The Scarf Rewrite Part 4

Title: The Scarf
Author: Robin Gurl
Pippin's Age: 12
Part: 4
Beta-ed: June 2009
Disclaimer: I own nothing, just the idea. I blame Peter Jackson for giving Pippin a scarf to wear.

Hermione Eveningfall: I'm glad you liked the story, though I will say one thing because I'm allowed to speak my opinion. ^^ I love Slash and I am a proud writer of it. But that's ok if you don't. I'm not mad!! Just glad you like this story. Pippin Pain is in this chapter.

Frodo had left a few minutes earlier to go grab the cookies before they burned out of the oven, leaving Merry and Pippin alone in the bedroom. Both were silent until Pippin piped up with, "I still don't want to do this Merry."

"Well if you had listened and not jumped in the snow drifts like I asked, it might not have happened." Merry replied back slightly drowsy himself now that he was dressed in warmer clothes.

"You're upset with me." Came the tiny answer.

"No I'm not." Merry hugged Pippin close to him, definitely feeling the fever that was trying to come out a few minutes ago. "Shh don't cry, darling. It's just hard watching you having to go through this because I was to soft and let you keep doing what you shouldn't have."

Before Pippin could respond, the door opened up and Frodo was there with Sam, on a serving tray were two soup bowls filled with the said mist or smokes as Pippin called them. The lavender and menthol smell filled the room. Pippin only curled back towards Merry letting out a nervous noise. Merry stroked his curls soothingly smiling at Frodo. "I never knew you forced your guests to eat Centa's Mist?"

"Only the special ones who decide that is it right to go head first in a snow pile higher than their heads." Frodo responded back, his blue eyes twinkling. "If we are lucky we've caught the colds in time with the mist."

Merry shifted slightly and laid Pippin back into the pillows before standing. "Can you lay right here for a few minutes. I need to speak to Frodo."

Pippin gave him an accusing glance, "You just want to get out of breathing the Centa's Mist."

"Nay. I need to speak to Frodo, it's important. Just close your eyes and relax." Merry bent down and kissed the small forehead. "I'll be back before you know it."

Out in the hallway Merry closed the door to the bedroom softly before turning back to an amused Frodo. "What?"

"I thought you were out of the age of trying to get out of treatments."

"I am. This isn't about that. Earlier, Pippin had a slight fever." Merry responded quietly. "Well now it's gotten worse."

"We weren't quick enough." Frodo sighed hanging his head. "If his father hears he's ill again we're both in for a whipping."

"Well not until tomorrow at least," Merry said. He straightened his night shirt and ran a hand through his own curls before continuing. "We were told to stay here over night if it got to late. As far as they know we just got here late."

"Shall I send Sam with a letter?"

"Is it that important?" Merry asked wide eyed. "I mean it's snowing and it's cold outside."

"I would rather The Thaine and Master sleep well tonight without the wonder of where their offspring is. It will take maybe an hour on horseback."

"I couldn't ask Sam to do that." Merry protested. "We'll be fine. Hopefully Pippin is just chilled and will be fine by morning."

"If he isn't, I am sending a letter." Frodo responded with a tone that told Merry he wasn't going to settle for less. Merry's shoulders drooped but he nodded reluctantly. "Alright get back in there with Pippin."

"Thank you, Frodo." Merry kissed his cousin's cheek lightly.

"You've given your thanks already by visiting." Frodo's blue eyes had brightened back to their usual color, Merry noticed. When they had arrived it was almost as if Frodo was trying to hard to be cheerful.

"Mer, what were you telling Frodo?" Pippin asked sleepily as Merry walked back into the room. The smell of the Centa's Mist had Merry reeling already. He'd forgotten how fast the mist worked. The Mist had been a gift from Gandalf a couple of years back when he visited last. Gandalf said he'd received it from the Elves, he said it prevented a cold or a chill from happening and it also stopped one from getting worse. Frodo had been the first to use it when he was a young lad and then it had slowly made its way around the Shire and into Buckland and finally Tuckbourrow. What the Elves hadn't informed Gandalf was the side effects it gave off: Chest Pain, Dizziness, and sleepiness.

Merry tried very hard to focus on Pippin as he climbed into the bed. "Nothing you need to be concerned about. How are you feeling?" He knew that for smaller hobbits or just younger hobbits in general, the side effects were sometimes worse. Pippin was usually one of those that was effected with the worse symptoms. Merry thankfully just got dizzier than he would have liked.

"You're dizzy." Pippin informed him. The young hobbit reached up and patted Merry's arm letting Merry know where he was.

"I know. I can't help it. It's what this stuff does to me."

"I told you it wasn't good."

"Play fair, Pip. At least maybe we can prevent colds by doing this, yes?" Merry slowly laid down beside Pippin and felt Pippin curl up to his side laying his head in the crook of Merry's arm. "Just close your eyes, it will be over soon."

An hour later Frodo had just finished cleaning up his dishes from the cookies he'd made earlier. He washed up the counters as well before heading back to the room. He pushed the door open slightly to see Pippin sitting up with a very disgruntled look on his face. "Pippin, are you alright?"

"Frodo, I don't feel very good."

Frodo walked in and gently knelt down in front of Pippin, "You are just dizzy. You need to lay back down and let it wear off." He helped Pippin lay back down on the bed, stroking the light brown curls gently. "Just close your eyes and curl close to Merry." He whispered.

"Frodo," Pippin whispered. "Please make sure Merry is alright. He was dizzy right when he walked in."

"I'm sure he's fine, Pippin." Frodo replied pulling a blanket over Pippin's form. "Just sleep."

Just as Frodo was about to leave the room, he heard Pippin call his name. "Please...don't leave." Frodo gave Pippin a weary smile but pulled over a chair.

Half an hour later Frodo noticed that the mist was dying down and before long the bowls had stopped "misting" completely. Slightly disoriented himself he pulled himself to his feet and walked over to Merry's side of the bed. "Merry, lad. It's over." Only receiving a slight moan, Frodo shook Merry's frame again. His own vision was slowly returning back to normal. Finally after a few tries, Merry finally responded.

"Let me sleep."

"Not in this room you don't. If you do it will never wear off. You know how the mist works." Frodo replied. "Now come on, let's sit up slowly."

Even slowly the world was still spinning around Merry's vision. He had to hold on to Frodo's arm very tightly just to reassure himself that he wasn't going to fall over. "How is Pippin?" Merry finally asked.

"Asleep, for the time being. He awoke earlier and said he didn't feel very well. I'm hoping its just the mist but if it's not-"

"I know, I know. You are writing back home." The sudden movement sent a more severe wave of vertigo and Merry fell back into the pillows, a sarcastic grin on his features. "This mist is worse than too many drinks at the Green Dragon."

Frodo laughed softly. "Just be glad you aren't drunk and on this mist."

"Oh eru, that would be one night I think I'd never forget."

"We'll move you first to your usual room then I'll come back and get Pippin." Frodo explained. "Would you like for me to grab Sam?"

"No, I can do it. Just make sure I don't jar Pippin. I don't want him to awaken before the effects have worn off." Merry placed an unsteady hand on Pippin's back, rubbing circles on it, before using Frodo's arms as leverage and getting to his feet.

"Easy, Merry. Just take it slow."

"Any slower and I'd be crawling." Merry retorted.

"You can't do this on your own, Merry. Please let me get Sam. We will both help you." Frodo led Merry back to the bed and let him hang on to the bed railing before running out. He reappeared with Sam.

"Sam, what did Frodo tell you?"

"To come on here, Sir. Why?"

"I wanted to make sure that you weren't told I was dying or anything."

"Behave," Frodo replied rolling his eyes. Merry grinned unsteadily before allowing Sam to take one of his arms and Frodo the other. Together the two of them managed to get Merry back to the other room and in bed. "Go ahead and go to sleep if you need to," Frodo told him pulling the covers up to Merry's chin.

"I'd rather stay awake and make sure Pip is alright. I don't want him to awaken and have me asleep. Seems rather unfair doesn't it?"

"As you wish. Sam stay here while I go and retrieve Pippin." Sam nodded and watched as Frodo left. He took a spot in the corner closest to the bed and stood.

In the other room, Pippin was still asleep on the bed. Frodo was still amazed that the young hobbit hadn't awoken once during the moving of his older cousin. Frodo just hoped it wasn't going to wind up being a sign of things to come. Gently Frodo gathered Pippin in his arms making sure to wrap the blanket around the small frame. The young one stirred slightly making a noise but Frodo soothed what ever fear it was away almost instantly with a soft stroke of the child's curls and a soft elven word in the little one's ear.

Quietly he walked down the hallway feeling glad that Merry and Pippin had appeared out of the blue. In reality he had been getting lonely. With no one around Bag End, he was doing nothing but worrying about what Bilbo was up to. While caring for two possibly sick cousin's wasn't relaxing, it was at least better than worrying about something he couldn't change.

"Merry, we're here." Frodo announced softly. He entered the room and saw Merry was trying to keep himself awake. "He's alright, didn't awaken once." He saw Merry relaxed at that but still faught to keep his eyes open.

"He's a hard sleeper when he's tired." Merry responded sleepily. He slid down into the covers and opened one side of them to let Frodo lay Pippin down in them. "Thank you, Frodo."

"Get some sleep. We'll talk in the morning." Frodo blew out the two big candles in the room and closed the door quietly, Sam exiting with him.

"Do I need to ride to Tuckbourrow?"

"Not yet. Merry could be right, it could just be the mist."

End Chapter 4

"Alright." Merry stood up and swayed slightly.

"Are you going to make it Merry?"

Merry shrugged he really didn't know. His mind was still foggy from the mist. "I'm to dizzy to carry him. I might drop Pippin."

"Let me see him then."

Merry tried to hand Pippin off to Frodo but the little one would have nothing of it. "Let go Pip, I can't carry you."

"No!"

"Yes Peregrin Took now." Merry said harsher than he had meant to. His head hurt right now and his cousin wasn't helping.

Pippin let go of Merry's neck scared. "Merry? I'm sorry."

Frodo held out his arms and let Merry drop Pippin gently into his arms. "Alright now, SAM!"

"Yes sir. Yes Mr. Frodo?" Sam came running down the hall.

"Help Merry into Pippin's room. He's to dizzy to walk and carry Pippin."

"Right this way Mr. Merry."

In Pippin's room Merry was helped into bed then let Frodo lay Pippin down in his arms. He held Pippin tightly reassuring the little hobbit that he was ok. Pippin was supposedly already asleep and Merry followed suit soon.

Frodo covered both of them up with two blankets. Before he left Pippin sat up looking around scared.

"Pippin, sweet heart it's alright."

"Frodo?"

Frodo walked over and gently helped the hobbit lay back down. "Go to sleep."

"Mum will be worried." Pippin murmured.

"I already sent a letter telling her that you and Merry would be staying for a few days."

"Is Merry sick?"

Frodo smiled caressing Pippin's forehead, "Probably not. See the mist does different things for different people. It gave Merry a headache and you a tummy ache."

"Can he stay and sleep with me?"

"He's already asleep isn't he?"

Pippin looked down and saw Frodo was telling the truth.

"Sleep little one, I'll wake you in a few hours."

"Ok." Frodo watched from the door as Pippin kissed his older cousin good night. Merry said something softly making Pippin giggle. Pippin whispered something and Merry opened his arms letting Pippin snuggle in.

Deep down Frodo hoped that it wasn't too serious.

End Chapter 4

That was a long one ^^ Hope that will keep you satisfied for the while anyway. Please review!