Chapter Three: The Prisoner of Orthanc:

Severus looked at the orcs who were left here to guard Isengard and who wanted to go to battle but were kept back here. They were ugly greyish brutes clad in decent armor and weapons. Snaga had a whip in hand and Severus made his choice. He could let the orcs here remain in control of his punishment unjust as it were or take it with as much contempt as he could. He was going to be in pain no matter what and he might as well safe fighting for later. He unbuttoned his robes and shoved them off so they hung around his waist over his belt and removed his shirt casting it aside. He punched an orc who tried to bind him and Snaga laughed, this was funny now, such entertainment he had not expected. So the man thought he could handle this unbound? Very well he would make sure he regretted that choice.

"You really are going to regret that." Snaga said.

"Shut it and get it over with." Severus said kneeling on the ground.

"Very well, you would make a good orc." Snaga said, "too bad we are enemies, you think more like us."

"For the record I hate you and find you repulsive." Severus shot back. "Nothing but filth you are."

"Eh, this will be fun." Snaga said kicking him. "That is for the insult."

Severus grunted in pain, but really when one has had the worst curse for pain cast on one, a beating was not going to compare. He took the ten lashes in silence then painfully stood up and spat on the ground once more to show his contempt. Wormtongue put chains on his wrists more to protect himself and at sword point forced Severus up the stairs into Orthanc. The heavy door was closed and locked and Wormtongue taunted Severus. Severus glared at Wormtongue, such an evil simpering worm of a man.

"He will get what he wanted, he did from poor Grima." Wormtongue said, "I can't leave him."

"You are a worm, betray your own people and for what?" Severus said, "I at least have tried to right my wrongs."

"I wish you were mine, I would teach you new levels of pain." Wormtongue said.

"Why don't you shut up." Severus said.

With that he used his chained hands to knock Wormtongue out. He turned to see an amused Saruman there and he glared at him. That got Saruman very angry and he brought his staff down and cast a very painful curse at Severus. It seemed middle earth did have a similar curse to Crucio that he was so used to here even. He did moan in pain but refused to cry out. He was forced to stand and was taken to another room where he was forced to his knees. He remained there while Saruman got a healing potion and used that on him to heal the cuts but not remove the pain. Severus focused on his breathing, he was dead, he knew that now, Saruman was not going to let him go, not by a long shot.

"Your fighting me is not going to work, nor will your trying to kill yourself." Saruman said, "I did not work on healing you to repay me in this manner!"

"Your words do not mean anything to me, do not try to use your voice on me!" Severus shot back, "honeyed tones that breed maggots will not sway me."

"You are determined to continue this battle you cannot win." Saruman said, "you will serve me."
"Why don't you try to make me!" Severus shot back, "I'll not serve the likes of you!"

"Why not you served a dark lord before?" Saruman said, "I am not a dark lord, see I am Saruman of many colors!"

"Leave me alone!" Severus snarled and told him to go do something not fit for polite company.

Saruman did his best to keep his temper, he was not going to lose to this, this filth before him. He brought his staff down and cast painful hex after painful hex yet Severus refused to yield. He only stopped when Severus was unmoving, he would have this wizard to his will, there was nothing more for it. He took Severus to a top room and magically chained him to the wall, he could move about the room but could not leave. The door was closed and Severus fell to the floor and passed out once more. Yet before he did he thought that despite the pain it had been amusing to see the orcs show some little respect to him. Though filth like that should be exterminated for good.

Severus woke hours later to find Wormtongue in the chamber with him. This did not look good for him, if Wormtongue was here what was he here for? Severus was still too weak to fight back but was clear Wormtongue wanted some of his own back. He saw a fine bruise on Wormtongue's face and curled up as the first blow came, then another. That was not going to be tolerated and he got up and threw a punch at Wormtongue and got him in the throat. It was clear that Severus was far better at this hand to had combat, Wormtongue was good with sword but was not good at this sort of fighting, Severus was, even bound as he was. Yet he was thrown to the wall and fell to the floor and Saruman entered the chamber and looked down at him. The chains on his hands were removed and he was able to draw his shirt and robe back on. The chains were put back on and he was given bread and cheese for a meal.

"Leave us." He said to Wormtongue and Wormtongue left. "He wants to throw you in a stew pot, he likes the flesh of people."

"Perhaps you should let him." Severus said eating his meager dinner. "I hate looking at him, pathetic worm."

"Of that you and I agree, you will find serving me is not such a hard thing." Saruman said.

"I will not, I would rather die, death does make me afraid." Severus replied.

"No, you will serve me." Saruman said, "that is your only choice, on the morrow morning we will see who's will is stronger."

"I will not serve you." Severus said.

"You will." Saruman said, "I respect your fighting spirit but you will serve me."

With that Saruman was gone and Severus remained bound, cold and unable to flee, how was he to escape bound as a prisoner like this? The next morning dawned cold for him and he was unbound and taken before Saruman in a high cold chamber. There a palantir, one of seven sat on a table. Saruman bade his prisoner to gaze into it and Severus tried to refuse, and he could not. He gazed into it and horrors were shown him so vile and terrible he cried out and tried to fling himself away from the stone. Instead he found himself in a dark chamber and there before him was the form of Sauron. The horror he felt on seeing him made him want to flee but he could not, he was unable to move and only could stand before the terror before him.

"Who comes to my realm?" Sauron said in the black speech. "Speak! You understand me!"

"Severus Snape." Severus said in the common tongue.

"Oh a man did Saruman send you here for his amusement?" Sauron asked.

"Yes." Severus replied.

"Then I shall enjoy this time we have together." Sauron said.

Severus did not know how long he was with Sauron, days or hours he had no idea, all he remembered was pain, suffering, humiliation and cold laughter. He was not questioned anymore and finally he was able to tear himself away from the palantir collapsing to the floor. He lay on the floor unable to move and dimly found himself against the cold stone wall. He tried to move but found that was not possible, he realized he was nothing more than a slave and he had no way to flee. Saruman walked up to him and Severus did the only thing he could, he sang the verses he had song before.

"A Elbereth Gilithoniel, I chin a thul lin miriel."

"Do that again and I will cut your tongue out!" Saruman said backing up, words that once brought him joy now brought him terror, "how dare you!"

"I dare because I don't want to live in a world without light!" Severus said.

"Wormtongue!" Saruman said, "show our guest to the top of the tower and leave him there, chain him fast! I will deal with him when hunger and thirst make him a more willing servant!"

Severus was drug up to the very top of the tower and Wormtongue did as he was told to do. Before he did in one last act of cruelty he took Severus's robe and boots leaving him in his shirt and trousers and barefoot . Severus looked out and saw the lands around and something moving towards them. Something large was steadily moving forward, he sat down and huddled as best he could and he dozed. He woke fully when he saw trees around the base of Orthanc, no not trees, these were vaguely man-shaped but so much larger. He thought they might take the tower and him with it but they were stopped by the strength of Orthanc.

Then the water came rushing in and poured into all the holes that Saruman had made casing a great steaming. Severus watched in amazement as a lake formed and there was no way out for any of them. He heard the cries of pain and realized Saruman was taking his fury out on Wormtongue. Severus wondered if he was next and he did not have long to wait until he was drug from the top of the tower into a cold chamber used for spell craft in days past but now it was going to be used to torment and torture him. Had he just come here to be the plaything of another dark lord? He was on his knees and did not dare rise, not even when the chains were removed, he saw Saruman had his wand and was examining it.

"Such craftsmanship, did you make this?" Saruman asked.

"I did not." Severus said.

"Hmm, you had others in your world that could make such things?" Saruman asked.

"Yes, it seems as if you are trapped for the time being." Severus said, "I might be able to help."

"No, you can't, there is no way out, even with your brand of magic. The ents have sealed me in here and you, you as well. They would see you as the enemy now." Saruman said, "nothing to say Severus son of Tobias, well we will see."

Severus looked to the corner of the room and saw Wormtongue laying beaten and broken, his fine raiment gone. If Saruman was willing to do such a thing to one of his servants, what would happen to him a prisoner? Severus tried to flee but this got Saruman to laugh, this was good to see fight in his captive but soon he would bend him to his will. He brought his staff down and Severus found himself bound to a table by ropes. Saruman walked to a wall and pulled out several vials.

"I think your disobedience comes to an end." Saruman said walking over. "I tried other ways and means but I will have your loyalty."

"Go to hell." Severus spat at him.

"Oh no, you are the key to my leaving here and you will do as I say, now."

Severus fought, he really did but in the end the vials were forced down his throat again and again until all were gone. Then the pain set in and all Severus had to do was give in, to surrender and that he was not going to do. The potions were strong but he was not from middle earth and so he was able to fight back. His cries of pain could be heard outside the tower and those that heard them felt pity for the one being tortured.

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Yes, Saruman is not redeemable at all. He has decided that torture and suffering are the very things he has a right to do and he wants Severus bent to his will because Severus is strong and could help him even at the time that he is a prisoner.

Anyway, do review please!