Fool of a took
He awoke with a jump… He had that nightmare again… His friend Pippin was in grave danger. Something about this nightmare unnerved him. It was all a dream he told himself, but he wasn't sure, he needed to check on him. Of course it was known to be impossible to return from where he was, but… he knew someone very wise that knew a few things…
Pippin lay in the ditch of the newest tavern he had come across. That was his plan, to visit every tavern in middle earth, and to hopefully numb the loss of Merry with alcohol. He hadn't been sober in months; he was close to an unhappy end. The excessive drinking did not help, as he was reminded of Merry each time he went to buy a drink. "It comes in pints?!" played through his head each time he ordered…. As he lay in his own filth, wishing for death, he was awoken by a sharp hit to a head and the familiar words "Fool of a took"
Pippin's heart nearly stopped then and there, "Surely…. It couldn't be….. That's impossible….." He turned on his side, using new-found energy and was greeted by a stern look from a familiar face. Pippin didn't care what happened next, he shouted "GANDALF!" and ran at the old wizard, arms outstretched and greeted him with a hug. Gandalf laughed, and said warmly "I'm sure there's someone else here that will want to see you". Pippin looked around, from behind Gandalf, Frodo emerged. This was too much for Pippin; he left out a cry and sank to the floor sobbing. Frodo understood, he knew that his return would bring back painful memories. Gandalf put Pip on his shoulder and carried him to the Inn, he booked a room and put Pippin to bed, there would be no reasoning with the hobbit in this state.
Pippin opened his eyes to see his old companions sitting next to his bed. Pippin blurted out hundreds of questions at once "I thought it was impossible to return" "Why did you come back?" Frodo spoke next "I am but a reflection. Alas, I am still in Valinor. My wound stops me from being here in person, Gandalf found passage on an eagle and that's how he is here. We are here because I had a feeling, a deep feeling inside that something was wrong. Tell us Pip, we are here for you." Pippin divulged everything that had happened, all his feelings, all his woes. Gandalf sat solemnly, smoking his pipe and taking everything in. Frodo was almost in tears, he had missed the pair of tricksters greatly... Finally, Gandalf spoke; Pippin hoped his counsel would help him. "There is something truly amiss when there is not a smile on the face of Peregrin took! You need to let go of Merry, he would not have wanted you to become like this, imagine what he would say if he say your wretched life now!" Gandalf was stern, but right. Merry wouldn't have even recognised him like this, he needed to change…. For Merry