1 PRECIOUS

1.1 CHAPTER 3 - DECISIONS

As Gollum lay asleep, with Precious nearby, he started to hear voices in his dreams.

"Gollum," said the voice.

"Where is that voice coming from, my precioussss," murmured Gollum.

"It is I, your birthday present, your real precious," replied the voice.

"Why did it leave us," sobbed Gollum.

"That is not important," snapped the voice, "You no longer care for me."

"What does it mean?" asked Gollum, "We still love it."

"You have replaced me with that horrible child!" roared the voice.

"We are sorry," cried Gollum.

"You will only be forgiven if you sacrifice it to me," announced the voice.

"But we can't kill Precioussss," pleaded Gollum, "Please not my Precioussss!"

"You must decide," said the voice, "Me or it, ME OR IT!"

Gollum woke up with a start. What could he do? He picked the baby up, being careful not to wake her.

He thought of what his birthday present had told him. If he killed Precious, the ring might come back to him. It may escape that cursed Baggins and return to the Misty Mountains for him. Perhaps it could tell him where it had been, so he could then hunt down his wicked nemesis and kill him during the night.

But then he looked at Precious. Her sleeping face was so innocent, so trusting, so content. How could he disturb her peaceful sleep? Then again, he thought of what horrible punishment the ring would think of for Gollum if he betrayed it. It would kill Precious, but would torture her first. What could he do? What if the voices were just in his head? What if they weren't?

"My Preciousss," whispered Gollum, a tear falling from his eye.

He then thrust Precious into the water.

Her eyes opened immediately, small bubbles of air floating to the surface. Precious held her little hands onto Gollum's fingers as they held her underwater. Streams of tears now rolled down Gollum's face as he closed his eyes, unable to look into the child's desperate gaze. He could feel the hands frantically tugging at Gollum, then they went still, and the grip loosened.

"Preciousss?" said Gollum, his wide eyes darting open.

Gollum had changed his mind: he wanted Precious to live. He could set her free, get her to leave the Misty Mountains, so she could be safe from his birthday present. Gollum now looked down at the lifeless infant with despair.

"What have we done?" sobbed Gollum.

"You don't deserve me," said the voice, "You are weak, YOU ARE PATHETIC!"

Then the voice left him in silence, left him to think about what he had done.

Gollum wept bitterly. He didn't stop to eat or sleep. He cradled the dead Precious in his arms for three days, rocking himself back and forth as he cried uncontrollably. When these three days had past, Gollum decided that he would still set Precious free, let her escape from the dark solitude of the cave. He carried her, wrapped in her package once again, to the opening of the Misty Mountains.

It was night, so Gollum ran, cradling the body in his arms, until he came to a small river. He didn't want to leave Precious, even though she was dead. But he had to.

"This is farewell, my Precioussss," sobbed Gollum, as he placed her into the river, and watched the currents carry her away.

Gollum then returned to his little island in the lake, situated in the cave hidden deep in the Misty Mountains. The poor, lonely, wretched creature had to mourn once again, but this time, he was alone.