Title : Sound the Bugle
Writer : Runaround
Rating : PG
Summary : Frodo's thoughts as he clings to the edge of the cliff in Mt. Doom. A ficlet.
Disclaimer : The characters aren't mine. Don't sue me.
Author's Notes: Very short. Shorter than I'd like it, actually, but it's only decribing a few moments, so it will have to do. ' 's are for thoughts, " "s are for spoken words. Song fic, sort of. The lyrics will be at the end.
His tired and strained muscles immediately started to ache. The heat from the lava below made him sweat.
It was ending, he was sure.
His life, the world, hope...
All were ending.
The ring was destroyed.
Images began to flash through his head.
His mother cooking.
His father laughing.
Bilbo with his face lit by firelight, telling a story of trolls and dwarves and dragons.
Gandalf as he danced at Frodo's 33rd birthday.
Merry and Pippin singing at the Green Dragon.
'Sam', he thought to himself. He strained his head upward to look at the hobbit who had given so much for him.
Sam's mouth was forming words, but he could not hear them.
'Let go,' that evil voice in his head taunted, 'You've done nothing but disappointed him. Caused him harm.'
'You'll be nothing without it,' another voice taunted.
He clenched his eyes closed, trying to block out the voices.
Groaning, he made one weak attempt to grab Sam's hand.
It slipped.
'You tried to claim it.'
'You're a failure.'
'You're no hobbit.'
The lava swirling below him started to look more and more tempting.
'Wounded soldiers are worth nothing.'
The hand gripping the rock started to loosen.
He felt something drip onto his face. His eyes strained upwards.
Sam's tears were falling on him, mingling with the blood from his maimed hand.
Suddenly he could hear Sam's voice.
"Fight mister Frodo! You have to fight," Sam cried. He looked up at Sam despondently.
He hoped that Sam would remember him as someone stronger. Someone happier.
He prepared to let go.
'Frodo Baggins,' a voice yelled in his head, 'You will not do this to us. Not while there's still hope.'
'Gandalf?'
Blindly, he reached for Sam's hand.
It slipped out.
'Again,' Gandalf's voice barked in his head.
He reached.
It stayed.
"There you go, mister Frodo! Push! Fight for me," Sam cried.
He pulled himself up onto the rock.
He was free once more, and that was worth fighting for.
End.
Sound the Bugle ~ Bryan Adams/Hans Zimmer
Sound the bugle now - play it just
for me
As the seasons change - remember how I used to be
Now I can't go on - I can't even start
I've got nothing left - just an empty heart
I'm a soldier - wounded so I must give up the fight
There's nothing more for me - lead me away...
Or leave me lying here
Sound the bugle now - tell them I don't care
There's not a road I know - that leads to anywhere
Without a light feat that I will - stumble in the dark
Lay right down - decide not to go on
Then from on high - somewhere in the distance
There's a voice that calls - remember who your are
If you lose yourself - your courage soon will follow
So be strong tonight - remember who you are
Yeah you're a soldier now - fighting in a battle
To be free once more -Yeah that's worth fighting for