Title: Curiosity
Author: Robin Elizabeth
Rating: PG (may change in later chapters)
Feedback: Would be greatly appreciated.
Disclaimer: Not mine, I'm just playing with them. I promise I'll put them back where I found them when I'm done.
Archive: Fanfiction.net and my site. All others, please ask first.
Summary: Curiosity killed the cat, no one's sure what it does to hobbits though. (A Merry/Pippin centric story)
Author's note: No slash of any kind…
Chapter One: Gone in an Instant
Pippin Took was restless…again. The Company had left Rivendell days ago and so far nothing exciting happened. The rest of the Company took joy in that, and Pippin was glad. He didn't want Orcs attacking, or the Ringwraiths either. But the simple marching was making Pippin crazy. He couldn't even stop to look at anything since when he tried, someone usually poked him to keep moving. Usually Boromir…Aragorn every once in a while. Merry always walked with Pippin, trying to keep his younger cousin out of trouble.
"We will take a small rest here," Gandalf announced suddenly.
"Is there time to eat?" Pippin asked, since it had been a long time since he ate last, or so he felt anyway.
"Of course, Master Took," Gandalf answered, a slight smile showing. "But quickly. We cannot linger here long."
While Legolas helped Sam get some food from Bill's packs, Merry and Pippin went to the nearby river to fetch some water for their skins. Merry tried to stay close to Pippin, as the younger one was known for getting into trouble when it seemed impossible for him to do so. But something shiny caught Pippin's eye…
"Pip! What are you doing?" Merry cried when he saw Pippin wading into the water.
"There's something in the water. Something shiny," Pippin answered lightly. "I'm going to see what it is."
"Pippin, get back here now!" Merry said sternly, to no avail.
The water was up to the hobbit's waist when he stopped. Pippin bent over, grabbing the shiny object with his left hand. Merry, still on the shore, watched the younger hobbit's every move. Pippin admired what looked like a locket, it's chain still in the water under the silt.
"Merry!" Pippin called. "Look at this!"
Pippin turned to go back to shore, to show his find with his cousin. But something had the other end of the chain and yanked it back. Pippin was caught unaware and pulled under water.
"Pippin!" Merry cried. "Pippin!"
He started to go into the water after his cousin when someone stopped him. He looked up to see Aragorn behind him.
"He's in there!" Merry pointed. "He found something and was pulled under the water!"
"Go to camp and alert the others. I will try to find Peregrin."
Merry took one last look at the water, then at a determined Aragorn. He then raced back to the camp, telling everyone else the story between heaving breaths.
The rest of the Company immediately picked up their weapons and followed Merry to where Pippin had disappeared. Aragorn was downstream a ways, still searching for Pippin.
"I will stay with the hobbits. You must assist Aragorn in looking for young Pippin," Gandalf ordered to Boromir, Legolas and Gimli.
The three headed downstream to help Aragorn. Merry sat on the ground hard, staring blankly at the water.
"They'll find Pippin, I know they will," Sam said, sitting next to Merry.
Frodo sat on the other side of Merry from Sam, and put an arm around his shoulders, not saying a word. Frodo was just as concerned for his young cousin's safety as anyone else. But Merry wasn't just concerned. He was frightened. Pippin was so young…so small. Pippin couldn't last under water this long. Merry began to sob at the thought of losing his favorite cousin and best friend. Frodo buried his face in Merry's shoulder, trying not to cry himself.