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Arguments
Pippin and Merry slowly walked back to their quarters, both dreading the obvious. They didn't want to admit, even thought of ways to move around the point, but the truth was right in front of them.
Once they were locked in their room, they both fell into the wooden chairs, placed conveniently by the door. They stared at the ground for a long time, hoping that the other would begin. Minutes droned on, and neither spoke, rare for either of them.
Finally Pippin mustered to courage to speak up, "We have to go to Rhun, don't we?" Merry looked up, unsurprised.
"I think we do, even if its just a false lead." He raised a hand to any protest, but Pippin had none, he wanted to, but couldn't bring himself to object to their only option. "It is our only hint of what is out there, and not to reliable at that. We can't go around trusting every stranger we meet, but what have we got?"
"He seemed sure of himself, and Rhun is near the Brown Lands, the old home of the Entwives."
Merry looked at Pippin, shock tracing his features. "Now how did you remember that one?"
"I dunno, just random memories I guess." He smiled as pride welled within him.
"That's true, yes very true. I think we have a stronger lead then we first thought Pip." Both were grinning with happiness, they finally had something to go on.
They exchanged travel plans, both exaggerating in the heat of the moment, it was as though nothing else mattered but this journey, of their journey. They discussed routes, and stops, and provisions. Exhaustion from the late night wafted away, replaced by pride, and arrogance.
To them it would just be a trip, a nice little walk from Bree to the Sea of Rhun, and from their into the dark forest. They did not figure on how to pass the many obstacles in their way, but rather talked about how exhilarating it would be.
This time they did not have seven other members behind them. This time they didn't have seven other members to tell them they were wrong.
Pippin, always the unlucky one, brought up a question that changed everything though.
"What about the Easterling. They'll not be too friendly, after all they did get defeated with Sauron." He shook his head.
"You don't know that, Rhun is most likely in good hands right now." Merry did not like where their conversation was going. "You couldn't possibly know if it was safe of dangerous, we get very little news in the Shire, about the outside world."
"But the news we do get tells a lot, and word from Gondor says that riots have been noticed, and ruler ship changes daily."
"That is none of our business Pippin." Merry growled, feeling angry now.
"It right well is, if we're to make our way to Rhun and back without coming across something like danger."
"We are just going to find the Entwives! We won't be meddling with the Wainriders and the Balchoth! We'll just be passing through.
"Do you really think either of them need any excuses to kill us? Aragorn always said those men were dangerous, and we both have a first hand experience at that."
"Are you trying to back out of this?"
"No! I am just asking what we will do about it. It does seem like we should plan a little more."
"Pippin we need to head out soon, we can't sit here and plan all day."
"We also can't help anyone if we are dead." Each of the hobbits voices were rising, strange for the two close friends. It could have been said the pressure of their journey was wearing on them, but the biggest threat was doubt itself.
Doubt in themselves, doubt in their mission.
"The Entwives never liked forest, why would they move to another one in Rhun, when they could have gone back to Fangorn?"
"It was war, there was not much they could do."
"They could have come back, or sent a message."
"Pippin why are you asking me this? I know about as much as you do, and that's not a lot, not by any means."
Pippin glared at his friend, not a hate filled glare, mostly filled with sadness and disappointment. Pippin knew he wasn't the brightest hobbit, but to hear his friend tell him he was an idiot, well it was exactly a confidence builder.
He stood without speaking and walked out the door, to where, he didn't know, but he needed some space just now.
Merry realized that he had hurt Pippin, and guilt flowed over him. They were so close, Merry didn't want Pippin to be mad at him. All of this over a stupid plan. Pippin had been right, they needed to plan more, yet Merry had made him feel even worse about himself.
They were both adult hobbits, but Pippin had always been the youngest, and even know that weighed heavily on him.
How were they to survive, if everything even their own friendship was hanging on an iceberg, ready to tip into the depths of the sea.
