Branwyn sat on a ledge in the dark dungeon. She could see Merry and Pippin across the room. Pippin had just woken up and was scanning the dungeon. She saw Merry start to stir.
Merry squinted his eyes open. He knew he had been hit unconscious but he didn't know for how long, or where he was. He looked around the room. He felt that his hands were chained again and he was leaning against a cold wall. "Pippin?" he asked.
"Over here," Pippin said from next to him. "You okay?"
"Yeah…you?"
"Fine…we have to get out of here,"
"I know…but these chains are unbreakable,"
"That's what you think," a female voice said.
"Who said that?" Merry asked.
"I did," Branwyn came out of the shadows.
"Who are you?"
"No questions now…" she approached Merry first. From what he could see, she was their height…maybe she was a fairy or nymph, she was very pale with very light blue hair. She placed her hand on the chains. They quickly melted and Merry's hands dropped down. "Get up." She moved to Pippin. "You're hurt." She said to him looking at his tattered clothes and beaten body.
"Only a little,"
She repeated the procedure that she did to Merry's chains.
"How did you do that?" Merry asked.
"Too many questions…we must hurry. We have to be to Mordor in two days…or at least the center. We will meet your friends there. Follow me," Merry and Pippin started to follow but Pippin stumbled over.
"I can't walk very well," Pippin said.
"Wait," Merry said to the mysterious female. "His leg is injured."
She turned and took Pippin under the shoulder. Merry took the other. "Quickly." She said again as she led them down a hidden hall out of Saruman's dungeon.
* * *
Merry helped Pippin walk in silence as they followed the girl. "How did you know about us?"
"Gandalf," she replied.
Pippin and Merry stopped. "Gandalf is dead." Merry replied sadly.
"I know, you don't think news like that doesn't spread?"
"But how did you know?" Merry repeated.
"The elves have watchers in the woods. I am a watcher, and after he died they told me I was to help watch the Fellowship. Then once you two were caught, I was sent with you and Aislinn was sent with Frodo and Sam,"
"Who is Aislinn? And who is with Aragon and Legolas?" Merry demanded.
"She's another watcher. And no one is with them…Legolas is an elf. He doesn't need a watcher,"
They walked in silence some more. Pippin was being very quiet. "You okay Pip?" Merry asked. Pippin nodded. He was still very sad about what happened to Gandalf. "I think we should stop to rest…Pippin's not doing so well."
"Fine," she replied. They found a log to sit on.
"I'm going to find some water," Merry got up after he placed Pippin on the log.
"Are you okay?" she asked sitting next to him.
"Fine," Pippin finally replied. "What's your name?"
"Branwyn,"
"Thank you…for getting us out of there,"
"I'm the watcher I'm suppose to,"
"You're very beautiful,"
"Thank you," she replied blushing. Pippin moved closer to her and brushed her hair aside. "I think that you're not doing so well…" without saying anything he kissed her. She pulled away. Pippin looked at her.
"Sorry…" he closed his eyes then fell over.
"Merry!" Branwyn yelled. She didn't hear him coming, "Merry!" she knelt next to Pippin on the ground. He was breaking into a cold sweat. "Don't do this to me Pippin." She brushed his hair out of his eyes. "Merry!"
"What?" Merry came back from the woods holding a metal cup of water. "Oh no." he knelt next to Branwyn. "What happened to him?"
"I don't know, he kissed me and passed out,"
"He kissed you?"
"That's not the point. He's burning up," she ripped the bottom of her dress and dipped it in the water, then placed it on his forehead. She placed her other hand on his heart. A small light glowed. "He's got pneumonia…and he's dehydrated."
"How do you know that?"
"Something I can do…I need water…go get some," Merry nodded and went to get some more water.
"Wait," he paused. "What do I carry it in? We lost all of our stuff when the Orcs got us."
"Here," she dug in her own bag, pulling out a wooden bowl. "Fill it up and bring it back, hurry." Merry dashed back into the woods. "It's going to be okay Pippin." She dabbed his head again. Suddenly he opened his eyes.
"Where am I?" he asked.
"In the woods…you're sick right now,"
Merry came back with the water. Branwyn dipped the cloth in the water then put it back on his head.
"I'm so cold," Pippin chocked.
"Will he be okay?" Merry asked.
"Yes, he just needs some sleep,"
"Okay," he sighed in relief.
Branwyn propped Pippin's head up with a log. He shivered as she dabbed his forehead. Merry sat across from the two watching his best friend slipping in and out of unconsciousness.