Further Up Further In

By Robin Gurl

Chapter 9

(d00d..XD An update!!!!!! Cool, no? I threw (apparently) the sequel away cos I can't find it…..x.x…*sighs* why me?)

Pippin moaned, it was so cold and he was so scared. He wasn't feeling as bad but he still felt ill.

"So Pippin do you have a hobbit lass that you're going to be getting married to soon?" Jusif asked trying to make conservation.

Pippin took awhile to answer. He didn't want them to disapprove. "I..I don't go for girls…" He heard both gasp in shock. But nothing happened afterwards.

Erem smiled, "It's alright, each to his own. So who is the lucky lad?"

Pippin blushed, "Merry, my best friend and cousin. He's probably worried beyond reason right now."

Little did Pippin know the truth in his words.

*~*

"Come Merry, we have some food for you eat." Merry shook his head not moving. Strider sat beside the halfing wrapping an arm around him, "No need to make yourself sick."

Merry shrugged Strider's arm off not caring. "When the rain lets up I want to go find them."

Over to the side Frodo groaned and sat up. His arm wasn't hurting as much anymore. He saw Gandalf hovering worriedly over him, "Gandalf?" When the wizard didn't answer he sighed, "What is it?"

Gandalf looked down relief spread across his face. "Oh good, you're awake."

Sam looked over from trying to prod the Brandybuck into eating something and saw Frodo sitting up. He forgot all about Merry and ran over to Frodo, "Bless you, you're awake."

"Sam hasn't left your side."

"We were that worried about you weren't we Mr. Gandalf?" Sam placed a light kiss on Frodo's lips his eyes watering.

"Don't cry my love. I'm alive and well now." Frodo wiped his lover's tears away but saw that he was tearing up as well.

"A lot has happened while you were ill."

"Tell me." Frodo replied after looking around for a moment, "Where is Pip?"

"He is with Erem and Jusif!"

Who? Frodo's mind exclaimed. He decided or hoped that they were good people, "Is he alright?" He was ill when I last saw him."

Merry didn't answer Frodo. He held back a sob and curled against a window watching the rain fall outside.

Sam sighed, "He wasn't doing so great last time we saw him."

"I'm going to talk to Merry, he looks so sad." Frodo stood tiredly and stumbled over to his cousin, "Oi, Cousin."

Merry ignored him fighting back tears. He was happy that Frodo was awake but he wanted to be with his true love as well.

"Meriadoc.." Frodo whispered wrapping his arms around his cousin. "He's going to be alright."

That was what Pippin use to do. Tears ran down Merry's cheeks as he remembered.

*~*

"MERRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Merry Brandybuck let out a groan as someone knocked him down from behind wrapping their arms around his neck.

"GUESS WHAT? GUESS WHAT?"

Merry laughed swinging Pippin around and holding him tight, "What Pip?"

"I grew two inches since last year."

"Really? That's a lot."

"I know I know!! Da said I'll be as tall as you one day."

Merry chuckled and ruffled the youngsters curls. "I'm sure you will be."

"Merry?"

"Yes, Pip?"

The youngster wrapped his arms around Merry's neck curling close, "We'll be together forever, right?"

"Yes, Pippin. We will be, I promise I'll protect you from anyone and anything."

"You're like the Knight in Shining Armor from Bilbo's story!!" Green eyes were bright as they took in Merry's navy blue ones. "How great!! I have a Knight in Shining Armor!!"

*~*

"We're going out there."

"Going out where?"

"I've let this go to long. No Elf is going to tell me what I should or shouldn't do. My love, your baby cousin is out there sick as heck with no one he knows." Merry glared at Lila, "I'm going to get him."

To his surprise Strider stood walking with Elrond over to them, "I'm taking Sam and Frodo, we're going to go find them!!"

The Brandybuck glared, "WHY CAN'T I GO?"

"You've haven't eaten or slept at all since you came here. I won't allow it." The Elf Lord commanded.

"I don't care about that. Pippin needs me!!!"

"You aren't going to be any help to him if you're as ill as he is." Elrond reasoned in such a tone that Merry knew it wasn't worth fighting over it.

"Bring him back, Frodo. I trust you!!"

Frodo nodded, "Of course you can trust me. I'll return carrying him."

"Let's go before it starts raining hard again." Strider pulled his hood over his cloak and waited for the others to join him.

Sam smiled taking Frodo's hand in his, "This reminds me of the time Mr. Pippin decided to find the forest fairies and we had to go find him."

Frodo smiled remembering it well, "It does, Sam."

*~*

"Mr. Took?!?!" Samwise called through the dark.

Frodo was behind him shivering from the cold. "That fool of a Took. If Merry gets home before we find him we're in for it."

"It wasn't exactly our fault, Mr. Frodo. He's the one that ran off."

Frodo smirked rolling his eyes, "Actually, Sam, it was. We were the ones who told him about the forest fairies."

"FRODO!!"

Both hobbits froze when a high pitched yell came from the woods. Frodo frowned his face set with determination. "That way, Samwise."

"Pippin?" Sam called again once in the woods.

Sobs were coming from behind a tree. When Frodo knelt down and looked behind it he saw a small hobbit child with wild dark blonde curls. "Pip, it's alright."

The child buried himself in Frodo's arms sobbing. "I came to find the fairies but they aren't here."

"You scared them away, Mr. Pippin. See, they are scared of us. They only come out when we aren't around."

"Oh."

*~*

::Only this time there aren't any fairies to find…:: Frodo reminded himself.

*~*

Out side in the rain Frodo's blue eyes scanned the landscape. Rivendell was supposed to be beautiful or that was what he had been told. In the storm it looked eerie. "Strider, where would they be waiting out the storm?"

"There is an old storm shelter down that way. They should be in there." ::It's the only safe place…:: If they weren't in there then Strider had no other ideas.

"Let's go to it then. I will not be content until Pippin is safe and warm in Merry's arms." Frodo replied. It was true, he wouldn't be until those innocent green eyes were staring back at him.

*~*

Elrond felt sorry for Merry, he hadn't meant to sound mean. "Come," He said soothingly helping the hobbit stand, "Help me prepare a bed for your friend."

Merry obeyed knowing that Pippin was going to need blankets and pillows when Frodo brought him back. "Alright, Mr. Elrond."

Elrond chuckled, "Just Elrond, little one. No need to be formal."

Merry smiled, "Alright, Elrond."

*~*

Suddenly everyone heard a loud noise. All three stopped in their tracks and then heard three screams. "Oh, no!!" Strider exclaimed breaking out into a sprint, "The old shelter collapsed."

"PIPPIN!!" Frodo shouted running behind Strider. They were closer to it then he had thought. It had collapsed. "PIPPIN!!!" He shouted again.

He received no answer.

End Chapter 9

(Uh-oh *ducks and hides behind Dom who is roasting marshmallows at the moment* Don't hurt me yet, kay!?!?!? *whimpers* DOMMIE!! SAVE ME!!!!!!!)