Edited 1/2/20

Chapter 12

(Frodo and Sam)

Gollum had been wailing the whole time that they had been on the move and Sam was starting to lose it. Harry had noticed that Frodo was trying to ignore Gollum so that he could think but it was not working too well, and he knew that if this was to work they would all have to work together.

Sam let out a scream of frustration yelling at Gollum to be quite but that did nothing either before he turned to Frodo "It's hopeless, every orc in Mordor is going to hear this racket!" Looking at Gollum for a second then back to Frodo he continued "Let's just tie him up and leave him!"

Finally Gollum did something other than wail "No, that kill us, kill us!" Harry then figured out something just by how Gollum was referring to himself and it might be helpful in rehabilitating him if he could be made an ally.

Harry's thoughts where stopped when Sam yelled back "It's no more than you deserve!" Harry knew he would have to talk to Sam as his attitude would be a deter all that he needed to have done so that they could have another ally and help Gollum in the process.

"Maybe he does deserve to die," Frodo started as he watched Gollum piteously "but now that I see him I do pity him."

Harry nodded to Remus and took the spells cloaking them down as he said "Do pity him, for he was forgotten. If he had had another friend in the world he may not be as he is now." Harry paused letting his words sink in before he turned to Frodo and Sam "I heard your call, Remus and I have been following you since you first found Gollum. I had to learn what I could, Remus will be staying with you he will be of more help to you than he will be to us." Harry looked directly at Sam and motioned for him to follow him, once they were far enough away that their conversation would remain privet Harry asked "Sam why do you treat Gollum the way you do?"

Sam glared at Gollum as he answered "He can't be trusted, he'd throttle us in our sleep if he had the chance and take the ring causing our doom. It's all he cares about."

Harry sighed shaking his head before he spoke "Sam, Gollum has what is called multiple personality disorder. The one we refer to as Gollum is not who he really is but his guilt given form. I won't tell you what he did exactly as that is for him to decide if he wants anyone to know, but I will say that he would not have done it if the ring had not forced him. Once it was done no helped him, no one cared, and his guilt alone with the ring made him as he is now, he is the forgotten one. But forgotten does not mean unredeemable, with the right help and positive reinforcement and care he could become who he once was again and be a strong ally but only if those around him help him become that again."

Sam was now looking at the ground thinking over what Harry had said "So if we are kind to him and help him he in turn will help us."

Harry smiled proudly at the hobbit before him nodding "Yes, Frodo will be able to give his understanding to him but can you, will you do this for all of us Sam?"

Sam smiled slightly and nodded saying "I promise."

After a few more minutes talking Harry went over to Gollum and kneeled down in front of the scared twisted hobbit who had backed away from him and smiled "I mean you no harm Gollum. I know you have had a hard life but I ask you now for your help not for myself but for my friends. In return they will help you with your guilt and pain that you carry. Will you be their guide to Mordor? Will you take them by the safest road? Please."

Gollum looked at the young elf before him and as he talked about his guilt he saw flashed of Diegol who he had killed because of the ring. He wanted Diegol's forgiveness but knew he never would deserve it. But here was this young elf offering him the help no one else had been willing to give. But he knew that fat hobbit would never help him "Fat hobbit, would not help me."

"That where you are wrong, he had an idea of how you were in his head but I have told him the basics of what happened to you and if you choose to tell him the rest then that is your choice. Sam is willing to trust you and help you if you can do that same in return. So I ask you for your help in guiding my friends safely through Mordor can you do that Gollum?"

Frodo and Sam then came forward but Sam spoke first "I will do my best to trust you but only if you help us too."

Frodo smiled as Gollum "Please help us Gollum and we will do our best to help you." Then Frodo took the rope that was tied around Gollum's neck and slipped it off in an act of trust to the twisted hobbit.

Gollum was confused for a second but the a small smile appeared on his small face and he said "We help you, we will take you through safe paths in the black lands."

Harry smiled but knew it was his time to leave he had been gone almost two days now he turned to those he would be leaving behind and hugged Remus close saying "Take care of yourself Moony, you better come back alive. Take care of yourself and them."

Remus hugged his cub close saying he would before he released him he said "Make sure your dad and Sirius don't get into too much trouble."

Harry laughed but nodded before he turned to the other three "Now you take care of each other and remember what is at stake but don't forget to take joy where you can find it. And just so you know Borimire is fine and we are after the orc pack as we speak. Be careful all of you, remember call me if you need me and before you destroy the ring." With that Harry popped out using Aragorn as a focus to where the rest of the Fellowship where.

(Back with Aragorn and the others.)

James and Sirius where running in the middle of group talking about many things but then Sirius said "What are we going to do about Harry, he takes so much on himself that he does not see that it is taking its toll on him."

James sighed but replied "There is not much we can do but try to lighten his burden where we can. He is part of the weapon against Souron but how I do not know. My grandmother told me that Aragorn will be the one my son will be leaning on more than anyone else. I just hope that Harry does not crack under the stain of the task he has been given."

"If Voldemort and the last war did not crack him I don't think Souron will. Harry is strong and as long as he has breath in his body he will fight against evil with all he has that much I do know about him. He just needs us to believe in him and be there when his strength starts to fail to push him back up."

"I am so proud of him, he has been through so much and still he can smile and give life to all he meets. I don't think I would be able to say the same if I were in his place. When the Valar chose him to bear this burden they chose well even if I wish he did not have to bear it he does it well." James said with a small smile.

Aragorn was thinking about a certain emerald eyed elf that had captured his heart without realizing it he just did not know how to go about it. He knew that the love he felt for Arwen was no more than a brotherly love and Arwen knew that as her feeling where the same but with Harry Aragorn felt like his heart would beat out of his chest just by thinking about the elf. When Aragorn had seen him hurt dying in Lothlorian it had felt like his heart had been ripped out of his chest.

Just when he was starting to think further on the subject of what he wanted when it came to Harry he heard a loud echoing pop from up ahead.

They all heard a pop like a backfiring car up ahead in the gorge they were running towards "That sounded like Apparition." James said speeding up till he was level with Aragorn who was running full speed towards the sound.

Harry landed in a small gorge and knew he was a few minutes ahead of the rest of the fellowship he started to look around he could tell that the Uruk-hai had come through there as the earth was trampled but then he noticed something glimmering in the mud. As he knelt down to investigate he heard the others come up beside him as Aragorn saw what was in his hand he said "Not idly do the leaves of Lorian fall." Harry looked up with a huge smile on his face as he replied "They may yet be alive!" Aragorn had to force his heart to calm down as it had started to pound like a drum when he saw that smile on Harry's face and with a small smile on his face he helped Harry stand as he said "Less than a day ahead of us." Then he turned to the others and louder said "Hurry!" as he took off with Harry at his side. "Come on Gimlie we're gaining on them, hurry up." Borimire yelled with a laugh as he saw the dwarf fall over the edge of the hill and summersault all the way down. Gimlie popped up and started to run following them while yelling that Dwarves where natural sprinters and very dangerous over short distances causing everyone to laugh at his expense. Harry was wondering more about the ranger he ran beside and how he had looked at him when he had returned. He could not help but noticed that his heart beat wildly when Aragorn had smiled and how he wanted to see that smile for as long as he could. He thought he would never be good enough for the ranger soon to be king but Harry could not help but dream that Aragorn could love him even though it was probably impossible. James on the other hand was watching his son and the Ranger seeing the attraction between them and could not help but wonder who would ask who first and whispered to Sirius "If they don't admit that they like each other soon then the first thing we get to civilization and are safe enough I am going to lock them in a room and not let them out until they do because all the dancing they are doing is driving me nuts."And with a laugh Sirius could not help but agree.