Minas Tirith, August of 1436

On Pippin's second-last day in Gondor Faramir and Éowyn arrived from Ithilien to take part in a big feast held each year. Pippin was removed from his duties with Prince Eldarion to serve Steward Faramir instead, to the prince's immediate dislike and anger. Fortunately Faramir was only to stay over one night, so Pippin's last day would be devoted to Eldarion. Aragorn muttered something under his breath about the child being spoiled but Pippin ignored it. He would not be back for a long time; he might as well spend some time with Eldarion now when he had the chance.

Pippin could not help but feel something which almost felt like nervousness. He tended to get anxious when he was heading out for a long travel, and this time there were a lot of matters around the travel which made it more stressful. Aside from the eventful last days in Gondor, with the visit from the steward and lady, and saying goodbye to all his friends, he had to ride back to the Shire together with Legolas and Gimli. However that ride would turn out was anybody's guess. One thing was for sure, none of the three travellers looked forward to the journey.

While the party was going on Pippin sought out Gimli, who was graciously taking it upon himself to try out the ale in every keg. The two had not had much chance to talk since their conversation in Ithilien; things had been awkward since then. It saddened Pippin to think about it. There were so many friendships he had thought were unbreakable but life had proved him wrong.

"Master Dwarf" he said and began filling his own tankard with ale. "Can I have a moment of your time?"

"These people may be good at cooking steak!" Gimli said and looked up from the keg he was currently taking a sample from. "But when it comes to ale they fall short to all Dwarves and Hobbits! When we get to Bree I shall have a double-pint filled with real ale!"

"On the subject of Bree…" Pippin said. "I have been thinking. Should I talk to Aragorn about having someone else ride with me to the Shire? If so then I have to do it tonight. Seeing as things are the way they are now I don't want to force you or Legolas to go on a big ride with me."

"Not a chance, laddie" Gimli said. "We will follow you all the way to Tuckburough, and not a meter less! You know a man cannot go with you that far!"

"It really isn't necessary to go that far with me."

"We want you to be safe, laddie" Gimli said. "In know where this offer to let us pass is coming from, but believe me Pippin, if we wanted out we would have made other arrangements weeks ago."

"How did we all come to this, Gimli?" Pippin asked with a sigh and jumped up on the table behind him. "It's sad, isn't it?"

"Aye" Gimli agreed. "But all storms pass eventually, as will this."

"You won't see me again for a long time once we part ways" Pippin said. "With all my duties in the Shire I don't think I will be able to ride here for a few years. We can only hope time will bring us closer together and not further apart."

"Don't worry so much about it" Gimli advised and raised his tankard. "Especially not tonight! It is a party tonight, my dear Hobbit! You haven't forgotten how to sign and dance and drink, have you?"

"That I most certainly haven't!" Pippin said with a grin.

"Then show me! Empty your tankard and come dance!"

"I can't" Pippin said. "I am on duty. This ale is not even for me. How sad is that? I'm running around getting ale for others! How low can a Hobbit stoop? The only thing worse is running around getting food for others."

"Don't let the steward order you around too much" Gimli said and took another drink of ale.

"I don't mind" Pippin said. "I enjoy being his esquire. Except for the ale and food bit. Speaking of which, I really ought to get back to him with this!"

"You do that" Gimli said. "And do not worry about the journey. It will be fine."

Pippin nodded and went off through the crowds to find Faramir. The steward was seated at a large table together with the king, laughing at something together. Pippin placed the tankard in front of him and bowed before taking his place.

Faramir looked up at him and grinned.

"Master Peregrin!" he said. "Tonight is a feast for you as well! This tankard is for you. I release you from any further service tonight, provided that you are awake with the sun tomorrow morning to help me get ready to ride back."

"Thank you Milord!" Pippin said and grabbed the tankard with a huge grin.

XX
XX

The next morning was foggy and quite cold for August. Pippin had his wool cape wrapped around him while he held Faramir's horse as the last preparations were made. Faramir mounted the horse and took the reins, giving Pippin a pat on the shoulder at the same time. Pippin smiled up at him and wished he didn't have to say goodbye. They might not see each other again for years and years.

"It has been good to be in your service once again Milord, as always" Pippin said and bowed.

"The pleasure has been all mine" Faramir said. "Do not stay away for as long again Master Peregrin, that is an order. My wife will see you off tomorrow morning; I hope you will be able to tell her how long it will be before your return. Take care, Master Perian."

"Safe journey, Milord!" Pippin said.

Shivering in the cold morning Pippin went back inside as soon as he could. He hoped the following morning would be warmer, if it was one thing he disliked it was fog. It made everything damp and cold.

He hurried back into his own chambers and fell down on his bed. With a yawn he took his cape off and spread it out on top of himself like a blanket. Before long he was asleep, happily aware that he could sleep for a good two hours more before having to get up and get to work.

While he slept he did not dream. Whenever he did not dream he would sleep much better, the sleep he was getting now was precisely what he needed. A good rest before having to get on the road and travel for several weeks. When he was younger he had never had any problems being out on the road but now it made him quite tired. It was nice to get a good rest in a comfortable bed before spending a number of nights sleeping on the ground. During the journey he was sure to dream.

XX
XX

With relief Gimli saw that the fog was beginning to lift. Sometimes near the river the fog could remain for hours after sunup. Gimli knew Legolas appreciated the fog, but in Gimli's mind there were far too many unpleasant elements to nature which Legolas was fond of. To Legolas everything in nature was a wonder. Gimli preferred staying indoors most of the time; he had seen enough of nature in his own opinion. But he still went with the Elf on several travels through woods and plains, and even enjoyed it a little even if he would never admit it to Legolas.

The two were out for a ride, for no particular reason. Normally they wouldn't go riding the day before embarking on a long journey, but both had felt restless at the citadel and wanted to get away for a while.

Gimli thought about what he and Pippin had talked about the previous night. He had been wondering all morning whether or not he should say anything to Legolas, but since they were alone right now he figured it might be a good idea.

"Legolas my friend" he began. "I had words with Pippin last night. About the journey to the Shire."

No answer came. Gimli nudged Legolas with his elbow to make sure the Elf was really listening.

"Go on Gimli" Legolas said.

"He is worried things will be awkward when we travel together. Not that they haven't been ever since we've first had to begin accompanying him on these journeys. Legolas perhaps it is time for you to look Pippin in the eye, forgive him for all that he cannot bring back and move on from there?"

Legolas did not answer his friend. He squinted to see better. With his perceptive Elf eyes he thought he could see something on the other side of the river, which was fairly more than a large creek at this spot. Determined to find out what he thought he could see he drove his horse out into the creek. Water splashed up all around them and Gimli grabbed a hold of his arm to not fall off.

"Legolas!" he exclaimed. "We said we wouldn't cross the river!"

His friend did not listen. He drove the horse onward and up on the opposite shore. There he steered for the thick bushes standing rather lonely on the plains, a large collection of vegetation which had gathered on this one spot on the plains, the only bushes visible as far as the eye could see.

"Legolas, what has gotten into you?" Gimli asked.

Then, as Legolas halted the horse and dismounted, Gimli could see it too. As Legolas kneeled and moved aside the leaves of the thickets Gimli knew for sure what he was seeing. He gulped. There was somebody lying in the bushes.

XX
XX

Aragorn received the strange word as soon as the two companions returned to Minas Tirith. He ran as fast as he could through the halls out on the courtyard where he could see with his own eyes that the news was true. He felt the whole world stop for a second and then start spinning faster than before when he saw them walking down the path, Gimli with a look in his eyes Aragorn had not seen since the War and Legolas with a lifeless Merry in his arms. Aragorn had not seen him for over a decade but there was no mistaking. It was really Merry.

Aragorn ran up to them and tried to lift the Hobbit over to his own arms, then realized the Elf would carry him more carefully than Aragorn ever could. He felt his heart pound like the bang of a drum and for a second did not know what to say or do. It was really Merry.

"Bring him to the House of Healing!" he said.

They brought the Hobbit to the House of Healing and placed him in a bed, a lower bed which was more suiting for a Hobbit. Merry was unconscious and the three friends feared he was closer to death than to life. It was a miracle that he was even there; neither of them dared to hope that he would open his eyes and look at them again.

"Is it the Black Shadow?" Gimli asked in a whisper, afraid of harming the Hobbit if he raised his voice.

"Of course it isn't" Aragorn said in a normal tone of voice.

"Is he going to wake up?"

"Legolas where did you find him?" Aragorn asked, amazed by the whole thing. Merry was dead, yet Legolas had just brought him home.

"He was hidden among the thickets on the other side of the river, by the creek" Legolas said. "I barely even spotted him myself, he was very well hidden. However he got there, someone wanted him to be out of sight to the world. Perhaps it was Merry himself. A Hobbit can find a good place to hide if he wants one."

The three of them looked at Merry for a long time without uttering a word. Neither of them could get enough of the sight. He had been lost to them, dead for eleven long years. Now he was alive, they could all see his chest heave with every breath. How this miracle was possible neither of them knew, all they knew was that the world had changed and this time for the better.

Then suddenly Merry's eyes began to flutter. Aragorn gave a slight cry when he noticed it and both Legolas and Gimli backed away from the bed, as if they worried that if they stood too close Merry would not open his eyes. Aragorn rose from his spot on the side of the bed and took a step back as well.

"Come on Meriadoc…" he said. "Come on…"

Merry's eyes opened wide and then blinked hard to get focus. He frowned, overcome with uncertainty, and gasped when he noticed the three figures in the room with him. He sat up and looked ready to bolt out of bed.

"Easy now!" Aragorn said. "Easy!"

"What is the meaning of all this?" Merry asked and looked around.

"Welcome back Perian" Legolas said with a smile.

"How do you feel?" Aragorn asked and walked back to the bed. Merry pulled back with a wary look on his face.

"What do you want?"

"Merry! It's us!" Gimli exclaimed. "I have never been so happy to see anybody before in my whole life! Holbytla you are a sight for sore eyes!"

However Merry did not seem to appreciate the greetings. He recoiled and appeared startled by the whole thing. Gimli rushed up to the bed.

"You young rascal, I never thought I would see those curls again, this is a merry game you've been playing with us, I cannot believe that it's you! What is wrong laddie? It's me, Gimli!"

"Back down Gimli, you're only frightening him more!" Aragorn said and gently nudged Gimli to step back again. He sat down on Merry's bedside once more and looked at the Hobbit who eyed them all with a startled look on his face. "Everything is alright" he told him. "Meriadoc…"

"Your troubles are over Holdwine" Legolas added.

Merry looked from one of them to the other.

"Who are you?" he asked. "What do you want with me?"

"Want with you? We're just glad you are alive!" Gimli exclaimed.

"I don't understand" Merry said. "What is all this you're talking about, I do not follow you. What is Holdwine? And this Merry, Meriadoc, Perian, Holbytla… It doesn't mean anything to me. I cannot help you; I don't know what it is you want. Please, just leave me be!"

Aragorn noticed a stream of dried blood visible underneath Merry's curls. He had not seen them before. He reached out his hand but Merry recoiled.

"Easy now…" Aragorn said. "I won't hurt you. I just want to have a look at that cut on your head… Does it hurt?"

"Everything hurts" Merry said. "What have you done with me?"

"Done with you? Us?" Gimli exclaimed. "We brought you back, laddie!"

Merry held his breath as Aragorn gently brushed aside his curls and found what he was looking for. On the left side of Merry's head there was a cut which appeared to have been deep but had closed up by now. Merry gulped and drew back when Aragorn tried to touch it.

"Friend…" Aragorn said. "What is the last thing you remember?"

Merry frowned and looked away from the three companions. After a moment he began to breathe heavily, on his good way to hyperventilation. Aragorn tried to take his hand but he drew back as if he thought the man would burn him.

"I… I don't remember!" he gasped. "I… It's all just a blur, it's all…"

"It's alright" Aragorn said. "Take your time. Just relax, please calm down."

"I don't know what I remember the last!" Merry said. "I remember… I can see no images, only… Safety, I remember feeling safety. Somewhere far from here!"

"The Shire" Legolas guessed.

"And I remember they were watching over me."

"Who? Who were watching over you?"

"I can't remember."

Merry looked at Aragorn with despair in his eyes. Legolas and Gimli shared a look. This was not what they had expected at all.

Suddenly footsteps were heard out in the hall. Hobbit footsteps. Aragorn jumped off the bed.

"Pippin!" he said. "Quickly, stop him!"

Gimli rushed out into the hallway just as Pippin came around the corner. He ran up to Gimli but when he tried to pass him Gimli moved so that he got in the way. Pippin stopped and tried to go around Gimli on the other side, but the Dwarf moved again. They repeated this twice before Pippin got tired of the dance.

"Gimli what is the matter? Let me pass!"

Aragorn came out in the hallway and walked up to Pippin. He kneeled by him and took his hands.

"Is it true?" Pippin asked filled with excitement. "Is it really so? They said that Merry is here, that you found Merry! Another Hobbit has come, they say, the one that was lost! Is it really him? Oh Aragorn, let me go in there, let me see him! Is it Merry, is it really him?"

Tears of joy were falling down Pippin's cheeks. His face had lit up for real in front of his friends for the first time in eleven years and for a brief moment Aragorn and Gimli felt like they were with the old Pippin, the Pippin on the other side of Merry's death. Legolas came out in the hallway and placed himself like a guard in front of the door.

"Aragorn is it him?" Pippin asked again. "Tell me, is it true?"

"Pippin I know this is a lot for you to fathom" Aragorn began.

"Is it Merry, yes or no?"

"It is him."

Pippin gave a cry of joy and relief.

"Oh Strider… How I've dreamt of such a miracle! Never daring to hope! Everything I've ever wanted… I feel like nothing can bring me down now! No wonder I had trouble letting go, he was still alive! He's back; he's back, Merry's here! My best friend! We can be together again! Nothing's going to part us now! I… I can't even put words to what I'm feeling now! I have to see him, right this instant or I will lose my mind!"

"You've waited eleven years, what's another minute?" Aragorn said. "Listen to me Peregrin my friend; before you go in there you should know one thing."

"Just tell me then" Pippin said and laughed. "Whatever it is it cannot be bad. Nothing can be bad compared to what it was half an hour ago!"

"Merry's been through a traumatic experience" Aragorn said. "And he has suffered a blow to the head."

"Like when we were with the orcs during the War."

"Yes, but different. Because of it he is suffering from loss of memory. We were just in there with him and he does not remember anything."

"I can wait with finding out where he has been all these years; just that he is alive is enough for me!"

"It's not just these eleven years, Pippin. He doesn't remember who we are. He doesn't remember who he is. I can't tell you if he just needs a few minutes, or if he will wake up tomorrow and remember, or if it will be a few days, or a few weeks, or months, years even. Truthfully Pippin I don't know if he will remember ever again. But if anyone can trigger his memory it is you."

Pippin nodded and widened his smile.

"Strider I don't care. All that matters is that by some miracle he is alive. He's come back from the dead, you have no idea what this means to me!"

"I think I do" Aragorn said with a smile. "It is important now Peregrin Took that you do not rush in there and throw your arms around him like I know you want to. He currently does not know where he is or who we are, it is all frightening for him and we don't want to scare him even more. To him we are all strangers at the moment."

"The word stranger is not part of Merry's and my vocabulary when it comes to one another" Pippin said.

"I just want you to be prepared that he is very confused at the moment. Go in there and see your best friend, but remember that he might not know who you are and it might be frightening for him if you're too forward."

Pippin nodded again. He let go of Aragorn's hands and walked past Gimli, stopping in front of Legolas. The Elf smiled and stepped aside, allowing Pippin to go in to see Merry.

XX
XX

Merry had pulled his knees up and wrapped his arms around them, frightened to his core by his current situation. He had no recollection of who he was or what he was doing in this place. These tall people scared him, they wanted something from him but he didn't know what it was. Information probably, but he had none. What would they do with him in order to get their way? He dared not think of it.

The door opened and in stepped a smaller figure, closer to his own height, with a thick mop of curly hair on his head and no shoes on his hairy feet. The Halfling had a wide smile on his face which didn't quite go with the endless stream of tears falling down his cheeks. The figure stopped and looked at him, taking in the sight of him. Merry wondered if he was about to pass out, it sure looked that way. But after taking a moment to take the sight in the Halfling by the door slowly walked over to his bedside. Merry eyed him with wary eyes. The little man sat down on the bed and put his hand on Merry's. Merry jolted but didn't pull his hand away. By the door the three taller figures watched the scene.

"Meriadoc…" the Halfling by the bed said with awe in his voice.

"It is all just…" Gimli whispered, shaking his head. "I feel… I cannot even… I don't know how to put words to it… If I had to wait a lifetime it would have been worth this sight. Seeing these two reunited is just…"

"We have them both back now" Legolas said. "Where once half a Hobbit there was are now two again."

"Let's wait and see before we claim victory" Aragorn said.

"Don't be so pessimistic" Gimli said. "Pippin is here. Everything will be right now. He will remember now that Pippin is here."

Pippin gently stroke Merry's hand. He could feel the hesitation in his cousin but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered at this moment, only that his best friend was alive. He could not feast his eyes enough on the sight, Merry's familiar scent filled his nose and all he needed now for the moment to be complete was to hear Merry's treasured voice.

"Merry…" he said tenderly. "It's me. It's Pippin."

Merry swallowed hard and moved back a bit on the bed. He stretched out his legs and stared at the figure sitting beside him. Something about this Halfling frightened him much more than the other three, there was some form of intensity here which he could not understand and that scared him.

"I'm your best friend" Pippin said. "We're cousins. I never thought I would get to see you again…"

"I'm sorry" Merry said and looked at the four people in the room. "Who did you all say you were? I don't think I… What were your names again?"

"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn" Aragorn said and took a step forward. "Many people call me Estel or Elessar. You have always called me Strider."

"Strider?" Merry said questioningly. "That doesn't sound like a name to me."

Pippin chuckled and wiped a tear from his cheek. Aragorn smiled.

"If you're more comfortable calling me something else then feel free to do so. This here is Gimli, son of--"

"I can tell him my own name!" Gimli interrupted and stepped forward. He looked into Merry's eyes and felt unsure. "I, I am, I'm, my name is… Blasted! Aragorn, you introduce me."

"Gimli, son of Gloin" Aragorn said.

"And what name did I call you by?" Merry asked. "Stomper?"

"Just Gimli" Gimli said. "And you have made quite a career in frightening us and making us worry about your safety! I could wring your neck for what you've put us through!"

Merry looked frightened and Aragorn gave the Dwarf an annoyed look.

"Pay no attention to him" he said. "He does not mean it literally. We've just all been very concerned."

Merry frowned. This was all a lot to take in at once. This group of people with more names than fingers, all claiming to know him well and expressing concern for him. What did they really want from him? He looked at the Elf.

"I am Legolas, son of Thranduil" said the Elf. "We are all close friends of yours."

Merry turned to the one on his bedside.

"And your name?"

"Peregrin Took. Or Peregrin, son of Paladin, if an introduction such as theirs is more proper. They call me Pippin, or Pip. We are cousins you and I, we share a grandfather. We are also best friends. Nobody has missed you like I have."

"What about my name?" Merry asked.

"Meriadoc" Legolas said. "Meriadoc Brandybuck of Buckland in the Shire, son of Saradoc Scattergold. Known in Gondor and Rohan as Holdwine, but by most people called Merry."

"That is a lot of names" Merry said, his head spinning. "Though none of them are mine."

"What do you mean?" Gimli asked.

"I can feel it… my name is something other… It starts with a K, I am sure of it."

"Merry dear…" Pippin said and squeezed his hand. "I have known you all my life. Your name is Meriadoc."

But Merry only shook his head. The name sounded wrong, it could not be his. It was not what he had been called, he could feel it. He pulled his hand back from the one calling himself Pippin. If they were trying to lie to him about his name then they surely were not his friends.

Once again steps were heard out in the hallway. The door opened and a woman dressed in white entered, stopping for a second to catch her breath by the door. Her long blonde hair fell like a cape down her shoulders and her eyes looked troubled. Then they met Merry's and she hurried up to his bed, sitting down on the vacant right side.

She reached out a hand to caress his cheek, staring at him like she was seeing a ghost. Merry leaned forward and squinted. Something was familiar. The other four people in the room looked at each other with surprised yet hopeful eyes.

"You…" Merry said. "There's something…"

The woman didn't say anything. A smile crept across her face and a single tear fell down her cheek. She did not scare Merry like the others had done.

"There's something familiar about you" he said. "E, Eo, E… Eo… Eo…"

"Éowyn" the woman said. "That is my name. Éowyn."

"Éowyn" Merry repeated. "I don't know why but I feel like I know you."

"You do" Éowyn said. "You did. We knew each other well, Holdwine."

"Aragorn it's working!" Pippin said. "He's remembering! Merry!"

Merry impatiently pushed aside the hand Pippin reached out to him. He looked deep into Éowyn's eyes, thinking that if he just concentrated hard enough he would be able to remember something more. Perhaps everything would come back to him. The key was this woman, the only thing that was familiar to him. He stared deeply into her eyes which did not look away. His memories were right there, just within his grasp. If he only concentrated a bit more…

Then everything went black to him and he fell back down in the bed. Éowyn quickly rose to her feet and leaned over the unconscious Hobbit. Pippin cried out and grabbed Merry's hand.

"What is wrong?" Éowyn asked.

"His head injury I should assume" Aragorn said and shoved her aside as he came over to have a closer look. "Too much for him to handle at once, I can imagine. Perhaps we should all give him some air and some time alone to rest." He looked at Éowyn. "He remembered you."

"Why wouldn't he?" Éowyn asked with questioning eyes.

"He doesn't remember any of us" Aragorn told her.

"Only you" Legolas filled in.

Pippin looked at the Elf, then at the lady and last at the Hobbit. Suddenly he was not overwhelmingly happy anymore. Something was wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger to what. He quickly brushed aside the thought. As soon as Merry's memory came back then they could figure it out together, Merry and him. Finally they would get to be doing things together again!