Ch. 38

Everyone stood around feeling very somber. Aragorn was sleeping, waking occasionally with a painful whimper. Tarien was recovering, although still no one had been able to get anything out of Tarien or Legolas. No one would ask because they all felt terrible, and everyone had at least one hole in their heart in the room.

Gandalf was speaking with a Bilbo whose lower body was through a bed. Galadriel, Arwen, and Elrond were separated from everyone else, looking sharply from one to the other, speaking through the telepathy that Elves share. Merry was asleep next to Frodo, who was still in bad shape.

"Urgh," moaned Pippin. The cloth he'd held over Frodo's wound for the past two hours would need to be cleaned or replaced soon. It was covered in green secretion. Pippin whispered to the sleeping Frodo, "Don't move."

He walked along, holding his hand beneath the dripping fabric. Rushing, while still being careful, he tiptoed past everyone else. He tore his eyes away from his destination for a split second to look at Sam.

Rosie sat under her husband's arm. She was running her hand over his brow, whispering into his ears. Elanor sat upon her father's feet, playing with his hairy toes. Pippin looked back to Rosie one more time- and gasped.

Rosie had her hand on her lower stomach. A bulge there that had not been visible before was accentuated by the posture she was in. It was not merely a fold of skin- this growth was round and hard.

Another Gamgee, he thought.

"Oof!"

As Pippin flew through the air, he twisted to see what tripped him and saw Gimli open his eyes. A mug fell from his hand.

Pippin's mind raced as the cloth flew from his hand in Sam's direction. He heard a scream issue from that area, and tried to see.

But he hit.

Pippin looked around at the swirling vortex he was enveloped in. He cast about for anything familiar, anything friendly.

The purple mist surrounded him

"I'm right here," called a voice from behind him.

Pippin trembled as he turned to face the man who'd saved his life, if not his freedom. The man who'd been a friend and ally, even for a short while.

"Boromir!"