Disclaimer: Same old same old I still don't own em. We all wished we did. And don't give me those whatever do you mean looks. We'd be tying certain characters to beds and never letting them go. Anyway on with the story. Enjoy DLN.

The Ties That Bind

Gandalf

I had just left Amanda at Frodo's side to go out in search of Bilbo we needed to talk. I found him in the gardens writing in his book called,

"A Hobbits Tale."

"Gandalf my old friend," he said by way of greeting.

"Bilbo how are you feeling?" I questioned him.

"I feel old my friend but that is not the foremost of our worries and troubles," commented seeming to sense why I was here.

"No it is not, the foremost of our worries is your nephew and my daughter," I told him.

"How well do they seem to get on?" asked Bilbo.

"Quite well, she likes him and he likes her," I answered.

"Splendid it seems our previous agreement is working out perfectly," crowed Bilbo.

"Yes, but I am worried," I stated.

"About?"

"About how the trials ahead will affect them, can they make it through?" I asked.

"Frodo is tougher than he looks Gandalf as you have seen," said Bilbo with pride.

"Amanda is no shot in the dark either but it worries me still, there must be heirs for Bag End. If anything happens to either of them it will break our hearts, theirs and ruin our plans," I said.

"That won't happen," replied Bilbo.

"Let us hope not," I responded.

Elrond

I couldn't believe this was happening, damn Isildur, damn him. He could have ended this a long time ago.

"Elrond, Uncle Elrond," I heard a female voice cry out and then suddenly I had two arms full of Lady Mage.

"Laurelin, my word you have grown these last few years little one," I commented.

"Not so little anymore Uncle Elrond," she responded.

"You'll always be little to me Laurelin, by the way The Prince of Mirkwood told me that next that next I saw you to be sure to give you his best wishes," I told her softly. Thranduils son had always had a soft spot for her.

"He did?" she asked in disbelief.

"Of course he did, Elves never forget the ones they care about," I answered. "Will you join me for a drink and I will tell you all the Elves have been up to these past years."

Pippin

Merry was probable off somewhere raiding the Elven kitchens. I had other plans for today. I crept slowly toward the house of Elrond. I knew exactly where I was going since I had been brought there several times before. I opened the door and slipped in as silently as I could. I saw Frodo immediately in the large bed, Amanda sat in a chair close enough to the side of the so that she could reach over and clasp Frodo's hand. Which already was held tightly in hers. Amanda the mage wasn't even aware I was there she was asleep. She looked very peaceful. I tiptoe up to the chair and sit down in front of it to stare up at her. Amanda's hair was slightly unkempt but beautiful none the less. She still wore everything she'd had on the first day I'd seen her. Of course she'd had a firm grasp on my ear then too. My hand goes to my ear and rubs it as I smile a little at the memory. Glancing back up at her I notice that the black eye she received in Bree has finally almost faded but not quite. I felt responsible for that. It was my fault I'd been talking to strangers and she'd intervened on my behalf and received a black eye for her troubles. If I had kept my mouth shut, minded my own business, and been happy with my half pint it would never have happened. I slid closer to her then laying my head in her lap. I breathed in her scent just happy to be around her in general. I lay there for a few moments like that until I feel a hand sifting through my curls brushing them away from my face. I glanced up at Amanda to see her eyes open and she is looking down kindly on me.

"Have you sought me out for some specific purpose Master Took?" she asked sincerely.

"No," I sighed not being able to look anywhere but her eyes.

"Are you weary at heart little Halfling?"

"Aye," I muttered. "In a way."

"What troubles you Pippin?"

"I worry for you," I mumbled.

"And what of your cousin," she asked suddenly. "Do you not worry for him also?"

"I worry for Frodo but for you more," I replied.

"And why is that?"

"Because Frodo is the only one who is sick yet you sit in here day after day as though you are too," I responded.

"I stay to encourage him to come back to us," she said simply.

"And what will you do if Frodo doesn't come back to us? Will you leave us then too? Sitting in this room to wither and die?" I asked angry all of sudden and a little jealous wondering if she would do the same for me.

"Well I guess if worse comes to worse you'll have to come in here and drag me out by the ears. Like I did to you the first time we met," she replied with a smile.

"I shall remember that Mistress Mage," I mumbled up at her.

"Remember well Master Took," she addressed me in kind. I stayed there for a while keeping Amanda company. We talked while she sifted her right hand through my unruly curls. In her left hand she clasped smaller, paler one. After a bit though we ran out of things to talk about and we sat in silence enjoying each others company. That is until Laurelin the Mage burst in crying out Amanda's name in excitement. It wasn't very exciting or pleasant when she saw me. She ordered me out of there faster than you could say,

"The finest pipeweed grows in the Shire!" I left in a hurry after sticking my tongue out at her.