Throw down your weapon, orc," Gandalf called. "We will not harm you but will not let you pass. This will bode better for you. You are alone with limited food and water and enemies all around; Isengard has been destroyed."

The orc stood looking around and swinging his weapon threateningly. His eyes shifted from person to person. Gradually he lowered his weapon. The orc growled again as he considered his predicament and eventually threw his sword before him.

"The sun will be setting soon, we will camp here tonight." Gandalf decided. He then strode over to retrieve the sword. As he stooped he looked up at Pippin and said gently, "Hello Pippin, we are all very relieved to see you." Pippin stared at him blankly. "Would you like to come see Merry? He has missed you terribly." Still there was no response from Pippin. Gandalf stood and frowned at the orc. "What foul craft has Saurman used on this hobbit?"

The orc laughed. "He has wiped his memory clean. The halfling does not know you or even understand the language you speak."

Upon hearing Pippin's fate, Merry cried out and began to weep. Aragorn tried to hold Merry back but Merry continued to struggle, calling Pippin's name. Gandalf could see the frightened look on Pippin's face and hurried back to Merry.

"Merry please! You must control yourself." Gandalf commanded. He knelt before Merry and more gently said "You are frightening Pippin. He is already frightened of us and will be only more so if he thinks you are distressed. You must remain calm for Pippin's sake." He gave Merry's shoulder a comforting squeeze.

Merry sniffed and breathed deeply. "Yes, I understand. Only, it is so hard."

"Yes it is hard, but at least you know he is alive."

They all looked back at Pippin and the orc. The orc had settled himself on the ground and Pippin had settled against him, curled into himself.

"We must be cautious, it looks as if Pippin has become attached to that orc." Legolas opined.

The king's men were bustling all about them, setting up camp and preparing supper. The group walked slowly to where the orc was sitting and sat down facing the two, carefully keeping a distance between them. Aragorn stepped up to them holding out a flask of water. After hesitating, the orc grabbed the flask. Aragorn stepped back and sat with the others to observe the two.

The orc uncorked the flask and began gulping the water, dripping it down his front. When Pippin realized it was water he clutched at the orc's arm, climbing into his lap. When the water was not immediately forthcoming he cried "Vuhk Smakafsog pau" and cuffed the orc on the ear. The men watching jumped at that, expecting violence. However, the orc merely shook his head and put the flask to Pippin's lips, holding it there as long as Pippin kept drinking.

Gandalf closed his eyes and shook his head. This was not a good situation.

When Pippin finished drinking he sat in the orc's lap and looked distrustfully around him.

"Please tell Pippin we mean him no harm," said Aragorn "We only wish to care for him."

"I take care of him" the orc growled angrily. "Why should I let you take him away from me? Once he does not need me, you will kill me." Pippin reacted to his orc's anger by flashing a hostile look at the group.

"No good sir, my friends would not harm you." Merry stood, holding out his palms open. "I honor you for taking care of Pippin and keeping him safe." He hated the way Pippin was looking at them. "We will not take him now, just tell him we are his friends."

"No, he is mine! But I could not tell him anyway, he knows no word for friend."

Merry bowed his head and sat back down. He could not stomach seeing Pippin sitting in the orc's lap, leaning back into those brutal arms. Merry thought how strange it was that gentle Pippin looked so savage. His poor face was indeed bruised, the cheeks and around his mouth. He looked further down, at Pippin's shabby array.

"But where are his clothes?" He wanted to know.

"After Saruman threw him to the orcs there were not many pieces left."

Merry felt a cold hand grasp his heart and lungs. "What did they do to him?" He had difficulty getting the words out.

Aragorn looked at Gandalf and the others; they already suspected the answer.

"They ravaged him, of course," Came the orc's blunt reply. "That foul wizard Saruman lied to me. He said when he was through he would give my halfling back to me. Liar! While I was away he gave him to others. When I found out, I went and took him back.

They all hung their heads at hearing Pippin's fate. Pippin, not understanding, sat impassively gazing at them.

"I think much less than a dozen pushdugs had him since he did not bleed to death, gar," The orc laughed. "And I do not think his mouth was too damaged as he still ate all my food." The orc thought this very funny and began to laugh again. Pippin looked up at the laughing orc and gave him a big smile.

"Was that before or after Saruman took his memory?" Gandalf asked.

"After." The orc replied.

"So his only memory is of a large group abusing him." King Theoden said thoughtfully. "It is not to be wondered why he is so wary of us."

"Why did Saruman erase his memory?" Gandalf asked the orc. "I know he did not get the information he desired."

The orc shrugged. "I heard he did not mean to crush the halfling's mind. It was too weak."

At that point a few of Theoden's men arrived with bowls of stew for all.

"Allow Merry to take theirs." Gandalf requested. Merry carried over their bowls and slowly set them in front of the pair, gave Pippin a smile and backed away. Pippin's eyes widened and he jumped up. The orc grabbed his bowl and quickly began to eat. However, Pippin was having difficulty. For the first time they noticed his arms were injured. He was unable to lift his bowl or feed himself.

"What is wrong with his arms?" Aragorn called out in concern.

"Gar, I stopped one uruk who was trying to rip this arm off and I think the other arm is all right, but his hand was stamped on."

Frustrated, Pippin looked up at the orc. "Vuhk Smakafsog kjani." He said to him.

The orc grunted and slathered as he pulled his spoon from his mouth, scooped up a spoonful and shoved it into Pippin's mouth. The group cringed at the sight of the befouled spoon going into Pippin's mouth but there was nothing to be done for it. Pippin gave up on his bowl and knelt on the orc's leg, leaning in closely with his mouth open until the orc took a bite, then another mouthful was spooned in. Pippin perched there throughout the meal with his mouth open, like a baby bird waiting for a worm, yanking at the orc impatiently until another mouthful was shoveled in. After the two bowls were emptied the orc picked up the water flask and took a swig. Once again, Pippin was there, pulling and demanding a drink. The orc held it to his lips and he greedily chugged the water.

With his back towards them, they now could see that not only dirt encrusted Pippin's cloak and raggedy blanket. Much of the stain was dried blood. Aragorn signed. "I really need to tend to his wounds."

"He is fine." Came the reply. "Smakafsog is tough like an orc."

Aragorn knew it would be unwise to argue with the orc at this time. "I would really like to bathe him." Legolas added softly.

"Why do you call him Smakafsog?" Merry wanted to know.

"I named him Smakafsog, Little Bite, because he is not big enough to make a whole meal out of."

Gimli snorted, "That is a fine caretaker, naming him snack." He looked over at Merry's pale face, sighed and looked at his lap.

Theoden had sent one of his men to retrieve his bag. He pulled out a shirt and tunic of light blue. "Perhaps you could get him to put this on. I am sure it would be warmer."

"Merry," Aragorn said holding out the clothing. Merry took the garments and slowly walked over to the orc. Once the orc took the shirts, Merry slowly backed away but did not go back to the others. He backed up only half of the way before sitting down in the dried grass. Nothing was said by the orc about this.

"It would be better for Pippin if you could get him to put these on," Aragorn explained.

The orc said nothing but stood Pippin up. Pippin stood facing the orc with his back to the others. He stood impassively as the orc unclasped his cloak and dropped it to the ground. All there could clearly see the criss- crossed claw marks upon Pippin's back where the orcs had dug in when they had lain on him. Next, the orc untied the rag from about his waist and dropped it. This revealed bruised buttocks and dried blood covering his thighs. Pippin shivered and shifted on his feet. Merry lowered his head with renewed grief.

The orc pulled the shirt over Pippin's sore arms and fumbled with the buttons. He then pulled the tunic over Pippin's head. Pippin looked down at his new array and seemed pleased with it. The shirts hung down far past his knees and the sleeves below his hands.

"He will not be warm enough, you must put his cloak back on him." Merry called. The orc growled but did as he was told.

Pippin sat down on the ground in front of the orc and gazed at Merry. He seemed to be looking him up and down. Then he examined at his own furry feet, turning them this way and that.

"Merry, you stay close to Pippin. Guards will remain close at hand, but we have much to discuss. I will be watching from a distance." Aragorn whispered to Merry.

The sun was setting and Pippin soon began to look drowsy. He crawled, as best he could, into the orc's lap. The orc grabbed him under the armpits and plopped him back onto the ground. Pippin stood and tried again to step into the orc's lap. The orc said "Dagalush nar, reg mab bar" and pushed Pippin backward, making him fall down. Pippin awkwardly pushed himself to his feet and yelled "Undur kurv, Smakafsog mab" clouting the orc on the side of the head with his bad hand. An argument ensued.

Merry jumped up in a panic, thinking Pippin would surely be hurt by the orc. "Pippin, Pippin, please stop." He cried.

Aragorn came running up with his hand on his sword hilt.

"Orc, what is the problem?" He called out after stopping in front of the pair.

"I do not want him sleeping in my lap; he pisses on me," came the orc's reply. By now Pippin was settled back in his lap, looking distrustfully at the orc.

"Oh." Was Aragorn's stumped reply. "Ah, perhaps we can take care of that now, you must be ready to relieve yourselves."

The orc stood Pippin up and quickly said "glu" to Pippin as he was making ready to strike the orc again. The orc laughed, "He makes quite an orc."

Aragorn walked the two to the edge of the campsite where they took care of nature. Pippin kept close to the orc and imitated all his actions. When they returned Aragorn gave them blankets, stepped away and watched as the orc lay down on his back. He now allowed Pippin to crawl on top of him and rest his head on his chest. The orc covered them with the blanket and they were both soon asleep with the orc snoring loudly.

Merry and Aragorn looked at each other, "He acts like an orc." Merry said glumly.

"Do not fear, Merry." Aragorn replied. "Once we obtain his confidence we can reteach him manners."

"We need to. I do not know what his parents will say if I bring them back a bedwetting orc for a son."

Aragorn laughed. "At least he still looks like Pippin and not an orc. Unfortunately, I believe his wetting says much of the trauma he has suffered."