Merry clutched Pippin's scarf to his chest. He was numb with grief as he stared at the wooden urn that contained Peregrin's ashes. It was impossible to believe that Pippin would have wanted to be buried. Merry had already promised that he would take them back to the Shire. The atmosphere of that day was heavy with grief. Frodo had completely broken down and was sobbing uncontrollably into Sam's shoulder. Aragorn looked at the ground and occasionally wiped a tear away from his face. Boromir sat with his head in his hands shaking. Legolas just stood staring blankly ahead. The urn in was beautiful…carved elaborately with elfish runes. One stood out from the rest. It was placed on the exact middle and meant "friend." There was a wonderful ceremony for him and many wonderful things were said. Merry couldn't concentrate on anything; he was still in shock and disbelief. No more of Pippin's jokes, no more of Pippin's pranks, no more Pippin Merry thought over and over. He hadn't just lost a great friend; he had lost part of himself to that black abyss. The ceremony was over and he was the only one left. He couldn't move…he just sat there, staring at the urn. "Merry, come, it is late and you need your rest" Boromir told him touching his arm gently. He nodded and allowed himself to be steered out of the beautiful room away from the urn…away from Pippin. He collapsed on his own bed and sobbed.

The next morning he was not much better. He was still very sober and didn't talk to anyone. He would occasionally nod to show he was listening but nothing else. He sighed deeply and often and his eyes were red. Over the next few days he did not improve. Most of the Fellowship was back to normal, or at least as normal as they could be now. Sam approached Merry one day…it had been two weeks since Pippin's death. "Merry, how are you?" He asked. Merry said nothing. "Merry, you have to gain control over yourself…you're wasting away…Pippin wouldn't want you to grief this much." He said quietly. "HOW WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT PIPPIN WOULD HAVE WANTED!" Sam took a step back at this sudden outburst. "I'm…. I'm sorry…" "YOU SHOULD BE!" Merry shouted before sobbing into his hands. Sam didn't really know what to do so he just slowly and quietly backed away and left Merry to his own devices. He knew that sometimes when he himself was sad, he liked to be alone.

After a while he sobs subsided. He wiped his eyes and saw Frodo approaching him. Frodo had taken the news almost as badly as Merry had. Almost. "Merry, I know how you feel, remember Pippin hasn't really gone…and he's probably a lot happier where he is now." He said with a small smile hoping to cheer him up. "No, he isn't happier, I never told anyone, but I was there when he…died…and he told me that he really didn't want to…die…he…he made a mistake." Frodo stared at him in silence, he didn't know about that; it must have been very hard for Merry to say that to him. "Oh…I didn't know that…Merry, I'm sorry." He said. "It's ok Frodo, it's not your fault." He smiled a feeble smile. Frodo smiled back and left. Merry sighed.

The next few days Merry showed a little improvement. He was eating and smiling more and they even caught him laughing. Everyone though that everything was well again, or at least a little better since Pippin's passing. Merry was walking through the Elfish trees when he came upon a storage closet…curious as he was he opened it and discovered hundreds of small phials all containing the poison that had killed Pippin. Tears welled up in his eyes then unconsciously he took one and ran to his room. How fitting he thought as he raced back. To be killed by Pippin's killer He was breathing deeply and was pondering his fate. He quickly ripped off the glass topper and drained the phial. Shaking he put it down on his bedside table. He lay quietly waiting for inevitable. The sickness seized him. He gasped for breath as the nauseous spell passed over him. He panted and groaned in pain. Then the pain began to lessen…the corners of the room were going dark. Here it comes then Merry did the most unexpected thing, he smiled and he laughed. He knew he would be with Pippin soon, and that is how the Fellowship found him…laying peacefully on his bed with a small smile on his face.

Oooh! Thank you so much for reviewing!! Tell me how it is….I dunno but I may add another chapter. THANK YOU AGAIN!!