I want to apologize for the lack of updates, everything has just been so busy and I really have just been too tired to type up anything. But the next chapter is here and I hope that you like it and I ask you to please review! Also I want to thank Janet for beta for me. Enjoy the story!
It had been well over an hour, and Merry was becoming more worried by the minute.
Pippin was starting to doze off, which wasn't a good thing, but the temperature of the water was making him so cold, that it was wanting to make his body shut down and rest-- but it might be a rest from which he might never awake. The water had now risen to the middle of Pippin's chest, and his lips had turned blue and his face gone pale.
Pippin started to nod off again. "No Pippin you can't go to sleep," Merry said, slightly shaking Pippin.
"But I'm so tired, Merry." Pippin looked at him with great big sad eyes.
"I know you're tired, but you have to stay awake right now. When you get home, then you can sleep all you want."
"All right, Mer, I'll try," was Pippin's weak reply.
Just then, Merry saw Frodo, Sam, and the Gaffer come through the clearing.
"Pippin," he said softly, "They're here and we're going to get you free now."
"Mmm, " said Pippin, now not fully aware of everything around him. He was so cold now, and just wanted to sleep forever.
By that time, Sam, Frodo, and the Gaffer had made it over to them. "How is little Pippin holding up?" Sam asked, going to Pippin and pushing the wet curls from his forehead.
"He's getting worse, and the river is getting higher; we have to hurry," Merry said pleadingly.
"We have to try and cut through they wire; it might take a little while, but it should work," the Gaffer said, as he held up a tool and set right to work, finding the wire and trying to saw through it. Frodo was nearby holding up a lamp so it would help his work better.
"We have to keep his head above the water," Sam said.
Merry nodded and held Pippin up as much as he could out of the water, which had risen up to Pippin's neck.
"I think he is starting to get hypothermia," Sam said, looking worried.
"Did you bring the blankets?" Merry asked.
"Yes, and they are hidden to keep from getting wet -- but they'll be ready when we get him out of the water."
"Sam! Come here!" The Gaffer yelled, and Sam hurriedly went to help his father.
"Pippin!" Merry called, lightly slapping his face, then a little harder, "Pippin! You have to stay awake!" Merry tugged Pippin up a little more for water was getting in his mouth.
"But I wanna sleep," Pippin said, and slipped further.
"No! I made you a promise and you're not going to do this!" Merry shouted, making Pippin look into his eyes. "you hear me?"
"I'm sorry, Merry, I'm trying, it's just getting too hard." Pippin gave one last look to Merry before his body and mind shut down on him and he lost consciousness.
"Pippin!" Merry yelled, but no answer came to his ears.
"Have you almost got it? He's not awake anymore." The water started coming faster.
"Yes, only a little more," Frodo said.
Pippin's head was now almost covered, and Merry tried to lift him up -- but the wire wasn't giving much leverage.
"Hurry!" Merry shouted, when he realized that Pippin was beginning to choke on the water