The room spun, sending a wave of dizziness through Merry's body. A sharp pain enveloped his lower abdomen followed by a warm rush of fluid coating his hand. Still gripping the butt end, he collapsed to the floor deathly close to impaling himself. He could hear a voice yelling in the background but as he looked to find the source his vision became hazy. Everything was beginning to turn black. Strong arms hauled him into the air and out of the room. A cool, hard surface pressed against his back. A faint tearing sound followed as his shirt was removed. He could faintly hear Sam crying beside him.

"Do something for him!" Sam wailed.

"I am doing the best that I can!" a voice shot back. "He has a gut wound! What the hell do you expect?! We'll be lucky if I can stitch him up before he dies, which isn't too far off mind you!"

"The blade did not sink deep," another voice said. "By the looks of it he only stabbed himself at the side of his belly instead of in the middle. Perhaps nothing vital was hit, I hope."

"What in the world possessed him to do this?"

Pitch black covered his eyes. Fear seeped into his mind as he realized he was no longer in the room. He could sense a presence around him. A sudden chill ran down his body. Whispers, all around him. In the distance he could see a small light and in that light stood two figures. Immediately, Merry ran toward the two but he didn't get far. Something shot out of the dark and grabbed his leg causing him to tumble. Soon, he felt several shapes grasping at his body, trying to drag him away. He struggled hard, he kicked, punched, even bit but that didn't detour the dark figures. A distant shout echoed.

"He's having a seizure! Hold his hands and feet down before he hurts himself even worse! No, do not put anything in his mouth! You want to have your finger bitten off?!"

Merry turned his head, giving the two ahead of him a pleading glance. He tried to speak but the words couldn't come out. Sharp nails sank into his flesh, tearing him, burning him. Finally, he broke free making a mad dash for the light. There, with tears streaming down his face, he fell to his knees reaching for his cousin and wife. They remained where they were, facing away from him. Even as he cried and pleaded the two would not turn to face him. The black shapes were over him once again, grasping at any visible body part, trying to drag him away. In a desperate attempt to stay where he was, Merry dug his hands into the ground bearing the pain of his fingernails beginning to snap.

"How could you?" Pippin asked, still turned away. "I know you are grieving but what you have done is terrible."

Merry winced at the coldness in his cousin's voice. "I....I...I am sorry. I promise....."

"Hold your tongue," Pippin growled. "Today, against my wishes, you took the life of a man. I know he deserved death but you made a promise to me that you would not go after him. Also, today, you attempted to take your life. I do believe you promised not to do that either. No, Merry, keep your promises for you have a tendency to break them."

A sob rose in Merry's throat. "Please, do not leave me in the dark!" His nails screeched against the ground as he was dragged further away.

"I cannot help you," Pippin murmured. "You have made your decision with your actions."

"Do not abandon me!" Merry wailed. "Please! Pippin! Estella!"

Pippin spun around, his cheeks stained with tears. "Do you think that I wish this upon you? I can do nothing for you. You have brought this upon yourself!"

A loud screech came from Merry as one of the figures dug into the lower half of his stomach. He stretched his hand out to Pippin but the hobbit backed away. Merry's head slumped in despair but jerked back up when a hand clasped his. Estella. For a moment they remained locked together, staring into one another's eyes. A weak smile formed on her face as she caressed his cheek.

"I forgive you Merry," Estella said.

"I love you," whimpered Merry, pressing himself against her palm.

"I love you too, dear," Estella replied. "Fear not, for we will meet again someday but until your day comes....live happy."

"No, no!" Merry wailed, holding her tightly. "I cannot do this alone! I need to be with you!"

"You are never alone Merry," said Estella. "I will always be with you, love. It is time for you to leave. Make sure our son has a good home."

He was roughly torn away from her. The two faded into darkness.

*

Merry felt as if he would perish into oblivion when a light blinded him. The light dimmed and his vision returned, finding himself in a small room. A man was hovering over him waving a vial in front of his nose while he could see the other near his abdomen. Gazing about he found Sam cowering on the floor, rocking back and forth. He wanted to say something but his words were torn away from him, instead producing a scream. A sharp object punctured his flesh followed by what felt like thread. At that point he started to flay madly from the sheer intensity of the pain. It was unbearable.

"Damn it! Hold him still!" one of the men yelled. "I cannot stitch him up when he is struggling! Do something or he will tear the stitches out!"

"Hold still little one!" another cried. "We are trying to help you! I know it must hurt but attempt to lie still! I am a doctor and so is my colleague. My name is Orlin and the other is my brother Terlin. We are sewing up your wound. If you keep flaying my brother will not be able to complete his task. "

Sam moved near Merry's head, gently stroking his hands through the hobbit's hair, doing his best to comfort the hobbit. It nearly made him swoon looking into the hobbit's eyes. Both were covered in a glassy haze, showing nothing but misery, occasionally squeezing shut and producing tears. A low moan escaped his lips and he shook his head.

"Can you do nothing to alleviate some of the pain?" asked Sam.

"And what do you suppose was in the vial?" Orlin said. "The contents contained kingsfoil mixed with other herbs. It should be taking affect any time now."

The needle tore through more skin, making Merry jerk. Sam bent over whispering encouragements in his ear but the other hobbit wouldn't listen. His hips bucked, eliciting a curse from Terlin, nearly piercing Merry's belly with the needle.

"I said hold him still!" snapped Terlin. "The last thing he needs is another wound in his belly!"

"Steady on, Merry," Sam murmured. "It is almost over. The doctor doesn't have far to go. Please, relax or you are going to hurt yourself." He kissed Merry's forehead. "Calm down, please."

"Sam?" Merry muttered, barely audible. "Pippin? Estella? Please, come back to me. Do not leave me alone. Alone, please come back. Oh, pain. Pain. Pain in my stomach. It hurts so much. Please, make it stop, make it stop."

"He's becoming delirious," Orlin said. "I say, do hurry up with that stitching Terlin! I do not want the risk of him passing out again!"

"I am going as fast as I can!" Terlin growled. "Come over here and hold his feet down before he kicks me!"

"He needs something more for the pain!" Sam yelled. "The herbs you gave him aren't working!"

"I told you it was kingsfoil," Orlin said. "The herb is the strongest we have in the area. If I give him anymore there is a possibility he could overdose."

"Why isn't it working?!" Sam screeched. "Look at him!" Merry's face was pallid and his hair was drenched with sweat. "He's going to pass out from sheer pain!"

"There is nothing more I can do!" Orlin said. "I already gave him a high dose, which was far too much for a hobbit. I will not risk giving him anymore! He will have to deal with the pain for now!"

Merry continued to squirm, he couldn't help it. The agony at the hands of the needle was driving him insane. Also, the feeling of having his arms and legs held in place sent him into a panic. He looked down at his stomach and groaned. Blood was everywhere. Terlin gave one final tug of the needle and tied the thread.

"I have finished," Terlin said. The man backed away, his hands dripping with blood. "We must move him to a bed. I will not lie, he has lost a great deal of blood and I cannot tell if he has struck an organ. I will check on him in the morning, considering he survives the night. Help me with him, Orlin."

The two men gently picked Merry from the table and headed into the hallway. Sam scrambled to keep up, running by his side.

"It will be alright, Merry," Sam soothed.

Yes, deep down he knew everything would work out, even with blood still draining from the wound. No, he would not die. He would remain alive. It was his punishment and he would have to bear it. His time was a long way off.

The two men dipped him into bed and raised the covers to his chin. A soft knock alerted them and turned to view Butterbur standing in the doorway.

"I was wondering, perhaps, if Merry would like something to eat or drink?" he asked. "I know he must be fairly weak from his.....injury...."

"No," Orlin said. "He is to have nothing in his system until mid-morning. Just a safety precaution."

"Well, if you need anything I'll be in my quarters," Butterbur said. "Don't hesitate to ask. Nob will be up most of the night too. I'm sure he'll be more then willing to help if it's needed."

"Thank you Butterbur," said Sam.

"No problem at all," Butterbur replied. "Oh, and don't fret about....Merry's.....previous room. I'm sure I can have it cleaned up and everything. The blood will hard to...forgive me. I suppose this is neither the time nor the place to discuss such a matter. There will be no charge added to your bill. Goodnight."

Butterbur left, followed by the two men. One of them stopped and spoke to Sam.

"Orlin and I will be across the hall. If something unnatural develops during the night let us know. Goodnight to you."

Once alone Sam sat at the edge of the bed. "What on earth am I going to do with you, Merry? You gave me the scare of lifetime tonight! If you weren't an adult, and injured, I'd take you over my knee!"

"Would you now?" Merry chuckled, coughing slightly.

"Humph, you know I would," Sam said. "How is your pain?"

"Better than what it was," Merry replied. "I am so cold."

"There now," Sam said, crawling next to him and rubbing his shoulders. "Does that feel any better?"

"A bit, I suppose," Merry answered. "Will you stay with me the entire night?"

"Of course I will," said Sam. "I'm not about to leave you, even if you are the stupidest hobbit in the Shire."

"Thank you Sam," Merry murmured drifting off to sleep.

More to follow.