The last of the tutor free hours were over, and Merry walked glumly to the tutors study. He had tried everything he could think of to get himself out of those lessons, but Mister Adams would hear none of it. Frodo had even went and talked to him, but when he came out red as a beet and shaking from anger, Merry figured it didn't go too well. Eventually Merry ended up at the door to the study, when he heard a voice from inside.
"Its sad really, for that Brandybuck to have any hope, I pity him, he is going to lose a friend, and there is nothing he can do about it."
Merry stood stock-still and pressed his pointed ear up to the keyhole.
"That Peregrin lad seemed like a nice boy, but sickness comes to everyone, and it isn't pitiful, look at Marina, such a young innocent girl, very kind to everyone, and she died at the age of seven. No, sickness doesn't care, it doesn't care one bit!!"
Merry heard the sound of something breaking, then quiet sobbing, he pulled away from the door, thinking over the strange outburst he had witnessed. Who is Marina? Why did he care for her? But really, why doesn't Mister Adams think pip will make it? Pip will, he will pull through, that'll set that tutor straight! Deciding that it would be better if he came back a little later for his lessons, after all, it gives me more time to look after pip! Merry turned the corner, and within seconds was again at the same position he had been in for the days since Pippin had fallen through the ice; right beside his cousin, holding his hand. Something about this time was different though, Pippins hand clenched back! Merry stared down at his own, now firmly grasped in the tinier hand that was his cousins.
"Pip?" Merry asked tentatively looking down into his cousin's face, "pip, are you awake?"
"Merry?" To Merry's relief, sparking green eyes shone back up into his bright blue ones.