Disclaimer: None of these characters or concepts are mine. They belong to Tolkien

Those of you who have read Larner's AU series, Might have Beens, may recall her chapter, 'An Enemy Made.'
In it Frodo senses that they won't reach Rivendell before the Morgul blade reaches his heart.

Rather than become a Wraith he begs Sam to do the unthinkable...

And Sam does.

Ringbearer is my take on what happens next. I've written it with Larner's consent.

Other stories in this series are in order:
Farewell
The Valar
I would wish you well
Loose End
Dark Soul

I'm warning you right now they are neither happy nor uplifting. The entire series is tragedy and horror.

October 21st
The House of Elrond

He awoke.

For a few moments he lay still, looking up at the ceiling with its richly carved elven beams. He gazed down
at his chest long enough to note that IT was hanging on a chain around his neck.

Then he sat up.

"Here now, my dear Hobbit," Gandalf was sitting in a chair beside him."Lie back down."

He didn't spare the Wizard so much as a glance. Pushing back the covers, he slid down from the large bed
and headed for the door.

"Samwise Gamgee!" Gandalf come up behind him and laid a sturdy hand on his shoulder.

He shrugged it off and kept walking.

"Samwise." Gandalf stood in front of him, face lined with weariness and grief. "You need to let Lord Elrond examine
you before you start moving about."

The Wizard gave a deep, mournful sigh and started to reach for him again. "My dear, dear Hobbit…"

Again the Hobbit shrugged off the Wizard's touch and looked up at the Istar. "Move out of the way, Gandalf."

Gandalf started slightly. Although the Hobbit's face was deathly pale there was nothing unsteady about his voice.
It was older and deeper. It had a cold authority to it.

And it had called him Gandalf. Not Mister Gandalf.

Perhaps he's still in shock, or doesn't remember…..

"Samwise," the Wizard said gently, "it's been three days since…" He swallowed and blinked back his tears.

"Since I killed Frodo." The Hobbit's face was expressionless and he spoke without a trace of emotion.
"Since I took my skinning knife and slit his throat from ear to ear, to keep him from becoming a wraith."

Gandalf winced.

"I need to talk to Bilbo. Now."

"He hasn't eaten or slept for two days," Gandalf said. "He wouldn't leave your side. I finally sent him to get some rest-."

"And now you're blocking the door. Move."

Gandalf stepped aside.

The Hobbit pushed aside the room's privacy curtain and made his way out into the hallway. "Which way is his room?"

"Down the hallway; the second door on the left-."

The Hobbit started down the hallway, not bothering to turn to see if the Wizard was following him.

Gandalf followed and once again reached for the Hobbit. "Samwise, please…"

"Don't touch me." The Hobbit's voice was quiet but as hard as steel. "I have things to do. First I need to talk to Bilbo.
Then I need to talk to this Elrond. Then I'll talk to you."

The Hobbit continued walking.

The Wizard followed, heart filled with grief and increasing foreboding.