Chapter 54

The eyes of the fellowship widened in shock and unbelief, but Frodo wasn't interested. The ring had been right all along. They wanted to betray him, wanted power for themselves. "Frodo, what ..." But the hobbit cut Sam off before he could finish the sentence.

"It belongs to me! And I want to keep it!" Gandalf sighed and Boromir shook his head in amazement. Legolas closed the blue eyes for a moment and then opened them again. They sparkled brightly and hopefully. The ring bearer automatically pressed the ring to his chest so that no one could reach him. Why should they destroy such a powerful object?

At the next moment, the elf took a step towards him and Frodo took a step back suspiciously. He didn't even notice that he was about to burst into the flames. "Frodo, give me your hand." Now the hobbit was completely confused. What was the prince planning? The ring bearer shook his head. It was probably just a trick to get the ring. But the archer didn't let that put him off, took another step towards him and held out his hand. The ring screamed at him to move away from the beautiful warrior, but strangely the little creature was unable to do so. Frodo didn't really know why he was doing what Legolas wanted, but something about the Mirkwood elf magically attracted him. So he put his little hand in Legolas'.

The latter smiled reassuringly at him and closed his eyes at the next moment. The elf's face was focused and it took a moment for the hobbit to understand what was happening. The prince's light reached his heart and began to struggle with the darkness in it. The feeling was more than uncomfortable when the light of the beautiful warrior met the darkness of the ring. The voice in his head screamed to break away from the archer, but Frodo just couldn't make it. The beautiful warrior's eyes were tightly closed and it was very obvious how much force he had to use. But the light around him got brighter and brighter.

And finally, the light won the fight against the dark and Frodo cried out at the terrible feeling as the darkness was pushed out of his heart. Breathing heavily, he looked up at Legolas, who smiled calmly. His hand was still in the elf's hand.

"Are you well, Frodo?", the prince asked quietly and worried. The ring bearer nodded wearily. What had just happened there? Confused, he looked at the small object in his hand and then again at the archer, who now let go of his hand and the warmth also disappeared.

Finally, the hobbit turned to the fire and froze when he realized how close it was to the abyss. The fate of Middle-earth was in his hand and before the ring could take possession of him again, the little creature let it fall. "Run!", Gandalf suddenly shouted and Frodo whirled around.

At the next moment, the ground beneath them began to shake and fire shot up next to the hobbit. A horrified scream escaped the former ring bearer because he really hadn't expected that.

At the next moment, someone grabbed his arm and pulled him with him. Legolas. The handsome warrior didn't let go of the hobbit until it was reasonably safe on its feet. Frodo followed the fellowship who ran to the exit, but now stones came from the ceiling and the fellowship had to dodge several times to avoid being killed. The former ring bearer stumbled several times and mostly just managed to hold on. Would they come out alive? Cracks formed under his feet and the little creature almost desperate. When were they out of here? Gandalf ran ahead and seemed to know where to go.

Fortunately, because Frodo himself had lost all orientation. And then he saw the exit. Relief flowed through him. They did it.