towers

770 the two towers
Merry yawned. ‘Work it out on your fingers!’ he said. ‘But
you must know how long it is since we left Lórien.’
‘Oh, that!’ said Pippin. ‘I mean a real bed in a bedroom.’
‘Well, Rivendell then,’ said Merry. ‘But I could sleep anywhere
tonight.’
‘You had the luck, Merry,’ said Pippin softly, after a pause.
‘You were riding with Gandalf.’
‘Well, what of it?’
‘Did you get any news, any information out of him?’
‘Yes, a good deal. More than usual. But you heard it all or
most of it; you were close by, and we were talking no secrets.
But you can go with him tomorrow, if you think you can get
more out of him – and if he’ll have you.’
‘Can I? Good! But he’s close, isn’t he? Not changed at all.’
‘Oh yes, he is!’ said Merry, waking up a little, and beginning
to wonder what was bothering his companion. ‘He has
grown, or something. He can be both kinder and more alarming,
merrier and more solemn than before, I think. He has
changed; but we have not had a chance to see how much,
yet. But think of the last part of that business with Saruman!
Remember Saruman was once Gandalf ’s superior: head of
the Council, whatever that may be exactly. He was Saruman
the White. Gandalf is the White now. Saruman came when
he was told, and his rod was taken; and then he was just told
to go, and he went!’
‘Well, if Gandalf has changed at all, then he’s closer than
ever that’s all,’ Pippin argued. ‘That—glass ball, now. He
seemed mighty pleased with it. He knows or guesses something
about it. But does he tell us what? No, not a word. Yet
I picked it up, and I saved it from rolling into a pool. Here,
I’ll take that, my lad – that’s all. I wonder what it is? It felt so
very heavy.’ Pippin’s voice fell very low, as if he was talking
to himself.
‘Hullo!’ said Merry. ‘So that’s what is bothering you? Now,
Pippin my lad, don’t forget Gildor’s saying – the one Sam
used to quote: Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for they
are subtle and quick to anger.’