Chapter 39: The Road Goes On Ever
Ethan stood alone on the pale grey shore of Parth Galen, staring into the distance, with the ring on his palm, seemingly merely an unadorned gold band. Ever since he owned the ring, it has brought him nothing but trouble. Tommy is gone, Shane has turned against him, and he now feels that he cannot depend on anyone in the Fellowship.
As Hayley said, to bear a ring of power… is to be alone.
In the forest, Conner continued to run, trying to find Ethan.
"…Ethan!" yelled Conner.
Ethan continued to stand alone, weeping silently. He slowly lowered his head, looking at the malevolent tool of power unadorned in his hand, solemnly remembering how much trouble it caused him in all the time he has had it when he began the journey, in which he lost Tommy to Moria and what has happened today. Ethan began recalling what he said while in Moria:
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…I wish the ring had never come to me… I wish none of this had happened…
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Suddenly… he recalled what Tommy told him:
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…So do all who live to see such times… but that is not for them to decide…
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…All you have to decide… is what to do… with the time that is given to you.
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Ethan always believed in Tommy, believing that he was always right. This fact alone… allowed Ethan to regain his wits as he closed the ring in his hand and put it in his pocket. The frightened, but noble Hobbit then went for one of the boats and pushed it into the water. He got into the boat and started paddling.
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Conner then emerges from the woods, Sam immediately saw Ethan paddling away as he cried, "Ethan, no! Ethan! Ethan!"
"No Conner," replied Ethan, silently,
But Conner wouldn't give up. He started to walk into the river, intending to follow Ethan.
Ethan looked back to see them crossing the river. "Go back Conner," he commanded, I'm going to Mordor alone."
"Of course you are, and I'm coming with you!" countered Conner.
Ethan couldn't believe what was happening. But he remembers that Conner has always had difficulty with swimming.
"Conner, you can't swim!" he cried, "…Conner!"
Despite Ethan's warnings, Conner continued to proceed towards Ethan, no matter what. He struggled to swim but began to sink.
Conner continued struggling, despite the fact that he was sinking. Then… Conner sank completely into the lake.
Ethan, at the same time puts his paddle into the boat.
"Conner!. he cried…
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Conner continued to struggle to swim up to Frodo as he sank faster… and faster…
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Then…
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Ethan's hand reached out into the water… and grabbed Conner's hand pulling him up, as he got on the boat.
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"…I made a promise, Ethan," stated Conner, "…a promise… 'Don't you leave him Conner Mcknight Gamgee'… and I don't mean to… I don't mean to."
"…Oh, Conner," he said.
The two Hobbits hugged.
"…Come on." Ethab said.
After that… the two companions began to row toward the Eastern Shore, to Amon Lhaw.
Much later… the others laid Shane to rest in one of the boats, with his sword rests with him, his shield is above his head and his cloven horn at his side, sending it to go over the falls of Rauros.
Trent wore Shane's vambraces in his honor. Max stood, As the three watched the boat go over the falls, Dustin quickly shoved a boat into the water.
"Hurry!" cried Dustin, "Ethan and Conner have reached the Eastern Shore!"
But he looked back and see Trent Wasn't moving and inch. Trent saw the twi companions go into the woods, silently wishing them luck.
On the Eastern Shore, Ethan and Conner had already left their boat and began walking into the woods.
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"You mean not to follow them?" wondered Dustin.
"Ethan's fate," replied Trent, "is no longer in our hands."
Max interjected, "then it has all been in vain… the Fellowship has failed.
Dustin and Max circled around Trent. Trent approached his comrades and puts his hands on Dustin and Max's Shoulders.
"Not if we all hold true to each other," he answered as Max puts his hand on Trent's arm, returning the Comradeship.
Trent continued, "we will not abandon Hunter and Blake… to torment and death. Not while we have strength left."
"Leave all that can be spared behind," he said as he grabbed his dagger and sheathes it, "…we travel light. Let's hunt some Orc."
Trent then led the hunt.
Dustin and Max looked at each other, grinning.
"Yes!" cried Max as he and Dustin went along too.
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Max and Dustin ran through the woods, hunting the Uruk-hai in order to rescue their friends…
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Ethan and Conner trek upon the razor-sharp hills of Emyn Muil. They stand upon a high hill, beside a reflecting pool of water. A dark sky is before them, though light wings beneath it. They were overseeing Mordor, their destination…
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"Mordor," said Ethan, "I hope the others find a safer road."
"…Strider will look after them," said Conner.
"I don't suppose," said Ethan, "we'll ever see them again."
"We may yet, Ethan," stated Conner, "…we may."
"Sam, " said Frodo as he turned to face him, smiling, "…I'm glad you're with me."
He smiled at Ethan in return.
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Ethan went along first. Conner stood for a moment, and then followed on. They went down the rocky slope into a light mist beneath high, sunlit mountains, towards their destination.
The Hobbits have a long way to go…
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…And a lonely road… so far from home.
