Author's note: Sorry for the slight delay, some evil person invented exams. If I ever find out who, he'd better start praying.

***

Aragorn struggled uselessly against the chains, heedless of his own wounds. Lady Reyalla went up to Pippin, and Aragorn wished he could put his hands round her throat. She looked at Pippin for a moment, and the door opened at the exact moment she turned away and two men entered.

"If you do not try anything foolish," Lady Reyalla told Aragorn, "I will let you tend your friend." Aragorn could see now that Pippin's chest was moving in ragged breaths. He watched for a moment, but the expression of pain on Pippin's face was too much. He nodded.

One of the men stepped up to him and released his wrists. Aragorn hurried to Pippin, forgetting his own pain at the thought of helping his friend's. He held Pippin as the man released the chains, and lifted the frail form. The man made an attempt to take Pippin from him, but Aragorn glared and he subsided.

Without a word, the man turned and left the room. Aragorn followed, after giving Legolas one last glance. He carried Pippin along a corridor and up some stairs. He considered fighting, but he was hurt too much to fight, and if they would let him do something for Pippin it would be enough. Before they had gone halfway along their short journey he regretted not letting the man carry Pippin. His arms were in agony and the rest of his body ached.

He was relieved when the man opened a doorway and gestured for Aragorn to go through. It was a simple enough room, with a single bed and a table beside it. There was a small window, but there were shutters fixed across this. Aragorn lay Pippin down on the bed, resting him on his right side, and that was the least injured part of him.

On the table was a lamp, a jug of water and cup, and the bag he had been given before. There was a stack of clean cloths, but none that could easily be used as bandages. He took one and dipped it in the water, carefully cleaning the cuts that crossed Pippin's back.

Then he mixed the herbs for the wounds he knew he could heal. He would wait and see if he could deal with that symbol afterwards. He made a thick paste and applied liberal amounts to Pippin's back. Then he looked at his front.

The symbol was there, but it was black. He thought at first it was a brand, but it was as though his skin had been dyed. It didn't look like any wound Aragorn had seen before, but he put some athelas on it any way.

His task finished, he looked at the jug. There was still some water in there, so he poured it into a cup. Gently lifting the still unconscious form, he raised the cut to his lips. He poured it into Pippin's mouth slowly, taking care that he wouldn't choke, and let him drink. If they had been treating Pippin the same way they had been treating him, he was probably very dehydrated. At last, he lowered Pippin down again. He pulled the covers over him, careful not to let the cloth touch any of the wounds lest it should stick and tear them open again when removed.

The expression of pain had faded, and lying there Pippin could almost be in an ordinary, healthy sleep. Aragorn smiled slightly, glad that he could do something for his friend even if he had been unable to stop that evil woman.

He looked at the jug again. Most of the water was gone, but there was perhaps half a cup left. He wondered if he should give it to Pippin, but the burning dryness in his throat was too much. He drank it himself, swallowing it in a few mouthfuls.

The man was still waiting by the door. He didn't do anything to stop Aragorn drinking though. Seeing he was finished, he stepped forward, looking Aragorn up and down.

"You need a bath," he said. Aragorn agreed. Lying around a dirty cell for however long he'd been here and all the beatings meant he was covered with dirt and dried blood. He followed behind the man as he led him to a room containing a tub. Some clothes lay on a table, and he was very relieved about that. As soon as the man had left him alone, he went to the tub and stepped in gratefully.

The water was cold, but not to the extent that it was unbearable. Though he'd have preferred it to be warm, it was still soothing. He found the pain lessening as he lay there, and soon he began to gently rub at those wounds he could reach, getting rid of the dried blood.

When he stepped out he realised his wounds weren't at bad as he'd thought. All the dried blood must have just made them look so terrible. He dressed quickly in the clothes that had been laid out, simple shirt and trousers that fitted him well enough. His own boots were on the floor, and Aragorn was glad to pull them on. He didn't know how hobbits managed to go barefooted all the time.

The man entered the instant he was finished dressing, making Aragorn grateful he hadn't spent longer in the bath. He was feeling a little better now, and considered fighting, but the man's bulging muscles convinced him that wasn't a good idea. He pushed Aragorn along corridors and up a set of stairs. There was a door at the top, secured with bolts and a heavy lock, which he opened.

When Aragorn was pushed gently but firmly into the room, he was astounded by what he saw. The room had seven doors leading from it, one he had just come through and two in each of the other walls. But the astonishing thing was the group of people standing or sitting around a large table. Merry, Sam, Frodo, Gimli and Legolas. Legolas' damp hair showed he had been given the same treatment as Aragorn.

"Are you alright?" Aragorn asked, and was answered by various nods. That answer given, he went to the table were a meal was laid out. A collection of empty plates showed that the hobbits had already been at work on it, but there was bread and fruit left over which he began to eat. It took all his restraint not to gobble as fast as he could.

"Where's Pippin?" Merry asked. Aragorn was glad his mouth was full when the question was asked, because it meant he could think about how to reply.

"I've told them what I saw happen," Legolas said, "Is he alright?"

"I did what I could for him," Aragorn said, "but I'm not sure what it was that woman did. Until I know that I can't be sure he's alright." That said, he poured himself a large glass of water and drank.

***

Trees. He could feel the trees. He could feel sap moving, slowly, deliberately. He could feel the flowers, where the sap moved quicker, straining up towards the sunlight. He knew what it was like to feel sunlight on leaves, the surging energy that brought.

He could feel the warm air, filled with life. Thousands of tiny creatures carried on the breeze, aching to grow and have children so that their life would continue. He could feel blood flowing nearby, hear it pulsing.

As his senses focused he became aware of his own body, the other sensations fading into the background. He lay on his back on a soft bed, covers pulled over him. A gentle breeze caressed his exposed face. Wait a moment. . . his back?

Pippin opened his eyes and sat up. For some reason the movement didn't cause the pain it should have done. He ran a hand over his back. The wounds were still there, but they were almost healed. How long had he been unconscious?

The last thing he could remember was that ball of light hitting him. He'd expected it to burn, but it didn't. Instead every nerve in his body seemed to tingle. He'd been able to hear everything. He was aware of his body in a way he'd never been before, the blood, the liquid flowing. He'd been able to hear every breath made by the other people in the room, feel the flowing of their blood. And beyond them plants and animals, he'd felt them all, and found them too much to cope with.

The door opened and a girl walked in. From the resemblance in her face, Pippin guessed she was related to Lady Reyalla.

"So you're Mother's new favourite." She looked at Pippin with distaste.

"Favourite?" Pippin asked bewildered.

"It should have been me," she said angrily.

"If you want to be tortured then I'll gladly let you take my place."

"You ungrateful wretch!" the girl snapped, "Don't you realise what she's giving you?"

"So far she's given me nothing but pain." He shifted slightly, and the covers slipped down, revealing the mark on his chest. The girl glared at this angrily.

"The mark will fade," she said, "just like mine did. Then she'll abandon you." She turned and left, almost bumping into the person who was entering. It was Rasarl, carrying a tray which she set down on the table beside the bed.

Pippin looked at the tray, incredibly pleased to see that most of what it held were edible. Rasarl lifted off a pile of green cloth and then placed the tray on Pippin's lap. She lay the cloth gently on the end of the bed.

"You must be hungry," she said smiling. Pippin ate for several minutes, before deciding that it was time for curiosity to be sated as well.

"How long have I been unconscious?" he asked.

"Since yesterday evening. It is now almost noon."

"But. . . my back?"

"Your wounds will heal quickly now, and leave no trace."

"And my friends? Where are they?"

"They are safe," Rasarl said, "they will not be harmed any more."

"Why should I trust you?"

"Because you have no choice. Finish your meal, then get dressed." She left, and Pippin heard the click of a lock as the door closed. He ate quickly, then looked at the cloth. He saw now that it was in fact a green robe. Very unhobbitlike, but if the only other choice was to remain naked he would wear it.

Since he was left to his own devices, he went to the room's one window. There were shutters across it, but these opened easily enough, revealing a garden. Pippin inhaled deeply the air, filled with living fragrances. Looking out, he realised he could do more than just see. He could feel the plants out there, the birds that perched in their branches, the rabbits that burrowed beneath them. He knew what it was like to be each and every one of them.

"What has she done to me?"

"Nothing. She just showed you a door."

Shocked by the voice, Pippin spun round. "Gandalf?"

***

Author's note: I know some people guessed it was Gandalf, sorry I couldn't surprise you. I think there'll be enough surprises later on to make up for it though.