Hope you like this new chapter. I liked it, but I want to know other people's thoughts! So please read and review! * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Merry was very confused. He had sat on the ground, just letting the tears fall for the last hour or so. He felt horrible, the sadness welling up inside him so high that he just wanted to let go, die and be free of this horrible and confusing place.

"P-pip, wh-where are y-you?" He whispered up to the sky, but the fog sucked up his words like a vacuum.

The fog was getting thicker and thicker around him. It was getting harder to breath and the sobs filling the thick air around him wasn't helping him breathe any easier. He tried to slow down his breathing, stop the sobs that were so hard to control, and take deeper breaths. How long could he survive if the air kept getting thicker like this?

Meriadoc stood up, and began to walk around some more. Maybe the voices would come back, they were better than the never ending silence echoing through wherever he was. He wanted to hear Pip's voice again, somehow it soothed him, and though it wasn't always said, seemed to urge him to go on and not give up all hope.

He walked around, but had to stop for a break in no time soon. He bent on his knees, and took some deep breaths. How long would he have?

After a little, he felt the tears back on his cheek. He took his left hand, he still couldn't move the right one for now, and lifted it to his cheek. His eyes were not blurry so they weren't his tears, and he felt his face and felt no wetness. Was it still Pippin?

Suddenly, he could hear Pippin so loudly and just to hear his voice made Merry's body shudder with a new wave of tears. Pip was crying, those were the tears he felt. His voice sounded so small and muffled suddenly in the thick fog and nothingness. His voice was weak, and so strained. Words couldn't describe how much pain this caused Merry.

He fell onto his knees, his small body racked with sobs. He was crying so much that his whole body hurt, not only from the tears.

"His voice..." Merry thought in between the sobs. "How, Why!"

"WHY CAN'T I HELP YOU PIPPIN!" he screamed at the sky and collapsed to the ground. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't do anything. He couldn't stop the tears, and finally when Merry wanted the voice to go away, it wouldn't. It was as strong as ever, and it didn't fade.

"W-w-why is this happening to m-me," Merry whispered to himself. He curled into a ball and rested his head on his knees. No more tears slid down his cheeks, there weren't any left to fall.

"I can't stand any more of this," he whimpered to himself. "This is just cruel. I'm scared. I can't stand having to do this to Pippin anymore."

Merry looked up to what he thought was the sky. He couldn't tell anymore what was up, down, left or right, it was either this way or that. There was nearly no way to tell that it was a fog anymore it was so thick. It looked like he was in a small, all white room in which he would never escape.

He whispered to himself, "I can't do this to you Pippin. Maybe it'll be best if I just give up, and leave you to your own life. You can move on without me, you'll still have Sam and Frodo." He let a single tear fall down his cheek.

The fog was moving closer to him. It seemed as if it new he was so close to giving up on it all.

He knew how miserable Pippin was now, and he didn't think he could stand the pain it was giving him. He wanted to be free of the horror around him, the confusion, the unknowing. Pippin could get along fine without him.

But then the thought struck him. How could I handle wherever I go without Pippin? I've rarely been without him, could I bear it? Then again, if I did, it would make it so much easier for Pippin, and that's much more important.

Then he remembered Pippin's choking sobs saying "I need to you stay here" and his hopes rose. I have to stay here for Pippin, he decided Pippin.

He stood up, and again looked at the grey/white wall that he assumed was up. "Pip, I'll hold on for you! I won't give up, I'll come back some soon. I swear to it!

Though he had decided he was going to go on living, it seemed the fog didn't believe it so. It started closing in, it looked as if the walls entrapping Merry were trying to crush him inside. He could put his hand through the walls, but the air was diminishing.

He didn't know what to do. His breaths quickened, and his heart raced. He couldn't let it all end now! He had to do something, yet something in him understood that his time was up. He would go somewhere new, and let Pippins life continue on a better path.

He looked to the sky once more and whispered "I love you Pippin" and fell to his knees, gasping for breath. His vision was fading, everything was getting unclear. Or at least, all the white was fading to grey.

"I'll miss you Pip" he proclaimed in his fading thoughts. I wish I could see you just one more time, but it seems as if everything has been against us since the begging. He felt himself fall to the ground, but could do nothing to lift himself up. His thoughts were only in shreds, and every now and then would form a new idea in his head.

Just keep breathing he told himself. If I can just last a little longer, maybe something will happen.

He fought to stay awake just a few moments longer, but suddenly the darkness overtook him.