return

1124 the return of the king
He looked up and the mist before his eyes cleared a little.
There was Pippin! They were face to face in a narrow lane,
and but for themselves it was empty. He rubbed his eyes.
‘Where is the king?’ he said. ‘And Éowyn?’ Then he
stumbled and sat down on a doorstep and began to weep
again.
‘They have gone up into the Citadel,’ said Pippin. ‘I think
you must have fallen asleep on your feet and taken the wrong
turning. When we found that you were not with them,
Gandalf sent me to look for you. Poor old Merry! How glad
I am to see you again! But you are worn out, and I won’t
bother you with any talk. But tell me, are you hurt, or
wounded?’
‘No,’ said Merry. ‘Well, no, I don’t think so. But I can’t
use my right arm, Pippin, not since I stabbed him. And my
sword burned all away like a piece of wood.’
Pippin’s face was anxious. ‘Well, you had better come with
me as quick as you can,’ he said. ‘I wish I could carry you.
You aren’t fit to walk any further. They shouldn’t have let
you walk at all; but you must forgive them. So many dreadful
things have happened in the City, Merry, that one poor
hobbit coming in from the battle is easily overlooked.’
‘It’s not always a misfortune being overlooked,’ said Merry.
‘I was overlooked just now by – no, no, I can’t speak of it.
Help me, Pippin! It’s all going dark again, and my arm is so
cold.’
‘Lean on me, Merry lad!’ said Pippin. ‘Come now! Foot
by foot. It’s not far.’
‘Are you going to bury me?’ said Merry.
‘No, indeed!’ said Pippin, trying to sound cheerful, though
his heart was wrung with fear and pity. ‘No, we are going to
the Houses of Healing.’
They turned out of the lane that ran between tall houses
and the outer wall of the fourth circle, and they regained the
main street climbing up to the Citadel. Step by step they
went, while Merry swayed and murmured as one in sleep.