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The Uruk-hai have captured Merry and Pippin, and have carried them off. These orcs are no ordinary orcs; they are a half-breed of orc that is much taller and stronger than ordinary orcs and able to travel at great speeds in broad daylight. Some say that they are orcs crossed with men, while others say they are an orc-goblin breed. Either way, they were bred for one purpose: to destroy the world of men.
But who would do such a thing? Surely Sauron would, but these orcs are not headed toward Mordor. They are headed toward Isengard, and they bear the White Hand of Saruman on their faces.
Saruman the White, the leader of the order of wizards and once a friend of Gandalf's, has sided with Sauron and also has his eyes on the ring. He sent his orcs to capture the hobbits because he knows that a hobbit has the ring. You had slipped on the ring and disappeared when the orcs showed up, so they grabbed the only two hobbits they could find. You and Sam were able to escape to the river with the ring.
We now follow the story of Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli as they chase after Merry and Pippin. It is a long journey because the orcs have a good head start and are traveling night and day at great speed. While being carried by the orcs, Pippin unclasps the leaf-shaped clasp on his cloak given to him by the elves and drops it just off the path as a sign that they are still alive. Not idly do the leaves of Lórien fall.
Congrats to DeliciousD on the FTF!