RECAPTURED Part I

by Llinos

AU UrukHai recapture Merry & Pippin and things change. The two suffer many trials and tribulations as a result! Appearances by all the other LotR characters CHAPTERS 192! STORY RESUMES IN RECAPTURED CONTINUED CHAPTERS 13 REWRITTEN NEW MATERIAL!

36. Decisions

Decisions

Chapter 36 - Recaptured II

Author Llinos

Beta and additional material: MarigoldG

Pippin lay quietly on the floor without moving anything except his eyes. His guards were eating and he did not want to draw their attention in any way. He watched carefully for any sudden moves on their part, hoping that he could ready himself for whatever they would do.

He hadn't spoken to Legolas since he had woken up although he knew that if he called out he could easily reach him. But Pippin felt guilty about the elf and the way he had drawn the pain away from him. The little hobbit had known that as the agony from the cruel lashes had lessened for him, Legolas would have felt it instead. He had heard the elf's screams in his head, echoing his own silent cries.

The big orc – an Uruk, Pippin realised – looked at him quizzically and then dunked a small piece of bread in his cup and held it out to him. His belly was empty but he still felt sick and didn't want the morsel. The Uruk ate the bread himself then pulled on the noose around Pippin's neck, dragging him forward and making the little hobbit grab the rope with his hands to prevent being choked as he was reeled in.

The Uruk dipped another piece of bread in his cup and fed it to Pippin. It tasted of the fiery draught he had been given by the orcs before, on the Plain of Rohan. Then he pulled Pippin up by his arm, turning him around so that his back was towards him and his companion. He was running his fingers across the welts making the hobbit flinch and as Pippin turned his head he could see the Uruk and the other orc were talking. Discussing him. Planning his next punishment perhaps.

Pippin shut his eyes and concentrated on ignoring the pleading voice in his head. Since the beating a curious calm had come over him. He had made up his mind about something. No one was coming for him this time, no one could save him. It would be better if he made no resistance, just let these orcs kill him, he was no use to anyone, anyway. Always causing trouble, always getting into trouble, better for everyone to end his useless existence now. Why make his friends suffer further on his account and why should Legolas bear the pain intended for him.

No, he might be small and helpless, but he had one weapon that the enemy could not take from him. He could choose to die.

The Uruk turned him round again and looked at him critically, still talking to his companion. The other one grinned at him and pinched his cheek. It hurt.

The voice continued to plead in his head, searching, calling for him to answer. It was so persistent that ignoring it – ignoring the sweet, kind elf – brought tears to his eyes. Finally he could resist it no longer and had to say something.

'go 'way legolas – not want you more – go out i head!'

****

By the first shades of evening Théoden and his entourage arrived at Dunharrow. Éomer set to directing the encampment of the Rohirrim and Éowyn acted as steward for the people who were to remain behind.

Aragorn arrived shortly after and with him came Halbarad and the men of the Dứnedain, as well as Elrohir and Elladan the sons of Elrond.

Aragorn came to look at Legolas's wounds, but by the evening there was little left to be seen, just a few red marks across his back. "I have shared pain before," the elf told him. "But never so that I was physically wounded. The effects obviously heal far quicker than a normal injury."

"It is to be hoped that Pippin's injury was lessened by your sharing." Aragorn helped the elf back into his doublet. "Have you managed to reach him again?"

"No," Legolas looked warily at Merry who was listening to every word. Ever since he had learned the truth of what had happened to the elf, he had stayed stubbornly and resolutely at his side. "I have tried, but he will not speak to me."

"Why? Can he not hear you?" Aragorn asked.

"He can hear I am sure, but I think he is concerned for me." Legolas shook his head sadly. "I believe he feels he is not worthy of my suffering and that he should bear his pain alone. I am greatly concerned though for his state of mind."

"Can you not persuade him to talk to you?" Aragorn nodded towards Merry, meaningfully, "or perhaps he would talk to someone else."

"I am not sure if that would be the best path for either of them." Legolas had considered joining minds with Merry so that he could talk to Pippin. But he was anxious that it could be devastating for both the hobbits. He lowered his voice to a whisper that he hoped Merry would not hear. "He knows no one is coming to rescue him and he has all but given up."

"So what will you do?" Aragorn realised he could offer no advice in this situation. "What does Gandalf think?"

"Gandalf say's that I must decide." Legolas knew that only he could choose whether to pursue Pippin's mind and how best the hobbit would be helped, although, he suddenly thought, Merry's opinion mattered in this too. Perhaps he had been a little too protective of Merry, forgetting maybe how much Merry could help. He knew how important Pippin was to his cousin, how important they were to each other. He had touched both their minds and could hardly fail to feel the deep love they had for each other.

"And did you reach a decision yet?" Aragorn asked.

"Yes, Merry you must decide how we can best aid Pippin." Legolas took Merry's hand and bent to kiss him lightly on his fair curls. "But first you must consider what may happen. Come we will ask Gimli and Gandalf to join our council. If you agree to this Master Meriadoc, we may have a long night ahead."

****

Smagnu and Grutfley were not regular partners, in fact this was the first time they had ever been put together. They ate their rations eyeing each other suspiciously, until Smagnu turned to look at the prisoner to see if it was conscious yet. It was not moving, but its eyes were open.

"Look at that thing." Smagnu pointed with his cup, before raising it to his lips. "It's awake already. Don't say much for yer skill, Grutfley."

"Whadda yer mean?" Grutfley muttered with his mouth full of bread. "I gave it a good beating and that's just for starters."

"You didn't make much impression on it." Smagnu pointed out. "It's a real odd little thing. Look at it watching us. Hardly seems hurt or frightened at all."

"Oh it's frightened all right." Grutfley sneered. "Betcha can't make it come to you. Go on try."

Smagnu dipped a piece of his bread in the orc whisky he was drinking and held it out. "Come 'ere… come on …want this?"

"See!" Grutfley smirked in triumph. "It's frightened all right. Won't come less'n you get it."

"Dunno," The Uruk ate the piece of bread himself. "It never made a sound when you was whipping it. Doncha think that's odd? I don't reckon it could, don't reckon it can hear neither, probably one of them mutes. Mebbe all their kind's like that."

"Well just 'cause it can't make no noise," Grutfley reasoned, "don't mean it ain't scared out of its wits."

"Don't think it's frightened, it just don't care." Smagnu took hold of the rope and dragged the captive towards him.

"Nah! See it's pulling back." Grutfley crowed in triumph. "Wouldn't do that if it weren't frightened."

The Uruk dragged the little creature towards him "Somethin' else, though." He dunked another piece of bread and fed it to the halfling. "It's hardly marked." He pulled Pippin up by the arm and turned him around. "See," Smagnu ran his fingers over the angrier welts. "There's about 3 or 4 cuts here and all the rest is just red marks."

"You implying I ain't doing my job proper?" Grutfley growled reaching for his whip. "'cause if you are…"

"I'd say you did a fair job, watching you." Smagnu agreed, "but look, it's like you weren't trying after the first few lashes."

Grutfley realised the Uruk was speaking the truth. "Hmm, funniest thing I ever saw. But then I ain't never had one of these to do before, pr'aps they're different and don't mark easy."

"So what you gonna do?" Smagnu turned the hobbit back round to face them. "It looks like such a delicate little thing, like you could blow it over. But it obviously ain't that dainty. How're you gonna hurt it without killing it?"

"Oh my speciality is with sweet things like this." Grutfley grinned and pinched Pippin's bruised cheek. "It's as pretty as a maid and I know how to make them behave and without killing 'em."

"Look!" Smagnu laughed seeing the tears in Pippin's eyes. "You gone and made it cry."

****

TBC

_______________________________________________________________________

Reviewer	Date	Chapter	Type
Adrienne D	2002-04-24	36	Signed
I knew that! I really did! I should, at least, being that that's the song I'm doing for my guard show.. I got my jokes mixed up is all- I do have a Mozart one, though.. ) But that will wait for chapter 41. Dear lord, I have missed so much! I would have done this sooner, but alas, homework has doubled itself and returned with a vengeance I never knew it had.. This is interesting, the state of mind you've put Pippin in. He's right though, no matter what Pippin has the ability to choose when he dies. That reminded me of Anthem by Ayn Rand- where no one has free will and they can't even choose their own name, much less when they die. On the by and by, it is quite an enlightening book (in my opinion), so if you get a chance- read it! I like how you have Pippin trying to protect Legolas from more pain- the guilt of allowing Legolas to take away some of his own pain must be almost impossible to bear. 'go 'way legolas - not want yo more - go out my head!' I have to wonder if Pippin can keep up such a resolve to protect his friends on his own, though... Ah! Nice idea with Legolas' wounds. The fact that they heal much faster than normal gives it the effect of.. searching for a word... I guess, makes it seem more unreal. That's probably not the best way to word it, but my vocabulary is all tuckered out at the moment. And what's this now? Yay! More three-way conversations! Hopefully, at least. I'm sure Merry can do wonders to help Pippin- the poor thing- in all his misery. I'm not sure if this is right, but the beginning argument between the orcs ('it's frightened' and 'no it's not' and so on) ellicited several laughs from _me_! Orcs can be amusing creatures, I must say. Though what Grutfley has planned for Pippin can certainly _not_ be a good thing.. Wonderful job, yet again, Llinos! Ai! You shouldn't be apologizing about making us readers scared. Just doin' your job, is all (and what a fun job it is)! Anyway, I'm off to chapter 37. ~*~Adrienne - Aw, c'mon. We all have those torture bones in our bodies. ;) You just gotta love 'em. And once again, sorry for the mix up in the joke!
FictionHobbit	2002-04-19	36	Signed
Thats enough stop playing around and save pip dern it... i dont mean to sound bossy but... HES GIVEN UP.... Its not right for Pip to give up! He's the hope of the fellowship dern it!... okay good update
Bean	2002-04-19	36	Signed
Pippin seems so much more grown up in this chapter. Even with the "oh I'm not important" things that he's thinking, because he *does* think that in the book. The writing remains great, the plot remains great. I can't think of anything you could do to make this a better story.
MarigoldG	2002-04-18	36	Signed
You're SORRY if you made us all sad and frightened? Listen to you! Apologising for doing your work so, so well! I expect to become More sad and frightened every day, chapter after angst ridden chapter, and the first thing I do when I get home every night is to turn on the computer so I can check on the boys! Even before my husband gets his supper made, lol! Just imagine the sense of triumph and uplifting joy I will have when (or, shudder, maybe I should say IF) things finally turn out okay... You are the  Queen of Merry and Pippin angst, and I bow on my knee (or would if I didn't need so desperately to clean my carpet) before you! As to this great chapter I like the cutting from different settings...Pip, Legolas, orcs... I do have to mention that I think your orcs aren't as slimy and evil sounding as Tolkien's orcs or the movie orcs, but I've reasoned to myself that these particular orcs have to be a bit above normal in intelligence or they wouldn't be serving in the Black Tower itself - they are probably even more evil, and the enhanced intelligence makes them more considered in their actions and so, even more dangerous...Pippin, you're in Biiig trouble! Hang in there! The fact that Pip could Hear Legolas screaming during the whipping would have brought me up short if I was in his place - I would do my utmost to shut Legolas out as well. Pain shared is pain halved yes, but only physically - mentally the knowledge would feel even worse than the physical pain to me...I think Legolas is going to have to get Merry to reason with him and I'll e-mail you a spoiler question I have about that encounter...I worry too that as Legolas is showing half of the physical results of the blows, and that Pip is healing so fast as well that the orcs are going to compensate on the side of more 'enthusiastic' beatings...and if Pippin hasn't let Legolas back in and he takes it all himself this time the orcs may almost kill the little guy - that would sure confuse them though, and make them unsure how to handle his punishments - one day it seems to barely phase the hobbit, next day slightly rougher punishment nearly kills him, and the orcs would be in big trouble...that would really tick them off at poor Pippin... : ( The knowledge that this time no one will come to fetch him has hit Pippin hard - he is bravely resigned to the impossibility of rescue, and feels its his own fault he is there anyway, and has bravely made the choice to give in to death rather than cause his friends to suffer till death inevitably comes later anyway. This is I think partly because it IS a choice (though not necessarily achieved at his whim) and Pip has very few choices available right now....better to excersize His choice when the opportunity presents itself than submit to the will of evil. Much like Merry on the top of Orthanc. The difference is that Merry's decision was one of defiance, and protectiveness of Pippin, and Pippin's is more one of resignedness to his fate. Brave still, but a decision reached too soon, and based on what he feels is a lack of worthiness on his part - yes, he is still noble in his decision, and it is one made partly to spare the others pain and anguish, but he needs to show a bit more defiance, and not seem so meek in the hands of his tormentors...Legolas is right that the heart seems to have gone out of him, and that he has given up...Merry needs to get in there and light up Pippin's defiant, stubborn spark! Have Pip make these guys work for their whiskey! Hobbit's Aren't as delicate as they look, lol! No chapter tomorrow....Aaaiiii!!! 5 or 6 over the weekend then? : )
Roz Morgan and Race skylark	2002-04-18	36	Signed
No, no don't let the nasty orcs hurt Pippin, I'll just die.....or cry.....a lot!............and you wouldn't want that would you? in our little town we (me and me baby brother that is to say) found Brandy mount, proof hobbits once lived in our village(that and the fact that our entire town is made up of short people who love food and the pub) back to story, nooooooooooo don't leave us for so long, even a day is far to long.  and slash.......i'm so pleased.....but still frightened for Pippin
Invidi	2002-04-18	36	Signed
Daaaaang...that's some bad medicine those Orcs are gonna be dealing out. =*( It's so depressingly touching to see that Pippin is laying down his life for his friends, in the oddest sense possible. The poor little thing's brave as they come. I hope those Orcs fry (wrong time frame) or something like that. Legolas is my hero. I've decided that through and through. If he finally did have children somewhere down the line (that's not a hint, don't take it as one! ::sticks tongue out::), he'd make the perfect father. He's such a sweetie for the Hobbits. And he's so patient, and that seems like it'll come in handy later in the story with Pippin. Very well done, Pippin's bravery is somewhat ill-founded, but it's a great feature for him to have. Bravo! More, more! ~*Invidi*~
Dindea	2002-04-18	36	Anonymous
Fantastic! Absolutly wicked! Absolutly fabulous(starts singing Wheels on Fire song) Sorry. I'm in a musical mood right now, I just came back from a dress rehearsal of Damn Yankees that I play the flute for. It's great to come back and find a new chapter. It woke me up (okay, confession time, see if this'll make you laugh: During the break I fell asleep in the orchestra room and they were three songs into the second act before they realised I wasn't there and sent someone to get me. When they woke me up (and I was having a lovely dream about some hobbits and their real world counterparts), I fell off the chairs I was on top of!) I remember Polo Mints! I always used to wonder why they were called "Polo" when there weren't any ponies. When I was younger, of course. But if anyone knows why..... Loving the story as always. Pippin would never hurt anyone (Orcs and evil nasties don't count). Merry's got a hard decision. Does he want to speak(think?) to pippin so much that he'd risk hurt to legolas, even if was willing? Or will he hope that Pippin will come to his senses? all this, next time (which I'm hoping will be really soon), same time, same Best AU channel.  P.S. Are you a Jaffa Cake, Digestive Biscuit, or Jammy Dodger girl, if any? P.P.S. My siblings and I used to call them Artful Dodgers, a character who was, incidently, played by Elijah Wood.

Original A/N

Thanks for the Dark Lord explanations. It got me thinking, too. Could it be that at the time shown, Sauron was still 'mortal' in some way. No that doesn't make sense, I'll stick with your all-powerful interpretations.

Adrienne

Whadda ya mean 'torture' Pippin? Moi? Surely not!

The joke was great except - that's not Mozart – it's Beethoven – Beethoven's Fifth Symphony to be precise. Looking forward to your Sunday review.

Marigold

You read my mind. As you will see from today's plot I had already decided that Pippin would try to reject Legolas – he's soooo brave!

And I forgot to mention the other day, well pointed out, Aragorn's comment about when was he ever incautious. He does say something like this in the book, but then he hadn't done all the stupid things he's done in my story, like getting Pippin hooked on opium and leaving the palantír lying around.

Dindea

Yes, you're right about the Shire. I live pretty much in Michael Delving and am just down the road from Hobbiton, especially at this time of year. The blossom is like snow and the beech woods are just coming out with their tiny green leaves and the bluebells are gathering force. There are celandines, daisies, wild violets, meadowsweet, cowslips scattered everywhere I run – it's just heaven! Oh and you're right – you just can't get the sweets in the US. (Although I like the Crackerjack and butterrum Lifesavers – just like Polos.)

Invidi

Just thanks for the nice analytical review – my favourite kind.

And lastly, I'm sorry if I made everyone sad or frightened. I am actually an evil orc in disguise as a fanfic writer, but I'll try and be better (or not).

Cheers

Llinos

PS The slash is still on it's way.