The well had just been too tempting. Just looking down it had woken up his curiosity, and Pippin had suddenly felt this urge to find out how far down it was. And before he knew it, the stone was falling down it and then... "Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time, and then you will be no further nuisance!" The words from Gandalf still hung over him, just to remind him of how stupid he had been. He sighted. A nuisance that was what he was. He looked over his shoulder. Gandalf was sitting next to the well, staring at it, obviously caught up in his own thoughts.

Gandalf looked over at the little shape in the corner, which obviously was awake since it was twitching and twirling as if lying on an anthill.

- "Pippin?" he whispered. The shape stopped moving.

- "Yes?"

- "Since you seem to have trouble sleeping, why don't you come over here and keep an old wizard company?"

The hobbit got up on his feet, tumbled over and sat down next to Gandalf.

- "So tell me, young lad," Gandalf said. – "What's troubling you?"

- "Everything..." Pippin sighted. – "I'm so sorry, Gandalf. I'm so sorry about the stone. I wish I wasn't so curious...I wish..."

He could still picture the situation. Gandalf yelling at him, Aragorn and Legolas exchanging worried looks, and Merry...Merry couldn't even look at him.

- "Are you still mad at me, Gandalf?" Pippin asked.

- "No," Gandalf answered, and he pulled Pippin closer to him. – "You're a Took, and Tooks are curious by blood. And you, my boy, are a living proof of this. You have always been so and will always be so. And if I know you as well as I think I do, then I hardly believe this will be your last mistake."

He gave a snort of laughter as he patted Pippin on the head, making sure that he hadn't meant to be mean.

- "That's nice," Pippin replied sarcastic, but joined in and laughed too.

- "Don't you worry," Gandalf smiled. – "When that time come, I will be there to help you make it right."

- "You promise that?" Pip asked.

Gandalf smiled.

- "You have my word."

----

And so they sat for a while. In silence, both smoking their pipes and just enjoying each other company.

- "Did you think the same about the Old Took?" Pippin suddenly asked. – "Or Bilbo, for that matter?" He has some Took-blood, did you know that?"

- "Oh, I know," Gandalf laughed. – "And so has Frodo, if I'm not mistaken."

- "Yes, he has," Pippin said proudly.

- "Do you feel better now?"

- "Yes, a little."

- "Well, think of it no more," Gandalf said. – "And if I was you I would try to get some sleep. We have a long day ahead tomorrow, and I don't want you to complain every single hour about not getting enough to sleep."

- "You're right, Gandalf," Pippin smiled. Then he got up on his feet, bowed as hobbits do, and then went back to his corner.

- "Good night, Pippin," Gandalf said, mostly to himself, while patting on his pipe. – "Sleep well, my young lad.