting him around the city,” Pippin said. “And it would put the wind right up Sam.” He waved the jam-laden knife for emphasis. “Now, don’t you go fussin’, Strider,” he said in an imitation of Sam’s way of speaking. “We’re grown hobbits, both of us, and we know when we ought to go to bed.” Pippin snorted as Bergil put a hand over his mouth to hide his grin. “And then he gets so interested in the story someone’s telling he goes to sleep right where he is, and Frodo’s not much better. Just try to keep them from carrying too much or trying to do everything at once, and you can let the King or me know if they do anyway.”

“But what if they tell me not to tell you?” Bergil asked.

“Tell them the truth, that I asked you to report to me,” the King said. “It will not be for too long, Bergil. By noon I should have sorted through enough to send Pippin back down, or someone else in his stead. Can you stay awake that long?”

Bergil wished he could chew on his fingernails. That always made it easier to think. To guide the Ringbearer and Sam would be high honor indeed. And he didn’t think it was allowed to say “no” to a King, even if you were sleepy. He took a deep breath. “Can I have breakfast first?”

part twenty