A/N: A very short story on how Pippin felt at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Written from Pippins POV and NO SLASH! Just intense Pippin and Merry friendship.

Pippin's Tears

Salty tears clouded my eyes as I ran. "Merry! Merry!" My cries echoed into the dark abyss only to be engulfed by the silence.

I staggered over bodies of Orc, Men and Elf, tears streaming down my dirty face as I scanned the faces of those who have fallen. A sharp pain coursed through my arm and the warm red liquid began to stain, but the wound on my arm was no match for the piercing sting in my heart.

"Merry!" I whispered to myself as my heart throbbed and my stomach twisted. "Where are you! Oh, where are you?"

Horrible 'what if' questions burned in my mind, I started to cry again. I can't live without him. He was my everything. The one who looked out for me, who always got me into trouble, but he was always there to get me out of it. Merry was my guardian. Merry stood up for me and he always stood by me, always. My heart ached again. I let him down. I wasn't here for him this time, and now he was gone. forever.

I clambered over the body of an Oliphaunt and there, collapsed by the foot of the beast, Merry lay.

"Merry!" A scream erupted from my chest as I scrambled frantically to his side. I grasped his cold hand, hoping to channel some warmth into him. "Wake up" I sobbed into my clenched fist. "Just please ... wake up"

Merry dragged his eyes open slowly. "Pippin?" He whispered. "Is that you?"

"Yes" I managed to smile, letting the salty tears onto my cracked lips. The warm tear drops stung an unacknowledged cut on my bottom lip, but despite the sting, I smiled. "Your alive"

"Not for long, Pip" Merry groaned in pain.

"No" I said firmly. "I won't lose you!"

Merry's eyelids shut "Pippin" He sighed.

"No!" I repeated. 'You can't leave me Merry! Not after everything we have been through!"

"You need to let me go" Merry tried to make it sound like a command, but it was more of a beg.

I shook my head. "I won't leave you here" I gently buried my head into his arm. He clutched me tight.

"You are a true friend, Pippin" Merry said with a small smile as he softly patted my shoulder as I cried into him.

"I'll take care of you Merry, I'll never leave you alone" I whispered. "I promise"