A/N: Oops, forgot to put disclaimer.

I DON'T OWN THE CHARACTERS.

Saruman pointed his staff at Pippin, muttering a few words under his breath.

Pippin suddenly felt excruciating pain, and screamed. It stopped, and Pippin lay gasping on the ground.

"Where is the ring?!" demanded Saruman furiously, picking Pippin up from the floor.

"I ... won't... tell you," the small hobbit said in a small voice.

Saruman slapped him. Peregrin, caught by surprise at the sudden strike, landed flat on his face.

Saruman was just looking at him for several minutes, examining his form. He saw the cut near his ankle, which was produced by the whip as it curled around his leg, when he dropped his brooch. The wizard smirked.

An Uruk-hai came into the room. He whispered something in Saruman's ear.

"WHAT?!" Saruman bellowed, boiling with rage. "ESCAPED? HOW? SPEAK!"

- - - - - - - - -

Merry, with his bonds cut, the dagger in his hand, started going down the staircase from which he had emerged with the now-dead orc. He heard footsteps behind him, and started to walk more quickly, more aware of his surroundings. If he was caught again, all hopes of him and Pippin escape would vanish. He had to find the room Pippin was in, then wait until he is ordered to be taken away by an orc or uruk, attack it, and with Pippin, find some way out of this place. That was his best plan.

- - - - - - - - -

"Search the small one," Saruman ordered to an orc in the room, who had been cackling quietly. Then he turned to the uruk, "Lead me there."

So the orc searched him, he checked in his pockets, he took away Pippin's cloak, jacket, scarf and shirt, looking through them thoroughly. However, he didn't give them back to the hobbit. Pippin was standing there, shivering, not knowing what to do, wanting to be with Merry. Not just Merry, but everyone – Frodo, Sam, Strider, Legolas, Gimli, Gandalf and Boromir. Gandalf and Boromir... who would never return.

Pippin was standing there for what seemed hours, days and weeks, his eyes tearing.

Saruman returned. "Seems like your little friend is taking a trip around the Orthanc tower," he said, without the slightest emotion showing. He walked towards the Halfling, and then bent forward to him. "But not for much longer," he said, his teeth clenched.

The wizard called for a group of uruks. He ordered them to make two pairs of small shackles, and the orc who had searched Pippin to take him away to a cell, and tie his hands to the wall. So he did, and Pippin couldn't do anything but wait and wait, until sleep took him.

He dreamt of sitting peacefully in the Shire with Merry, and then everything started to burn. Someone took hold of his arm, and started to drag him away from Merry. His cousin just sat there, looking at him with sorry eyes. Pippin awoke with a small gasp.