Further Up Further In

By Robin Gurl

Chapter 5

Original

~~

This is the original chapter 5. I have already finished the written chapters and have started on the sequel to this wonderful story. It's going to be more of an AU. Cos, well, I just wanna play something out at the end that would NOT HAPPEN! . Enjoy.

~~

"So how are the young ones?" A figure asked.

Elrond sat on the edge of Frodo's bed checking the wound, ""The one who is friend to the younger blonde has fallen ill."

"Is it bad?"

"The fever is. Gandalf go see them."

"Fool of a Took! His name is Pippin. He causes a lot of problems."

"Yes, that was his name." Elrond gave a slight smile, "Frodo is getting better."

"Yes, he is strong." Gandalf replied. "Which room are the other two in?"

"Two from the left."

"Alright. Gandalf left the room. On the way there he met up with an old friend. "Bilbo!"

Bilbo looked up, "G..Gandalf?"

"It's glad to see you."

"So, Gandalf where are you heading in such a hurry?" Bilbo asked.

"Meridoc and Peregrin are here."

Bilbo smiled, "Going to stop them before they cause problems I presume?"

Gandalf didn't smile, he just shook his head, "No, Peregrin has come down with a fever of the worse sort."

"Oh my poor nephew." Bilbo decided that he was going with him, "I'll come with you."

In the room Bilbo sat on Pippin's side of the bed.

"Meridoc is feeling a bit warm.." Gandalf observed.

Bilbo nodded, "I hope he hasn't gotten what Peregrin has." When Bilbo touched Peregrin's forehead, Pippin smiled as if he knew who is it was. Then he intertwined with Merry laying his head in the crook of Merry's neck.

Gandalf gave a slight smile, "I think a change has gone on between these two hobbits."

"Yes, I agree with you.." Bilbo sighed, "We need to separate them before Meridoc gets ill." Bilbo pulled Pippin gently into his lap while Gandalf picked up Merry.

"I'll take him to my room."

"Gandalf I'm going to stay here."

Gandalf nodded and walked out the door.

That morning Merry woke up too see that he was in a different room. "Pippin?" He panicked what had happened? How did they get separated?

"Calm down Meridoc." Merry looked around. Then he saw Gandalf. The wizards hand went to the hobbits forehead. "Gandalf?"

Gandalf let out a sigh of relief, "Good no fever"

"I don't understand.? Where's Pip?" Merry exclaimed as he was pushed back into the bed.

"If you don't calm down and shut your mouth Meridoc, I'm going to sew your mouth shut. Peregrin is still in his room. Bilbo and I moved you so you wouldn't catch what he has."

Merry ignored the fact that Bilbo was here. He could go ballistic over that later. "You left him alone?!?! He's prolly scared and wanting to be held and."

"Sh! Bilbo is in there now. Sam and Strider arrived last night."

Bilbo awoke to the sound of moaning. His eyes opened to see Pippin's face contorted in pain. "Peregrin, it's alright my lad you're safe."

That voice," Pippin opened his eyes, was it really him? "Bilbo?" He croaked out hoarsely.

"Yes my boy calm down."

"Where's Merry?" Pippin asked.

"He's in another room. Gandalf carried him out last night. We don't want to hobbit lads sick." Bilbo rung out a cloth and placed it on Pippin's fore head. "I suspect Elrond will be here soon to try and use his healing power on you."

"I want Merry."

"I know.

"Bilbo?" Pippin called out softly.

"Yes Peregrin?"

"I have something to tell you."

"Alright tell me."

"Me and Merry. We're in love."

Bilbo sat there shocked, "What??!"

"We love each other. Sam and Frodo are together." After seeing Bilbo's face tears started forming in Pippin's eyes. "You're mad aren't you?"

Bilbo carassed the small hobbit's cheek, "I'm not mad Pip. Don't cry. I'm just a little shocked. Sit up my boy."

"Why?" Pippin asked as the old kind hobbit helped him sit up.

"No need for you to be dressed like this when your sick in bed. Elrond will have something more comfortable." Bilbo helped Pippin undo his jacket and take his shirt off.

Elrond chose this time to walk in, with two elf maidens. Pippin blushed hiding his head in Bilbo's chest. The maidens giggled softly.

Elrond smiled, "There is no reason to be embarrassed little one. Elsi and Fiji have some clothes for you."

Bilbo took the clothes from Elrond and helped Pippin pull the over sized elf shirt over his head.

A muffled noise came from inside the shirt, "What's wrong Pippin?"

"This shirt is to big.." Pippin finally replied after getting his head out.

"We chose children clothes." Fiji said.

"Hmmm." Elsi pondered, "I didn't think Hobbits were that small.."

Pippin his shyly as the elf girls made sure he was going to live with the huge clothes.

"Girls, Girls." Bilbo finally said, "You're making him blush. His little ears are going to burst from being so red."

Pippin blushed even more, he wanted to say something but a cough attack started this one wouldn't stop and he started crying.

Elrond knelt down and took Pippin from Bilbo's arms. He began whispering words of elvish. "Elsi.." Elrond called softly rocking Pippin slightly. "Go get the herbs."

Bilbo watched as Elrond took over. Elsi ran out of the room quickly.

She ran back with a bowl of something. "Here my lord."

"Thank You, Bilbo hold him. It's going to burn." Elrond undid Pippin's shirt. Pippin's breathing was getting worse, if he didn't act now he could lose the youngest hobbit. "Pippin this is going to help clear up your chest but It's going to burn."

Strider walked in, "Finally how is he?!?"

"We're about to put the kinops on his chest."

Strider winced, "You sure you have to put him through that?" Strider's question was answered by Pippin's labored breathing.

Bilbo looked fearful over to the new comer, "Why do you say that?"

"It will burn for a long time and then it will suck energy from him until he is fully healed."

"I need a break, would you mind if-"

"No, not at all.." Strider changed places. As he did, he saw Tears in Bilbo's eyes. ::It must break his heart to see his youngest nephew like this..:: "Why don't you go sit with Frodo.?"

Bilbo nodded, "Yes, I think I'll go do that."

After he was gone Elrond sighed as he soaked the cloth with the Kinop. "I think we've stressed him to much.." I agree. Two nephews and one who might be sick."

"Let's get this over with. Pippin, I would like you to be awake when we do this, it's going to sting and burn little one."

Strider got a firm grip on Pippin to where he wouldn't be able to move and shouted, "GO!"

Pippin's eyes watered as the Kinop burned. He must have done something bad to deserve this. Maybe he had annoyed everyone to their peak and now they were punishing him.

Bilbo felt tears run down his cheeks. All the way in Frodo's room he could hear Pippin's torturous cries.

Sam held Merry back as he tried to run. "You will just be in the way Mister Merry."

"They lied. They're not helping, they're killing him." Hot tears ran down Merry's cheeks. "I want to be there."

"So do I. After they're done we'll go see him." Sam said fighting his own tears back.

For three hours Pippin's screams were heard. Finally Elrond took the cloth off Pippin. "Little one are you still with us?" He caressed Pippin's forehead gently.

"I'm sorry." Pippin sobbed, "I won't do it again."

"He thinks we did it because he did something wrong!!" Strider exclaimed. "Pippin you didn't do anything wrong. It's going to help you get well."

"O..Ok.Strider..I'm tired."

"Yes, you're going to feel that way for awhile. Do you want to sleep in your bed?"

"I want Merry." Pippin murmured.

Strider rocked the hobbit back and forth. "Later young one, you need to rest."

"Merry...Why are you keeping me apart from him?" Pippin wanted Merry to hold him not Strider.

Elrond sighed, "I'll fetch him."

In Merry's room, Sam was blocking the door.

"Sam let me out!"

"Meridoc, come with me." Elrond said, "Immediately. We can't get Pippin to calm down. He's going to hurt himself."

End Chapter 5 of the Original.

~~

Like?!!? Then do the obvious and PLEASE REVIEW!!

~~