Hi once again! Well here is the second chapter of the story I do hope that you like it!

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters nor know any of them.

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Merry slowly became conscious and opened his eyes. He vaguely remembered Pippin getting hit and that he had tried to stop it and he ended up being thrown against a rock.

He groaned and tried to lift his hands saw that they had been bound again. He gently touched his forehead to where the pain seemed to be coming from, his fingers touched something sticky and he quickly pulled back his hand and saw that his fingers were crimson.

He noticed that Pippin wasn't with him anymore and it was about that time he heard a pain filled cry come to his ears, his stomach turned upside down. He would know that voice anywhere, Pippin, he thought. He immediately tried pulling at his rope that had been tried to a tree but it was no use, the rope was strong and he soon became weary. Another scream came to his ears and he so desperately wanted to help his younger cousin who he had thought of as a brother.

Finally the screams died down but Merry knew that he would never be able to get those pain filled sounds from his mind for as long as he lived. He heard a noise of something that sounded like it was being dragged and looked up to see that it was Pippin.

The orc threw Pippin beside Merry and walked away not caring to tie him to the tree for he knew that the hobbit could go anywhere. But Pippin had also had his hands bound by the rough ropes.

Merry wanted to cry when he saw Pippin and his heart lurched up into throat.

Half of Pippin's face was covered in blood and once of Pippin's eyes was swollen shut with a dark bruise surround it. When Merry crawled closer he could see that the whip had slashed Pippin's shirt on the backside and blood stained the cloth. Other various cuts and bruises marked his body.

Oh Pip what have they done to you? His eyes turned sad. He gently touched his arm. "Pip," he said trying to stir him into wakefulness.

Much to his surprise Pippin recoiled in fear. He tired to scoot away from Merry, "No..No.. Please don't hurt me anymore, I... I'll be good I promise." The scared hobbit said thinking that it was another orc who had come to beat on him.

Anger flared up inside of Merry, Who could do such a thing! His mind screamed, and especially to Pippin!

Pippin was an innocent. Even after he became a tweenage, he always looked at every with an expression of awe much like a small child. Anyone who knew him could not resist those sparkling green eyes that so often got him out of trouble when he had done something wrong. That's why him and Merry made a perfect pair of tricksters. When they got caught Pippin could talk them out of anything.

His spirit never seemed to dwindle and he had an endless supply of happiness, so much that Merry was actually happy that Elrond had let Pippin come with them. He made long days pass quickly and gave everyone a new meaning of life. If you were ever sad or not in a good mood he would stand in front of you and put his hands on the sides of your face and look deep into your eyes and smile that crooked smile of his until you started smiling and then proceeded to give you a great big bear hug.

He made being happy look easy and other was sometimes jealous of him for few had that special gift.

But now Merry looked at his cousin who lay on the ground bloodied and broken. He knew that Pippin might never be the same again and he didn't want the joy that Pippin held in life to be taken away and a fierce protectiveness came over Merry. Though he had always been very protective of his best friend. It was stronger now than it had ever been.

Again he touched Pippin on the arm, "Pippers," he called him by the nickname he, himself had given Pippin, "It's me Merry."

At first he flinched away but as soon as he heard Pippins being said he knew it was truly Merry for only he called him that, "Merry?" He turned his head towards the voice.

"Yes, it's me Pip." Merry could see tears coming down his face.

"It hurts Merry," Pippin said, "It hurts so very much."

"I know Pip, we're gonna find a way out of here. Don't you worry."

"All right Mer, I believe you." Pippin's eyes were starting to droop but he clearly tried to stay awake but Merry saw this, "You tired Pip?"

"Yeah I feel like I wanna go to sleep and never wake up." Pippin tried to curl up tighter as he shivered when a gust of cold wind went right through his thin shirt, "It's awfully cold out here too."

Merry crawled up next to Pippin, "Well then you just keep close and I'll keep ya warm." And immediately snuggled to Merry trying to get as warm as he could, "Thank you Mer," Pippin said and closed his eyes. "Anything for you Pip." Merry said as he kissed the unruly curls on top of Pippin and fell into a light sleep.

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Merry awoke to the sound of crying, "Merry!" Merry heard Pippin shout out. He looked at him and saw that his eyes were closed and he was in the middle of a nightmare. He could see the tears streaming down his face and a look of pure terror on his face.

"Merry!" Pippin cried out again and his hand reached out to try and grab that was not there. Merry took one of his hands not sure if waking him up would be the best thing.

"Pippin, I'm right here, don't worry," I whispered.

Pippin's face slowly relaxed and didn't look so scared anymore, "Don't leave all right?" Still obviously sleeping.

"Never," Merry said and watched him fall into an uneasy rest.

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A/N: Ok so that's the second chapter. Did ya like it? Please review and tell me what you thought cause that's what keeps me writing!