Krista: '.hope you don't mind!" Mind?? Oh, Krista, if only you knew what has been going on in my mind lately!

endymion: dungeons? I'm wondering about them myself. ^_^ Mmm, I'd say that Gandalf 'must' have healing powers. He's a wizard after all!

Blue Jedi Hobbit: Your hopes. lol! You're so comical, aren't you?

Alisaundre: 'hugs!' for still reviewing in the midst of your busy days. I won't disappoint you, I promise!

aelfgifu: You bet I'll keep on writing!

Mbradford: Gandalf will find some more surprises!

Chloe amethyst: It's quite a surprise for me to read your comments. Thank you very much! I didn't quite expect to get more reviews as ffnet has been so naughty as not to allow me to update. Your comments are very interesting and give me more insights in continuing the story. I hope you will keep reading it!

AN: I just wanna send my highest gratitude to my greatest beta, Emma, who is not only a beta but also my motivator, advisor, teacher, you name it! In short, I can only say that I've just almost had a mental breakdown(?) I don't know. This really drove me crazy. (Maybe this is the work of Evil Merry too!) Sorry, Emma, for whining and pestering like a small kid!

_______________________________________________________________________

Warning: AU, angst

Chapter 53

It was a slumber. It had to be for it was similar to the ones he often had during his quest 'with' Merry. And all those dozing times had always been preceded by pain, discomfort or simply, fear. But the sleeping always developed into a peaceful, relaxing situation that allowed him to breathe freely, though always for too short a time. Frodo was never granted longer time to rest his wearied flesh and mind, either by Merry or by himself. Merry, for instance, would remind him of his place - not as a master who could sleep anytime he wanted, but as a prisoner who should abide by everything his master wanted. But then Frodo's own spirit would also make sure he awoke eventually, if only to prevent Frodo from remaining forever in the shade of not-alive-and-not-dead world which would slowly swallow him deeper and claim his life at last.

But, would that be better than waking up and facing his tormentor again, being forced to accept whatever Merry wanted at that time? If Frodo was lucky, he would just end up tied. But if he wasn't, kicking or thrashing might take place.

Frodo couldn't tell what awaited him this time, being roused by a warm touch that couldn't help but make him quiver while it connected to his forehead. Whimpering a little, Frodo fluttered his lids open slowly, half expecting to meet the dark cloth that had been blocking his sight for far too long. Not expecting to have it gone, Frodo's breath hitched when his eyes caught the sight of sneering Merry right in front of his nose. Having his arms clutched by hands he could not see was much more tolerable than seeing their owner in the eye.

He shot a fearful glance at Merry, unsure of what would follow.

"Sshh," Merry brushed off some locks that had fallen over Frodo's brow. But the small contact started the hobbit so. The last time Merry rubbed something on his skin, it had almost cost Frodo his life. He shied away.

"Frodo!" Merry looked hurt by the rejection, placing a hand upon the other hobbit's shoulder and gripping it hard, making Frodo wince and preventing him from breaking away. "You must understand. I never meant to harm you - but you tried to run away!"

"No," pleaded Frodo with his still-cracked voice. "I was not trying to run away from you!"

"Ah--" Now both of his shoulders were in Merry's tight clutches. "We've gone through that."

Flinching at the painful grasp, Frodo shook his head. He had to flee, didn't he? If not, those arrows would have found their way into his body. It had been such a bewildering mess. Frodo hadn't been able to control the huge warg after the man had been shot down. And the elves wouldn't have checked first before shooting their arrows. They wouldn't see that there were small creatures in the middle of gigantic ones. Or would they?

Merry lifted Frodo to a sitting position, giving him a wider scope of sights. Frodo's blurry eyes caught sight of the bound Gandalf. He remembered the touch again. Now that he gave it a thought, he came to realize that it had been a huge palm that had clamped over his narrow brow. Gandalf's hand?

Frodo breathed raggedly. That was impossible! Gandalf would NOT want to lay hands on him--let alone heal him. The wizard did not care for him anymore. Frodo could tell from all the lies the wizard had told him. He avoided the wizard's serene stares at him and turned to Merry.

"Merry?" Frodo sounded lost. "Will I die?"

Gandalf felt his heart sink. What made Frodo come out with such a question? Merry was surprised, too. He released Frodo's shoulders and cupped his cheeks tenderly.

"Frodo?"

Frodo looked up, his eyes turning from anxiety to gratitude.

"I know now who has cured me," exclaimed Frodo, voice brimming with thanks. "It was nobody else but you, Merry. At first I thought it was Gandalf. But no, he wouldn't want to do that."

For Frodo, Merry was not merely a simple hobbit from Buckland. Merry now was a being with power, and healing someone would be as easy as one-two- three.

Gandalf jerked despite his restraints and cried out in anguish. What?! Someone must knock senses into the hobbit's head. Must he now tell Frodo what had REALLY happned? Would it be any use at all? Again, Gandalf didn't know how far and deep Merry had infused his wicked and twisted thoughts into Frodo's mind. What he couldn't understand was how Frodo could let Merry do that to him. Frodo was the most stubborn hobbit Gandalf had ever known.

The wizard was just about to yell something when an elbow hit violently onto his stomach and the old man doubled over in agony.

* * *

"Tell me what made Frodo lose his memory!" Sam snatched the pony's reins, his face flushing with frenzy. His eyes sharply looked up at the paling Pippin, compelling the younger hobbit to give his best answer.

On the pony, Pippin couldn't help stare back at Sam although part of his mind strangely wandered to someone else. Merry.

A shudder ran down Pippin's spine. Sam's loud, commanding voice was way too similar to that of his cousin, who now preferred Frodo to him. He cringed as his clouded and confused mind relived the moments when Merry brutally assaulted him with his merciless strikes and kicks. And still that wasn't enough for Pippin to pay for his foolish attack upon Frodo. Foolish, as it all came out of his undeniable affection toward Merry and his unwillingness to share Merry's attention with anybody else.

Tears welled in Pippin's eyes. Why couldn't Merry see this? He must have noted how Pippin was willing to do anything for him, and to accept anything that was shouted at him, though sometimes it was very harsh and cruel. But the mistake Pippin made was so big that Merry decided not to have him around anymore.

And that made Pippin miss Merry terribly.

A feeling provoked oddly by Sam's rough voice.

Pippin's silence seemed to confuse Sam and he frowned at the weepy eyes.

"It's Merry, isn't it?" Sam asked quietly

.

Pippin was stunned. Of course it was Merry, a hobbit far too corrupted by the Ring by now. And Pippin slowly came to his senses--realizing that it was all evil. But he still couldn't bring himself to tell that to Sam, now looking up at him with forlorn eyes. He loved Merry too much. Deep down he still believed that his real cousin would return. Pippin wondered if he was the only one who thought it possible.

"Sam," Pippin trembled with a suppressed emotion. He jumped down from the pony, trying to forget the pain running up his body once his feet landed on the ground. Sam eyed him questioningly. Pippin looked almost as fragile as his dear master.

"Forgive him, Sam! Forgive Merry for what he's been doing to Frodo!" Pippin threw himself to the gardener, almost sending Sam downward despite the gardener's robust form, and hugged him tightly.

"What do you mean?" Struggling gently to release himself from the hobbit's desperate embrace, Sam almost couldn't believe what he had heard. "Pippin, let go of me."

A little embarrassed by his own strange behavior, Pippin sniffed and stepped back, arms hanging awkwardly at his sides.

"Master Pip," Sam called softly, catching his breath.

Pippin was dumbfounded. Sam had addressed him with 'master' again.

"Why should I forgive Merry? That little villain has tortured my master senseless and almost killed him! Have you ever--"

"But it's all because of the Ring!" screamed Pippin.

Sam's face grew cold.

"Pip, Master Frodo once had it in his keeping. I almost never went from his side. Neither did you. But why does the Ring only give Merry its evil power?"

Pippin didn't know what to say.

"Because he is WEAK, Pip!" Sam delivered his undeniable point. "And that makes him guilty, too. I'm talking about Merry we used to know, not the one under the Ring's domination."

For a moment no one uttered a word. There were only the sounds of the woods: wind blowing in the trees, birds chirping, and many others from forest creatures. But soon those were joined by another - Pippin's sobbing which got louder and louder with each passing moment.

"What is it?"

A hoarse, low voice startled both hobbits. They literally jumped. They turned around and found the owner of the voice. Strider.

"Ted and I have just realized how far both of you are behind so I decided to check on you," said the ranger flatly. His brow creased slightly and he gazed down at Sam. "Why did Pippin dismount from the pony? I thought he was still unwell. Sam?"

TBC