Title: Despair (11/16)
Author: Niphrandl
Rating: PG13

Characters: Gandalf, Frodo, Boromir, Aragorn, Pippin, Merry, Sam, Legolas, Gimli
Summary: This story takes place after Gandalf confronts the Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm and before the fellowship reaches Lothlorien. It is told from Frodo's POV initially.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. I make no money nor do I receive any public recognition for writing this. This is just my bit of fan fiction. Thanks Easterlily!

Despair Chapter 11

I opened my eyes. It was hard to focus on anything. It was dark. I heard murmuring in the distance.

Where was I? What had happened?

Then it all came crashing back to me with the suddenness of a thunderclap.

The arrows.

The orc.

"Pippin!" I screamed as I sat up. I was immediately brought down again by an explosion of pain and dizziness in my head and my arm ached something awful!

A cool cloth on my forehead, a comforting touch on my right shoulder.

"Sam?" I whispered.

"No little one," Legolas said "we made Sam lay down to get some rest. How are you feeling?"

"Head, Arm, Hurts. Dizzy." I was finding it hard to put sentences together. The world continued to spin. I opened my eyes a little wider, "Sick," I managed to say before I turned on my side and emptied my stomach of what little was in it.

Legolas cleaned up the mess and washed my face without saying a word. I felt awful! I wished I was dead.

Dead.

Arrows.

Pippin.

"Pippin!" I tried to sit up again. Everything went dim and I fell back again.

"Frodo" it was Aragorn, "don't excite yourself. You've been badly injured and you must stay still."

I opened my eyes and tried to focus on him. "Pippin" I said, "where?"

"Pippin is here." he said. "He is injured but alive."

Relief washed over me and I relaxed. I wasn't sure when I had fallen asleep but I was startled awake by screams. I turned my head to see Pippin struggling with Boromir and Legolas.

"Peregrine! Settle down! You're all right, you're safe now!" Boromir yelled at him.

Aragorn must have been on watch because he came running into camp with his sword drawn when he heard Pippin scream. Pippin continued to fight until Merry went over and started talking to him.

"Merry" Pippin said with tears in his eyes. "It hurts so much!"

"I know Pip," Merry said with tears in his own eyes. "You must be strong though." Pippin pulled Merry close and whispered something into his ear. Merry sat up with a sad smile and said.

"Me too Pip; me too."

Aragorn gave him a questioning look. Merry just held up his hand and shook his head.

Gimli had been tending the fire. He now came over with a pot of hot water. "Thought you might need this Aragorn." He said.

Aragorn smiled and quickly mixed up an herbal tea for Pippin.

"Here you are Pippin, drink this it will ease your pain and help you sleep."

Merry helped Pippin sit up and gave him a small sip. Pippin balked and coughed.

"That tastes awful!" he said.

I started to laugh in spite of myself but it was immediately turned into a moan when pain flashed through my head.

"Ah" Gimli said, "It seems our other patient needs some as well!"

I looked around for Sam hoping he could save me from that fate. My hope disappeared when I spied him on the other side of the camp. Fast asleep. Poor hobbit must have been exhausted to be able to sleep through this commotion.

Aragorn had come up behind me and followed my gaze. "He'll not be able to help you now Frodo." He said smiling. "I gave him something to help him sleep. He needed to rest as well."

I looked up at Aragorn resignedly and took the cup. "Pippin?" I asked.

"He's going to be just fine Frodo, don't worry."

I nodded. A wave of dizziness washed over me and I would have dropped the cup if Merry had not grabbed it. He had come up so quietly even Aragorn was surprised.

"Pippin is asleep again so I thought I would come over and help you with Frodo," Merry said with a smile in his eyes. "I know how he can be about taking his medicine!"

"Good, I will leave you to him then." Aragorn said standing up. "I have some things to discuss with Boromir. Make sure he drinks every last drop."

"You can be sure he will," Merry said giving me a stern glance.

As soon as Aragorn walked away I gave Merry my saddest pout.

"That isn't going to work this time cousin." Merry laughed.

I shook my right fist at him, "Now don't take that tone of voice with me!" he said indignantly.

I started to laugh but the pain stopped me once again. I squeezed my eyes shut against it.

"What's wrong Frodo?" Merry asked his voice full of concern.

"Head...hurts!" I whispered.

"Right, then time for your medicine." Merry stated bringing the cup up to my mouth.

I drank it without further argument. Merry got up to leave but I stopped him.

"Pippin whispered....What?" I managed to say.

Merry looked around to make sure no one was listening then leaned down close to me and whispered, "He said he was scared and he wanted his mum and da."

I slowly nodded my head and said, "Me...too." I leaned back on the bedroll and closed my eyes and let sleep overtake me once again.

Merry's POV

When Frodo leaned back and closed his eyes I made straight for Aragorn and Boromir. Something was wasn't right with Frodo and I wanted to know what. The two men were talking about setting watches and securing the camp when I approached them.

"Aragorn" I said.

He didn't seem to hear me.

"Aragorn!" I said a little louder. "I need to talk to you!"

Without turning his head he said, "In a minute Merry."

"NO, NOW!" I demanded "What is wrong with Frodo? Why can't he talk right?"

Aragorn gave me a surprised look and said "I'll be right back Boromir" without breaking eye contact with me. He led me away from the sleeping hobbits. Then he got down on his knees so we made eye contact. "I'm afraid he has a concussion Merry." He stated flatly.

"A con...What?" I had never heard that word before.

"A concussion, it's like he has a bruise inside his head. It causes dizziness, difficulty with vision and difficulty with speech."

I thought about this for a few minutes. "Will he get better?" I asked.

"It depends on how deep the bruise is. Sometimes it clears up after a day or two and sometimes it never clears up," was his reply.

I did not look at Aragorn then. I simply turned and looked to where my cousin's were sleeping. "Elbereth help them." I muttered. A tear slowly made its way down my cheek.

TBC…