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Raging Mage

Pippin

Are they listening?" asked Merry in alarm.

"I doubt it silly they're too absorbed in what their talking about," I answered.

"So it's all planned out," said Merry.

"Yes and you do it right it should work like a charm," I told him in exasperation. "As long as you don't mess up this will get you right into Laurelin's arms." Little did he know that while he was getting himself into Laurelin's arms I myself would be crawling into Amanda's bedroll, to enjoy sleeping in her arms as Frodo had previously. I was worried about Frodo's welfare but at the moment he was also my rival. I wasn't going to let him beat me out for Amanda's affections. Frodo was going to get an all out war before I gave up on chasing Amanda. I would rather die first. Tonight was going to be special and I was going to get to see Melons close up again after so long.

Laurelin

I sat at my watch post against a tree so that no one could sneak up on me. I overlooked everyone sleeping peacefully. Amanda lay closer to the fire than before as Strider had dragged her there when he went to bed. Currently he was first in the row followed by Amanda who was graced by Pippin on the opposite side of her and beside Pippin lay Merry who fussed nervously in his sleep. Sam had his bedroll camped out on the other side of Merry. I leaned back in my chair tree squirming to get comfortable amongst the bark. When a sudden low moan on the wind came to my ears and Merry shifted beneath his blanket fearfully. Poor Hobbit must be having a nightmare but I couldn't leave my post unless I had to. Amanda's breath hitched in her sleep as if she had meant to talk but had changed her mind. Movement caught my eye. I had my mage staff so I wasn't scared in the slightest. I waited giving whatever it was a chance to pounce but it didn't. A gulp came from my right and a few seconds later Merry emerged from the shadows his tear streaked face glowing in the moonlight.

"Laurelin," he said shakily. " I had a horrible nightmare about those terrible black riders." Poor Merry I opened my arms and he eagerly crawled into them. He took several deep, shuddering breaths and then relaxed. I rested my one hand on his back while I sifted through his soft curls with the other. His breathing became soft and even while he calmed himself down. After some time had passed I assumed that he had fallen asleep until I heard clearly int the quiet night,

"Melons!" I shrieked and threw him off of me.

"Why, you little perverted freak, oooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh," I cried grabbing my mage staff and swinging. It connected squarely with his forehead. Merry squealed and ran all the way back to his bedroll. "That'll teach you some manners," I growled low in my throat after my utterance of those words. Irritated I turned my gaze away from Merry and stared off into the night. I then glanced quickly at Amanda who slept on peacefully as if nothing had happened at all. Strider had woken up but said nothing as he turned on his side to try to sleep again. Sam was still out as well as Pippin who had curled up under his blankets at least he was behaving unlike Merry. I leaned back against the tree and resumed watch sweeping my gaze everywhere at once

The next morning came clear and bright waking Strider right away. Sam woke an hour later after Strider. Merry stirred when breakfast was finished cooking. Amanda and Pippin however slept on in their bedrolls. After awhile I decided it was time to wake Pippin up. I walked over to his bedroll and poked him with my mage staff. I received nothing, no movement, no protest, not even complaining. I yanked back the blanket to reveal rolled up blankets. My eyes widened in shock. What had happened to him.

"Strider! Pippin is missing," I cried. Strider bounded over. He touched the bed and looked at it.

"It hasn't been slept in since early evening some time," he answered.

"I'll go wake Amanda up, we have to find him!" I answered before heading over to Amanda's bedroll. I knelt by Amanda and tapped her shoulder. "Amanda, Pippins gone we don't know where he went or if someone took him." Amanda's eyes snapped open and she sat up rubbing her eyes. The blanket fell down revealing Pippin his arms wrapped around her waist, still asleep. I sputtered in earnest, then in complete anger I screeched,

"PIPPIN, You perverted little toad!" I just exploded. Pippins eyes shot open and he quickly scrambled away out of reach of myself. Amanda then did something unexpected. She laughed, deep throated, hearty laughter. She ate breakfast without a qualm. The next four days we travelled without incident and we arrived in Rivendell the evening of the fourth day

When we cleared the gates they were several Elves waiting to greet us unfortunately not the one I was looking for. They took us all away to our rooms. They gave us hot bath water and all the other luxuries we could want. As far as I knew Amanda slept that night through, the next morning found her at Frodo's bedside holding his hand, staring at his pale face. Every so often I would hear her mutter encouragement to Frodo to live and survive. There Amanda stayed all day when the meal hour rolled around an unexpected visitor showed to convince Amanda to leave Frodo to his rest and get some food. The moment Amanda got up to leave Frodo moaned in his fevered sleep for her and began frantically searching for her hand on the coverlet. Amanda went back and seated herself by the bed and took his hand once more. He calmed down and settled to his rest again. In the next few weeks Amanda barely left Frodo's side even to see to her own needs. She took all of her meals there, she even slept there in a chair by the bed. She only ever left to go to the bathroom. O f course I would visit her and Frodo as did the rest of the Hobbits, Gandalf and even Bilbo Baggins who had come there when he left Bag End.