"I suppose this is no fun for you, having to follow me, minding me like this. Did you do something wrong that you ended up with this duty?" Pippin asked, eyes wide.

"Do something wrong? Nah, not lately, at least," the smallish orc said with a chuckle. "I'm just following orders."

Hiding his smile, Pippin turned back to the pot of water he had set to boil in the plain room that served as pantry and kitchen of sorts for Saruman. It was much darker down here one floor below the main hall. The only light was the fire in the corner that heated his water and cast deep shadows on the face of his minder, whom Norgry had called Fagrod. If he kept him talking but did not look at him, Pippin found he could almost forget he was an orc.

Wooden crates and baskets were stacked up on all sides of the room. Pippin thought he could smell food among the dust and orc stench. He longed to rummage through the containers, but as of yet, he was given food only when Saruman remembered. If Saruman learned of his pillaging, he might lose this precious bit of freedom, so Pippin restrained himself.

"Oh, I thought you were one of those who gave orders around here." The hobbit was a bit surprised to find an orc nearly as easy to manipulate as some of his aunts and uncles, with whom he had almost mastered getting out of trouble as well as getting what he wanted.

Yawning widely, he had a vague sense that midnight had passed hours ago. But Pippin had been determined to bring a pot of truly hot water to Strider, and so he pushed himself to make another trip to the storeroom. Besides, there were tasks he had yet to do. "So, I suppose you have to sit with me and watch water boil. It is boring, though. I know! I could tell you the history of my family. We go back generations."

"You're making me more bored with every word. What are you going on about?"

"Our family history. You know, my mother's parents, brothers, and sisters, and their parents, and their parents. And then, on my father's side, we do it all over again. We can take all night into morning if we wanted. It's just a way to pass the time."

Fagrod scowled, and Pippin worried that he might have overplayed his hand. "What are you trying for?" He leaned into Pippin's face. "You planning some trick?"

"Trick? What trick could I play?" Pippin answered, putting as much shock and amusement as he could muster into his voice. "I'm only trying to help you pass the time. It's rather boring sitting here with nothing to do. You likely have plenty of other more important things you could be doing and instead you have to follow me back to Saruman's big room up there, up those stairs, and down the hall. I could find my way back by myself, but I understand you've got to follow me. Those are your orders, after all. So I just thought we could pass the time somehow."

"Yeah, Norgry handed out duties like it was mealtime and they was your supper. And right now, this is my duty." Fagrod's eyes narrowed at Pippin. "You planning to sneak off somewhere? Is that it?"

"Sneak off somewhere? You think I'm going to try to escape?" Pippin truly laughed then, ignoring the pang of fear in his heart at the absurdity of escape. "Where am I to go off to? Orcs are everywhere, and I don't even know how to get anywhere but back to where I came from. Besides, my friend needs this water to live. There's nowhere else for me to go."

"That's right. Nowhere else for you to go. And if you happen to find some place to wander, you'll be looking at the sharp end of this here." He grinned fiercely as he displayed his knife, and Pippin wondered what made him think he could forget this creature reveled in mayhem and violence.

Suppressing a shiver, Pippin instead shrugged his shoulders, carefully assuming a nonchalant expression. "I understand, I'm your duty, and you have to do what your boss tells you. If that's following around one little hobbit, well, I can try to make it less boring, like I explained. We can start with my family.

"I have my parents, Paladin and Eglantine, and three sisters, Pearl, Pimpernel, and Pervinca. Yes, three sisters to boss me around. It was not always fun growing up in the Smials. But let's see..." He could see the orc's baffled expression begin to turn over to impatience. "Well... if you're not interested, perhaps this isn't such a great idea."

He paused, trying to judge whether to push Fagrod further. "But see, there's such an interesting history to my family! My father's father's name was Adalgrim. Try walking around with that name. Even as an orc! Oh, dear, if he ever knew I said that. No offense, but he wouldn't take it kindly. Anyway, his father's name was Hildigrim, who was married to Rosa Baggins, which makes me related to–" Just when he realized what he was about to say, the orc held his hands up in front of him.

"Wait just a bit there. I don't know what's all this talk of names, but I do know I've heard enough! And I don't just do what the higher-ups say, if it's a waste of time. Anyways, Norgry's not my boss." Fagrod looked at him for a moment. "I do have better things to do than listen to you natter on," he muttered. "I might have a chore or two to do while your water boils, but if I hear you working any tricks, I'll have no trouble teaching you a lesson, you hear?" He leaned close. The knife told the hobbit he meant what he said, while the smile on his face reminded Pippin he would enjoy making good on the threat.

Despite the weapon and the orc-breath, Pippin fought down the smile that threatened to break over his face. "There'll be no trouble. You can be sure. All I want is to get this back to my friend. But you're more than welcome to stay. My family tree is one of the most interesting—and longest—in all the Shire." He grinned then, the grin that had bent the will of many a Took.

Fagrod grunted and looked upon Pippin as if he'd never laid eyes on such as him before. "Up those stairs. Nowhere else!" he said before heading out the door of the small room and down a staircase hidden in the dark behind the one they'd descended.

Pippin grinned again. So nice of the orc to offer just the directions he needed as a parting gift. Now he wouldn't waste time puzzling out his downward path. He only need wait a bit, then follow the trail of the orc. He learned long ago, when someone suspects you of sneaking about, they never expect you will follow in their footsteps.

Deciding to risk some pillaging with a quick investigation into the crates, Pippin was rewarded with fruit, cheese, bread, and cured meat. He had indeed been sitting among a grand store of food! He reluctantly ended his explorations as he was wasting precious moments. Grabbing a couple of bright red apples and some bread—while not freshly made, hardly the crusts they had recently dined on—and stuffed the treasures into his pockets.

As quiet as a hobbit could be, he crept to the stone stairwell. Heat radiated from below, fire painting the walls a garish yellow. He knew not what he'd find, but Merry must be among his discoveries. Pippin was quite sure the orcs wouldn't remember to feed his cousin. If luck were truly with them and Merry had learned anything of Legolas and Gimli that might help free them, he could bring the news to Strider.

The rough-hewn stairs were dark and dank, the air hot and filled with strange smells and sounds he tried not to think on overmuch. He made as much haste as he could, knowing his time was short. All he aimed to find was another pantry, or kitchen, or whatever passed for such below. He had yet to decide what to do once he found it. But he supposed there was as good a chance as any to find Merry in a kitchen.

Creeping down a short dark hall many levels below, he heard what sounded like a great fire burning somewhere behind him. The orange glow against the wall and the sweltering heat that made him work for his next breath told him it was near. He peered around the corner into a dark space. Here he found more than he'd dared to hope.

Merry trudged into a bare room larger than the pantry above with a load of wood. He looked tired and was quite filthy. Pippin's heart broke to see him doing such drudgery. Knowing he would soon be missed, he made a noise he hoped Merry remembered.

Merry's head shot up but he looked toward the doorway through which he'd come. Pippin's heart sunk to see an orc follow Merry into the room.

"What was that noise?" the beast said, as he unloaded his burden of tools.

"Noise?" Merry asked as he piled some of his wood on the hearth. "You mean that insect sound? You haven't heard it before? You must be accustomed to it. Insects love this heat. There are likely swarms of them down here."

"There ain't no bugs down here! It's too hot."

"Well, this one must like it."

The orc said nothing as he walked out of the room. Merry's head whipped around. "Pip?"

"Right here, cuz!" Pippin stuck his head around the corner with a grin, holding up the two apples. "Look what I brought!"

Merry's eyes grew wide. "Apples! Bless you, Pip!" He looked behind him one more time, then ran over to Pippin, hugging him fiercely. "Are you all right? Have you eaten? How is Saruman treating you?"

Pippin shook his head at the predictable barrage of questions. "I don't have much time, Merry. I'm fine, really. Saruman fed me and Strider. Now I'm boiling water to tend to that nasty wound on his leg. And that's where I should be now. I can't stay." He looked Merry over. "Are you doing all right?"

Merry looked at him for a moment before answering. "I'm all right, Pip. Not much in the way of food, but they're not mistreating me, otherwise. I suppose they think I'm so little, it would be too easy to kill me."

"Well, don't you dissuade them from that way of thinking. Any sight of Legolas or Gimli?"

Merry only shook his head. "Sorry, they've kept me busy, but I have managed to roam a bit. I'll find them. I promise."

Pippin realized his cousin had little hope for good news upon finding them. From what Pippin had seen earlier, Merry was likely right. "Here, some bread, too, nearly fresh. It's from Saruman's own stock. I must go. If they find I've been wandering, they'll never leave me alone again. And I've got to keep an eye on Strider."

Merry nodded. "Take care, Pip. We'll get out of this mess somehow."

"Of course we will, Merry." Pippin wished he could have put more conviction into his words. "I'll come down again if I can with more food."

Merry nodded again. Pippin wondered at his quiet manner, but he was out of time. He started to say good-bye, but changed his mind and scampered up the stairs to his pot of boiling water.