Merry glanced around until he saw Pippin. He saw the fear in his friends' eyes and Merry felt the fear as well. "Orcs," Meriadoc breathed out as he tried to tell them what had happened, "They found me and took me captive. I tried to get away...they stabbed me in the side. Maybe they thought I was dinner and wanted skewered hobbit." He tried to laugh but could not do more then chuckle because of the pain.
"We need to get ye out of here, Merry. I am glad that I brought with me some Kingsfoil. I keep it with me all the time. It's a good thing I do," Pippin said as he reached into his pouch. He pulled out a pestle and mortar, and a few sprigs of Kingsfoil. Taking some water from his water skin, he ground the herb into a thick paste. "Here, it'll only slow the infection, but it's better than letting the wound go untreated. If only Aragorn were here, he could easily heal something like this." Pippin said. The last part was more to himself than Merry. Pippin thought back to the time in the Houses of Healing where Aragorn had healed many including Meriadoc.
"How did you know?" Merry gasped as he let the hand holding his side drop into his lap. Merry's' other hand went limp in Stella' hand and he closed his eyes. Merry breathed out slowly.
Know what, Pippin thought as he slathered the wound with the kingsfoil paste. Peregrin thought he knew what Merry was talking about. However, the hobbit did not wish to voice his thoughts. If he did, then it would be true and Pippin did not want this dire truth to be factual.
As Peregrin placed the altheas was placed on the wound he gasped and coughed. The hobbit opened his eyes and peered at Pippin. "Orcs..." he whispered again, "They-they had a Morgul blade."
Stella trembled with fear as Merry spoke. "What do we do now Peregrin?" she asked as tears began to stream down her face.
Pippin's face turned ashen when he heard what had happened. No not a Morgul blade. This can't be happening. My dream, Peregrin thought. The hobbit gulped. He had almost lost his other cousin Frodo that way 16 years ago and Pippin was not going to loose Merry this way either. "Maybe, maybe in your case, this isn't quite as bad. Frodo's wound had the tip of the sword imbedded in it! Yours doesn't," Pippin asked this in a hurried voice. He was trying to suppress his excitement that it was not as bad as it could be, however it was hard. "Merry, how long ago were you attacked?"
Merry closed his eyes as he thought over the question. His memories of the last days were vague "I-I can't remember Pip," he whispered. Merry slowly opened his eyes and looked at his wife and then Pippin. "I was hurt two days ago I believe," he whispered.
Pippin thought back to the fateful day, Frodo went nearly three days before being healed, and he looked much worse. Perhaps the blade had increased the process. "That's good enough," Pippin said soothingly as he checked the wound again, "There may still be time. I think that the tip of the blade accelerated Frodo's condition." Pippin hoped that he was right.
Merry half-nodded his head and wining as Pippin checked the wounds. Fear fell over the hobbit. It showed in his muddy brown eyes. "Am I going to die?" Merry suddenly asked.
Pippin swallowed and Diamond shook as Merry asked this question. Estella looked down at her husband. He-he can't die. No, don't leave me alone in this world, my love, the woman thought. Peregrin lifted Merry's head so that they were eye to eye, Pippin spoke with a certain voice, even though he did not feel confident, "No, Merry. I won't let you die. I will find a way to heal ye."
Merry felt his chin quivered slightly when tears threatened to come as he stared at Pippin. "I don' want to be like Frodo," Merry whispered. He closed his eyes and bit his lip.
Pippin looked again out and across the plains. It was nearly midday, but the clouds were blocking the sun's warm rays. Darkness seemed to fall upon everything, except Rohan. In the unusual darkness, the Golden Hall seemed to gleam. Rohan may be our only hope, thought Pippin; I don't know how else I can save him. But I must try, even if I have to die in the process.
Pippin looked over at Merry and Estella and then his wife. What am I thinking? I can't leave Di all alone either, Peregrin thought with a slight nod. "Stella, Di, I need ye to go down and get the ponies and supplies," Pippin instructed. He turned and looked at his maimed cousin. "Hold on Merry, we're going to Rohan," Pippin whispered as the hobbits held back the tears that were threatening to unleash themselves. He had to be strong and help his family.
Merry nodded slowly. "All right," Merry whispered, "I guess I am off guard duty there now, eh?" He smiled weakly at his cousin. The hobbit wished to keep this dire situation as light as possible and he only knew how to do that by telling jokes – even bad ones. Though he was joking, there was fear in his eyes. Also, no serenity remained in the muddy eyes. "Pippin? Can I ask you something? Don't lie, please..." he asked in a harsh whisper after his wife and Diamond had left. Merry licked his lips and waited for Pippin to speak.
