Note: This fanfiction story contains material from both Peter Jackson's adaptations of The Lord of the Rings as well as J.R.R. Tolkien's own writings. In the film version, Saruman is a loyal servant of Sauron (contrary to the books in which he seeks to gain the One Ring for himself) and I will stick to Jackson's interpretation on him. The story begins with the attack at Amon Hen in The Fellowship of the Ring.

Chapter I: Breaking of the Fellowship

Frodo's blade shone with a bluish light as Aragorn told him: "Run. Run."

As the Ranger prepared to deal with the Orcs he was met with a sight that startled him: these Orcs were unlike any he had ever seen. They were Man-high, with goblin-faces, wielding broad swords used to bring down cavalry and their shields wore not the mark of any northern tribe of Orcs, but the Hand of Saruman!

As the man-high Orcs lunged at him, Aragorn swung his sword, mortally wounding several of them while an endless tide of others swarmed up on him. He backed away from them and up towards the ruined stairs of Amon Hen, yet he did not let his guard down and parried their attacks. With each blow another one of these foes fell down dead to the Ranger's feet, yet more still came, for Orcs were known not to give up without a fight. And what a fight it was!

As more and more of the creatures came from the woods, one of them wearing the red and white paint on his face (their captain apparently), yelled at his comrades: "Find the halflings! Ah! Find the halflings!".

Only then did Aragorn understand the Orcs' true purpose, they had not come to avenge the goblins who had fallen in Moria, nor where they mere scouts of Mordor or Isengard. They had been sent to take the hobbits! To take the Ring!

Most of the Orcs broke off from the group attacking Aragorn and towards the woods, seeking to pursue the hobbits and slay any other member of the Fellowship who might stand in their way. They had spotted Frodo already! Seeing this and hoping to keep them off the Ringbearer's tail, Aragorn leapt off the ruin's top giving out a war cry of "Elendil!" before impaling one of the Orcs. To his relief, Legolas annd Gimli had come and they as well did their best to hold the soldiers of Isengard back.

Meanwhile:

Seeing that the hulking Orcs had spotted him, Frodo hid himself behind a tree, hoping that they would pass by him. The creatures were fooled indeed, believing the hobbit to have fled deeper into the forest. As the last Orc passed by, he heard the voice of Merry calling him from the other side. Pippin and Merry were at least safe! They had hidden themselves in an old tree-bark and were telling Frodo to hide with them. But he shook his head, as he needed to leave and continue his quest by himself.

"He is leaving." Merry said. But Pippin would not stand idle and let his friend and cousin go into harm's way so he left his hiding spot, prompting Merry to attempt to stop him, right before the Orcs spotted them and began running towards them.

"Run", said Merry to Frodo, as he and Pippin tried to attract the Orcs' attention upon themselves and give Frodo time to escape.

Most of the Orcs fell for the ruse and began following them.

Frodo quietly left his hiding spot and began running towards the river. He could hear the Orcs groaning, hissing and yelling as they pursued the hobbits: "Ssss...your dead, maggots...Saruman willl have his prize."

As he was about to reach the boat however, a long and powerful arm restrained him and as he tried to get if off, the grip tightened around his neck, before he was thrown to the ground. As he turned around he saw and tall and muscular Orc with red and white paint on his face and a bow in his hand looking down at him.

"Thought I would fell for your ruse, did ye? Well think again, halfling! Ye're lucky that Saruman needs ye alive. Hah! I do not fear him. But to anger him means to anger the Master. And none would be willing to face the Master's wrath! Don't try using yer little letter-knife on meh, halfling! Don't even try!"

As the Orc came towards him, Frodo took Sting out and did the unthinkable: he managed to cut off two of the creature's fingers. However, he was not fast enough to run and the Orc quickly caught up with him.

"Ye little, rascal! I would kill ye for that if not for my orders! Ye hear meh, halfling? I do not fell pain!"he said as he grabbed Frodo by the collar of his Elven robe. The hobbit kicked the Orc in the stomach. But he didn't feel any of that, yet he did not take it very lightly. The war-painted Orc clenched his fist and hit Frodo hard, knocking him unconscious.

A few moments later:

"We have a halfling. Take the other, boys, and we'll head back to Saruman and be richly rewarded!"said the red and white war-painted Orc.

"How? There are three of these nasty Shire-rats?" asked another.

"Doesn't matter. Saruman's orders were only to bring them back alive and unspoiled." said the war-painted Orc.

"And what if they aren't the ones we're supposed to bring back to Isengard? Saruman won't be pleased. And neither will the Dark Lord!"

"Enough. Ye think ye give me orders? Do ye forget who is captain here? Meh! And I say we bring them back to Saruman as he had instructed. At least he will get some information from them. He'll get something out of these little rascals! I command here, Lugdush!" said the first voice.

Lugdush bowed his head and said in his deep voice:"Very well. You're the boss here not me, cap'n."Before snorting:"But there's some warrior out there killing the boys. They won't get to the halflings if we don't do something about him, cap'n. You need to do something about him!". Before snorting: "For you said you were the cap'n here!"

The war-painted Orc took out his bow and took out the first arrow. Black feathers were specific of Orc chieftains, Saruman had told him. The wizard had also remarked that they had poisoned tips that would kill the target slowly, to the pleasure of the archers. As he thought on it he immediately took a delight in the idea of testing Saruman's gift on the Gondorian warrior. A crude smile formed on his face as he put in the arrow...and shot!