A Week… or Two
Chapter 11: The Lie
Pippin gasped. Oh my dearest Merry! What have I done? he asked himself. He stared down the path at Merry, who, realizing that he was crying, brought a sleeve up to his face, wiping away the tears. He straightened himself up and smiled weakly at Pippin.
I hope he didn't notice that… Merry thought. That would be most difficult to explain. However, upon looking up at his cousin, even in the darkness of the night, he could tell Pippin had known. Pippin's face was drawn out. His skin was flushed and worry could be seen in his eyes. So, Merry lied to him. "Ohy! Pippin? What's wrong?"
"You're crying," he whispered when Merry had finally caught up to him. Pippin stared at his feet, too ashamed to look into his cousin's eyes. I've wronged him. He doesn't love me like that. I am just a silly little lad and he knows it. Oh why did kiss him? He probably hates me now… Pippin had no idea how wrong he was.
"Yeah? So?" Pippin looked at him in amazement and shock. He didn't understand. A second ago Merry had been crying. Now, he was brushing it off like no big deal. Suppose he thinks the kiss was no big deal…Pippin began to worry. He had kissed his cousin out of love, not out of a joke, which was how Merry seemed to be taking it.
"I stubbed my toe on a rock back there." Merry continued. "Nothing big."
Pippin's eyes widened in disbelief. So I haven't hurt him? Oh Elbereth, I am so confused. But he let it go.
"Come on Pip," Merry said, surprised to find himself so calm already. "Let's get moving. Hobbiton is a ways a way." Merry smiled at Pippin, and held out his hand. Pippin took it, like he had a thousand times before.
The two walked off into the darkness, the rest of the journey in complete silence.