The Fellowship: Part XVI
by Kris
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Pippin yawned, for what had to be the hundredth time in the past ten minutes. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Merry yawn a few seconds later. The two hobbits shared sleepy smiles. They were both tired, yet had volunteered for first watch, so it would not seem as though they were not pulling their own weight.

There were still hours to go, on the watch, as the sun had just finally finished setting, not more than a half-hour before. The stars were out, twinkling brightly up above. The night was quiet, not a sound to be heard, except for Gimli's snoring. It was rather peaceful. Almost too peaceful, as Pippin fought to keep his eyes open.

"Pippin?" Merry asked softly.

"Yes, Merry?" Pippin asked, looking over at his best friend.

"Do you regret joining the quest?" Merry asked. "And not staying back in Rivendell?"

Pippin thought for a moment. The elf-city had been really nice, and he had loved being there. But, friendship, to him, was more important. He shook his head.

"No," he said. "Frodo is my friend. I can't just leave him to go this journey alone. It wouldn't be right."

Merry nodded in agreement. The two hobbits fell silent. The night was, once again, silent. Not a sound to be- Pippin froze, as he thought he heard something. He looked at Merry, to see if the other hobbit had heard it, too. Merry's eyes were wide. He had heard it.

"What do we do?" Pippin whispered.

"Wake the others," Merry whispered back.

"It could just be an animal," Pippin suggested.

"What if it's not?" Merry asked.

"Right," Pippin said. "Who do we wake first?"

"Strider," Merry answered. "He'll know what to do."

Before the hobbits could move towards the camp, they saw someone, Kristiel, sit up and look around, frowning. She saw them, stood up, and came over to where they were sitting.

"It's all right," Kristiel said softly. "Keep watch. I'll return shortly."

Then, she was gone, blending into the shadows of the trees around the camp. Pippin wasn't certain what to make of it. He looked at Merry.

"Strider?" he asked.

"Strider," Merry replied, nodding.

This time, the two hobbits were able to get to the Ranger. Pippin touched his arm, and Strider awoke.

"What is it?" he asked, sitting up and looking around, hand on the hilt of his sword.

"We heard something," Merry told him.

"We were going to come tell you," Pippin said. "But, Kristiel woke up."

Strider looked over at where Kristiel had been sleeping, and found her blanket empty.

"Where did she go?" he asked, getting to his feet.

"That way," Pippin replied, pointing. "She told us that she would return shortly."

The hobbit saw Strider frown at that, but not like he was mad. More like he was thinking about something.

"Mani naa ta (What is it)?" a voice asked softly.

Looking over, Pippin saw Legolas, wide-awake, crouching on top of his blanket, dagger in hand. The elf was looking at Strider.

"Kristiel's gone off to investigate a noise that Merry and Pippin heard," Strider replied.

Legolas stood up, and Pippin saw that he had a concerned look on his face.

"Which way?" he asked.

Pippin showed him, and watched as the elf disappeared among the trees, much like Kristiel had. It had to be an elf thing. Pippin wondered if they might teach him that trick. It looked like a handy thing to know.

He turned to ask Strider what they should do, while they waited, but didn't get the chance, as there was a cracking sound, a loud roar, and a muffled yell, that came from the direction that Kristiel and Legolas had gone. The sounds woke up the rest of the camp, and in the blink of an eye, everyone was at battle-ready, armed and in a circle around Frodo. Everyone, save Gandalf, that is.

Pippin saw the wizard looking off into the trees, and a faint smile appeared on Gandalf's face.

"It is all right," he said, to everyone. "Best get back to sleep. We still have a long journey ahead of us."

"Don't you want to find out what that sound was?" Boromir asked.

"I know what it was," Gandalf said. "We will most likely hear tell of it come morning."

Boromir looked like he wanted to argue, but Pippin saw Strider shake his head at the other man.

"Gandalf's right," Strider said to Boromir. "We need to rest, whenever we can."

Boromir nodded, yet Pippin could tell that the man wasn't happy with Strider's words. One by one, the other members of the group lay down, to try to get back to sleep. Strider was the last to lay down, for he wanted to stay up to watch for Kristiel and Legolas. But, Pippin and Merry were able to convince him that they would be all right keeping watch, and that he needed sleep as much as anyone else. Only after the Ranger closed his eyes, did the two hobbits return to where they had been sitting, before.

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