Chapter Ten: The End

"This is worse than Mordor! Much worse, in a way. It comes home to you, as they say; because it is a home, and you remember it before it was all ruined."

Music. Those words were music to my ears. At last, at LAST my sweet revenge was complete. After Sam, I heard Merry speak. "If I had known all the mischief he had caused, I should have stuffed my pouch down Saruman's throat!" Hm, that sounds like the perfect cue.

"No doubt," I said, entering. I must admit that I had waited so long for this moment that I was smiling with surprising pleasure. "But you did not and so I am able to welcome you home. You made me laugh, you little hobbit lordlings," I continued, quite satisfied with my mockery. "You thought you had done very well and all and could just amble back and have a nice…quiet… time in the country." My words were drenched in perfect harmonious sarcasm.

"Oh yes, Saruman's home could be all wrecked and he could be turned out but no one could touch yours. 'Well,' thought I, 'if they're such fools, I will get ahead of them and teach them a lesson.' One ill turn deserves another." I made sure to look directly at Peregrin and Meriadoc as I uttered those words. "It would have been a sharper lesson if only you had given me a little more time and more men. Still, I have already done much that you will find it indeed quite hard to mend or undo in your lives. And it will be pleasant to think of that and set it against my injuries." I finished.

"Well," said Frodo "if you find pleasure in such, I pity you." From behind me I heard angry hobbit cries of "kill him! The villain, kill him!" I whirled around and stepped toward them and imitated their shouting.

"Kill him! Kill him! If you think I lost my power along with goods!" I stood above them menacingly. "Whoever strikes me shall be accursed!" I thundered. "If my blood stains the Shire it shall wither and never again be healed!"

"Do not believe him," Frodo said. "He has lost all power but his voice and he can still deceive you, if you let it. But do not stay him. It is useless to meet revenge with revenge. It will lead to nothing! Go, Saruman!" I turned to go, but I drew my knife and swiftly stabbed the hobbit warrior. One last grievance and his words would die with him. The blade snapped at his coat of mail and before I knew it, Sam had me laid on my back with his sword at my throat. A sensation came across me that I had not known before. Fear. And then wonder.

Wise and cruel, Frodo ordered me spared to live the rest of my life in debt of his mercy. I stood. "You have robed my revenge of sweetness," said I "and I must go hence in bitterness, in debt of your mercy. I hate it and you." I declared, broken. The Worm followed me as I left.

"Wormtongue, you need not follow him," Frodo softly called. "You have done me no evil. Food and rest you may find here until you are strong enough to go your own way."

"No evil?" I laughed "Did I hear someone ask where Lotho was hiding? You know, don't you, Worm? Will you tell them?" He whimpered a tortured "no, no!". I looked up from him to the crowd. "Then I will. Worm killed your 'chief', didn't you, Worm? Stabbed him in his sleep I believe. Burned him, I hope; though Worm had been hungry lately. No, Worm is not really nice. You had better leave him to me."

Hatred entered the wretch's eyes. "You made me do it!" he hissed.

"You do what I say. Well now I say: follow!" I turned on my heel, kicking his pathetic face. Suddenly a cold, sharp blade hit my back and I fell. Darkness surrounded me as I hit the ground and saw no more. Flaming heat burned my body, my soul. The knife turned to ice and slowly, creeping through my fingers, stealing through my heart; spreading like disease, it consumed me.

fin.