Disclaimers: See One-Shot 1 for more information.

Okay, well I figured since Pippin stays in the same location that the other hobbits are in different locations, even though they start out on the stone beds. All right, let's go. :)

Be Merry or Be Gone

Merry awoke with a throbbing headache. Was that normal? Of course it was if he didn't sleep very well. Where was he anyway? Was there something he missed? Surely not! He was Merry Brandybuck, of all people… and a strange hooded figure in the stables. Wait. Was he where he thought he was?

"I'm near death," Merry proclaimed, confused.

The hooded figured nodded, as bells tolled.

"Wait. So am I dead?" he asked, trying not to repeat the question.

The hooded figure nodded a second time.

"Oh great. Pippin!" Merry shouted, hoping his friend would hear him. He didn't. That wasn't surprising. Pippin was here a minute ago. Maybe it was surprising. Realization dawned on him on the other culprit, responsible for putting him in this mess. "Frodo, you shouldn't have encouraged us like this. And now I'm…"

Moving off the stone bed, Merry followed the hooded figure through the stables. It seemed like a nice, quiet time too… wait, he was dying? He didn't want to die. This was ridiculous.

"What kind of a story is this? I don't want to die. Can't you see that?" Merry asked the hooded figure.

The hooded figure said nothing to him. Only pointed the way to where his friends were mucking the stables.

"It's a shame we didn't get to see Merry." Frodo spoke to Sam, completing ignoring Merry. "How do you think Merry was in this life? A bit of a sob."

"Merry was all right, if not disorienting. By the way, did you find out where Pippin went," Sam asked, curious.

"Pippin's alive and well, if not kicking." Frodo returned to the subject at hand. "No need to fear, Sam my boy. Merry isn't going anywhere."

What? He wasn't going anywhere. Relieved when Frodo and Sam had fled the area, Merry checked what they were looking at. Instead of muck, it was dirt covering a trap door. What lurked inside the trap door was a greenish light. Should he go near the light and open the door? Nah! Maybe it wasn't the best idea, but the hooded figure was pointing to the green area. Also, was Estella Bolger waving to him, and smiling, on the other side of the trap door?

"Wait. Before I do this, tell me one thing: will I die if I step further into the light?" He asked.

The hooded figure just pointed.

"You've got to give me some answers," Merry told him.

The hooded figure uncovered his face, revealing Pippin underneath. He thought the hooded figure looked familiar.

"Pippin, what are you doing here? I thought…"

"I'm wishing you farewell in the next one hundred years." Pippin shoved Merry into the open trapdoor.

Merry fell several stories. He was going to die. He could feel his body leaving him. No, his body was heavy. Maybe he wasn't closer to death. Maybe he was closer to light. He kept falling, falling… landing on a stone bed. It was a miracle his back didn't crack. But then Pippin was laughing. Why was he laughing? He looked around. There were hell hounds ready to attack him at any moment. He covered his face, only to see a bright white light.

It was an angel, shooing the hell hounds away. He was saved! Until the angel forced him to lie down on the bed. Sleep overtook him. He was sailing towards death… he knew it… he…

He woke up feeling really sick. Finding a nearby bucket, Merry regurgitated the cider. He wouldn't stop until he had all the cider out of his system. Relieved that it was all out, he looked at the bucket again. The contents vanished. That was odd. Was he still dreaming?

"You are not dreaming! Although that fever dream hits a lot of people. Here." The healer with the whacky hairdo passed to him bathroom supplies.

"Thank you," Merry handed him the bucket. "But I thought I was going to die."

"Ah. You see, I'm not going to reveal that secret until everyone's awake. But you've been dead for six minutes." The healer shooed him up the stairs, "Now wash up. I wouldn't want to see you sick further, but there are buckets in the bathroom, in case you need them."

"Thanks," Merry groaned.

A healer who was kind. How often did that come around? But then, this particular healer was very quick-witted. He just hoped the healer learned his lesson about poisoning cider.

Thanks for reading. :) More is to come…