It was still pouring rain and hail, but we were safe under the umbrella shaped bolder. The cave we had been in was now flooding over with a massive pool of rain water. Good thing we managed to escape it in time.

I propped up Merry's back to the wall of the bolder. I dug into my bag and pulled out Merry's undranken water jug. Then popping the cork and putting the jug to Merry's lips. He didn't open his mouth, so I forced his lips open so he could get water. Most all of the water just dripped down his already soaked face and clothes. His head bobbed forward. I pushed it back against the wall and felt his heartbeat. It was normal.

I tried rethinking all the sequences that took place since leaving Isengard, but nothing came to mind. It was hard to think when all I heard was booming thunder, sprinkling rain, and plummeting hail. I drank another sip of my water jug.

I tried giving Merry water again from his jug. This time he actually swallowed the water. Actually, he tried too. A second after he tried swallowing, he coughed it all out loudly. His eyes blinked open and he started coughing rapidly. I smiled, he was awake! After he was done coughing, he leaned his head against the rock wall and let out a huge sigh along with heavy breathing. He closed his eyes again.

"Merry, are you sick?" I asked.

No answer at first and then he spoke between coughs, "Maybe, I think I was poisoned," his head still lay against the rock wall.

"By who?" I asked.

"When we were running out of Isengard gates, I felt a tiny prick on the back of my neck. I pulled out a small thorn object and kept running," he felt his neck, "is there anything there?" Merry asked turning the back of his head my way.

I looked at his neck. There was a small hole, almost looked like a bee sting, to the left side of his neck. The hole was swollen and looked pinkish in color. I then explained this all to Merry. He leaned his head back upon the wall again and let out heavy breathing and moaning noises.

"How do you feel?" I asked.

"My neck hurts and feels stiff, I'm really tired, my eyes sting, I'm thirsty, and really tired. I can barely keep my eyes open," he yawned. Every time he talked, his voice sounded raspy.

"Here's your water. Don't choke this time," I handed him his jug.

Merry opened his eyes and turned my way to grab his water. This is when I realized that his eyes weren't blue, but red and bloodshot. Merry guzzled down his whole water jug and then finally asked,

"Where are we?" he wiped his lips with his hand and then having it collapse in his lap weakly.

I explained what had happened since he had fallen asleep. The last thing he remembered was dozing off in the small cave in the bolder.

"Don't worry Merry, I'll look after you," I said putting my arm around him. He nodded weakly, blinked a couple times and then fell over on top of my lap. His water jug fell from his open hand. I patted his back gently and then let it rest on his back. I could feel his slow heartbeat echo through my hand. I thought he might have been cold, so I rapped his cape around him.

Alone again, I just sat there and waited. I wasn't sure what I was waiting for. The storm to stop? A plan to come to mind? Orcs to come and take us back to Isengard? Merry to wake up again? Rescue?

A/N: There are 3 chapters left :-( it all depends on when i can type them up on Wattpad, but i will try  to do it as soon as prossible.