Disclaimer: Middle-earth and all its peoples belong to the Tolkien Estate. I own none of them. Some of them, however, seem to own me.

AMONG THE URUK-HAI

Merry came to himself once again, slowly. His mouth tasted nastily of Orc-draught, the cut on his brow burned. Every muscle in his body, every bone, ached deeply. The guttural sounds of Orc-speech grated in his ears. In the dimness of the night he could see Pippin’s form, not far off, and was relieved to see him breathing heavily. They were still together, and that could be good--or it could be bad. He felt guiltily that it was good. Somehow, he thought, they could manage if they were only together.

Frodo, he thought, tears stinging, oh, Frodo, please be safe!