Memory a Monster

By: AndiKaneUnderwood

"Your memory is a monster. It summons with a will of its own. You think you have a memory, but it has you." -John Irvin

AU: Alpha/Beta/Omega, Genderbend

Gandalf: Beta

Athelas (Strider): Alpha

Legolas: Omega

Boromir: Beta

Frodo Baggins: Omega

Samwise (Sam) Gamgee: Alpha

Meriadoc (Merry) Brandybuck: Alpha

Peregrin (Pippin) Took: Omega

LotR~LotR~LotR

"You shall not pass!" Gandalf shouted, bringing his staff down hard on the stone passage. The Bulrog snapped his whip and took a single hulking step forward. Its broad heeled foot, ugly and boar-like, hit the bridge and the stone cracked and split underneath his great hulking frame. The stones crumbled, falling into the deep, black abyss below the Fellowship and taking the demon of Flame and Shadow with it.

Gandalf stood still for a moment, and then turned back, slowly making his way back to the rest. He was halted by the crack of a whip and a line of red shot up from the abyss behind him. It latched onto his ankle and pulled. Gandalf stumbled and fell to the ground as Frodo tried to come forward, only to be stopped by Boromir and held tightly, preventing him from running to the elderly Wizard's aid.

Athelas halted in her tracks, watching the Wizard struggle, but knowing that there was nothing she could do. She waited, desperately, pleading with Fate to let Gandalf survive, for Frodo's sake if not hers.

Gandalf slid off the edge of the broken bridge and clawed helplessly for a hold in the cracks of the stone. He looked to Frodo and Athelas, blue eyes wide and scared. Gandalf knew at that moment that there was nothing he could do to save himself. Nothing he could do to keep himself from falling. He spoke quietly, but his eyes spoke of a wild power that came from knowing you had nothing left to lose. "Fly, you fools." He said. Then his grip slipped and the Beta Wizard fell down after the Bulrog, lost to the eternal darkness of the black abyss.

Frodo screamed. "No!" He cried his desperation and pain barred for the world to witness. The cry echoed off the halls as he tried to free himself from Boromir's grip, only to be lifted off his feet with strength unfitting of a Beta man.

Boromir picked the small Hobbit up and began running towards the staircase as arrows fell around him. Boromir turned back and shouted, "Athelas!" calling for the Ranger who was still stationary, staring at the spot Gandalf had been.

The shout broke the spell and Athelas remembered the words Gandalf had spoken. Gandalf hadn't expected to make it out of this fight. She turned away, distancing herself from the feelings of grief and pain, and ran after Boromir, following the cries of pain still echoing off the walls.

LotR~LotR~LotR

Outside, everyone was a mess of emotion and pain and tears, save Athelas, who would grieve later, quietly.

Samwise (Sam), Frodo's gardener/best friend/Alpha, had sunk down on a rock and was crying with tears streaming and her cheeks flushed. How are we supposed to go on...? If one of us has fallen? Sam questioned, covering her hazel eyes with one hand on her forehead.

Meriadoc (Merry) was crouched down on another rock with silent tears falling, one hand on Peregrin's (Pippin) shoulder and the other gripping his arm, thumbs rubbing circles into his skin as he sobbed. I did this. This is my fault. Pippin sobbed. Merry shook her head. It's not your fault, Pip. She murmured, you didn't know this would happen.

Gimli looked like he was still in shock at what had happened. His eyes were filled with a look that could only be described as star-struck. That didn't just happen. It couldn't have. Gandalf is alright, he has to be. He couldn't have fallen. He isn't dead... Is he?

Boromir looked accepting. He was a soldier, they lost men in War far too often, and this was no different. It didn't make it hurt any less, but Boromir told himself he didn't care.

Legolas looked lost. Death didn't often touch the Elves. Rarely did the immortal beings die and too often they forgot that not every race was as gifted as theirs to live such lives.

Athelas looked around, watching the faces of the Fellowship, letting them grieve for the moment. Once she noticed that their time was running short, she called for them. "Legolas. Get them up."

"Give them a moment for pity's sake!" Boromir snapped as Legolas followed the commend robotically. Boromir knew damn well that while he was a soldier, the Hobbits were not. They weren't used to losing people in battle. They shouldn't have to bear that burden on their shoulders.

Athelas was a Ranger, she'd fought in battles and bar brawls alike. Legolas had been around for several thousands of years; he'd fought with the dwarfs in Eobor and been in battle many times. Gimli was a dwarf, battles where in his blood. Hobbits were usually gentlefolk, more than likely Beta, with few Omegas and even fewer Alphas. The Hobbits didn't deserve to feel like they undoubtedly did.

"By nightfall, this hill will be overrun with Orcs. We need to keep moving. Come Legolas, Gimli, get them up!" Athelas replied, moving over to Merry and Pippin.

"On your feet, Sam," Legolas spoke softly as he pulled the young Alpha to her feet and sniffed, nodding her head, and then turning to gather what supplies had fallen from her pack.

Athelas held out a hand to Merry, but the Hobbit shook her head. "We're coming." Was all she said, and the undertone of warning was all Athelas needed to hear to understand what was happening. She moved on.

Sam turned back around, looking for her Omega. "Frodo?" She called. "Frodo!" Athelas swung around at Sam's call.

"Frodo!" Sam called again, spotting the Omega walking back the way they'd come, back towards the Shire. Frodo? she asked, reaching out with her mind.

I want to go home. was all that was returned. This shouldn't have happened. I wish the ring hadn't come to me. Frodo's voice tinged with sadness as he turned and Sam saw the tears in his eyes, the lone track down his cheek.

Gandalf's sacrifice won't be in vain, Frodo. This happened for a reason. We have to continue on in Gandalf's name. To finish the mission for Gandalf. Sam returned and she felt acceptance bloom along the Bond. Come to me. Come with us.

Frodo said nothing, but he turned back and came towards them. Sam wrapped him into a brief hug. "I'm sorry," she whispered and the nod against her shoulder told her that Frodo knew what she meant.

LotR~LotR~LotR

When they stopped that night, for rest, Athelas stood and called them to attention. "I know we have lost someone very dear to us. Gandalf has touched all of our lives one way or another. I understand you must feel terrible, but our mission still goes on. We have better motivation to finish it now. Gandalf would've wanted us to see it through, to destroy the Ring before anyone else is killed by its power.

"This is no one's fault," Athelas spoke directly to Pippin, whose eyes were still wet and hands still shook. "Gandalf knew what dangers this would bring. He knew that it would likely mean his death. We will not let his sacrifice be in vain. We will continue on for him. We must continue on." Athelas drew her sword and pointed it to the sky. "For Gandalf."

The Hobbits stood and drew their daggers, lifting them to join Athelas's weapon. "For Gandalf," they repeated.

Gimli came forward, thrusting his ax into the air, followed by Legolas with an arrow in hand. "For Gandalf."

A final sword joined them. Boromir held the hilt and nodded to Athelas when he caught her eye. "For Gandalf."

For those of you wondering, this is my newest one-shot book. For those of you thinking what am I doing? Well, I have lots of ideas and I can't always use them in one story, so one-shots it is. Multiple fandoms just suit me.

Okay, so. Middle Earth A/B/O AU... Right. So, Hobbits, Men, and Elves (being human or similar) all have secondary genders.

Hobbits are mostly Beta (which means you don't have a secondary gender), though Alphas and Omegas can and do occur, as proven by Sam, Frodo, Merry, and Pippin.

Aragorn, Samwise, and Meriadoc are all gender-bent.

Aragon's name just sounded more masculine to me, so I changed it to Athelas to make it fit a little better with the story.

Samwise and Meriadoc sounded more gender-neutral to me, so I left them as they were.

Merry and Pippin are SoulMates and Mated, as are Sam and Frodo (Mated), and Aragorn and Legolas (Mated).

Any other questions? Please comment and I'll do my best to answer within a timely manner.