Lord of the Rings: Retold
The Return of the King
Chapter 7:
The scene shifts to the Tower of Cirith Ungol. Frodo is unconscious or asleep, his chest is bare, and his hands are bound. The noise from the Orcs behind him wakes him, and he opens his eyes.
Shagrat examines the mithril shirt removed from Frodo, bringing it into the light.
Shagrat, "hands off! That shiny shirt, that's mine!"
Gorbag, "it's going to the Great Eye, along with everything else."
Frodo gropes at his neck, realizing that he hasn't got the Ring anymore.
Shagrat, "I don't take orders from stinking Morgul-rats!"
Shagrat lunges for the mithril shirt. Gorbag grabs a blade and points it at Shagrat.
Gorbag, "you touch it, and I'll stick this blade in your gut."
Shagrat wrestles the blade from Gorbag and pushes him down a ladder, and then a set of stairs, to where another group of Orcs are eating.
Shagrat, "the scum tried to knife me. Kill him!"
The Orcs growl, and lunge towards Gorbag. One of them gets knocked out a window, which rallies the smaller Orcs to begin fighting once they see what is happening. Naryn and Sam approach the Tower, and hear the sounds of fighting. They enter the Tower of Cirith Ungol and see that all the Orcs are dead. They begin to climb up the stairs, and then realize that there are some more Orcs coming down towards them. Sam begins making noise and flexing so his shadow grows, which makes the Orcs believe that he is a large, powerful warrior. Naryn does the same, making more frightening noises. They begin to back away. The duo come out and the Orcs, realizing that they are a small Hobbit and a Goblin, come after them. But Sam, holding Sting, fights and kills them one by one, with Naryn following suit with Fire-Drake!
Sam, "that's for Frodo!"
Naryn, "that's for Borimir!"
Sam, "and for the Shire!"
Naryn, "and for Bilbo!"
Sam and Naryn, "and that's for my/his old Gaffer!"
Samwise and Naryn stood proud of what they had done before they continued upwards through the Tower. Shagrat comes out of a door-way just as Sam and Naryn leave, carrying Frodo's mithril coat. Frodo, struggling to get out of his restraints, hears someone coming up the ladder.
Gorbag, "stop your squealing, you dunghill rat", he draws his weapon, "I'm going to bleed you like a stuck pig!"
Gorbag suddenly cries out, and the tip of Sting appears, thrust through his chest. It gleams blue for a moment, and then fades as Gorbag dies.
Sam, "not if I stick you first."
Frodo, "Sam! Naryn!"
Sam drops Sting and kneels beside Frodo, with Naryn joining in after checking for any more orcs.
Frodo, "Oh, Sam, Naryn, I'm so sorry. Sorry for everything."
Naryn, "you can apologize once we're all safe."
Sam, "let's get you out of here"
Sam begins untying Frodo's bonds.
Frodo, "it's too late. It's over. They've taken it. Sam, Naryn, they took the Ring."
Sam, "beggin', your pardon, but they haven't", he pulls the Ring out of his pocket, as Frodo looks on in shock, "I thought I'd lost you, so I took it. Only for safekeeping", he holds the Ring out.
Naryn, "we didn't even try to use it."
Frodo, "give it to me", Sam pulls back slightly, "give me the Ring, Sam", the Ring speaks to Sam, and he seems uncertain as to what to do, "Sam. Give me the Ring."
Sam slowly hands it over, and Frodo snatches it from his hand. He puts the chain over his head, looking greatly relieved, and then looks up at Sam and Naryn
Frodo, "you must understand. The Ring is my burden. It will destroy you, Sam."
He shudders and gasps while trying to stand under the weight of the Ring.
Naryn helps his cousin up.
Sam, "come on, Mr. Frodo. We'd best find you some clothes. You can't go walking through Mordor in naught but your skin."
Frodo chuckles slightly.
The two Hobbits and Goblin leave the Tower, and stand looking down at Mordor. They are all wearing Orc armor.
Sam, "we did it, Mr. Frodo. We made it to Mordor."
Frodo was gazing at the legions of Orcs standing between them and Mt. Doom, "there's so many of them. We'll never get through unseen", the Eye of Sauron sweeps the plain in front of them, "it's him, the Eye!"
Sam, "we have to go in there, Mr. Frodo. There's nothing for it", Frodo looks at him wearily, "come on. let's just make it down the hill for starters."
Naryn, "good idea Sam."
….
Éomer, Freya, Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, and Gandalf stand in the hall at Minas Tirith. Gimli sits in the steward's seat.
Gandalf, "Frodo has passed beyond my sight. The darkness is deepening."
Aragorn, "if Sauron had the Ring, we would know it."
Gandalf, "it's only a matter of time. He has suffered a defeat, yes, but behind the walls of Mordor our enemy is regrouping."
Gimli, breathing out a puff of smoke, "let him stay there. Let him rot! Why should we care?"
Gandalf, "because ten thousand Orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom. Sigh, I've sent him to his death."
Freya, "don't say that! There's still hope!"
Aragorn, "Freya is right. There is still hope for Frodo. He needs time and safe passage across the Plains of Gorgoroth. We can give him that."
Gimli, "how?"
Aragorn, "draw out Sauron's armies. Empty his lands. Then we gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate."
Gimli coughs out smoke in surprise.
Éomer, "we cannot achieve victory through strength of arms."
Aragorn, "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."
Legolas, "a diversion."
Freya, "one that could prove most effective."
Gimli, "certainty of death. Small chance of success. What are we waiting for?"
Freya chuckles at the dwarfs words.
Gandalf speaks aside to Aragorn, "Sauron will suspect a trap. He will not take the bait."
Aragorn, "oh, I think he will."
….
Aragorn is shown walking towards the palantír with Anduril in his hand. He uncovers the palantír, showing the Eye. He reluctantly puts his hand atop it.
Aragorn, "long have you hunted me. Long have I eluded you. No more", he brings up Anduril, "behold the Sword of Elendil."
Sauron fights back with a flashback of Arwen dying on her bed. Aragorn despairs and drops the palantír and falls back. Like his dream, he also drops the Evenstar.
….
The Host of the West marches from Minas Tirith for Mordor, led by Aragorn in king's armor. Near him ride Gandalf, Legolas, Freya, Tom riding atop Cain, Gimli, Éomer, Merry and Pippin.
….
At the Houses of Healing.
Éowyn, "the city has fallen silent. There is no warmth left in the sun. It grows so cold."
Faramir, "it's just the damp of the first spring rain. I do not believe this darkness will endure."
Faramir holds her hand as she smiles at him. She rests her head on him.
It looks like she finally found someone to take comfort in.
….
Frodo, Naryn and Sam, dressed in Orc uniforms, look down on the plains of Gorgoroth. The Orcs are moving, and the Great Eye is looking northward.
Sam, "look, the Orcs, they're moving off. You see, Mr. Frodo, some luck at last."
Naryn, "it had to happen eventually."
They look to their right and see a group of Orcs marching towards where they are.
An Orc yells, "come on! Faster!"
Some of the orbs were muttering some form of song about, 'where there's a whip, there's a way?'
Naryn, Frodo and Sam look desperately for a hiding place, but they find that they can only hope that they will not be seen. They sit against a rock wall.
Orcs yell, "Come along, you scum! I'll whip you down to the bone, you! Come on! What have I told you?!"
An Orc spots the two Hobbits and Goblin, who are disguised as Orcs.
The Orc, "get up! Come on, you slugs! he whips them You two are going straight to the front line! Now, move it! Go on! Fall in! Move it!"
Hundreds of Orcs marching towards the Black Gate.
An Orc, "to the Gate, you slugs! Now, move it! Don't you know we're at war?"
….
Aragorn and company are shown riding towards the Black Gate as the Orcs are continuing to march.
...
An Orc, "company, halt! Inspection!"
Frodo, "Sam, help me", he begins to collapse.
Sam, trying to help him up, "Mr. Frodo! Stand up, Mr. Frodo. Stand up!"
Frodo, "it's so heavy."
Naryn, "you've gotta stand up, or we're all in danger!"
Sam looks at Frodo's neck, which has been reddened by the Ring's chain. An inspecting Orc glances at them and roars.
Sam, "on, no. What do I do? What do we do?"
Frodo, "hit me."
Sam, "what?"
Naryn, "are you nuts?"
Frodo, "hit me, Sam! Start fighting!"
Sam, "get off of me! Nobody pushes me, you filthy maggot! Get off of me!"
Naryn, "you bastards better get away from me before I kill-haul ya!"
An Orc, "break it up! Break it up!"
Inspecting Orc, "Oi! I'll have your guts if you don't shut this rabble down!"
Frodo, "go, Sam, Naryn! Now!"
The three of them break for a tent, that lays out of the site of the Orcs.
Inspecting Orc, disregarding what had happened, "move along, scum!"
The Orc, "back in the line! You maggots! Get back into the line, you slugs! Dig it, you slugs. Move it!"
The trio climb over a hill that will get them away from the Orc army. They struggle through a rocky, smoke-filled plain. The Orc armor clearly wears them down.
Frodo, weakly and is on the ground, "I can't- I can't- I can't manage the Ring, Sam. It's- It's- It's such a weight to carry. It is such a weight."
Sam, takes off his helmet, "we're going that way. Straight as we can. There's no point carrying anything we're not sure to need."
They throw their Orc armor and Sam's pans off a steep cliff. Sam is shown shivering while Frodo is leaning on him. Naryn does his best to hold them both in his arms, trying to keep them all warm.
Sam looks up at the sky.
Sam, seeing a star in the sky, "Mr. Frodo. Look. There is light and beauty up there that no shadow can touch."
Sam looks down at Frodo, who is sleeping uneasily.
Naryn, "we all best get a little bit of rest."
….
Aragorn and company are shown approaching the Black Gates.
….
We cut back to Frodo, trying to wring the last bits of liquid from his water skin.
Sam, "take mine. There's a few drops left."
Naryn, "I ran out about a day or so ago."
Sam hands Frodo his water container, and Frodo drinks what is in it. Both Hobbits are very dirty, and Frodo looks especially tired and spent. Naryn is also very dirty, with it standing out greatly on his pale skin.
Frodo, "there will be none left for the return journey."
Sam, "I don't think there will be a return journey, Mr. Frodo."
Naryn, "it seems we've all given up hope then…."
They look at each other sadly, and then Sam holds out his hand to Frodo, to help him up. Naryn helps as well. They continue on.
….
Aragorn's troops stand outside the Black Gate.
….
We cut back to Frodo, Naryn and Sam again, and Frodo is staggering along, flapping his hands at things in front of him that only he can see, while Sam looks on sadly. Frodo pauses, and looks around. The Great Eye in the distance turns towards them, and Naryn and Sam dive for cover.
Sam, "Frodo! Get down! Hide!"
Naryn, "please, get down!"
Frodo turns around slowly and meets the gaze of the Eye. He crumples to the ground.
Sam, "Frodo!"
Naryn, "no!"
The Eye continues to sweep over their location.
….
We cut back to Aragorn and his army.
Pippin, "where are they?"
Tom shrugs in confusion.
Aragorn, Freya, Gandalf, Legolas, Éomer and Aragorn's herald spur their horses forward toward the Gate.
Aragorn, "let the Lord of the Black Land come forth! Let justice be done upon him!"
The Black Gate begins to open, and a dark rider on a dark, armor covered horse approaches them.
Mouth of Sauron, "my master, Sauron the Great, bids thee welcome."
He makes a toothy grin but Aragorn returns a mocking look back at him.
Mouth of Sauron, "is there any in this rout with authority to treat with me?"
Gandalf, "we do not come to treat with Sauron, faithless and accursed. Tell your master this, 'The armies of Mordor must disband. He is to depart these lands, never to return.'"
Freya, "or else he shall feel our anger."
Mouth of Sauron, "Old Greybeard. I have a token I was bidden to show thee."
He pulls out the mithril coat
Pippin, "Frodo."
The Mouth of Sauron tosses it to Gandalf.
Pippin, "Frodo!"
Gandalf, "silence."
Merry, "no!"
Gandalf, "silence!"
Freya and Tom share uneasy looks.
Mouth of Sauron, "the Halfling was dear to thee, I see. Know that he suffered greatly at the hands of his host. Who would've thought one so small could endure so much pain? And he did, Gandalf. He did."
Aragorn approaches him
Mouth of Sauron, "and who is this? Isildur's heir? It takes more to make a king than a broken Elvish blade."
Aragorn quickly takes out his sword and cuts the Mouth of Sauron's head off.
Gimli, "I guess that concludes negotiations."
Freya, "understatement of the age."
Aragorn, "I do not believe it. I will not."
The Eye swings its gaze towards the North. Aragorn and the others see the Orcs marching towards them through the gate.
Aragorn, "pull back! Pull back! They ride back to their own forces."
….
Sam, "it's gone, Mr. Frodo. The light's passed on, away towards the north. Something's drawn its gaze."
He and Naryn help Frodo stand up, and they struggle on.
….
Uncountable numbers of Orcs march toward the Host of the West. The soldiers are starting to lose heart and courage.
Aragorn, "hold your ground! Hold your ground."
The Men stare at him, fear and uncertainty written on their faces. Aragorn rides back and forth in front of them, trying to shore up their courage.
Aragorn, "Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers and sisters. I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of Men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the Age of Men comes crashing down. But it is not this day. This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!"
The Men draw their swords.
….
We cut back to Frodo, Sam and Naryn, struggling up the side of Mount Doom. Frodo slips and falls, and Sam stumbles to a halt beside him, with Naryn being the last to slip next to them.
….
Back at the battle, Aragorn and the others watch as they are surrounded by Sauron's forces.
….
Back to the Hobbits, and Frodo looks up at the fiery peak above him, looking utterly defeated. He finds some strength within him, and begins pulling himself slowly and painfully up the mountainside with his bare fingers, trying to complete his quest. His strength finally gives out, and he collapses.
….
Gimli, "never thought I'd die fighting side by side with an Elf and an Orc."
Legolas, "what about side by side with a friend?"
Freya, "or family?"
Gimli, "Aye. I could do that."
Tom smiles at his friends as he sits atop Cain.
...
Naryn and Sam climb up to Frodo and take him into their arms, rocking him back and forth. They look down at him.
Sam, "do you remember the Shire, Mr. Frodo? It'll be spring soon. And the Orchards will be in blossom. And the birds will be nesting in the hazel thicket. And they'll be sowing the summer barley in the lower fields."
Frodo opens his eyes, and stares blindly at Sam.
Naryn, "and eating the first of the strawberries with cream. Do you remember the taste of strawberries? Or of the delicious cream Bilbo would put on them?"
Frodo, gasping for breath, "no, Naryn. No, Sam. I can't recall the taste of food, nor the sound of water, or the touch of grass. I'm naked in the dark. There's- there's nothing…no veil between me and the wheel of fire. I can see him with my waking eyes!"
His eyes widen in pain and fear.
Sam, in tears, "then let us be rid of it, once and for all! Come on, Mr. Frodo."
Naryn, "we can't carry it for you."
Sam and Naryn spoke together, "but we can carry you!"
Sam and Naryn stagger to their feet, placing Frodo over their shoulders, tears stinging their eyes. They continue slowly up the mountain, carrying Frodo and the Ring forward one step at a time. Samwise and Naryn would complete this quest for Frodo, no matter what!
...
Reviews:
Amanny: indeed. At least he died an honourable death. I'm glad you liked the chapter.
...
And thus we draw ever closer to the end of our story. Let's hope our heroes will make it!
Sorry this chapter came out later than usual. Busy day.
For the next chapter will decide the fate of Middle Earth!
