The light rap cut through the silent darkness like sun through the clouds on a summer's day. Pippin's eyes shot open, although in the surrounding black atmosphere, he couldn't tell whether his eyes were indeed open. No matter which way he looked, darkness filled his vision. Pippin's gaze darted towards what he perceived to be the door, as the sound of a second, slightly louder tap reached his pointy ears.
"ello? Merry, is that you?" Pippin whispered. Slowly the door opened a crack, and Merry's outline stepped into view.
"Pippin, where have you been?" Merry's voice was both urgent and concerned. However, upon seeing his candle's light dance across Pippin's face, his voice softened. "I'm sorry Pip, I've just been worried. When you never came to bed, I thought you had changed your mind about coming." Merry moved into the room and sat next to Pippin on the bed. Merry deposited a light, loving kiss upon his cousin's soft curls.
At his touch, Pippin raised his head, "I am sorry dear cousin. I did not mean to frighten you. Me mum came in and told me I had to sleep here, because you were sick. I didn't know if she had been in to see you, so I stayed here. I had planned on coming into join you, but I fell asleep. I am ready to go now though! I packed my stuff after me mum left the room." Merry smiled at Pippin's readiness to please him, and gave him a quick hug.
"All right you silly Took, lets go. We can use your window." Merry crossed the room and drew open the curtains and shutters. Moonlight dashed into the room, replacing the heavy darkness with eerie whips of sliver light. The stars shone brightly as Merry tossed his and Pippin's packs out into the warm summer's night.