Ragnur and Grungol had been walking for three day's now, and they were getting tired. The quest for the two hobbits seemed more and more pointless everyday. What would they win except Saruman would have his revenge? They only kept going because they were too afraid for Saruman to stop and go back. They had decided to rest on a small hill for the night, and were right now starting a fire.

'I am tired of this ridiculous mission. We won't have any use for those tiny beings. If they really had the ring before, they sure as hell won't have it now.' The other one, Ragnur who was smaller and more worried looked nervously around,

'Be quiet please. Maybe he will hear you.' Grungol snarled.

'He won't hear me. And if he did, he should think over what I'm saying. I'm tired of that wizard and his stupid ideas. Now it's time to sleep, we have to continue early in the morning.'

*****



'We are going to war?' Merry asked. 'When? What equipment do we need?' Aragorn shot Legolas a desperate glance.

'No Meriadoc, you are not going to war. We want both of you to stay here. It's far too dangerous for two hobbit's. You could be killed!' Pippin crossed his arms.

'Couldn't you get killed?'

'Yes, but that is...'

'Then it must be far too dangerous for you too.' Pippin left the room, and Merry ran after him. Legolas and Aragorn were left in the room. Aragorn sighed and sat down on the bed, rubbing his forehead. Legolas went to the window, giving him the time he needed to start conversation. When he looked out, he could see the two small hobbits, running out on the stairs, stopping when they saw all the people outside, preparing for war. When Legolas lifted his gaze, he saw the red fires and black clouds of Mordor in the horizon. They would not be going there today, this war would be fought at the realms of Rohan and Gondor. But Legolas felt, that going to Mordor one day would be his fate, and he had another strange feeling he could not get rid of. He could feel those two halflings fate also lay in Mordor, but in a different way than his. That's part of why he wouldn't let them go to the war. He thought that also had some impact on Aragorn's decision. Suddenly Aragorn rose and went to stand behind. He too could see the small hobbits on the stairs, waiting for a chance to jump down among the crowd of soldiers.

'We should go down and get them, explain to them why they can't go.' Aragorn said.

'Tain lennon ildahain ulê.' Legolas answered and they both left the room. (A/N That wasn't real elvish, I just made it up and it means: They will take every chance, we must hurry.)

Merry and Pippin didn't really know what they were doing, just that they needed to go to war with their friends. They walked down the streets of Edoras, not knowing where to go. Suddenly a large hand took them both by their shoulders and turned them around.

'No children are allowed to walk down the streets alone. Where are your parents?'

'Oh, but we're not children, we're hobbits. Halflings.' Merry tried to explain, but the man laughed.

'If you want to lie, you should try to lie better. Come on, I'll have to take you to the orphanage. Your parents are dead, right?'

'No, look. Take us to Meduseld, our friends are there and...Ow!' The big man had slapped Pippin across the cheek, making it go slightly red.

'Enough is enough. You are figures from fairy tales and live at the king's hall. I've heard better lies in my day's, still I didn't believe them either. Come on now, Mrs. Grentyler at the orphanage will take care of you, so you won't have to steal from others. Now, come on.

****



'Where are they?' Legolas cried out in despair. They had been looking for the two hobbits for day's now, with no luck. Gimli were beginning to lose his temper, and Aragorn looked as if he'd lost his best friend. Well, he had. Two of them. Gandalf had already left, so they couldn't get any help from him. Théoden had asked his men to search for Merry and Pippin all over the city, but with no luck. They had started to lose hope, believing that the two halflings in their despair had gone out in the wilderness, and died. They could have frozen to death, or drowned. People had started searching the riverbanks, but most were uninterested of the disappearance.

One of those people were Ehalia Grentyler. She thought Rohan had enough trouble as it was, without caring for two small halflings from very far away. She was very occupied with taking care of all the orphans of the city, and there was many. Today two new ones had arrived, small but very mature for their size. That's why Mrs. Grentyler couldn't figure out their age. Their size indicated they would be about five, but with the way they spoke and did thing's that would be impossible. They didn't look that young either. They had strange ears and feet, but she had seen many strange- looking children in her day's so she didn't comment on it. Merry and Pippin as they called themselves, didn't play with the other children, but seemed to prefer talking to each other, quietly so she wouldn't hear. When she spoke to them, they only mumbled a few words and then left. When they did answer her, she was amazed on how mature they sounded and she couldn't help thinking that there was something wrong with them.

If she had remembered the two small hobbit's disappearance, she might have understood, but she didn't remember. And she didn't understand.

A/N I know I write short chapters, but I try to post everyday, if the chapters get longer, I can't post as often. And I prefer to write many, short chapters instead of long and few. Keeps me going.

Huggles

//Natta