I LOVE THE MODERN WORLD! There I said it. I am a fangeek, and I need internet. This has been done for a couple weeks but I have been away from reliable internet and this was detained. This is the earliest I could get it up. No more internet induced hiatuses for a while on the horizon. Here you go.
SO THIS IS GOING TO START WITH A CLOSE UP OF HOW THINGS WENT AFTER THE OTHERS SPLIT OFF. I REALIZED I REALLY HAVEN'T COVERED THIS AT ALL. I GUESS I GOT CAUGHT UP IN HERMIOLAS LOVE.
I don't own GoT, HP, or LotR
Ionwe tossed a stone into the murky water of the river bank. Silt drifted downward before settling once more.
"Knut for your thoughts?" Mornenion sat down beside him.
"It's complicated."
"Come off it, Potter. Complicated is our entire lives."
"Well, Malfoy, maybe I'm just not feeling right about this entire situation!" Mornenion raised an eyebrow. "I apologize. I shouldn't have shouted. Moreover it's not safe. I should have thought before reacting, rather than endanger the mission."
"What the bloody hell are you on about? Come on. Talk clearly. I know there's more in your mind than just panicking about volume in a dark possibly hostile goblin filled pass. Now spill."
"Demanding much?"
"You know you aren't all that bothered by it. Maybe hot and bothered but that's not such a bad thing." The Heir of Gryffindor gave him a look, but the anger was clearly joking.
"Typical of a Prince. So sure of yourself."
"Typical of a Savior, so hesitant, so isolated."
"Oi! Get a room you two!" one of the twins shouted lightly.
"Unfortunately the rooms were left with our other companions. Sorry to disappoint." Ionwe was blushing like a tomato when Mornenion turned back to him. "So any idea where we are?" Harry looked across a map Taurauthiel had given him. "Not quite sure. From what I can tell, we're somewhere around here:" He indicated a patch of the river near to some mountains. THe problem is, we've been somewhere around here for three days. And this is the longest we've stayed in one place other than sleeping."
"So we're lost."
"Hopefully not. That ring is a very strong piece of dark magic."
"It must be if it is contaminating the entire world like this. Even Voldemort wasn't like this." Mornenion had been struggling to get over his instinctual fear of saying his name. It was a milestone he'd gladly reached.
"Wanna rejoin the others?" Mornenion asked.
"I don't know. I'm kinda comfortable here." They settled in and watched the sky in silence. It was comfortable. Why does he feel so at peace when the entire world is at war?
It was a few hours before dawn. Frodo was quiet as could be, but his mind was wild. Every instinct screamed for him to open his eyes. But before his foggy mind would fully wake he was jolting away from a clammy hand reaching around his throat. His mouth opened in a silent scream. The commotion woke the others. In seconds, Ionwe, Mornenion, Imrathion, and Nithron were standing, pointing wands at a writhing... Something. It had four limbs, almost no hair, and its skin was pale, and looked paper thin. Its eyes darted erratically, and it was shrieking beyond understanding. It began to slow its speech.
"THE RECIOUS! WE WANTS IT... WE NEEDS IT!" Sam rubbed his eyes.
"Someone shut that little thing up! It'll bring the armies of Mordor raining down on us faster than Pipin can say second breakfast!"
"Silencio." While the sound was muffled, it did not quiet him completely.
"There's something off here. That should have made him unable to even gasp audibly." Mornenion closed his eyes, reaching out like his aunt had taught him. "Legillimens..." He recoiled instantly.
"Whatever it is, or was, it's mind is so beyond messed up."
"Was?"
"I don't know for sure. But it can think, but I can't read its thoughts."
"You're a very capable Legillimens. Severus and Bellatrix ensured that."
"Yeah, that's what's weird. Remove the silencing spell and add extra wards to the channel here." Its voice rang up again instantly.
"Be careful." Ionwe tied its arms back cautiously. It recoiled from his wand.
"What are you? We know you can speak"
"Gollum! Gollum!" Sounded more like it was coughing to death, thought Mornenion dryly.
"Gollum?" Frodo asked softly. "You are Gollum?"
"I is Gollum. Gollum needs the Precious! It calls to us!"
"Us?" Frodo leaned close. "Gandalf told me about you. The darkness tortured you. His orcs scarred you until you said a name. You sold out the Shire to the darkness."
"Shire! Bagginses! Bagginses stole the Precious!"
"Enough. You serve the Precious?"
"Allwwaaayysss..."
"Will you serve its bearer?" They gaped at him.
"Gollum will serve the holder of the Precious!"
"Do you know the way out?"
"Of course I know the way! Gollum lives here. Gollum knows the way."
"Lead us to Mordor, and you will be allowed to live tonight. You can follow the ring, if you lead us." Ionwe pulled him aside, Sam and Mornenion following.
"We can't assure his loyalty. He will likely attempt to steal it in our sleep."
"I know the risk. He is obviously dangerous. But we're walking in circles right now. We can't keep this up. If that thing can get us out, then we have to." Sam nodded, turning back as he grumbled.
"Frodo, this is about more than our lack of navigation, isn't it?" Frodo looked at Gollum, sighing sadly.
"When I look at him, I can see my Uncle going mad from the ring. I can feel it, even now. Whatever you can say of Gollum's craze can also be said of my eventual fate if we do not escape here. The Ring is dangerous. Perhaps when it is destroyed, he can be saved. I have to try." It was a sad truth. Frodo could imagine his skin thinning, paling, becoming sunken to his bones. His voice would become husky and congested. His eyes would be constantly darting around, afraid of his own shadow, but obsessed with the darkness the Ring gave.
"Do you really think it will be enough?"
"I don't know. But if it gets us out of here alive, and it gives him a chance, then it is best we take the option. We're lost and we know it. This is getting dangerous."
"We follow your lead. We will keep a watch up. Just to careful." Gollum was still muttering.
"Let him go. If he leads us to Mordor, then he may be saved." Gollum pushed past and began to kneel and preen at Frodo's feet. Mornenion was more than a little disgusted at the sight. It reminded him too much of the simpering Death Eaters in the Inner Circle. He didn't trust anything that was enslaved. If it was on his side, it could decide it wanted freedom. If it was on the proverbial other side, then it could do anything. Slaves were too unpredictable under the best of circumstances, and there was no question that Gollum was a slave to that Ring.
"I'll take first watch. Go back to sleep. Tomorrow we will continue on our way. Make a single wrong move and I'll cleave r you in half until all that's left is your bones." Ionwe was almost scared of this side of his friend. It was rare, but it did surface on occasion, usually when faced with ark reminders of the War. He settled in beside Mornenion, thoughts filled with how far their friendship had grown in the time they'd spent actually trying to not loathe each other.
Traveling with Gollum was not nearly as bad as they'd expected. At the worse times he was nearly slobbering over Frodo's tunic, or whimpering at the glares Sam would flicker his direction. They grew slack i in their watch as several night passed without incidents. The plump Hobbit, however, refused to be placated by the silence. He watched him every night, listening to the mutterings, impossible to understand.
When they went through the Swamp, both Frodo and Ionwe were caught in the heavy layer of energy that seemed to seep from every poor of moss. The squish of the bog soaked through their boots. The shooless Hobbits tried to grip the ground with their toes, struggling for footing.
"I found it, I did. The way through the marshes. Orcs don't use it. Orcs don't know it. They go around for miles and miles. Come quickly. Soft and quick as shadows we must be." He hopped around erratically. "Don't follow the lights.." Gollum muttered harshly again. But he wasn't heard. Frodo was already frozen on the banks, eyes focused on the pale orbs of a fallen Elf. Ionwe touched his shoulder.
"Frodo, look beyond it."
"It's right there, Harry." His given name brought his mind to where Frodo was looking. He lost himself in eyes so white that Infiri would bow in worship. But unlike the rotten revenants, these were still, frozen in their watery grave. However, they didn't need to move to strike. Frodo and Ionwe fell forward, water filling their noses and mouths as they struggled for air. Clammy hands gripped Frodo's tunic and hoisted him up before reaching back for Ionwe. They choked on their own lungs, air flooding their senses. Colors flashed as their eyes adjusted to the lack of onslaught..
"Don't follow the lightses..." Gollum hissed angrily. The twins each grabbed an arm and hoisted Ionwe to his feet as Sam and Mornenion did the same for Frodo. Danny glared up at the sky, staring at the blackening horizon.
"We should get out of here and find somewhere safe for the night."
As they sat around inside the wards, Frodo approached Gollum.
"Our precious..."
"What did you say?" He jumped up.
"Master should be resting! Master needs to keep up his strength!"
"Who are you?" Frodo's eyes were wide.
"Mustn't ask us. Not his business." He coughed. "Gollum! Gollum!"
"Gandalf told me you were one of the river-folk." Gollum sang under his breath as Frodo spoke.
"Cold be heart and hand and bone...
Cold be travelers far from home..."
"He said your life was a sad story..."
"They do not see what lies ahead
When sun has failed and moon is dead..."
"You were not so different from a Hobbit once, were you?" Gollum pretended to ignore him. "Smeagol." Finally, a reaction. Wonder colored the sunken eyes.
"What did you call me?" Frodo leaned up.
"That was your name once, long ago, wasn't it?"
"My name?" A moment passed. "My name?" Gollum said again, trying the strange words on his tongue. He laughed. "SMEAGOL!"
"Down the lights! Something comes!" Danny hollered.
"RINGWRAITHS!" They jumped for a place to hide. Frodo hesitated. Sam ran from his place beneath a tree and dragged him back.
"I thought they were dead?" Sam whimpered.
"Dead? No, you cannot kill them, no." The dragon like creature screeched.
"Danny, are your dragons safe?"
"Yes. They hide well in these parts. They will stay above the clouds and not come down till I call." Frodo interrupted her with a soft hol of pain. He clutched at his shoulder.
"They are calling for it. They are calling... For the precious." Gollum insisted. Sam shook Frodo.
"It's all right Mr. Frodo. I'm right here!" Frodo twitched, like he wanted to hand over the gold band to the wraiths. Soon enough they passed.
"We definitely need those wards tonight."
As they settled down for the evening, Mornenion pulled Ionwe aside.
"I don't like this."
"What?"
"Frodo has proven that he is hard to corrupt for himself, yes, but the Ring is smart. It's only giving him small commands to gain its goal of returning to Sauron."
"Like making him desire to hand over the Ring tonight?"
"Yes. And by all respects, that can be far worse. What if next time he can't fight it? Or the time after that. How long do we have until he and his control snap, even just enough to alert the Uruk Hai, or the Nazgul, or even Orcs or any other foe to our location? If Frodo had managed to scream out we would have been caught tonight. I'm scared of what could happen."
"I'm scared too. But hopefully we will manage. Look, when we are near enemies like tonight, don't be afraid to cast a body bind or silencing spell on him. I don't want to rik this any more than I have to. But we have to finish this. Who knows what Hermione is going through? We really have no clue what is going on out there. We'll be at the Black Gate soon and then we'll end this. And we can figure oout what to do next."
"As long as we both agree it's a threat/"
"Of course. I'm completely on board with being cautious. It would be most inconvenient for Frodo to reveal our position to an enemy, or slink off at midnight, or even for one of us to yell to stop him for that matter. From now on we will make sure one of us has a watch at all times. I don't trust Gollum and I I trust Frodo, but I don't trust the Ring."
"I'll tell the Twins, and Danny. We'll explain things to Frodo, and hopefully his reason will remain enough to concur, because he doesn't have a choice. I didn't lose my family and friends in one war to save your arse just to have you die for someone else's." Mornenion clapped him on the shoulder.
"I don't plan on dying this time."
"Better not." As Mornenion walked back to the group it thrummed through Ionwe's head. What had Morneion so protective? It puzzled him long into his first shift of the Frodo Watch. The young Hobbit had gladly agreed to the arrangement, as it served to guarantee him a security he didn't have in his dreams. Mornenion's strange fixation was still on his mind when he went to sleep later on.
Here you guys go. Read and review!