A wizard and three hobbits.

[iorhael]

Who: Merlin, Meriadoc Brandybuck, Peregrin Took, Frodo Baggins
What: After the Darkness falls from the city, Merlin holds his class to teach the arrivals how to properly use their abilities. The hobbits arrive one by one. No one is very happy after the event.
When: Day 136
Where: The Park
Rating: PG or PG-13?


It wasn't Merry's fault. Frodo tried to tell himself this fact over and over again, hoping that it would eventually feel right. Once the darkness had left the city, it came more and more to light what had happened. Something had taken hold of some people, and through them, acted. Evil deeds had happened over the nights, and not just to those attacked. Merry was just as much a victim, for he hadn't had any say in his actions. And worse, he seemed to remember what he had done. Had his cousin been in his right mind at the time, Frodo was sure it would never have happened at all. Merry couldn't have imagined hurting his cousins! The idea would never have occurred to him, not once. And Merry clearly felt terrible about it. He was trying to make things right. It wasn't his fault.

The grin that split his cousin's face as his hands tightened around his throat, that sudden realization Merry was enjoying it, drifted back and he found himself faltering. It was one thing to know Merry wasn't at fault. Quite another to believe.

It was certainly time to take Merlin up on her offer. If anything, this week had taught him clearly that things were far more different than he expected outside the Shire. He needed to learn to defend himself better, and this must start as soon as possible. Maybe he could have been there for Merry. Maybe he could have avoided being taken.

It occurred to the hobbit as he was walking that maybe this wasn't the best idea so soon after that night. Merlin had said that his ability was related to song. After Merry nearly strangled him to death, Frodo's throat wasn't exactly in the best shape to do a very good song. Maybe he could learn and apply it later.

The hobbit arrived at the park, looking around. Now, where were Pippin and Merlin?

Comments

[dragonspeak]

It was a very distracted Merlin that made his way to Gefion park. While he'd wanted something to keep his mind off of the Darkness, he'd gotten a bit more than he bargained for with the elves. If only he'd been more careful with what he wished for.

Merlin tucked his hands into his pockets, his pace slowing as he caught sight of Frodo. His greeting died on his tongue when he saw the Hobbit at a closer range. The cheerful Frodo he'd met at the festival was replaced by one that looked much more solemn--and injured, if Merlin had to guess. No one had really gotten out of the Darkness unscathed, but it was still saddening to see how badly some of the Travelers had been affected.

"Frodo," he said, once he was within hearing distance. "Didn't wait long, did you?"

[iorhael]

He didn't have to wait long. He heard the crunch of feet on grass fairly early on, the sort of footsteps that could only belong to one of the Big Folk. The voice sounded familiar, but Frodo, turning, had yet to meet the lad. He seemed more or less in one piece after the past several days, something Frodo was glad to find. He did, however, look incredibly tired.

The hobbit nodded, wondering for a moment how he knew his name.

"Not at all. I only just arrived," Frodo looked around for a moment, expecting any moment now to see the long-haired lass from earlier come trailing in after. "And you are Merlin's assistant, I take it? It's nice to meet you."

[foolofatook]

Pippin found out what time to arrive and collected Merry from his room down the hall. Together they headed to the park without managing to get themselves lost, which made Pippin very proud of himself and his directional skills. And really, after being Taken and doing some things he only had a vague recollection of, he was glad for any bit of good luck that came his way.

"Hullo, Frodo!" he called as they approached their cousin and the man, putting on a cheerful air. He wasn't yet ready to talk about what had happened to him, and he wanted to think about it even less.

[pipeweed]

It seemed that Merry had dragged his feet all the way to the park, his resolve strengthening and faltering with every step of the way. He'd been unusually quiet when Pippin had picked him up, and would not talk unless talked to. He thought it was much easier, that way.

Upon their arrival, Merry immediately saw Frodo talking to a Big Folk whom Merry hadn't seen before. Perhaps this was Merlin, then?

When Pippin greeted their cousin, Merry started, then crossed his arms and looked away, before uncrossing them and smiling, however forced it seemed. "Seemed as though we're all here--" Here he addressed the unfamiliar man, "--if you are indeed the one called Merlin."

[dragonspeak]

Unfortunate that he hadn't a chance to correct Frodo before the others arrived, but perhaps it was simpler to make the introductions in one go rather than several times.

"Actually, I am." Merlin glanced at Frodo apologetically. "I never got the chance to tell you, Frodo, but you met me while I was cursed. This is what I usually look like."

Then, Merlin turned his attention toward Merry and Pippin, who were just as small in stature as Frodo was. Despite the smiles, they didn't look too well off, either. "That makes you Frodo's cousins."

[iorhael]

Frodo glanced over at Pippin, glad to see his cousin had arrived, and started to wave a little. Then he caught sight of who was with him. It was something of a sudden shock to see his other cousin. Merry came along behind Pippin, which in itself was rather unlike him. They were usually attached at the hip or Merry led the way. Of course Merry would come. Frodo had mentioned it before and Pippin told Merry everything; he had no business being surprised that Merry had come along.

Frodo dropped his eyes, unwilling as Merry to talk. They could hardly pretend things could go back to normal now that the darkness had fallen away, could they? Frodo found himself sneaking a glance anyway. Merry seemed closed off, tightly wound as it were. Still

Merry's words were something of a surprise. Surely he had it wrong, this wasn't Merlin-

Surely, it seemed when Merlin next spoke, Frodo had had it wrong the entire time. This, it seemed would be the first of today's surprises to a trying week. Frodo wasn't prepared to hear such a thing first thing in his morning; it being that this lad was in fact, the woman Frodo had spoken to, and he was only temporarily a woman, and cursed like in the old stories. Goodness, where did he even begin? Maybe it was better for all if he didn't.

Frodo flushed. He hoped he hadn't offended Merlin, or rather, if he had, not terribly so. "Her assistant". "I'm sorry, I assumed..."

[foolofatook]

There was a tension in the air, and Pippin wondered at it. Could it be that Frodo and Merry had done terrible things themselves when Darkness had fallen? Again, he tried to push those chilling thoughts away and focus on positive things. But Frodo's voice concerned him. Why was he sounding so hoarse? He needed some tea with honey. Pippin made a mental note to tell Frodo as much later. In the meantime, he turned to Merry, smiling proudly.

"You see? I told you Merlin was a he!"

[pipeweed]

It was hard not to return the smile Pippin gave him, and so Merry grinned right back. "So you did, Pip," he said, before transferring said grin to Merlin. "I'm glad that misconception has been cleared up, for your sake, sir."

He thought to say more - along the lines of, 'I do wonder where I got the thought that Merlin was a woman' as his way of gently teasing his cousin Frodo - but he clamped his mouth shut just in time. Frodo's voice-- could it be because of--?

Merry swallowed hard at the thought.

[dragonspeak]

"It's all right." Merlin waved the apology away before Frodo could delve further into embarrassment. "Can't exactly blame you when I did look like a woman then, can I?"

Now that all three of them were gathered, Merlin took the opportunity to study them, noting the changes in Frodo as well as the haggard appearances of the other two. The last week had not been kind to them.

"Right. Before we start...maybe I should have a look at all of you. Have you got any injuries from the attack?"

[iorhael]

"No, I suppose not, but I am sorry all the same."

It relieved him immensely that Merlin wasn't offended. In fact, he was remarkably good natured about having gone from a lad to a lass to a lad again in so short a time. And by a magic of some sort! Frodo dearly wanted to ask more about this curse - how had Merlin come under it in the first place, much less shaken it off!- but decided quickly that he'd done more than enough as it was.

Despite himself, the hobbit found himself watching his cousins. For a moment, it almost seemed the grim air around Merry melted away when he turned to Pippin and smiled at him. A trace of the Merry as he was supposed to be peeked out. Frodo was glad to see it. Then it faded suddenly from Merry's face.

Frodo shifted from foot to foot at Merlin's question. The offer was very kind of Merlin. Unfortunately, it was an uncomfortable one. Merry knew what happened, of course. He suspected Pippin didn't, and no matter how tall and worldly his cousins seemed at times, Frodo found himself still protective over them both. "Nothing much."

[foolofatook]

Pippin had come back from the dead with no mark upon him, but he still felt uneasy about Merlin looking him over. What if he could tell that Pippin had been one of those wraith-like beings? He shifted his weight back, ready to move away if Merlin came towards him.

"No, no, I'm quite well! Never felt better."

Now he glanced over at Merry, trying to judge his health. He had seemed fine as they had journeyed to the park, if a little quiet. But Merry had always been the quiet one of the pair, letting Pippin prattle on until he just had to interject.

"Merry, what of you? Are you well?"

[pipeweed]

Mary had saved Merry that day. This Merry knew well. Soon as his right mind had returned, Merry had stayed far and away from darkness as best as he could. He stayed away from most Big Folk as well, be they fellow Travelers or Natives, until the seemingly endless night had passed.

Merry envied Pippin's sunny disposition, even if he thought it was a little suspicious - as if his cousin was too cheerful despite having encountered such a dreadful event. Perhaps he ought to talk to him about that, but on a later time.

"I'm all right," he said to Pippin, before turning his gaze to Merlin. "Nothing a day of resting couldn't fix." Here he darted a look Frodo's way. Nothing much. He ought not to have lied about his condition - but a part of him was relieved for it.