AN: Thank you bloomisakura, hanami, diridiri, MissKitty, Sakuwama, redruby8, heyitscat135 for taking the time to write such wonderful reviews. Love you all a lot for all the support. This is another chapter for you. Hope you like it. Please read and review. Two more chapters left now. The story continues...
Chapter 38: Promises Made To Keep
Sam reached the top of the Tower of Cirith Ungol. He looked inside a room and found Frodo there. He was still unconscious and lying on the cold stone floor. His hands and feet were tied up with ropes. Frodo was shirtless as well. There were one Orc and one Uruk inside the room with Frodo. Obviously keeping an eye on him. They were going through his clothes and other stuffs as well. Sam was determined to rescue Frodo. He already made a mistake of thinking him dead when the spider strung him and wrapped Frodo around it's web. Sam shouldn't have left his side. He should have hidden Frodo from the Orcs instead of leaving him behind. Little did Sam know that he was meant to make that mistake?
Katherine was right. Gollum did try to kill Frodo. Even though for a different reason this time. Instead of trying to take the ring from Frodo for himself, Gollum wanted to take it so that he could be the one to give it to the lady of darkness. It was as if the ring itself had put a spell on Gollum so that he would do whatever the ring wished for. And the evil ring definitely wanted to reunite with Katherine as always. Gollum had plotted against Sam and turned Frodo against him. But as always Sam hadn't forgotten Katherine's warning regarding Gollum. He followed Frodo and the devilish creature even after Frodo asked Sam to leave them. And as expected, Gollum led Frodo to a monster to be eaten. He led Frodo into Shelob's lair. Sam attacked Gollum and knocked him unconscious. He was going to kill the manipulative conniving creature but Frodo was in danger with the spider and needed help. Sam had to go to him. He was going towards Frodo to save him but it was too late. The spider had him wrapped in it's web. Sam thought he died. Then soon Orcs came forcing Sam to hide and then they took away Frodo.
Thankfully Sam overheard the Orcs saying that Frodo was still alive. Gathering up all his courage, Sam followed the Orcs with determination. And soon he reached the top of the tower where Frodo was imprisoned. It was only two Orcs. Well one Orc and one Uruk but the point is Sam could take them down. At least he could die trying. Sam stealthily approached them from behind. Those two filthy creatures were too busy fighting over Frodo's mithril shirt that they did not notice Sam there. Not to mention as a hobbit, Sam was incredibly small in size compared to those creatures. And of course light footed. The Orc had his back turned towards Sam. He was about to stab the creature when someone caught his wrist and stopped him. Sam looked up to find Katherine looking down at him.
"Tsk tsk, bad idea Samwise Gamgee" said Katherine clicking her tongue. Both the Orc and the Uruk stopped fighting over the shiny shirt and looked at the halfling.
"My lady." Both dark creatures bowed in front of Katherine. Sam was shocked to see this. His eyes widened with disbelief.
"Katherine. What are you doing?"
"Be quiet." Katherine chided Sam with calm tone of voice. She appeared quite regal as well. Sam noticed another Orc standing right behind Katherine. Three dark creatures were surrounding them but Katherine looked at ease. Because she wasn't in danger at all. Those Orcs and Uruks were her minions not a threat to her life. Katherine looked at the Orc who Sam was about to stab in the back. She then looked at the Uruk.
"Kill him. He is useless. Couldn't even sense someone right behind him." The Uruk immediately chopped off the Orc's head. The head rolled around till it hit the wall and stopped nearby. Sam was shocked to say the least. He was completely stunned. Katherine was still holding Sam's hand.
"Tie him up as well." Katherine said to the Uruk as she handed Sam over to the creature. Sam struggled as much as he could but it was no use. Katherine turned to the other Orc standing there.
"Tell me, how many of you know of their presence here?" Katherine was obviously talking about the halflings.
"It is just me my lady and that stinking rat over there since the other scumbag is dead" replied the Orc in his nasty tone of voice.
"So just the two of you? You know I hate lies" said Katherine with threatening tone of voice.
"Yes my lady. I speak the truth. Just the two of us" said the Orc truthfully. And with a little fear in his eyes.
"Aha good!" said Katherine nodding her head and accepting the information. Then suddenly the Orc no longer had his head on his shoulders. Katherine was holding her sword in her hand. Orc blood covered the blade. It was a good thing she was practicing lately with both blade and bow. A good thing indeed. The Uruk immediately looked up. Confused at what just happened. Before he could understand why their lady was killing them, Katherine charged against him. The Uruk was fast and of course strong. He moved out of the way at a fast speed. Then he swiftly grabbed his blade. A long and heavy machete. Quite a deadly weapon. The Uruk attacked Katherine despite orders from the dark lord himself never to harm her. Even foul creatures such as Orcs and Uruks have love for their lives and fear of death. So normally the Uruk was trying to save himself.
Katherine blocked the attack but she definitely underestimated the strength of the Uruk. Katherine barely escaped the creature's blade couple of times. She was more defending herself than attacking the Uruk. On the other hand, Sam tried to untie his hands. The Uruk didn't have the chance to tie up his feet as well. Sam crawled over to the Orc's dead body. There Sam found a knife. He started cutting the ropes with the blade. Sam frequently looked over his shoulder to see if Katherine was still fighting with the Uruk or has she fallen already. Sam quickly untied his hands and grabbed his little sword. While Katherine kept the Uruk engaged with her, Sam went behind it's back and stabbed the creature. Perfectly piercing his heart. The Uruk roared in pain. Before anyone could hear it, Katherine brought down her sword on it's neck. Successfully beheading the filthy creature. The body fell on the ground in slow motion. Black Uruk blood spilled on the floor.
Katherine felt sick in her stomach at the sight and she threw up right there. "Damn it!" Katherine cursed out loud. She had no idea what was wrong with her. What kind of sickness plagued her that made her feel so nauseating and made her vomit quite often?
Not once it crossed Katherine's mind that she could be pregnant. Why? Because years ago doctors stated that Katherine can never have children of her own. The unfortunate encounter with that monster who raped Katherine when she was just a young little girl, it not only damaged her soul but her body beyond repair as well. Her uterus was very much damaged. Her wounds healed with passing time but the doctors clearly said that there was no hope for Katherine regarding motherhood. Katherine didn't understand at that time what it meant loosing the ability to become a mother. She was too young to understand something like that. And later Katherine became too cold and emotionless to care about that. She used to tell herself that it was good thing that she can never have kids. Kids are trouble anyway. They only cry and eat. It was Katherine's bitter way of accepting the reality that she can never be a mother. Katherine had accepted her inability like she accepted many other things in her life and she moved on. Never thinking about it even by mistake. So whereas any other woman in her place would have thought about being pregnant after having unprotected sex, Katherine paid it no thought at all. According to her she only got some kind of middle earth flu or something. She also blamed the air of Mordor for her sickness.
"Katherine what the hell is going on? What are you doing? Have you- Have you really joined the dark lord?" Sam asked a lot of questions at once and he asked the last one with tensed tone of voice. Katherine looked at Sam with unreadable expression on her face.
"What does your heart tell about that?" she asked with calm tone of voice. Sam looked around the place. Orcs and Uruk dead bodies lying on the floor. He looked back at Katherine.
"I don't think so" said Sam however with unsure tone of voice. Katherine smiled at him.
"You have a wise heart Sam." She said while walking over to Frodo. Katherine couched down beside him. He was still unconscious. It would take Frodo some time more to wake up. Katherine quickly untied his hands and feet. She ran her hand over his forehead and through his hair affectionately. Her eyes teared up a little bit. This would be the last time she's seeing Frodo. Katherine wiped the tears away from her eyes before they could fall. She looked back at Sam.
"Sam, I must tell you something" said Katherine and she proceeded to tell Sam everything that has happened since she met Saruman and then left for Mordor. Sam needed to know everything so that he could properly understand the seriousness of his task and how important it was for him to succeed. Not that Katherine doubted Sam would fail but still things were very different this time. Anything was possible to happen. Katherine was depending more on Sam than Frodo about the destruction of one ring. And Sam must realize that. For everyone's sake.
Minas Tirith- City Of Gondor
A council was convening in the throne room at Minas Tirith. There were Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas and also Eomer and Boromir in there. Faramir was greatly injured in the battle. He was resting in the healers' room along with Eowyn who has killed the witch king of Angmer while trying to protect King Theoden. Unfortunately she could not save the king. It was too late. Eowyn got badly injured for killing the Nazgul. But she would be alright. Merry was there too in the healers' room and Pippin was taking care of him. Another well known person who has fallen during the war was Denethor. However this time he died fighting like an honorable man and not because he had gone crazy. Both Boromir and Faramir were silently grieving for their father. But there was no time for proper ceremony. The enemy was yet to destroy.
"Frodo has passed beyond my sight" announced Gandalf. It meant only one thing. Frodo has entered Mordor. "The darkness is deepening."
"If Sauron had the Ring we would know it" pointed out Aragorn.
"It's only a matter of time" said Gandalf knowing it to be a possibility. "He has suffered a defeat, yes, but behind the walls of Mordor our enemy is regrouping."
Gimli was sitting on the steward's throne, puffing on a pipe. "Let him stay there. Let him rot! Why should we care?"
"Because ten thousand Orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom" said Gandalf.
"And also because Katherine is still trapped there." It was Legolas who said it. Gimli sighed out heavily while Gandalf and Aragorn looked at each other.
"Are you sure she is trapped there?" Eomer asked. He didn't know Katherine at all. Never met her personally. He only knew what people were telling him about the girl. And most people were saying bad things about her. Not to mention she was indeed in Mordor and the dark lord hasn't killed her yet. It only meant one thing to Eomer. She was on the dark lord's side. Legolas however turned to face Eomer. To knock some sense into his mind. More like confront him.
"Katherine knew about this war. I am sure she knew about our victory as well. Don't you think if she has really sided with Sauron she would have tried to change the outcome of this battle. And if she's not with Sauron then she's most likely trapped in his clutches" said Legolas to Eomer. Then he looked at Gandalf.
"We must do something to rescue Katherine. This matter cannot be ignored any longer. What if Sauron blames Katherine for this defeat and tortures her?" Legolas paled even at the thought of it. The fear of loosing Katherine was never more intense before. He feared for her. He feared for the possibility of them not having a future together. Gandalf sighed out heavily. He knew what the elf was going through. He wished he could do anything to help.
"I've sent Frodo to his death and Katherine herself walked towards her end" said the wizard shaking his head to himself regretfully.
"No." Aragorn immediately objected to what Gandalf just said. "There's still hope for Frodo. And for Katherine as well. Frodo needs time, and safe passage across the Plains of Gorgoroth."
"We can give him that."
"How?" asked Gimli curiously.
"Draw out Sauron's armies. Empty his lands. Then we gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate" said Aragorn sounding confident enough in his plan. "And once Frodo throws the ring into the fire of Mount Doom and destroys it, Katherine will be free from Sauron."
"We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms" pointed out Eomer.
"Not for ourselves, but we can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron's Eye fixed upon us. Keep him blind to all else that moves" said Aragorn.
"A diversion" said Legolas. Understanding Aragorn's plan. And it might work.
"Certainty of death. Small chance of success. What are we waiting for?" said Gimli with high spirit.
"Katherine saved my life. I owe her a lot. Me and my men will ride towards Mordor if that is your decision. You have my word" said Boromir.
"If the men of Gondor go to war against Sauron, then Rohirrims won't stay behind" said Eomer with determined tone of voice. Everyone accepted the plan but Gandalf.
"Sauron will suspect a trap. He will not take the bait" said Gandalf with certainty. However Aragorn has his own plan.
"Oh, I think he will."
Mordor- Land Of Darkness
On the other hand in Mordor, Sam and Katherine were looking at each other. A silence has fallen upon them. The only sound was of their breathings and Frodo's. He was no longer shirtless. Katherine has dressed him up and the ring was back to Frodo. The evil ring urged Katherine to take it from Frodo and keep it. It showed her a life together with Legolas in her mind. But Katherine fought off that urge. Thankfully the ring could never control Katherine's mind unlike it can others. The dark witch Kheme was careful about using the ring of power but not let it consume herself. Therefore the ring couldn't manipulate Katherine as well. Only the people around her. Katherine had put Frodo's cloak over his body to cover the ring from her sight. She didn't want to take any risk. A life with Legolas was very tempting after all. While an unreadable mask adorned Katherine's face, Sam stared at her with sadness.
"So you will kill yourself" stated Sam with stern tone of voice. His voice threatened to shake terribly but he forced himself to remain strong. Katherine breathed out heavily.
"I don't have a choice Sam" said Katherine with soft tone of voice. "As long as I remain the ring remains and if the ring remains, no one can stop Sauron from ruling middle earth. Everything will be destroyed."
"I understand that but there must be a way for you to live. Go to Gandalf. He must know of a way" said Sam with hopeful tone of voice. Katherine however shook her head.
"No Sam, it's too late for that." That made Sam sigh out exasperatedly.
"No, death can't be your end. Frodo, he will be heartbroken" said Sam glancing at Frodo. He was well aware of how much Frodo loved and cared about Katherine. However Katherine had another theory.
"No Sam, Frodo will be free. It's the ring that makes him love me so blindly. Once I am gone, he would be free from that compulsion" said Katherine with a little sad tone of voice. Even Frodo's love was the ring's doing. Katherine really believed that no one cared about her genuinely. It was just the ring's influence.
"You don't really believe that Frodo loves you only because of the ring, do you?" Sam asked with disbelieve in his voice. Katherine sighed out heavily.
"I'm afraid that's the truth Sam. Frodo, Aragorn, Gimli... Legolas-" Katherine said Legolas' name more sadly. "I wanted them to care about me. I wanted them to love me. And the ring full filled my wish. Everything I shared with the fellowship was just an illusion. Nothing real."
"No Katherine that's not true. You can't seriously think like that. Is that why you're so willing to die? Because you think once the ring is destroyed no one would care about you."
"I am not willing to die Sam. I am not suicidal. I have been trying to find a way to live but there is none." Katherine almost snapped at Sam. She inhaled a deep breath to calm herself down. "Once I am gone, Frodo will stop feeling the need to bring the ring back to me. However, he might want to keep it to himself. The ring of power is very evil. You must make sure that the ring is destroyed. Sam, promise me you won't let Frodo turn away. Otherwise my death will be in vain. Promise me you will help Frodo destroy the ring. Promise me!"
"I promise Katherine." Sam gave his word. He even promised himself that he would try his best to succeed. Katherine is going to sacrifice her life for them. Sam must not let it go in vain.
"Thank you Sam" said Katherine sighing out in relief. She glanced at Frodo. He would wake up soon.
"I don't need to tell you but take care of Frodo. He would need you by his side. You are the only one who knows what Frodo went through in this quest."
"I will" said Sam with strong tone of voice. He looked right into Katherine's eyes.
"Please don't die." Katherine smiled at Sam. A smile laced with sadness. It broke Sam's heart.
"Take care of yourself Samwise Gamgee. You are the most loyal hobbit in middle earth. Frodo is very lucky to have you as his friend." Katherine looked back at Frodo. She affectionately cupped his face with one hand and softly kissed his forehead. Katherine then abruptly got up to leave. The longer she stayed in there the harder it would be for her to leave. And she got to leave. There was a job needed to be done. Katherine was walking towards the door however Sam stood in front of her. He blocked her way. Katherine looked at him with questioning eyes. Then surprising Katherine, Sam kneel in front of her and bowed his head.
"Sam what are you doing?" Katherine tried to make him stand up but Sam didn't. Instead he started speaking.
"Miss Katherine, you have showed your courage and kindness. I am most fortunate that I got a chance to know you. I shall never forget you 'our friend and savior from another world' and I pray that you find peace in afterlife." Katherine's gaze softened and she smiled at Sam.
"Oh Sam, I am glad I got to meet you too and everyone else as well. Thank you! Thank you very much for your kind words" saying that Katherine bent over and gave Sam an affectionate hug. She pulled away from him and looked into his eyes.
"Watch out for fireworks" said Katherine as a reminder. "And go towards Mount Doom only when your path is clear." Sam nodded his head. Katherine thought of something for a moment then said-
"There is one more thing Sam, would you do me a favor?"
"Anything" said Sam with assured tone of voice.
"I know it probably won't matter and he must hate me now but tell Legolas that I am sorry. He may never forgive me but let him know that I was unaware of the ring's influence on him and if I had known of the ring's doing then I wouldn't have-" Katherine could say no more. It hurt her very much. She inhaled a deep breath before speaking up again.
"Just tell him I am sorry okay." Sam only nodded his head. He couldn't argue with Katherine but in his heart Sam knew that Legolas doesn't hate her. No one does. And their concern for Katherine wasn't only the ring's doing. It was real. Frodo's desire to let Katherine have the ring may be the evil ring's doing but his love for her wasn't completely an illusion. Sam refused to believe what Katherine was saying. But it didn't matter. Katherine believed it to be true that she doesn't have anyone's love. And no matter how much Sam wished to prove Katherine wrong, he knew in his heart that he wouldn't get the chance to do it. Katherine will be long gone by then.
"I will" said Sam. Katherine smiled at him.
"Thank you." She stood up to her full height and walked over to the door. Reaching the door, Katherine turned around. She looked at Frodo one last time. Then at Sam.
"Good bye Sam." Katherine didn't let Sam say anything in return and rushed out of the door. It was only a matter of time now that Katherine makes her ultimate sacrifice for the people she loved and cared about. One part of Katherine wished she never landed in middle earth but another part in her was glad that she came in this world and got to meet such amazing people despite her untimely demise. And Katherine certainly hoped that peace is what she finds in afterlife.