Warnings: Mild language and suggestive themes.
Pippin's head jerked back and forth with concern. At one moment he was watching his cousin slip in and out of consciousness while at another time he was watching the orcs in the distance. Ever since Merry's outburst the group had huddled by the fire and spoke in a tongue he couldn't understand. Occasionally, one or two would glare back at them and grunt. Olik's body was still near the two hobbits and had begun to emit a foul odor. Merry's moan brought Pippin's gaze back over to him. The hobbit was wide awake now but breathing hard.
"Pippin, please, sit me up," Merry coughed. "I fear that I may be choking on my own blood from that dreadful blow Olik delivered to my jaw."
"Yes, Merry," Pippin replied. The hobbit did his best to lift his cousin but with his bound wrists the task was more difficult then it appeared. He succeeded in placing Merry roughly against a tree stump, lightly banging the hobbit's head on the bark. "Oh, Merry I'm so sorry! It's these damned ropes! With my wrists tied together I can't do anything right! Forgive my clumsiness."
Merry chuckled. "Don't worry about it. I understand. I can breathe a lot easier now. Thank you Pippin." He glared at the orc's fallen figure. "I wish they would move that blasted Olik! The smell is making me nauseous!"
"Quiet Merry," Pippin whispered. "I would advise that you not talk about Olik in such a way at this moment. I think your previous actions have upset them. They're planning something but I don't know what. They keep speaking in a different language."
"I could care less right now Pippin," Merry growled. "I hate that disgusting creature!"
"Be silent!" a voice roared. Both hobbits shivered in fear as one of the uraks stormed over to them. "You should learn to respect the dead or do you need to be taught a lesson as a reminder? Then again, you have suffered much this night. Any further beating could kill you but that doesn't mean we can't turn to the other halfling." Merry became silent. "As I thought. Now, hold still or you'll make this worse then it's going to be."
The urak wrapped its claw around Merry's throat and pulled a jug from its waist belt. Pippin cried out in shock as the orc rammed the jug into the other hobbit's mouth, forcing a liquid into his mouth. The contents he couldn't chug down streamed along his chin. The fluid was scalding and tasted retched, causing him to clench his eyes shut.
"What are you doing to him?!" Pippin wailed. "Stop, can't you see you're hurting him!"
"Hurting him?" the urak laughed. "Nay, I seriously doubt it's harming him young one. If anything, you should be thanking me. This liquid will help heal his wounds, give him strength, and keep infection from spreading within his body. We can't have him die on us, not with Ugluk still around. Once he passes, well, just about anything is fair game." His smirk sent chills down Pippin's spine. "You're looking a bit frail yourself, young one. Perhaps you need a sip." He placed the tip of the jug near Pippin's lips but he refused to open. "Open your mouth halfling or should I have to entice your cousin's suffering to make you comply?"
Pippin groaned in defeat and allowed the tip to be inserted into his mouth. When the horrible liquid first touched his tongue he fought the urge to gag. The urak above him chuckled and grunted toward his comrades. They, in turn, laughed and pointed among quiet whispers. The hobbit felt his cheeks flush with humiliation. He knew why they were laughing. He knew what vile joke they were repeating over and over. Momentarily, he glared up at the urak's face and his eyes widened at the glint shining back at him from the firelight. The look he was receiving frightened him and he glanced over at his cousin who was fighting for breath, obviously catching on to the urak's intentions. Merry shifted in his seat and tried to rise but so weak that he fell back, growling in frustration. To Pippin's relief the jug was removed from his mouth and he choked down the final contents.
"You do that well little one," the urak said. "Tell me, what else can you do with that talented mouth of yours?"
"You leave him be!" Merry snapped. "If you want something to play with then use me! I'll be more then compliant to your wishes!"
"Well, that's the thing," the orc sighed. "You're so willingly. The only reason you were taken that night was because you fought. You see, now that you're so willingly it just takes the fun right out it. We all know that this one is innocent in the ways of....certain experiences. You've been ruined and therefore are useless to us. It's time to move on to better things. But don't worry we'll find something to do with you. We could always use a new pincushion or dartboard; anything will just about please us."
The urak rose from the ground and walked back over to the others who were heaving with hysterical laughter. Merry shook his head and bit down on his lip. Pippin was violently shaking and fighting back tears from the urak's conversation. Merry crawled toward his cousin, pressing against him softly.
"I can't take this Merry," Pippin whimpered. "I'm so frightened of what they'll do to me that every time one of them comes near I feel as if I'll have a heart attack. I never took what they said as serious before but now I don't know what to believe."
"Don't let what they say get to you Pippin," Merry said. "I doubt they'll do anything more tonight. With Ugluk still around they'll have....."
Merry caught a glimpse of movement in the camp. The scouting party had returned and one of them was carrying a head in its claws. The urak paused in the center of the group and then let out deafening roar before thrusting the decapitated head into the air by its hair. At that moment Merry could feel all the color and heat drain from his face. The bloodied mess the urak carried was Ugluk's head.
"What is it Merry?" Pippin asked.
"Nothing, never you mind," Merry said, trying to keep his cousin from looking. "Keep your eyes on me Pippin."
However, it was too late. Pippin caught a glimpse of the wretched sight and instantly his chest heaved. He looked into Merry's eyes.
"We're going to die, aren't we?" Pippin asked, his eyes starting to water.
Merry opened his mouth and attempted to speak but the words couldn't come out. His eyes became downcast. He couldn't bring himself to lie to his cousin about the current situation. In front of them the uraks howled triumphantly. Merry watched the commotion and his face hardened. He wasn't about to sit by and wait for impending doom.
"Pippin, tonight we are going to escape," Merry whispered.
"How are we going to accomplish that?" Pippin asked. "They'll be watching over us like hawks and if we make a wrong move we'll suffer dearly for it."
"No, I think their state of mind will be a bit altered tonight," Merry said. "Look at them. They're all ready breaking out the rum jars. Before long they'll be drunk off their butts and won't realize what the hell is going on. Look, they're all gathering around the fire. Thank goodness, their stupidity is finally coming in handy. I wouldn't worry Pippin. I think we're going to be all right."
"For once, Merry, I have to agree," Pippin replied, smiling. "We may actually get away." He frowned. "But where are we supposed to go? There's nothing but woods for miles and no signs of any civilization. How can we survive out there?"
"We'll worry about that when the time comes," Merry answered. "For now let's concentrate on getting away from this mess before concerning over another."
"What should we do in the mean time?" Pippin asked.
Merry glanced down at his hands and grinned erratically. "Pippin, by golly, my hands are still untied. I can't believe they missed it. I can't believe I missed it. The fools must still think I'm weak from my wounds but that liquid has finally kicked in." He gazed about the earth. "Look, even the knife is still imbedded in Olik's body. I can grab the knife and cut you free of those restraints." He cautiously crawled toward the urak's body, glancing every now and then to make sure no one had caught view of him. Grunting and plugging his nose he yanked the dagger from the body and headed back to Pippin. "Hold still while I---"
"Hey, bring one of the halflings over to the fire," an orc yelled, all ready affected by the beverage. "Let's have a little fun."
"Which one?" another yelled. "The old one or the young one?"
"The young one of course!" another sounded. "The older one is a used toy. Nothing but fodder now. It's about time we broke the other one in. If we tire of him, which I doubt, then we can bring the older one over!"
"What if the older one puts up a fight?" another said.
"Please, I doubt that weak mouse will put up much of fight after what he endured this night. Now, I don't think I'll mind too much if the other one puts up a fight. Much more exciting that way! I think the young one will make the perfect slave. Perhaps when we return to Isenguard we can have a leash and collar made especially for him. Imagine, a halfling being led around by a leash!"
The orcs howled with laughter. The two hobbits froze in fear from the conversation. Merry looked over at his cousin who was staring back at the campfire. He gazed up to see an orc coming toward them, trailing near Pippin and extending his arm to grab the hobbit's ankle.
More to follow.