Lament - by Cunien.

Thankyou so much for reviews - the thanks section got too long so it's at the end of the fic now!

Another short chapter, including lots of Pippin-pain and nothing much else. Sorry it's so short, but I'm a bit ill at t'moment. Short and sweet eh? (Here's hoping)

Summary: In any case, I judge that the younger of these two, Peregrin Took, should remain. My heart warns against his going.' -Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring.

Disclaimer:
Things I Would Do If I Owned Lord Of The Rings -
3. Stay the hell away from Tom Bombadil because he scares the pants off me.

Chapter 4 - The Choices of Master Peregrin.

Can she help him? The Sorceress of the Wood?

I do not think so.

I wonder - perhaps it is for the best.

*

An hour later, Aragorn and Legolas returned with Haldir and a party of elves of Lothlorien. They were reluctant to let this band of strangers into the sanctuary of the Golden Wood to begin with, but the presence of the dwarf did nothing to allay their fears.

Still, they could not deny that the young hobbit was not well, and was giving into the poison quickly now. It was nothing short of a miracle that he has lasted this far, and the strength to fight was beginning to leave him with every passing minute.

Haldir - do you not see? The Lady Galadriel is his only hope. begged Legolas. You must see.
When had it had all become so complicated?
At the beginning of the quest there was only the safety of Ring and it's bearer.

But from the horror of Khazad-Dum had emerged a new Fellowship.

Gandalf's death had left them reeling and alone . If it were not for Aragorn they would have been leaderless too, but this responsibility had taken it's
toll on the Ranger, and it was not often that the shadow of guilt and worry had left his face since Moria.

And now it was unthinkable that they should leave anyone behind, whether he bore the ring or not.

Aragorn turned from watching the hobbits tend their friend.
He fades quickly - Haldir the fate of the Ring is in your hands now. If you turn us away then we will continue without the help of the Galadhrim, but it will be the ruin of us all.

The Orcs have been pushing our Northern borders. They will seek you, to the deaths of many of my people.

Haldir was uncertain. He did not want the young one to die, but he was wary to accept this odd company into the protection of Lothlorien.

Aragorn sighed angrily.
He is the friend of the Ring bearer. If he dies, then the bearer may not wish to continue, and then who will take the Ring of Power? You Haldir? Will you take it to Mordor, under the gaze of the Eye? the Man spoke in Elvish so as not to disturb the hobbits, but still the commanding tone in his voice made them turn in wonder.

Before them was not the weary ranger but a great King, tall and proud.

Haldir closed his eyes. he said quietly. You may enter.
And Aragorn embraced him like a brother.

*


Sam's mind felt as though it were wreathed it clouds.
Sometimes they were dark and raged around him until he was terrified and could not help but cry, trying in vain to release the agony that seemed trapped inside him, bursting to get out.

And then the clouds would be light, like a peaceful fog, and he could almost see out. The pain was not so bad then, and he could sleep.

Sometimes dreams would weave themselves around him. If the clouds were dark and thundery, then the dreams would be frightening and horrible. And if the clouds were white and foggy, the dreams would be even stranger - distant and oddly familiar, pressing his head full of dates, names, memories that he could not remember.

Right now, the clouds were beginning to build up. They became greyer and greyer with every minute. The darkness would not come for a time yet. But it was building up to it, and it would be darker than ever before. Sam knew it with every part of him.

And when this storm was unleashed, the light would not come again.

But for now - well, there was only now, and Sam rested in the peace brought by the fog.

*

The marvels of Lothlorien did not amaze Pippin.
He would not allow the shining light that fell on this land to enter his heart. He felt as though he would never laugh again.

The youngest of the Fellowship had grown up far too quickly.
Indeed it seemed to the others that a light had gone out in him. He barely spoke at all, and when he did his tone was lifeless and blank. Pippin's eyes were old and tired.

He had been so innocent.

That night, in a tall Mellyrn tree, Pippin looked over the side of the flet and wondered.

Throw yourself in next time, and rid us of your stupidity!'

The flet was awfully high.

Throw yourself in next time....'

It was so high.
He was so tired.

Pippin closed his eyes, and in his mind he saw himself falling and falling with Gandalf, from the bridge of Khazad-Dum. And the old wizard told him that it was alright. He told him the words that he had been longing to hear.

It wasn't your fault'

And the falling felt like flying.

He had always been so weak. The power that he felt surge through him at the thought of finally taking his life into his own hands thrilled him. To choose his own time, and the way by which he died seemed glorious to Pippin at that moment.

So he stepped to the edge, and fell.

(To Be Continued... - only kidding!)

Pippin fell down onto the decking and cried so hard. It felt as though all his pain and guilt and worry was trying to squeeze it's way out of him with the tears. It pushed it's way to the front of his mind and engulfed him.

He cried for Gandalf. For Sam.

But most of all he cried because of the realisation that he was too much of a coward to kill himself.

*
Merry sat behind the bole of the same tree, the tears streaming silently from his eyes.
He had seen it all.

He knew Pippin better than he knew himself. He could see the struggle going on inside him, but he could not move to go to his friend. He did not know how he could help him.

Merry had almost passed out with relief when Pippin had sat back down again.

He stood up, and did what he realised he should have done so long ago.
Merry crossed over to Pippin and enveloped him in a hug.


TBC....

All together now.. Aaaaaahhhhhh - innit sweet?'
I love those two. Tune in next time for an hour in the life of Boromir. (Ooh it's like 24' isn't it?! Could this be the worst
day of Jack Bowers life? ahem.. replace Jack Bowers' with Samwise Gamgee')

Thanks again for the luverly reviews!

Diamond - *joins in with gleeful Sam dance*

TDsamo - I care about Boromir! To tell the truth I didn't much like him in the book, but Sean Bean has totally changed my mind as movie Boromir. I feel sorry for him. But in this fic I'm kinda going to try and show some of the inner struggle going on inside him - his moral side battling against the corruption and temptation of the Ring. Sorry. (But I *do* care!)

Quantum Weather Butterfly - my odd phrase' for today is Stop this cantankerous cuffuffle! - dunno what it means but I have to use it as many times as I can today!

Nightmare and Warning - I'm glad that my fic is helping you calm down!

Nienna, Niphrandl, Shirebound - Thanks for the luck - incidentally I got 3 A's and a B! Yeah! *does a passing her exams dance*

Anyone and everyone else - I cannot thankyou enough for taking the time to review. I'm so glad that people are enjoying the story so far and I hope I don't let you down.

Now I have to go because my fingers are hurting from practising too many of the Strokes' fiddly bass lines on my guitar. -Cunien.x.x.x