June 23, Third Age 2996
Merry, Pippin, Frodo, and a couple other Hobbit lads around Hobbiton descided to go swimming in the pond a little ways off into the Old Forests bordering Buckland. Sam didn't go because he couldn't swim, he had to stay home and help the Gaffer in the garden anyway. It was a beautiful summer day and they thought it was the perfect time to go swimming.
Frodo and Merry sat down beside the pond and the other four Hobbit lads and Pippin got into the water. Merry and Frodo were going to wait a while before they got in the pond. Pippin mostly stayed in the shallow part of the pond on his favorite float. Eventhough Merry was close by, Pippin was a little timid about being in the water by himself with the older Hobbit lads in the water. Almost ever since he could walk, the older Hobbits would pick on him, partly because he was so small and skinny. A couple of them had even threatened to beat him, but Merry had said that if they did, he would turn their face inside out.
As Pippin layed on his float and drifted off into a light sleep. He suddenly felt big splashes of water come up over him and land on him. His eyes snapped open and he saw the other Hobbit lads all around him, they were splashing large amounts of water on him and laughing and yelling to scare him. Pippin yelped and cried for Merry to help him.
"Leave him alone!" Merry yelled form the shore.
The Hobbits didn't pay any heed to Merry's command. Thay continued to splash water over Pippin and yell at him. Pippin became very scared when Roy Bracegirdle trudged over to him with an intimidating look on his face. Knowing that little Pippin couldn't swim, Roy grabbed the edge of Pippin's float and tipped him over into the water. Pippin let out a yelp as he was dumped over the side of his float and into the water.
Merry was up in an instant, running over to the edge of the pond and reaching into the water. Merry lifted Pippin up out of the water and he was crying.
"It's okay, Pip." Merry said, helping Pippin to stand up.
Pippin cried hystarically.
"Shhh, shhh." Merry cooed.
Suddenly, Pippin fell to his knees and began coughing and wheezing. He put his hands to his throat.
"Oh, no! He's choking!" Merry gasped, "Frodo, go get Papa!"
Frodo instantly got up and ran back to Brandy Hall.
"I can't breathe." Pippin wheezed.
"Come here." Merry said.
He positioned himself behind Pippin and leaned Pippin against his chest. He put his hand on Pippin's skinny chest.
"Just take it easy. You've got to calm down, Pip. Just breathe. Breathe." Merry said.
Pippin wheezed and choked on each pitiful breath he forced into his little lungs.
Every time Pippin became scared or got upset and started to cry, he would have major trouble breathing. None of the Healers knew why. They had examined Pippin's lungs and throat countless times, but could find nothing wrong. They were sure it wasn't athsma or croup.
Tears came to Pippin's eyes as he fought for air. The pain in his chest and throat was increasing, he didn't know how much longer he could take it.
"Merry..." Pippin whispered as he went limp in Merry's arms, passed out.
"Pippin!" Merry gasped.
He shifted Pippin around so he could lay in his arms. Pippin's head lolled back limply and his skinny frame was completely limp in Merry's strong, gentle arms
"Pip? Pippin, can you hear me?" Merry asked, slightly skaing Pippin.
Pippin made no movement. His face was pale, his lips were blue, and the skin around his eyes seemed to be a bit discolored. Tears came to Merry's eyes. He gently took Pippin little hand into his and held it to his heart.
"Pip? Pippin, please don't leave me. Stay with me." Merry said, his voice choked with tears.
Pippin gave a small moan and opened his eyes.
"Merry...it hurts." he said in a small, pitiful voice.
Merry put his hand behind Pippin's head and lifted his head up so he could look into his eyes.
"I know, Pip. I know. It's gonna be okay. Everything's gonna be okay." Merry whispered as he gently caressed Pippin's wet curls.
Just enough air was getting into Pippin's lungs to keep him semi-conscious.
"Just hold on. Hold on, Pip." Merry said.
"Awwww, the little baby can't take it." Roy said mawkingly.
"Shut up! If Papa doesn't get here soon, Pippin's gonna die! He can't breathe!" Merry shouted at the awful Hobbits he used to be friends with.
Now that they had gone to the extremes of doing this to Pippin, Merry was't about to be friends with someone like that. Those Hobbit lads knew that if Pippin got scared and started crying that he would have trouble breathing, yet they hurt him anyway, and now there Pippin lay, in Merry's arms on the verdge of death from suffocation.
Pippin suddenly went limp again.
"Pippin!" Merry said, shaking Pippin gently but firmly.
Merry placed his ear above Pippin's mouth and to his distress, he found that air was not finding its way to Pippin's lungs. Merry was panicked by now and he place his cousin on the ground. He tilted Pippin's head back and leanded down to breathe for Pippin, he just had to get air to Pippin's lungs. Merry breathed for Pippin for what seemed like forever until Frodo and Saradoc came back. Saradoc quickly knelt down next to Pippin.
"How is he?" he quickly asked.
"He's not breathing!" Merry answered, on the verdge of tears.
Saradoc quickly leaned down to breathe for Pippin. He then pushed forcefully on Pippin's chest. After a few tense seconds, Pippin opened his eyes and began coughing and choking. He could breathe just barely. Saradoc wrapped a warm towel around Pippin's shuddering body and picked him up and they ran back to Brandy Hall.
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The five other Hobbit lads stayed at the pond, playing and splashing, just as if nothing had happened. Merry couldn't believe how heartless some people could be!