Title: All Go Tumbling Down
Author: By Robin Gurl
Part: Chapter 1
Canon: Movie
Warnings: Hurt and Comfort, Pippin Centric
Slash: No.
Author Note: This story has been beta-ed September 23, 2008.
Disclaimer: I own no one! I did borrow some lines from the movie but added my own action in! :D

Pippin ran, if he stopped then surely Farmer Maggot would catch him and his companions.

"I don't know why he's so upset. It's only a couple of carrots."

Pippin piped up as he ran, "And some cabbages. And the three bags of potatoes we lifted last week. And the mushrooms the week before that."

"Yes Pippin, my point is he's clearly over reacting."

Pippin stopped when he got to the edge of the cliff. There was no way he going down. Then to his disappointment his felt Merry run into him. After that he guessed Frodo because he felt another push. After getting their balance stabled another weight sent them flying down the cliff.

The last coherent thought Frodo had was a sharp pain in head then everything went black.

Merry sat up dazed, "I think I've broken something.." He held up a carrot and let out a moan. Underneath him was everyone else. Sam sat up spitting leaves and dirt from his mouth. He didn't look to pleasant at all.

"Trust a Brandybuck and a Took."

"What? It was just a detour, a short cut."

"Short Cut to what?" The Gardner demanded. There was no way in how that was a short cut. Someone could get hurt coming down the hill. Then he remembered Frodo. "Mister Frodo?"

"Pip?" Merry called his cousin from where he was landing. "Are you still there?"

The other two hobbits didn't move they just laid face down in the dirt. Frodo was laying across Pippin his eyes closed. The other three were crushing Pippin who had been on the bottom and first to hit everything in the way. A big gash on his right temple was oozing blood.

Merry and Sam quickly clammered out of their holes and pulled the two unconscious hobbits apart. As soon as Sam got Frodo free he noticed a huge bruise already forming on his master's temple. "How is Mr. Pippin?"

Merry checked the youngest hobbit over carefully, praying that Pippin hadn't gotten seriously injured. If Pippin had, Merry was going to have his hide tanned by both families. "I'm betting the same as Frodo, I'm afraid."

"Come on," Sam stood taking Frodo in his arms. There was no way they could stay here. Not with those Black Rider's out there.

"What are you talking about? We can't move them." Merry hissed.

"If we don't then something much worse could happen."

"Samwise Gamgee what are you talking about? I'm not moving Pip anywhere. For all I know he could have broken something." Then a screech went off making the hair on Merry's neck stand on end. "What was that?"

"It's those black people. Pick Mr. Pippin up and lets go."

Merry seeing no other choice and really not wanting to see what was coming after them stood up cradling his cousin's small body in his arms. "Lead the way Sam."

Merry had called to Sam and told him to make their way to the Swinging Tree so that he and Pip would pick their stuff up. Sam had never actually been there but he had heard of it. The Black Rider's had given up chasing the two hobbits for the moment. For that Sam was beyond grateful. That meant that he could turn his attention on waking his master up.

Halfway there Frodo moaned weakly. "Sam?" His vision was still very blurry. He made out a large face with blonde hair. "What's going on?"

"Hang in there Mr. Frodo."

"Hang on?" Frodo exclaimed. "Where are you running to so fast?" A screech answered him. Out of the blue a Black Rider jumped out from behind a tree and started galloping towards them.

"Sam in here." Merry shouted. The Brandybuck dove into a hollow tree root minding his cousin's head he curled inside. Sam reluctantly followed and soon both hobbits were squished in the hole. Their two burdens still in their arms, Pippin had yet to awaken.

"Sam are Merry and Pip alright?" Frodo asked quietly. He didn't win a reply when something wearing armor hit the ground right over their heads.

It sniffed and when it didn't find anything it flew off on its horse leaving a group of scared hobbits behind. "Pippin come on wake up." Merry urged gently caressing his cousin's curls.

Frodo looked up from their makeshift campfire. They have arrived at the Swinging Tree three hours ago. His little cousin hadn't made a move the entire time. Merry hadn't moved from Pippin's side at all missing Afternoon Tea, which was very uncommon for hobbits. His blue eyes scanned the field and saw Sam standing in awe in front of the huge tree. "You've never seen it before Sam?"

Sam shook his head a little tint of blush appearing on his cheeks. "No Mr. Frodo, I haven't. It's beautiful."

"It's called the Swinging Tree because it's limbs grow together to form swings. Little hobbit children come up here to play all the time." Frodo walked over to Pippin's body noticing that Merry had finally left to go eat or something. That confounded headache was back. He could feel his head throbbing as though his heart was in his head instead of his chest.

"Mr. Frodo are you alright?"

"Sam, I'll be fine. I'm more worried about young Pip than myself." Frodo opened his eyes once more and his blue eyes looked to his left to see his younger cousin.

Pippin was lying in the position that Merry had left him, which was on his back. His innocent face was blank of all emotion and contained no color but a pale peach. "To come all this way and he's gets knocked out by a fall." Merry grumbled.

Frodo laughed a little but then straightened back up. His face turned serious again. "I wonder if he hit his delicate head on a rock on his way down. I know I did."

Merry shrugged taking two clothes and wetting both. One he handed to Frodo and the other he placed on Pippin's forehead. Frodo thankfully took the cloth that he was given and placed it on his bruised temple. All three waited praying that Pip would wake up soon. When the cold cloth hit Pippin's forehead the Took moaned. Merry felt his heart speed up, Pippin was still alive. "That's it, come on, Pip."

Slowly Pippin's eyes opened and focused on his cousin, who was hovering protectively over him. "Merry?"

"That's right. How are you doing botheran?" Merry asked gently caressing his cousin's curls.

"I don't remember what happened." Pippin replied trying to sit up. To his despair the world decided that it didn't want to stay still and Pippin fell right back down. "Ow."

"Oh Pip," Frodo exclaimed wrapping his arms around Pippin's shoulder and waist helping him slowly sit up, "Take it easy. You fell down a huge cliff along with the rest of us. You must have hit your head on the way down, just relax."

"That would explain why my head hurts. Merry is there any food? I'm hungry."

Everyone including Sam chuckled at Pippin's request.

"I knew that one was coming." Merry replied handing his cousin an apple from his right coat pocket, which, Pippin took gratefully. "So Sam, what were those things that were chasing us?"

"Chasing?" Pippin asked between bites. "Who chased you?"

"Some riders in black. They looked like scary monsters." Merry said after a moment. Hoping that answer wouldn't scare his cousin to much.

Pippin's eyes widened and he scooted closer to Frodo grabbing his friend's arm and holding it tight. "Are they here?"

Frodo patted Pippin's thigh playfully, "Yes, but I haven't seen one since we were back on Holly Tree Lane."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Pippin." Frodo replied noticing how scared Pippin looked. Maybe they shouldn't have mentioned the Black Riders to Pippin, oh well, too late now.

"Come here Pip, I'll protect you."

Frodo let Pippin go and watched the youngest hobbit crawl over to Merry who had his arms open wide ready to catch Pippin if he should fall. "They're called Black Riders."

"Ah, Black Riders.." One of Merry's hands was already soothing Pippin's fears by caressing the messy mop of curls and the other was around Pippin's waist holding him close. "So what were you guys doing out here? Didn't think you two were the adventurous type."

Sam gave Frodo a warning glance and Frodo sighed. "We were um, going camping."

"Camping?" Merry didn't believe any of it. But he decided to let Frodo get away with it until he was sure Pippin was alright. Pippin looked unhurt, but he knew very well that his cousin hid his illnesses until the last moment. It was just how Pippin handled it. "Well how about you camp here with us then we'll escort you to your next place. Right Pip?"

Pippin nodded tiredly not facing the other two and buried his face in Merry's golden vest.

"Merry," Pippin whispered two hours later, "My head is hurting."

Merry looked down nodding, "I don't doubt it, you hit your head hard."

"Did you get any hurts?"

Frodo laughed over by their fire that Sam had started. He hadn't heard that word since Pippin was a little hobbit lad. "Nope, other than the bruises and scrapes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes Pip, I'm sure."

Content that his friends were alright, Pippin relaxed against his cousin.

Frodo turned around, "I suggest you two get over here before you both freeze."

Merry nodded and stood dragging Pippin over to the fire then holding him in his lap like he use to when Pippin was a little hobbit. Pippin didn't fuss and just laid his head on Merry's chest closing his eyes. His head throbbing feeling like it was going to explode any moment. He felt himself drift off into a dreamless slumber snoring softly.

End Chapter 1