a/n: Sorry, I know it took forever. I've been sick (as usual) and spent the past few days bedridden and couch ridden – HA! wish I would have. I spent the past few days dogging it all out at school. Anyways, here it is and I hope you enjoy. I might write a little more to this particular tale concerning Legolas and Boromir, but it's not a promise. Thank you all for reviewing!

Enjoy!

Stumbling Across Danger [part four]

"Wake up, Merry! Meriadoc, wake up!"

The hobbit moaned in his sleep and writhed a moment in the ranger's grip, then bolted up with wide, fearful eyes snapped open. He dragged in frazzled gasps and finally seemed to regain some of his self control after Strider's large hand patted his back sympathetically.

"I dreamed that Pip had been caught in a rockslide, and the three of them had been killed." Merry shook his head and hid his eyes behind small hands, remaining silent for sometime before he looked across their new camp to see Gandalf regarded him quietly. "I'm sorry, was I too loud? Did I wake the rest of you?"

"No, Meriadoc, it's quite alright." Gandalf replied with a smile, but Merry could see that the wizard's mind was on something else. "The cries in your sleep do not trouble me…you see, it's morning now and Aragorn and I found something…discouraging."

Merry looked over to where Frodo was looking ill with worry, and Sam was too. "What? What's discouraging?"

The wizard nudged his lit staff in the direction of a deep crack in rock and dirt, and when Merry looked closer he could not see the bottom of it. The two sides of the walls had been caved in and whatever had been at the bottom was as good as dead.

"No, Pip couldn't have been down there!" Merry protested, looking from one doubtful face to the next. "Pippin would have found a way out…he would have, I know it! He may…" Merry's voice cracked and he bit his lip hard for a moment to regain his self control, then continued, "He may be a blockheaded…jackass…tomfool sometimes, but if he was in so much danger he would have found a way out, Gandalf!"

When Merry's eyes met Strider's the ranger only lowered his gaze and did not reply. One of Gimli's warm hands came to rest on Merry's shoulder, but it came as no comfort to him. The wizard in his turn peered into the crevice and lightly lifted the brim of his hat to reveal thoughtful blue eyes.

"Aye, Merry…I think that, despite Peregrin's dull wit, he still has a Took spirit about him and with the aid of Legolas and Boromir…I think they had a chance." he said after a moment, and Strider stood to be by Gandalf, also looking into the crevice.

"Why did you not tell us last night?" Frodo asked, and Strider answered this time.

"You all needed your sleep." He said simply, and the hobbits all nodded solemnly.

"I…don't think I could've slept knowing what I know now, Mr. Frodo." Sam whispered, and pulled himself to his feet. "Begging your pardon, Mr. Gandalf, but I think we should get searching as soon as possible. There's no telling what sorta mischief Mr. Pippin has gotten himself into."

"Very well, Samwise." Gandalf said. "Merry, you will walk beside me and Aragorn, you take the rear. We're going to see if cannot follow this crevice and find clues to their fate, or their whereabouts." Merry slung his pack over his shoulder and stayed close by Gandalf's grey robe.

You foolish Took! If anything has happened to you I'll make sure I give you a right good whack upside the head…and the tightest hug I can muster.

--- --- ---

"We've been walking for ten minutes, Boromir!" Pippin complained, unsure of how long they had been walking. "Do you have any idea where you're going?"

"Yes."

"I don't think you do."

Boromir turned on the hobbit. "Then YOU lead the way!"

"Well I would if your big self wasn't blocking it!"

"Oh quiet, Halfling." Boromir ordered casually as the Hobbit shoved in front of him, quickly cupping one of his large gloved hands tightly about the Hobbit's chin and mouth. Pippin squirmed around a bit, but Boromir did not pay attention. His eyes were scanning the darkness, and he peered around the shadows of jagged rocks. There was something moving without sound, but he saw the silhouette caught in the slivers of light that filtered from above. "Pippin, do you see that?"

"Mmmggggannnttheeaanneetthhhiiiiiin!"

Boromir turned his hip a bit so that Pippin could see into the darkness, but before the Hobbit could attempt to speak again the figure leaped out at them. Boromir yelped and stumbled backwards onto his rear end with Pippin on top of him, but instantly was he on his feet with his weapon drawn. After seeing the unmoved blue eyes, he sighed and sheathed his sword.

"Legolas. I did not see you leave us."

"Legolas, don't ever do that again!" Pippin hissed, rubbing his rump with both hands; when Boromir had scrambled up he had landed full force on his backside. "Boromir is a jumpy, 'fraidy cat and – "

"Did I not tell you to be quiet?" Boromir inquired firmly as he unconsciously brought both hands to his tailbone to see if he had seriously bruised anything. "Legolas, where did you go?" The Elf glanced over his shoulder and shook his head.

"Though it gives me no pleasure to say, I believe we are heading in the opposite direction we should be." Legolas pointed a slender finger past Boromir's head, and he turned to see what the Elf was pointing at. "We fell a good distance from that rock formation…you see, when the rocks fell we ran without knowing where. We thought we had stayed in the same crevice, when in reality we ran into another one."

Boromir's brawny shoulder's sagged, and he exhaled sharply. "So when we thought we had made it to the surface we never really did? It was just…back where we fell?"

"Aye."

"Well where do we go, Legolas?" Pippin asked from beside Boromir, and both sets of eyes snapped to the hobbit as if just noticing him. This irked Pippin's patience – why did tall people always seem to over look him?! "Did you at least find a path?"

"Yes…if I see right, our path is just ahead. We should turn around completely and walk straight, then see if we can find a way up those fallen rocks."

Pippin brightened. "Good! The sooner I hear Gandalf yelling at me for being a jackass the better I'll feel! Come on, you two! Don't just stand there looking like idle half-wits! I want warm food – " The hobbit was rudely cut off by two tall males moving swiftly past him and ignoring his complaining. He drew his brows down tight and folded his arms. "Fine then, I'll just stay right here until you're both ready to give a Took the respect he deserves – "

One of Boromir's rough hands seized the back of his little jacket and he was, yet again very rudely, pulled in stead with them.

--- --- ---

"This time I know I heard it!" Merry chimed, pointing to where he had heard the strange yelp that sounded like Farmer Maggot when his dog had accidentally taken a chomp of where it hurt. "It came from…far over that way! Gandalf, I know it was Pip!"

"That was a bit deep to be Pippin." Aragorn murmured, and he locked eyes with the wizard. The ranger could not help a smile. "Boromir?" he mouthed silently, and Gandalf felt a smug smile of his own coming to his lips.

"If he is well enough to yelp, then that is a good sign! Come, Meriadoc. We will trust the judgment of a Brandybuck and go in that direction." Gandalf held his staff out so that the white light at the end of it shone over the rocks. Sure enough, there was a deep crack in the stone and it let a while in the direction Merry had indicated. "Come!"

"Master Baggins, Master Samwise, I think it wise if you stay by me on this trek." Gimli said with a good grace despite the worry the Hobbits held. "Master Brandybuck has earned himself a place by Aragorn and Gandalf Greyhame!"

Merry laughed with the others, and it eased the tension a bit. He was still worried, as he was sure the others were, but it would do no good to just worry. He had to concentrate on finding Pippin and Boromir and Legolas. They walked for what seemed like hours, but Merry suddenly heard, as did the others, a sound of crumbling rocks and a complaint from a high pitched Hobbit-voice. Merry broke free of Aragorn's side and ran forward into the darkness despite Gandalf's calls to come back.

--- --- ---

"If I ever get up this stupid rubble pile I'm going to go home and marry Diamond!" Boromir rolled his eyes and gave Pippin's bottom another boost with his shoulder. Legolas was at his side, listening quietly and not bothering to start up anymore arguments. "I love her, and I want to marry her!"

"You're not even of age yet, Pippin. Just concentrate on climbing, will you? OOOMPH!" Pippin stumbled backwards onto Boromir and his shoulder blades hit the captain's forehead and snapped his chin upwards and his head back. Legolas' hand shot out to support Boromir should he fall, but it was not necessary. Boromir seized Pippin by the back of the britches and practically hurled him back up the rocks. "Pay attention!"

"I'm sorry, Boromir! I slipped!"

"Are you alright?" Legolas inquired quietly, and Boromir nodded but did not at all seem happy with the Hobbit's apology. The Elf continued to climb nimbly up the rocks, and only the tips of his fingers and toes seemed to ever come in contact with them. Boromir had no time to marvel – he had to shove a hobbit up the side as well as climb himself.

"What are you going to do if you ever get out of here, Legolas?" Pippin asked, and the Elf looked over his shoulder with nothing more than a light glance.

"You speak as if we will never leave this place, Peregrin." he then continued to climb, but slower this time so they could hear his words without him getting too far ahead. "When I get out I expect I will do as I have this entire journey – "

"Squabble with Gimli?" Legolas looked a bit piqued but said nothing. Pippin asked this time, "What about you, Boromir?"

"Oh, you mean after Gandalf scolds my ear off?"

"Yes, after."

"I suppose I'll do what Legolas said."

"Don't you want to get married?"

"No." Boromir answered dryly, and when asked the same question, Legolas responded as Boromir had. The hobbit rolled his eyes and muttered something about boring big people, but only received another scoot from the captain.

"You know…despite all of this.." Pippin began, and made an effort to look his climbing companions in the face. "I kind of enjoyed it. I mean…you two became friends and that's a really big stretch. An arrogant cretin like you, Boromir, and an uptight priss like you, Legolas, is one odd pair." Legolas and Boromir exchanged glances and quirked their eyebrows in turn, but Pippin only continued, "I feel like I've done a good deed."

"I would not exactly call us friends just yet, Pippin." Boromir corrected the hobbit, and glance at Legolas once more. "But even an arrogant cretin can learn to trust an uptight priss."

Legolas did not seem thrilled at his new title, but nodded in approval of the words Boromir had spoken. "True. I suppose an Elf can learn to trust an arrogant cretin."

"Then end your feud on that!" Pippin decided, forgetting Boromir had to support all of his weight with one hand. "Shake hands…from one arrogant cretin to another uptight priss!" The hobbit did not seem to be getting any results, but after complaining some he forced promises from both man and elf that once they were safe and on the surface they would indeed shake hands.

"Good. You two were starting to sound like Legolas and Gimli."

"And you were beginning to sound like that cobweb-collecting old wizard – " Boromir was cut off by a knarled old hand quickly the back of his jerkin, and was heaved up with surprising strength. Not all the way, of course, but enough so that a white light was shining painfully in his eyes, and his chin came just above the rock surface. Pippin had scrambled off somewhere, but Legolas was right beside him when he met the cool blue eyes of the wizard, and the gentle but smug old voice prompted,

"Cobweb-collecting old wizard, eh, captain?"

Boromir groaned. "I really wish you would make more noise when you walk." And Gandalf pulled him up to safety.