No, Pepin is correct. As an example, take pumps. Unless they say something along the lines of "until the regroup phase," (like
Savagery to Match Their Numbers) they only last for the
current skirmish phase. If you give Gimli a +2 pump, he does not remain +2 in a fierce skirmish. Or... here's another scenario.
Merry, Friend to Sam with
Escape.
Companion 1 (assigned)
Companion 2 (assigned)
Companion 1 starts his skirmish. You play
Hobbit Intuition to make Merry str +3 and then double exert Merry to add his strength to Companion 1. Skirmish ends.
Companion 2 starts his skirmish. Merry is
not still str +3. The effects of the pump only lasted for the first Skirmish phase.
And finally, the rulebook, under Skirmish Phase(S):
When the assignment phase is complete, each
defending character will fight in a separate
skirmish phase.
Here's what I would like to know: What about
Faramir, Wizard's Pupil? I think that when a wound is prevented, it was first assigned, so you can negate threat wounds. Different than
Swept Away ("cannot").