Rain and Mud

By Robin Girl

Chapter 5

(Sorry for the long update. If you want a faster update please check Robin_gurl.tripod.com regularly. I'm trying right now as we speak to get all of my fanfiction on ONE page. Which heaven forbid, might actually happen. I'm working on an update of Snow Flakes, it's just very slow. Updates are coming to my other LOTR stories soon also.)

The next morning Pippin awoke to Merry shaking him gently, "Come on Pippin, wake up."

"I want to sleep," Pippin replied tiredly letting Merry help him sit up.

"Yeh, well we decided to try and go on," Actually Merry hadn't had a voice in this one. He had awoken this morning to see Frodo and Sam packing. "Don't worry, I'll help you."

*~*~*~*~*

Frodo sighed downstairs as he waited on Merry to bring Pippin down. He had gotten a threat from a man, who said he was looking for four hobbits. It would be best for them to leave.

Everyone seemed to be staring at the two hobbits as they made their way down the stairs. Pippin's weight was all on Merry as the youngest had no strength left.

Merry held his cousin close as they made their way down. Why were they staring? Had they not seen a hobbit before? He couldn't tell whether the heat from his cousin was coming from the fever or embarrassment.

Just then a man walked into the crowd. He cleared his throat making everyone looked at him. "Stop staring, the young one is obviously ill. Let them be."

Frodo stood and went to meet the stranger. "Thank you.." Was all he could say.

"Are you sure you want to take the youngster out there? It's a pourin'."

Frodo sighed glancing over at Pippin and Merry. The young Took was now leaning into Merry's embrace resting his head on Merry's chest. "We have no choice, stranger. If we stay it could turn for the worse." Then a thought crossed Frodo's mind. "Who are you?"

"I'm just a worried kind hearted soul." The man smiled he had blue eyes, and long dark black hair. "My name is Calak, one of my friends wants to meet you."

"The reason?" Frodo ventured Timidly.

"You shall see. Come, if you are going to face the weather lets do it together. I won't hurt you I promise."

"Frodo?" Merry asked quietly. He had sat his cousin down in a chair and walked over worried. "Who is he?"

"He's going to help us get to Bree." Frodo saw and felt that this Calak guy was alright. "Sam," the Ring Bearer called, "Get ready we're leaving in a few minutes."

Merry growled and glared at the new stranger. His glance told Calak that if he hurt Pippn or any of them for that matter, he'd have to answer to Merry, the HARD way.

Calak pulled his cloak on and motioned for them to go ahead of him.

*~*~*~*~*

"We need to stop. Pippin can't go any further." Merry called catching Pippin right before his cousin collasped. "You've done well cousin."

Pippin felt sick. That was the first word that came to his mind. He had remarkably kept up with the others but finally his legs felt like jello. His eyes were glazing over and he collasped. When he awoke Calak was hovering over him. He whimpered trying to hide.

Calak smiled, gently and carefully, as not to frighten the hobbit, put a hand to Pippin's forehead.

Pippin winced expecting to be slapped. Instead he opened his eyes and saw Calak barking orders to the others.

Vagually Pippin felt someone pick him up. Then something wet was splashed on his face.

"His fever is gradually dropping, we need to make sure it stays this way." Calak had taken the youngster into his arms. Merry was sitting beside the man watching his every move.

"How many more days?"

"One if even that."

"Even with Pippin's condition?"

Calak smiled, "I'm going to carry him."

Merry glared, how dare he carry Pippin? If anyone was going to carry Pip, it was going to be him.

Frodo was waiting for Merry to explode. Maybe he sould have explained it to Calak. Too late now. "It's alright Merry, I doubt Calak would hurt Pippin."

"Gandalf..." Pippin mumured. "I'm sorry I broke your staff, I didn't mean to."

"Gandalf? As in Gandalf the Grey?"

All three nodded scared.

**TBC**