Disclaimer: I make no money from this. Wish I did, though. It would be nice to not have to eat the rats that share my cave.

This version beta'd and additional material added by Marigold

Chapter 2: Missed

As Boromir crested a rock at the base of the monolith, he allowed himself an inward sigh of relief. They had not been attacked by orcs, Aragorn had come back to lead them onward and the little ones had held together remarkably well. After he finished setting up his share of the camp, he would make sure they each had someone to stay near them through the night. He began to muse.

Hmm... I should mention that to Aragorn now. I know he will at least get them through some of their pain at the meal. I do not think that the periannath have had much experience with the effects of bereavement and they may not want to eat. Yet they must. Especially Frodo. He lost quite a bit of weight over the past weeks. Weight he cannot afford.

Boromir finished with his bedroll and paused a moment. He was slightly higher than the rest of the Fellowship and looked down on them. Aragorn was helping Legolas unpack supplies. Gimli was stoking a small fire while Sam dug out some rations. Frodo was trying to help Merry unroll his pallet. Boromir allowed a small smile to creep across his face. No amount of his, Aragorn's, or Legolas' tutoring had been able to improve Merry's camping skill. He would always be suited to being a gentleman of leisure. Or rather a gentlehobbit.

The soldier gave a start. Where is Pippin? Of all the group, he was the one that would need the most reassurance tonight. In all likelihood he blamed himself for Mithrandir's fall.

Pip must be made to understand what danger we were in by simply deciding to go that way. How lucky we are that they did not discover us sooner, that it was just a matter of time. Besides, the orcs attacked much too soon after Pippin's stone for that to have been what alerted them to our presence! It could have been Gimli's cry, Mithrandir's light, our scent… but I do not even know if he is gone. Perhaps he had to make water.

That was another amusing thing about the halflings. Even nearly a month on the road, where privacy was nonexistent, they still maintained unnecessary modesty about natural functions. At first Boromir had felt it a bit disconcerting, as he had spent all of his life around soldiers who would likely be completely unabashed about relieving themselves in a town square. Pippin is probably doing just that. I had better make sure, however. I do not want to take any unnecessary risks.

Boromir picked his way down the rock and made his way over to Merry and Frodo. Frodo looked up as Boromir's shadow fell across him.

"Do you two happen to know where Pip is?" Frodo and Merry shook their heads simultaneously. Boromir felt an icy claw clutch his heart. Merry of all people should know his cousin's whereabouts. As Boromir looked into his small friend's soft brown eyes, he saw the flash of terror go through them. Merry almost made it past him in an attempt to run back into the woods and locate his misplaced cousin.

"Hold a moment, Merry." Boromir admonished. "We don't even know that he is missing. Stay here while I go and check with Aragorn." It had taken all of Boromir's control not to act just like Merry and go running off to find Pippin. The thought of anything happening to one of the sweet, innocent halflings made his breath freeze in his lungs. Boromir walked as quickly as he could without seeming too panicked, over to Aragorn and Legolas.

Aragorn glanced up from the blanket he was spreading out.

"Is something troubling you, Boromir?" Aragorn asked.

"I was just wondering if either of you know where Peregrin is?"

"I have not seen him." Legolas replied. "Perhaps Merry would know?"

"I have already questioned the halflings. Merry and Frodo do not know where he is." Boromir was sore put to keep from snapping at the elf. It was one of his worst faults. Whenever he became stressed, he got irritable.

A silence stretched between them. Boromir felt the cold panic he had fought so hard against, welling up in him. As one, all three bolted in different directions. Aragorn shouted to Gimli and Sam to gather the others. Legolas bounded up to the top of the rock to see if he could spot Pippin with his elven sight. Boromir went straight for Merry. Holding the weeping hobbit close, he crooned soft words into his small pointed ear.

"Easy there, little one. We'll find Pippin. Do not worry...shhh..." Boromir gently picked up Merry and carried him to the small fire that the others gathered around. A spirited discussion was going on between Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli in some exotic tongue. Sam and Frodo were sobbing into each other's arms. Poor little things, Boromir thought. It is so hard for them to be away from their soft home and their kin. Hobbits are such social creatures, I wonder how they can bear to be away from their homeland at all. Then Aragorn spoke.

"We have decided that Gimli and Legolas will go along our back trail to search for Peregrin. In all probability he simply got separated from us in the pine thicket."

"Do not fear, young hobbits." Said Gimli. "Master Elf and I will fetch back young Peregrin."

"We should not be gone more than a day. We will return before noon tomorrow." Legolas added.

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Merry lay curled up on his bedroll. His eyes were swollen and raw from crying. First Gandalf and now Pippin. He did not think he could bear much more sorrow. Oh, Pip. If anything happens to you, I don't know what I'll do. Please come back to me safely. He sent his tiny prayer for Pippin's safe return to whatever gods were watching over them. He vaguely heard Legolas and Gimli saying their farewells to the rest of the company before setting off.

"Merry," Boromir's gentle voice called from somewhere above him. "Please, you must eat something."

Sam must have finished the supper. Merry thought. He really is a good friend. With everything that's happened, he is still making sure we are fed.

"I'm not hungry." Is what he said aloud. With a sigh of resignation, Boromir settled himself down on the bedroll beside Merry. Without a word, he gathered the sobbing hobbit into his arms. "Oh, Boromir," whispered Merry, "what will we do if they don't, if they don't- if..." Merry could not continue and his voice fell into hiccupping sobs.

Boromir had never felt so helpless in his life. The sight of Merry in this condition distressed him no end.

"It is not in my knowledge what we will do if Pippin is not found. Do not speak of such things until you need to, my friend. You will only upset yourself.

"Boromir?"

"Yes, little one?"

"I'm glad you're here."

"So am I, Merry. So am I." He paused. "Please Merry, will you at least eat a little stew?"

"I don't think I have the energy to." Merry's voice quavered.

"That is the grief, little one. It steals energy and the appetite you need to restore it." While he was talking Boromir shifted Merry around, so that his head rested in the crook of Boromir's arm, as if he was no more than a babe at feeding time. "You are going to eat some of this stew, even if I have to get Frodo and Sam to hold you down so I can get this spoon in your mouth." At this, Merry actually cracked a smile.

"All right, you win Boromir. I will eat."

Boromir smiled down at his young charge. I just hope that you do not have more grief to deal with when Legolas and Gimli come back. For despite his earlier words, in his heart Boromir felt that something awful had happened to Pippin.

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