Story Downloaded from Open Scrolls Archive (https://www.openscrolls.net)

Title: I Would Never Betray You, Please Remember Me (#974)
Author: Entmoot
Chapters: 5

Archive: Tolkien
Category: Alternate Universe (AU)
Description: What will happen to Pippin after he blabs everything to another hobbit at the Prancing Pony in Bree? This is better than it sounds, honest! ALTHOUGH DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU LOVE PIPPIN OR IF YOU HATE ANGST!!! TONS OF ANGST!!! (This says complete because I've finished writing it [all 11 chapters], but it'll take a while to get it all on here, so...)
Published: 02 Jun 2004
Updated: 02 Jun 2004
Warnings: Violence, Language, Character Death
Type: Tragedy
Characters: Peregrin Took; Meriadoc Brandybuck; Frodo Baggins


Chapter 1 - Pippin Blabs

I Would Never Betray You,
Please Remember Me



By now the four hobbits had reached The Prancing Pony, and were in the Common’s Room enjoying the wonderful ale, service, and the other hobbits of which to speak to. Frodo was making up his story about how he was writing a book with Sam near by, and Merry and Pippin were enjoying their ale over at the bar table laughing away. Pippin and Merry were drunk and one of the hobbits there had just told a killer joke. The hobbit’s name was Sudo Grubb.

“Ho, Mr. Brandybuck and Mr. Took! What’d you think of that one?” Sudo said prideful, with a smiling red, chubby face. Through their laughter they tried to reply.

“Th-.........that......was.................HILARIOUS!!!” They eventually got out at the same time.

Pippin was very happy (and drunk). For some fun, and in hopes of making his new friend Sudo laugh, he opened his mouth, nudged Merry so he’d be ready, and tried to begin singing his favorite tunes. Before he could get out the first note Sudo started talking to Merry. Pippin shut his mouth and listened to him.

“I’ve heard talk of those Baggins’ again lately. They are very bizarre. No offence to ye of course if ye know them, but they are the most bizarre out of the Shire, and for me that’s sayin’ somethin’. I’ve even heard talk that...”

Sudo continued on, gossiping about Merry and Pippin’s cousins. Sudo especially seemed to like talking about Bilbo, which didn’t surprise them, but he also began rumoring things about Frodo more than the rest. Merry eyed him suspiciously wondering what he was up to, as well as he could being as drunk as he was, but Pippin wasn’t that smart unfortunately.

“...They’ve even said that he went into The Old Forest, and died. I doubt that though. Did you hear about that before? Has he?” This time he actually paused awaiting an answer.

“No, we haven’t heard that,” said Merry, lying easily.

“Ye-“Pippin started to answer the last question, but was kicked very hard by his older cousin.

“As far as we know, he hasn’t gone there. The last we saw of our older cousin was at his and Bilbo’s last birthday party I’d reckon,” Merry lied again, but it didn’t sound as believable as the last lie.

“Really? I thought you had helped him get moved into Crick Hollow,” replied Sudo seeming to be madly fishing for some more information or gossip. Before Pippin could answer Merry kicked him again.

“Well, yes I did. I just forgot,” he paused thinking if anyone else would’ve known he was with Frodo after that. “I do believe that was the last time I saw Frodo. Yes, yes it was,” he said looking more positive and confident than he felt. He saw Pippin yet again open his mouth as if to oppose and kicked him again, hard enough to bruise his bone almost.

“AYE! Merry that hurts!” he yelped in his perfect, true accent. “Why do you keep kicking me, Merry, eh? Do you not want him to know-“

“PIPPIN, SHUT YOUR MOUTH!!!” Merry shouted.

The Common Room was quiet for a few minutes and stared at Merry for a few seconds, then went back to its loud, noisy chatter and clatter. Sudo had an eyebrow raised at Merry, but looked very intrigued by the outburst.

“Mr. Brandybuck, I’m sure whatever that Took has to say isn’t too bad for my old ears. What’s going on?” He eyed them for a few seconds. Merry was shooting Pippin a humongous, death glare that would’ve struck fear in Sauron’s heart. The Grubb continued, “If I didn’t know better, I’d say...,” he stopped and gave a hard look at the two young hobbit cousin-buddies. “I’d say-“

“Pip and I need to go tell something to Sam,” Merry cut Sudo off.

“Well, you can surely wait just a second, and let me ask one little question.”

“There’s nothing else you need to know.”

“Then, you go tell that Sam lad what you want, and I’ll talk to Pippin.”

“No, you won’t!” hissed the Brandybuck. “There’s nothing else he has to tell you, Mr. Grubb. He needs to come with me though, because it’s something he wants.”

“Fine, have it your way. I didn’t know that you hated me,” responded Sudo looking hurt. Merry glared at him, but Pippin spoke up.

“What is it you want, Sudo? I don’t know what’s with Merry. You can ask *me* a question. I don’t hate you, I think you’re funny,” Pippin mumbled starting to dig himself into trouble. Merry wouldn’t let that happen just yet though.

“Pippin, I’m afraid if we stay here much longer, we might let something slip about our friend Underhill’s book. We couldn’t have that could we? It’d make him dreadfully mad,” Merry looked deep into that fool of a Took’s eyes warning him. As always though, he did not take the hint, as he turned away from the hard stare from Merry to look at Sudo.

“What would you like to know, Mr. Grubb?”

“If my assumption is true.”

“What’s that?” Pippin inquired hiccupping in the process.

“Is there a Baggins here? Over there?” Sudo pointed to the group including Frodo and his group of listeners. Merry’s eyes grew big in fear and surprise. Merry couldn’t speak, but he prayed that Pippin wouldn’t do it...

“Baggins? Yes, I know a Baggins here. He’s over there where you pointed. Frodo Baggins, he is. He has the ring, too,” he said with a big stupid grin on his face. Merry got over his temporary shocked stupidity, and Sudo started smiling evilly.

“PEREGRIN TOOK! YOU FOOL OF A TOOK!!! You little betra-“this time Merry was cut off insulting his cousin.

“Why, Master Merry, he was just answering my question, what’s wrong with you? He’s not a fool or any of that nonsense. In fact, he made the right choice.”

A look of pure evil spread across his chubby, red, drunken face with a disgusting smile. Merry had, had it with this Sudo Grubb. He lifted his hand, put it in a fist, and packed on hard punch that landed straight in the middle of Sudo’s fat, round, small pinched nose. It created a nice amount of blood as soon as Merry pulled his mildly aching hand back from punching him so hard. Sudo grunted and tried to kick Merry, but it was so pathetic he missed by about three feet, which is a lot in hobbit standards.

“I have to go talk to Bill Ferny anyways,” he said through his useless, bloody nose. “He’ll know what to do to you, Meriadoc Brandybuck. He’ll know what to do,” Sudo warned. Although, since he wasn’t using his nose to help him speak he sounded rather stupid and Merry shrugged and gave him a look that said “whatever, you slobby, fat, ugly idiot”.

After Sudo had limped off (he was lame in one leg) Merry turned around to Pippin and gave him THE look. Pippin, even in this state, knew what this meant. He sorely wished that he hadna done what he did.

“Peregrin Took. Peregrin, Peregrin, Peregrin. What in the name of the Shire did you do that for?!!”

“I-I-I d-don’t know, Merry,” Pip looked down very ashamed, and coming to terms with what he had done.

He had just ratted pretty much everything to Sudo Grubb! What would Frodo think? What would Frodo do? What would Sam think? Most importantly, what about Merry? What was he to do? He didn’t know the answers to those things, but he sure knew he didn’t want to be there and he shouldn’t have said so much.

#####

A/N: There’s more where that came from! It was going to be a one-shot fic, but it became to long. I’m already working on the next chapter! Please leave nice reviews, and FLAMES ARE NOT ALLOWED!!! I will take constructive critisism though.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Prancing Pony (love you, Butterbur), the characters (thank you Tolkien), or anything else in this story. I also fail to make any money from this stuff.

Summary: What will happen to Pippin after he blabs everything to another hobbit at the Prancing Pony? This is good, I think, not too weird. After the book, not the movie. DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU LOVE PIP, OR IF YOU HATE ANGST!!!!! This story screams angst. A-N-G-S-T!!! ANGST, ANGST, ANGST!!!!!

Rating: PG-13

A/N: This was inspired the words on a collage of Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. This fic just kind of jumped in my head about Pippin, so that’s where I got the idea if you was wonderin’. PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!


Chapter 2 - Caring Frodo

I Would Never Betray You,
Please Remember Me



Merry sighed, and gave a look that could not be described to Pippin. A look that never would Mr. Perigrin Took forget in all his days. (which were very numbered)

“Good job, Pippin.”

“WHAT?!!” That was not what he was expecting.

“Good job. You’ve gone and told everything about Frodo, to a person who will tell it to the entire Middle-earth. Good job. Now, Frodo might as well give up on the Quest, as everyone will know by the time he reaches them. Good job. You may have just told away Frodo’s life. I hope you’re proud of yourself,” Merry said maliciously. Pippin had just gotten the guilt-trip.

“Merry, you’ve gotta believe me! I’m so sorry I said it. So very, very, very sorry,” he was close to tears. “I didn’t mean-“

“I don’t want to hear what you meant and didn’t mean to do, Pippin! You did it, after I clearly warned you several times. Did you not get the meaning of me kicking you, trying to get us to leave, and that look? You dumb ass fool of a Took,” he said bitterly.

Merry was hurt. His own best friend and cousin had just told the biggest secret there was in the world to keep. Pippin was just annoying now, he didn’t really have that many good times with him. Except when they sang together, when they joked, when they were in pubs getting drunk, when they talked, when they looked at possible lasses or not possible, talked about the lasses, when they had eating or drinking contests, when they play wrestled, when they worked together on their plots, when they stole from food from Farmer Maggot, when-. He sighed. This wasn’t getting him anywhere good. He was upset, and was close to tears as well. He wasn’t sure if he was more angry at the fact Pippin may have just get him, Frodo, Sam and even Pip killed; or sad that he couldn’t really be friends with a person like Pippin because he couldn’t be trusted and be there for him. He knew he was going to have to be harsh with him, no matter who or what he was.

“Merry, please don’t...please don’t...” he kept repeating ‘please don’t’ as he started to cry.

“Pippin, you idiot, stop crying. I’m going to go tell Frodo your little ‘mistake’. He needs to know,” he said with no emotion.

Merry didn’t seem to care that Pippin was hurting, didn’t seem to care that he really hadn’t meant to say all of that, or anything. ‘Curse that ale,’ Pip thought angry. Merry actually just didn’t seem to care about him at all. He couldn’t believe it. That was not like Merry. He certainly couldn’t hate him just for this. As Merry started walking towards Frodo, Pippin called out to him.

“Merry!” Merry turned around anger present on his face and pain in his eyes.

“What do you want?” Merry glared at Pippin it all he had. Pippin wanted to cry harder receiving such a mean look from his cousin. Pippin swallowed and cleared his throat, trying his best not to lose it, though he knew he’d still have that high squeaky voice he got when he cried.

“You-you don’t want me to come with you?” He asked finally.

“Why? What good would it do? The whole place will know in a matter of minutes.” Merry turned around to walk away again. Pippin choked on his tears that were rapidly falling down his face. That used to would’ve been wiped away by Merry no matter how mad he was at the little runt.

“Merry, you’re still my best friend, right? You don’t hate me or anything?” Pippin asked hopefully. Merry had a strange look on his face when asked that. It took him a minute to answer.

“Well, Pippin,” he sighed. “I’m not sure what I think of you now.” He turned around and walked away to Frodo and Sam without an objection.

Pippin couldn’t help it. He ran to the room he was staying in, and cried his heart out. He was so hurt. He was in so much pain, he could barely stand it. Now that he thought about it, Merry had been right. He could’ve just now, without meaning to, assisted in the murder of Frodo and maybe the others. Merry, didn’t know what to think about him, or care. Merry probably wasn’t his friend, and would deny being related to him so closely. ‘Who would want to be my friend or close relative, anyway?’ he thought and continued lying there, tears falling downward like rain in the worst storm imaginable. Pippin stayed like that for about four hours before anyone came in his room. Those were the most horrible hours of his young life.

There came a knock on the door. Pippin was glad someone had come to see him, but then he thought about what might happen to him if he opened the door. He remained silent.

“Pippin, can I come in please?” rang Frodo’s beautiful voice that was almost elfin. In response Pippin grunted.

“Come in if you wish,” he choked out after a few moments while hurriedly wiping away his tears that had been spilt. Frodo came in and looked surprised.

“Why, Pippin, are you alright?” Frodo seemed generally concerned about his younger cousin.

“Merry hasn’t told you?” he asked gulping. Frodo let out a heavy sigh.

“Right now I’m asking about you.”

“What do you think I feel like? Look, Frodo, this is probably what you’re looking for, so I’m gonna go ahead and say it. I didn’t mean to- wait- has he told you?” Pippin stopped mid-sentence not wanting to continue. Frodo looked at him with sad, sad eyes that told everything, which they often would if they told anything. Those big blue orbs spelled it out for him, without him saying a word.

“Well, Pip,” Frodo started. “I believe I’ve been told.” Pippin looked down, ashamed, when he heard it. He was getting close to tears again.

“Does Merry hate me now? Do you hate me? Does Sam even hate me? What are you going to do?” the Took quickly shot out his questions. Frodo gave Pippin a smile, that was not evil, it was understanding and loving. The kind that Merry usually gave him when he had really messed up. Though, he’d never messed up like this before.

“Whoa, there Pippin! Before I answer your questions I would like you to tell me your side of the story before anything is done. You shouldn’t be wrongly accused,” he said with a knowing expression.

“Yes,” he said not enthusiastically, “I’ll tell you, Frodo.”

“Good.”

So Pippin started explaining his side of the story, but left out certain parts, and had to stop occasionally to blow his nose. When he finished what he wanted to tell Frodo, Frodo looked bewildered at his big hairy feet.

“That’s all Pippin? Merry said he gave you some warnings.”

“He did. Mostly around the same time,” the Took confessed staring at the bedcovers that were damp from all his previous tears.

“Oh,” was all Frodo could say.

Frodo knew what Merry and Sam were going to insist to have done now since Pippin seemed to be a betrayer to them all, but he did not like it what-so- ever. Even though Pippin was a betrayer, he wouldn’t do it. He just couldn’t do that to his younger cousin, who was also his friend, despite all the whining he did, and even now that he had betrayed him. He wanted to be mad at Pippin, but couldn’t as of because of what he had done himself. Then after a few minutes of an uncomfortable silence he continued. “You know, Pippin, I know what you’re feeling like right now,” he said still staring at his feet.

“You do?” asked a surprised Pippin.

“Yes. I know exactly what you feel like.”

“How?”

“I had a little to much to drink myself, Pippin. I was asked to sing songs. So I did, but I ended up slipping on some ale. The-“Frodo was cut off.

“What’s that have to do with, what I feel like?” Pippin asked, annoyed.

“You’ll see, if you’ll let me continue,” they looked at each other unsure for a few moments, then Frodo did what he said he would. “Then, the Ring fell on my finger. I disappeared in front of everyone. That’s worse in a way than what you did.” He said with a faint grin. Pippin looked up from the bedcovers for the first time in a while, and looked unbelievingly at Frodo.

“You did?”

“Yes, Pippin, I did.” There was a more comfortable silence. Then Pippin went on.

“So, you don’t hate me?”

“Of course not, you silly Took,” Frodo grinned before Pippin could go on. “Neither does Sam.”

“That’s good. What about Merry? Does he hate me? Or is he over it?” Frodo looked down, very awkwardly. He tried to ignore the question.

“You’re not in trouble with me...” Frodo paused looking at Pippin straight in the eyes. “You may be in trouble with the other two though,” he finished forlornly.

“I thought you said Sam didn’t hate me!”

“He doesn’t. He’s just not happy with you. He’s afraid for me and all, like usual.”

“What about Merry?! Does Merry hate me, too?! What’s he going to do to me? Frodo, I’m your cousin although I don’t deserve to be, but what’s going to happen to me?! You must tell me!!!” Pippin was in a rushed fury.

“Pippin, Pippin. There, there, shush. It’ll be okay. You know, you sounded just a little like Sam. It’s going to be okay soon.”

“Stop with the comforting! Merry’s my bestest friend of all, I DESERVE to know what’s going on!!!” Frodo looked down, not very happy with the way this was going.

“Merry is very upset Pippin. I don’t think he actually hates you, he just hasn’t figured out that he *doesn’t* hate you yet. He doesn’t really want to talk to you. He’s really mad. I would stay out of his way if I were you,” Frodo leaked out the information quickly. Pippin’s expression didn’t change.

“Frodo, what are they going to do to me? I need to know, NOW.” Frodo looked at him looking very melancholy.

“Pippin, I can’t warn you.”

“WARN ME?!! And why not, Frodo Baggins?!” Pip whispered harshly so not to scream and recreate the last mess up. Frodo looked down, guiltily.

“I’m under an oath,” he whispered.

Pippin looked at him, terrified. He knew how bad this must be if Frodo were under an oath not to tell. Pippin looked up with fake courage and plastered his eyes to the wood wall. ‘If only I had known...’ he thought. ‘If only I had known.’ Frodo spoke breaking Pippin’s line of thought.

“Pippin,” he began wondering exactly how upset his cousin was, who he was deeply sorry for, “We need to leave now.”

“And go where, might I ask?”

“For all of our safety we must stay in a human’s room tonight. The Nazgul are out searching, and we need protection,” said Frodo quietly.

Boy, did Pippin know about needing protection. He felt like a small little mouse that was completely surrounded by starving cats. The image made him shudder as he left to follow Frodo to the human’s room.

#####

A/N: Enough angst for you yet? LOL! I loooooooooooooove hobbity angst. *big grin* BTW, Merry is SUPPOSED to be OOC, just in case you didn’t know. He will be even more OOC next, but I want him to be. Don't worry, he will return to his usual character though, and get out of this horrible OOCness. The next chapters get even angstier, so you’ve been warned.

Disclaimer: Don’t own The Prancing Pony (still love ya, Butterbur), the characters (you’re the best, Tolkien), or anything else. I just don’t own it. Money? Don’t make me laugh, I get none from this stuff, just like you other people.


Chapter 3 - Pippin Learns his Fate

I Would Never Betray You,
Please Remember Me




“Frodo, what’s a Nazgul?” asked Pippin.

So Frodo explained of how it was a Black Rider, but left out the part where they would never stop hunting him while he had it. After a brief climb up the stairs, and a silence they reached what appeared to be the human’s room.

“This is his room, Pip.”

“What’s his name, cousin?”

“We’re supposed to call him Strider. He’s going to be helping me along on the Quest. He’s going to guide us to Rivendell, then we’ll figure out what to do from there,” Frodo whispered. “Hopefully we can just keep it there, then go home,” just at the mention of home made Frodo and Pippin grin.

“Can we trust him?” inquired Pip.

“We don’t have much of a choice. I warn you though, he looks very foul, but his speach is very fair.”

“Okay, Frodo,” he said as they opened the door. There was a strange silence throughout the room. Sam was already lying down in bed, but Pippin did not see Merry. Pippin did not greet this ‘Strider’ and Sam first. “Where’s Merry?” Was the first words to escape his mouth. The man looked up at him.

“He’s not here. He’s outside somewhere,” Strider answered matter of factly.

“Oh. Why is he out there? Aren’t the gates already closed?” the fear evident in his voice.

“They’re waiting for him.”

“Thanks. Oh, and hi,” Pippin said looking at Strider in full. It had been an understatement to say ‘he looks very foul’. Frodo then proceeded to show Pippin the letter he had received from Gandalf.

Finally, after a while, Merry finally showed up. He clambered into the room. He sat down on the bed, and explained what had happened while he was out there, and read the letter. He just ignored Pippin, and everything he said to him. It was getting on later in the night, and Strider had already told them to go to sleep when Pippin got the nerve to really talk to Merry, who happened to be on his right side, while Sam was on his left. Which was not overly comforting.

“Merry,”

“What?”

“I need to talk to you.”

“Oh, it’s you. Shut up and go to sleep, fool. Trust me, you’ll need it.”

“Merry? What is going on? Tell me. Do you really hate me as well? Not just for that one thing surely,” Pippin said with uncertainty. Merry laughed at Pippin. Merry would possibly wake up Strider with his mirth. “Merry, what is wrong with you?”

“Wrong with me?” he sounded surprised. “Fool, you’re the only one with the problem. Yes, actually, I do hate you. Not just for your little mess up today, but that’s the main thing, you betrayer,” Merry’s word stung Pippin.

“Merry!”

Pippin couldn’t feel his heart beating. All he felt was an inevitable doom, and the sorrow and pain of losing his best friend. ‘Merry hates you, Pippin,’ Was all he could think. ‘Merry hates you. He’s the only friend you really need in life, and you lost him!’ He couldn’t believe it though. They had been friends for so long. Maybe that was the problem. Merry had been around him so long. Maybe no one could stand him that long. ‘If that’s it, you haven’t a hope of marriage either, idiot. You ARE a fool of a Took. The biggest fool of them all,’ All of the good things in Pippin’s life he had hopes for seemed to be disappearing right before his eyes. Death sounded oh-so-good at the moment. Although, he would wish for it more in the coming months.

The only thing Pippin could ask or say was, “Merry, why? Why, Merry, why?”

“That’s going to be Mr. Brandybuck to you. I don’t have to answer you, but I will. I hate you because you’re so annoying, self-centered, you always got me in trouble for what *you* did, all of your pathetic whining, and now you go around trying to get us all killed. I can’t take it anymore, fool. I can’t take it.” Pippin looked at Merry, who had just said that, in horror.

“You don’t mean that Merry?! Right?! You can’t mean that, Merry! You’re my bestest friend in all of Middle-earth! I can’t live without your friendship!!! Merry...”

“Pippin, shut your trap! You might wake up Strider,” Merry said rather annoyed.

“Me, wake up Strider?” he asked in surprise. “You’re being louder than I am, Merry!” Pip exclaimed. Merry sighed.

“Actually, you were being louder than me. I don’t want to argue with you any longer, betraying fool.”

“Why do you keep calling me fool?” Pippin started, so dangerously close to tears from this conversation it wasn’t funny. “What’s going to happen to me? I deserve to know seeming as IT IS MY LIFE.”

“I don’t think you really want to know,” the Brandybuck replied surely with a yawn.

“Yes, I do want to know, Meriadoc Brandybuck! I NEED to know!”

“Fine, Pippin. I’ll tell you, since you’re so set on it. You have to not speak to me anymore until you leave tomorrow though if I tell you.”

Pippin had to think about that. ‘What does he mean by saying I’m leaving tomorrow?’ There were also still lots of things he wanted to tell Merry and ask. He also wanted to say “Sorry” as often as his vocal chords would allow. He had only truly known Merry hated him for less than 5 minutes and he was already having problems. He needed his cousin; Merry still was his best friend. Pippin had always thought he and Merry would never be separated and always be the best of friends, but a lot of things he thought seemed to be going up in smoke lately. It just wasn’t fair. Things were going to get a lot worse though starting within the next few sentences.

“Okay, but I HAVE to tell you something first!”

“Get it over with,” he stated frustrated.

“I’m so, so, so very extremely sorry for what I said, Mer. Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry-“

“Stop that Peregrin. Are you certain that you want to know just yet? You’d have to be told in the morning anyway,” Merry actually had a small look of concern in his eyes. ‘Does he not want to hurt me anymore tonight? Do I really need to know if they’re going to tell me tomorrow?’ Pippin knew the answer to that right away. He had to know what was going to happen in his life. He had to.

“Have it your way, Pippin- er- fool. If you must know, tomorrow you’re going to be sold into slavery first thing tomorrow morning.”

#####

A/N: AHHH!!!!! Poor Pippin. :( . *sniff, sniff* What’s gonna happen to him? Will Merry, Frodo, or Sam decide against having him put into slavery, or has Merry and Sam truly lost it?

Disclaimer: I still don’t own the Prancing Pony (still luv ya, Butterbur!), or the characters (still the best, Tolkien, thanks!), don’t own anything else in this story (not even the title :C ), and I make no money.

Please review if you would like to see anymore, but FLAMES ARE NOT ALLOWED FOR THIS STORY!!!!! I'll take constructive critsism though. Thank you!!! G’bye Entmoot


Chapter 4 - SOLD!!!

I Would Never Betray You,
Please Remember Me




Pippin’s eyes widened in horror. This couldn’t be true! He was the next thain of the Great Smials, for crying out loud!!! He decided that Merry was surely just joking, but he wasn’t so sure.

“Merry, you ARE joking, right? Please tell me you are, please...”

“Betraying fool, I told you that you wouldn’t want to know. I try to do something sort of nice for ya, and you won’t let me.”

“MERRY!!! I wouldn’t call selling me into slavery ‘nice’! That’s just sheer evil!”

“Well, in my mind, so are you.”

Pippin couldn’t take this any longer. He couldn’t listen any longer. ‘Merry must be lying. He COULDN’T mean that, he couldn’t... Being sold into slavery? That can’t happen either! I’m their cousin, they wouldn’t..... they couldn’t..... Da would buy me back though, I know he would!’ he though with uncertainty. He just couldn’t believe all that was happening to him. He tried to think back as to what had happened on this very eventful night. ‘Stupid Sudo got me to rat out on Frodo,’ he shuddered at the word rat, ‘Merry got mad. Frodo tried to help. Merry was gone. Strider was going to try to help. Merry hates me,’ Pippin thought yet again to himself. He almost couldn’t go on thinking. Teardrops started rolling down his cheeks again. ‘Sam doesn’t like me. And now...and now...’ he was forcing himself to think it. ‘They’re threatening to put me into slavery,’ his body started racking with sobs. He couldn’t help it. He also didn’t care if he woke up Strider, or anyone else in that cursed place.

“Pippin, stop it!” growled Sam who rolled over so not to hear the loud weeping.

“Shut it, betrayer, shut it!” hissed Merry.

Pippin closed his eyes and tried to hold in his sobs. He was still pouring down tears, he just wasn’t making as much sound. Frodo was pretending to be asleep, and pretending he didn’t hear or know Pippin was crying. Strider was not awakened, it seemed. Eventually through the tears Pippin fell asleep. Uneasy, cruel dreams haunted him the rest of the night, but would not allow him to wake up. Finally, it came. It was the morning. Pippin was whimpering in his sleep. He wouldn’t have his sleep for much longer.

“Peregrin Took! Wake up, you lazy sluggard!” exclaimed Merry jokingly as he started shaking Pippin. Pippin still thinking he was in a dream was just a little startled.

“Yes, sir!” He quickly jumped out of bed to attention, still a little groggy.

“You called me ‘Sir’, Pippin?” Merry inquired raising an eyebrow.

Pippin was glad to see this. Merry was acting a little more like his normal self. ‘Wait, you idiot! Maybe all of that was just a dream! You’ve awakened from it! You’re not going to be sold into slavery, Merry doesn’t hate you, and all is going well. As well as it can get before my breakfasts and tea anyway,’ he thought smiling. He laughed.

“Sorry, Merry, I just had a strange, bad dream last night,” Pippin said grinning ear to ear. Although, Merry’s joking eyes changed to serious ones. Pippin just gathered that he was going to ask how bad his dream was or something, what it was, if he was okay, and if he was too badly disturbed from it.

“Sorry? What for, fool?” Merry started. Pippin’s face fell knowing now what was going on. “You’re sorry because you called me ‘Sir’, aren’t you? You’re not supposed to be. That’s what you ARE to call me from now on, betrayer, if’n I ever see you again,” Merry said with aversion, glaring at his younger cousin.

“Merry, no... You’re not really going to...going to... going to do...that thing to me, are you? You’re my best friend, my favorite cousin, and I’m still your friend and family. You wouldn’t do that to me, would you? It’s not like you. Don’t you care about me?” Pippin pleaded.

He looked around, and saw he and Merry were all alone in the room. He wasn’t sure if that was a blessing or if it was his end. He looked closely at Merry. For a moment he had a far away look, as if he really did want Pippin to stay with him and be his best friend and cousin he was always with forever. The look quickly changed though.

“Pippin, it’s how it goes,” Pippin looked at him in terror. “You betrayed us, ratted us out, and if you stayed you would endanger Frodo, Sam, and me even more. You might even put Gandalf and Strider into danger. We just can’t risk you coming with us,” Merry said looking at Pippin with just a hint of the love and care of a parent; but also with the hate and dislike of an old enemy. Pippin was petrified with fear.

(A/N:*cough* Put Gandalf into danger? Ahem, like in Moria, Pippin? Sorry couldn’t resist)

“Merry, I am beyond sorry for what I did. I will NEVER, EVER do anything like that ever again-“

“Pip, you’re not going to come with us. Sorry doesn’t cut it. You-“

“You don’t have to...to...put me into it. Merry, you could just send me home! I’d stay there!”

“How do I know that, Pippin? How do I know that you wouldn’t follow us, and possibly get one of us or yourself killed?” Merry sighed hard.

He couldn’t believe it. Pippin was still trying to get out of what he had done. Maybe his cousin hadn’t meant to put them into death’s door, or to betray them, but betray is what Pippin had done. He couldn’t believe it. His own best friend and cousin had told where and who Frodo was, and what he had. After Merry had told Sam and Frodo what had happened they had talked. Merry was still really hot, and had actually been the one to suggest that they do... what was going to happen to Pippin. He knew that if they just simply sent him home (because Pippin shouldn’t have come anyways. He was still so very young, and not ready.) that Pippin would just follow them. He did NOT want that, but Frodo was very opposed to the idea of Pippin and slavery. They kept talking and making suggestions, none worked. Finally, Merry explained his idea in full to them, as they could think of nothing else. They would put Pippin into slavery, but not for long. As soon as they got the ring to Rivendell and came home they would go get Pippin back. Of course Pippin would have changed, would have grown up more, and would be bitter towards them (Merry really dreading that part of it, and Pip being more adultish), but Frodo and them would have more of a chance of making it there and back again alive. They held a vote. Both Merry and Sam voted for that idea, Frodo didn’t but accepted it gracefully. By today though, Merry had cooled down a little, but not very much. It was just the thought that he had actually had the idea of putting his own little cousin who needed him into slavery. He didn’t like it, but it was the only way.

“Merry, just please don’t do it to me, please! I’d do anything, I mean it! Please don’t do it, please...” Pippin begged. Merry felt a twang of guilt, but it got quickly replaced after the whole situation replayed in his head. Now he was really angry at Pippin again.

“Fool, I can not undo what has been done by either of us. You betrayed your own family, your OWN flesh and blood! You idiot, you caused more problems for Frodo, and made even more for Sam and me who are trying to help him. You better get your stuff together. The wagon will be here in a little while,” Merry said irritably looking out the window. Pippin knew this was the end.

“Merry, you surely don’t mean this. You have to be kidding. You’re doing this to YOUR own flesh and blood. Don’t you even have the slightest care for me?” Pippin asked. Merry look hurt for a moment, nodded, and walked out the door.

“Be ready,” Merry said heavily.

After Merry left, Pippin slowly started getting the few belongings he had with him together, and putting them in his bag. He grabbed some food from Butterbur, and waited sadly outside the door. He hadn’t heard about their ponies being taken, but if he had he wouldn’t have cared. Pippin sat there for about two hours. “The wagon will be here in a little while,” Pippin mimicked and spat at the ground. He now hated Merry and Sam for this, and he hated Frodo because he did nothing to help. He wanted to cry again, hoping to relieve the weight of inevitable doom on his chest, but no tears came, and the pressure just kept multiplying. He guessed he had used them all. Pippin spat again and cursed. He hated the world, he hated ale, he hated Sudo Grubb, he hated the ring, he hated this week, this month, this year, and he hated his cousins and the gardener. Then he felt a pair of hands hit his back.

“You there! Are you Peregrin Took?” asked a human. Pippin looked up, fearing the worse and hoping the stinging, red hot, pin-needle pain would stop on his back.

“Y-y-y-yes, s-s-sir,” he stuttered with uncertainty.

“Good, you little rascal. I can’t wait to get rid of you,” he sneered.

“Where are you taking me?” he asked with his used-to-perfection puppy dog eyes.

“Somewhere away from here, you ass,” snarled the man.

As Pippin was being loaded onto the wagon like a mule or cattle, with his things which had been thrown into the back (which would be looted before he reached his destination) he heard voices calling him from behind. There were Merry and Frodo. (Sam was getting Bill ready.) Pippin looked at them with eyes of sorrow, hurt, and betrayal.

“Pippin!” Frodo shouted with love for his younger cousin, and started running towards him. ‘Why didn’t you do anything, Frodo? Curse you to your death!’ he thought venomously. ‘At least it’s only for a little while, but he shall hate me. Curse you Frodo Baggins!!!’ Tears stung Frodo’s eyes.

The wagon began to move. Merry looked at it with remorse. He couldn’t believe he had just sold his cousin to a slave seller. The human threw some coins into Merry’s hand. He stared at them, hating them, and dropped them to the ground. Dust went up around the coins, and were being covered, but Merry didn’t care.

“Pippin,” he started. He was going to tell him not to worry, it wouldn’t be long, and that he loved him. He had found out now that he *didn’t* hate him. Before he could say anymore Pippin spoke his last words ever heard by Frodo and Merry.

“I would never betray you, please remember me,” Pippin spoke, a tear finally falling down his face.

#####

Awww, poor Pippin!

Although, Pippin torture hobbit angst = :D I’m happy. Nothing against Pippin (especially in RotK, and when Billy Boyd sings *sigh*), I just love it!

Disclaimer: I own none of these characters or places (love ya Butterbur, love ya Tolkien), and I make no money. Sorry, Tolkien, this idea wouldn’t leave me alone!

A/N: There is still more!!! *lost puppy dog eyes that would melt Sauron’s heart* Please review!!! I still don’t accept flames though, but I will take constructive critisism!!! Thank you for reading this so far!!! G’bye Entmoot


Chapter 5 - Stormy Nights

Hey! I meant the humans talk to be uneducated and against most spelling and grammar rules. BTW, I got just as excited writing this as I hope you will when you read it, because I’ve been listening to “Shelob’s Lair” on the RotK soundtrack, and “The Steward of Gondor” when Billy is singing. The timing may not be right because when I first wrote this I couldn't find my precioussssssssssssssss, preciousssssssssssss books. Just please tell me, andI’ll fix it. Plz and thanx. Here goes...



I Would Never Betray You,
Please Remember Me






“Pippin I-“Merry began to scream to tell him they’d come to get him soon no matter where he was and how sorry he was, but before he could get anything else out, the wagon disappeared from sight.

Merry sat down and began to cry. Frodo was doing the same. On a normal basis one of the two would’ve tried to comfort the other, but not today. Merry had wanted his younger cousin in slavery to make him stay away, and Frodo allowed it. Eventually, they stopped crying, and went to find Strider and Sam so they could leave. The sooner they left, the better. For more reasons than one.



*****



Pippin tried to stay seated in the back of the wagon, but was being thrown around by the rough terrain of the road. He could hear the men in the front cursing about anything and everything they wanted to. Pippin just wanted to go home. He loved his cousins, but at the moment he never wanted to see them again. Who could blame him? ‘I thought Merry was my best friend. And, Frodo had always been so nice to me before. Sam was a pleasant lad, too. How could they do this to me? Well, I’ll show them something,’ Pippin decided. ‘They said that I couldn’t go home because I’d just end up leaving and following them. Do they think I’m that stupid? I will run away from here or where ever I’m going. Not to follow them, but to run home. I’m NOT going to allow myself to stay a slave to some rich jerk, like they want me to,’ Pippin deliberated a plan forming in his head. He contemplated over his idea of escape for quite a long while being completely and totally silent. After a while with none of Pippin’s whines, grunts, or questions the humans got suspicious.

“Hey, you back there! What are ye up to?” the first human hollered over the sound of the horrid wind that was blowing and the sounds of the forest surrounding them. Pippin looked up and wondered how dumb and trusting these humans were.

“No good,” he answered truthfully.

“Oh, shut up, you lazy bastard! You can’t be cookin up no troubles here. Yous goin to be sold to a very old man. Calls himself one of them idiotic Istari’s. Ain’t that funny? There ain’t really no Istari’s left around this dumb place. Dey, all left for de west, and abandoned us mens. Ain’t that horrible, Tenole?”

“Very horrible, Chakamir.”

Pippin’s eyes brightened when they mentioned an old Istari. ‘Maybe Gandalf is going to get me!’ he thought. ‘That would be wonderful! Then he could take me home or somewhere else safe away from THEM, and I’d stay there. I wonder what my sisters and parents are doing right now. I wonder if they miss me...’ he went on wondering about things that would never matter to him in the end. Before he got too carried away, he needed to really make sure it was Gandalf.

“Sirs?”

“What do you want, scum?” said Tenole.

“What is the name of my ...my new master?”

“Uh, Tenole, what’s ‘is name? The old bloke that’s to buy that there hobbit slave?”

“Saru- Saru... oh, I can’t remember! The slave can find out when ‘e gets there. Not that he needs to know, ‘cause he probably just like the others. Either master, or sir.” Pippin’s eyes opened in fear.

“Sauron? Is his first name Sauron, sirs?” Pippin asked scared to death.

“Sauron?” Chakamir started mocking him. “Oh, you think the one would really want a stupid hobbit to work for ‘im? You give yourself to much credit, you do,” Chakamir chuckled.

“Well, it wouldn’t be to bad of an idea, Chaky. He could do lots of nice dirty work for him that taller and louder ones couldn’t do. Hobbits are very useful ya know, if you can get ‘em to obey. Dat part is the problem...” Tenole went on babbling about enslaved hobbits. Pippin wondered how many there could be outside of the Shire.

About a weeks worth of nights after that a hard, pounding rain started, and showed no sign of stopping. They were actually just a two day journey from Isengard. By now, Pippin was joined by other slaves in the wagon. Although, he did not really socialize with them. They had scared him though. The other slaves scared Pippin because they talked about the harsh, cruel, torturing, true life of a slave. Pippin swore at that moment out loud to never get a slave, and to free all he could. Also, they scared him in another way. One of the other slaves, a dwarf named Gallatania, had been the first that had tried to escape. The humans saw her and they killed her using a nearby ax, which coincidentally was Gallatania’s. Other slaves had tried to escape as well. Let’s just say they went from a wagon of fifteen to a wagon of seven. Of course not all of them were going to Isengard like our poor Pippin, some of them were going to Rohan or Gondor. Although with the storm this bad, it being pitch dark, and the wind howling so loud that even if Pippin stomped away from camp he would not be heard, he knew that he had to leave tonight, or never. He was just about to escape when something went amiss. He forgot to make sure the fire was out or he was out of it’s seeing distance before he left.

“PEREGRIN TOOK, COME BACK HERE NOW OR YOU WILL HAVE A SLOW, PAINFUL DEATH, YOU SLUGGARD!!!!!!” bellowed one of the humans.

Pippin dashed off when he heard this. He didn’t wanna die for not even getting three feet away from camp! He ran as fast as his furry little feet would carry him. (his feet are smaller than Merry, Sam, or Frodo’s I think) Pippin kept running. He was almost out of site of the camp. ‘I’m almost outta here!’ he thought to himself. Then all of a sudden a sharp pain whipped his back. He cried out in pain. It kept hitting him, over and over again all over his back. It felt like a thousand daggers stabbing him over and over again. Pippin was getting bigger lashes on his back each time, each bringing a new wave of pain. Someone was catching up on him. Pippin knew he wouldn’t win the race this way.

“I’m going to catch you yet you lazy, sluggard, asshole, bastard!!!” screamed one of the men. “I’m gonna catch your sorry little ass, and kill you! I’ll make sure you suffer for the longest time possible, with the worse pain you can have without death! I’m gonna- GAK!!!!!” yelped the man, which Pippin thought was Chakamir.

Pippin had jumped over to the side behind a bush, and he picked up a large stick. Whenever the man came Pippin had put it out to trip him. He wasn’t going to do it himself, because then the man could pull him out by the leg, and he’d be lost. It worked, and he didn’t hear anymore come from him. ‘I wonder if that’s good or bad,’ Pippin thought. ‘Well, either way Yer (as he now called himself. It was short for Betrayer), you need to run. If that man catches up with you...’ he let the thought fade. It did not need to be finished. Pippin started running off in the direction of what he thought was south, and didn’t stop running until noon the next day.




*****




Meanwhile, back with the others Frodo had been stabbed and was in one of his frightful, restless dreams.

“Gandalf!” he called out as if he were to die that moment.

“There, there Mr. Frodo...” Sam was saying along with other words of his thought to be a little comforting. Sam was holding his hand. It was cold. “Mr. Merry! His hand is freezin’ cold, and so is the rest of him I reckon. Do we have anymore blankets?” Sam asked.

“No. Frodo already has his blanket, my blanket, your blanket, and Strider’s blanket. We don’t have anymore,” Merry replied sadly. “If only we hadn’t gotten rid of Pippin. Not only so we could use his blanket, I just miss him. Maybe things would be different if he were here.”

“Doubt it, Sir . I do miss him though Mr. Merry,” Sam said mournfully. Merry was close to tears, but he didn’t dare cry them here. He didn’t particularly want the Black Riders to find them because of his sobs.

“Oh, all I would do if he could just still be here,” he whispered quietly. “I love Pippin so much, he’s my little cousin and best friend. If only, if only...” he mumbled into the night time storm.

“It’ll be okay, Merry,” Sam stated more confident than he felt.

“I just wish that-“

“PPPPIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPPPPIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Frodo wailed loudly.

Merry and Sam’s ears perked up. They were scared they might hear the horrible cry of the Nazgul piercing the night. They relaxed a little when the heard none, and squeezed Frodo’s hands so he’d know someone was with him. They hoped this might silent him, but it was not so.

“PIIIIIPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPIIIIIIINNNNNNNNN!!!!!” Frodo screamed with all of his heart, lungs, and soul. “PIPPPPPPPPPPIIIIINNNNN COME BACK!!!” Frodo’s body shook with his breathing and loud bawling.

“Shhh, it’s okay Frodo. We’re here with you...” Merry and Sam said at the same time. They shared a guilty look. This was going to be a long night.




#####




Well, that wasn’t the best chapter I’ve ever written. *frown*

Disclaimer: Don’t own nothing, don’t make nothing, I thank my readers.

Please review and tell me what ya think, or how I could improve. Please to the highest degree!!! No flames. Blah, blah, blah, just please review, ppppllllleeeeeaaaaaaaassssssseeeeeeeee. LOL. Thank you. G’bye Entmoot
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