Pippin's head hurt. He tried to lift a hand to feel for bruises, but found
he couldn't move it. He opened his eyes and looked into the blackness that
surrounded him. He was lying on something hard, restraints holding down his
wrists and ankles. He tried to push himself onto his elbows, but there was
something hard above his neck, and he couldn't push against it without
strangling himself.
Panic began to overwhelm him as he lay there in the darkness, unable to see anything, unable to move. How had this happened?
He thought back to the last thing he remembered. He and Merry had gone to stay with Frodo at Bag End for a few days. He hadn't been able to sleep, and thought that a walk might tire him out enough for him to rest. He'd gone out, and began to walk in the countryside near Bag End. He hadn't been to Hobbiton enough times to know the land around it very well, and had gotten confused about the direction trying to find his way back.
That was when he'd seen them. Two figures, taller than hobbits, shrouded in black cloaks, talking quietly. He had been instantly afraid, and tried to back away, but his foot on a twig had alerted them to his presence. The last thing he could remember was them turning towards him. Where was he? What did they want with him?
***
Frodo woke up early and went to prepare breakfast for his guests. He liked having Merry and Pippin around. They were cheerful hobbits, who didn't avoid him like several other did because of his disappearing uncle. It was coming up to their shared birthday again, and talk in the Shire always turned to Bilbo's party at this time of year, even though it was now five years ago.
Finally, everything was ready for breakfast, it did take a long time to prepare a hobbit's breakfast, and Frodo went to wake Merry and Pippin. Merry was already getting dressed, but Pippin was nowhere to be seen. He wasn't in his room, so Frodo began to worry.
"He'll be back soon enough," Merry said, buttering some toast, "he won't want to miss breakfast." Frodo agreed and settled down to enjoy the meal, though when Pippin hadn't appeared by the end his worry was growing. Even Merry was worried by this point.
"What if something's happened to him," he said, his voice filled with concern for his friend.
"We'd better look for him," Frodo agreed. So they took their cloaks and set out, but they couldn't find any sign of Pippin. And no one they asked had seen him since he arrived with Merry the day before. It was as if he had disappeared completely.
***
Pippin didn't realise he'd fallen asleep until a bright light shocked him awake. Blinded, he struggled to make out dark figures between himself and the light that seemed to come from everywhere at once.
"Who are you?" he asked, afraid, his voice trembling. His eyes began to adjust to the light, but the figures still remained dark silhouettes, featureless and menacing. "What do you want with me?"
"How much did you see, hobbit?" a voice asked sharply. A voice filled with menace that sent a shiver of fear down Pippin's spine.
"Nothing," he protested, "I saw two dark figures and that's all."
"He's lying," another voice said, this time a female.
"What makes you so sure?" It might have been the first voice who spoke, or perhaps another. Pippin couldn't be sure.
"He's terrified," the woman replied, "Perregrin Took would not be afraid of dark figures." But Pippin was afraid. Afraid of these people and what they might do to him. He was afraid of how they knew who he was.
"What did you see?"
"I've told you," Pippin said, "Please, I haven't done anything wrong." He tried to hold back the sobs he knew were coming, but the desperation of the situation had sunk in. He could do nothing to escape these people
"Tell us what you saw and we won't harm you," someone said. A new voice.
"All I saw were two dark figures," Pippin repeated, and he did sob. "Please don't hurt me," he begged.
"We want the truth."
"That is the truth."
"I don't think he's lying," it was the first voice that spoke again, one stern and menacing. The voice of someone used to be obeyed. Then one of the dark figures bent down close to Pippin, and he had a glimpse of a man's face, as he breathed, "Sleep," in Pippin's ear. Pippin was asleep instantly.
***
It had been three days since Pippin's disappearance. Merry and Frodo had searched all the land around Hobbiton with the help of Sam Gamgee, but they'd found nothing. Neither of them knew what they should do next, where they should look. Frodo was afraid that they would never see Pippin again, but tried to keep it buried beneath the determination to keep searching. They wouldn't give up on Pippin.
So it was that they were out on the road the next day, when a cart trundled up the road towards Bag End, bearing a figure in a pointed hat.
"Gandalf!" Frodo cried with delight and relief. Frodo and Merry began to tell their story together, their voices confused and confusing.
"I cannot hear if you both speak together," he said, "Frodo, tell me what has happened." Frodo explained. Gandalf listened intently, questioning them on certain details. There wasn't really much to say, since neither hobbit knew what had happened.
"Stay in Bag End," Gandalf commanded, taking the horse from the cart and saddling him for riding.
"Where are you going?" Frodo asked.
"To find someone who may be able to help." He rode off, and the three hobbits returned to Bag End to wait and worry.
It was after sunset when he returned, bringing with him a man. The man was dark-haired and grey-eyed, with a keen look on his face. Gandalf introduced him as Strider, saying, "He will find Pippin, if he is to be found." There was something strange about this Strider that made Frodo unsure about trusting him, but Gandalf said he was a friend, and Frodo was desperate now to find Pippin. He told his tale to Strider, who then asked in detail about where they had searched and what they had looked for. He asked where Pippin liked going, and where they thought he might have gone to. Then he inquired about what clothes Pippin was wearing and what he might have been carrying. It was late by the time he had finished asking, and Frodo felt they were still no closer to finding Pip.
***
Pippin woke again in darkness to hear the voices talking quietly.
"Things have begun to change too rapidly," one was saying. A sudden image appeared in the darkness, of a man bending close to the ground looking at footprints. The image was clearly visible, but there was still no light shining on it. Everything else remained in complete blackness.
"Aragorn," a woman's voice said, "He should not have come, events are altering."
"We must not change them back," another voice replied, the stern, menacing voice from earlier.
"Nor can we return him now, after he has seen all he has seen." Pippin guessed they were talking about him.
"I've seen nothing," he said suddenly, hoping against hope that they would have pity on him.
"And still that is too much," the stern voice said.
"Who are you?" Pippin asked.
"You would not know my name, and you would be better not knowing it when you hear of me from another," the stern voice said. That wasn't what Pippin had meant, but his fear was growing again. Who was this man who didn't wish to be known? His name was obviously known for some terrible deed.
"Please let me go," Pippin begged. In the pause that followed Pippin felt certain some hand would strike him. He was more afraid of their silence than their voices.
"We will let you go on one condition," the voice said. Pippin didn't doubt that the condition would be one he would hate to meet. "Give us your word that you will speak of this to no one. All you have seen, heard and felt since your coming here will remain in your memory and be revealed to none." Pippin almost said 'yes' the moment the voice had fallen silent. But then he thought of Frodo and Merry. Whatever these people were planning must have evil intentions, or they would not demand his silence. They had been in the Shire, which meant the Shire might be in some danger. By remaining silent, he would help them achieve their goals. He couldn't do that.
"No!" The silence that followed seemed to be swallowing him. But he knew he had surprised them, and that gave him some small pleasure. "I will not stand silently and let you do whatever you intend to do." He trembled in his restraints, knowing that if they did not release him, he would remain in this dark prison forever, waiting for the blow that would surely come at any moment.
Suddenly there was a laugh. It was unexpected, but did not sound cruel. It seemed almost cheerful in this terrifying prison.
"Now we see the courage of the Ernil i Pheriannath," the voice said, no longer stern. Pippin didn't know what the last words had meant, but felt complimented in a strange way. "You place us in a difficult position, Peregrin," the voice continued, "we cannot keep you here, and we cannot return you if you will speak of these events."
"Then you will have to kill me."
"You would die rather than swear an oath?"
"If you're planning on hurting my friends, of course I'd rather die!" He wasn't sure what made him say it, but he knew it was the truth. He wouldn't hurt his friends, and if death was the only other option he would have to take it.
"You will need that courage," the voice said. "Very well." And suddenly Pippin slept again.
Panic began to overwhelm him as he lay there in the darkness, unable to see anything, unable to move. How had this happened?
He thought back to the last thing he remembered. He and Merry had gone to stay with Frodo at Bag End for a few days. He hadn't been able to sleep, and thought that a walk might tire him out enough for him to rest. He'd gone out, and began to walk in the countryside near Bag End. He hadn't been to Hobbiton enough times to know the land around it very well, and had gotten confused about the direction trying to find his way back.
That was when he'd seen them. Two figures, taller than hobbits, shrouded in black cloaks, talking quietly. He had been instantly afraid, and tried to back away, but his foot on a twig had alerted them to his presence. The last thing he could remember was them turning towards him. Where was he? What did they want with him?
***
Frodo woke up early and went to prepare breakfast for his guests. He liked having Merry and Pippin around. They were cheerful hobbits, who didn't avoid him like several other did because of his disappearing uncle. It was coming up to their shared birthday again, and talk in the Shire always turned to Bilbo's party at this time of year, even though it was now five years ago.
Finally, everything was ready for breakfast, it did take a long time to prepare a hobbit's breakfast, and Frodo went to wake Merry and Pippin. Merry was already getting dressed, but Pippin was nowhere to be seen. He wasn't in his room, so Frodo began to worry.
"He'll be back soon enough," Merry said, buttering some toast, "he won't want to miss breakfast." Frodo agreed and settled down to enjoy the meal, though when Pippin hadn't appeared by the end his worry was growing. Even Merry was worried by this point.
"What if something's happened to him," he said, his voice filled with concern for his friend.
"We'd better look for him," Frodo agreed. So they took their cloaks and set out, but they couldn't find any sign of Pippin. And no one they asked had seen him since he arrived with Merry the day before. It was as if he had disappeared completely.
***
Pippin didn't realise he'd fallen asleep until a bright light shocked him awake. Blinded, he struggled to make out dark figures between himself and the light that seemed to come from everywhere at once.
"Who are you?" he asked, afraid, his voice trembling. His eyes began to adjust to the light, but the figures still remained dark silhouettes, featureless and menacing. "What do you want with me?"
"How much did you see, hobbit?" a voice asked sharply. A voice filled with menace that sent a shiver of fear down Pippin's spine.
"Nothing," he protested, "I saw two dark figures and that's all."
"He's lying," another voice said, this time a female.
"What makes you so sure?" It might have been the first voice who spoke, or perhaps another. Pippin couldn't be sure.
"He's terrified," the woman replied, "Perregrin Took would not be afraid of dark figures." But Pippin was afraid. Afraid of these people and what they might do to him. He was afraid of how they knew who he was.
"What did you see?"
"I've told you," Pippin said, "Please, I haven't done anything wrong." He tried to hold back the sobs he knew were coming, but the desperation of the situation had sunk in. He could do nothing to escape these people
"Tell us what you saw and we won't harm you," someone said. A new voice.
"All I saw were two dark figures," Pippin repeated, and he did sob. "Please don't hurt me," he begged.
"We want the truth."
"That is the truth."
"I don't think he's lying," it was the first voice that spoke again, one stern and menacing. The voice of someone used to be obeyed. Then one of the dark figures bent down close to Pippin, and he had a glimpse of a man's face, as he breathed, "Sleep," in Pippin's ear. Pippin was asleep instantly.
***
It had been three days since Pippin's disappearance. Merry and Frodo had searched all the land around Hobbiton with the help of Sam Gamgee, but they'd found nothing. Neither of them knew what they should do next, where they should look. Frodo was afraid that they would never see Pippin again, but tried to keep it buried beneath the determination to keep searching. They wouldn't give up on Pippin.
So it was that they were out on the road the next day, when a cart trundled up the road towards Bag End, bearing a figure in a pointed hat.
"Gandalf!" Frodo cried with delight and relief. Frodo and Merry began to tell their story together, their voices confused and confusing.
"I cannot hear if you both speak together," he said, "Frodo, tell me what has happened." Frodo explained. Gandalf listened intently, questioning them on certain details. There wasn't really much to say, since neither hobbit knew what had happened.
"Stay in Bag End," Gandalf commanded, taking the horse from the cart and saddling him for riding.
"Where are you going?" Frodo asked.
"To find someone who may be able to help." He rode off, and the three hobbits returned to Bag End to wait and worry.
It was after sunset when he returned, bringing with him a man. The man was dark-haired and grey-eyed, with a keen look on his face. Gandalf introduced him as Strider, saying, "He will find Pippin, if he is to be found." There was something strange about this Strider that made Frodo unsure about trusting him, but Gandalf said he was a friend, and Frodo was desperate now to find Pippin. He told his tale to Strider, who then asked in detail about where they had searched and what they had looked for. He asked where Pippin liked going, and where they thought he might have gone to. Then he inquired about what clothes Pippin was wearing and what he might have been carrying. It was late by the time he had finished asking, and Frodo felt they were still no closer to finding Pip.
***
Pippin woke again in darkness to hear the voices talking quietly.
"Things have begun to change too rapidly," one was saying. A sudden image appeared in the darkness, of a man bending close to the ground looking at footprints. The image was clearly visible, but there was still no light shining on it. Everything else remained in complete blackness.
"Aragorn," a woman's voice said, "He should not have come, events are altering."
"We must not change them back," another voice replied, the stern, menacing voice from earlier.
"Nor can we return him now, after he has seen all he has seen." Pippin guessed they were talking about him.
"I've seen nothing," he said suddenly, hoping against hope that they would have pity on him.
"And still that is too much," the stern voice said.
"Who are you?" Pippin asked.
"You would not know my name, and you would be better not knowing it when you hear of me from another," the stern voice said. That wasn't what Pippin had meant, but his fear was growing again. Who was this man who didn't wish to be known? His name was obviously known for some terrible deed.
"Please let me go," Pippin begged. In the pause that followed Pippin felt certain some hand would strike him. He was more afraid of their silence than their voices.
"We will let you go on one condition," the voice said. Pippin didn't doubt that the condition would be one he would hate to meet. "Give us your word that you will speak of this to no one. All you have seen, heard and felt since your coming here will remain in your memory and be revealed to none." Pippin almost said 'yes' the moment the voice had fallen silent. But then he thought of Frodo and Merry. Whatever these people were planning must have evil intentions, or they would not demand his silence. They had been in the Shire, which meant the Shire might be in some danger. By remaining silent, he would help them achieve their goals. He couldn't do that.
"No!" The silence that followed seemed to be swallowing him. But he knew he had surprised them, and that gave him some small pleasure. "I will not stand silently and let you do whatever you intend to do." He trembled in his restraints, knowing that if they did not release him, he would remain in this dark prison forever, waiting for the blow that would surely come at any moment.
Suddenly there was a laugh. It was unexpected, but did not sound cruel. It seemed almost cheerful in this terrifying prison.
"Now we see the courage of the Ernil i Pheriannath," the voice said, no longer stern. Pippin didn't know what the last words had meant, but felt complimented in a strange way. "You place us in a difficult position, Peregrin," the voice continued, "we cannot keep you here, and we cannot return you if you will speak of these events."
"Then you will have to kill me."
"You would die rather than swear an oath?"
"If you're planning on hurting my friends, of course I'd rather die!" He wasn't sure what made him say it, but he knew it was the truth. He wouldn't hurt his friends, and if death was the only other option he would have to take it.
"You will need that courage," the voice said. "Very well." And suddenly Pippin slept again.