Ch. 39

Pippin leaped and threw his arms around Boromir's neck, who nearly toppled forward into the- well, through the clouds and shadows that closed in around them.

Boromir laughed the hearty chuckle that Pippin remembered so well. Placing Pippin back down, he ruffled the Hobbit's hair.

Pippin looked up at his deceased savior and tears welled up in his eyes. Boromir looked just as Pippin remembered him. "How?" Pippin choked.

Boromir's smile faded. "I cannot stay long. You need to listen carefully and understand." Pippin nodded, and Boromir continued. "Your new friend Tarien was slashed by Kromagul."

"What is it?" Pippin asked.

"Open your hand."

Pippin did so, and immediately felt a deep weight fill it up. He closed his hand and brought it to his chest to keep from dropping whatever the thing was. Once steadied, he opened his hand and looked. He screamed, and stammered, "This- but- Frodo- Sauron- gone- this- no-"

Boromir's grim expression softened slightly. "No, this is not The One Ring. It was destroyed within Mordor. This is an exact replica."

Pippin held it up, looking at it. Boromir kept talking. "It even shows its writing in fire. Notice, it has no power, no hold over you. Give it to me."

Pippin handed it over. "See?" exclaimed Boromir. "You didn't even hesitate or wonder why I may want it." He knelt down and placed the ring in Pippin's hand. "For you," he said.

Pippin saw a shadow stir behind Boromir's eyes. "What is it?" he asked.

"I must leave soon. Tell- tell everyone that I said.... Oh, what to say....hello, I suppose. If you see Faramir, tell him I love him. And my father."

"Boromir....your father, he died. I will not tell you how. You would not wish to hear it."

"Oh.... well.... you won't see me again, Pippin. Least, not while you live. Good-bye."

The two shared and embrace. Upon parting, both were very teary indeed. Boromir stood and said, "Go."

The moment he said it, Pippin fell through the mist. Closing his eyes as he fell, he listened for whatever lay below. He landed on his back, hard. He opened his eyes to meet Merry's. Both were smiling, very broadly. Pippin knew why he was smiling, himself, but before he could ask Gandalf why he was smiling, Merry noticed that Pippin's hand was tightly shut.

"What's that?"

"Nothing." The response came quickly, and Merry probably didn't believe him. "What are you smiling about?"

Merry looked across the room. Pippin sat up to see- and screamed.

NOTE: Hey! I am so happy right now b/c I got my first review in, like, forever. Here it is! No name used!

~~ Oh, I just realized that I've been reading this story and hadn't reviewed it!

So sorry! Well anyways, I think this is an absolutly, horrendously lovely

story. By 'horrendous' I refer to the short chapters that *always* manage to

end in a HORRIBLE cliffhanger! ARG! Keep it up, I really DO enjoy the suspense

(well, most of the time...)! Also, the storyline is absolutely fasinating! And

the whole idea of Pippin being a wizard? Brilliant! I can't wait to see what

happens next (HINT, HINT). However, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, pretty please don't

kill off my favourite characters! Especially Sam or Frodo. Well anyhow, keep up

the good writing! ~~

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!