Pippin sat deep in his despair as he watched the sky grow menacingly dark.
The sun was blotted out by the billowing fumes of smoke and turned blood
red foreboding the doom that was now evident. The streets of Gondor were
bare and solemn in the darkness, women and children sat in their homes
watching the sky from their windows. All in the kingdom accepted their fate
with solemn sincerity and Pippin was left on the streets waiting for his
own death and thinking about Merry. He knew that somewhere out there Merry
was all alone looking onto the same doom and thinking of him. Pippin wiped
away his tears and put his head in his hands, waiting.
The darkness took no time to spread and manifest its doom into the hearts of men. The men stayed with their children and wives, waiting for the doom that pressed upon Gondor. Pippin's thoughts strayed to Sam and Frodo, perhaps long dead, he cried again. If only one could be saved, only one, it should be Frodo. Frodo was the one who bravely tossed aside his life and walked into the inpending doom, he knew his death from the beginning and yet still he bore that terrible burden. Frodo deserved something in payment for his sacrifice even though the quest had failed. He saw the frightened faces in the windows of the small homes and felt some amount of guilt rise up, hot in his breast, they ALL should be saved! But this he could not have. If there was some way- some way for his cousin to rise up out of Mordor alive and find some place of peace in return for his suffering it would be enough for Pippin. No matter how much he wanted Gondor saved, or Merry beside him, or his home safe in the Shire, this was his wish, and he thought if he wished it hard enough it had to happen. He cursed himself for being so foolish, but he still could not shake the thought of his older cousin walking into doom, that wise knowing in his eyes, KNOWING his own death and still going to save the Shire and his friends.
Pippin wept, alone in the streets, alone in the darkness, and once more thought of Merry. His thoughts were interrupted, however, by a kind voice beside him. He looked up and Gandalf stood, silent and solemn.
"Are they dead, Gandalf?" Pippin's voice was wracked with sobs.
Gandalf narrowed his eyes, looking out towards Mordor. "The Ringbearer lives," he said, his only answer.
Pippin shiverred. Poor Frodo he was lost and alone in Mordor amongst all that destruction. What was he going through? What horrible terrors did he see? "You have to help him, Gandalf!"
Gandalf looked down at young Pippin and smiled wryly. "Where would he go, even if I got him out of Mordor."
"There must be some place of safety! Somewhere for him to go and be happy!" Pippin cried.
Gandalf nodded, "There is."
"Please, Gandalf, take him away. He doesn't deserve this, him of all people," Pippin pleaded.
Gandalf eyed the young hobbit under his bushy brows. "That was the noblest and wisest thing you have ever said, Peregrin Took. This world is dying, you know, and that is your one wish."
"I have many wishes. I wish Merry were with me. I wish Frodo and Sam were safe. I wish we were all safe in the Shire. I wish Gondor wouldn't fall. But if Frodo can be saved, then I can- I can die- and Frodo-" Pippin was stopped by endless sobs again and the wizard bent to comfort him.
"Hobbits really are amazing creatures."
"How, Gandalf? How can he find safety?" Pippin asked when he regained some sort of composure. "Where can he go?"
"With the elves, Peregrin. It was after Frodo volunteered to take the ring that Lord Elrond, the Lady Arwen, and I decided that whether the quest succeeded or failed, if Frodo lived, he would gain passage to the lands of Valinor. Arwen has given up her own passage to him."
Pippin's eyes went wide. She would rather die with her love then seek safety without him. And he says hobbits are amazing creatures! Pippin jumped to his feet, "Find him! Find him, Gandalf! Take him to Valinor!"
Gandalf sighed, "Soon. The Lord of the Eagles is willing to bear me to Mordor. He will be arriving soon." Gandalf turned to walk away.
Pippin wondered how Frodo could live, knowing the destruction he left behind. Would it not be better for him to die? To remember all he'd left behind, that would be torment. "Wait, Gandalf!" But then he stopped and thought all the more.
Gandalf turned to face Pippin. He watched the small hobbit rage the debate in his mind before finally speaking. "Peregrin. He'll forget."
Pippin was torn from his thoughts. He wondered if Gandalf had read his mind or simply the expressions on his face. "Forget?" was all he could come to say.
"The Valar will give him peace. He will no longer hold to the life he lived here."
"Peace?" That was what Pippin wanted for his cousin. Peace. It was what he deserved for bearing such a burden. Pippin cast down his eyes. He'd forget them. Forget them all. But he would find peace.
Pippin was once again started out of his transe by Gandalf's comforting hand on his shoulder. "I believe it would be best. But it is not your decision. So do not trouble yourself."
"But I don't want him to forget me."
"Would you rather him die?"
Pippin shook his head furiously.
"I should be going now."
Pippin nodded and wiped his tear drenched face once more. He watched the wizard fade into the distance and was gone. Pippin was alone again. His thoughts strayed back to Merry and he thought he heard Merry's thoughts answering him.
"I wish you were here, Merry. I'm frightened."
After a long pause there came an answer in Pippin's mind, faint like the small whispers of the wind.
"Don't be frightened, Pip, it will be over soon."
"Merry?"
"We both face battle now, Pip, we will depart together."
Pippin set his hand on his sword as he saw the armies of Mordor advancing in the distance.
"I will leave this world fighting," he thought. "Frodo will be safe. And I will see Merry soon." These were his comforting thoughts, as Merry's voice faded from him. The world had seemed to fade as Pippin prepared himself for battle. One lone, little hobbit against the forces of Mordor. He could feel his death breathe down his neck and he tried desperately to overcome his fright. He could see the orcs clearly now, barely just infront of him, they brandished their spears. Just as the armies were upon him he saw a figure rise up and fly towards Mordor with terrible speed. Gandalf had begun his flight to Barad-dur.
"Find him, Gandalf. Find him and bring hi-" Pippin's thoughts were cut short by a burning pain in him and then blackness. Darkness filled his world, the pain subsided into a warm numbness and then- nothing. The night that lay perpetually in his heart lifted with a veil of mist as bright white light penetrated his clouded vision, and- no more.
~
Ack!!!! Now I've killed Pippin and Merry! I'm unstoppable! Someone take this keyboard away from me who knows what other damage I may do! I cannot be held responsible for my actions! I feel like a helpless bystander watching someone else weave a tale of such destructive grieving I cannot bear it! ::cries:: I'm sorry Sam! I'm sorry Pippin! I'm sorry Merry! But Frodo will be ok, right? ::looks down at hands:: I've lost all control over them. What more damage will I do! ::weeps::
The darkness took no time to spread and manifest its doom into the hearts of men. The men stayed with their children and wives, waiting for the doom that pressed upon Gondor. Pippin's thoughts strayed to Sam and Frodo, perhaps long dead, he cried again. If only one could be saved, only one, it should be Frodo. Frodo was the one who bravely tossed aside his life and walked into the inpending doom, he knew his death from the beginning and yet still he bore that terrible burden. Frodo deserved something in payment for his sacrifice even though the quest had failed. He saw the frightened faces in the windows of the small homes and felt some amount of guilt rise up, hot in his breast, they ALL should be saved! But this he could not have. If there was some way- some way for his cousin to rise up out of Mordor alive and find some place of peace in return for his suffering it would be enough for Pippin. No matter how much he wanted Gondor saved, or Merry beside him, or his home safe in the Shire, this was his wish, and he thought if he wished it hard enough it had to happen. He cursed himself for being so foolish, but he still could not shake the thought of his older cousin walking into doom, that wise knowing in his eyes, KNOWING his own death and still going to save the Shire and his friends.
Pippin wept, alone in the streets, alone in the darkness, and once more thought of Merry. His thoughts were interrupted, however, by a kind voice beside him. He looked up and Gandalf stood, silent and solemn.
"Are they dead, Gandalf?" Pippin's voice was wracked with sobs.
Gandalf narrowed his eyes, looking out towards Mordor. "The Ringbearer lives," he said, his only answer.
Pippin shiverred. Poor Frodo he was lost and alone in Mordor amongst all that destruction. What was he going through? What horrible terrors did he see? "You have to help him, Gandalf!"
Gandalf looked down at young Pippin and smiled wryly. "Where would he go, even if I got him out of Mordor."
"There must be some place of safety! Somewhere for him to go and be happy!" Pippin cried.
Gandalf nodded, "There is."
"Please, Gandalf, take him away. He doesn't deserve this, him of all people," Pippin pleaded.
Gandalf eyed the young hobbit under his bushy brows. "That was the noblest and wisest thing you have ever said, Peregrin Took. This world is dying, you know, and that is your one wish."
"I have many wishes. I wish Merry were with me. I wish Frodo and Sam were safe. I wish we were all safe in the Shire. I wish Gondor wouldn't fall. But if Frodo can be saved, then I can- I can die- and Frodo-" Pippin was stopped by endless sobs again and the wizard bent to comfort him.
"Hobbits really are amazing creatures."
"How, Gandalf? How can he find safety?" Pippin asked when he regained some sort of composure. "Where can he go?"
"With the elves, Peregrin. It was after Frodo volunteered to take the ring that Lord Elrond, the Lady Arwen, and I decided that whether the quest succeeded or failed, if Frodo lived, he would gain passage to the lands of Valinor. Arwen has given up her own passage to him."
Pippin's eyes went wide. She would rather die with her love then seek safety without him. And he says hobbits are amazing creatures! Pippin jumped to his feet, "Find him! Find him, Gandalf! Take him to Valinor!"
Gandalf sighed, "Soon. The Lord of the Eagles is willing to bear me to Mordor. He will be arriving soon." Gandalf turned to walk away.
Pippin wondered how Frodo could live, knowing the destruction he left behind. Would it not be better for him to die? To remember all he'd left behind, that would be torment. "Wait, Gandalf!" But then he stopped and thought all the more.
Gandalf turned to face Pippin. He watched the small hobbit rage the debate in his mind before finally speaking. "Peregrin. He'll forget."
Pippin was torn from his thoughts. He wondered if Gandalf had read his mind or simply the expressions on his face. "Forget?" was all he could come to say.
"The Valar will give him peace. He will no longer hold to the life he lived here."
"Peace?" That was what Pippin wanted for his cousin. Peace. It was what he deserved for bearing such a burden. Pippin cast down his eyes. He'd forget them. Forget them all. But he would find peace.
Pippin was once again started out of his transe by Gandalf's comforting hand on his shoulder. "I believe it would be best. But it is not your decision. So do not trouble yourself."
"But I don't want him to forget me."
"Would you rather him die?"
Pippin shook his head furiously.
"I should be going now."
Pippin nodded and wiped his tear drenched face once more. He watched the wizard fade into the distance and was gone. Pippin was alone again. His thoughts strayed back to Merry and he thought he heard Merry's thoughts answering him.
"I wish you were here, Merry. I'm frightened."
After a long pause there came an answer in Pippin's mind, faint like the small whispers of the wind.
"Don't be frightened, Pip, it will be over soon."
"Merry?"
"We both face battle now, Pip, we will depart together."
Pippin set his hand on his sword as he saw the armies of Mordor advancing in the distance.
"I will leave this world fighting," he thought. "Frodo will be safe. And I will see Merry soon." These were his comforting thoughts, as Merry's voice faded from him. The world had seemed to fade as Pippin prepared himself for battle. One lone, little hobbit against the forces of Mordor. He could feel his death breathe down his neck and he tried desperately to overcome his fright. He could see the orcs clearly now, barely just infront of him, they brandished their spears. Just as the armies were upon him he saw a figure rise up and fly towards Mordor with terrible speed. Gandalf had begun his flight to Barad-dur.
"Find him, Gandalf. Find him and bring hi-" Pippin's thoughts were cut short by a burning pain in him and then blackness. Darkness filled his world, the pain subsided into a warm numbness and then- nothing. The night that lay perpetually in his heart lifted with a veil of mist as bright white light penetrated his clouded vision, and- no more.
~
Ack!!!! Now I've killed Pippin and Merry! I'm unstoppable! Someone take this keyboard away from me who knows what other damage I may do! I cannot be held responsible for my actions! I feel like a helpless bystander watching someone else weave a tale of such destructive grieving I cannot bear it! ::cries:: I'm sorry Sam! I'm sorry Pippin! I'm sorry Merry! But Frodo will be ok, right? ::looks down at hands:: I've lost all control over them. What more damage will I do! ::weeps::