(A/N I really apologize for this chapter. It meant to be kinda angsty with all that Rashelle's going through but I suck at Angst and I'm battling writer's block so please bear with me, but I hope you like the end! J )

Rashelle flung herself on her bed and sobbed into the pillow. The pond water from her dress seeped into the blankets and chilled her skin but she didn't care. Her lung and heart felt like they were on fire.

"What is wrong with me?" She hiccuped. She couldn't even enjoy the touch of her master now. Not since Vemunt abducted her. Even weeks after she could still feeling his rough ripping hands on her skin. The thought of anyone touching her body made her sick, like when she lived with in the caravan. Rashelle spinning thoughts made her cry harder. She wanted to feel her lovers though. How she missed Merry roguish touches and Sam's soft kisses, Pippin's protective embrace and her sweet master's body. She missed them all, but she was so afraid.

With a whimper, she drew the comforter over her dripping body and fell into a numb slumber.

"Oh, here she is master Frodo," Sam sighed as he poked his head out of Rashelle's door. The three hobbits and halfblood entered the hobbit-lass's room to find her asleep on the bed. Sam was tutting softly. "Absolutely soaked, every blanket and sheet. Master Merry could you grab me one of Miss Rashelle's nightgowns from the dresser. We'll get her some dry clothes on and take her to a dry bed." No one argued with the gardener. As Merry rummages through the chests of clothing, Frodo and Pippin began to peel off the layers of wet clothes from the shivering hobbit-lass's body.

"No, stop it! " She moaned half asleep and thrashed slightly. Pippin kissed her forehead.

"Shh, you're safe, Shelly, calm down. We're getting some dry clothes on you before you catch your death,"

She obeyed, but remained tense and stiff. Frodo gritted his teeth. They'd get to the bottom of her pain.

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"No, not my clothes, leave me alone! No, get off! GET OFF ME!!" Rashelle shrieked and sat up. She wasn't in the forest; there was no Vemunt, and she wasn't naked. "A dream, a dream," She panted as she clutched her comforter as the door snapped open. It was Pippin, sword drawn and eyes ferocious. He stalked around the room for a moment and then looked at Rashelle.

"I heard you shout," He murmured and sat on the end of her bed.

"I had a dream," She murmured back and reached forward to touch Pippin's face and then stopped, "But its over, I'm awake,"

"Touch me, Rashelle," Pippin breathed and lifted his hand to touch the one she still held in mid-air. She quickly withdrew it back to her lap. "It's been so long since I've felt you loving caresses on my face,"

"What if I don't want to?"

"Why wouldn't you? Unless you find me insulting to your fingers, if so than I must be to your eyes as well," He said, a little more harshly than he cared to admit.

"No, you as soft as you are handsome, I'm just not in the mood to touch hands,"

Pippin shook his head and stood up, "Then maybe we should touch something deeper than skin, Shelly. Tell us what's going on so we can help you," His light amber eyes plead with her, but she couldn't. She shook her head.

"You wouldn't understand, this isn't something that can be fixed by a tumble in the sheets," She frowned. Pippin scowled.

"You treating me like you would Merry, I'm not him, and if that's who you se when you look at me than maybe you should stay with him," Pippin turned to leave when Rashelle leapt from her bed and latched her arms around his waist.

"Pergrin! Don't, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Don't leave me," She sobbed over and over in his chest. Pippin immediately regretted his words and kissed her forehead as everything she felt tumbled from her lips. All her fears and nightmares, everything until she felt as torn as a piece of shredded leather.

"Shelly, sweetheart, I'm sorry," Pippin murmured holding her tight. "Had I ever know-" Her shaking body and mewling sobs made up his mind. Pippin slowly descended on one knee and prayed his cousin would forgive him.

"Sweet Shelly, I would protect you from every fear you have, please, marry me,"