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Merry didn't see Pippin around for the next few days. He spent most of his time at the Green Dragon, what had once been he and Pip's favorite place to drink. One day, however, he was surprised to hear the sounds of the Green Dragon's doors opening and Pippin's loud and accented voice.

"But da, I only wanted--"

"Hush now, boy. I'll be right back, but please do try to be useful and find us a table."

"Yes sir."

Thankfully it was very early and not many Hobbits were out and about yet, so Merry could clearly hear the sounds of chair legs scraping the floor as Pippin sat down. In a second Paladin was up at the bar demanding two ales. Merry instinctively lowered his head and tried to cover his face somehow. He could not, absolutely could not be seen! If Paladin even saw him in the same room with Pip, well, that would mean a harsh beating for Pip, even if the two didn't actually talk or make eye contact, and Merry refused to let that happen. No one should ever hurt his Pippin, not ever.

He heard Paladin's voice somewhere off to his right, exactly where Merry wasn't sure, and he surely didn't want to risk a peek over. "Two ales, please." Paladin's harsh voice said, already sounding like he had had one ale too many today.

There was a few seconds pause before he was grumbling, "Yeah, thanks." and the sound of footsteps leading away from where Merry sat.

As soon as he sensed that Paladin was no longer there, Merry let out a little sigh of relief and took a sip of his own ale. It was his first one today. He had made sure not to drink much so that if he did see Pip and had a chance to talk with him—or more?--he didn't ruin it by not being sober.

He heard the scuffling of more feet behind him as more Hobbits entered and took their seats, a distance away from both Pippin and Paladin. Merry risked a look back and was surprised to see Pippin sitting a little distance away in a chair facing him. Their eyes locked. Pippin's mouth fell open and his eyes—both of which were surrounded by rings of black bruises now—lit up.

"Merry?"

Merry shook his head and pressed a finger to his lips. He mouthed silently, "Ssh, Pip! You have to be quiet or--"

"What's your mouth open at, boy?" Paladin suddenly snapped. Pippin quickly shut his mouth and let out a little squeak of surprise, as if just realizing that he was with his father.

"N-Nothing, sir."

Merry hurriedly turned around in his seat and heard Paladin say, "You'd better mind yourself, boy, or I'll make you."

Another terrified squeak and Pippin whispered, "Yes, da. I understand."

"Well you'd better." Paladin said. His tone suddenly became low and growling as he whispered in what he thought was a quiet way, "Why, I won't have any Took in the family, much less me own flesh and blood, runnin' around with another lad. It's disgraceful; do you want the other Hobbits to say awful things about you? About our family?"

Pippin whispered shamefully, "No."

"Well if they see you runnin' around with any more lads, that's what they'll do. They'll call ye hurtful, shameful things and they'll do the same to that Brandybuck you been sneakin' round with. What's his name?"

"Merry."

At the sound of his name Merry felt the all too familiar warmness spread through him, and he shivered. Poor Pip, he thought distractedly, he must be so miserable...

Then Pippin said something that made Merry jump; "Sir, could I please go and get another ale? I'm really thirsty."

And in his usual harsh, cold tone, Paladin grumbled, "Ya, go jump off a cliff for all I care, Pip, just be back by the time I leave here or I'll beat you black and blue all over again."

"Yes sir. I'll be right back."

Merry could hear the sound of hurried Hobbit footsteps a second before he felt a hand on his shoulder and a soft voice whisper in his ear, "Merry, I'm here."

"Thank the Shire you are, Pip." Merry whispered back, turning his head slightly to meet his friend's gaze. "I've missed you a lot."

"And I've missed you, but Paladin has been watching me like never before..." he hesitated before saying, "He makes me follow him everywhere, Merr. It gets horribly boring, and the worst part is that if he sees me so much as talking to you he'll--"

Merry reached for his hand and caught it. He didn't let go, not even when Pippin cast a paranoid glance over to his father. "I know what he'll do, and we don't need to talk about that." and for an instant his gaze wavered; Pippin looked so sad, so miserable. What could he do?

As if to confirm this, Pippin let out a sudden sob and looked down at the floor. Merry's eyes searched his face, looking for the slightest sign of happiness. He could find none. "Pip, what's wrong? Please don't do that..."

"I'm sorry, it's just that...oh, please, Merry, please don't make me go back over to him. I don't think that I could stand it."

"Well then--" Merry's voice cut abruptly off, the words refused to force their way out of his mouth, no matter how hard he tried to make them. Well then we could run away...

"Merry what? What is it? Hurry, tell me before I have to go." Pippin hissed as he took a step away.

His father's voice called to him from across the room, sounding agitated. "Peregrin Took, get back here now!"

"Coming, father!" Pippin called over his shoulder before turning back to Merry. "Please," he begged in an almost pitiful way, "Please don't make me go back to him! Plea--"

Merry looked back and could see that Paladin was rising from his chair and hurrying over. In desperation he tried to urge Pippin away with an elbow, but he wouldn't budge. "Merry, what's--"

"Pip, you've got to move!"

Before Pippin could take a step away, Paladin had come over and taken a firm hold on a chunk of his son's curly hair. He glared down at Pippin and hissed, "I leave you alone for one second and this is what you do?! What is the meaning of this?"

"Father, please, I--"

Merry just looked down, tried to make himself invisible. This proved useless as Paladin rounded on him. "And you, you disgusting little Brandybuck, making my son give in to your sick wishes."

Pippin opened his mouth to protest, but was silenced as Paladin slapped him. Every other Hobbit in the Green Dragon looked up from their ales and stared with wide eyes at Paladin. Pippin just let out a hurt little gasp and pressed his own hand to his already reddening cheek. Merry's eyes became furious as he jumped out of his seat and glared at Paladin.

"You will not touch him ever again!"

Pippin, whose eyes were now brimming with tears, shook his head at this and said quietly, "Merry, please..." he swallowed and glanced fleetingly at his fuming father. "I can handle it."

"But Pip--"

"You shut your mouth!" Paladin snapped before turning back to his son. "You. Come with me." and he turned to walk away, expecting Pippin to follow. He did not. Instead he stood there staring at Merry in his bruised and teary state looking far more than desperate.

"Merry, please..."

"What, Pip? What do you want me to do?" Merry asked as he turned in a futile effort to hide his own tears. "You want me to go confront your father, or would you rather that I left you alone forever? I can not help you if you don't let me."

Pippin thought about this for another second, and as his father called over to him again, he finally shook his head and lowered his eyes, allowing a small tear to fall from his eyes. "No, I can handle it, but Merry?"

"Yeah?"

"I do love you."

And he turned to go to his awaiting father, to answer to his call, but before he did turn and walk away, Merry couldn't help but call to him, "Pip, I love you to!"

This only seemed to make Paladin angrier, because as soon as he heard Merry's words, he reached over and grabbed Pippin's arm. He leaned close to his son and hissed in his ear, "Come. Let's go."

A look of fear and worry overtook Pippin's face as he whispered back, "But father, I was only--"

But Paladin ignored him and drug him along to the door of the Green Dragon. "Now!" and they both left, slamming the door behind them. Merry just stood there, feeling just as utterly helpless and frightened as Pippin.

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