Endymion: Rescue will come when the time comes. ^_^

Alisaundre: And to review these chapters is wonderful too!

Andy's Princess: Glad you're back! But sad to hear you were sick. I'm k inda miss you, you know!

Oddwen: Oops. Did I confuse a hobbit's characteristics to an elf's?

QTPie: I agree with you and Frodo does, too, about Merry being scary!

Krista: Your elaboration on me being twisted is very interesting! Just enjoy!

Orelinde: Ah! Nice to hear from a new friend! Thanks for reviewing. Well, I hope you still enjoy the story no matter how disturbing it is. Glad to hear you notice how Merry sounded in FOTR. I was expecting someone to come up with a story about it but nothing so far. So I decided to try to write one!

Warning: AU, violence

Chapter 48

"What is happening?" whispered one of the elves in his language softly.

"I can hardly tell," replied another. "But I'm sure the little creature there is in a lot of trouble."

There were four or five elves on their horses which were standing still in place, a bit wondering why the men and orcs suddenly ceased their attack. But that was not the thing that was occupying their mind. They were more curious at the sight of a pale figure surrounded by threatening faces of men and orcs. They could also see how Frodo squirmed and feel how the little one quiver and despair.

"What is it all about? Why is he captured? Who is he?" asked an elf, voicing the questions all of them had in their heads. "He is a hobbit. There is one in our place, remember? His name is--"

"Bilbo," continued the other. "Do you think this one has any relation with him?" he turned to his companion.

"That is possible. Ah, should we help him? But, hey, there is another hobbit. Perhaps he is going to help his friend."

But the elf gasped suddenly at an unexpected thing Merry just did.

"He's not helping him! Let's move! That little one is definitely in need of our help!"

Completely engulfed by what they were observing, the elves didn't hear or guess what -

WHACK!

"Harr - harr! Eat this, elves!"

And - chop! Chop! Chop!

Several orcs were stabbing and striking all the remaining elves over and over with the blades of their terrible-looking swords. Soon there was nothing left of the first elf group sent by their Lord Elrond.

***

Frodo had never thought that Merry was going to punch his unprotected stomach, not after giving him smile. It, the smile, then proved to be a fake one.

The blow would have made Frodo double over if he hadn't been mercilessly seized by the man's tight grip. Frodo frowned, having his breath taken from him. His red lips formed an 'O' at the sharp pain coming from his abused abdomen. But nothing more, not even a moan.

Frodo tried hard to still himself. He was becoming aware of his situation as a captive now, that had to act anything to please his captors. Otherwise - his eyes fluttered close - they would be angry. And if they were angry, Frodo could only hope they would be more merciful than Merry at that time.

"So what, Frodo, if they killed an elf?" Merry's cold voice sent him back to reality, in which he was still trying to regulate his breath. "Do you disapprove of that? And you're going to run to Rivendell, before we do, to warn them? And warn whom, if I may ask, Frodo?" pushed Merry. "You know nobody there except Bilbo and Gandalf. But have you forgotten what they have done to you? They no longer care about you, beloved! You are nothing to them."

Merry's eyes screwed into Frodo's the entire time he attacked the poor hobbit verbally. Frodo stared back. This was exactly what Merry told him some time ago and the same as before, Frodo felt his heart stung because of the truth in those statements.

"I didn't run from you, Merry," said Frodo softly. A little white lie. He still couldn't forget his amazement toward Merry's commanding act.

"I was running away from the men. What they did to the elves frightened me so."

Merry looked deeply at those mesmerizing eyes, trying to catch any signs of dishonesty. But Frodo didn't falter although deep down his heart drummed like crazy. He had to keep Merry think of him as innocent of things around him.

"Not running away from me, eh? Are you trying to tell me that after escaping, IF you succeed at all, you are going to look for me and then we both go to Rivendell, away from these folks?" chased Merry.

Frodo nodded his head frantically, but stopped was stopped abruptly as the man behind him jerked him hard to steady his body. Frodo turned up and glared at the man angrily.

Seeing how Frodo turned his attention from him, Merry grabbed Frodo's jaw and yanked it violently back to face him again. Frodo gritted his teeth as the sore feeling at both his jaw and neck, and he held his breath when realizing that Merry had no intention to release his jaw soon. He even rubbed Frodo's cheek softly with his thumb now.

"Are you sure you're not lying, Frodo?" The gentleness in Merry's voice made Frodo shudder. "Because I find it quite impossible for you not to notice how I worked together with these people. Didn't you see how they moved under my command? I'm great, aren't I?" His voice now was full of self-pride. "You saw that, didn't you? That's why you kept on running. Not only from them but also from me. THAT is the truth, right, Frodo?!"

Frodo cringed as Merry tightened his claw-like clutch. The fair hobbit finally couldn't hold back his whimper although it was stifled by Merry's hand. Merry kept on going until tears streamed down Frodo's ashen cheeks. But instead of letting his cousin go, Merry eyed him with full interest, making Frodo flush with awkward and humiliated feeling. He hitched when Merry finally let him go.

And without realizing it, panic suddenly overcame Frodo and he struggled wholeheartedly against the man's grasp. Fear and despair were cramming in his heart, making him difficult to breath. He couldn't see what would become of his life. Staying passively was probably the best thing he should have done. From his experience in captivity, he knew that a failed attempt of escape could only bring more grief. Whatever the captors would call it, a punishment or whatever, their anger or embarrassment because their captive nearly succeeded to run away could make them take an action that was oftentimes difficult to believe.

"No---" Frodo's voice was shaking. "Please, merry. I---"

"I can't believe it, Frodo." Merry was not gentle anymore. "You could have said something more clever than that. Even more, you shouldn't have run at all!"

Terrified, Frodo let out a small muffled sound.

You know what will happen when you betray the one who cares for you so much, Frodo, when you try to let go everything or everyone you have for something or someone who even has given up on you since a long time ago."

"Hhh---" Frodo heaved and gazed apprehensively at the-now-so-powerful Merry. He was trying to step back, away from his cousin, only to sink more into the man's relentless hold.

All of a sudden Frodo sensed the presence of someone else behind his back. Before he could turn around a bit to find out that particular person's intention, he suddenly felt a stinging pain on his neck and a wet substance roll down his back. He froze. What was that?

It was Merry who answered for him, without any words at all.

He took a knife covered with droplets of blood, Frodo's blood, on its tip, from the man behind Frodo, whose eyes widened in shock. They had just sliced his neck skin open!

"Ahh, Merry! For Eru's sake, what---"

Merry slowly brought his forefinger to his own lips, gesturing Frodo to keep silent. And without saying anything, he took something else from the man, a piece of cloth. Frodo creased his brow.

"I won't do you any harm, Frodo. Just see it for yourself." He showed Frodo the cloth. It looked just like any plain cloths. Frodo relaxed a bit, and still did when Merry reached for Frodo's neck and rubbed the blood from the cut.

Unexpectedly, more stinging pain came from the wound like salt had just been poured down on it.

"Ooh--- Merry, what have you done?"

Grinning devilishly, Merry rubbed the cloth again, this time on Frodo's right cheek. It was wet and it wasn't only because of blood. Frodo winced.

"P - poison, Meriadoc?!"

"Oh, come on, Frodo. Don't panic. A small amount of it won't kill you. It will just - tame - you a bit."

Frodo was shaking with rage but he couldn't do much. His body gradually grew lax

And he was only half awake when the men wound up a length of rope around his wrists, securing his hands behind his back. And he didn't know for sure whether it was because he had finally lost his consciousness or because of the blindfold put on him when darkness finally overcame him.

TBC