Warnings: Talks of rape and a bit more violent.
Merry woke to being crashed against the ground while his face was rammed into a stump. He gave a short cry as his nose snapped on impact. The urak above him growled and forced his head back to gain a better view of the wound. The creature used its leathery tongue to lap at the blood flowing from the nostrils, which only enticed Merry to cringe in revolution. When the urak had gotten its fill it threw Merry aside and went to sit near the growing campfire. Beside him, Merry found Pippin's moaning form. The hobbit's eyes opened from time to time but always clenched shut from pain. Merry crawled over to his cousin.
"Pippin, Pippin are you awake?" Merry asked.
"Yes, but I wish I weren't," Pippin grunted. "It pains me to breathe and my throat is raw not to mention the abominable headache I have. Damn the orcs and that blasted pond. I suppose it was my fault though. I shouldn't have said anything about how we couldn't swim."
"Nonsense," Merry snapped. "One way or another it would have gotten out in the open. It was only a matter of time before we came across a body of water. Although I hate saying it, I'm glad to have Ugluk around. He's the only one that cares to keep us alive and safe as possible. Thank goodness he follows orders."
"Yes, but for how long Merry?" Pippin coughed. "I can see that it's getting harder and harder for Ugluk to keep his troop in line, so I know you must see it as well. One of these days he's going to get into another dispute over us and I fear that he will eventually lose. I can tell on the other urak's faces. Once they admired him, their leader, but now they scorn him because he won't let them have their way with us. Sooner or later, they will all rise up against him. I guess it doesn't really matter though. It seems several of them have gone behind his back, especially with what happened to you."
"I'd rather not discuss that Pippin," Merry growled.
"Why won't you talk to me?" Pippin murmured. "I will love you no less if something dreadful or a vile act has taken place. Please, tell me. Why won't you admit what happened that night?"
"Nothing happened that night!" Merry snapped. "They took me into the woods and questioned me! That is all that happened! Nothing more, nothing less! Now I would advise that you keep your tongue shut over this matter Peregrin Took!" Pippin shrunk in size and tears welded in his eyes, threatening to seep down his cheeks. "Oh, Pippin, forgive me. I did not mean to snap at you, dear cousin. I'm sorry. It's been so stressful for me. In the past few days I have been overwhelmed with anxiety for your safety as well as mine. What happened today didn't help my nerves any. I'm making a promise to you Pippin, under no circumstances will I allow any of those brutes to wander off with you in the woods. I will not tolerate you going through the same nightmare. You're much too young to be ruined, like I am." He sighed. "Right now I'm just angry, frightened, and tired, so tired. Forgive me."
"I understand Merry," Pippin soothed. "It has been a strain on both us. Let us hope the vile things will let us sleep tonight. I suppose the only good thing that came out of this situation is the fact that I'm not thirsty anymore."
Merry laughed. "Fool of a Took! Perhaps your urge for drink is satiated now but I can predict within the next few hours you'll be begging for more."
Pippin smiled. "It makes me feel at ease when you laugh, Merry. My only fear out of this is that you'll forget to laugh and enjoy life. I don't want you turning dark and empty like those disgusting orcs."
"And I won't, dear Pippin," Merry said, "as long as I have you by my side. You are the only strength I have left. Without you, I would have given up on life in the past days. With you here, it gives me a purpose to hold on, to protect you. I will hold true to my word, Pippin. Nothing evil shall befall you. Over my dead body will those uraks harm you as they did me."
"Don't say such things!" Pippin gasped. "I don't like hearing about death nor having your name mixed up in it! Make a promise to me, Merry. Promise me that you will do nothing foolish tonight."
"All right, Pippin," Merry said. "I will do nothing that I see as foolish."
"I'm---" Pippin never finished.
"Well, look who is finally up!" Olik chirped, bending toward the hobbit. "Say, young one, you must be freezing over here in the dark. Perhaps you should come sit by the fire with us and warm yourself up a bit. If that doesn't work for you, one of us can always heat you up."
The uraks near the fire clapped and cheered at the urak. Olik extended his hand to run it across Pippin's cheek but just as he was about to make contact Merry shot up from the ground and snapped his white teeth at the urak. Olik fell back in shock at the boldness of the hobbit.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Olik hissed, his voice wavered.
"You keep your filthy claws off my cousin!" Merry yelled. "God help me I'll kill you if you even gaze upon him in the wrong manner!"
A smirk formed on the uraks lips. "Ah, I see how it is now." He turned and laughed over at the other uraks. "The little halfling doesn't want me to touch his adorable cousin! Hm, I think he's jealous of all the attention the young one has been receiving." The other uraks hooted. "Well, on any other day I would gladly take you instead but I believe it's about time the younger one got a taste of experience as you have." Olik sneered at Merry's enraged face. "Oh, don't tell me you haven't told him? You haven't, have you? Now, where's the politeness in that? I thought all relatives shared their secrets with one another." He turned to face Pippin. "I think you all ready know what transpired that night but I'll go ahead and tell you anyway. More fun for all of us that way."
"You dare speak with your leader present?" Merry inquired. "He'll have your head if he finds out you have harmed me. The two of us were to remain unspoiled, remember?"
"That is very true," Olik nodded. "But I'm afraid that our glorious leader, Ugluk, is not present. You see, he's gone off with a group of scouts and has left me in charge. Now the fun shall begin." He turned back to Pippin. "Do you want to hear what happened that night?" Pippin shook his head, close to crying. "Too bad. You'll listen to what I have to say whether you like it or not. A group of us ravaged your sweet, innocent cousin that night. We would have turned to you but, unfortunately, you were putting up too much of a fight and Rolish was having such a joyous time whipping you. Anyway, I'll never forget the look on your cousin's face when we stripped him of his clothing. His face was so beat red it looked as if he were bleeding. He tried to be modest, tried to cover himself up, but Hurlick and I wouldn't allow it. After all, why hide such a beautiful, perfect form. Each of us took turns with him while one of us held him down face first in the dirt. His crying and begging for mercy was like music to our ears. His voice sounds so wondrous when tainted with the echoes of pain. I remember clearly though, the entire night was not devoted to making him suffer from agony. Oh, no, we soon made him suffer a more delightful agony. I can recall him moaning in sheer pleasure as we touched him. Hm, it looked so magnificent. Him writhing beneath us with tears streaming down his face while his soft curls stained with sweat. It makes me wonder what delightful noises I can elicit from you. Yes, maybe it's time I took you for a little stroll in the woods. What would you say to that?"
Pippin cringed at the sight of the urak hovering over him. He shook his head and sobbed with a pitiful voice. "Don't touch me. Leave me alone, please."
"Oh, but I don't think I can do that nor the rest in this group," Olik chuckled. He griped Pippin painfully by the curls and faced Merry. "When I'm done with him the others shall have their turn as well. I think he'll enjoy being our little whore, unlike you."
Merry's face flushed furiously and his eyes gleamed with untamed hatred. "I'll die before I let you touch him! You've all ready defiled me, you won't defile him!"
With that said Merry lunged forward and sank his sharp teeth into Olik's arm. The urak howled and released his hold on Pippin's hair. The hobbit fell back in shock as he watched his cousin fight with the orc.
"Merry no you'll be killed!" Pippin screamed.
The other hobbit failed to hear his cousin's words. He was too caught up with this previous arrangement. His teeth remained imbedded in the Olik's flesh even when he began to pound on viscously on his head, hard enough that there was a cracking sound echoing through the woods. On the third blow Merry was forced to relinquish his grip and he fell to the ground with the urak staring menacingly at him. Merry rolled to the side barely missing Olik's slamming foot. The hobbit stood from the ground and, so infuriated and streaming with adrenaline from the fear of his cousin's well being, broke the bonds that held his wrists together. Snarling he darted toward Olik and reached for the urak's dagger on his belt line. The urak entangled its claws into Merry's shoulders, trying to shove him to the ground, but failed to budge the hobbit. Merry took hold of the dagger and attempted to pull it free. Olik caught on to Merry's plan and dug its claws into the hobbit's wrist. Merry cried out in pain but continued to tug the knife from the urak's belt. Olik's fist rammed into the side of Merry's jaw and the hobbit went tumbling back from the force. However, in doing so, the dagger was pulled free from the urak's waistline and toppled to the ground behind Merry. Merry gazed up at Olik, blood streaming down his chin, while occasionally eying the dagger from behind.
"You filthy little maggot!" Olik spat. "You'll pay dearly for this and I fear that your precious cousin shall have to suffer the consequences as well. Once I'm done strangling and gutting the life out of you I'll take him to the back of the woods and screw him to death despite Saruman's orders!"
The urak leapt into the air, intent on bringing his bearing weight down upon the hobbit. Merry turned, grabbed the knife, and rolled on his back placing the butt end of the dagger into his belly and pointing the sharpened tip at Olik. By the time the urak saw the gleaming metal it was too late. He let out a wretched yowl as he impaled himself on the steel. Unfortunately, Merry was also screeching in agony. The butt end of the dagger was digging into his stomach from Olik's massive weight.
"I'll be damned," Olik muttered, blood dribbling from his mouth. "You clever little bastard."
The urak began to drift away but not before he pierced Merry's shoulder with his deadly teeth. Once Olik was still the other uraks from the camp moved and drew his body off of Merry's. The hobbit was panting in pain and giant bruise was begging to form on his lower abdomen from the dagger. Pippin sniffled and crawled over to his heaving form. He kissed Merry on the check and wept.
"You foolish, idiotic hobbit!" Pippin wailed. "You promised me! You promised you wouldn't do anything stupid! You swore to me!"
Merry turned his head and smiled at Pippin with red stained teeth. "Saving your life doesn't count as stupid, Pippin."
"My life wasn't in danger," Pippin cried. "He only wanted to...to..."
"Perhaps it wouldn't have killed you physically, Pippin," Merry muttered, "but it would have destroyed you mentally. I couldn't allow it to happen to you. I may come out of this journey a mental wreck but I'll be damned if I'll sit by and watch the same thing happen to you." Merry yawned. "I'm tired. I think I'll go to sleep now."
"No, no, no!" Pippin screamed. "You can't fall asleep with injuries such as this you may never wake back up!" Merry was dozing. "Please, stay awake for me Merry. Just until dawn. Stay with me."
"I'm not going anywhere Pippin," Merry sighed. "You can depend on that."
More to follow.