Further Up Further In

By Robin Girl

Chapter 7

Original

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Hope you like the story. ^_^
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The next morning Merry woke to see that no one had moved them last night. Pippin was curled in his arms snoring softly.
His breathing wasn't as congested a before. What ever Elrond had done was working. "Hey Pip, wake up love."

Pippin sat up, he felt a lot better. "Merry, I feel better." He felt Merry check for a fever, "Pippin your fever has broken!!!" Pippin hugged Merry
rejoicing. Finally, he was close to being well. "I love you Merry!!!" He shouted happily.

The Blonde smiled kissing Pippin's hair and returning the hug. "I love you to Pip.."

In another room Frodo awoke. "Gandalf?"

"Good you're awake."

After waiting for a little while for Gandalf to answer he asked another question, "Gandalf what is it?"

"I've been thinking. I'm worried about Peregrin."

Memories came back hitting him hard. Poor Pippin had fallen ill. Frodo's blue eyes radiated with worry. "Is he alright?"

"The last time I saw him he wasn't."

Before Frodo could say anything else Sam came running in. Tears of joy were running down the Gardner's cheeks. "Bless you, you're awake."

Gandalf smiled when Sam gave Frodo a kiss on the lips, which Frodo returned gratefully. "Sam has hardly left your side."

"I hope he helped out with Pip some.." Frodo remarked giving Sam the evil eye. "He was more important than me."

"Oh don't worry, I did." Sam kissed Frodo again crying more, "We were so worried that I just had to stay by your side more, isn't that right Mr. Gandalf?"

"By the skills of Lord Elrond you're beginning to heal."

A handsome Elven face appeared. Long brown hair framed his soft face. His smile was fatherly and would comfort any child who was ill or scared. "Welcome to Rivendell Frodo Baggins."

Frodo smiled in return. "Thank you."

Outside Pippin, rather he liked it or not mind you, was being helped around by Merry. A few shouts of "No I'm fine." and "You Nit be quiet." Had been exchanged before Pippin had finally given up. He rather enjoyed all of the scenery and with Merry helping him around he could focus on it rather than walking. Besides, if Merry was content this way then he could deal with it.

"Pip you doing ok?" Merry asked for what seemed the 2000th time. "We can stop and let you rest if you want."

Pippin didn't answer. He looked in between the bushes to see what he thought to be Frodo. "Frodo?" Then to his delight Sam and Frodo looked over. It was his cousin. Frodo was ok.

Frodo looked over and saw Merry and Pippin, "Merry!! Pippin!!" After he hugged Merry he held Pippin close, "My little Pippin. You're ok. No fever, pale skin or coughing."

Pippin blushed a bright red at the attention he was getting from Frodo. The others laughed. Merry winked at his cousin and Sam, "Only I'm allowed to make him blush."

That made Pippin blush even more. "It's alright Pip, we do it because we love you."

Strider watched the reunion from above dreading the message he was going to have to give Pippin. It's just not fair, He shouldn't have to go through this. "Hey, Pippin, Merry, Sam and Frodo."

All four hobbits looked up surprised when the Ranger jumped down in front of them. "What is it Strider?"

"A letter came it's for Pippin." Strider didn't have the heart to tell Pippin who it was from.

Pippin took it slowly, and opened it, "It's from Da..but how?"

"I have no idea. It just arrived."

Pippin read it out loud with a shaky voice. He leaned on Merry more and more as his heart sank.

Peregrin Took,
You better get your arse back here this instant. I'm not happy that you ran off without telling me.
When you get back you will pay for what you've done. Let me promise you'll never forget it. If you're lucky
after I'm done with you, you might see Merry. I'm not promising.
Paladin

Pippin's eyes watered, his perfect world was always destroyed by his father. "He's gonna whip me. Merry we can't go back. I won't."

Merry held him as he cried rocking him softly. A few tears of his own fell as well. "You have to go Pip. If you don't he'll whip you worse."

Strider sighed, "You don't have to go right away. Elrond has insisted that you four stay for another few weeks. So enjoy the place and forget the letter."

Merry nodded giving Strider a thank you look which the ranger returned. "We'll do that won't we Pip?" Pippin nodded in Merry's chest. Not letting go.

Together they walked to go get some breakfast and perhaps some second breakfast.

End Chapter 7

End Original Story

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Should I just post the sequal as this story? Or post it as another? Tell me in the review!

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