Ch. 26

"Lord Elrond? Lady Arwen?"

Arwen and Elrond looked down at Pippin. Arwen's gaze turned from pure happiness to worry. "Mani naa ta, Pippin?" she asked. Apparently, she and Elrond had been conversing in Elvish. She shook her head to clear it of the flowing language. "I am sorry. What is it, Pippin?" (What is it?)

"I had a dream while I slept. It began as a memory, but then Bilbo, who'd been about to tell me a story, told me only I could save Sam, and then he said I'd know when the time came and then Merry was all grown, and then he tried to kill me and then I woke up." He finished this all in a single breath. Now panting, he looked to Elrond, wise as he was, for counsel.

Elrond glanced at Arwen and furrowed his eyebrows. In that second, he told her what to do. She bent down and took the Took's hand. They walked over to Galadriel, who was still trying to revive Sam. "Arwenin," Arwen said, bowing. Galadriel looked up and Arwen continued, speaking hurried Elvish. "Sina Perrianath teni e' ho kaima tanya ro antio a' fallana Tel' Astald Neth." (My Lady. This Hobbit heard in a drem that only he must heal the Brave One.)

"Mani? Ro?" Tarien spoke first.

Galadriel, having been so involved in the healing of Sam, she hadn't looked into Pippin's mind. (What? Him?)

Peregrin Took, your dream was no ordinary result of sleep. You . .

On the other side of the room, as Pippin stared at Galadriel, his expression shifting, Merry walked over to Gandalf. "He's. . . alive. . . Gandalf?" he said, choking out the words.

"Yes, Sam still lives." Gandalf grinned at Merry. The grin however, was not sincere. The face behind it was hollow with grief.

"Gandalf." Merry folded his arms, turning to face the wise old wizard. "There's more. I know it. You're holding out on me."

"You may have little common sense, but you sense much." Gandalf's grin faded, no longer needed for the cheerful façade. "Sam is alive, but this sickness is nothing any of us have ever seen before. Galadriel was sensitive enough to hear the gentle calls his mind made. She cannot help him."

"What?" Merry took a step back, dropping his arms and his jaw. "You mean. . . he's alive. . . but we can't save him? So he'll die anyway?" Merry's lowered jaw began to quiver before he set it, tears still forming behind the determined face. "He will live. Whether any of you save him or I have to myself. He-- will-- not-- die!" Merry's voice was now down to a very deadly whisper.

Gandalf replied, "You can do no more than I or Galadriel or Elrond or Arwen can."

"But I want to! I'll do anything, Gandalf!" Merry was past being domineering and was now pleading with Gandalf, hoping for the chance to save his friend.

"It is not up to me, Merry. You can do nothing for Sam. There is only one who can."

Merry cocked his head in confusion. Gandalf had said this was something new and that none of them could do anything.

Gandalf nodded his head towards Galadriel, where Pippin stood.

"Pip?" Merry said, facing away from Gandalf.

Gandalf grasped Merry's shoulder from behind. "I think it may soon come to pass that Pippin will become more powerful, even, than I. A time may come when Pippin will have more sway than any force to ever enter this world."