Merry lay and slept in peace. No darkness surrounded him. In his mind, there were no dark thoughts, only light ones. No more was the hobbit being stalked by wraiths, but still he was close to the twilight world, however he was no in it. Slightly, as Merry slept, he shifted his head. Merriadoc's soft, honey colored curly locks tumbled over his pale face as he did so. His hands clutched the blankets ever so slightly. Merry shifted again and his hair listed away from the hobbits face. A tiny smile played with his dry, chapped lips. His face and hair was cleaned from the grime and blood. He looked truly angelic.
Elessar walked back into the throne room. He reported to Éomer, king of Rohan, how Merry fared. "He is recovering, but he will not be the same. If the hobbit had not come in when he did, he would have died, "Aragorn said. He paused and before he could continue the door opened and two guards escorted a pair of hobbits in.
"We found these two Holbytan in front of our gates, demanding to be let in," one of the guards said. The two guards let go of the hobbits when the king instructed them too. Then, they left. The hobbit lass on the left who had brown haired and blue eyed, was shaking and had fear in her eyes. The other hobbit, with hair of auburn and eyes of brown, stood defiant.
"We have come here to find our husbands, Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck. They had come here because Meriadoc was attacked. Where are they," The brown eyed one asked. Aragorn looked at the hobbits and then recognized them even though they were soaked to the bone and plastered with mud. "Diamond, Estella. It is good that you have come. I have done the best I could to heal him and now he is sleeping in a room not far from this one. If you will excuse me again, Éomer, I must show these ladies to their husbands," Aragorn said as he stood and beckoned the hobbits to come with him.
Silently, the two women followed Aragorn. When they arrived, the three beings stopped in front of the door and then entered. Diamond saw that Pippin had fallen fast asleep. There was sadness so great that marked his face. Never before had she ever seen this.
Aragorn checked on Merry. He nodded. With haste, he left the room. Before leaving though, he said to them, "I am sorry I cannot stay longer, but I have to speak with the king on important matters.", and then was gone.
As the hobbit lasses watched the king of Gondor depart, a young woman with hair of red came in with an armful of clothing. "I hope you'll find these a little more comfortable than your wet clothes. Lord Éomer thought that you may need them." She set them down, gave a little bow and walked out the door, stopping to say, and "If you need anything else, ask for Eruwadhiel." The two hobbits nodded their heads as she left. They reached for the clothes and went into another room to dress.
Pippin sat up and looked around the room. Everything was silent and still. He must have been dreaming when he had heard the sounds. The hobbit man thought back to what Aragorn had said. Merry was going to have a problem with his wound like Frodo. That could be okay, he thought, then he would only feel bad on rainy days and the anniversary. That doesn't sound all that bad. His thoughts drifted off as he too drifted off again.
When he opened them, he was at home, in his bed. Many years had passed from the time of the accident. Every morning he woke. Before leaving he would kiss his wife and hug his son. After he left he would walk around town without a friend to talk to. He would see all of the places he and Merry used go when he had been alive. Walking into the Green Dragon as usual, he sat down and he ordered half a pint. Peregrin felt despair in the fact that he could not share a drink with his best friend.
Stella stood there behind the bar, looking at him as she absently washed a glass. Her eyes were still moist even after ten years. She pleaded silently for her husband's return. "I'm sorry," he said, "It wasn't my fault. We tried to save him, we really did. But he is gone, and we have to make the best of it." Even as those words were spoken, tears trickled down her cheeks, and Pippin noticed that he himself was crying.
He ordered another mug and drowned his sorrows in the ale. After he finished his sixth mug, Pippin left. He walked to the Brandywine Bridge and looked over the edge. The waters ran deep and fast under. As Pippin stood there, a thought entered his mind. It was one that had plagued him for the last seven years. "I'll jump in this time, I really will, I swear. I'm goin' to do it this time. No one's goin' to stop me, either."
Climbing up to the ledge, Pippin balanced himself. Looking down again, the water seemed so inviting, compared to this pitiful existence. "I'm comin' Merry!" He took a deep breath as he readied himself for the dive. He looked down at the water again and saw an unforgettable face. "Merry," Pippin whispered. The hobbit's face rippled and shook his head.
Pippin turned round to get off of the railing, when he slipped and fell. The icy waters enveloped him, suffocating him, slowing his movements. The hobbit sunk deeper and deeper, and just before darkness took him, he saw Diamond screaming and Stella reaching out to keep her from jumping in. "Diamond!" he tried to cry, but the river silenced his cries forever...
Peregrin woke with a start. "Diamond," he cried. Pippin found himself in a bed, but not his own. When Pippin cried out, Diamond turned to him.
"What's the matter?" Diamond asked. She went over to her husband. She took up his hand and stroked it.
"Oh, Di," Pippin cried and embracing his wife, "You've made it safely! Where's Stella?" he gasped, remembering his dream. "Where's Merry? Is he all right? He needs—" Diamond put her hand to his mouth.
"Rest now, Darling. Stella is with him, down the hall. He is sleeping, and you should be too. Merry is just fine" She kissed his forehead as she curled up next to him. She was wearing a different dress, one of Rohirrium make.
Pippin looked down at himself and noticed that he was also in dry clothing. Who had changed me out of the wet clothes, Pippin wondered, it doesn't matter though. Clearing his throat, the hobbit asked,"Di, how long have I been asleep?"
"Only for an hour, dear, have you slept. You Rest now though. Stella will keep an eye on Merry. When she gets tired I will go watch him." Diamond ruffled his hair and then left. She felt tired, but she and Estella had made it safely and Merry was healed, and so she also felt relief.
Diamond looked at her dress in the window's reflection, admiring it briefly before walking down to Merry's room, where she found Stella humming softly while holding his hand: "The Road goes ever on and on … Oh, hullo Di," the hobbit said as she looked up. She sniffed and whipped a tear.
"Are ye faring well, lassie? How is Merry," Diamond asked. The woman sat down in an empty chair. She looked at Merry for a moment and then at Estella.
"I feel strange! I should be terrified, but there is a… A peace inside, like I know everything's going to be all right. But, I don't know if everything's going to be all right at all! I hope, no… pray that he will be well again," Stella said, tears beginning to fall again.
Diamond reached out to comfort her cousin, but was startled by Stella's small smile. "Do not worry about me Diamond," she said sniffing, "I will keep watch, and find you when I tire."
Diamond nodded, stood and left. As she joined Pippin in sleep, she prayed to Eru Merry would live.
Stella watched as Di left. She then looked at her husband. In the carved wooden bed, dressed in a clean cream, soft night shirt, and under two light, yet warm blankets, the pale hobbit lay slightly propped up with two goose down pillows, sleeping peacefully. His work worn, chaffed hands gently clasped the smooth and creamy hand of his beautiful wife. As Merry slept, he had no memories of the last few days. Any memory that might have been made bad been drowned out by the severe pain and the impenetrable darkness that had surrounded him and fogged up his brain. Those two things - the pain and darkness - were gone now. The pain and darkness that had surrounded him for the last five days had been replaced by calm and peace. The face of this hobbit was not drawn and distorted from pain any longer. Now, any creases were smooth and his eyebrows were neither raised nor lowered. Pleasant memories floated through his mind as images. A small smile played on his face as he slept. The images were nice.
Merry shifted ever so slightly and snuggled under the comfortable comforters. He then did not move again for hours.When the moon was going to bed and her sister was just getting up Merry finally awoke. Slightly, Merry turned his head, sending his honey locks tumbling every which way, and smiled warmly as he set his now clear and pain free brown eyes upon his beautiful wife Stella.
