Hey, Ya'll!!! Guess what? I hate gym class! Not that any of you care, but yeah, I hate it. And not just the fact that I have it with an annoying ex- boyfriend of mine, but just the fact that it's a physical class. I hate being physical. But I don't think you care, so here's the next friggin chapter!

Disclaimer: These are getting weirder and weirder.. I don't own LOTR there, how bout that?

Chapter 12: Knowledge is Powerful

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Darla ran back to the clearing where the other boys were sitting and talking. She stopped just short of the firelight and hung back in the trees to listen to what the others were discussing. She listened as Pippin lit his pipe and began talking.

"What I can't understand is how she is so blind to his advances. He's told me about all the times they've kissed and yet she either is in love with another man or is just oblivious to the fact."

"Well, it seems to me that she at least likes him," Legolas remarked, "He at least has hope."

"I think she feels as if he's a great friend and her sub-conscious does not want to lose an amazing friendship because she has never had a real one before," Gimli philosophically deciphered. The others stared at him blankly, "She's afraid she'll lose a friend," he answered bluntly. The others slowly nodded their heads and leaned back with still puzzled looks on their faces.

"But like I said before, they would make a wonderful couple," Pippin agreed. The two others nodded in agreement and fell silent.

Darla couldn't breathe. All the pieces were falling into place. The kiss, the shunning, the 'perfect day,' it was all coming together. Merry loved her! It was hard to take in. When she finally inhaled she could hear someone coming up behind her. She turned around quickly to see Merry standing behind her. He opened his mouth as if to speak but said nothing. Darla could not say anything either.

He knew that she knew, and she knew that he knew that she knew. *A/N: OH yes, it's very complicated* The only thing she could do to respond was pat him on the shoulder and walk into the clearing.

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She knew. He could feel it in the way that she adverted her gaze, and in the way that she did not speak. She was troubled. He had not imagined it this way, which he had done in dreams. He had always hoped that the moment she found out she would let out the secret that she too had been holding deep inside ever since the moment they had met. But it was not this way. She had no feelings for him, and he knew that. She knew that. Even Pip knew that! But he had held on to an imaginary love. Maybe Fawn had been wrong, maybe she was just an old mother trying to set her daughter up one last time?

And maybe she was right. He couldn't help but hold on to one last glimmer of hope. Even if she came out and told him upfront that she could NEVER love him, he would always and forever hold on to that one shred of hope. He would be doomed to roam the earth following and loving her.

As he settled in for the night he felt a tear slowly work its way down his cheek. Pippin looked over and noticed. He looked around and noticed that Darla was fast asleep.

"Merry? What happened??" he asked concerned.

"She knows Pip," he said quietly, he felt a thousand miles away.

"You mean you told her?" he asked very puzzled?

"No, Pip," Merry replied very annoyed, "She's a smart lass, she can put two and two together. The kisses, the looks, the supreme interest in her and her life. It was all quite obvious. And on top of that she doesn't love me. Never has!" He buried his face in his pillow.

"You don't know that for sure!" Pip comforted.

"YOU DIDN'T SEE THE WAY SHE LOOKED AT ME!!" he yelled. Pippin shrunk back as if he'd been slapped.

"I'm sorry Pip, it's. it's just! I can't stop loving her! I won't! It's a plague! I love her and I hate her at the same time! I want it to end and yet I want it to begin!" Pippin smiled.

"It's a love hate relationship," he looked at his cousin and friend, "I know what you've gone through and I've always been there for you. You've made it out of worse situations than this. I know you'll be just fine." He patted his friend on the back and then went off into his own pallet.

As Merry sat there by himself, he decided right then and there. He would not worry about his past, he would not worry about his future. He would just try to make it to Gondor in one piece, whether he was loved or not. If he just took it one day at a time, then maybe he could find out what to do in the long run.

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They left the next morning. Legolas and Gimli departed their own way and left the three to their own adventure. The trip took just as long as Merry had told them. A month, and for that entire month things were different between Merry and Darla. They still laughed and teased each other, but Darla never let herself get too close. Merry didn't let it bother him and did just as he had promised to, live in the moment.

Pippin of course was a shoulder to lean on for both. As Darla's newfound drinking partner and as Merry's always-faithful cousin with loads of advice. *A/N: Sound familiar Cait?* They even often used him as a way of speaking to each other about how they felt. Darla knew he wouldn't hide anything from Merry, and Merry knew he would never hide anything from Darla. So obviously what ever they told him, they were also telling the other, just not directly.

This is how Merry found out about Darla's obsession with his hat, which was still safely tucked away in the pocket of her smock. This is also how Darla found out about her unknown kiss with Merry, which shocked her more than anything she had ever done. Even more than the revealing undergarments.

But a month passed and within that time they came into Gondor's city gates and already the people recognized Pippin.

"It's the halfling!" they declared making way. Pippin just led them up to the sentinel smiling at admirers and waving to young children.

"Is he always this cocky?" Darla asked Merry quietly. He just laughed and looked at her, his own eyes shining.

"Only when he's around the Big People," he answered laughing. They arrived to the final stairs to be stopped by the guards.

"State your name and business, young ones, and we shall deliver your message to the king." He replied monotonously.

"I am Perigrin Took, more commonly known as Pippin, and these are my friends, Meriadoc and Darla. We are friends of the king and are here to visit and enjoy his company." The guard just rolled his eyes and ran off to deliver the greeting. They didn't have to wait, long. The Elessar himself came running out to greet them grasping Merry and Pippin in a broad embrace and laughed.

"My dear friends of the Shire, come! Come inside and rest your weary feet and tell me news of the Shire and of Frodo. And bring your pretty maiden friend, she looks charming and like she could do for a bath and some other pampering." Darla smiled, she could get used to this Strider man very easily.

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Merry sat in the greeting room of Aragorn's palace in Minas Tirith. They had been talking for quite some time and Darla had fallen asleep in her chair. He gazed at her, her head perched on her left hand, which was leaning on the arm of a chair three times too big for her. Her hair fell over her right eye and cascaded down into her lap. He could not wrench his gaze from her. It was as if he was drawn to her peaceful dreaming. Dreaming she must be for the happy look on her face. He wondered what could be going through her head.

"Merry!" Aragorn said wrenching him from his own dream like state.

"Sorry, I was just. just."

"It's alright, I understand," he answered smiling, "I was asking you how you came to meet this fine young creature. Pippin has told me everything thus far, I think it's your turn to talk."

"Well," Merry began. And he told of their first meeting. He told of the 'perfect day', of Darla's parents, of Frodo, everything that had ever happened, he explained. Darla slept on. When the tail finally came to an end, a beautiful elven maiden walked into the room and bent down and whispered in Aragorn's ear. He nodded and the woman swept Darla up and carried her out of the room.

"It seems your companion was more worn out than we thought," he smiled.

"That or bored from all this talk," laughed Pippin. Merry forced a smile. He knew every one could tell it was fake, but he forced it, and went on chatting

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Darla awoke from an amazing dream. Was it amazing? She thought for a moment. She had been in a field back in the Shire. Who was she with? It was Merry! She had been in a field with Merry and they had just been there talking, like old times. She remembered the wonderful feeling she had gotten during her slumber. Then she remembered what happened next. SHE had kissed MERRY! Could this be? Her own mind had caused her to kiss Merry! She did not love him, at least she didn't think so? She had always looked at Merry as a wonderful friend. Never as more, but this dream!

Darla sat up and looked around her. She was in a chamber that was very beautifully decorated. There were tapestries and other such wall hangings displayed around. She jumped off the bed to see that it was one for a big person. The large leap took her by surprise as she fell onto her knees. The sound of her falling must have caught someone's attention because at that moment a Big Person walked through the door and helped her to her feet.

The Big Person was a woman. She had dark skin and light hair. Her figure was that of one who did not eat as much as they should, and her smile was absent. She looked down and bowed and then quickly went towards the exit to leave. Darla stopped her.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but I would really like to know where my companions are?" she asked the woman nodded and went out. Darla was really confused now. Who was this girl and why was she acting like this? She needn't wait long for her answer because soon after a tall elvish looking woman walked in smiling.

"So glad to see you're up!" she smiled, "I am Arwen, lady of Gondor and wife of the Elessar." Darla smiled and curtsied before her.

"I am Darla, hobbit of the Shire and companion of Meriadoc and Perigrin," she responded politely.

"That I already know," she smiled again, "I know your friends and they have told me much about you since you arrived yesterday."

"You mean to say I've slept all day?" she asked.

"Yes, but you've had a hard journey and are in need of a bath," she laughed.

"That is right!" Darla agreed.

"I will have my servants draw up your water and then we shall find you some clothes." Darla nodded and followed the elf. She was really getting the feeling that this would be a whole new experience for her.

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I know that this was a fairly short chapter, but I just was having the hardest time with it. I'm sorry if it ain't up to par, but here it is! Hope you enjoy! -DB:D