"Wake up you runt!" Pippin felt himself shaken violently from side to side. He opened his eyes quiet reluctantly to see a huge Uruk-Hai staring in his face. Pippin's head ached and he didn't really want to stay awake. The Uruk-Hai holding him seemed very impatient and after roughly forcing a draught of Orc liquor down him he cut his bounds and set him on the ground. Pippin swayed, the world around him seemed to spin.
"Master says we have to make you run!" the Orc growled and pushed Pippin forwards. The hobbit knew he had to run but he didn't understand. Where was Merry? Why wasn't he here? Pippin froze on the spot with utter fear at the thought of Merry not being there and what could have happened.
"Move along!" shouted an Uruk-Hai cracking a whip, Pippin didn't respond. "Are you deaf, I ain't got all day you know!" The Uruk-hai shouted again cracking the whip so it curled around the hobbit's ankles. Pippin stifled a cry and broke into a run, tears gathering in his eyes. The Uruk-Hai seemed a terrible hurry as if someone was chasing them or they had some deadline to meet. Pippin's thought's where clouded by the other three hobbits for most of the journey. He didn't know how far they had run before the group slowed to a halt. Pippin collapsed down on the grass utterly spent, the Orc's didn't even seem to notice him. They where all gathered around, talking quickly and quietly in there own speech. One broke from the circle and grabbed Pippin by the hair dragging him back to the group. He was bound again and thrown on an Uruk-hai's back. The company moved off again. It was only then that Pippin notice what a small group it was, roughly counting only 15 or so. The light was fading fast but soon two large heavy iron doors loomed up before them. The doors where marked with two huge painted white hands. There where two Orc guards who came to meet them.
"Ah Ugluk!" said one bowing to the leader of the group, "I see you have come back safely sir." Ugluk grunted and turned to the other.
"I have a present for Sharky." Ugluk bellowed "one of those little Shire rats I was told to retrieve alive an unspoiled." The two guardsmen stared at the hobbit.
"Go right through then sir!" said one "I'm sure Sharky will have fun with the little one." The doors where swung open and the small group passed though Pippin looked around. It was a dark a dismal sight. All around where huge pits and large machines, many of which Pippin didn't wish to know what where used for. There was a rancid smell of fire and burning,
Many Uruk-Hai came and greeted the group and stared at their prisoner who was only now beginning to really understand what was going on. Within a few minutes of walking the group where outside of a large black door and Pippin looked upward to see the building stretch into the distance. Ugluk stepped forward to the front of the group.
"I will take it!" he growled turning to the Uruk-Hai carrying Pippin. The hobbit was handed over. "Stay here!" he opened the black door and went in. After a long flight of winding stairs Pippin found they where infront of another black door. The Uruk-Hai quite surprisingly knocked, funny to see such a creature be polite.
"What is your business?" a voice came from within.
"I have brought you a halfling my Lord!" Ugluk bellowed. "You told me to bring any back alive and unspoiled!" The door opened quickly and beckoned the Orc in. They entered a large room, still clad in black like the rest of the building. Pippin was set on his feet infront of the wizard. The hobbit looked at him, he was not so very unlike Gandalf in stature or looks though Pippin didn't find him as homely as his departed wizard friend.
"Thank you Ugluk!" Saruman smiled a little "you and your company will be greatly rewarded for your deeds, go now and I shall speak with you when time allows!" The Uruk-Hai bowed and left. Pippin stood for a moment as the wizard eyed him suspiciously.
"So you are from the Shire then?" Saruman stood infront of him. Pippin remained silent.
"A quiet one are we!" Saruman sneered "so tell me this, where is it?" Pippin knew for well what he was asking for but still remained quiet. Merry had told him long ago to do things like this. Whenever he found himself in trouble he resorted to silence. The wizard seemed unaffected by any of the hobbits actions, he grabbed Pippin roughly and sliced through his bounds and pushed him to the floor.
"This is your last chance, I shall not warn you again!" pointing his staff in Pippin's face.
"If you think I have the Ring then your talking to the wrong Hobbit!" Pippin shouted unable to contain himself any longer.
"We'll see about that!" Saruman pulled him onto his feet and removed his cloak and coat and after a long inspection he tossed them aside and checked the hobbits pockets. Pippin shivered as the wizard groped in his breaches.
"Where do you keep it?" Saruman now seemed rather angered, "on a chain around the neck!" he pulled Pippin's scarf off and undid a few of his shirt buttons. "So you don't have it!"
"I told you that!" Pippin shouted. Saruman's face seemed to turn red. He thumbed the hobbit around the face making him fall to the floor.
"You shall not speak to me in that way!" he stood over the halfling and kicked him in his side, "Gandalf should have taught you to respect your elders. So tell me where is it?"
"I don't have it!" cried Pippin; his face was stinging. "I don't know where it is!" he squeaked as the wizard kicked his side again.
"Do you wish to speak with the Great Eye himself?" Saruman bellowed, "I see that you need to be showed the true meaning of pain before you speak with Him!" Pippin remained silent and still on the cold stone floor.
"Sugnu!" the wizard looked to the side of the room where a rather large Uruk-Hai appeared, he bowed to the wizard. "Take this halfling to the dungeons, teach it some manners will you, but make sure you bring it back to me tomorrow morning alive!" the Uruk-Hai bowed again and then grabbed Pippin by the hair forcing him onto his feet and then tossing him over his shoulder. The wizard laughed and then sat back down in his chair.
"My Lord!" a different voice came from the door.
"Grima!" Saruman stood up, "have you brought the halfling.
"I have my Lord, I will fetch him for you!"