Hi, sorry it took so long to update. I've been busy lately.

Chapter 11: Small Comforts

By the next morning, the poison had started to take hold of Pippin. A horrible fever raged inside him, making him weak and his skin was pale and ashen. If it weren't for his painful, ragged breathing, anyone else would have thought he was dead.

Merry stayed glued to Pippin's side the whole time, never once leaving him. It all seemed so wrong for someone as kind and sweet and gentle and innocent as Pippin to be hurt in any way. It was all happening too fast and Merry didn't understand.

Pippin lay on his side, curled up in a little ball, whimpering and crying. His stomach hurt so much, he fought the urdge to cry out in agony. He had also threw up several times, which made his throat very sore.

"Merry...please help me. Please...make the pain stop." Pippin said between cries.

"Oh, Pip...I-I wish I could. I'd give anything in the world for you to get better." Merry said, gently running a shaky hand through Pippin's sweaty curls.

Merry just felt so helpless...all the comfort in the world wouldn't make Pippin better.

"M-Merry, will you hold me?" Pippin asked, he knew he sounded like a little child, but he needed comfort.

"Of course." Merry said, gently and carefully taking Pippin's tiny body into his arms.

Merry layed a gently kiss on Pippin's forehead, wincing at how hot the skin was against his lips.

"I want to go home." Pippin said.

"So do I, Pip. Don't worry, we will see the Shire again...I promise you." Merry said.

Pippin gave a great big yawn and slowly fell asleep in Merry's arms. He knew off all the places in Middle-Earth, the safest place for him was his Merry's gentle arms.

--

Later on that night, everyone was asleep, save for Gandalf, who had agreed to stay up and keep the fire going and to watch Pippin. As he started to drift off into his own thoughts, he heard a whimper. He looked over to where Pippin lay and saw that he was whimpering and moaning and blindly struggling against his blanket. Gandalf rushed over and gently shook the Hobbit.

"Pippin. Pippin, wake up." he said.

Pippin gasped and woke up, fear etched in his features. Seeing the Hobbit's fear, Gandalf gently took him into his arms to comfort him.

"It was a bad dream." Pippin whispered.

Gandalf nodded his head and wrapped Pippin in his blanket and walked back over to the fire with Pippin still in his arms.

"Sleep easy now, little one." Gandalf said gently.

Pippin was back asleep in now time. The flicker of the flames danced playfully across Pippin's young face. Gandalf's heart went out to the tiny Hobbit resting in his arms. His pale little face was marked with cuts and bruises and his breathing was labored, but even through that, he looked so peaceful. Gandalf smiled and gently ran his hand down the side of Pippin's face. A soft rumble noise escaped Pippin's throat as if to say 'thank you'. Pippin was resting safely and peacefully for the first time in so long.