Chapter 8 - First Confrontation

A/N: At the time of my writing this, FF.net was being a bit communistic (meaning it wouldn't load) so I'm sorry but I won't be able to reply to any reviews this time. Please forgive me! Oh, and once again I need forgiveness for the messed up timeline stuff. Cut me some slack, I've only read the books once!

Warnings: AU, kissing scene (in case you don't like those I will warn you)

Disclaimer: I don't own LotR. Let's leave it at that, shall we?

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Lexi lay by herself in her and Meridol's room some time later. A council had been held the day before. They were to be leaving for a place called Mordor, to destroy Bilbo's magic ring. But that was the least of this Hobbit-lass' worries. She felt a deep guilt settling in her stomach, and growing. Frodo had been spending a lot more time with her and she had hoped that maybe her initial feeling would pass, but it didn't. Something was wrong. She was supposed to be in love with him. What was going on?

There was another confusing thing. She did love Frodo. She knew that if any other lass tried to steal him away from her, she wouldn't be able to stand it. The only Hobbit she could picture Frodo being with was her. And how selfish that was of her. What if they weren't meant to be together? She couldn't forbid him to see other lasses just because she felt overprotective of him.

The door clicked open. Lexi turned her head and saw the subject of her thoughts enter. She immediately averted her eyes, looking back at the ceiling. He walked over to her and sat beside her on the bed.

"Are you alright?" he asked gently, taking her hand.

"Yes," was her quiet reply.

"You're sure?"

"Yes."

He stared down at her for a moment. "Lexi. . .something's the matter. You can tell me."

Suddenly, Lexi sat up and gave him a serious look. "Kiss me."

"What?"

"Just do it. Please." Frodo nodded, then leaned forward and kissed her. To his surprise, she kissed him back. When they parted, she had another request. "Would you. . .tell me that you love me?"

"But Lexi, you know - "

"Please."

Frodo sighed. "I love you." Lexi smiled and opened her mouth to return his sentiments. . .but stopped. He sat back and looked at her curiously. "Lexi?"

"I'm sorry, Frodo," she said, standing quickly. "I'm sorry." And she was gone. Frodo sighed, watching the door click back into place.

* * *

Meridol and Merry were strolling along one of the dark, deserted streets of Rivendell. They were discussing going to Mordor, among other things. But at the moment, this was their topic of discussion. Meridol was not exactly thrilled with the thought of being catapulted into even more danger, but she didn't want to go home by herself. Merry, on the other hand, was actually a bit excited to be going on such a grand adventure.

"It won't be that bad, Meridol," he was saying. "I mean. . .well. . ."

"Are you frightened?" Meridol asked suddenly.

"Now?"

"No. Well, yes. Are you afraid to go on this journey? I mean, it will be dangerous. What if you die? What if I die? What if anyone dies?"

"It's a very real possibility, I won't deny that. But I prefer not to think about it. Cross that bridge when we come to it sort of thing. No one is in grave peril at the moment, so there's nothing to worry about."

"And when we are in grave peril?"

"Then you can worry." Meridol smiled half-heartedly. She knew he was right, but she couldn't help the almost overwhelming sense of foreboding that now settled in the back of her mind. The two walked in silence for awhile, until finally they came upon a small square. In the center was a beautiful fountain. Meridol went and sat at the edge of it. Merry stood beside her, gazing up at the sky.

"This place is amazing," he said. "It's a shame that we'll have to be leaving it soon. Rivendell. . .it seems to have changed all of us. Lexi, especially. I never expected. . .well, you know. She and Frodo."

Meridol shrugged. "I worry for her. This adventure, as you call it - "

"And what do you call it?"

"A waste of time."

"You call the salvation of Middle Earth a waste of time?"

"Yes. For us, anyway. Not for Frodo, or Gandalf, or Strider. But for you and me, for Sam, Lexi, Pippin. . .we don't belong on such a quest, Merry. We belong back at home. Some more than others."

"But we are bound by our decision to go. And I, for one, want to go." He sat down next to her, thinking a moment. "Who do you suppose belongs back at home?"

"Lexi. She knows it, I know it. . .even Frodo knows it. But she'll follow him to the ends of the earth, she will. I can't stop her from going."

"Then maybe she doesn't belong at home." Meridol looked over at him. He gave her a cheeky sort of smile. She laughed softly, giving him a slight nudge. . .or what she thought was slight. He slipped off of the fountain and into the water. Meridol jumped up and watched him surface, sputtering in surprise. She began to laugh merrily.

"It's not funny!" Merry said defensively, though he couldn't fight a grin.

"Yes it is," Meridol laughed. "You should be more careful, Meriadoc, honestly. Falling into fountains."

"I wouldn't have fallen if you hadn't pushed me," Merry protested. He stood and shook out his hair, spraying water all over her.

"Hey!" she cried, and pushed him again. He toppled over, but this time grabbed her wrist when she pushed him, pulling her into the fountain with him. She jumped up, soaked from head to toe. "Meriadoc Brandybuck! Look what you did!"

"It's your own fault," Merry stated matter-of-factly. Giving him a look she sat down again and splashed him. He splashed her back. She splashed him back. This resulted in a giant water war between the two, as they ran around and around in the fountain, splashing and dunking each other mercilessly, but laughing the entire time. Finally, as Merry was chasing Meridol, he grabbed her arm, but she lost her footing and slipped, falling down on her back into the water. He fell down almost on top of her, then hastily pulled her up. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I didn't mean. . .to. . ."

He stopped. Meridol stared back at him, a bit confused at first. "Merry? What's wrong?"

(A/N: Okay, here comes the kissing scene. I don't know how good I am at them, since this is my first time writing one. I hope it doesn't seem too bad!)

Suddenly, Merry leaned in and kissed her. She pulled away immediately, staring at him in shock. He blushed slightly.

"I've been meaning to do that," he said softly, "since the day I met you."

"That was twenty-four years ago!"

"I know." He paused. "Could I. . .kiss you again, Meridol?" Her face flushed at this, but she nodded. He smiled, then kissed her once more. This time, she didn't pull away. She returned the kiss gently.

"Promise me something?" he said suddenly, breaking away. Then he kissed her again, more fiercely this time. Each kiss he gave was rather brief, but full of devotion towards her.

"Yes?"

"If I die. . ." Kiss. ". . .and you go back to the Shire. . ." Kiss. ". . .don't forget me?" Kiss.

"Never, Merry." Kiss. "I would never forget you." Kiss. "But if we both live. . ." Kiss. ". . .we can go back home together. . ." Kiss. ". . .and live together. . ." Kiss. ". . .and raise a family?"

Merry stopped again. He parted slightly from her, looking over her face. She returned the gaze curiously. "Do you not want that, Merry?"

He was silent a moment, a small smile creeping over his face. He leaned back closer to her. "No, Meridol. It sounds. . .wonderful." And he kissed her again. But this kiss was different. He didn't pull away quickly, and it was deeper than before. She put her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her.

Before she knew it, she felt her mouth open and his tongue creep inside. This was something she had never experienced before, but she didn't care. She was too swept away in the moment to worry about anything. After a moment, they broke away.

"I should go," Meridol said. "I will see you in the morning." With that, she gave him a quick, good-night kiss on the cheek and walked off to her room.

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A/N: Woohoo! Finally, they've gotten together! Who saw that one coming? *everyone raises hands* Fine, sorry I wasn't subtle enough. Oh well. Please review!