The walk was long and they trudged on. The sun was unbearable, beating down on their skin, and hair. Merry kicked a rock that he came across, seeing how far along it would go.
"We're getting close," Branwyn said. "A few more hours."
The group didn't responded but with a few nods.
"I need water," Pippin said. He had been dehydrated while being kept prisoner.
"I don't see a stream anywhere," Sam said.
"I need it," he repeated.
"Well I don't know what we can do," Sam replied.
Branwyn looked up in the sky. Only a single cloud was moving across it, slowly, not even causing a shadow. She stuck her hands in the air. More clouds formed from the one. Soon the sky filled with dark storm clouds. A blot of lightening colored the sky for a split second, then rain began to fall.
Sam took a cup from his bag. He held it out, collecting the falling water then hand it to Pippin. He drank it quickly.
"How did you do that?" Frodo asked.
"Called the element of water, no big deal," Branwyn ran her hand threw her now soaking wet hair, pushing it out of her sea-green eyes.
Aislinn dipped her head and lapped the fallen rain near her hooves.
"We must keep going," Frodo said. He walked on, the water splashing s he walked. Sam and Merry quickly followed.
Aislinn stood a moment, finishing the water then began to walk. Branwyn walked side of Aislinn. Pippin continued his sickly gaze forward. "Thank you." He whispered as the group trudged on threw the pouring rain.
* * *
The sunset, leaving the land cool and a great relief from the burning heat. The group was now at the base of Mount Doom. Pippin stumbled off Aislinn's back and leaned against a rock. Branwyn walked over to him and handed him a glass of water.
"I'm not really thirsty," he said.
"Well you need water," she nudged the cup at him again, he took it and slowly drank it.
"I'm tired," he handed her the cup back. He untied his cloak tossing it aside and curled his body up, leaning against the rock. Branwyn took the cloak and covered him with it.
* * *
~"Its Frodo!" Pippin exclaimed when he landed on him after jumping through the cornfield.
"Get off him!" Sam pulled Pippin up by the shirt.
"Here hold this," Merry handed Sam a bunch of corn. They heard a farmer calling from the field and could see his farming tool. Merry, Pippin and Frodo dashed into the field, a moment later Sam followed.
"He's over reacting!" Merry yelled.
"Yes! Just over some corn…and…those potatoes we stole last week. And the mushrooms! The point is he's over reacting!"
Pippin and Merry reached a small ledge. Frodo came behind them knocking them a little further to the edge. Finally Sam came dashing into them knocking the four off the ledge.
Pippin opened his eyes seeing that his face was a few inches from some kind of animal waste. "That was close." He stated cheerful. He glanced his eyes past the waste. "Oooh! Mushrooms!"~
Pippin awoke with a small startle. "Are you okay?" Branwyn asked noticing him jumping awake.
"Fine…" he muttered.
"You don't look so good,"
"He has pneumonia," Sam said. "He shouldn't be looking good."
Branwyn got up from her sitting position and sat next to Pippin. "I…I need water." He said.
"Okay…" she turned to Sam. "Hand me a cup." Sam took a wooden cup from his bag and tossed it to her. "Thanks." She placed her hand at the top of the cup and it slowly filled with water.
"Thank you," Pippin replied taking the water. His sickly gaze locked at the ground. Merry and Sam exchanged worried looks. Branwyn stuck her hand out and brushed Pippin's unruly dirty blond hair out of his eyes. He slowly turned his head to her, his face was beaded with sweat and his green eyes had a dreary sickly look to them. "I'm tired." He replied with a dull tone.
"Why don't you lay down then?" Branwyn suggested.
He nodded and lowered himself to the ground, resting his head on her lap. She watched him staring at the sky, shivering against her body. She stroked his hair as he slowly fell back into his dreamless sleep.