Pippin awoke from his long atagonised slumber. As he rubbed his eyes, he heard the cold clanking of his chains as they rubbed together. He tryed to snap them, but the nosie only became louder.
"Hush", Sam whispered to his hobbit friend,"If we make no noise, then Saruman may think that we still slumber under his magic."
"Where is Merry?", Pippin asked, deeply concerned for his older cousin. They shared a strong bond, and Pippin looked up to his elder no end.
"I don't know", replied Sam,"I am worried about him too, maybe he was killed by the Uruk Hai?"
Pippin shook his head in thought."No, i do not think so, Saruman was insistent that we were taken alive, i do not think that he would order Merry destroyed by his army."
The chamber door creaked open, and Saruman the White stepped through the threshold.
"Hobbits, i am glad there are only two of you", he spat in disgust,"Never before have i had such fowl creatures in my castle, and hopefully, i never will again."
"Where are the others", Pippin questioned, hiding his fear of the powerful wizard,"Where is Strider? And Gimli? Where are Legolas, and Boromir? And where is."
Sam gave Pippin a swift kick as Saruman looked on.
Saruman seemed oblivious to Pippin's mistake, and continued on his tirant of abuse. Finally, he drew breath, his hoarse voice appearing raspy.
"How unfortunate that something as powerful and important as the one ring should come to you, hobbits of the Shire", Saruman weezed, learing toward Sam.
Sam held his breath, and fortunately for him, Saruman retreated.
"I know you have it", Saruman cried,"Where is it? Where is the one ring?"
Pippin and Sam exchanged glances, but said nothing. Merry had the ring, and if Saruman was looking for it, it meant that Merry must have escaped from him.
"I am waiting!", Saruman growled,"Who is the bearer?!"
Still the hobbits said nothing, they could not incriminate Merry, he was part of the Fellowship, and such a bond of trust that had been made could not be broken now.
"I feared that you may have woven loyalty bonds such as these", Saruman's forehead glistened, his thirst for both the ring of power, and his desire to be the dark lord burned within his soul."Very well!", he stated,"You shall have until the sunset of tomorrow to tell me who bears the ring of power, and if i do not know by then, i shall torture your elf friend, and he will join my legions of orcs! Think carefully before you snub Saruman the White hobbits!"
Saruman swept from the chamber, his garments trailing behind him.

Frodo continued along the pathway. It was becoming steeper, and more complicated.
"I must be getting closer to Isenguard", he thought,"After all, i have been walking for many hours, surely it must almost be the sunrise."
Suddenly, a tiny rock crumbled from the pathway behind Frodo. He unsheathed Sting, and spun around.
"Come out!", he cried, swinging Sting high above his head,"Come out and fight!"
He treaded back along the path, tightly grasping Sting. He drew breath as he lept round the corner.
"AI!", he cried.
But there was no one there.
"I must have been mistaken.....", he thought, and continued his quest toward the tower.

"Stir yourself elf!", Saruman comanded, his poisonous voice slicing through Legolas's thoughts.
Legolas raised his eyes to behold his captor. The glistening white eyes of Saruman stared into the elf's fair face.
Legolas felt his heart sink into his chest, he knew what Saruman did with elves, and he did not wish to go through that kind of pain, he would prefer death, rather than to serve Saruman forever.
"What do you want Saruman", Legolas spoke swiftly to Saruman, with an air of disrespct in his voice, for he did not wish for the wizard to think that an elf from Mirkwood was afraid of him.
Saruman caught onto the tone of Legolas's voice, and raised his staff against the elf.
"Do not anger me elf", he spat on the silky blond hair of Legolas, that was now matted with dirt, blood, and sweat,"Do not you know what i do with elves? I despise having you in my kingdom alive, but it is necessary for the plan."
"What plan?", breathed Legolas, fighting the urge to spit in Saruman's face, for as much as he would have liked to, he could not anger the wizard, for he did not know where his friends were."Where are Aragorn? And Gimli? What have you done with my friends!"
"Silence elf!", Saruman commanded Legolas,"Your friends are safe for now, but not for much longer. I have told your friend Aragorn my plan, but you need not concern yourself with it, for the only part you will play in it shall be the bargaining tool. I have told your ranger friend that if he does not agree to my terms, i will mutilate you into an orc. You friend Aragorn will fight by my side, i know what he will choose. But i must prove to him i mean what i say, for he may have doubts."
"Aragorn will never fight for you Saruman!", Legolas cried, wishing that he was not bound to a stone table, and that he had his bow and arrow, then he could destroy Saruman."He is a warrior, he shall never break the promise of the council of Elrond. He knows how i feel about it also, you shall not bend him to your will Saruman."
Saruman snapped his fingers. In a few seconds, four orc bowmen were at his side.
"Shoot him!", he commanded,"But avoid the heart!"
There was a snap as four long black arrows flew through the air and into Legolas's body.
He cried out in pain, as one hit him in the shoulder, and two others in the leg. The final arrow landed perilessly close to his spine.
Tiny tears ran down his cheeks as he faced Saruman defiantly.
"Do to me what you will Saruman", he said thickly through his tears,"But Aragorn will not fight for you."
"Again!", Saruman commanded,"Show the elf the tidings he has to look forward to in the coming hours, for Aragorn has until sunset to make his decision, and unfortunately for you my elf friend, that is many hours away."
Legolas screamed in pain once more, as the arrows pierced his fair elven body.
"And there is much more to come!", Saruman said with a chilled grin,"Retrieve the burning iron!"
An orc appeared instantly at his side, his hands trembled with the weight of the smouldering iron, it glowed blood red, ready to be placed onto Legolas's body.
On the table, Legolas wimpered as he beheld the fate that was in store for him. He prayed for the strength of his commerades, he prayed for their well being, he hoped his pain was helping them in some way.
"Halt!", Saruman commanded, seeing the terrified look on Legolas's face.
Legolas opened his eyes, and stared at the wizard - was he about to release him? Why had he told the orcs to stop their torture?
Saruman pressed his staff to Legolas's swollen body.
"I will stop the pain......i know how much it hurts you.....you may be imortal, but i know you can feel pain....", Saruman tightened the hold on his staff.
"How?", Legolas croaked,"How will you stop the pain.....what is your price?"
Saruman's laughter lit up the chamber, even the orcs cowering in the shadow of their master.
"Tell me who the ring bearer is", Saruman whispered in the ear of the elf, how could sense the fire burning within the wizard.
"I cannot do that", Legolas said hoarsely, thinking of Merry, and praying that along with the others, he was alright.
"Your pain wil cease.....i can make you more powerful than you have ever dreamed elf.....you shall be the commander of my army.....we shall defeat the dark lord....rule middle earth....but i need the ring...who has it."
With his last few words, Saruman had revealed to the elf his true personnia.
"I would rather be torutred and mutilated than stand by your side Saruman", the elf said with all the strength he could muster,"You shall get no information from me."
"So be it!", Saruman stabbed his staff into the elf's side,"He is yours my orcs, but do not kill him, i will return at sunset, bading Aragorns decision. Farewell elf, enjoy yourself, for my orcs are experts in the field of torture."
Saruman left the chamber to the sound of the Elf's screams.
"Such a happy sound", he smiled as he made his way to his throne room, to increase the charms on Anduril,"What folly that elf is so bent on trust, he would have made a good captain of my orc legion. Still, maybe i shall get my wish, that is, if my orcs get their way."

While Saruman had been in the dungeons, Merry had lain still for many moments under the wooden chest. Finally, he had decided that if he were going to be of any help, he would have to move from the hiding place. He waited till the sound of footsteps were out of sight, and slid out from under the chest.
Agonisingly slowly, he lifted the lid of the chest, bewaring of the slightest creak that it gave. Eventually, he had the chest lid fully opened. He placed his hands inside, followed by his head. He gave a stiffled cry of excitement. Anduril! Aragorn's sword lay at the bottom of the chest. With quivering hands, he picked it up, marvelling once more at the magnificant weapon. But, then he placed it back in the chest. It felt different somehow, as if some sort of evil had been woven into the sword, just like he'd heard Saruman say. The sword would not be of any use to Strider if it was surrounded by evil charms and spells....but maybe he could find a way to break the incantations. At any rate, Merry decided to chance his luck, and throw caution to the wind. He raised the sword from the box, and placed it underneath his cloak. Now, he had to get to the others, they needed his help.
He swallowed his fears, this was his only chance, if he didn't go now, he'd never get out of this throne room. He placed the ring of power on his finger, and strode quickly toward the door. He ran past the orcs guarding the entrance, and down the winding staircase. As soon as the turned the corner, he was but a few feet away from Saruman himself. He tiptoed past the wizard and continued down the staircase.
Saruman strode past Maeery, unaware that he was there.
"I must get to the sword", the wizard said exasperatedly, hurring along the corridor, and up the staircase."I must put more enchantments on it."
Saruman opened the wooden chest, and felt to the bottom, but there was nothing there, the sword was gone!

The path continued to slope steeply downwards, the temperature dropping heavily. Frodo listened carefully to the rocks, as Legolas had taught him to do.
"Water!", he cried,"There is a river flowing nearby! I must be almost under Isenguard!"
Frodo cursed his bulk as he struggled to run down the steep pathway. Finally, and breathing heavily, he reached the bottom. He gasped in wonder at the sight that beheld him. Truely he had reached the caverns of Isenguard, but he had not known that something so evil.....could look so wonderful. The tiny cracks in the rocks held the beautifull crimson red of the sun, its glory spilling down into the large cavern. A long, deeply drawn river flowed through the centre of the cave set, shimering white as the glory of Rivendell. At the very end of the passageway, there was a flight of stone steps, chipped so badly that they could hardly be rendered as steps. But yet, there were no guards around, the beautiful cavern was empty, with only the sound of Frodo voice eching around it's magnificently sturdy walls.
Frodo edged forwards, straightening his back along the wall, he did not want to be caught now. Hastely he made his way up the steps, keeping ever closer to the edge, in case he any orcs came along the pathway. But none came. He reached the top of the stairs, and found himself in the very bottom of Saruman's domain, the rancid stench of orcs filling his nostrils as oon as he entered the room.
"Obviously Saruman does not know about the passageway to his realm from the cave of the water sprite", Frodo remarked dryly, chancing a hastened look around the damp chamber. His eyes widened as he beheld the empty orc chamber. There, lying in the centre of the room, was the backpack of Sam, it's contents strewn over the musty floor.
"Then i was right indeed!", Frodo wept, forgetting his position, and hurrying over to his friend's knapsack,"They did journey to this accursed place! But what of them? I know not if they are still alive! Oh, why did i have to fall in the battle with the orcs?!"
Then he heard a sound from several floors above him. The excruitiating screams echoed throughout Saruman's vast chambers, growing louder and louder as they travelled downwards.
"One of my friends is still alive!", Frodo cried, his weary voice filling with fresh hope,"But which one?"

Boromir tossed his weary head, his hair hung thickily about his face, as his eyes grew acustomed to the darkness.
"Where am i?", he breathed deeply, his nostrils sucoming to the foul smell of the orcs.
"In Saruman's dungeon", Aragorn replied thickly, not really wanted to talk, his mind was laden with the desicion he was being forced to make."He has captured us Boromir, for a reason that i do not wish to disclose, for i want you not to bear the burden of thought."
Gimli, who had also awoken stared round the vast chamber."Where is the elf?", he muttered, trying to contain the worry he had of Legolas's disapearance.
Aragorn fought hard to restrain the tear that had spilled from his crystal blue eyes."Saruman has him", was all he could say, his mind bent on his hatred for the foul wizard."The hobbits too."
Boromir's face hardened as he turned on Aragorn."Then we must free him. Come, let us go."
Aragorn sadly shook his head."We cannot, we cannot escape from the dungeon."
Both Gimli and Boromir tryed in vain to break the strong chains that held them to the wall, but they did not suceed.
Gimli wished with all his heart that his axe was with him."Why does he have Legolas?", he asked Aragorn, taking note of the ranger's sunken eyes.
"It is my fault", came a distant reply."Saruman wishes me to weild the sword Anduril for him. He has told me that if i do not, then he will torture Legolas, he will mutilate him into an orc. And you will not go without punishment, he plans that you all shall serve him, as long as you remain alive. I have until the sun sets this day to make my decision. I know not what i will do, for i will not fight for Saruman, but i cannot abandon you to the torment of the orcs."
"You must not fight for Saruman Aragorn", Boromir stated, his own malice for the wizard burning in his valiant heart."You cannot let him win."
"Yes", Gimli agreed,"It does not matter what happens to us, but Saruman must not gain control of the ring, for then middle earth will be all but doomed."
Once again Legolas's screams shattered the silence in the chamber. Through the narrow window, Aragorn could see the sun, it stood in the middle of the sky, it's crimson rays shining through the tiny slit in the chamber wall.
"Whatever be my desicion", Aragorn prayed softly,"I pray it will come swiftly, for i do not believe Legolas can last much longer."