CHAPTER SIX ---- Someone to carry on
When I awoke I was feeling a bit warmer for some reason. I was a little dizzy and my eyes were bleary but I could hear the beating of a steady heart and it wasn’t my own. I felt skin against my cheek and realized that I was being held in Aragorn’s arms. Two blankets and a cloak were spread across us. I could feel Pippin curled up on my other side. His head was leaning against my back. It was warmer than I had been in many days, since Rivendell…actually. I don’t remember any time on the journey since then that I had felt this degree of heat.
I think it had to do with being close to someone, and in this case being close two people I trusted. I didn’t want to move because moving meant that I would probably hurt something. I lay there for a while, listening to the easy sound of Strider’s heart and wished that I had such strength. I closed my eyes and tried to go back to sleep, but unfortunately I was no longer tired.
And since I closed my eyes I began to see things I didn’t want to see. Would it never end? If I moved…I would be in pain…and I could feel a cough building up in my throat. It was so nice to feel comfortable, protected. I suppose it was a bit childish…but I liked it. It had been a long time since I felt safe.
But then…it came up through my and I couldn’t control it or stop it. The moment it was released I opened my eyes and cringed in pain, clutching the blanket desperately. I had not managed to stop the cough and looked up at Aragorn who was already sitting up and steadying me. I had also woken up Pippin who blinked drowsily.
I felt a cool draft on the side that the ranger had filled and sighed, shivering. Aragorn felt my forehead, and my neck and all I could do was stare at him helplessly. “I’m sorry…I can’t…” I felt my stomach tighten a little as I tried once again to stop.
“Pippin…rub his back. I have some cherry-root ready…I just need to warm up the broth.” Aragorn directed swiftly. I watched as he moved immediately to put the pot on the fire.
Pippin rose to comfort me, holding me in his arms much as I had done for him earlier. His movements were still slow…still measured, yet he held me. “…Will be alright…” he managed to say. He was having some difficulty putting sentences together and I could tell it was frustrating him. He wasn’t used to not being in control of his tongue. In fact, I think this is the first time I had ever seen him be so quiet.
I knew he could understand me though, and he tried to give me a hopeful smile. He pushed the curls out of his eyes and I could see that he still had a bandage where he had been wounded. Aragorn had yet to remove it and it was still stained with blood. “Pippin…I’m sorry.” I told him gently.
“Don’t be sorry, Frodo…don’t…” Pippin assured me, “Strider says…says I’ll be fine. J-just an effect…while the wound heals.”
“Pip, I know…listen…” I coughed again and felt the same pain in my stomach as before. I was beginning to be dreadfully worried…my ribs still hurt terribly and I knew they hadn’t even begun to heal. I clutched both his shoulders and stared at him, my eyes wide as I tried to focus on him. “Listen…you must promise me something…”
“Anything…Anything Frodo.” he nodded…trying not to look concerned though he did his best to steady me.
“Pippin…Peregrin.Took. I want you to take the Ring if I don’t make it.” I declared at last. “You -must- carry it on. You must get it to Mount Doom…”
“Frodo..” Pippin’s eyes opened wide, “Me? But…I’ll…d-drop it or something… Don’t…don’t talk like that. You’re not dying…”
“Aragorn can’t take it. He’s a man. It will corrupt him…But you--I trust you Pip. You have to. Please…For the Shire.”
Pippin gazed back at me with his eyes that once many months ago held innocence, but now were laced with dread. “Frodo…” he glanced at Strider who looked at us but made no comment. “Frodo…” he cleared his throat and I knew he was trying hard to gain control over his fear.
“You can do it Pippin.” I started to cough again. “Please…” I needed to know that someone I trusted would continue on…I stared at him, hoping that in him the blood of the Thain’s of the Shire would stir. He was so young, yet he was stronger than he knew. He’d grown up far faster than the rest of us had. He wasn’t even in his majority and I know his mother would have my head if she even knew what I was asking of him.
Pippin struggled with the enormity of what I was saying, “Frodo…I…” he looked at Strider who was finally finished with the cherry root…and was stirring it into a mug. Strider and Pippin exchanged a look that I did not understand, but it seemed to strike a chord in Pippin’s heart.
My young cousin looked back at me and nodded, determination setting in his chin though I knew he was having difficulty focusing. “I promise Frodo. I will take it. It will be destroyed.”
“Swear, Pippin…swear on Great Smials…on your life.” I begged him. Pippin swallowed, “I swear Frodo.” his hands were trembling as he held me. “I will destroy it.”
I felt Aragorn lift me away from Pippin and into his arms. I also felt the warm liquid as it was being forced down my throat. I did not have the strength to struggle or argue. I closed my eyes and rested my head against him. As long as I had that…as long as I knew there was someone else…everything would be alright.
The last thing I heard before I slipped unconscious once again…was Sam’s voice.
“Mr. Frodo! Strider…”
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