A Hero Lies in You

By Sigil

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And then a hero comes along

With the strength to carry on

And you cast your fears aside

And you know you can survive

So when you feel like hope is gone

Look inside you and be strong

And you'll finally see the truth

That a hero lies in you

--

"Hero" By Mariah Carey

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Sam stepped protectively in front of Frodo as the door to the tomb of Balin shuddered. Sam shuddered with them, glimpsing through the cracks in the rotting wood faces that would belong in anyone else's nightmares. Aragorn and Legolas, whose bows had been ready from the first orcish scream, loosed arrows through the ever-widening gap in the door. They were rewarded by further cries and twin thuds outside.

This did not seem to make much of a difference in the tumult outside. The door was slowly caving in, and Sam could not quench the fear that burned within him. How could Aragorn, Legolas, and Boromir stand there so calmly with death on the other side of a rotting door?

Scarcely had the thought filled his mind when the door sprang open. Sam's sword dropped from nerveless fingers and he backed away, even has Merry, Pippin, and Frodo leapt forward with the light of battle in their eyes. Aragorn and Legolas moved among the enemy, leaving a path of dead behind them. Sam watched, amazed at their courage. Merry and Pippin fought well, for ones unused to battle. Most orcs didn't even consider looking down, and that proved to their downfall.

Not far away, Sam could see Frodo hacking away at the orcs. Shame filled him. Why was he cowering in the corner? He was supposed to protect Frodo, not the other way around!

To Sam's horror, Frodo slipped. The floor was slippery with orc blood, and hobbit feet were made for grassy hillsides, not battles. The orc bore down on the defenseless hobbit, raising his sword to finish his prey.

By now, Sam's sword was gone, lost amid the pile of bodies on the floor. He looked toward Aragorn, drawing courage from the Man's utter fearlessness, then cast about for a weapon with which to save his master.

Sam's eyes fell on his pack, with his frying pan on top. Lunging forward, he pulled the pan free from its bindings and ran to his master. The orc, not expecting an attack from behind, was caught off guard when a frying pan slammed into his head. Dazed, he reeled backwards into Aragorn's dance of death, where no one survived.

Frodo gave Sam a brief smile of thanks, then joined in the fray once more. Sam looked down at the frying pan in his hands, and then smashed it into the head of an oncoming orc.

"I think I'm getting the hang of this!" He murmured, smiling. The hobbit ran after his master, covering Frodo's back.

He was ready.
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