Part Four: Captured


Date: 7/31/03 10:08:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Edited: 3/2/07 - 9:57PM Eastern Daylight Time


Frodo could not believe his eyes. Standing before him in the open space of Fangorn Forest, was Gandalf. The wizard enveloped in a heavenly behind him. This was a dream. It had to be; Gandalf fell in Moria. He turned to Pippin who was fast asleep on the ground. Frodo wondered how the young Hobbit had managed that. He was awake just a few seconds ago! "Do not worry Frodo, I put Peregrin to sleep," The wizard spoke softly. "I do not wish for him to see me, not yet."

Frodo nodded as he rose to his feet, his blue eyes scanned the wizard donned in white. "Still; I cannot believe it is you. I thought you were dead!" Frodo exclaimed, tears glistening in his eyes. Gandalf gave the Halfling a genuine smile, pulling him into his embrace. Frodo hugged back fiercely as opposed to Gandalf's soft hug.

Pulling away from Frodo, Gandalf kneeled down to the hobbit's level, a look of remorse on his face. "I am sorry my friend, but I must go now. There important things I must attend to, but do not fret. We shall meet again," Gandalf assured the Halfling. The wizard looked up to Treebeard who towered over the three.

"Look after them, Treebeard my friend!"

"You have my word, Gandalf," Treebeard replied with a hint of Pride. Frodo watched the wizard rise once more. And just as quickly as he appeared, Gandalf vanished in a blinding light. Frodo covered his eyes with his arms before he fell into darkness. . . .


Frodo opened his eyes and stood upright in an instant. With one look around his envrionment, he realized that he had dreamt of Gandalf after all. It was not a reality. Beholding the autumn scenery of the Fanghorn Forest, his head turned and found Pippin sleeping soundly against a tree, arms folded and his head hung down.

The Ringbearer figured Quickbeam had gone off someplace, and the Treebeard was with the other Ents. Frodo decided that a venture through the woodlands would do him some good. He took once step from the tree, then turned his in his cousin's slumbering direction. He stirred but he did not wake. Sighing, the hobbit strode across the cold ground traveling through the trees, careful not to wander to far from where Pippin laid.

Frodo's mind would often wander to Sam and Merry. There was a feeling that what was happening now wasn't supposed to. He had this strange feeling that Pippin should not be with him, for he did not want the quest to destroy the ring to destroy his beloved cousin's carefree spirit and loving heart. The Halfling stopped and leaned against a tree.

He wished Aragorn were with him, he could reunite the four Hobbits, they could switch places with each other; Sam with him and Pippin with Merry. Frodo held his head in his hands as the throbbing pain in his head returned. The ring was calling to him . . . why won't it let me be? He thought miserably, his nails clenched his scalp as the ring's voice became stronger and louder. Suddenly, a screech broke the silence in the forest like a shattering window. His gaze looked up to the heaven's and spotted a black figure riding the back of a beast --- a Dragon by the looks of it. The beast flew smoothly through the sky. As the burnette Hobbit's blue eyes followed it, Frodo realized where it was headed. Oh no, Pippin! He sprinted quickly across the forest, he just hoped his effort was not in vain.


Pippin awoke with a sudden need to hide in a very dark place. He looked around finding Frodo nowhere in sight. Where had his cousin gone off to? Climbing off the ground, Pippin stood on tired legs, he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. Pippin shuffled across the ground, one eye darting from place-to-place. The feeling of panic did not leave him, it simply increased with each step he made. "Frodo?" He called. "Frodo? Frodo where in middle earth are you?" There was no answer. Pippin huffed in frustration, where had his cousin wandered off to in place like this.

The Took gave up and decided to let the Hobbit find his own way back to the Entmoot. As Peregrin kneeled down to examine a butterfly, a looming shadow shrouded the spot where he resided. A chill of fear ran down his spine, turning his head slowly to look above Pippin feared the worst for he knew none of his friends or the fellowship could fly. His Green eyes went wide with fear, when he spotted a Nazgul from what he could tell on the back of shadowy dragon. Its' shadowed figure inching closer with every heartbeat the Took made. There was a white flash of light, that blinded him for a mere second. His emerald green eyes filled with a foggy mist.

Without warning, fear seized the hobbit as he unseethed his sword. This couldn't be happening! A Nazgul had found him! He felt himself stepping backward with, his sword pointed at his enemy. His arm began to throb with seering pain, he did his best to ignore it. "D-don't come any closer!" Pippin quivered. He continued to back until he fell against something hard; Pippin found himself up against a tree.

Akashuga; Zof

The unknown words took an effect on Pippin, taking over his bodily functions. Dropping his sword, Pippin crawled unwillingly toward the shadowed part of the forest. His body was trembling with fear as he drew nearer toward the shadow, his heart lept in his throat and he was unable to call for help. Through it all, the Wraith observed the Halfling who's will had been stripped from his being.

Peregrin stopped, the Wraith's head shifted, indicating he was watching Pippin through the shadow of its' hood. Pippin was unsure of what was happening to him. The Nazgul descended to the hobbit and outstretched his hand toward him. Pippin opened his mouth to plead for mercy as Nazgul's beast inched closer towad him, but no sound came from his mouth. The Nazgul laughed coldly hauling the hobbit onto his beast. Pippin's eye lids became heavy as sleep claimed him, his consciousness sank deep into the bowls his mind. Pippin slumped against the Nazgul like a doll, the wraith took flight into the sky toward Minas Morgul.


Frodo leaped through the forest, running as fast as his legs could carry him hoping he was not too late. The screeching was heard again, the Hobbit looked up and saw the beast flying away. Frodo ducked behind a tree hiding from the everwatchful eyes of the Wraith, as his fingers wrapped themselves around the ring. The inside of the Ring rubbed against his index fingers, though it wasn't on there yet. It continued to irritat his skin skin ready to rest itself upon his finger, but with incredible resistence, Frodo moved his finger away from the ring and shoved it into his pocket. The Wraith's head snapped toward the direction where he had last sensed the ring. Its dark aura vanished just as fast as it had appeared. He could feel it more. Pulling on the reins, the fell beast took flight across the sky.

Frodo resumed running, pushing the low tree branches out of his way, his heart thumped wildly against his chest as he caught sight of the clearing of the woods. If anything had happened to his young and foolish cousin, Fodo would never forgive himself. He entered the clearing, finding the space which Pippin once occupied empty. Frodo fell to his knees, tears blurred his vision, the spilled over down his cheeks. He burried his face in his hands. "Ohhum!" Treebeard cried in surprise, frightening Frodo. The Hobbit looked up at the Ent with red eyes. "Whatever is the matter, little Orc?" Frodo shook his head using the back of his hand to dry his eyes.

"Pippin is gone, he's been taken!" Frodo proclaimed. Treebeard's huge finger nudged the Hobbit's shoulder, he kneeled as he best he could and the Ent let Frodo down. "Fear not. You shall find . . . young Peregrin Took. I am . . . certain of it," Treebeard assured. There was a lack of belief that washed over Frodo's features, yet, he found himself nodding in spite of himself. Treebeard turned and thundered away from Entmoot and into the forest.


Frodo walked a short distance away from the Ent's meeting place. His mind felt like it was in a haze, dedatched from his shoulders almost. He dismissed the feeling as after-effects from the ring. Frodo halted in his tracks next to a tree and bowed his head, letting his tears fall to the ground. The feeling in his gut told him the Nazgul on the dragon had Pippin; and that wasn't good. As the hobbit's mouth opened to let out a shuddering sigh, his head began to throb.

Frodo winced, pressing his fingers against his temple. The weariness that had slowly crept up on him began to spread rapidly, without remorse. Stumbling backward, his hand went up to his neck as it began to burn. The chain's burden began to grow heavy, Frodo found himself on his knees, leaning against the tree. His body was suffering, Frodo coughed, trying to lessen the load around his neck by placing his fingers around the chain and attempted to pull the chain over his head.

Frodo . . .

The Hobbit almost leapt three feet away from the tree and onto his feet. His head whipped about in all directions, trying to pinpoint the location of the voice. "Who's there?! Show yourself!" He rasped, struggling to pull his sword out of its scabbard.

Peregrin Took . . . you've got to help, cousin. . . none of this right!

There was again! Frodo had now come to the conclusion that he was going mad. The voice had just identified itself as his cousin and expected him to believe it. He decided to play along with the voice inside his head. "Pippin, where are you?" He asked warily.

I'm with the Nazgul Frodo. You've got to believe me; I'm no voice in your head! I'm not!

Frodo's brain was telling him not to believe the voice, it was trying to trick him. Yet his heart was telling him the exact opposite. This voice was Pippin. He was telling the truth. "Pippin, Where is he taking you?" Frodo asked.

I don't know. You've got to go to Merry and Sam, they'll know what to do!

Frodo groaned, his stomach twisted and lurched as gravity attempted to pull him back down to the ground. Finally, he pulled himself into a standing position. "How do you know where they are?" Frodo asked slowly. He saw no way of getting to Merry or Sam unless Pippin had a compass hidden somewhere around he had no knowledge of.

Sting! Sting'll help you and lead you straight to them!

Frodo regarded the sword resting at his side, pulling the weapon out of its scabbard he realized the blade was vibrating, glowing the brightest blue he had ever seen. But there were no Orc's around --- none that he could see, though that hardly meant nothing --- what was wrong?

I've been having dreams about this. Sting was in it and it lead me to a palace in Rohan! It was almost like the dreams were telling where they were! Plus wherever Aragorn and the others are, Sam and Merry are bound to be with them. . .

Frodo nodded, uncertain how to respond to the statement. "Well, then Lead the way sting," He said. The sword answered by aiming itself in the direction opposite he had come from.


Authors note: The two flashbacks in this chapter (now deleted), are from my first LOTR stories "A month away", and "Pippin's Mistake." Neither of them are prequels to this story (if memory serves).