Samwise Gamgee's POV
I can't believe all this happened so soon. So much pain. So much grief. It was just yesterday that we had left Bree, all of us laughing at Pippin's foolishness, and all of a sudden he is gone. The one I had promised to protect. My master. Frodo. Yet, Frodo had never forgotten his duty. It was the last thing he said to me. "You were a good friend Sam. My adventure ends here. It is time you begin yours. Farewell, my friend. Till we meet again." His burden was now mine to bear. I was the ring-bearer now, and if I failed, the whole of Middle Earth would fall. We were just three of us now. Neither the brightest, nor the strongest. We were merely three peaceful and harmless creatures, against all the dangers out there. Strider was still there, but fate could have it any other way too. He had failed to protect us once, and no matter his word or his nobility to stand by it, he could very well fail again. It was up to me to journey to Mordor now. I couldn't ask the others to come with me to certain death. I had to leave without them, and yet, leaving them here with Strider was unwise too. I still didn't trust him, and Frodo's death had not made the situation any better. At least, here, they had a chance of survival if it turned out that Strider was as trustworthy as Frodo believed him to be. Mordor would mean certain death. That was my only consolation.
The moment they fell asleep, I began my journey, leaving behind no traces of where I was heading to. Aragorn, who stayed awake watching for signs of danger sent me a questioning look. He missed nothing. Nobody but Frodo knew that the ring was now with me, and that is my only hope. Secrecy. I'd rather they believe that I abandoned them, instead of holding myself responsible for their painful deaths. I told Strider that I was leaving. All that I asked of him was that he keep my friends alive. He did give me a look I could not understand though. Was it that he thought I still doubted that? Or was it a foolish request to ask of a person with more important duties to attend to? I do not know, and I dont think I ever will. However, he seemed to percieve my discomfort and urgency As I prepared to leave. "Head towards Lorien" was all he said as we parted ways. I thanked him nonetheless and left. I knew he suspected well enough why I left. From what I gathered of his conversation with Frodo he might as well have known the burden we bore. With no supplies but water, I left the only people out here that I have ever known. I couldn't possibly hope to come back, but I would give it a try. For all the good in Middle-Earth, I would try to succeed where Frodo failed, though I knew not the way to get there, nor did I have any hope.
A few days after that, I found hope. A man of Gondor, whose name I do not know, came across. He said he was heading to Lothlórien, from where, he claimed, Mordor wasn't too far, for it was quite close to the Mines of Moria. He agreed to guide me to Moria. It seemed that was where I would claim to be heading to. After all, the two of us shared a common destination, by which time I would know if I can trust the man. I hadn't revealed my quest to him, and I didn't plan on doing so either, which is why I hadn't asked on Mordor. A few miles ahead of the borders of Lórien, we parted ways, or at least, it turned out to be so. It was just then that I learnt of his identity. He was the Steward-Prince of Gondor. Boromir. He was visiting the Lady of the Light, to take her advise on matters regarding the return of Sauron. She was regarded as a dangerous witch by his people, but it was a risk the man was willing to take for his country. He wasn't the only one. He told me that he had learnt from his brother that the rangers were gathering too. Their leader had called for them, and he suspected it had something to do with the gathering darkness. He pressed me to tell him why I was journeying alone, but he didn't look trustworthy yet. He seemed somewhat different from the way he had been when we met. In fact, he seemed to eye me with the same suspicion that I felt for him. Without further delay, I wished him luck, and walked my way. If only I had known him better back then, I would have known to look back at him just one more time, for I never saw him again. He was ambushed by orcs from Moria. I saw him not, but the cries of war were carried by the wind, instilling fear in all those who heard it.The last I heard of him was him asking me to flee. He hadn't even looked to my direction, though I knew It was me he was speaking to. I had to run before orcs came looking for the one Boromir had called out to. Time was of essence, leaving me no choice but to forsake another companion who had just been proven trustworthy. He fought bravely, as befits an honourable man of Gondor, but once more, it was a losing battle. The elves guarding the borders came to his aid, but even they were too late. The damage had been done. Alas! The prince would never return to his people. He would never find the answers he sought. One more life lost for the cause. One more brave soul would cease to exist in all but memory, while all I could do was run away yet again, doing nothing. All for the sake of one ring.