Merry looked from the door as it shut to his cousin's beaming face. He moved before he could fight it, pulling Pip to him and hugging him, hard. "I thought such terrible things as we were coming here."
"Oh, Merry." Pip's arms circled him and held him tight. "You've become so dark in your mind on this journey."
"I don't want to. I don't like who I was days ago. I felt grim and sad and hard, and I didn't like it. But I missed you, and I missed..."
"You missed Boromir. You don't have to be scared of saying it. I know you still adore me, even if he has your love as well." Pip pulled back and smiled.
Merry smiled back after a moment. "Thank you."
"Well, why thank me? I'm happy for you. Especially now that I know he loves you back."
Merry's face heated. "Do you think so? He cares for me, but..."
Pippin's smile faded. He took Merry's hand again, holding it tightly. "We thought you were dead when we found you. He was...if you had seen him then, you'd be certain."
Merry frowned. "Oh." But the smile returned a moment later. "Oh. I'm sorry I caused either of you worry, but...Pip, does he really love me back?"
Pippin laughed. "You're hardly a proper hobbit at all anymore! You've had food and drink and all you could want offered to you, and you're going on about love."
Merry dropped back against the pillow, sighing. "I am horribly tired. I feel as though a weight were on me, making everything just a little bit heavier. But food and even a pipe would be lovely."
Pip grinned. "That's more like it." He jumped off the bed. "I'll go demand things for the hero."