The orcs had promised them a bed and breakfast, but from what Pippin had seen so far of Isengard, they definitely had a different definition for bed, which happened to be a dirty stony floor. Breakfast… well that hadn't been seen yet. Unless you counted the quick draught of that orc wine they'd forced down his throat last night… The very memory made the hair of his feet stand on end.
When they had first arrived the remaining orcs that hadn't been killed by the horsemen brought them to Sauruman. He'd pawed at their pockets and questioned them about the ring but they'd kept silent… Pippin remember the cold gleam in the eyes of the wizard. Gandalf had sometimes looked similarly at Pippin when he'd done something utterly foolish but there had always been a hint of merriment in his eyes when Gandalf scolded him. Saruman's eyes were pure malice.
He'd come closer to them sneering as he spoke. "If you will not willingly give me the answers I seek Halflings, I will have to resort to more drastic measures…"
Merry and Pippin remained silent and looked at the floor.
Saruman raised his staff and pointed it at Merry. "Pakta Thurin" a few moments of silence passed and the hobbits shuffled nervously. With a scowl the wizard pointed his staff at Pippin and repeated the words in a commanding voice. Nothing happened.
"It seems Mithrandir has put a protective charm on you…" He slowly descended into his stone throne. "Even in death the grey one hinders me… Ujak, Glima, take the prisoners to the lower levels… leave them with the Dungeon master.
Pippin couldn't bear to think about the torture for too long, they had hit him so many times and half the time he hadn't even been fully aware of anything but pain. By the end of the night both Merry and Pippin were covered in welts and cuts. As they had lain coughing for breath, Saruman came. He healed many of the wounds and then they were thrown into their separate cells. Before they had been separated Merry had winked at him wearily. Good old Merry was still fighting and Pippin promised himself he would too.
Presently Pippin was feeling clammy and miserable, he shivered and wished he could use his tied hands to rub his cold arms. The dirty impolite orcs had taken everything but his trousers, He closed his eyes and sighed. It had been two weeks since they were split up. Since then he hadn't seen anything from Merry. He couldn't help but be worried, since they were lads in the shire, Merry had been the Mastermind of their mischievous duo. He didn't know what he'd do, if old Merry never came back.
There was a loud scraping sound and Ujak and Thupar his usual hosts opened his cell with a sickening clang. "Time to go meet the master halfer" Thupar grunted. "halfer where'd you get a silly word like that?" Pippin quipped. "Quiet!" Ujak smacked him behind the head. "Alright I'm coming, don't shove." He sighed.
Pippin grimaced, what would Saruman want with him, nothing he good he imagined.
(Elvish) Pakta- Speak
(Elvish) Thurin-Secrets
(Black Speech) Ujak-Wolf
(Black Speech) Thupar- Whip
(Black Speech) Glima- Wrestle