Author's Note: Here it is, the next installment in the tortured lives of
our favorite Hobbits! Thanks again to Gamgeefest, Bronwyn, Minty, Sam,
Aemilia Rose, and Bookworm2000 for taking the time to review and encourage
me! Thanks to everyone for reading!
Chapter 12 In the Chamber of Horror
Frodo and Merry began to slowly back away from the man in black. A cold sweat forming on their brows. Before they realized it, they had backed into Sam's cell as the man continued his unrelenting descent upon them. Soon, he stood blocking the cell door, studying them with cold, glittering eyes. Merry stumbled and it was all he could do to keep from crashing to the ground. Frodo quickly moved to steady him, but Sam's limp body slid from Merry's shoulders onto a heap of moldering straw. Merry straightened up, then turned to face the man alongside Frodo. Together they formed a protective wall in front of their friend.
The Mouth of Sauron's hard face smiled faintly as he examined his new prisoners. "Well, well," he said, triumph in his voice, "I am so pleased to see that dear Samwise's stalwart companions have not abandoned him after all." Suddenly he frowned looking from Frodo to Merry. He quickly glanced over his shoulder. "Where is the other one?" he demanded abruptly, any trace of pleasantness gone from his voice.
The two Hobbits glanced at one another but remained silent, their eyes glued to the Black Wizard's face. Frodo felt a fresh thrill of fear as he watched that face harden and the eyes narrow dangerously. Suddenly and without thought, Frodo yelled and with a startled Merry close behind, charged at the figure in the doorway, their swords thrust bravely out before them. With a chuckle of amusement, the Mouth of Sauron made a subtle movement with his hands and the Hobbits' swords went spinning across the room. He then deftly seized the collars of their cloaks and unceremoniously pitched them into the cell adjacent to Sam's. They went sprawling across the cold stone floor, turning in horror upon hearing the door clang firmly shut behind them.
The Mouth of Sauron stood staring at them shaking his head as if disappointed in their behavior. "You cannot possibly withstand me," he said. "A couple of Shire rats like yourselves have no hope of escape." He moved closer, his merciless eyes glowering at them. "Now, I ask you again. Where is your companion? Radak assured me that he brought three Hobbits from Minas Tirith and I see but two."
Frodo and Merry stood resolute in their determination to keep Pippin's whereabouts a secret. He was their only hope, slim as that might be. The Mouth of Sauron sighed and shook his head again and moved away out of their sight. The two Hobbits hurried to the bars of their cell, trying to see where he had gone, but the man had disappeared. Gradually, they became aware of a low chanting sound. They looked at each other in confusion, then Merry's eyes went wide. "It's coming from Sam's cell!" he whispered, the knuckles of his hands gripping the bars had gone white.
A moment later they heard the Black Wizard's deep voice. "Well, Master Samwise," he said gently, speaking as if to a child. "I see you are awake! Do you know your friends have come to see you?" Frodo tensed as he made out Sam's frantic attempts to speak. "Now, now. Why on earth would I injure your dear friends, after they came all this way to see you? No, I need you to help me! I need you to help me convince them to tell me where their missing companion is. You can do that, can't you?" There was no reply at first, then they heard a terrified whimpering sound that suddenly blossomed into a full scale scream of agony.
"Sam!" wailed Frodo, desperately pulling on the cell's bars. "Leave him alone! Haven't you hurt him enough?! Sam!" Merry's shouts joined his as they tried to open the unyielding door. The screams continued a few moments more before finally trailing off. Frodo and Merry could hear Sam's tortured sobs and gasps as he fought for breath. Feeling ill, Frodo closed his eyes and rested his head against the cold, rough bars. He felt tears burning in his eyes and throat, but he knew he must stay strong for Sam. He opened his eyes as he heard footsteps approach.
The Mouth of Sauron again stood before them, eyeing the two Hobbits expectantly. "Do you wish your friend to suffer more?" he demanded harshly. "That was just a taste of what your dear friend has experienced at my hands." His feral grin confirmed the sadistic pleasure he obtained torturing defenseless Hobbits. "A small taste." Frodo and Merry stared at each other in fear and dismay. What could they do? If they revealed where Pippin went, then all hope was lost and each of them would suffer Sam's horrifying fate in turn. If they did not, then Sam's agony would go on endlessly.
A scraping sound could be heard coming from Sam's cell. The Mouth of Sauron turned in surprise to see Sam painfully climbing to his feet, clinging determinedly to the bars of his cell. They were the only thing keeping him upright. He cradled one hand in the other. The swollen, misshapen fingers of the injured hand telling their tale more eloquently than any words. Sam stared at the Black Wizard with undisguised loathing. He then turned his bloodied face to his horror-struck friends. Continuing to gasp painfully, he spoke slowly, his eyes boring into theirs. "Tell...him..nothing!" he croaked firmly. "Nothing!" Then, having used what little resources he had left him, Sam's legs gave out and he collapsed. He lay unmoving in the cell's doorway.
"You have your answer," declared Merry defiantly. Frodo, although unable to tear his eyes from Sam, nodded in agreement.
The Mouth of Sauron's pale face hardened again. He grabbed Sam and roughly flung him back into his cell. "I shall go look for your friend," he said in a low, ominous tone, "And when I return, Samwise Gamgee will suffer as never before. Then, it will be your turn!" He whirled around, his long cloak flaring around him, and swiftly disappeared into the corridor. As the door crashed shut behind him, Frodo and Merry both sighed in relief. Frodo slowly sank to the ground and buried his face in his hands. Merry lay a comforting hand on his cousin's shoulder. The only sound was the pained, rasping breaths coming from the next cell. Although they were trapped, at least they were safe for the moment.
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Pippin was at a total loss. He had seen the man go into the chamber and he knew his friends were trapped. He didn't know if he should wait and see if the man left and then try to free them or should he try to find his way out and look for help? But what help? He doubted any of the villagers would be willing to risk angering this Black Wizard. Obviously that torture chamber hadn't been built just for Sam. However, if Radak was in league with this devil, then the Black Wizard would know that one of the Hobbits was missing and would probably begin to search for him. As he was mulling over his choices, Pippin heard more footsteps coming down the passageway. Carefully, he again peered around the bend. The black man was there and with him, Radak. It was obvious that Radak was being posted as a guard at the chamber door. So much for getting back in.
Pippin decided that the best course of action for the time being would be to move farther back into the caverns. He actually wasn't worried about finding the way back to the secret exit. He hadn't entirely trusted Jalan and as the boy led them through the series of the caves and passageways, Pippin had been marking their route. He made sure he was always the last in line and would stop periodically to make small marks on the wall, pointing the way back. It was something his old dad had taught him when he was just a boy. "Always mark your trail, my boy," Old Paladin Took had said, "You never know when you might want to find your way back!"
Pippin continued to make his way further back into the passageway. There was still enough light coming from the main corridor for him to make out where he was going, but that would soon end. However, he had had the foresight to grab one of the unlit torches from the corridor. At the time, he hadn't been sure how far he might have to go to find Jalan and he didn't want to risk being marooned in the suffocating darkness. However, seeing Radak standing guard at the door Pippin was convinced that Jalan would be of no help.
When he felt he was far enough from the main corridor that his light would not be visible, Pippin took a chance and lit his torch. He was still in a narrow passageway, but saw what looked like a cavern opening just ahead. He decided to hide in there until he could think of what to do. He entered a good size cave, perhaps 50 feet across. There were rocks strewn across the floor and stalactites reaching their piercing fingers towards him. The wavering torch light created deep shadows around the edges and in the far end of the cave. Tentatively, Pippin moved further in. He had the feeling he was being watched. He slowly turned, peering through the darkness, when he heard a low voice coming from somewhere beyond the shadows. "There you are."
Chapter 12 In the Chamber of Horror
Frodo and Merry began to slowly back away from the man in black. A cold sweat forming on their brows. Before they realized it, they had backed into Sam's cell as the man continued his unrelenting descent upon them. Soon, he stood blocking the cell door, studying them with cold, glittering eyes. Merry stumbled and it was all he could do to keep from crashing to the ground. Frodo quickly moved to steady him, but Sam's limp body slid from Merry's shoulders onto a heap of moldering straw. Merry straightened up, then turned to face the man alongside Frodo. Together they formed a protective wall in front of their friend.
The Mouth of Sauron's hard face smiled faintly as he examined his new prisoners. "Well, well," he said, triumph in his voice, "I am so pleased to see that dear Samwise's stalwart companions have not abandoned him after all." Suddenly he frowned looking from Frodo to Merry. He quickly glanced over his shoulder. "Where is the other one?" he demanded abruptly, any trace of pleasantness gone from his voice.
The two Hobbits glanced at one another but remained silent, their eyes glued to the Black Wizard's face. Frodo felt a fresh thrill of fear as he watched that face harden and the eyes narrow dangerously. Suddenly and without thought, Frodo yelled and with a startled Merry close behind, charged at the figure in the doorway, their swords thrust bravely out before them. With a chuckle of amusement, the Mouth of Sauron made a subtle movement with his hands and the Hobbits' swords went spinning across the room. He then deftly seized the collars of their cloaks and unceremoniously pitched them into the cell adjacent to Sam's. They went sprawling across the cold stone floor, turning in horror upon hearing the door clang firmly shut behind them.
The Mouth of Sauron stood staring at them shaking his head as if disappointed in their behavior. "You cannot possibly withstand me," he said. "A couple of Shire rats like yourselves have no hope of escape." He moved closer, his merciless eyes glowering at them. "Now, I ask you again. Where is your companion? Radak assured me that he brought three Hobbits from Minas Tirith and I see but two."
Frodo and Merry stood resolute in their determination to keep Pippin's whereabouts a secret. He was their only hope, slim as that might be. The Mouth of Sauron sighed and shook his head again and moved away out of their sight. The two Hobbits hurried to the bars of their cell, trying to see where he had gone, but the man had disappeared. Gradually, they became aware of a low chanting sound. They looked at each other in confusion, then Merry's eyes went wide. "It's coming from Sam's cell!" he whispered, the knuckles of his hands gripping the bars had gone white.
A moment later they heard the Black Wizard's deep voice. "Well, Master Samwise," he said gently, speaking as if to a child. "I see you are awake! Do you know your friends have come to see you?" Frodo tensed as he made out Sam's frantic attempts to speak. "Now, now. Why on earth would I injure your dear friends, after they came all this way to see you? No, I need you to help me! I need you to help me convince them to tell me where their missing companion is. You can do that, can't you?" There was no reply at first, then they heard a terrified whimpering sound that suddenly blossomed into a full scale scream of agony.
"Sam!" wailed Frodo, desperately pulling on the cell's bars. "Leave him alone! Haven't you hurt him enough?! Sam!" Merry's shouts joined his as they tried to open the unyielding door. The screams continued a few moments more before finally trailing off. Frodo and Merry could hear Sam's tortured sobs and gasps as he fought for breath. Feeling ill, Frodo closed his eyes and rested his head against the cold, rough bars. He felt tears burning in his eyes and throat, but he knew he must stay strong for Sam. He opened his eyes as he heard footsteps approach.
The Mouth of Sauron again stood before them, eyeing the two Hobbits expectantly. "Do you wish your friend to suffer more?" he demanded harshly. "That was just a taste of what your dear friend has experienced at my hands." His feral grin confirmed the sadistic pleasure he obtained torturing defenseless Hobbits. "A small taste." Frodo and Merry stared at each other in fear and dismay. What could they do? If they revealed where Pippin went, then all hope was lost and each of them would suffer Sam's horrifying fate in turn. If they did not, then Sam's agony would go on endlessly.
A scraping sound could be heard coming from Sam's cell. The Mouth of Sauron turned in surprise to see Sam painfully climbing to his feet, clinging determinedly to the bars of his cell. They were the only thing keeping him upright. He cradled one hand in the other. The swollen, misshapen fingers of the injured hand telling their tale more eloquently than any words. Sam stared at the Black Wizard with undisguised loathing. He then turned his bloodied face to his horror-struck friends. Continuing to gasp painfully, he spoke slowly, his eyes boring into theirs. "Tell...him..nothing!" he croaked firmly. "Nothing!" Then, having used what little resources he had left him, Sam's legs gave out and he collapsed. He lay unmoving in the cell's doorway.
"You have your answer," declared Merry defiantly. Frodo, although unable to tear his eyes from Sam, nodded in agreement.
The Mouth of Sauron's pale face hardened again. He grabbed Sam and roughly flung him back into his cell. "I shall go look for your friend," he said in a low, ominous tone, "And when I return, Samwise Gamgee will suffer as never before. Then, it will be your turn!" He whirled around, his long cloak flaring around him, and swiftly disappeared into the corridor. As the door crashed shut behind him, Frodo and Merry both sighed in relief. Frodo slowly sank to the ground and buried his face in his hands. Merry lay a comforting hand on his cousin's shoulder. The only sound was the pained, rasping breaths coming from the next cell. Although they were trapped, at least they were safe for the moment.
*********************************************
Pippin was at a total loss. He had seen the man go into the chamber and he knew his friends were trapped. He didn't know if he should wait and see if the man left and then try to free them or should he try to find his way out and look for help? But what help? He doubted any of the villagers would be willing to risk angering this Black Wizard. Obviously that torture chamber hadn't been built just for Sam. However, if Radak was in league with this devil, then the Black Wizard would know that one of the Hobbits was missing and would probably begin to search for him. As he was mulling over his choices, Pippin heard more footsteps coming down the passageway. Carefully, he again peered around the bend. The black man was there and with him, Radak. It was obvious that Radak was being posted as a guard at the chamber door. So much for getting back in.
Pippin decided that the best course of action for the time being would be to move farther back into the caverns. He actually wasn't worried about finding the way back to the secret exit. He hadn't entirely trusted Jalan and as the boy led them through the series of the caves and passageways, Pippin had been marking their route. He made sure he was always the last in line and would stop periodically to make small marks on the wall, pointing the way back. It was something his old dad had taught him when he was just a boy. "Always mark your trail, my boy," Old Paladin Took had said, "You never know when you might want to find your way back!"
Pippin continued to make his way further back into the passageway. There was still enough light coming from the main corridor for him to make out where he was going, but that would soon end. However, he had had the foresight to grab one of the unlit torches from the corridor. At the time, he hadn't been sure how far he might have to go to find Jalan and he didn't want to risk being marooned in the suffocating darkness. However, seeing Radak standing guard at the door Pippin was convinced that Jalan would be of no help.
When he felt he was far enough from the main corridor that his light would not be visible, Pippin took a chance and lit his torch. He was still in a narrow passageway, but saw what looked like a cavern opening just ahead. He decided to hide in there until he could think of what to do. He entered a good size cave, perhaps 50 feet across. There were rocks strewn across the floor and stalactites reaching their piercing fingers towards him. The wavering torch light created deep shadows around the edges and in the far end of the cave. Tentatively, Pippin moved further in. He had the feeling he was being watched. He slowly turned, peering through the darkness, when he heard a low voice coming from somewhere beyond the shadows. "There you are."