Disclaimer: If I owned even one piece of LotR (even just the name Pippin Took), do you think I'd be sitting here, glued to the Internet? Well, maybe . . . but, no, I'd be rolling around in my wads of cash!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Frodo sat in his cell, alone. There were no other prisoners with him, for there weren't very many criminals living in the Shire to begin with. In fact, the jails were rarely used, except maybe as punishment for a day or two. But never for actually jailing . . . of course, no one had ever assaulted another Hobbit before, as far as Frodo knew.

It was cold in the jails, far colder than he had thought they would be. It seemed like a cold, icy wind was being constantly blown into the small space, and never let out again. Pulling his jacket around him against the cold, Frodo wondered where Piper was. It destroyed him inside to know that she was now in very real danger, and that he could do nothing to help her. What if Tillen killed her? She said that he had threatened to, had she told anyone about what happened. And Tillen most likely knew that Frodo had been told, or else why would he have attacked Frodo when they first went to Bag End?

Thinking about what Tillen might do just made Frodo even more depressed. He did not want Piper to die . . . she did not deserve to die. What had happened was not her fault in any way, and yet she was going to be punished for it? It was the same with his own fate. True, he had attacked Tillen of his own free will, but the reasoning behind it was very motivational, to say the least.

One of the guards approached Frodo's window. "You have a visitor."

"Who is it?" Frodo asked, but the guard was gone. In his place was Merry. Frodo hurried to the window. "Merry! Thank goodness you have come! Where is Pippin?"

"Pippin is preparing to leave," Merry told him. "He is going to travel to Michel Delving and find those records."

"He is going alone?" Frodo questioned.

"Yes," Merry replied. "Bilbo and I are staying here to try and figure out a way to get you out of here, before it's too late."

"What do you mean?"

"Well . . . you see, Frodo, the consequences for what you have done are two things: death or exile, depending on how severe your crime was. At the very least, you'll be banished, because you didn't physically harm Tillen. But even that is not very good. We have to get you out safely."

"What about Piper?"

"There is nothing we can do until Pippin returns from Michel Delving."

Frodo thought a moment. "Merry, find Rosie Cotton. She works at the Green Dragon, perhaps that Hobbit that stole Piper goes there sometimes. Rosie knows a lot about a good amount of Hobbits in this area. She might have some information on him."

"But without knowing his name, what will I tell her?" Merry asked.

"Just give a description," Frodo instructed. "You remember what he looked like?"

"I think so."

"That's good enough for me," Frodo said. "Now, go! Hurry! We don't have very much time."

* * *

At Tillen's house, Piper was now being allowed to roam freely, but only when Tillen was there, and only in certain rooms. She mostly spent her time in the living room. The curtains were always drawn, but she felt most comfortable there. Orin was usually hanging around the house, so Piper figured that Tillen wouldn't try anything.

It was clear that Orin was trying to keep Tillen away from her whenever possible, because whenever she was in one room, if Tillen started to go in there, Orin would find some way to distract him. Though grateful for this, Piper couldn't help but feel that this would only cause more trouble for poor Orin.

He handed her a dish as they stood in the kitchen cleaning. She was keeping her mind on her work, trying not to think about Frodo or Tillen or Pippin or anyone. Orin noticed her silence.

"Piper . . . is something troubling you?" he asked softly.

"No, Orin," she replied quickly. He went to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Startled, she fumbled with a knife she had been washing and cut herself. Pulling her hands out of the soapy water, she took a towel and held it firmly against the wound.

"I'm sorry," Orin said contritely, dropping his arm to his side. "I didn't mean to make you hurt yourself."

"No, it's all right," Piper said. "Just a cut. It'll be fine a day or two."

He took her hand. "Let me see." Removing the towel, Orin studied the thin gash that ran from just below her ring finger to the heel of her palm. "You're right, it's not that bad. Still, I'm sorry."

"Oh, don't be," Piper told him brightly. "It wasn't your fault. It could've happened even if you hadn't walked over."

Orin looked up at her longingly. She knew what he was thinking, but her heart belonged to another she knew, and she felt badly for not returning Orin's love. However, he was a very kind, sensitive sort of Hobbit. That was what she liked about him.

"Piper?" he asked softly.

She dreaded what was coming. "Yes?"

"I . . . I think I love you." Her heart sank. It was exactly what she had suspected he would say. Sighing, she went and sat down at the table.

"You do not love me, Orin," she told him gently. "You only think you do."

He sat next to her, facing her, a confused look on his face. "How can I only think I love you?"

"Well . . . how many years before your Coming of Age?"

"Thirteen."

"There, you see? You have your entire life still ahead of you. It is too early to truly love anyone."

Orin smiled. "No, that is not true. With true love, you know. The moment you see the one, you just know that they are your true love. And when I first saw you in that alley, I knew. But I couldn't admit it to myself until I saw what a monster Tillen had become. I had to protect you. And I will . . . forever, no matter what."

Piper shook her head at his naivety. "Orin . . ." Before she could say more, he leaned over and kissed her. Just then, there came a knock on the door. Tillen rushed in. Their heads turned to him, Orin rising to hide what had happened.

"Hurry, hide her!" Tillen ordered, before vanishing down the hall. Orin took Piper to a small room off of the main hallway. They huddled close to the door, listening for who it was. The front door was opened by Tillen.

"Excuse me for disturbing you, sir," came the voice of Meriadoc Brandybuck. "But I wonder if I might come in?"

"Of course," Tillen said politely, motioning the young Hobbit inside. "What may I do for you?"

"Well, you see, many complaints have been made," Merry lied cleverly, "to the mayor of Bywater that the Hobbit Holes are so old, they have become unsafe. The mayor has sent for me to inspect all the Holes in Bywater for safeness."

"And who, if I may ask, are you?" Tillen questioned.

"Why, I am Bowman Gamgee," Merry blurted. He remembered meeting a Gamgee of that name at his friend Samwise's last birthday. He continued, "I do hope you won't mind me taking a quick inspection, sir."

"Actually, I'm quite busy at the moment," Tillen said quickly. "If you could come back another time -"

Merry shook his head. "No, I'm on a tight schedule, I'm afraid."

Tillen sighed. "All right. But quickly, if you please, I have work to do."

"Of course," Merry said, and set to work looking for traces of Piper's presence. He searched almost every room and found nothing. Finally, he came to the door off of the main hallway. It was locked. Looking around for Tillen, he bent close to the door and whispered, "Piper?"

"Merry!" came the muffled reply. "Oh, Merry, you've come! Thank goodness! Where are Pippin and Frodo?"

"No time to explain that now," Merry hissed. "I have to get you out of here. Could you let me in?"

"Yes, one second," Piper replied.

"Mr. Gamgee, any trouble?" Tillen called from the living room.

"No, sir, very safe Hole!" Merry stuttered quickly. "I'll let myself out! Thank you, sir!"

The door to the small room opened and Merry scooted in. He was met instantly by Piper, who threw her arms about his neck happily. He returned her embrace, then pulled back. "We've got to get you out of here," he said. "It shouldn't be too hard. He thinks I'm gone."

"He may yet know," Piper said. "Even when you think he's not looking, Tillen somehow knows what is going on."

Merry nodded, and noticed the cut on her hand. "Piper, what happened? Did Tillen do this to you?!"

"No, Merry, of course not," Piper said, smiling. "It was an accident. I slipped while washing one of the knives-"

"It was my fault." Merry turned his attention to Orin, who had been sitting a few feet away. Merry hadn't even really noticed him. Remembering the fat Hobbit from the alley, he instinctively stepped in front of Piper to protect her.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Orin, Tillen's younger brother," Orin told him. "And I'm not going to hurt her. Or you. I could never hurt her."

"Or me?" Merry questioned.

"I don't know, maybe if you hurt her, I would," Orin said, shrugging.

"You're very protective of her for the brother of the enemy," Merry noticed. "Are you sure that you and Tillen are related?"

"The reason he is protective of me, Merry, is because-" Piper started, lowering the arm that he was holding in front of her.

"I love her," Orin finished. Merry stopped. He didn't know what to say. He didn't move until he heard footsteps coming down the hallway. Orin grabbed Piper's wrist. He opened the door of a closet. "Here, you and your friend hide in here. I'll handle Tillen."

Merry nodded and went to the closet, pushing Piper in hurriedly. Orin shut the door. Piper stood close to her cousin, her eyes closed. He had his arms around her protectively, leaning against the wall, the door opened just a tiny bit so that he could hear what was going on. Tillen entered in a rush.

"Where is she?" he asked, breathing heavily.

"She escaped," Orin said.

Tillen's eyes grew wide. "What?! You let her escape?!"

Orin stood tall and defiant. "What you were doing was wrong! I know what was going on. She told me."

"It was none of your business," Tillen snarled. "All I asked you to do was get her and make sure she didn't leave! Well . . . I'll just have to go and find her again. She couldn't have gotten far."

"I can't let you!" Orin said, running to block the door.

"Orin, move, you're being stupid," Tillen said, looking bored by his brother's courage. "Now, get out of the way."

"No!" Orin shouted. "I won't let you hurt her again!"

Tillen smirked. "Look, I know you have a little crush on her, but it's none of your concern. Now, move!"

"No!" Tillen's eyes blazed in fury. He realized that his younger brother was being serious. In a quick motion, he backhanded Orin. The Hobbit swallowed a cry of pain and stared back up at Tillen. The older Hobbit was amazed. Orin had always been much weaker than he. However, he hid this amazement and struck Orin again. Nothing. . .

From inside the closet, Merry could just make out this scene. He looked down at his cousin, who was pressed up against his chest, trembling in fear.

"It's okay," he whispered to her. "Don't be afraid. We'll be fine." She said nothing, just stood a minute, settling herself. He smiled. "There you go." Piper turned and went to the door, opening it a bit more so she could see. Orin was still standing at the door, Tillen facing him angrily.

"Orin, I'll ask you one more time," Tillen said, sort of patiently. "Get out of my way."

Orin shook his head. "I can't let you hurt her." Tillen cuffed him over the head. This time, Orin cried out, slowly getting weaker. Piper almost rushed out of the closet to help him, but Merry held her back.

Orin had done it. He had pushed Tillen to the edge. Tillen drew a small dagger from his pocket and grabbed hold of Orin's collar, raising the dagger in the air.

"Now move!" Tillen ordered. Orin hesitated, then shook his head. "Orin, move or I'm going to kill you."

"You would kill me just so you can find Piper again?" Orin questioned. "You either really love her or you just really don't want your reputation in this town to be ruined." This only brought on a sickening kick into Orin's left shin. This was too much. Piper rushed out of the closet, Merry scrambling to stop her, but making sure not to step out of the closet, and she ran in front of Orin, standing before him protectively, as Merry had done.

"You are still here," Tillen said softly.

"I am, and Orin was just trying to protect me!" Piper said defiantly. "But I will not let you kill him, or Frodo! And I won't let you hurt anyone else ever again!"

Tillen chuckled. "Oh, this is sweet. My brother has fallen in love with my captive. And it seems that she feels the same. Funny, Piper, I always thought you would end up with that Baggins fellow."

Piper hesitated. How could she admit that she did not love Orin? "That is beside the point, Tillen. It is over. You might as well give it up now and let me go free, without another word to anyone . . . from either of us."

Tillen looked almost intrigued by the proposition, but that soon changed. In a blink of an eye, Tillen grabbed her around the waist and spun her around, holding the dagger to her throat. It was so close that just a small more amount of pressure and it would pierce her skin.

The color drained from Orin's face in fear. "Let her go," he sputtered, not tearing his eyes away from Piper.

"Get out of my way!" Tillen shouted.

"Let her go."

"Orin, get out of my way or I'll kill her!"

Orin stared up at his brother, defiance blazing in his eyes furiously. "Let her go!" Tillen stared back coldly, and slowly began drawing the dagger along her neck, creating a thin cut. She tensed as a wave of pain swept over her. Orin ran forward and tackled his brother to the floor, leaving a large cut on the side of Piper's neck from the force. Her hand shot up to the wound, and she fell to her knees, eyes closed in concentration.

Merry hurried to her side, taking her arm. "Come on, now's our chance to get out of here!"

She looked to Orin, who was desperately trying to wrestle the dagger away from Tillen. "What about him?"

"He'll be fine, let's go!" Merry urged. She stood and they hurried to the front door and out of the house. Smiling with the realization that she was finally free, Piper hurried across the yard and jumped the fence. As they started down the Road, she suddenly felt lightheaded and stopped. Merry went back to her.

"Piper? Are you all right?" he asked.

"Y-Yes, I'm fine," she said. "I'm sure it's nothing." With a nod, Merry set off down the Road again, Piper following. They had only made it about a mile or two away from Tillen's house before she felt weak again and dropped to her knees. Merry went back to her, now very concerned.

"Are you sure you're all right?" he questioned.

"I don't know. . ." she replied. "I don't think so. . ." Before she could say anything else, she collapsed, unconscious.

"Piper? Piper!" Merry said frantically. He didn't know what to do, but after a moment he realized that if he waited around for help, Tillen would find him. So, he took Piper up in his arms and hurried towards Bag End.