Different

Chapter 19

   I looked around the throne room we were now in. "There was no lie in Pippin's eyes. A fool, but an honest fool he remains. He told Sauron nothing of Frodo and the Ring. We've been strangely fortunate. Pippin saw in the palantír a glimpse of the enemy's plan. Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith. His defeat at Helm's Deep showed our enemy one thing. He knows the Heir of Elendil has come forth. Men are not as weak as he supposed. There is courage still, strength perhaps to challenge him. Sauron fears this. He will not risk the peoples of Middle-earth uniting under one banner. He will raze Minas Tirith to the ground before he sees a king return to the throne of Men. If the beacons of Gondor are lit, Rohan must be ready for war," Gandalf said to Théoden.

   "Tell me, Gandalf. Why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours?" the king asked. "Because it's the right thing to do maybe?" I muttered. Legolas elbowed me gently. "What? You know I'm right!" I whispered. "What do we owe Gondor?" Théoden finished, not hearing the words I had muttered under my breath.

   "I will go," Aragorn announced, stepping forward. "No!" Gandalf disagreed. "They must be warned!" Aragorn shouted. "I can do that!" I offered. "No. If I won't let him go, what makes you think I'd let you go?" Gandalf asked. I sighed and shrugged. Gandalf began whispering to Aragorn, and I was too far away to hear. Then, he spoke loudly for all of us to hear. "Understand this: Things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith. And I won't be going alone," Gandalf said, then his gaze shifted to look at Merry Pippin.

   I followed Gandalf, Merry, and Pippin out to the stables. "Of all the inquisitive Hobbits, Peregrin Took, you are the worst! Hurry, hurry!" Gandalf almost shouted. "Where are we going?" Pippin inquired. "Minas Tirith," I answered.

   "Why did you look? Why do you always have to look?" Merry questioned, turning to Pippin. "I don't know. I can't help it," Pippin nearly whispered. "You never can," Merry pointed out. "I'm sorry, all right? I won't do it again," Pippin assured. "If there is a next time," I muttered to myself. Gandalf said I couldn't come with, which I hated. I hated that the Fellowship kept getting split up into smaller and smaller groups. I couldn't keep my eye on everyone if everyone kept splitting up. Gandalf will protect him, I told myself.

   "Don't you understand?" Merry asked. "The Enemy thinks you have the Ring. He's going to be looking for you, Pip. They have to get you out of here," I said. "And you-you're coming with me?" Pippin said as more of a question than a statement. Merry turned and walked away. "Merry?" "Come on," Merry murmured. "He's not coming, is he?" Pippin asked me sadly. I shook my head. "Are you coming?" he inquired hopefully. I sighed and shook my head. "Gandalf says I can't, which is STUPID," I growled. "So...just me and Gandalf?" Pippin gulped. "Hey, I know he picks on you, but you'll be alright," I assured, putting my arm around his shoulders, which was hard because he was so short.

   "How far is Minas Tirith?" Pippin asked Gandalf as I helped him onto Shadowfax, where Gandalf was already sitting. "Three days' ride, as the Nazgûl flies, and you better hope we don't have one of those on our tail," Gandalf replied. "Here, something for the road," Merry said, handing Pippin a package. "The last of the Longbottom Leaf," Pippin murmured. "I know you've run out. You smoke too much, Pip," Merry teased lightly. "But—But we'll see each other soon...won't we?" Pippin quizzed, looking at me and Merry. "I don't know... I don't know what's going to happen," Merry admitted. I hugged Pippin tightly. "I'll make sure we see each other again," I whispered, but I wasn't sure if he heard me or not.

   "Run Shadowfax. Show us the meaning of haste!" Gandalf told his horse. "Merry," Pippin said, then Shadowfax started running. "Merry!" Pippin shouted. Merry and I ran up to a lookout point to see them off. I saw them riding off and my stomach dropped. I couldn't protect him. I didn't even know if I'd ever see him again.

   "Merry, Bean!" Aragorn called and he followed us up the stairs. Aragorn appeared beside us and watched Pippin and Gandalf ride away. "He's always followed me, everywhere I went, since before we were tweens. I would get him into the worst sort of trouble, but I was always there to get him out. Now he's gone. Just like Frodo and Sam," Merry said. My stomach flip flopped. I hated just letting Sam and Frodo go. I felt like I'd failed them, even though Aragorn had pointed out that they had to do it alone.

   "One thing I've learned about Hobbits; they are a most hardy folk," Aragorn said. "Foolhardy, maybe. But he's a Took," Merry smiled slightly. I watched Gandalf and Pippin until they disappeared. They were really gone. I could no longer protect them. I gripped Merry's shoulder protectively and absentmindedly. He looked up at me and placed his own hand on mine. "I promise you, Mariadoc Brandybuck, that I will make sure you two see each other again," I promised. "Thank you, but don't make promises you can't keep," Merry nearly whispered. "I never break a promise," I told him. He smiled at me.

   I finally left the lookout with Aragorn so Merry could be alone. I left Aragorn's side to go talk to Legolas. "Suil," I said, sounding more like a sigh than intended. "I am sorry you had to part with him. I know you two are close," Legolas said to me, and it almost sounded like he was gritting his teeth. "Well, yeah. I'm close with all of the Fellowship. I just...I don't want to lose another friend. I already lost Boromir, which was too much. I should have been able to save him," I replied. "It was not your fault," Legolas assured. "And I know you and Pippin are closer than...well, you're closer with him than any of the other members of the Fellowship."

   I gave him a quizzical look. "What on earth are you talking about? If you're talking about what happened when he fainted...I would have done that for any of you," I said. "Really?" he inquired. I nodded. "Of course! And...just to let you know...I wasn't singing a song. It was a spell. I just disguised it as a song so they wouldn't get suspicious," I told him quietly. "Your secret's safe with me," he promised. I smiled gratefully.

   He stared at me, smiling. Our eyes were locked and neither of us could look away. "Legolas," Aragorn called, and we both jerked back to reality. "I'm sorry. That was weird," I apologized, chuckling a bit. "Don't worry. Novaer!" Legolas said waving as he walked over to Aragorn. "Novaer," I said, uncertain if he could hear me.