I stopped writing answers to the reviews... I'll thank you next chapter, don't be mad.
Without further ado, Chapter Five.
Chapter Five- Second Visits
Pippin never was a very patient hobbit. He hated waiting, yet that was exactly what he forced himself to do. Especially now, waiting to open the door and get the food he knew was out there. He was hungry for the first time in weeks God damnit, and he wanted his food NOW.
No one would wait outside the door right? So it was safe right? Okay, go now.
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The door opened so fast Merry almost walked into it. Wait! That was Pippin's door! The door opened! He was coming out! Finally, now he could talk to him. [Why would he want to talk to you? He hates you now. Remember?] Merry thought (We'll see about that.)
Pippin grabbed the tray and straightened up. He looked both ways to make sure no one was around, and froze, eyes locked with Merry's.
Merry tried desperately to see what Pippin was thinking, leaving his own eyes unguarded. (What is he thinking? Why hasn't he left yet? Screamed? Yelled? Ran away?) Merry thought, hurriedly, focused on seeing into Pippin's soul.
Suddenly Pippin realized he was standing in the hallway, door open, and Merry, the very hobbit who had driven him into the room in the first place was standing before him, looking every inch the heartbroken hobbit. And Pippin was looking into his eyes. What he found there surprised him. Was that sorrow?
(RETREAT!!!!!!!!) Pippin's mind screamed suddenly, shaking him into motion. Pippin moved back into the room, drawing the door with him, never letting go of the tray.
[Gah! He's getting away! Nooo!] Merry leapt for the door, toward the diminishing gap, toward Pippin.
Pippin saw him leap, and tried to pull the door faster. But it was too little too late. Merry got an arm into the room and Pippin couldn't shut the door on his arm. He moved away from the door, and got behind the bed, still upright and clutching the tray. Merry opened the door and slipped inside.Merry stood before the door, breathing heavy. (Wait! I'm not prepared! What do I say?) So he just stood, taking in the surroundings. The bed was rumpled, though that was to be expected, and the chest of drawers was thrown open, clothes were strewn everywhere. There was parchment, half written on, sitting on the desk, and as Merry had suspected, the letter opener was indeed in the door still."Love what you've done with the place." Merry said, still eyeing the room, looking anywhere but at Pippin. He seemed calm, and collected but inside he was screaming at himself. (How the HELL was that supposed to help get him back? YOU IDIOT!)
Pippin winced at the comment but quickly regained his composure. What had he expected? A heartfelt apology? A declaration of love? (Yeah right.) His brain told him. (He slept with your cousin and his gardener.) Pippin regarded Merry icily. "Glad to hear it. So, howhave you been? Been having a jolly good time with Sam and Frodo I imagine." Pippin said, voice as cold as his gaze."Actually, they keep to themselves mostly." Merry said blankly, wondering at Pippin's reason for mentioning them. [Perhaps he's jealous of you. Perhaps he wants to be with Sam or Frodo.](No. No, he could never want that.) Merry told the voice, though in his heart he wondered if what It said was true. Could Pippin be in love with Sam or Frodo?
Pippin was a bit surprised that Merry, Sam and Frodo hadn't been together the whole time he was holed up. After all, they were partners in crime. "Really? Well, too bad for you then, eh?" Pippin said bitterly.
[See what I mean? He wishes he were you.]
"What are you talking about?" Merry said, confused. Pippin laughed coldly. "Like you don't know.Honestly." Pippin scoffed. "Humor me. Just the once." Merry said, eyes pleading. "Please?"
Pippin's heart nearly melted. That voice. Those sad, sad eyes. Can't refuse. "Fine." Pippin paused to refreeze his emotions. "You, Meriadoc, slept with our cousin, and the gardener." Saying it out loud was strange. The words tasted sour on his lips.Merry heard but couldn't understand. (He thinks I- Why would he-) [You see? I told you. He wants Sam and Frodo.] (No. That's not what he meant.) Merry could feel a headache coming on. [Ask him then. Ask who he loves. He said so already. He doesn't love you.]
The two hobbits stood in silence. Pippin was thinking about what he had just said. Was it true? He was fairly certain, that was why he had left... but no one had actually said so. (No, no, no! It is! That's why you have been here, why he never got close to you, why he knew you knew about the other two!)Suddenly Pippin was very aware of everything. He felt the weight of the tray in his hands; it felt magnified, as though someone had added twenty pounds while he wasn't watching. The room was in shambles. He saw Merry, looking very confused, features contorting slightly with some inner turmoil."Why would you think that?" Merry's voice was so quiet he barely heard himself. In spite of being quiet it did not shake. Pippin remained silent. Merry was just starting to think Pippin hadn't heard him when he spoke.
"Because. You did and you know it. Stop pretending you don't. Do not make me repeat your last visit, Merry." Pippin said, trembling a bit. Merry froze in shock.(Repeat? He would do it again?) [Told you so. He doesn't love you.] Pippin didn't know why he had said this. It wasn't supposed to happen like this! Words were just popping out. "Know what? Just leave me alone." Pippin said, or rather heard himself say, not remembering telling his lips to move, or his mouth to form words. Especially not those words.[He doesn't love you.]
Merry still stood stock still. (No. Nonononono. He's doing it again.)
Pippin abruptly grew sick of standing here. "Why are you here? Haven't you tormented me enough?"
"No" replied Merry, who reworded quickly, "I mean, yes. I mean, I don't know." While he spoke his headache intensified, and he was acutely aware of his rash. (Gah! What am I talking about? I don't know.)
"Look," Pippin said, "I don't want to stand here all day listening to you babble. Spit it out."
"Ah, you see... what I mean is... well you see..." Merry wanted to break down and sob. This was just too much. This wasn't supposed to happen yet. And the damned voice kept going.
[He never loved you. It was a lie. A filthy dirty lie.]"The thing is..." [Look at him. He hates you. You are like the mud on his feet.]
Merry started to sweat. It was so hot in here. So damn hot. He tried to speak but found his jaw was locking. Painfully.
[He won't love you.]
The room started to spin, like they were on a Merry-go-round.
[Can't love you.]
"Merry? Are you alright?" Pippin asked nervously.
All Merry's attention snapped onto Pippin. He was like the light at the end o the tunnel. With out telling his body to, Merry began moving toward Pippin. Everything was centered on Pippin. But his knees were weak, and threatened to give out. Merry's head was echoing loudly those words, those awful words.[He doesn't love you]
"Shut up! Shut up! God, why won't you go away?!? Damnit, leave me alone!!" Merry shouted, unable to restrain himself. "Stop torturing me already!" Merry's hands buried themselves in his hair, trying to find the source of all the frustration.His legs began to cave beneath him, and he plummeted to the floor. He was unconscious before he hit the ground.
The chapter name lacked its usual... oomf. Sadly, that is all you get! And the last chapter will be for wrapping up loose ends and/or answering questions you have. So start thinking of anything that didn't make sense to you and I'll do my best. Also, I'm not sure when the next chapter will be up, I've been falling behind... haven't begun Chapter Six yet. It'll be the last full-blown chapter. I think. Most likely. Like I said, I still have to write it.