So much going on at work! All this week I've worked on this, and I've only got three chapters to show for it! That's what I meant by it'll be a while before I do anymore new stories...thanks to all!

Chapter Four: Carefree and Careless

Merry and Pervinca sat on the bank of the stream and dabbled their feet in the cool waters that rushed by. They watched as Pippin skimmed some flat stones he found along the stream, and cheered him on when they skipped more than five times.

Pervinca filled her lungs with the autumn breeze and closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun on her face. It was so peaceful here; no bossy sisters screaming orders in her ear. She opened her eyes to the colorful hues in the trees that lined the stream on the far side. She let go of her arms that propped her up and dropped on her back, gazing up at the clear blue sky, "It's so beautiful here, Merry! I'm glad you let me come along!"

Merry looked back at his cousin laying on the grass, "Well, I can't say that we felt obliged to bring you," then he smiled, "but I'm glad you came along, too."

"Hey!" Pippin yelled from his spot down stream. "You two missed it! I made the stone skip eight times!" He ran back up to where his sister and Merry sat.

"Do it again!" Pervinca said.

"I can't do it again! I'd have to find another rock just like it!"

"Well go find one!"

Pippin plopped next his sister, "You go find one! I'm going to take my ease and laze in the sun as you have!"

"If I find a smooth slim stone like the one you just threw, I get half of your dessert tonight at supper!"

Pippin eyed his sister in the sunlight and chuckled, "That's assuming we get dessert! If we're caught, it'll be a long time before either of us gets dessert!"

Pervinca got up and walked down the bank a ways. Thirty seconds had not passed before she ran back holding out to Pippin her treasures, "Look! I found four very thin rocks--and look at that one!" She turned over the fifth rock and let glitter in the sunlight the various colors it held. "This one must be worth more than fifty silver pieces!"

"No, Pervinca," Pippin pointed to the slender rocks, "those four rocks won't do!", Pippin instructed. "They must have a smooth surface--and the more evenly thin the better."

"Oh.", she replied, but she was persistent, if nothing else. "Wait! Hold this pretty one while I go find more!" And off she went.

Pippin had taken her rock and winked at Merry as he handed it to him, "She'll be a while! It's time to take a nap!"

It wasn't long before he heard Pippin's deep breathing next to him. Between the warmth of the sun and the gurgling sound of water running over rock, Merry found himself lulled into a hazy half-awake dream.

Then he heard it; a splash followed by a high-pitched yelp. In an instant he was on his feet and gazing down the bank. Sure enough, there was a small figure thrashing in the water, sputtering, "Help!"

Merry sprang into a run downstream until he was level with his cousin. "Hold on!", he yelled to her.

Pervinca bobbed in the water, "Merry!", she sputtered and gasped, "Help me! I can't..." Down she went again.

Merry trembled with fright, but overcame himself. As he ran alongside the stream, he spotted a clear path in the water and plunged in. The undertow proved a bit more than he imagined, but he was a strong swimmer, and soon caught up with his struggling cousin.

Pervinca was still splashing as he tried to gain a hold around her, "Stop, Pervinca! If you keep struggling, we'll both go down!"

Pervinca calmed down some, and clutched at her cousin's arm. She gasped for air and coughed as Merry kicked his feet and swam with one arm towards the bank.

Pippin was waiting on the edge of the embankment and leaned out to grab an arm, but instead settled for a handful of his sister's dress. He tried to haul her up with his one arm, but his meager strength was no match for someone five years older than he; so all he could do was hold her so she wouldn't drop back under the water.

Merry got up out of the water while Pippin had a hold on Pervinca, and leaned out next to him to help lift her up. He was out of breath and had little strength left. "I know you're spent, Pervinca, but you must help us! When we pull, you need to push up as much as possible!" Merry looked at Pippin who nodded. "Ready?" He saw Pervinca nod as well. "PULL!", he yelled. It was a bit of a struggle, but between the three hobbits, Pervinca was safely brought up on dry land.

She lay on the deep grass curled up on her side--tired and soaked through to the skin. She shivered as the cool breeze blew over her wet clothes and skin, then she covered her face and began to cry in the aftermath of her rescue.

Merry heard the muffled sniffles as he wiped the dripping water away from his face. "Pip, go and get my overcoat please." As Pippin ran to get their coats, Merry helped Pervinca to sit up and held her as she cried. "It's all right! You're safe now!" Merry let her cry a few minutes more until Pippin came back. "Come on--let's stand up and head back home!"

Pervinca stood up and wiped her tears. "I'm sorry!", she sniffed, "I'm afraid I've been more a nuisance than a companion!"

"Nonsense, Pervinca!" Merry put his overcoat around her shoulders, "Anyone of us could have fallen into the water!" He tried to make her smile; "Take for example...Pippin, here!"

Pippin made no answer; he was already walking in the direction of home.

Pervinca stopped her older cousin mid-stride as they followed, "Thank you, Merry!" Then she stood up on her toes and gently kissed Merry on the cheek.

Merry blushed and smiled. "You're welcome! Now do I get half of your dessert?

"Yes," She laughed, "I will give you Pippin's half!"

"But that isn't your half to give!" Merry teased his cousin.

"Oh, yes it is!" Pervinca smiled, "That brother of mine sent me on a wild goose chase!"

They were almost home when Merry yelled ahead. "Pippin! Wait up! What's your hurry?"

Pippin slowed down, but he kept on walking ahead of them. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder turn him around.

Merry was caught off-guard at the sight of his cousin's tears. "Pippin, what's the matter?"

"Nothing." said Pippin, wiping his eyes.

"Something's wrong!", Merry said.

Pippin sighed at having to explain the obvious. "Pervinca would never have fallen into the water if I hadn't sent her there!"

Merry tried to convince Pippin it was all an accident, "How do you know this?" Pippin looked away. "How do you know she wouldn't have fallen in anyway?"

Pervinca watched the exchange and knew what her brother was upset about. "Pippin....I wasn't looking for your skimming stones; I was looking for more of the pretty ones!" Pippin sniffed and wiped his nose, then looked at his sister. Pervinca smiled as she looked back at her brother, "You thought you nearly sent me to my death, didn't you?" She walked up to Pippin, "Come here, you ninny!", and reaching her arms around her brother, she gave him a big hug.

"Merry!" All three looked towards the barn still in the distance, and saw a pony approach.

"It's Pearl!", said Pervinca as the pony came near. "We've been found out!"

"Where have you three been?!", Pearl shouted. "And what have you children been doing--all of you are soaked to the skin!"

"Not all of us", replied Pippin, "only those who chose to go swimming!"

"Swimming?" Pearl was shocked, "What in the Shire would possess you to go swimming--and at this time of the year? Especially when you don't know how to!"

"Pippin!", Pervinca nudged her brother, "You're making it worse!"

Pearl eyed her siblings and then her cousin, "Get you three home--now! Mother has had Pim and I out searching for you this past hour! She's worried sick!"