Dèagol was a filthy villain.
I did what I had to, you see, he was a thief. He tried to take my ring. My precious ring. My present. My pretty little present. I had to protect what was mine. It was obviously made for me. It fit my finger. It slipped on his. He would have lost it within a week. I couldn't just let that happen. What kind of person would I be if I just let him play with my pretty little ring? What if I had, and he had gone off and lost it?
I asked him nicely for it.
Yes, pretty Dèagol, give me my precious back. After all, it is the proper thing to do.
But he wouldn't give it back. Filthy, filthy Dèagol.
Filthy little thief...give it!
He ran. With my precious haphazardly thrown on his little finger, twisting and sliding. He was oh so careless, and I knew it had to end. It was over. I couldn't risk any more harm to my precious. I needed it to be safe. Safe with me. On my finger.
I chased him down the river.
Dear, dear Dèagol, just give it back to me. I'll forgive you.
But he wouldn't listen. He kept running. Faster, and faster, and then...slower. He turned to me, eyes wide, and gasped "It's getting heavier!"
Well then, let me see it. Show it to me. Better yet, let me have it!
He took it off. There it sat, in the palm of his half-outstretched hand, shining in the sun. My precious...
I grabbed for it. He pulled his hand away, closing it tightly. "I won't let you have it! I found it--It's mine!"
I grabbed his shoulder and pushed him under the water. Not to hurt him, just to prove my point. The ring was mine. I expected him to give it back.
When I pulled him back up, he was gasping for air. I asked him nicely again. I was nothing but kind to Dèagol, my friend, who was nothing but a nasty, nasty traitor in return. He only clenched his fist tighter, and shook his head. Water dripped from his drenched hair and clothes. So I pushed him under again.
Take that you filthy liar!
He fought. Oh, did he ever. But I wouldn't let him up. Not until I had my precious gleaming on my finger. My own little precious returned to me.
I grabbed for his hand. The one with my ring in it. I worked at his fingers, trying to pry them away, while still holding his thrashing body under the water.
Oh, dear Dèagol, just give me the ring, and I'll let you go...
Finally his fingers loosened around the ring. I grabbed for it, and a great sense of relief washed over me as I took my precious from his grubby hand and placed it on my own finger.
Safe... precious, you are safe with me now...no longer in Dèagol's thieving hands... but my own.
I stared at the ring, glittering on my hand, and walked from the river.
Such a pretty ring. Such a nice present. I should thank Dèagol for being so thoughtful.
Looking back, I realized he was gone. I looked for him, walking up and down the side of the river.
Hiding, are you? Glad to know you aren't upset with me. But then, why would you be? The ring was mine begin with. Come out, come out, friend Dèagol!
And then I saw him. Floating, near the side of the river. I looked at my finger, and admired my new ring. My pretty little precious.
Silly Dèagol... everyone knows only the fishies can breathe underwater.