Author's note: Sorry for the delay in updating, but the computer broke so I couldn't get online. I think that's a pretty good excuse. I've been working on an old laptop of Dad's which, despite not having an internet connection, is pretty good since it has pinball.

***

Two horses and three ponies stood ready in the courtyard when the six members of the Fellowship were led out. Merry was arguing with those sent to make sure they left about leaving Pippin behind, with Frodo and Sam joining in. Aragorn said nothing, but was certain Reyalla would think this genuine. And if they got Pippin out now it would save him a lot of trouble now.

"You will leave now," Reyalla's voice boomed across the courtyard, "and he will remained." Aragorn couldn't prevent the shudder that ran down his spine, remembering what Reyalla was capable of. The three hobbits fell silent and moved closer together.

Without a word, they mounted, Gimli needing to be helped up by Legolas onto the horse that they would ride together. There were no more complaints or arguments as they rode from the gates and out of sight of the house. Aragorn looked back once, and thought he saw a face at the window that might have belonged to a hobbit.

They rode at a slow walk, since that would mean less distance for them to retrace later. Once night had fallen they stopped. Aragorn was fairly certain that they weren't being followed, and a quick word with Legolas assured him he was right in that assessment.

"Now we go for our friend," Aragorn told the group. "Legolas and I will go back. Gimli, you must stay here and look after the hobbits." Hopefully Gimli's pride wouldn't be hurt by saying this, since the real reason he wasn't coming was because he made as much noise as a pack of orcs.

"You're not leaving us behind!" Merry protested, while Frodo and Sam made similar complaints, but Aragorn had expected this.

"If we're going to get Pippin out of there we need to move quickly. Legolas and I can run much faster than hobbits. You must trust us." There were more grumbles, but they consented. With a nod at Legolas the two turned back and became two swift-moving shadows in the night.

It took only slightly longer to return than it had to leave, and soon they stood within sight of the house. Aragorn identified the window he thought he'd seen Pippin at earlier and told Legolas.

"We'll search that area of the house then," Legolas responded. Searching the house wouldn't be an easy task, given it's size, but they had to try. Staying among the trees, they made their way round the house, looking for a way in. At last they found what appeared to be a corridor, with one wall open to the gardens. They were in full view of a lot of windows as they crossed from the trees to the house, but it was a chance they had to take.

Once they had climbed over the low wall into the house, they headed for the area Aragorn thought he'd seen Pippin. Unfortunately they couldn't be sure that it had really been Pippin, or that if it was he was still there. Still, it was as good a place to start looking as any.

They climbed some stairs and entered a long corridor. They opened doors on either side, revealing dark, dusty rooms. They didn't need to explore them carefully to learn that no one had used them for a while. They turned a corner, and Aragorn looked carefully around him.

"This is the corridor were we brought Pippin after the spell," he said.

"You're certain?" Legolas asked.

"Yes." Aragorn looked at the doors closely, wishing he'd paid more attention to his surroundings. "I think it was this room," he said at last. With Legolas standing closely behind him, Aragorn pushed open the door. The window was open, and a pool of moonlight fell on the bed. A row of plants on the windowsill rustled in the slight breeze, and the figure lying on the bed let out a slight sigh, stirring beneath the sheets.

Pippin!

Aragorn crossed to the bed and shook him gently. Pippin's eyes opened and blinked up at him. For a moment he looked puzzled, then fear covered his face.

"You shouldn't be here!"

"It's alright, Pippin, we've come to take you home." Instead of appearing pleased, Pippin looked panicked.

"No! You've got to leave right now!"

"We're not leaving you behind, Pippin."

"You have to."

"You want me to go back and tell Merry I left you here? I haven't the courage to face him and say that." Pippin didn't even smile at Aragorn's weak joke.

"We can't leave you here," Legolas said, "not with that monster."

"She won't hurt me."

"Pippin, you're not thinking clearly," Aragorn said, "she's put some sort of spell on you."

"You don't know what she did to me!" The leaves of the plants rustled violently, though Aragorn hadn't felt the wind that stirred them.

"I know enough to know you're not safe here."

"I'm not safe anywhere else," Pippin said, "you should go. Go now! I'm staying."

"No you're not, Pippin. I don't care what you say, we're taking you with us."

Pippin opened his mouth. Aragorn thought he was going to make another illogical argument. He realised only just in time that he was in fact preparing to scream. The scream was smothered by Aragorn's hand pressed over his mouth.

"Pippin, we're going, and we're taking you with us," Aragorn said one last time. He couldn't understand what Pippin said in response, since his hand was still in the way, but it was clearly a protest.

"I'm sorry, Pippin," he said, and struck Pippin over the head.

***

Pippin woke to a night rapidly fading to day. His head throbbed, but the throbbing was passing quickly, vanishing as the pain in his back had done. He looked round, seeing he was on a horse and that the members of the Fellowship were around him. Someone was behind him, an arm wrapped round his waist to keep him from falling.

Then he remembered.

"No!" he yelled, "You've got to let me go back!"

"Pippin, you're among friends," Aragorn's voice came from behind him.

"My friend wouldn't hit me!" Pippin said, straining against the arm that held him. He was angry. Angry at Aragorn for not listening to him, for hitting him, angry at Lady Reyalla for meaning he couldn't go home, angry at Gandalf for letting her hurt him and his friends, angry at Middle Earth in general.

Suddenly the animals the group were riding began trying to throw their riders. Even the horse Legolas rode began rearing and bucking and nothing he could do would calm it. Pippin realised what was going on too late. He was flung to the ground, Aragorn landing beside him, in time to see Sam get thrown, his head striking a large rock before he lay motionless.

Pippin stared for a moment, too shocked to register that Sam was still alive, able only to think that he was responsible. His anger had made the animals react as they had. As long as he remained with them his friends were in danger.

Pippin scrambled to his feet and ran.

"Pippin! Pippin!" Pippin slowed and turned to face Merry, who had run after him. He owed his friend a farewell after all.

"Pippin, don't go back to her."

"I have to, Merry. You saw what happened, as long as I stay I'm a danger to you all."

"You didn't do that."

"Yes I did. I didn't mean to, but I did it. I have to go back, so I can learn not to do this again."

"I don't understand, Pippin."

"Lady Reyalla did something to me. Now I can do things. I don't want to do them, but they happen anyway. Reyalla's the only one who can teach me to control this. I want to go home, Merry, but I can't. Not until I've learned."

Pippin turned and began to walk away. Tears filled his eyes, and he hated Reyalla. He hated her for putting him through this, for everything she'd done to him and to the others, including Merry. He walked through the trees, knowing that he couldn't look back. If he looked back he might never regain the courage to walk away.

Suddenly a hand touched his shoulder. All the anger he felt came out of him then. He was especially angry that his friends wouldn't listen to him. He spun round, pushing Merry violently to the ground as he felt something shoot from his body.

For a moment he looked around. He saw Merry staring up at him bewilderedly. Then he walked away, the dead grass rough against his feet. Behind him, Merry stared around in amazement at the circle of dead trees the spread for several metres around the place where Pippin had been standing.

***

Author's note: Oops. Silly Pippin shouldn't go around killing trees like that.