Moria's Revenge, chapter 9: Found
disclaimer: Not mine. Icefang is not even mine. She's Llinos' baby!
As Pippin lay helplessly on the floor of the chief's room, Ice Fang had pawed and licked at him until he moved his head into her belly. She then took the hobbit by the neck collar in her teeth, like a mother animal lifts its young by the scruff and dragged him over to her spot by the bed. She fussed and arranged him in a curled position using her teeth to gently pull and her nose to nudge and then wrapped her body around the broken little form. The gag worried her mightily and she whined and pawed at it but did not have the skill to get it off.
The Chief and the other orcs had been drinking whiskey and laughing at the prospect of removing the creature's entrails and looks on the faces of his friends when they found him. The Chief was watching the bitch out of the corner of his eye with interest and when she started to paw at the gag he pointed to the scene.
"She's such a mother that bitch warg, I'll bet I know what's up with her."
"Wassat Chief, she wanna eat the little rat?"
"Naw - she'll be wantin' ter nurse it." He went over to Ice Fang and gently rolled her on her back and pulled at one of her teats. "See she's so desperate to mother it, she's making milk."
"Heh that'd be funny - let her do it." Frugly suggested.
"Yeah," The Chief agreed. "It ain't food exactly, an it'll keep it alive longer an' be good fer her." He pulled Pippin upright and roughly removed the gag, then shoved him back down. "Now hurry up 'cause this's goin' back in five minutes." Pippin had trouble closing his aching jaw, and forcing sound through his dried out and abused mouth.
"What must I do, please, Master?" Pippin remembered the title but was mystified as to what his unpredictable master wanted.
"Yer a little Dogwhore, ain't yer?" The Chief kicked him.
"Yes Master." Pippin whispered looking down at the floor, he was beginning to believe it.
"An yer hungry, ain't yer?"
"Yes Master." Ice Fang nestled round him again and, using her muzzle, pushed his head down into her belly.
"Yer can suckle on yer step-mother." Frugly laughed, slapping his thighs at the hilarity.
"Yer'd better," the Chief threatened. "Or go upsettin' my bitch an' I'll pull yer legs out o' their sockets, too!"
Pippin obediently wrapped his mouth around the warg's teat and sucked gently. He was rewarded with a steady stream of warm milk. The taste was not exactly what he was used to but it was wonderful to the starving, thirsty hobbit, and it washed the taste of the orc from his mouth. Icefang contentedly licked his still bleeding back and shoulders. When Pippin was done, he snuggled into her belly and passed out.
***
Frodo was up at the front of the company with Legolas. The elf had better night sight than he did, and kept the hobbit from treading wrong. The elf had also explained why Aragorn trusted the female voice in his head. //Though I'm not to keen on being directed by a sorceress, even if she is an elf.// They had passed the hot spring Gimli and Legolas had washed Pippin's garments in, but they still had many miles to go. The disturbing vision provided by this "Lady of the Wood" appeared to him every time he closed his eyes. Frodo stepped up the pace a bit.
***
Pippin was woken by a commotion. The chief was yelling at his henchmen for some reason, and in Pippin's state it was hard for him to make out what they were babbling about.
"But chief, we was drunk like you!" Frugly protested.
"I don' care if'n yer 'ad passed out from a 'shroom, I told yer ter take the Dogwhore out when the sun went down! It's been down fer hours an' jus' now yer wake me up?"
"But-"
"NO MORE 'BUT'S! Ah'm gonna hafta give this mission ter some son of a warg Ah c'n trust ter do it prop'ly. Crugsyl'll do it right!"
"Give it ter a common goblin? But-"
"WHAT DID AH TELL YER!" At this, the three uruks decided to cut thier losses and stay out of the way of the chief's wrath. They scurried out the door, leaving it ajar. Skor stuck his head in.
"Er, chief? Yer be needin' anything?"
"Yes! Send for Crugsyl! Tell him I have a job fer 'im I think he'll enjoy!"
***
Merry's legs, lungs, and heart ached. They had been trudging on for what seemed like days, with Frodo setting an ever-increasing pace. But he took strength from the thought that they might be going to where Pippin was. However, part of it dreaded what they might find, even if they got there on time.
Ever since Legolas had explained what had happened to poor Pip, Merry had been trying not to imagine what abuse like that might do to one. He had also been trying to not think about what worse torture could possibly be inflicted on his defenceless cousin. Whenever Merry tried to imagine Pippin's sweet, innocent face, a look of terror would blight Pip's fair features before a shadow blotted him from Merry's sight. Merry felt his throat constrict, and tears blurred his vision. he felt so lonely without Pippin. Merry had often wanted to tell Pippin just how much he loved him, but had never got around to it. There was always a field to plunder, bars to hop, or an "adventure" to go on.
Merry stumbled. A strong hand caught him before he hit the ground. Strider smiled down at him, then frowned and wiped away the tear that had escaped Merry's eye.
***
Pippin was lifted and thrown unceremoniously over Crugsyl's shoulder. Lugsta was with him. Being this close to his two original tormentors made him quake with fear. The chief had just finished giving them thier instructions. They were to go to a spot a little north of the cave mouth, to the "blood stone". There they were to cut him open, and one would string his entrails out, while the other would lead the rest of Pippin's group to the end of them. The metal gag was forced into his mouth, this time cranked as tight as it would go with out breaking his jaw. But the chief gave them permission to do that if they had time. he also sent along Icefang to guard them.
The chief secretly thought it would be amusing for his bitch to keep trying and baby the little creature, even when it's innards were trailing through the forest. The chief was also amused at how the little creature was so trusting that it did not think through any of his statements. It had been easy to get it to the state where he could tell it anything and it would believe it. Like the stone in the well, for instance. It had not even thought about how the chief could have possibly known who threw it. Orcs had actually been spying on the Fellowship for quite some time, and had reported who threw the stone to the chief. The huge uruk chuckled at his plot.
***
Crugsyl made his way through the forest, towards the clearing where the Bloodstone was. His shoulder was starting to get stiff where he carried the little thing.
"Oy, Lugsta!" He called to the orc, who was leading Icefang. "Yer want ter trade?" Lugsta laughed.
"Yer should'na been so eager ter tek 'im, Crugsie! Har!" Crugsyl grumbled something dark under his breath.
"Ere!" He yelled, throwing Pippin off his shoulder to land in a heap on the ground. "Yer walkin! Ah'm tireda carryin' yer worthless arse!" He kicked Pippin until Pippin staggered to his feet.
Pippin's rear burned whenever he moved his tired legs, but he had no choice. Crugsyl jerked him along on the spiked collar. Pippin's arms were useless and still tied with the scarf, so he could not use them for balance. Icefang whined whenever he stumbled or fell.
"Har, har!" Lugsta bellowed. "'S jus' like the chief said! She think it's 'er pup! Har, har!"
At this, they rounded a corner, and went through a narrow passage between two rocks. Pippin's heart thundered. The clearing was not the same one where he had been ravished, but it was similar enough that he started to panic. In the center a large, flat, ractangular stone jutted up from the sandy floor. A groove was cut around the edge of the top surface, and dark stains mottled the grey limestone. All around the rock walls horrible signs were cut, with crude images from nightmares. Pippin shut his eyes.
***
Sam brought up the tail of the sadly diminished Fellowship. He had been trying to hide how much he missed Mr. Pippin, but it was getting harder. The thought of some of the horrible things Ted Sandyman would scare him with when he was a child happening to poor Mr. Pippin sent icy claws to grip his heart.
He knew it was not proper for a servant to feel such an attachment to a hobbit of a higher class who was not his master, but after all of the experiences they had shared, Sam had begun to view himself as belonging to all of them. This meant that he should have protected Mr. Pippin better. As an older and more experienced hobbit, it was his duty. Mr Frodo could not be expected to look out for them. He had that cursed ring to worry about. And the others were concerned only with the ringbearer.
It was only about half an hour to dawn. This meant that the coldest part of the night was upon them. Even the thick fur on Sam's feet could not keep out the cold that came with the early morning dew, and he kept stubbing his toes on rocks. Though because his feet were cold and numb now, he knew they would be sore when the sun warmed the earth below. The sun. Sam felt an unfamiliar dread at the thought of it. Whatever the orcs were planning to do to Mr. Pippin, they would do it before sunrise. Of that he was sure. They had to hurry.
***
Crugsyl threw Pippin up onto the rock, while Lugsta tethered Icefang to a hook set in a stone on the perimeter of the clearing.
"Want ter break it's jaw, Lugsta?" Crugsyl asked.
"Yer know we don't have time! It's not 'alf an 'our till sunup, an' we've got ter be done by then!" Lugsta replied, drawing a long. serated knife and advancing towards Pippin. Pippin whimpered around the gag and squeezed his eyes shut. The knife glinted in the starlight. Lugsta placed it against Pippin's midsection, and Crugsyl held him down.
At the touch of the cold steel, Pippin froze. //I'm gonna die.// He thought. He wished he could have seen Merry again, just once. But no, it was better this way. Merry should not be defiled by a filthy slut like him. A single tear escaped from the corner of his eye, and traced his hairline, before dripping into his ear, and becoming a mild, tickling annoyance. //I hope this doen't hurt too much.//
Lugsta pressed the knife into the pearly skin of Pippin's stomach and sliced.
Pippin screamed in agony as he felt his skin part to the vicious blade.
*** Gimli watched his feet carefully. They were in more limestone now, and small springs and loose rocks threatened to trip the unwary one. he desparatley hoped that the witch in Lothlorien was guiding Frodo well. Whatever Legolas or Aragorn said, he was still not quite inclined to trust some elf wench in a golden tree, or whatever it was.
A scream of pain ripped through the predawn silence of the rocks.
Gimli's heart leapt to his throat even as he lept forwards, weilding his axe. Legolas placed an arrow on his bow as he bounded up the trail with Gimli, and Aragorn drew Anduril as he kept pace with them. Boromir was already several yards ahead. They left the struggling hobbits in their wake, Merry cursing his short legs and breath with words Frodo had not even known he knew. Merry soon outdistanced both he and Sam.
***
Lugsta was preparing to cut the rest of the way through Pippin's skin, when Crugsyl made an odd sound. Lugsta looked up. An arrow had passed through Crugsyl's neck, and he was clutching at it and gurgling. Before Lugsta had anytime to process this, a war cry that chilled his already cold heart sounded from the entrance behind him.
***
Boromir had bounded up the rough cut steps towards the gap in the rocks from which the scream had come. Legolas, with his elven sight, had loosed an arrow which breezed by Boromir's ear as he stepped into the clearing. When he looked in, he had never been so scared in his entire life.
An orc was standing poised over a small wreck of a hobbit body, with a long, cruel knife. A knife that was dripping blood. Blood flowed from Pippin's stomach, and a harsh metal device marred his guileless face. Boromir yelled out his war cry, and charged forwards. He sliced off the orc who was nearest's head, leaving an arc of ichor droplets in his sword's wake. He belatedly realized that this was the orc whom Legolas had shot. Boromir saw a flash of steel out of the corner of his eye. He ducked to the side and rolled, the orc's knife glancing off his shield which he raised just in time.
A dwarven roar of rage sounded behind him, and the sound of metal on metal.
***
Lugsta then realized that he was soon going to be hopelessly outnumbered. He dodged the dwarf's axe and scrambled up the side of a rock, like a huge spider. As he ran back to the caves' entrance, he tried to think of what to tell the chief that would not get him instantly killed. Or worse, not instantly killed.
***
Aragorn leapt into the ring just in time to see the orc disappear over the edge of the rocks. His eyes were brought downwards by Boromir's cry. The worrior of Gondor was kneeling by Pippin's still form, tears running down his cheeks. A cruel metal gag was in Pippin's mouth, and a collar was around his neck. Blood dripped from a gash across his stomach. A strangled cry sounded behind him, and Merry rushed past. Aragorn reached out to try and stop him, but was too slow.
Merry threw himself at the still form of his cousin, sobbing. he only wanted to hold Pippin in his arms and have Pippin tell him that he was alright. At the sight of his cousins perfect face being twisted by the metal gag Merry's sobs redoubled, and he reached out to try and take it off.
Boromir grabbed his hand before he could touch it.
'Be careful, Merry! I have unfortunately seen these before. Any movement will cause pain." and then to Legolas, who was standing in stunned silence, he barked, "Quickly! Search the orc! Perhaps the key to this is in that one's possesion!" While Legolas turned Crugsyl's headless body over trying to locate any keys, Aragorn had walked up an was feeling Pippin's pulse. after a couple of heartwrenching moments he felt the sluggish beat against his fingers.
"He's alive." There was an audible sigh of relief. A scrambling sound at the entrance drew thier attention. Frodo and Sam had just arrived, puffing with exertion. But at the sight of Pippin, both moved faster than Aragorn had thought hobbits could move across the clearing. Frodo took one of Pippin's hands in his own, and began to weep over it, telling Pippin that if he died, Frodo was going to kill him. Aragorn did not think it was such a good idea for Pip's arms to be handled, they stuck out at odd angles, almost as if... his breath caught in his throat. Pippin's arms were dislocated, and tied with the scarf he wore everywhere. Suddenly a low whine made everyone freeze. Tied to a rock was a large white warg. It was straining against the end of it's tether looking at Pippin and whining. Gimli swore, and sprang up, wielding his axe. He was about to bring it crashing down on the cowering wolf when a shriek ripped from Pippin. In the only display of life the little hobbit had shown, Pippin was breathing hard and his gray-green eyes were fixed on Gimli. He struggled against his bonds and yelled through the gag again. Aragorn held Pippin firmly down. He had to keep him calm, and appraise his injuries before they could think about moving him.
"Gimli," he said, "leave it alone. It is tied and of no risk to us right now. Perhaps I can find out why Pippin is reacting that way." Legolas then raced forwards with a ring of keys in his hand.
"The first thing to do is get that horrid gag out." After several unsucessful attempts to fit various keys in the lock, during which Pippin moaned whenever the gag was jostled, the lock opened, and Aragorn gently lifted it out of Pip's mouth. The hobbit did not seem to realize he had been freed at first, but when Merry reached out and began stroking his face, and begging him to say something. Pippin forced his abused mouth closed, and blearily looked at Merry from under half closed eyes.
"Merry?" Pippin whispered. Then his head fell to the side and his eyes closed. Aragorn began praying to the Valar that they were not too late.
***
St.CathrineEvangelineWoodsorel 2002-09-27 9 Signed Oh my God, my heart was pounding during this one! The only thing I don't like about this story is the way you portray Sam. I know he's a "servant" and all, but to have him think that he belonged to them (the Fellowship) all? I dunno, that seems a little ignoble to me. Sam is more than a servant to the Fellowship. Other than that, this is great! I just really hope you're not going to give Pippin brain damage or turn him insane, rocking back and forth and mumbling.
Java D. 2002-08-22 9 Anonymous I love Icefang!!! And Pippin!! *falls over* Hi ground..
Eh sorry.. I love this story!!
Mistoffelees (lia_parisi@hotmail.com) 2002-07-24 9 Anonymous Be happy! Be VERY happy! ~makes Kookaburra as happy as she could possibly be~ Be VERY, VERY happy! ~sobs pathetically~ ORCS SHOULD DIE! No, no they shouldn't die, they should be tortured and then made to beg for death. Yesss...deeeeeaaaathh..~cackles~ Sorry about that..~sob~ I can't say anything about this chapter..too..depressing..~hysterical crying~
Melanie 2002-07-17 9 Signed Wow, what can I say that Niere hasn't already said?
Again Ice Fang ... I love her! I have to say that she is by far my fav. original character that any fanfic author has created. I do hope you have her join the Fellowship on their journey instead of sending her back to that awful place she's called her home.
Now onto the best part of the story. In my opinion anyway. I cannot wait to see how Pippin each going to act or feel around the other members of the Fellowship. ... particularly Merry.
Niere 2002-07-17 9 Signed This seems pretty much the same. OK, I didn't compare it word-for-word.
The thing I hate about on-line reviews is they are so short or generalized. You can't tell the reactions to the different parts of the story. I try to aleviate that by taking notes while reading on my reactions and what comes to mind while I read. (this is easier on the other site. the story is there to leave lines in for response) Anyway, here goes:
-I liked Ice Fang comforting Pippin, to the best of her ability. I wish it could have been more.
-*No, Pippin, don't believe it!!*
-Mother's milk was the best thing for Pippin right then. It is complete nutrition in liquid form. Easy to take in and easy to digest. Just what his poor abused body and system needed.
-I liked that, short legged Frodo setting the pace for the longer legged members. I could see them having a difficult time 'keeping up'.
-*singing* the orcs are in trouble, the orcs are in trouble (GOOD, they need to be!!)
-OK, Merry, it's about time you 'got around to it'! TELL HIM!! He really needs to hear it, especially now!!
-(hey, a new part!) I liked how Merry kept seeing Pippin's face and how it changed, then disappeared. Very good.
-"It had been easy to get it to the state where he could tell it anything and it would believe it." Abuse will do that, especially mental abuse.
-Making Pip walk, in his condition. My heart bleeds for him. *sob*
-Poor Pippin. I understand his panic. The site being so close in nature to the one where he was first hurt so badly.
-No, Sam. You don't 'belong to' them, you are 'one of' them. Classes no longer exist in this situation.
-I still want to know how the hobbits survive Caradhras in the 'snow' if Sam's feet can't take the 'chill' now?
-I am sooo glad that they didn't 'have time' to break Pip's jaw. How would they heal that with the medical knowledge in Middle Earth? It is hard enough now.
-*sob* No, Pip, you are not filthy, nor a slut. You are a victim!! YOU did not do this, THEY did!
-RUN!!! YOU ARE CLOSE!!! GO GET HIM!!!
-Uh, Frodo? You'd be surprised at the new words you learn in a crisis situation.
-A deep cut, but not all the way through to the abdominal cavity? Good! Stitches will work (as will tight bandaging), but no handling of the intestines. No ileus problems, then. Nice way to get around that one.
-Nice shot, Legolas! I'm glad he 'got his'!!
-Uh, Boromir? *taps shoulder* Legolas already got that one. Try the other one.
-(another new part) I hope he 'doesn't' get killed instantly. He deserves what he gets after the way he treated our little Peregrin.
-Tell him, Merry! Tell him you love him! Tell him you need him! He needs to hear it!! Over and over again!!
-Forget light-speed. Frodo and Sam have 'adrenaline-speed'!
-I loved Frodo telling Pippin that 'if he died, he would kill him'! LOL!!!
-DON'T HURT ICE FANG! Pippin cares for her, since she cared for him in that horrible place. (I just thought of something. It might be a good idea for her to come along. With the sad condition of Pip's mouth, he might need more of her milk later)
-Luckily they killed the one with the keys. That would have been a real problem if they hadn't.
-NOT too late! NOT too late! *chanting*
I loved this just as much this time as I did the last 2 times I read it!!!!!!!!!!
[Take Pippin to work. Let's see, I need:
+steri strips (forget the sutures, they hurt)
+IV fluids, probably IV feeding too(TPN-total parenteral nutrition) (parenteral=IV)
+a PCA pump (patient controlled analgesia) demerol or morphine (sorry Pip, no poppy) IV. a continuous infusion and push-button bolus, controlled by him, for break-through pain.
+gauze for bandages (paper tape, of course)
+antibiotic ointment for his wounds
+IV antibiotics for the STD's
+qwell for the lice
+Lots and Lots of TLC!!!!!!!!!!!!!] Niere
Llinos 2002-07-17 9 Signed Here Icefang! C'mon girl! Come to Llinos... What a good warg! She's really Smagnu in lupine form, which is probably an improvement - well someone's gotta look after poor Pip.
Well done Kookaburra, you managed to take him right to the brink and just grabbed him with your teeth before he fell into the abyss. Now it's all plain sailing - right? Right!
shirebound 2002-07-17 9 Signed Thank goodness they found him! I can relax a bit more now. Poor little Pippin, however will they ease his physical and emotional trauma, and help him to know that he's not to blame for anything???
LilyBaggins 2002-07-16 9 Signed Arrrrggh... want another chapter now! Ah, you can't leave it there! I'm thoroughly addicted to this story now!
disclaimer: Not mine. Icefang is not even mine. She's Llinos' baby!
As Pippin lay helplessly on the floor of the chief's room, Ice Fang had pawed and licked at him until he moved his head into her belly. She then took the hobbit by the neck collar in her teeth, like a mother animal lifts its young by the scruff and dragged him over to her spot by the bed. She fussed and arranged him in a curled position using her teeth to gently pull and her nose to nudge and then wrapped her body around the broken little form. The gag worried her mightily and she whined and pawed at it but did not have the skill to get it off.
The Chief and the other orcs had been drinking whiskey and laughing at the prospect of removing the creature's entrails and looks on the faces of his friends when they found him. The Chief was watching the bitch out of the corner of his eye with interest and when she started to paw at the gag he pointed to the scene.
"She's such a mother that bitch warg, I'll bet I know what's up with her."
"Wassat Chief, she wanna eat the little rat?"
"Naw - she'll be wantin' ter nurse it." He went over to Ice Fang and gently rolled her on her back and pulled at one of her teats. "See she's so desperate to mother it, she's making milk."
"Heh that'd be funny - let her do it." Frugly suggested.
"Yeah," The Chief agreed. "It ain't food exactly, an it'll keep it alive longer an' be good fer her." He pulled Pippin upright and roughly removed the gag, then shoved him back down. "Now hurry up 'cause this's goin' back in five minutes." Pippin had trouble closing his aching jaw, and forcing sound through his dried out and abused mouth.
"What must I do, please, Master?" Pippin remembered the title but was mystified as to what his unpredictable master wanted.
"Yer a little Dogwhore, ain't yer?" The Chief kicked him.
"Yes Master." Pippin whispered looking down at the floor, he was beginning to believe it.
"An yer hungry, ain't yer?"
"Yes Master." Ice Fang nestled round him again and, using her muzzle, pushed his head down into her belly.
"Yer can suckle on yer step-mother." Frugly laughed, slapping his thighs at the hilarity.
"Yer'd better," the Chief threatened. "Or go upsettin' my bitch an' I'll pull yer legs out o' their sockets, too!"
Pippin obediently wrapped his mouth around the warg's teat and sucked gently. He was rewarded with a steady stream of warm milk. The taste was not exactly what he was used to but it was wonderful to the starving, thirsty hobbit, and it washed the taste of the orc from his mouth. Icefang contentedly licked his still bleeding back and shoulders. When Pippin was done, he snuggled into her belly and passed out.
***
Frodo was up at the front of the company with Legolas. The elf had better night sight than he did, and kept the hobbit from treading wrong. The elf had also explained why Aragorn trusted the female voice in his head. //Though I'm not to keen on being directed by a sorceress, even if she is an elf.// They had passed the hot spring Gimli and Legolas had washed Pippin's garments in, but they still had many miles to go. The disturbing vision provided by this "Lady of the Wood" appeared to him every time he closed his eyes. Frodo stepped up the pace a bit.
***
Pippin was woken by a commotion. The chief was yelling at his henchmen for some reason, and in Pippin's state it was hard for him to make out what they were babbling about.
"But chief, we was drunk like you!" Frugly protested.
"I don' care if'n yer 'ad passed out from a 'shroom, I told yer ter take the Dogwhore out when the sun went down! It's been down fer hours an' jus' now yer wake me up?"
"But-"
"NO MORE 'BUT'S! Ah'm gonna hafta give this mission ter some son of a warg Ah c'n trust ter do it prop'ly. Crugsyl'll do it right!"
"Give it ter a common goblin? But-"
"WHAT DID AH TELL YER!" At this, the three uruks decided to cut thier losses and stay out of the way of the chief's wrath. They scurried out the door, leaving it ajar. Skor stuck his head in.
"Er, chief? Yer be needin' anything?"
"Yes! Send for Crugsyl! Tell him I have a job fer 'im I think he'll enjoy!"
***
Merry's legs, lungs, and heart ached. They had been trudging on for what seemed like days, with Frodo setting an ever-increasing pace. But he took strength from the thought that they might be going to where Pippin was. However, part of it dreaded what they might find, even if they got there on time.
Ever since Legolas had explained what had happened to poor Pip, Merry had been trying not to imagine what abuse like that might do to one. He had also been trying to not think about what worse torture could possibly be inflicted on his defenceless cousin. Whenever Merry tried to imagine Pippin's sweet, innocent face, a look of terror would blight Pip's fair features before a shadow blotted him from Merry's sight. Merry felt his throat constrict, and tears blurred his vision. he felt so lonely without Pippin. Merry had often wanted to tell Pippin just how much he loved him, but had never got around to it. There was always a field to plunder, bars to hop, or an "adventure" to go on.
Merry stumbled. A strong hand caught him before he hit the ground. Strider smiled down at him, then frowned and wiped away the tear that had escaped Merry's eye.
***
Pippin was lifted and thrown unceremoniously over Crugsyl's shoulder. Lugsta was with him. Being this close to his two original tormentors made him quake with fear. The chief had just finished giving them thier instructions. They were to go to a spot a little north of the cave mouth, to the "blood stone". There they were to cut him open, and one would string his entrails out, while the other would lead the rest of Pippin's group to the end of them. The metal gag was forced into his mouth, this time cranked as tight as it would go with out breaking his jaw. But the chief gave them permission to do that if they had time. he also sent along Icefang to guard them.
The chief secretly thought it would be amusing for his bitch to keep trying and baby the little creature, even when it's innards were trailing through the forest. The chief was also amused at how the little creature was so trusting that it did not think through any of his statements. It had been easy to get it to the state where he could tell it anything and it would believe it. Like the stone in the well, for instance. It had not even thought about how the chief could have possibly known who threw it. Orcs had actually been spying on the Fellowship for quite some time, and had reported who threw the stone to the chief. The huge uruk chuckled at his plot.
***
Crugsyl made his way through the forest, towards the clearing where the Bloodstone was. His shoulder was starting to get stiff where he carried the little thing.
"Oy, Lugsta!" He called to the orc, who was leading Icefang. "Yer want ter trade?" Lugsta laughed.
"Yer should'na been so eager ter tek 'im, Crugsie! Har!" Crugsyl grumbled something dark under his breath.
"Ere!" He yelled, throwing Pippin off his shoulder to land in a heap on the ground. "Yer walkin! Ah'm tireda carryin' yer worthless arse!" He kicked Pippin until Pippin staggered to his feet.
Pippin's rear burned whenever he moved his tired legs, but he had no choice. Crugsyl jerked him along on the spiked collar. Pippin's arms were useless and still tied with the scarf, so he could not use them for balance. Icefang whined whenever he stumbled or fell.
"Har, har!" Lugsta bellowed. "'S jus' like the chief said! She think it's 'er pup! Har, har!"
At this, they rounded a corner, and went through a narrow passage between two rocks. Pippin's heart thundered. The clearing was not the same one where he had been ravished, but it was similar enough that he started to panic. In the center a large, flat, ractangular stone jutted up from the sandy floor. A groove was cut around the edge of the top surface, and dark stains mottled the grey limestone. All around the rock walls horrible signs were cut, with crude images from nightmares. Pippin shut his eyes.
***
Sam brought up the tail of the sadly diminished Fellowship. He had been trying to hide how much he missed Mr. Pippin, but it was getting harder. The thought of some of the horrible things Ted Sandyman would scare him with when he was a child happening to poor Mr. Pippin sent icy claws to grip his heart.
He knew it was not proper for a servant to feel such an attachment to a hobbit of a higher class who was not his master, but after all of the experiences they had shared, Sam had begun to view himself as belonging to all of them. This meant that he should have protected Mr. Pippin better. As an older and more experienced hobbit, it was his duty. Mr Frodo could not be expected to look out for them. He had that cursed ring to worry about. And the others were concerned only with the ringbearer.
It was only about half an hour to dawn. This meant that the coldest part of the night was upon them. Even the thick fur on Sam's feet could not keep out the cold that came with the early morning dew, and he kept stubbing his toes on rocks. Though because his feet were cold and numb now, he knew they would be sore when the sun warmed the earth below. The sun. Sam felt an unfamiliar dread at the thought of it. Whatever the orcs were planning to do to Mr. Pippin, they would do it before sunrise. Of that he was sure. They had to hurry.
***
Crugsyl threw Pippin up onto the rock, while Lugsta tethered Icefang to a hook set in a stone on the perimeter of the clearing.
"Want ter break it's jaw, Lugsta?" Crugsyl asked.
"Yer know we don't have time! It's not 'alf an 'our till sunup, an' we've got ter be done by then!" Lugsta replied, drawing a long. serated knife and advancing towards Pippin. Pippin whimpered around the gag and squeezed his eyes shut. The knife glinted in the starlight. Lugsta placed it against Pippin's midsection, and Crugsyl held him down.
At the touch of the cold steel, Pippin froze. //I'm gonna die.// He thought. He wished he could have seen Merry again, just once. But no, it was better this way. Merry should not be defiled by a filthy slut like him. A single tear escaped from the corner of his eye, and traced his hairline, before dripping into his ear, and becoming a mild, tickling annoyance. //I hope this doen't hurt too much.//
Lugsta pressed the knife into the pearly skin of Pippin's stomach and sliced.
Pippin screamed in agony as he felt his skin part to the vicious blade.
*** Gimli watched his feet carefully. They were in more limestone now, and small springs and loose rocks threatened to trip the unwary one. he desparatley hoped that the witch in Lothlorien was guiding Frodo well. Whatever Legolas or Aragorn said, he was still not quite inclined to trust some elf wench in a golden tree, or whatever it was.
A scream of pain ripped through the predawn silence of the rocks.
Gimli's heart leapt to his throat even as he lept forwards, weilding his axe. Legolas placed an arrow on his bow as he bounded up the trail with Gimli, and Aragorn drew Anduril as he kept pace with them. Boromir was already several yards ahead. They left the struggling hobbits in their wake, Merry cursing his short legs and breath with words Frodo had not even known he knew. Merry soon outdistanced both he and Sam.
***
Lugsta was preparing to cut the rest of the way through Pippin's skin, when Crugsyl made an odd sound. Lugsta looked up. An arrow had passed through Crugsyl's neck, and he was clutching at it and gurgling. Before Lugsta had anytime to process this, a war cry that chilled his already cold heart sounded from the entrance behind him.
***
Boromir had bounded up the rough cut steps towards the gap in the rocks from which the scream had come. Legolas, with his elven sight, had loosed an arrow which breezed by Boromir's ear as he stepped into the clearing. When he looked in, he had never been so scared in his entire life.
An orc was standing poised over a small wreck of a hobbit body, with a long, cruel knife. A knife that was dripping blood. Blood flowed from Pippin's stomach, and a harsh metal device marred his guileless face. Boromir yelled out his war cry, and charged forwards. He sliced off the orc who was nearest's head, leaving an arc of ichor droplets in his sword's wake. He belatedly realized that this was the orc whom Legolas had shot. Boromir saw a flash of steel out of the corner of his eye. He ducked to the side and rolled, the orc's knife glancing off his shield which he raised just in time.
A dwarven roar of rage sounded behind him, and the sound of metal on metal.
***
Lugsta then realized that he was soon going to be hopelessly outnumbered. He dodged the dwarf's axe and scrambled up the side of a rock, like a huge spider. As he ran back to the caves' entrance, he tried to think of what to tell the chief that would not get him instantly killed. Or worse, not instantly killed.
***
Aragorn leapt into the ring just in time to see the orc disappear over the edge of the rocks. His eyes were brought downwards by Boromir's cry. The worrior of Gondor was kneeling by Pippin's still form, tears running down his cheeks. A cruel metal gag was in Pippin's mouth, and a collar was around his neck. Blood dripped from a gash across his stomach. A strangled cry sounded behind him, and Merry rushed past. Aragorn reached out to try and stop him, but was too slow.
Merry threw himself at the still form of his cousin, sobbing. he only wanted to hold Pippin in his arms and have Pippin tell him that he was alright. At the sight of his cousins perfect face being twisted by the metal gag Merry's sobs redoubled, and he reached out to try and take it off.
Boromir grabbed his hand before he could touch it.
'Be careful, Merry! I have unfortunately seen these before. Any movement will cause pain." and then to Legolas, who was standing in stunned silence, he barked, "Quickly! Search the orc! Perhaps the key to this is in that one's possesion!" While Legolas turned Crugsyl's headless body over trying to locate any keys, Aragorn had walked up an was feeling Pippin's pulse. after a couple of heartwrenching moments he felt the sluggish beat against his fingers.
"He's alive." There was an audible sigh of relief. A scrambling sound at the entrance drew thier attention. Frodo and Sam had just arrived, puffing with exertion. But at the sight of Pippin, both moved faster than Aragorn had thought hobbits could move across the clearing. Frodo took one of Pippin's hands in his own, and began to weep over it, telling Pippin that if he died, Frodo was going to kill him. Aragorn did not think it was such a good idea for Pip's arms to be handled, they stuck out at odd angles, almost as if... his breath caught in his throat. Pippin's arms were dislocated, and tied with the scarf he wore everywhere. Suddenly a low whine made everyone freeze. Tied to a rock was a large white warg. It was straining against the end of it's tether looking at Pippin and whining. Gimli swore, and sprang up, wielding his axe. He was about to bring it crashing down on the cowering wolf when a shriek ripped from Pippin. In the only display of life the little hobbit had shown, Pippin was breathing hard and his gray-green eyes were fixed on Gimli. He struggled against his bonds and yelled through the gag again. Aragorn held Pippin firmly down. He had to keep him calm, and appraise his injuries before they could think about moving him.
"Gimli," he said, "leave it alone. It is tied and of no risk to us right now. Perhaps I can find out why Pippin is reacting that way." Legolas then raced forwards with a ring of keys in his hand.
"The first thing to do is get that horrid gag out." After several unsucessful attempts to fit various keys in the lock, during which Pippin moaned whenever the gag was jostled, the lock opened, and Aragorn gently lifted it out of Pip's mouth. The hobbit did not seem to realize he had been freed at first, but when Merry reached out and began stroking his face, and begging him to say something. Pippin forced his abused mouth closed, and blearily looked at Merry from under half closed eyes.
"Merry?" Pippin whispered. Then his head fell to the side and his eyes closed. Aragorn began praying to the Valar that they were not too late.
***
St.CathrineEvangelineWoodsorel 2002-09-27 9 Signed Oh my God, my heart was pounding during this one! The only thing I don't like about this story is the way you portray Sam. I know he's a "servant" and all, but to have him think that he belonged to them (the Fellowship) all? I dunno, that seems a little ignoble to me. Sam is more than a servant to the Fellowship. Other than that, this is great! I just really hope you're not going to give Pippin brain damage or turn him insane, rocking back and forth and mumbling.
Java D. 2002-08-22 9 Anonymous I love Icefang!!! And Pippin!! *falls over* Hi ground..
Eh sorry.. I love this story!!
Mistoffelees (lia_parisi@hotmail.com) 2002-07-24 9 Anonymous Be happy! Be VERY happy! ~makes Kookaburra as happy as she could possibly be~ Be VERY, VERY happy! ~sobs pathetically~ ORCS SHOULD DIE! No, no they shouldn't die, they should be tortured and then made to beg for death. Yesss...deeeeeaaaathh..~cackles~ Sorry about that..~sob~ I can't say anything about this chapter..too..depressing..~hysterical crying~
Melanie 2002-07-17 9 Signed Wow, what can I say that Niere hasn't already said?
Again Ice Fang ... I love her! I have to say that she is by far my fav. original character that any fanfic author has created. I do hope you have her join the Fellowship on their journey instead of sending her back to that awful place she's called her home.
Now onto the best part of the story. In my opinion anyway. I cannot wait to see how Pippin each going to act or feel around the other members of the Fellowship. ... particularly Merry.
Niere 2002-07-17 9 Signed This seems pretty much the same. OK, I didn't compare it word-for-word.
The thing I hate about on-line reviews is they are so short or generalized. You can't tell the reactions to the different parts of the story. I try to aleviate that by taking notes while reading on my reactions and what comes to mind while I read. (this is easier on the other site. the story is there to leave lines in for response) Anyway, here goes:
-I liked Ice Fang comforting Pippin, to the best of her ability. I wish it could have been more.
-*No, Pippin, don't believe it!!*
-Mother's milk was the best thing for Pippin right then. It is complete nutrition in liquid form. Easy to take in and easy to digest. Just what his poor abused body and system needed.
-I liked that, short legged Frodo setting the pace for the longer legged members. I could see them having a difficult time 'keeping up'.
-*singing* the orcs are in trouble, the orcs are in trouble (GOOD, they need to be!!)
-OK, Merry, it's about time you 'got around to it'! TELL HIM!! He really needs to hear it, especially now!!
-(hey, a new part!) I liked how Merry kept seeing Pippin's face and how it changed, then disappeared. Very good.
-"It had been easy to get it to the state where he could tell it anything and it would believe it." Abuse will do that, especially mental abuse.
-Making Pip walk, in his condition. My heart bleeds for him. *sob*
-Poor Pippin. I understand his panic. The site being so close in nature to the one where he was first hurt so badly.
-No, Sam. You don't 'belong to' them, you are 'one of' them. Classes no longer exist in this situation.
-I still want to know how the hobbits survive Caradhras in the 'snow' if Sam's feet can't take the 'chill' now?
-I am sooo glad that they didn't 'have time' to break Pip's jaw. How would they heal that with the medical knowledge in Middle Earth? It is hard enough now.
-*sob* No, Pip, you are not filthy, nor a slut. You are a victim!! YOU did not do this, THEY did!
-RUN!!! YOU ARE CLOSE!!! GO GET HIM!!!
-Uh, Frodo? You'd be surprised at the new words you learn in a crisis situation.
-A deep cut, but not all the way through to the abdominal cavity? Good! Stitches will work (as will tight bandaging), but no handling of the intestines. No ileus problems, then. Nice way to get around that one.
-Nice shot, Legolas! I'm glad he 'got his'!!
-Uh, Boromir? *taps shoulder* Legolas already got that one. Try the other one.
-(another new part) I hope he 'doesn't' get killed instantly. He deserves what he gets after the way he treated our little Peregrin.
-Tell him, Merry! Tell him you love him! Tell him you need him! He needs to hear it!! Over and over again!!
-Forget light-speed. Frodo and Sam have 'adrenaline-speed'!
-I loved Frodo telling Pippin that 'if he died, he would kill him'! LOL!!!
-DON'T HURT ICE FANG! Pippin cares for her, since she cared for him in that horrible place. (I just thought of something. It might be a good idea for her to come along. With the sad condition of Pip's mouth, he might need more of her milk later)
-Luckily they killed the one with the keys. That would have been a real problem if they hadn't.
-NOT too late! NOT too late! *chanting*
I loved this just as much this time as I did the last 2 times I read it!!!!!!!!!!
[Take Pippin to work. Let's see, I need:
+steri strips (forget the sutures, they hurt)
+IV fluids, probably IV feeding too(TPN-total parenteral nutrition) (parenteral=IV)
+a PCA pump (patient controlled analgesia) demerol or morphine (sorry Pip, no poppy) IV. a continuous infusion and push-button bolus, controlled by him, for break-through pain.
+gauze for bandages (paper tape, of course)
+antibiotic ointment for his wounds
+IV antibiotics for the STD's
+qwell for the lice
+Lots and Lots of TLC!!!!!!!!!!!!!] Niere
Llinos 2002-07-17 9 Signed Here Icefang! C'mon girl! Come to Llinos... What a good warg! She's really Smagnu in lupine form, which is probably an improvement - well someone's gotta look after poor Pip.
Well done Kookaburra, you managed to take him right to the brink and just grabbed him with your teeth before he fell into the abyss. Now it's all plain sailing - right? Right!
shirebound 2002-07-17 9 Signed Thank goodness they found him! I can relax a bit more now. Poor little Pippin, however will they ease his physical and emotional trauma, and help him to know that he's not to blame for anything???
LilyBaggins 2002-07-16 9 Signed Arrrrggh... want another chapter now! Ah, you can't leave it there! I'm thoroughly addicted to this story now!