a/n: This is a bit sad, really because it forshadows Gandalf's fall, and a certain other character's death. Funny and sad at the same time. Anyways, this concludes 'Stumbling Across Danger'. Don't worry, there's more to come. Thank you all for your wonderful reviews!

Stumbling Across Danger [part five]

Pippin was glomped by two very enthusiastic arms in a tight enough hug to make him lose his footing and have both of them fall onto the ground.

"Peregrin Took, if you ever run off like that again I'll be sure to have Farmer Maggot's dogs drag you around the Shire by your underpants three times 'round!" Merry scolded, but there was a note of glee in his voice that made Pippin want to hug his cousin even tighter. They shared one final squeeze and both got to their feet, looking to meet the eyes of Frodo and Sam. Frodo hugged Pippin first, and then Sam affectionately gripped his shoulder.

"What happened, Pip?! How did you get all the way down there?"

Gandalf turned from where he had been staring Boromir down like a child that had broken his father's best goblet and countered Merry's question with, "And I would like to know how two of Middle Earth's greatest warriors could not save a hobbit and themselves from a mere stumble in the darkness." His eyes once more shot to Boromir.

The captain straightened himself and cleared his throat for an explanation. "Well, you see, it was all my fault – "

"And mine, I should have been watching Pippin – "

"It was not your fault, elf, the credit goes to me for this mishap!"

Legolas narrowed his eyes. "It was I that continued the bickering and paid no attention to the path – "

Boromir closed the space between himself and Legolas in an act of aggression, seeing himself lose the argument, "Well I was dawdling third to the rear and did not warn the two of you of the crevice I had noted seconds earlier!"

"That is a lie, you could not have known it was there because you had been walking no where near it!"

"How would you have known that if you had not been paying attention to the path? Ha!" Boromir scoffed at the elf and basked in his own glory for about five seconds before it dawned on him that he had just named himself responsible for the accident. Why he had even demanded to take the blame entirely upon himself, he did not know. Perhaps in a way he meant to keep his promise with Pippin and shake hands with the uptight priss of an elf; but the thought also hit him that the 'uptight priss of an elf' was willing to lay the blame on himself.

He suddenly felt very stupid when every face smiled and every pair of eyes focused on him. Aragorn's lips kept trembling as though he were repressing a smile and was doing a very bad job of hiding it. Boromir only waited for the wizard's assault.

"Well, son of Denethor, it seems you have beaten the elf in the battle of the blockheads." Gandalf laughed and shook his head, tipping the brim of his hat back so he could look at the captain without an obscured view. He seemed intrigued when Legolas stood next to Boromir, and he smiled, but it lacked any kind of mock or ridicule. "But there was a lesson learned on this adventure, and though the rest of them may not see it, I certainly do." his glance strayed to Pippin. "And I'm sure Master Peregrin would agree with me."

"As do I, Mithrandir." Aragorn spoke up, and Boromir looked over at him once more. This time Aragorn smiled at him, and it mirrored Gandalf's admiration a bit, but mostly held amusement. "I believe we all have learned a lot from these little adventures in the past few days."

"Aye, we all have." Gandalf leaned on his staff, and by the expression on his face the Company knew a smarmy comment was on the way. "But I'm sure we all know who was the brains and who was the brawn in this situation." His eyes moved to Pippin, and he exhaled in tire. "And who was the fool."

"Objections, Mithrandir." Legolas spoke up in a clear voice, and his suddenness made Boromir nearly leap four feet in the air. "Master Peregrin held the intelligence among the three of us, and thought our situation out while Boromir and I were butting heads."

"And elf…butting heads with a man…unheard of." Gandalf murmured, then gave another ragged sigh. "Ah, these times are changing too quickly for me. I am far too old for this."

"I know."

"Boromir." Gandalf's voice was a rough bark kind of sound, but his clear eyes still held a twinkle of laughter. "You'll be and old man, too, one day. One day." he signaled for the Company to continue moving, and gave the three recovered members a particular glance when he said 'keep together'.

"Did you see them?" Merry asked in a quiet but amused tone. "Arguing over whose fault it was, but not in a way I've ever seen. What did you do to them, Pip, to make them friends?"

"Nothing…and Boromir says they're not friends." Pippin replied, arm around his cousin's shoulders and his cousin's arm around his shoulders. "He keeps saying that arrogant cretin's can trust uptight priss's or something like that. He's a funny fellow, that Boromir."

"All men are, I think." Merry answered. "Elves are, too. Elves are a very funny folk."

"Well…how many people have said Hobbits are a funny folk?" Pippin asked. "It's all a matter of opinion, Merry old boy. Come on, Gandalf says that up here we're going to start camp. I'm so hungry I could have eaten Bill!"

"Bill would not have liked that one bit, Mr. Pippin." Sam said from the front of their traveling company.

That night, when they sat around the campfire and ate Sam's stew, all thoughts of their terrible situation were left behind and replaced with laughter and stories of their homes. Elf and Man laughed together, and the company enjoyed the night with not one feud until days later.

It was the last campfire that the nine walkers would ever have together.