Part 2: Conclusion
The hands tightened around the frightened hobbit's windpipe. Strangely Merry did not seem to notice that they were his own hands. He felt as if he were watching the horrible scene from very far away and screaming "No! You leave him alone! Leave him alone!" Then a small choking voice broke into his thoughts, crying.
"Merry. It's Pippin, it's Pip! Wake up, Merry. Merry stop, please. Merry..." And a pair of wide brown eyes, brimming with panicky tears, met his own. What was he doing? Gradually he realised that the hands around his little cousin's neck were his own. Slowly. Oh so slowly for Pippin who was trying to pull Merry's hands away. With a weak breath Merry sank onto the grass, shocked, disgusted and terrified at his own behaviour. Pippin also slid down the tree's rough bark, wiping his eyes and sniffling. Carefully he explored his throat and coughed a few times to clear it.
"Pippin," Merry said quietly, not able to look up. "Where is it?"
"I- I threw it away," lied the hobbit fearfully. "In the struggle I threw it away. I don't know where it went." Trying not to loom too conspicuous, he drew his feet away from Merry but his cousin noticed anyway and looked up.
"Pippin-" he began." Pip I'm sorry, I don't… don't know what came over me. I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm so sorry…but as long as you threw it away…" He glanced up at Pippin and the younger hobbit saw that his eyes were once again a wholesome brown and this, more than anything Merry could have said, assured him that everything was alright again. Tentatively he put his hand on Merry's shoulder, ready to snatch it back if the fit should return. But Merry only smiled gratefully at him.
"Maybe we should go home," Pippin said. Merry nodded.
"But if you ever find that thing again, take it and have it melted, Pippin. Until there's nothing left. Promise me, Pip. Promise you will."
"Why?" asked Pippin.
"I- It made me- I wanted it and that's why I… came after you like that. Promise me you'll have it melted if you find it. Promise me!"
"It's alright Merry," Pippin told him. "I doubt that thing will give us any more trouble." He hadn't really understood what Merry meant but then he hadn't really been listening; he was too busy toying with the golden trinket in his pocket, but surely it couldn't matter much as long as Merry had recovered from his strange fit and wasn't going to do anything else.
They set off back to Brandy Hall together, Merry quietly relieved that the thing was gone, even if he couldn't explain about it to Pippin. And Pippin was content too – quietly bouncing the Ring in his pocket.