We have been on the road for over twelve months. It feels like this nightmare will never end. I am tortured by the ring every day. I feel like it is destroying me from the inside out. I have Sam to keep me sane. He has always been able to raise my spirits. He always knows what to say to make me feel better when I feel hopeless.
"Sam, I'm scared. What if I can't do it? What if I'm not strong enough? What if I can't make it?" I started staring at the ground to focus on not crying. These fears have been haunting me from the beginning. As we near the end they have surfaced even more. I don't think that I can do it.
Sam gently raises my face to match his eyes. "Frodo, we can do this together. I love you. we said we'd walk together, baby, come what may. I'm here for you. I'm not going to leave you. We will see this through 'til the end." Sam kisses me passionately.
"I love you, Sam. You always know what to say to make me feel like this isn't impossible. I wouldn't be able to do this without you. What if I cannot make it? I feel so tired and weak."
"I'll wait for you and should I fall behind wait for me."
I kiss Sam. He is being so understanding. "You promise," I whisper lightly into his ear. I need to hear his honest answer. I need him.
"We swore we'd travel together, darlin', side by side. We promised we'd help each other stay in stride. I meant it, Frodo. I've been by your side every step of the way. We are almost at the end of our journey. We can do this; we just have to help each other through it. It is possible."
I snuggle closer as I respond, "Everyone dreams of a love lasting and true. You and I know what this world can do. We have fought evil together. This world can be an evil place, Sam. We need to protect each other from it. I'm scared."
"Do you want to know what I do when I am scared?"
My answer is an arch of my eyebrow.
"I think of the life we can live after all of this is over. I dream that there's a beautiful river in the valley ahead. There 'neath the oak's bough soon we will wed. I want to marry you when this is all over. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Please say that you will marry me."
"Of course, Sam. I want to spend the rest of our blissfully uneventful lives together. That would be a dream come true."
I curl up closer to Sam. I feel like it is just the two of us alone in the world for just a moment. All the weight is lifted off of our shoulders as we fall asleep in each other's arms.