Chapter 5: Life's cruel…

Recap: Merry and Pippin are stunned at Isabella's information…

Unable to get grips on this situation, Pippin and Merry just looked at each other in bewilderment. Isabella went quite, and looked ashamed. In her heart she knew that he had said something bad, hence no one talking. She had never told anyone about her past.

"ummm…. I think that I will take a walk.." Isabella said, got up and walked away at a quick pace.

"geez.. What can I say?" Merry said quietly to Pippin, who was also dumbstruck. But neither of them had any idea what to say to Isabella when she would return. Pippins heart grew for her, his feelings for her was stronger than ever, not only because she was a girl but, because she had to deal with lots of pain in her life. The deaths of her parents, living alone… how was anyone supposed to react to that?

It was quite a while when Isabella returned with wood, the sun started to set, and Pippin and Merry were still sitting in the same place, when she left. Her face was grim, she was worried, worried about what Pippin and Merry would say to her when she got back, but to her surprise, they were trying to smile. Even though it went horribly wrong! It sort of looked liked they were sad, but ecstatic about something. At this sight, it made Isabella smile, only a faint flicker of a smile rolled across her face, but then went back to being sombre. She was embarrassed about what she had said, know she knew that it would be different between the three of them… "oh why, did I have to tell them??" Isabella thought to herself. She slowly sat down with Merry and Pippin. They were still trying to smile for her, but noticed that it wasn't quite working, and went back to looking uncomfortable in her presents. Blue-wattle oblivious to the surroundings, fell asleep without a thought in his mind. Silence was forced upon them, and the only thing that could be heard was the chirping of the over excited crickets.

"oh, this is ridiculous!" Merry pointed out. "Isabella, what do you want us to say to you? Huh?" his voice was serious and annoyed. Pippin and Isabella looked at the irritated Hobbit in amazement.

"well, nothing…" her voice a whisper, and she felt most ashamed.

"hey Merry!! don't you talk to her like that! She saved your life! You should show your appreciation to her!" Pippins voice was harsh, and his eyes looking directly into Merry's, with a deathly furious stare. Pippin's heart was thumping harder than ever at his tone with Merry. He had never spoken to Merry like that before! What was Isabella doing to him?

"Pippin… never.. and I mean NEVER speak to me like that! Who do you think you are?" Merry's voice was brutal. Both Hobbits stood up and faced each other… murder on their minds…

"I can speak to you anyway I'd like to!! I'm not a kid anymore! You can't fob me off like that!" Pippin shouted, and took a small step towards Merry. Merry's mouth twisted and his eyes narrowed.

"HOW DARE YOU! You think that this is all fun and games!" Merry was turning redder and more flustered at Pippins responses. Amongst the bickering of Pippin and Merry, Isabella knew that it wasn't the whole respect thing that they were fighting about. Then it clicked… how could she not see?? But why were they fighting about her?

"…. TRY HAVING TO PUT UP WITH YOU FOR DAYS ON END HOPING THAT ONE DAY YOU WILL BE DEAD!!" Pippin screamed! His voice rang out In the forest. And just as he was about to say another insult, Isabella stood up..

"STOP! STOP IT NOW!! Why do you have to bicker over me? Can you see that it's tearing your friendship up? What can I do to stop this?" her voice upset, panic started to overtake her body. She couldn't expose her feelings for them… it would tear them apart. She had feelings for both of them, even though she didn't reveal it to them.. They couldn't see that she cared, they just wanted to compete for her love, which they already had. Both Merry and Pippin stopped and turned to Isabella which was standing next to them, their faces was confused.

"I'm sorry… but if this is what happens if I'm here in your presence.. I think that I should leave!"

There they stood… all three of them, in a circle, looking at each other.

"oh… I don't think that it needs to come to that Isabella?" Pippin said genuinely, he really didn't want Isabella to leave. He loved being around her, even in this short time, he had fallen in love with her.

"I agree…" answered Merry. His words were saddened by her saying this.

"no, I think that I have lingered here too long, and it is affecting both of your judgements." she looked down, and a small tear rolled down her check.

"I'm sorry… but what is done, is done, and I cannot change the fact that the two of you will have tension between you." she looked up at Pippin, and Merry, and took Pippins hand in hers. "follow me" she lead Pippin to another clearing away from the camp the had once been Pippin's home. Leaving Merry behind.

"what's wrong?" he stopped, and turned Isabella around to face him. Her pale blue eyes filled with tears. "I will miss you Master Pippin, you have been kind to me… and I know what you feel for me. For I also feel it. But it must be to leave, and to let you and Master Marry to be kind to each other, because there is only the two of you, and to survive this war… you need each other…." her voice was soft, and airy. Pippin couldn't reply, his heart was breaking, he could feel it. She took his hand once more and lead him back to the clearing, where they were camping.

Pippin stood at the edge of the clearing, far away from Merry as possible. Still mad with him… but remembering Isabella's voice made him think differently, and he started to walk slowly towards Merry. Isabella had reached Merry as soon as she came back to the clearing, and was talking to him, just she was with Pippin. Though Pippin could not hear the whispers of the two, he understood that she was saying her farewell, just as she had done with him.

"I don't want you to leave! Is there anything that I can do to stop you?" Merry held out his hand, and grabbed Isabella's. She simply looked at him in a gentle, warm look. And smiled wearily.

"sorry, but I have caused too much trouble between you two…. And my heart cannot take this battle, any further. For I love both of you equally and it is only fair to both of us, If I left. Years of friendship is not worth fighting over a girl."

"but I… I love you!" Merry responded to her quietly, and with that she smiled and touched his cheek tenderly, then kissed his forehead. Pippin then came over, walking softly, and gloomy. Isabella turned around and smiled gently at him. Pippin and Merry forgave in this solemn time. Isabella took one step back, and looked at the two Hobbits, for the last time. Two small tears ran down her face. "I will always love you, and never forget you…Hannon le mellon nîn" she whispered to the Hobbits, and ran out of sight, out of reach…. And out, of mind.

[shes always on my mind

by the time i wake up, by the time i close my eyes

shes everywhere i go, shes all i know,

thought shes so far away,

it just keeps getting stronger everyday,

and even now shes gone, i m still holding on,

so tell me where do i start, cuz its breaking my heart,

dont wanna let her go,

maybe my love will come back someday

only heaven knows,

and maybe our hearts will find a way

only heaven knows,

and all i can do is hope and pray,

cuz heaven knows -- heaven knows- Rick Price]

FIN

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