Merry
"Why did you look?" I asked angrily. "Why do you always have to look?"
"I don't know. I can't help it," Pippin replied.
Yeah, I thought. Sure. "You never can."
"I'm sorry, all right?" I cringed inwardly. He sounded so innocent. "I won't do it again." I couldn't believe it. He was treating this so frivolously; like it was something simple, like taking Farmer Maggot's vegetables.
I turned to face him. "Don't you understand? The enemy thinks you have the ring. He's going to be looking for you, Pip. They have to get you out of here." My voice sounded hollow by the end of that. He might not be a baby that needs looking after, but he's my baby cousin, and I don't want him to go anywhere I'm not going.
He voiced my concern, "And you-? You're coming with me?" I was silent. "Merry?"
I turned away to follow Gandalf. "Come on."
---
I took something out of my pocket as Gandalf helped Pippin mount Shadowfax. "Here, something for the road," I said while handing it to him.
He looked at me quizzatively. "The last of the longbottom leaf."
I nodded. "I know you've run out. You smoke too much, Pippin." I smiled, but there was no humor behind it.
Pippin looked stricken. "But-but we'll see each other soon. Won't we?"
It occurred to me that I may never see Pippin again. Not his michevous smile when we'd gotten away with something, or his worried look when we were almost caught. I felt my throat tighten. "I don't know." I swallowed. "I don't know what's going to happen."
I could see him getting scared. I was scared, myself. I understood that he had to go. It was so he'd be safe. But I wanted to go with him. Make sure he was okay. I always watched over him when he was little...even when I didn't want to. "Merry." He sounded so unsure. So...small, which is strange to say for a hobbit, but he sounded so young. Gandalf whispered something to Shadowfax before they took off. "Merry!" He looked so alone...so young. Like he was still in his tweens. And then I realized...he was still in his tweens. Only 29. He was so young. And I was so scared for him.