I'm glad y'all liked the previous chapter!!

Chapter 8: Worsening

June 24, Third Age 2996

Merry had stayed up with Pippin the entire night, never once leaving his side. As the sun rose the next morning, Pippin's condition had not improved any. In fact, he seemed to be getting worse.

Merry sat beside Pippin with his little hand held in his, whispering small comforts to him. Just as if Pippin could hear him, he opened his eyes, they had a glazed look to them.

"Merry?" he asked.

"Yes, Pip, I'm here." Merry said.

"I-I'm c-cold." Pippin said shakily.

Merry pulled the blankets up over Pippin some more to keep him warm. As he did so, he layed a hand on Pippin's forehead.

"Pippin, you're burning up!" he gasped.

Only then did Merry notice that the sheen of sweat was on Pippin's face, the sunlight reflecting off it. Pippin gasped with the struggle to breathe. Merry gently lay his hand on Pippin's chest.

"Easy, easy. Just breathe. Breathe. We're gonna get through this together." he reassured Pippin.

Fear was growing in Merry's heart. Pippin's lips were still blue, his face was deathly pale, and hardly enough air was getting into his small lungs to keep him semi-conscious.

Just then, Merry's mother Esmarelda walked throuhg the door.

"How is he?" she asked.

"Not good. I think he's getting worse." Merry said shaking his head.

"Well, the Gaffer's supposed to stop by sometime today to check on him." Esmarelda said.

"I hope Pippin's gonna be okay. I don't know what I would do without him." Merry said.

"I'm sure he'll be all right." Esmarelda said, patting Merry on the back.

Esmarelda just hoped that she was right. She loved little Pippin, too, just like a second son.

"I'll be right back." she said, leaving the room.

She returned a couple minutes later with a cup of water.

"See if he can drink this." she said, handing the cup to Merry.

"Pippin." Merry said, slightly shaking his shoulder to rouse him.

"Hmmm..." Pippin moaned, opening his eyes drowsily.

"Here, try to drink this." Merry said, gently lifting Pippin's head in his hand and pressing the cup to his lips.

Pippin weakly sipped at the water, coughing a few times, but letting the cool, life-giving liquid go down to soothe his sore throat.

"Thank you." he said when he was done.

Merry smiled and set the cup on the small table beside the bed. Merry reached over and gently stroked his curly hair, which was wet with sweat. Oh, he was so hot.

"I have an idea." Esmarelda said, walking out of the room again.

She returned shortly with a wooden bowl of cool water and a small rag.

"See if you can get his fever down." she said, dunking the rag in the water, squeezing out the excess, and handing it to Merry.

Merry took the rag and gently wiped Pippin's forehead and face and lightly dabbed it around his neck. Pippin slightly gasped as the cold rag met with his hot skin.

"It's okay, Pip. I'm just trying to get your fever down."

"Merry, am I going to get better soon?" Pippin asked innocently.

"I don't know, Pip, but I promise I'll do everything I can to make sure you do." Merry said.

"I know you will. You always have." Pippin said, weakly smiling.