AN: Emma, I follow the way you put the reviewers' acknowledgment after the chapter. It's because many questions are hopelessly answered in it.
Warning: AU, violence
Chapter 45
Pippin couldn't believe what he had just heard. Go a - away? In the middle of the wild like this, where there were only a river, threes, and wild beasts like those before his eyes? Who knew many more would come? It was the cruelest punishment ever! Pippin started to tremble. His mouth opened and shut again, making him like a fish out of the water. He knew he had to say something but that was just so difficult.

Meanwhile Merry had turned his back on Merry and walked without once looking back. Pippin sobbed and ran after his older cousin. Merry was stopped, suddenly unable to move, as Pippin's arms went around his knees, hugging him tightly. Merry tried to keep on walking but Pippin didn't want to let go. He was unbelievably strong all of a sudden.

"Let me go!" hissed Merry.

"Merry, please!" Pippin stammered pleadingly. "Don't leave me here. I will die!"

"That will be for the better, Pip, you good for nothing hobbit!"

Pippin shrank back at the terrible name.

"I - I am sorry, Merry. Really I am!"

Merry boiled as the incident was back in his mind.

"I'm not sure, Pip. I can't let you come along and risk my plan again," said Merry angrily.

"I won't, Merry. I promise! Do whatever you want to do to me as long as I still can come with you."

"I'm not going to do anything to you, Pip. I just don't want you anymore."

"No!" Pippin tightened his grip.

"Release me at once, Pip!" Merry growled.

And although he still hung on Merry for another moment, finally Pip gave up. He let go off his cousin, who suddenly turned around and swung his hand fast, backhanding Pippin hard on his right cheek. Having implicitly asked for his punishment earlier didn't make Pippin ready for this sudden slap. He caught his breath. Everything was suddenly blurred. But he didn't dare to complain. He just raised his hand to rub his abused cheek.

"Well?" asked Merry impatiently. "Was that what you wanted?" He didn't wait for an answer, though, as anger still consumed him. He even resumed his beating, over and over, until Pippin felt a terrible sting on each of his cheeks. Tears were welling in his eyes. He looked up at Merry fearfully.

"Is that enough?" asked Merry coldly. Pippin shuddered at the harsh tone. He recalled the torments his cousin had made Frodo suffer and realized that Merry was capable of doing just about anything.

"I'm asking you! Is that enough!?" repeated Merry while sending a hard kick to Pippin's stomach. Pippin reeled, groaning miserably. That was unexpected and so painful! He was so deep in his agony that he was difficult to think, let alone speak. And that enraged Merry even more.

"I ask you once more---"

"I - I don't know--" Pippin stuttered.

"You - don't - know?!" Merry punctuated his words, wondering. "Then that will be up to me!"

Pippin couldn't do anything but nod dreadfully. He knew he had made a mistake and asked for his own punishment, after all.

"But please allow me to come with you, Merry," begged him.

Merry was silent. He just rained down Pippin with more kicking, leaving the poor hobbit to lie panting on the ground. Pippin didn't even try to curl up his body, afraid that it would infuriate Merry more. So he just lay by his side, letting Merry landed his foot, and bruised his stomach and many other parts of his body. Pippin's eyes began to roll to the back, consciousness starting to leave him. Blood was spurted out of his mouth when he coughed hard. Darkness finally engulfed him with Merry still punishing him.

***

Frodo flinched as the first slap landed on Pippin's cheek. He suddenly remembered the frightening experience as he looked at Pippin's face. Nothing seemed to veil his mind anymore. He recalled it clearly. Yet, he couldn't approve Merry's thrashing hard at Pippin.

"Merry, no!" he cried, trying to free himself.

"Ssh, little one. Where are you going?" laughed the man from behind. "You don't have to try to stop them. Let them fight. I think my men and the orcs need some entertainment!"

Frodo's eyes grew wide. Entertainment? Did that mean letting Merry and Pippin kill each other? No! He wouldn't let them.

Frodo swung his elbow to the back, finding out directly that it caught the man hard either at his chest or stomach as he heard the man grunt in pain. Unfortunately it wasn't hard enough to make the man lose grip on him. Instead, the man put his palm on Frodo's abdomen, pressing the hobbit further back. Frodo writhed uncomfortably.

"What do you want?" snarled the man. "I won't free you. Ever. We've made a deal. I will keep you until I get what I want, a piece of land and power in Rivendell! Ha - ha - ha!"

Frodo frowned. Rivendell! Ah, Merry did tell him something about going there. But Frodo barely knew the purpose. Power and land? That was impossible. No, not his Merry! Frodo resumed his attempt when sensing the man's hold loosen a bit. This was his chance. He struggled and jumped off!

- but how come did he ever forget about the rope!? He was jerked backward and landed hard on his arse. Frodo cursed himself, more on his foolishness than on the pain on his back.

"Hey! Where are you going, rat - oh! Ha - ha - ha!" A roar of laughter from the man exploded again as he witnessed the hobbit's silly action. He reached down and squeezed Frodo's shoulder, ready to haul him up that way.

"Aah, please!" heaved Frodo. "The rope - please untie me. I won't run away from you. I just have to go to Merry."

But the man wouldn't buy it. He stooped from above the warg and grabbed Frodo's upper arms. Frodo felt his delicate bones were ready to crack.

"Noo!" he screamed through clenched teeth. But his shout was silenced as he saw that Pippin was not moving anymore while Merry was still kicking him. Frodo cringed at the imagined hurt.

"Merry!" Frodo's voice croaked. "That's enough!"

Merry turned at the sound of his cry. The corrupted hobbit's eyes shone wildly. But thank Elbereth, he finally ceased his thrashing. Frodo took a deep breath. He smiled weakly at the approaching cousin of his. He was still lying on the ground but luckily the man was no longer holding him. He gazed up at Merry who was standing before him, happily, like a lad to a father who had just arrived home. Frodo was sure Merry was going to take him away from this cruel man.

But what truly happened was far from that. Unexpectedly, Merry slapped Frodo across his face so hard that Frodo's head jerked to the side. His eyes got teary at the stinging burn.

Frodo sent an uncomprehending and fearful look through his glassy eyes.

"Merry - why?" he trembled.

"You are not--" Merry waved his forefinger at Frodo's face. "- to meddle at my affair!"

Frodo recoiled. Sadness and terror filled his eyes. He really couldn't understand this. Merry had been so gentle to him. What had he done to deserve this? Meddling at his affair - beating up Pippin? Suddenly realization came to him. Of course! How could he be so stupid? Merry was punishing Pippin because he had tried to kill him! Merry had been so kind as to defend him, and what had he done? Stopping him instead of helping him! How ungrateful Frodo was!

Frodo bowed his head deeply, not daring even to glance at his cousin. He just let the man when he yanked Frodo up on the warg's back again, and sat there timidly and submissively. He just heard, not looked, when Merry went to another warg with already a man on it and mounted it.

"We're going to Rivendell!" Merry shouted loudly and clearly. Silently Frodo admired his brave and strong cousin. A hobbit as small as he was! Frodo was, finally, looking at Merry in awe when the big group started to move, slowly at first but gradually it went faster. He completely forgot about the unconscious hobbit they left lying on the ground.
TBC
All right! That's it. Now, to

Alisaundre: Gandalf and Saruman? (scratching head)

Blue Jedi Hobbit: Hey, I'm not asking! And thanks for that. It can be useful fro me!

John Lennon Across the Universe: "Maybe letting Frodo die would have been less painful for the poor little thing." Aww, Jessica. You made me shudder with your comment! Eh, I have! I have! The War - hm, love it! Although it is sad.

Endymion: Merry never prefers Frodo to Pippin. He is only thinking of his plan for which he will need Frodo. If he seems to be soft on his cousin, that is probably his way to still have control on him. Oh, no! I made a silly mistake again! What I mean by 'hoof' is a sound Frodo made when he was thrown to the man's shoulder. Maybe I should have put the word in between asterisks? Thanks for liking my story although it is weird!

NarsilC: Thank you for reading it at the first place. I'm looking forward to hearing more from you.

Aelfgifu: O - oh. The many questions indicate that my story is confusing! Yes, there were men and orcs although the orcs don't have a lot to say yet.

Krista: Don't worry. I'm not going to change the story. I know it's twisted because I'm twisted myself! RRRRR!!!!!!!!! Mm, instinct? No. Actually I have already the story plot in my mind. I made small turns here and there based on the feedback I got. And fight, between whom do you think it will be? ^_^