Second Thoughts

"This was it," she thought looking at Frodo who had drifted away from the rest of the group with tears streaming down his face.

The fellowship had just came out of the Mines of Moria and good old Gandalf had passed on fighting a Balrog of Morgoth.

This was just too much for Pearl to handle. She wanted adventure not tragedy. Maybe Strider was right, she was bound to find adventure along with danger and sadness. She needed to tell her elf-friend she was leaving at the next stop.

"What about Pippin," She thought. "I love him, it's not the love that you can find anywhere, and it's the love that allows you to hold his hand, whisper in his ear, look into his eyes and reveal age old secrets. It's true love."

"What's wrong little one?" asked the tall blonde elf interrupting her thoughts.

"Nothing, Legolas. Just thinking about Gandalf and his fight with that. that. horrid thing. It brings one nightmares."

Pearl glanced over her shoulder and saw Merry holding the sobbing Pippin. She thought it was best to go on over there. The moment she stood next to Merry, Pippin turned his head and wiped the tears off his face with his hand. Her heart felt heavy with grief. This was it she couldn't take it anymore, "I need to tell Airel that I'm leaving.

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"But Pearl, you can't leave. You wanted this adventure and you're going to stick it out," Airel said holding the sobbing Pearl. "What about Pippin? Are you just going to break his heart? He loves you Pearl. You can just see it in his eyes. And what do you expect me to do, leave with you? I don't think so, I wanted to go on this quest with you and you're leaving me.

"Airel, I -I- I didn't expect Gandalf to die. You don't know how much that hurts to have your own grief and watch others grieve too. I just can't stay here and watch this. You're gonna have to do this alone."

"Legolas, get them up," Strider said pointing to the crying hobbits.

"Give them a moment for pity's sake," replied Boromir.

"Come nightfall the hills will be swarming with orcs," Strider said. We have to reach the woods of Lothloríen."

"Come on, Sam." Coaxed Legolas

~~*******************************************~~

"Lothloríen, I've always hated this place," Pearl said to Airel with a shudder.

"Oh, Pearl, it's not so bad, look at all the elves. Maybe Galadriel will be able to help us."

"Well you can enjoy it all you want, I'm going over to see where I can find some peace."

Pearl went over to the bubbling fountain and sat down next to Pippin.

"Where have you been, Pearl?"

"Looking for some peace and quiet."

"Pearl, what's wrong? You seem so distant. so vague," Pippin asked gazing Pearl in the eye.

"Don't you get it? Look around you. Your friends are upset and the elves are singing a lament. Gandalf's dead. How can you be so joyful when something sorrowful has just happened?"

"I have you, Pearl."

"What?" Pearl asked obviously missing the point.

"Amin Mela Lle." Pippin replied as he walked off to join the others.

She knew what that meant. "How can I just leave him like that?" she asked herself. "I-I love him too. No I can't stay, She argued with herself. I have to leave. For my good and Pippin's. If he loves me he'll find me.someday."

Pearl took her pack and left, but he saw her. He was watching, heartbroken, alone and upset. "There she goes, I let her leave and I did nothing to stop her."

"Pippin, let her go."

"What would you know of that, Merry?" Pippin replied angrily. "Oh Merry, I forgot. Celalcien did the same to you didn't she?"

"Yes, but she had reason to." Merry said with a tear glinting in he eye.

"I have to find her."

"Pip, take my advice. Let her go."

~~****************************************~~

Pearl ran for her life. Back to the elves, back home. Though she didn't know it, but someone was watching her at a distance. Someone she thought only existed in the mind of Meriadoc Brandybuck. Someone who would change the course of her life.forever.

THE END