Part 3-The Parting of Merry and Pippin
Merry had failed Pippin. He had felt like he had failed Pippin, Frodo, and even Sam before, but this time he was sure of it. Before, Pippin had been there to cheer him up and to remind him that he was a valuable asset to the Fellowship. His task? To look after his cousins and friends. That was it. And he had failed. Pippin had looked into the Palantir. Frodo and Sam had gone into Mordor. He didn't even know if they were going to be all right. And Pippin…he could have died, and Merry had been there, but had been unable to help him! This baffled and saddened him.
Pippin was now sleeping uneasily under Gandalf's watch. Legolas sat with Merry, and patted his back soothingly. "You could not help it, Merry," he said softly, "but Pippin is going to need more than your love right now."
Legolas and Merry sat outside in Edoras, and the night's soft breeze blew Merry's curls away from his face and helped dry his tears. "Gandalf will have to take him to Minas Tirith as soon as the sun rises," Legolas said gently. Merry sniffled and let Legolas draw him into a hug.
"Gandalf will take care of Pip," Merry said in a brave voice, "but I feel as if I failed him, Legolas. I am supposed to look after him." Legolas shushed him. "You did not fail him, Merry, or Frodo and Sam. You tried very hard to do what you could, and you will continue to do your part. That is not failing, for you have not yet given up," Legolas informed him.
The Elf's tone was soothing and kind, but Merry would not let himself be calmed. His tears continued to fall as he berated what he thought were his weaknesses. Aragorn and Gimli thought to come over and try to calm him, but Gimli put a hand on Aragorn's chest to stop him. Legolas was singing softly to Merry, rocking him back and forth.
It was so relaxing and calming to listen to the Elf's voice that Merry felt himself slipping softly into sleep. He tried to fight it, thinking, 'I can't sleep. If I sleep, I will have to wake up…and as soon as I wake up, Pip will be gone.'
He slept.
Dawn broke over the hills of Rohan, and Legolas woke Merry up. Merry was outraged both at Legolas and the sun for daring to rise and part him from Pippin.
"You let me sleep!" He cried. Legolas smiled. "You need your strength, Merry. You, too, will have a busy day ahead of you."
Merry's back ached from sleeping half-sitting up in Legolas' lap, but he stood up quickly anyway. "Has he gone, Legolas? Has he?" Merry didn't know what he would do if he didn't have the chance to at least say goodbye to Pippin. When Legolas shook his head, Merry felt a bitter kind of happiness touch his heart. The happiness grew when Legolas led him to Gandalf and Pippin.
Legolas bent down and placed a kiss on Pippin's forehead.
"Go well, young hobbit," he said kindly. He, too, looked sad at this further breaking of the Fellowship. He bid Gandalf goodbye, and then retreated to wait with Aragorn and Gimli.
Gandalf looked older and grimmer since yesterday as he led the way to the stables. Merry followed him, letting Pippin trail behind. It reminded him of years ago, when Merry used to try to get rid of him. Pippin had always lagged behind.
"Of all the inquisitive hobbits, Peregrin Took, you are the worst! Hurry! Hurry!" Gandalf said. Merry wondered if Pippin knew that Gandalf wasn't so much angry with him as relieved that he was still safe. He doubted it, and some of his anger at Pippin slipped away.
"Where are we going?" Pippin asked. He looked tired and sad, and completely unaware at what was going on. Merry stopped and turned around to face him.
"Why did you look? Why do you always have to look?!" he snapped. If Pippin hadn't looked, they wouldn't have to be separated! Pippin's eyes filled with tears at the harsh tone in his cousin's voice.
"I don't know…I can't help it!"
"You never can," Merry pointed out. He began to walk again.
"I'm sorry, all right?" Merry stopped and faced him once more. The look of seriousness on his face caused some of the tears in Pippin's eyes to overspill. "I won't do it again," he whispered. Merry walked closer to him, both angry at Pippin and angry with himself for hurting Pippin further.
"Don't you understand? The enemy thinks you have the ring!" He was desperate to make Pippin understand this. Pippin had to know that Merry had failed him. "He's going to be looking for you, Pip. They have to get you out of here."
Pippin frowned. He asked hesitantly, "and y-your coming with me?" The question broke Merry's heart, and he turned away. He walked without looking back, because he didn't want Pippin to see his own tears.
"Merry?" Pippin sounded panicked. Merry walked faster. "Come on!" He commanded, wiping his own tears away as he entered the stable. Pippin followed him. Gandalf lifted Pippin onto Shadowfax as Pippin asked him, "How far is Minas Tirith?"
"Three days as the Nazgul flies," Gandalf said seriously, and then almost harshly, "and we'd better hope we don't have one of those on our tail." Gandalf looked at Merry, nodding his head to signal that it was all right to now say goodbye.
Merry stepped up to Pippin, who looked lost atop Shadowfax. He was gentle now. He handed Pippin a pouch. "Here…something for the road…" he said quietly. Pippin looked startled. "The last of the Longbottom Leaf!" He looked at Merry, who nodded.
"I know you've run out," Merry said, "you smoke to much, Pip," it was meant to be a joke, and he tried to smile at Pippin. It didn't work, because Pippin began to look even more panicked. He now understood that they were to be parted, and it might be a long time before they saw each other, if they ever did.
"B-but we'll see each other soon?" he asked in a fearful tone. Merry and Gandalf glanced quickly at each other. He didn't want to tell him the truth. "Won't we?" Pippin looked heartbroken then, because Merry's own eyes were full of tears.
Merry stepped backwards. "I don't know," his voice broke, "I don't know what's going to happen…" Pippin's eyes looked larger than ever as they locked onto Merry's. And knew. Merry, his beloved older and smarter cousin, truly didn't know when they would see each other again. Or even if.
"Merry!" he cried, wanting to plead with his cousin to come with them, at least. They had never been parted for very long, they were inseparable. Even Frodo got to have Sam come along so why couldn't Merry…
"Run, Shadowfax. Show us the meaning of haste," Gandalf's commanding voice broke into Pippin's chaotic thoughts.
More than memories of war, more than the pain in his hand from the Witch-King, nothing would ever haunt Merry's dreams so much as the pleading "Merry!!!" yelled as Pippin was taken from him.
Then they were gone, in a blur of white. It was too soon. Merry hadn't been able to say all that needed to be said…without thinking, he began to run after them. He raced to the Watch Tower, knocking into a guard. He didn't apologize, only rushed up the stairs. He didn't even realize that Aragorn was chasing him. He dimly heard Aragorn call his name, but he was too consumed by watching Shadowfax bear away two people dearly loved by him. As Aragorn put a comforting hand on his shoulder, Merry watched as Pippin grew smaller and smaller on the horizon, and then he was gone.
"Oh, look after him, Gandalf," Merry whispered, "I know he's only a Hobbit, and you have other things to do, but please, look after him." His voice broke, and he sobbed into Aragorn's open arms.