Chapter 6.
Lost to me: (Merry's POV)
Tears blur my vision as I run from our home. My hands are still clutching the poem he wrote, pressing it against my chest, against my heart.
It seems I run forever, searching, calling. Finally, I sit down against the trunk of a tree and rest my head on my my knees. The only thing I can think of is that I have to find him soon or my heart will break, not only from a guilty conscience, but of the pain of a love suddenly found and just as suddenly lost.
But where else can I look? I've already searched all of our favorite spots and hiding-places, though I somehow know that he won't be there. I've even asked friends and family. But that was more than useless.
Suddenly, I feel panic rise inside me. Where could he have gone? How far could he be? He could be anywhere by now. Maybe he's already beyond the borders of the Shire, lost to me forever.
Then I almost laugh, even in my grief. Maybe he's hiding close by. Hiding from me. I smile sadly, remembering all the times we played "hide and seek" with his sisters. How Pippin could come up with almost impossible hiding places that left us looking for him for hours. All those times taught me something very important: if Pippin doesn't want to be found, I won't find him.
I sigh deeply. But no, I can't sit here, I must continue my search. I won't rest until I find him. As I rise from the ground, I suddenly see a familiar figure at the end of the road.
Pippin! It's Pippin! Tears of joy fill my eyes as I begin to run towards him, his tear-stained poem still clutched tightly to my chest.
Pippin!