Warnings: Minor violence and mentions of rape. If that doesn't appeal to you then please hit the back button.

Time had passed since the breaking of the fellowship but Merry and Pippin knew not of how much went by. Both had been marching for what felt like weeks, rarely savoring the occasion of a rest period. The two had gone miles without food and drink. The lack of sustenance was gnawing at their bodies, leaving both nearly feeble. There was some comfort, though, but very little. The orcs had moved the troop out of the clearing allowing them to march in the shade of the trees. It was still hot but far better then being marched through the heated rays of the sun. Both were sweating horribly and their damped curls clung to their foreheads while flies buzzed around them. Pippin tried to swat the annoying insects on occasion. However, it only reminded him that his hands were tied. Whips cracked at his heels forcing him to pick up his pace. Merry was falling slightly behind.

"Merry," Pippin whispered, "you have to quicken your pace. If you begin to fall too far behind the orcs will use the whips on you. Please, walk faster. I know you must be weak but you have to keep up. If they beat you any more today it will only weaken you further."

"I can't do it Pippin," Merry whined. "I'm so hungry and so tired." His face reddened. "My back and rear hurt also."

"I know, Merry, I know," Pippin said. "There will be a moment for rest, I'm sure of it. Even the orcs can't march forever. The heat is probably wearing them down too."

"Quiet maggot!" an orc spat, cuffing Pippin. "Keep still and standing! We stop for a moment, so savor it while you two still can."

The hobbits glared ahead at the front of the line. Orcs were lingering around and growling about something ahead of them. Pippin saw Merry's eyes widen with fear. Pippin looked back ahead and saw what had frightened Merry. There were gaps in between the orcs and he could make out the rippling of water. The troop had come across a pond. He could tell the orcs were discussing something but he couldn't make them out. The leader suddenly snarled and the troop began to move again. The two hobbits were struck with fear and found themselves glued to the spot. That problem was remedied as orcs began to shove them along. Closer and closer they moved to the water's edge. The water rippled near their feet and finally drove against their bare skin. Pippin was the first to break.

"Please, we can't swim!" he wailed. "You can't force us in there! We'll both drown!"

"Pippin!" Merry cried in despair.

One of the orcs smirked down at them. "Is that so, little one? Olik, it seems the halflings don't know how to swim. Such a pity, isn't it?"

"Quite," Olik chuckled. "Perhaps we should give them swimming lessons. How do you suppose we do that?"

"Well, let's just see what happens when we keep them marching through the pond," Hurlick said. "That should be interesting enough."

The two orcs smacked at both the hobbit's backs with their sharp claws. Pippin squeaked at the searing pain on his back. Another smack of jagged claws crashed on his back causing him to practically leap into the water. Merry was close behind, near tears as well. The pond water was murky, bitter cold, and smelled rancid. Though the hobbits were barely in the pond the level of water was all ready up to their knees. The orcs around them sloshed by, spraying water all over the poor hobbits. By this time the water was up to the chests and slowly rose higher and higher. Pippin's heart was pounding. Not only could he feel it thudding against his chest but he could also hear it ringing in his ears. He glanced over at Merry who seemed to be in the same state. Perspiration was sliding down his crimson face and neck. He wanted to speak but one of the orcs grasped the back of his neck.

"How are you handling this, little one?" The look Merry shot the creature as it groped at his cousin caused the creature to laugh cruelly. "It looks as if your friend here doesn't like it all to well when you're touched."

"Leave him alone," Merry snapped.

"Did you hear that Olik?" Hurlick asked. "One of the wretched things mouthed off to me. Lucky for you Ugluk is present so we'll have to teach you to hold your tongue when in private. In the mean time, I think this one needs to be taught to float."

"No! You'll kill me!" Pippin screamed, attempting to run away. The claw wrapped around his neck prevented him from getting far and only succeeded in strangling himself. "Let me go you foul creature! If you push me into the water I'll drown!"

"Don't worry little one, you won't drown," Hurlick chuckled. "Olik and I have some fun planned for you later, young one. Perhaps you'll even enjoy it."

The urak shoved Pippin forward and the hobbit came close to falling into the water. Merry yelled and tried to rush to his cousin's aid but another urak took hold of him and hauled the squirming mass over its shoulder. Hurlick entwined his claw in Pippin's curls and yanked hard, pulling the head back. Pippin was enforced to gaze into the orc's ugly yellow eyes. It's gnarled face curled in a disgusting smile.

"Are you thirsty, halfling?" Hurlick asked. "I can remedy that."

Still holding Pippin by the hair, the orc slammed him into the water. Pippin's body floated for a mere second before Hurlick shoved him deeper into the water. Soon, the hobbit's entire body disappeared in the murky haze. Merry was thrashing and screaming violently enough that the entire troop of uraks had stopped to view the commotion. Hurlick was chuckling as Pippin's arms shot out of the water flaying madly. His head was still buried beneath the depths of water. Tears were streaming down Merry's face as he watched his cousin's desperate struggles.

"Please, let him up you're killing him!" Merry sobbed. "Let him go! I'll do anything you want just leave my cousin alone!"

"Why would I do such a thing like that?" Hurlick sneered. "I enjoy watching his meager attempts at resisting me. Besides, a little water down his throat won't kill him."

Merry could only wail in response. It had been nearly a minute since Pippin had been forced into the under the water. Minor joy entered his heart as Ugluk came rushing over to the scene. His joy was replaced with fear as Ugluk rammed into the other urak. Concern for Pippin's safety ran through his mind. The two uraks were fighting viscously over Pippin's hunched form in the water. The two locked in battle, each rolling in the water, slashing and biting at any visible flesh in sight. Merry gazed about the water trying to catch sight of his cousin. A slight smile formed as he saw Pippin dragged from the water by another Urak who slumped the unconscious hobbit over it's shoulders. Scarlet liquid stained the water as one of the orcs fell. Ugluk rose triumphantly over Hurlick's deceased form.

"This is the fate for those who play with any of the halflings," Ugluk snarled. "Let them be!"

The troop began to wade through again. Merry was turned away from Pippin, unable to access the other hobbit's condition. When the uraks finally reached the other side Pippin was dumped from the shoulders of the orc and landed face first into the dirt. The same happened to Merry but he was unfortunate enough to land face first into the edge of the water. Due to his bindings and the rising panic he found himself unable to turn on his back. While he was gagging the on the awful water the urak above him dug his claws into his ankle and began to drag him out. Merry shriek rang throughout the trees as the nails pierced his flesh. The orc growled and flung him toward Pippin's form. Merry eagerly crawled toward the hobbit as he gained back his senses. Pippin was deathly still and pallid to match it. His breaths were shallow.

"Pippin? Pippin are you all right?" Merry asked.

Pippin gurgled and opened his eyes. "Merry? I don't feel so well. I'm cold and....."

The hobbit never finished. He turned his head to the side and began to vomit all the water that had drained into his lungs. Merry rubbed his bound hands across Pippin's back trying to relax him.

"Any better?" Merry asked.

"So tired," Pippin murmured. "I want to sleep."

Merry tried to embrace his cousin but was knocked aside by Orlick. "Up with you! We march now!"

"How can you force us to march?!" Merry yelled. "Look at him! He isn't capable of walking! He's far too weak from what one of your cronies did to him. Look at him!"

The urak snarled and barked an order to a nearby urak that Merry couldn't understand. Pippin groaned in agony as the orc roughly picked him off the ground. Pippin was carried off in the troop movement and Merry tried to fight his way through the mass to stay by his side. Merry saw his cousin mouthing his name. He tried to quicken his pace, limping on his wounded ankle, but a hand grabbed him by the shoulder and yanked him away from his cousin. Merry's eyes widened as he saw Olik's face leering at him.

"Where do you think you're going, eh?" he spat. "No, you're staying right by my side maggot and not leaving my sight for a second. It's because of you Hurlick is dead. If only you had kept your mouth shut and not put up such a scene! We were only having a bit of fun but that was all demolished by you!" An evil glint flickered in his dark eyes. "You'll pay for this later. When everyone else has fallen asleep, when all the lookouts are distracted, I'll cart you off into the woods, and finish what I should have done last night! But not before I savor you slightly more. I'll have you all to myself tonight." The urak licked the side of Merry's face nearly causing him to retch. "Such enjoyment you and I will have. At least you have something to look forward to, eh?"

Merry closed his eyes as the orc hauled him off the ground. Not caring if any of the miserable creatures saw him, he wept.

More to follow.