The sun was setting, its hazy glow
Was cast around the field below
He walked with anguish, fear, and pain
Hoping to see his cousin again
Soon the darkness covered the plains
Echos of screams, contorted with pain
And yet all Pippin found were defeated powers
Even though he'd been searching for hours
The hobbit turned orc over man
Inspecting all of those he can
Until at last, by a mammoth's foot
Lay hobbit's feet, charred black with soot
From strength hewn from he did not know
For he needed to get whom lay below
Pip moved the orc that trapped his friend
Scared of Merry's life coming to end
There lay his cousin, battered and bruised
His golden hair bloody, his face abused
Rohanian armour too big on his frame
Something about him, just wasn't the same
He burned with fever, his forehead hot
But there was one place, where he was not
His arm, held limply, clutched to his chest
Was ice, despite the heat of the rest
Pippin was startled, his eyes filled with tears
For here was his saviour, all through his years
Laying here on this ground, as if he were dead
His body a mess, his torso stained red
"Merry, it's me", his voice just a whisper
Merry opened his eyes, and his vision turned crisper
"It's Pippin," he choked, voice starting to break
He must be strong, for Merry's sake
"I knew you'd find me," his voice was pained.
Pippin smiled, though he feared his expression was strained
Suddenly, Merry's voice turned to a plea
"Pippin...are you going to leave me?"
Pippin could feel his heart starting to break
After Rohan, he would not make the same mistake
He took in the blood, the bruises stained blue
"No, Merry, I'm going to look after you."
The White Wizard came looking for Peregrin Took
For he never returned from his fruitless look
Then a pitiful cry drew his eyes to the scene
Merry looked like life and death, that he was between
"Gandalf, can you help him?" Pip was filled with remorse
The Wizard helped sleeping Merry up onto the horse
He carried the hobbit, his eyes filled with pity
And rode injured Merry into the White City
All was at last quiet, in the healer's ward
Merry lay sleeping, but Pippin was floored
"We'll see how he turns," the healers had said
But to Pippin, it seemed like he was already dead
Pippin sat in the corner, burning with shame
After everything happened, he knew he was to blame
No reassurance put him at ease
He was such a burden, such a disease
Had he not looked into the ball of fire
Had he stayed in Rohan, when their needs were dire
He could have rode with his cousin, watching his back
He could have fended off any brutal attack
Guilt ate like orc, choking him from behind
Bearing a burden on the young hobbit's mind
If only, if only was the same desperate chant
I can't keep him safe, I can't, I just can't
"Pippin," a whisper, came from below
Merry awoke, yet his movements were painfully slow
Pip sprang off the bed, to give Merry his space
He took a wet cloth, to stroke his fevered face
"How are you faring?" asked the hobbit with worry
Unshed tears was making Pip's vision blurry
"I could be better" the hurt hobbit replied
Then a pain wave passed through him, and he quietly cried
The night was long, and grieving people wept
And through pain, and worry, neither hobbit slept
But eventually, Pippin could feel his eyes fail
And slipped into bliss, as sleep would prevail
Came morning's first light, through the window it streamed
And the stillness was broken, through wounded mens' screams
Young Pippin awoke, stiff from a chair
And found himself face to face with Isildur's heir
"How fares he?" Pip asked, concerned for his plight
For was scared that poor Merry had passed in the night
"He's got a long road ahead." Aragorn replied
"But I suspect he'll do better, with you at his side."
"Peregrin, do you know what happened out there?"
"I know just enough, to give me quite a scare."
"Young Merry, with Eowyn, took down a foe
So dangerous, he's killed more than you care to know."
"The Witch King of Angmar, they managed to kill.
The Black Breath, I suspect, is what's making him ill."
Merry twitched in his sleep, as if he had heard
No doubt reliving, what had occurred
Pip gasped in awe, his heart swelling with pride
His Merry had done that, by Eowyn's side
Then worry consumed him, cutting like knives
"You can fix him, right? Can you keep him alive?"
Strider gripped his shoulders, and looked into his eyes
"I'll do what I can, though to guarantee is unwise
But he's strong Peregrin, despite his small size."
And he swept out of the room, bearing a quick "goodbye"
Pippin sank to the floor, his knees giving out
Guilt consumed him, filling him throughout
Why was he standing, it just seemed so rife
While Merry lay broken, fighting for his life?
"Pip…" a voice trailed from the bed
That voice made Pippin raise his sorrowful head
"Merry!" he cried. "Oh joy, you're awake!"
He fell forward with relief, shoulders starting to shake
"Why are you crying Pip?" Merry was confused.
"I should have been with you," Pip's voice was abused
"If I helped you, maybe this wouldn't have occurred"
Merry just couldn't believe what he'd heard
"No, Pip, this was my choice," he said
"I knew full well that I could end up dead.
I fought for the shire, for Frodo, for Sam.
I fought for you, fought for who I am."
"Give me some time, and I will be well
It's mostly his magic, that caused me to fell
But we'll grab our swords and strap on our leather
And we'll fight for Frodo, this time together."
And Merry fell back into deep comforting sleep
Pippin remained by his side, like a dutiful sheep
His mind was at ease, his emotions rebuilt
His cousin had mended his Survivor's Guilt
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