It was dark in the caves; too dark.
In the shire I'd always had to sleep with some form of light on, and now I was plunged into complete darkness.
I could feel the fear settling at the bottom of my stomach, eating away at me as I lay there underneath my blankets, shivering all the time.
I hadn't wanted to go through the caves. I'd tried to talk Frodo out of it but, as always, we ended up doing what he wanted; that was when he was carrying the ring.
I put my hands out beside me to see if there was anyone near me; I knew that Merry had gone to sleep somewhere close to me.
I searched with my hands, and the fear settled even deeper when I couldn't find him.
"Merry?" I whispered, not wanting to wake anyone else that may be sleeping, but when I received no reply, I was forced to speak a bit louder.
"Merry?" I spoke, cringing as my voice was echoed around the caves. I heard some movement from beside me and repeated myself one more time "Merry?"
"What Pippin? What is it?" I heard Merry say beside me, the annoyance in his voice scalding me.
" I-I just wanted to make sure you're okay" I said under my breath sadly, lying back down on my side, facing the way I had heard Merry's voice come from, staring in to the blackness.
"Of course I'm fine Pippin, I've been here all the time you have" I heard the reply and sighed.
"I just wanted to be sure okay Merry?"
"Pippin, what's the real problem?" I heard him say, his voice laced with sympathy.
"Merry, remember that time you slept round at home, a-and I had to sleep with the door open and I wouldn't say why?"
"Yes Pip, I remember, what about it?" He answered, his oblivious tone amusing me.
"Well, it's because…well" I paused, and then whispered "I'm afraid of the dark Merry"
There was a moment of silence; I thought he was going to start laughing at me. Just as I was about to say his name again, I felt an arm fall across my stomach and a voice whisper "Come here Pip"
I turned my body so I was leaning into him, my head on his chest and his arms encasing me.
Despite the complete blackness surrounding the two of us, Merry's heat warmed me through.
"Thank you Merry" I whispered.
"Sleep well Pippin" he mumbled in to my hair before kissing my forehead lightly and resting his head on mine.
I heard his snores moments later and sighed happily, inhaling his scent and smiling.
He was the last thing of home that I had, and I intended to keep him close.
A/N: Hey there chums, I watched The Lord of the Rings today with my lovely friend Daisy and had an urge to write some Pippin and Merry fluff. Sorry it's short, but it's 9 o'clock in the evening and I have to get up at six tomorrow to go to Cambridge avec ma mere.
Sleep well and sweet dreams my loves.
-Holly x