The Uruk-Hai - Pippin and Merry endure rough treatment at the hands of the Orcs. Bound and forced to run beyond the point of exhaustion, they overhear the Orcs arguing about whether to kill them or not. Evidently, some of the Orcs have orders to bring the halflings back alive, but not all the Orcs seem to have the same orders. Some Orcs are loyal to the "Great Eye," and some to Saruman.

Pippin manages to break away from the Orcs for a moment, and drops the brooch from his Elven cloak.

Later, Grishnákh, one of the Orcs, seems to know about the Ring, and Pippin pretends he has it in order to distract him, egging him on. As Grishnákh focuses on Pippin, the Rohirrim attack and Grishnákh is killed. Pippin and Merry manage to escape into the forest of Fangorn.