Author's Notes: You know, over all I think this week has been a good week. Okay, so maybe it was just Thursday which made it a good week but that is far from the point. Why Thursday? *giggles* Because I got to meet Elijah Wood, Billy Boyd, and Andy Serkis is why! Ah yes, such a memorable experience from which I came away with two thoughts on life: Uncle Billeh smells quite nice, and Elijah Wood fans need to be lined up and shot. So, anyway, after organizing the best four pictures in my LJ, I came back to this story and began to go over this chapter. I was miffed that it wasn't very long and wanted to add to it but then realized the rest wouldn't make too much sense so I decided to leave it as is. I want to dedicate this chapter to Fran Bull who so totally and utterly made my day on Friday when I was plotting the Lij Fan Holocaust and running on six hours of sleep. You totally rock, girl! And to Dianne (Fiwen2), yes I did see Billy Boyd in Master and Commander; he was an excellent contribution to the scenery. I giggled every time he was on screen (which was a lot, despite lack of lines) because scruffy Pippin is rather amusing. And, coming away from that movie, I totally and completely adore Paul Bettany. Dr. Machurin is the greatest character in that movie.

Disclaimer: I am not Tolkien (seeing as I am not British, nor am I a man, nor am I dead) and so therefore I do not own any of the characters which appear in this story.

Pipsqueak Peregrin

Chapter Nine: Frozen with Fever

The sound of someone shouting aroused me from my sleep some time the next morning. I opened my eyes and blearily looked around me. Dawn had come and daylight was beginning to creep through the treetops. The ground beneath me felt damp and cold. Frost littered the grasses at my feet. Pippin was huddled up against my chest, his face buried in my shirt. I sat up, feeling my back crack ever so slightly and stretched. The voice which had awoken me was becoming more and more distant. It sounded like Uncle Paladin.

Realization hit me and I found myself calling at the top of my lungs, in the hopes that whoever had come looking for us hadn't gone too far away to hear me. The voice faltered for a moment before I distinctly heard my uncle call my name. My shouting startled Pippin from his slumber and he began to cry. His tearful wailing caught the attention of several other adults; I could hear them calling to me and crashing through the bushes. I pinched Pippin hard in the arm, causing him to screech louder. The louder he cried, the more likely we were to be found.

Sure enough, Uncle Paladin appeared through the trees, sprinting towards us. He was closely followed by Dad and several of the Hall's servants. Uncle Paladin caught Pippin up in his arms. The lad's crying quieted a little but he was still sobbing horribly.

"We've been so worried about the two of you!" my Dad exclaimed, pulling me into a suffocating embrace. "Your mum went mad when you disappeared last night, Merry! She told you to stay back where it was safe!"

"I had to find him!" I cried, clinging to my father. "I knew where he was but you had all left! I had to get to him!"

Dad smiled. "You're a good lad, Merry. Now let's get both of you back home. You look frozen."

I followed him and my uncle back home quietly. I was far from a good lad. I was horribly wicked and cruel to Pippin who was now hiccoughing quietly in his father's arms. I didn't want everyone to think I had taken it upon myself to go out and find Pippin because I cared about him. But I couldn't just tell them what I had done. What was I to do then? I was tired, sore, frozen, and famished. My thoughts were scattered and jumbled in my mind. I couldn't cling to ideas long enough to make any sense of things. I was weary and felt sick from both guilt and cold. Home was too far away; I didn't want to walk the way... no wait, I couldn't walk.

I began to stumble more as I tried to keep pace with my father. I rubbed my eyes to clear away the blurs which encircled my world. I wearily saw my father stop walking and turn towards me. "Merry, lad, are you all right?"

No, I certainly did not feel all right. I wanted to somehow answer him but I couldn't figure out how. Speech seemed to require more effort than I was willing to give at the moment. I distantly felt my father grasp my hand to try and help me along but it was no use. I stumbled forwards one last time before my legs gave way and I fell. I never felt the earth meet me but I did not care. Darkness engulfed me. It was so very cold.

* * *

I could feel the cold fading away to be replaced by a comfortable warmth. Or at least it seemed comfortable at first. But the heat kept rising and soon became too much. I felt uncomfortable but could not find the energy to do anything about it. Suddenly, I felt someone place something damp and wet on my forehead. Startled, I blearily opened my eyes. I was in my room, my blankets and quilt tucked tightly around me. A warm fire crackled in the hearth. Mum was sitting nearby. She had put a wet cloth onto my forehead.

"Blessed be, you're awake," she whispered quietly, smiling. "You gave us quite the scare, Merry."

"I feel awful, Mum," I managed to hoarsely whisper. "I'm hot... and I hurt..."

Mum gently wiped my forehead with the cloth. I closed my eyes. It felt cool and soothing. I felt the bed move as she got up to deposit the used cloth in a basin for the maid to collect. I opened my eyes again to watch her come back over and sit down.

"Do you see now why I told you not to go out wandering for your cousin?" she said. "Really, Meriadoc, fever and illness is not a sufficient trade off to play hero."

I wanted to tell her the truth. I needed to tell her that it was my fault Pippin had gotten lost in the forest. However, my thoughts still would not stop flying around my head long enough for me to figure out how to tell her. I did manage to grasp one thing though: Pippin. If I had become ill, how was he fairing? Surly, he being the smaller and more vulnerable of the two of us had also run his own fever?

Mum somehow managed to read my mind and smiled. "Pippin's fine. He was a little shaken up but he's all right. Better than you in fact. Now get some rest, dear. I'll be in to check on you later." She leaned in, kissing my forehead and quietly left the room.

I rolled over onto my side, staring at the wall. I suppose this was the price I was to pay for my wicked actions. You deserve it though, Merry, you really do. So here was how justice played out. Pippin was fine and I was horribly ill. I groaned quietly and rolled onto my back again. Comfort was not going to come easily for me. I was too hot to sleep but too weary to stay awake. Sighing, I stared up at the ceiling, examining the beams of wood until it all seemed to swirl together and fade away into nothingness.