Author’s Notes: This was written for Marigold’s Challenge #13 — she gave me a nice little prompt: "What did Merry think/feel when he realised that Sauron had been in Pippin’s mind, and that Pippin had denied him information even though He had hurt him?" With thanks and a hug to Nancy Brooke, who got me thinking in metaphors long enough to write this after a few weeks of an overtired brain.

Disclaimer: The usual…these characters don’t belong to me but to J.R.R. Tolkien and to New Line, Peter, Fran, and Philippa. I make no profit from this story and have returned all characters well fed and rested. Feedback appreciated!

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Strength

by Songspinner

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The red and gold flames sent shadows dancing across the camp, and Merry leant closer as he shivered in the cold night’s air. Someone’s hands laid a blanket around his shoulders. The young hobbit glanced up to see bright elven eyes looking back at him.

"Thank you, Legolas." Merry said, drawing the wool closer to his chilled body. "It is quite kind of you to think of me."

Legolas folded his long frame down beside him cross-legged and unstrapped his bow. The elf slid the quiver down his arm until it was free, and began to carefully check the arrows one by one. "You seemed alone."

These simple words caused tears to spring to Merry’s eyes. With a shudder, he buried his face in the scratchy wool of the blanket and heard Legolas set the quiver down with the bow.

"Merry?" Legolas sounded worried and he laid a gentle hand on Merry’s shoulder.

"I just realized…it is not even the fault of the night that I am feeling the cold just now. The whole time that we’ve been on this quest, I’ve just huddled closer with Frodo or with Pippin. I am the only hobbit left here, and I’m not sure I can or want to get used to dealing with the cold on my own, Legolas."

"And you shall not be." The elf encircled the hobbit’s shoulder with one arm, pulling him closer. After a long moment of silent comfort, Legolas spoke quietly. "I, too, find myself more alone than I’ve been in some time, on this Quest. Although I am used to travelling with the Rangers from time to time, I am here surrounded by Men. And a fractious, if valiant dwarf."

A little giggle escaped Merry’s lips through his sorrow at that last comment.

"I miss my home, or at least I miss the company of other elves. Aragorn understands more than most, as he was raised in Imladris, but my family and my home are much in my thoughts on nights such as this."

Merry let the tears flow freely against his friend’s soft tunic. "I miss them." The crack in his voice moved between hoarseness and a sob. "Gandalf took Pip to keep him safe, I know that, but I miss him and I worry about him in a city of men. Aragorn said that Pip would be fine, and I want to believe him, but…"

"He is stronger than most of us could have been, Merry." Legolas spoke seriously.

"How? I don’t truly understand what happened. It happened so quickly. He was in so much pain and all I could do was try to calm him."

"That stone was a palantir, a seeing stone, and the Dark Lord had used it through Saruman to spy out his enemies. It was that evil that reached out from the stone to take the mind of your cousin."

Merry drew back a little and stared at his friend, aghast. "He was…was in Pippin’s mind? I didn’t realize…I thought it was just the stone that did it to him and reported to Sauron."

"Pippin did what most men would not have the strength to do. Sauron delved into his mind, and hurt him sorely, but was unable to break him. You heard Gandalf, Merry. Pippin gave up no information and Sauron did not learn of Frodo or the whereabouts of the Ring." Legolas’ hushed voice was full of amazement as he shook his head. "Even Aragorn was struck down for a few moments when he touched the palantir, but Pippin withstood much more than that."

Slowly, Merry’s shock and anguish turned to growing pride, and he snuggled close to the elf again, shaking his own head. "Trust a Took to be able to fight such an evil. I just…I always take care of him and I never saw that strength in him. I couldn’t protect him and he still came out the other side in one piece. His mind and his heart together." He chuckled, wiping away a few remaining tears.

Cocking his head to one side, Legolas looked down at him, curious. "And what, may I ask, is so amusing?"

"Oh, only that this is the first time he’s faced so much trouble without myself or our friends back home being the cause. It’s not that Pippin’s likely to find trouble himself, just that it seems to find him. I don’t really know why I think I can keep him from it all the time when seven other members of our Fellowship could not." Merry sighed.

"You and Frodo certainly did your best to shield him from danger, as did Boromir for a time." A soft sigh of his own vibrated through Legolas’ chest where Merry’s ear rested. "And our young Took managed to do what Boromir himself could not — fight off the darkness when it tried to rip through his mind."

"The Dark Lord hurt him badly." Merry asked, half a question and half a statement. He shuddered at Legolas’ choice of words, not wanting to really understand what had been done to his cousin.

"Mithrandir…Gandalf brought Pippin safely back," Legolas answered seriously. "And I believe that he did much to heal that hurt. But yes, he tried to force the information from Pippin and the youngest member of our

Fellowship resisted with all the love and passion in his heart."

With a sniffle, the young hobbit hugged Legolas one more time and drew back, trying to pull on his own semblance of strength. "That’s perfect, you know, Legolas." He reached down for one of his friend’s arrows and ran careful fingers over the fletching, seeking for any flaws. "My little cousin is as focused and as swift in his passions as one of your arrows when it flies from your bow. It’s certainly been his downfall more than once, and I’ve more than once been dragged into his predicaments. It seems, however, that his usual nature has helped him on this journey."

It was the elf’s turn to chuckle now, and he took the arrow with a nod of thanks to Merry. "I should like to hear a few of those tales, my friend. And Pippin’s stubbornness not only protected him, but allowed the two of you to give Frodo a part of his home in the uncertainty of this journey." He tucked the arrow back into the quiver and pulled out two more, handing one to Merry.

Merry accepted it and turned it over to squint at it in the firelight. "This one needs repair, I’m afraid." He handed it back to the elf, feeling glad to be doing something to help.

"My thanks, Merry. I shall do so during my watch tonight. These and my eyes and ears can protect all of you, and Eomer’s men beside." He shrugged, the casual movement unexpectedly graceful. "We shall all do what we can."

Pulling his short sword out of its sheath, Merry held it up to the flames, deciding to check his own weapon in case it was needed. It was a strange impulse, he thought as he noticed a small nick on the edge.

"Gimli should be able to repair your blade, if you would but ask him before the night is over." Legolas offered.

"I suppose I should ask, then." Merry answered, and sheathed the sword in a swift movement that had become disturbingly familiar for a hobbit from the Shire. He rose on legs made shaky from emotion and the length of time he’d been sitting by the fire. "Legolas…"

Legolas met his eyes calmly and answered the question Merry was searching for the words to ask. "The Fellowship is not broken, Merry. Scattered, perhaps, but while your love and thoughts are with your cousins and Sam, they are not far in anything but distance."

"Thank you, Legolas." Merry reached out to lay a hand on the elf’s shoulder.

"You should remember, Merry, that Pippin is not the only one with fierce passion for life — if Pippin is like to an arrow, then you would be…" Elven eyes were thoughtful for a moment, considering a proper comparison.

"Ah…now I have it!" Legolas smiled at Merry with affection. "You would be like a book, little one, filled with wisdom yet with empty pages as you always seek more to help those around you. Your own dedication to Frodo is what allowed him to come on this Quest, to begin it, even."

Blushing, Merry ducked his head, curls falling forward to shield his eyes. "I am not sure I am…have been so important."

"Indeed you have been and are. Do not forget." Legolas covered Merry’s smaller hand with his own. "Your insight helped Gandalf discover the way to enter Moria, your knowledge of rivers and boats helped us on the Anduin, and you gave Frodo something for which to fight. And your friendship is a comfort to those here."

"As is yours." Merry returned with a shy smile, finally looking up to meet Legolas’ gaze. "It’s my watch, I think, in a few moments. King Theoden has asked me to join him in the morning to talk of old tales and lore, and I should get something to eat before I join Gimli."

"Hobbits…always thinking with their stomachs." Legolas teased, grinning back.

"Thank you." Merry added softly as he turned to go to the cookfire. His friend’s voice rising in gentle song over the crackling of the flames was the all the answer he received. But it was enough.