Title: All Shall Fade Rating:

G – it's a little angst-y but nothing horrible

Summary: Merry complains some about Gandalf and worries about Pippin

I watched Pippin ride away to the land of Gondor on the back of Shadowfax with Gandalf. I watched until they faded away to nothing more than a speck on the horizon. At that moment I despised the wizard more than ever. It always seemed that he was yanking something apart for the "greater good" and I can see why the Men don't always like Gandalf. Pip and I are a prime example. Throughout our journey we have grown closer, the two of us. Cousins, but like brothers in the end. The hardships and travel made us grow closer so that we were metaphorically joined at the hip.

Until Pippin had to look at that damnable Seeing Stone.

The way Gandalf left it there so lightly protected was like baiting a mouse with cheese for Pippin and his insatiable curiosity.

If you remember correctly it was Pippin's curiosity that set the orcs and goblins after us in the Mines of Moria.

And now that Gandalf is pulling him to Gondor who will watch Pippin and keep his curiosity in check? And if not his curiosity then his mouth? Who knows what trouble a curious Took with a mouth that runs like the Brandywine and very little common sense will get into. As I watched him ride away towards Gondor and the ominous swirling cloud that marks the spread of the shadow from Mordor one of Bilbo's many songs came to mind. I sang the song to myself and wondered where our fates lie in this time that has the world in such gloom. Where our paths will us and when we will meet again.

Home is behind

The world ahead

And there are many paths to tread

Through shadow

To the edge of night

Until the stars are all alight

Mist and shadow

Cloud and shade

All shall fade

All shall fade

Author's Note: I was re-re-re-re-re etc. etc. watching my Lord of the Rings ROTK movie and WHAM! I had a little bit of inspiration for a quick little ficlet in Merry's point of view. I know it's inconsistent but I hope you enjoy it anyway. Please review for me…pretty please…with a cherry on top…

Disclaimer: This story contains characters, locations, and other random things created and/or owned by J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury Publishing, Scholastic, Inc., etc. Since no money is being made, no infringement is intended. Section 102(b) of the U.S. Copyright Act states that copyright protection does not extend to ideas, procedures, concepts, principles or discoveries, but the actual words used to express those things.