Natta: We will figure those things out. All in good time, my friends, all in good time. (

Aelfgifu: Yes, Merry does remember. And. . .um. . .well, quite frankly, I don't really know what AU means, but if it means Alternate Universe (which I'm beginning to think it does) then, no, this is not AU. You can choose the time when it happened! I mean, where do anybody's fan fictions fit in? And I have read Nasty Hobbitsess, it's one of my many favorites! *lets out breath* Wow. . .lots of talkie-talkie. Now to writey-writey!

Disclaimer: Don't own LotR. End of story.

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"Pippin, what is it?" Iris whispered, going to him, a small lantern in her hands. He was still sitting in shock from his dream. . .or whatever it was. He was breathing heavily, his right hand hovering above his left shoulder. Pippin didn't look to her right away, but his eyes stayed fixed on the ground in front of him. She studied his face in concern, waiting for him to reply. When no response came, she placed a hand on his shoulder and said gently, "Pippin? What's wrong?"

Finally, his gaze traveled to meet hers, a confused gleam in his eyes. "I. . .I think it was a dream."

"You think what was a dream?"

Pippin opened his mouth to reply, but stopped. He tried to recall his dream, but by this time, most of it was gone from his mind. He sat, talking to himself almost inaudibly, trying to remember what he had dreamt about. It had to do with how he and Merry had gotten with Iris and Byrn, he knew, and he remembered walking through the forest, but other than that, nothing.

"I. . .it was nothing," he said finally.

"You're sure?"

"Yes." Iris smiled, a bit wearily, and stood to go back to sleep. Pippin's mouth opened, "Murder." Iris stopped in her tracks and turned back to face him. His face was pale, more than usual, and his hands were trembling now. However, she did not go back to him, simply stood staring at him.

"What did you say?"

Pippin's gaze met hers again, and it impaled her like a knife. "I said murder."

"Why would you say that?"

"That's why I'm here, isn't it?" he questioned, the dream now filtering back into his mind. He didn't know what had made him remember, but as soon as Iris had stood to leave, the image of the man's body lying upon the ground had refocused in his head. True, his hands were shaking and all of the color was now gone from his face, but that he could not help. All he knew was that he was closer than before to figuring out what he was doing in the middle of the Wild, with no meaning or purpose for being there.

"Pippin. . .you don't know why you are here, remember?" Iris stated.

"But you do," Pippin returned. "And I think I do remember it now. You murdered someone. I know you did, I saw the man lying on the ground. He was dead. And Byrn. . ." Pippin's gaze left the girl and traveled to a heap on the ground some twenty feet away. ". . .he had a knife in his hands."

Iris was silent for amoment. Then, she said softly, "You don't know what you're talking about." Suddenly, Pippin jumped up, grabbing her by the wrist with one hand, by the collar with the other.

"Tell me why I'm here!" he demanded angrily.

Iris stared into his eyes, her own filled with fear. She winced in pain at the strong grasp he had on her wrist. "Pippin. . .I can't. . .I just can't. . ."

"Tell me!!"

"Pippin!" Pippin turned to see who had called his name, only to be greeted by a punch in the nose. He stumbled backwards in surprise, then looked up to see his attacker. It was Merry.

"M-Merry? Wha--?" Pippin started.

"What are you doing?" Merry questioned. "Have you gone mad?"

Pippin stood up straight. "I want to know why I'm here! And she knows it, and is keeping it from me!"

"You're not ready to know, Pip, it's just the way things are!" Merry said.

"Merry! You know?"

Merry hesitated, realizing his mistake. Then, seeing no other alternative, he nodded slowly. Pippin's eyes grew wide in anger. In a sudden fury, Pippin ran, pushing Merry out of the way, and into the forest. Merry and Iris hurried after him. Pippin ran in and out of trees, stopping in a less dense patch of trees. He hid behind one, knowing that Merry and Iris were after him, waiting for them to come. It was silent for quite a few minutes, until the soft patter of footsteps reached his ears.

"Pippin! Oi, Pippin! Come on, we don't have time for this!" came Merry's voice. "Pippin, I never meant to keep it from you! Come on, we have to go back to camp!"

Pippin rushed out from behind the tree, a large stick in his hands. He swung at Merry, but his cousin caught it and turned it so that their faces were almost touching.

"Pippin, come on," Merry said. "What's gotten into you?"

"I want to know why I'm here and not at home!" Pippin demanded again.

"Why do you think?"

"Because Byrn and Iris murdered someone!"

Merry did not reply, his eyes growing a bit wider than before. However, he did not lose his cool. Pushing Pippin backwards, he kept the stick in his hands, and threw it aside once Pippin had released it. Pippin, who was not at all pleased by this, ran at Merry and tackled him. Merry pushed the younger Hobbit off of him, and all of a sudden a low growl rang out around them. The two Hobbits stopped, both standing, as Iris pulled out a dagger.

"Get back!" she ordered. They did as she said. Before them, a large, gruesome dog appeared, as if out of nowhere. Iris walked slowly in front of the two Hobbits. "Don't make any sudden moves," Iris said softly. "This is a warg. If you do, it might attack."

Pippin could see in the creature's eyes that it clearly intended to attack no matter what they did. Without warning, the warg leapt into the air and almost onto Iris, but she raised the dagger, piercing its belly. With a loud yelp, the warg stumbled backwards, glaring angrily at Iris. With its last ounce of strength, the ugly creature swiped at her, leaving a large, deep gash in her stomach. She staggered a bit, before collapsing, unconscious, into Merry's arms. Pippin watched, wide eyed, as the warg also fell, dead.

* * *

When they had returned to camp, Byrn was no where to be found. While Pippin built a small fire, Merry lay Iris down on the few blankets that they had, covering her with his jacket. Pippin sat against a large boulder, watching this. Merry was so different to him. . .he did not like it. And this Iris girl. . .Pippin really didn't know what to say about her. She was brave, and kind, and very skilled. . .but that was not it. There was something else, he knew, it's just he didn't know what it was.

* * *

A day and a half later, Byrn had still not returned, and Merry had very rarely left Iris' side. Pippin thought many times about running away and going home, but he had not the heart to abandon his cousin in the middle of nowhere, not to mention he had no way of knowing which way home was. So he sat, tending to the fire, cooking food, and making sure that no more of those ugly warg things were on their way.

Merry hardly ate or spoke anymore, and it worried Pippin to see his friend like this. Pippin could see the fear behind Merry's emotionless eyes; he knew that Merry feared for Iris' life. They had done the best they could to heal her, but, as Hobbits are not very renowned for healing, neither were sure if it had done any good.

Pippin shifted in his spot, his gaze still on his cousin. Tears filled Merry's eyes, but it was clear that he was trying to suppress them. "Merry?" Pippin said hesitantly, not wanting to upset him.

Merry jumped, glancing over at Pippin. "Yes?"

"You. . .you don't have to stay by her all the time, you know. . .it won't help her wake up."

Merry was silent for a moment. "I know, Pip. I know." Pippin stood, going to sit by his cousin.

"I don't think you do," Pippin stated. "You haven't left her side since it happened, and that was almost two days ago!" Merry did not reply. Pippin continued, concern tingeing his voice, "What's wrong with you, Merry? You're acting very strange lately."

Before either could say another word, Iris stirred and after a moment, her eyes flickered open. Pippin stood in surprise, watching as she sat up, her eyes sparkling as they met Merry's. She pulled him into a loving embrace, Pippin all the while backing up slowly, his gaze not moving from the two. After a few moments, Merry pulled back and cupped her face in his hands. He then moved closer, hesitating a moment, before his lips gently touched hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck, returning the kiss.

Pippin watched a moment, before sliding out of view behind the boulder and sinking to the ground in shock. He closed his eyes against the sick feeling now settling in his throat. He tried to put what he had just seen out of his mind, but it was far too difficult. He did not understand it, but for some unexplainable reason, he felt as if a thousand knives were piercing his heart.