The Fellowship had been walking for hours this day, and the hobbits – who weren't used to walk long this fast for this long – were starting to feel the tiredness in both legs and arms. Pippin looked up at the sky, which was getting darker and darker, and he tried to remember what had happen the last couple of weeks – or maybe it had been months?

Everything had happened so fast. He and Merry had just been into Farmer Maggots crop when they suddenly had bumped into Frodo and Sam. Which was a bit strange since Sam never sat his foot there (not being able to steal anything). And Frodo hadn't been there since before he moved to Bag End. Then they met this Black Rider and had to hide from it. Pippin still shivered only by the thought of it. And now...Well, now they were on a secret mission to destroy an evil Ring.

Pippin sighted. If they had been back in the Shire now, they'd probably be drinking ale at the Green Dragon. How he missed that? But still, what he wanted the most right now was a bed, or just a good night sleep and, not to mention, something to eat. He could hear is stomach making loud and rumbling noises.

- "Hungry?" Merry grinned. – "Your stomach is complaining."

- "Not just hungry, but tired too," Pippin answered. – "When do you think we will stop and rest?"

- "I don't know. Why don't you ask Gandalf?"

- "Because you'll know what he'll say," Pippin groaned. – "Stop thinking with your stomach, Peregrin Took. This is not a walk in the park but a serious journey."

Merry laughed. Although it was true, hearing Pippin imitating Gandalf was still a laugh. Even the man walking behind them had to smile.

- "Maybe Elrond was right. I shouldn't have come with you on this quest... I mean, mission," Pippin said, slapping his head.

- "But Pippin...." Merry said, smiling and comforting. –"Without you here by my side, what would I do?"

This seemed to cheer Pippin up a bit, and Merry felt satisfied. He didn't like to see Pippin - who always used to smile and be happy – sad and unhappy. He felt a little bad for Pippin. It wasn't easy being the youngest member of the Fellowship, and especially not if you were a hobbit.

- "Gandalf?" Merry called out.

- "Yes, Meriadoc?" Gandalf turned around to face him. – "What is it?"

- "Well, we have been walking the whole day, which hobbits are not used to by the way, and we're tired and hungry. And I don't think I'm the only one who would be delighted if we could have a good sleep now."

- "Hear, hear," Frodo shouted.

Aragorn smiled, and he looked at Gandalf. Their eyes met and there was a sudden agreement. Gandalf smiled.

- "You're right, Merry," he said, and Pippin could hear sights of relieve from the other hobbits and even the dwarf. – "We have been walking for too long. Forgive an old man for not thinking twice about you hobbits. But you have all been brave and we shall rest. Let me just find a good place where we won't be noticed."

They turned around and continued for a little while.

- "Thank you very much," Pippin whispered to Merry.

- "Anytime, Pippin."

---

That night couldn't Pippin sleep. After what felt like hours of just tossing and twitching and trying to find a better spot to sleep on, he decided he might as well get up. He poked Merry who was sleeping next to him.

- "Merry?" he whispered, but there was no reply. – "Merry?"

- "I'm sleeping, Pippin," Merry snored. –"And so should you."

Pippin sighted. He knew it was hopeless to try to go back to sleep. Staring towards the small fire, he could see the great shapes of Gandalf and Aragorn. But.... They weren't alone! An Elf was sitting with them, and it was not Legolas. Although he did look like him, but so did almost every elf, Pippin thought. He sneaked a little closer to listen better.

- "You're walking slowly," the Elf said. – "We have been watching you while you have been walking in out forest."

Aragorn raised his eyebrows to this, clearly not liking that someone had been watching them without him finding out about it.

- "It's the little ones that are slowing you down, Mithrandir," the Elf continued.

- "One of the little ones is the Ringbearer, Lidell," Gandalf answered a matter-of-factly.

-"And he is, of course, not the one I'm talking about. I'm talking about the other ones," the Elf said. -"They're of no use here, Mithrandir. Send them back. I can take them with me back to Rivendell. They can wait for your return there."

For once Aragorn looked with great dislike at an Elf. Although he knew things would speed up if the hobbits were sent back, he had a strange feeling towards it.

- "Lord Elrond sent out a Fellowship of nine. Nine members against nine Black Riders," he finally said. – "Who're you to say otherwise?"

- "I'm here to help. The Dark Lord is rising. He has armies now bigger than you can imagine. The hobbits will only slow you down – especially the youngest of them."

Pippin's heart jumped a bit. They were talking of him! To his surprise he could see Aragorn shaking his head slowly.

- "Gandalf," he began but Gandalf interrupted.

- "Aragorn, my old friend," Gandalf smiled. – "I have no intentions at all to send young Peregrin Took home, nor Meriadoc or Samwise. Maybe they would do better of at home and maybe they're not of any use now. But I have a feeling that they would surprise us all before the end."

There was a twinkle in his eyes as he said that, and both he and Aragorn smiled. Pippin grinned, and satisfied he went back to get some sleep – or at least try too.

- "Pip?" Merry asked, opening his eyes. – "Where have you been?"

- "I just went to get some water. Thought that might help me gets some sleep."

- "Oh," Merry replied. – "Was a bit worried there." He closed his eyes.

- "Merry?"

- "Mhmm."

- "Do you remember our talk long ago? When I was ten?"

- "Which one of them?"

- "The one about Bilbo's story, if it was true and all, and then we talked about journeys."

- "Yeah, I remember. What about it?"

- "Well, can you believe it, Merry?" Pippin laughed. – "We're actually on one now."

Merry didn't say anything, only replied with a smile, still with closed eyes.

- "Good night, Pippin."

- "Good night, Merry." Pippin closed his eyes too, and finally he managed to fall into sleep, now wearing a big smile on his face.