The Road Goes Ever On (Adopted By Frodo Baggins:Book 4)

Pippin's Departure

"I can't believe Treebeard isn't back yet!" grumbled Pippin.

"He'll soon be back."reassured Merry.

"When will he be back?" asked Pippin, impatiently.

"I don't know. I can't predict the future." said Merry, who was beginning to get annoyed with Pippin.

I was sitting underneath an old oak tree in silence, listening to Merry and Pippin argue.

"That's it. I'm going to find him." Pippin concluded.

"No, you're not, Pippin!" alerted Merry. "You're staying put!"

"I'm not going to listen to you! I'm finding him whether you like it or not, Merry!"

"You're not leaving!"

"Then, what are you going to do then, Merry? Are you going to try and stop me?"

Merry yanked on Pippin's arm. "Stop it!" He yelled.

"No, Pip!"

"Let go of me!"

"I'm not letting go!"

Pippin tugged and tugged on his arm and was free from Merry's tight grasp.

Merry was getting fed up with Pippin's insolent behaviour.

"Fine, Pippin. If you want to go and look for Treebeard, be my guest! Go! Leave!

"It's settled!" Pippin protested. "I'm never coming back!"

Pippin started marched in my direction in frustration.

"Pippin, what's wrong?" I asked politely.

"It's nothing." Pippin lied.

"Please, tell me, Pippin." I said, anxiously.

"I'm sorry, my love, but there is nothing you can do to try and stop me. I'm leaving."

"Pippin, please don't go. You don't have to do this." I warned.

Pippin looked back at me and shook his head. "I have to leave, Brianna."

"Why?" Tears streamed quickly down his face and onto his cheeks.

Pippin turned to face me. "I'm sorry." he whispered. He glanced at me one last time and then started running off deep into the thicket and didn't return.

I felt guilty. I tried to stop Pippin. I could have persuaded him to stay, but he didn't listen. I wish I could have done something to change his mind.

I masked my face with my hands and whimpered like a child. I was overburdened with emotion. I felt like the world around me was falling apart.

"Nooooooo!" I sobbed. "Why me?! Why me?! It's all my fault!"

Merry turned around saw me cowering in despair. He came and sat down beside me.

"It's all my fault, Merry! What did I do to deserve all of this?" I bellowed.

"You didn't do anything." Merry consoled.

"Don't lie to me. I did do something to deserve this."

"That's not true, Bri."

"I'm sorry, Merry. I-I-I don't mean to act like this. I'm just so sad. P-P-Pippin's gone. He's g-g-gone."

"It's alright. Let it all out."

Merry moved in closer and moved my hands away from my face. "Come here." he soothed. I lowered my head into Merry's chest and bawled my eyes out.

He wrapped around his arms around me and rocked me back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.

"I'm scared, Merry!" I wailed.

"Shhh." Merry soothed again. That was the kind of thing that you would do when you saw someone in distress and grief to help ease their pain. When Merry shushed me, it was a reminder that I wasn't alone. I felt comfort in his presence.

"W-W-What are we going to do, Merry?" I choked. "What are we going to do without Pippin?"

"I don't know, Brianna. I don't know. Try to take your mind off of it, alright? Close your eyes. You need to rest. You need to rest."

"Oh, Merry. I'm so afraid."

"I know. I know."

The full moon in the sky shone brightly onto the forest floor and it cast its white light onto us. I spent the rest of the evening lying in Merry's arms underneath the old, twisted branches of the oak tree.