I do not own The Lord of the Rings or any of the characters

Chapter 7

Gandalf surveyed Aragorn from a distance, watching the still figure intently. Aragorn was standing on the balcony outside Frodo's room, his face turned upwards to the black, velvety sky and his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, as it did so often recently.

Gandalf took a step forward so that he too was standing on the balcony and cleared his throat. Aragorn didn't turn around, but he nodded his head ever so slightly to show that he was aware of Gandalf's presence.

"Frodo is asleep." Gandalf told his friend, moving forwards so that he was beside Aragorn.

"I know," Aragorn replied, remaining motionless, "The walk with Sam has made him weary. Maybe it was too soon to allow him to go..."

"No," Gandalf shook his head, "He needs to start to gather his strength, if he is to go on the journey."

"Gandalf, he will die if he goes with you."

"How do you know? He has proved to be made of more than we bargained for, our quest to destroy the ring has proven that."

"You don't have to tell me that!" Aragorn snapped, suddenly angry, but mostly out of anxiety, "But Frodo is ill, the strength is slowly being derived from him. I think the only thing keeping him alive is Sam."

"Yes, and Samwise will most definitely want to go on this journey," Gandalf replied, "He has a score to settle with Smeágol, I am sure of it. He will want to avenge his master."

"Gandalf, I cannot tell you enough, Frodo will not go! He is too weak! It will most certainly kill him!"

"Maybe so," Gandalf told him calmly, "But staying here, without the comfort of his dearest friend, will do exactly the same."

***

The walk with Sam had exhausted Frodo, and his limbs were so weary by the time they reached his room that he was shaking. Seeing this, Aragorn had made it clear that Frodo must rest immediately, and Frodo had made no objection. He had climbed into bed using his final strength and then fallen to sleep.

He didn't feel as if he had been sleeping more than a few moments, when he heard raised voices from outside his room. Groggily Frodo opened his eyes and pushed himself up onto the pillow. Through the archway he could see two figures standing on his balcony, and in the dim light he could make out that they were Gandalf and Aragorn.

Quietly he pushed back his blankets and gently slid out of the large bed. The room suddenly tipped to one side and began to spin, and he clutched desperately for something to support him, but all he could feel in the darkness was empty space. He felt the wooden floor rise up and hit him hard in the face, and for a moment everything was black.

He came round slowly, a small groan escaping his mouth. He raised his hand to his head and managed to get to his feet, grasping at the bed for support. Shakily he managed to sit on the bed and when his dizziness ceased, he strained to listen to the conversation that was taking place outside.

"...don't you think he's been through enough? He's been to Mordor once, he doesn't need to go back there!"

"Aragorn, please trust me. I think that as long as Sam is by him, Frodo will manage the journey."

"But-"

"Aragorn." Frodo heard the firmness in Gandalf's voice, "He will go."

There was silence and Frodo closed his eyes, desperately trying to figure everything out and ignore his throbbing head. They wanted him to go to Mordor. The very thought made his stomach churn with fear. He remembered the venomous clouds of gas that choked you every time you drew breath, the scarceness of water, the power of the ring heavy on his heart, driving him to the ground so that he could barely stand...

"I won't go..." He whispered to himself, "I couldn't face it again."

The door suddenly opened and another figure stood in the doorway. Frodo could make out the small, stocky shape.

"Sam?" He asked quietly.

"Yes, it's me Mr.Frodo," Sam replied in a whisper, "My room is below yours and I heard a bang. I came to see what had happened."

"I..I fell out of bed," Frodo told him, feeling foolish, "Did I wake you?"

"No, no, I was awake anyway. Just thinking, like."

"Aragorn and Gandalf are out there," Frodo said, seeing Sam draw nearer as his eyes grew accustomed to the dark, "They don't know I'm awake."

"What are they talking about?" Sam asked curiously, peering out onto the balcony where the two figures were in deep conversation.

"Me, mostly," Frodo sighed, indicating for Sam to sit beside him on the bed, "They want me...well us...to go the Mordor."

Frodo heard Sam take inhale sharply,

"They can't seriously expect you to go? After everything that's happened?"

Frodo didn't reply, but he noticed that the voices outside had faded and he saw that his two friends were now gazing wordlessly up at the sky.

"You must go back to your room Sam," Frodo told him, though he was glad of the company, "They may be angry if they know I've been eavesdropping."

"All right Mr.Frodo, you need your rest anyhow," Sam agreed, getting up quietly and tiptoeing to the door. Frodo stood up to straighten the bed clothes and the room began to spin violently again.

"Sam.." Frodo cried, forgetting to be quiet. His voice carried outside and Gandalf and Aragorn turned their heads and saw that the two hobbits were awake.

"Mr.Frodo?" Sam asked worriedly, dashing forwards to steady his master, "Frodo? What is it? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I'll be all right, I'm fine..." Frodo muttered almost incoherently and Sam shook Frodo by the shoulder worriedly, trying to wake him. Gandalf and Aragorn both strode into the room, looks of equal concern on their faces.

"Sam, what happened?" Gandalf asked urgently, laying his hand on Frodo's forehead.

"He nearly collapsed," Sam replied anxiously , "I think he's fainted."

"I'm fine," Frodo protested, his voice slightly more clear. His eyes opened hesitantly.

Sam sighed in relief, "You had me worried there, Mr. Frodo!"

"Yes, you had us all worried," Aragorn agreed, glancing sideways at Gandalf, "Just what are you doing, up in the middle of the night when I strictly told you to get some rest?"

"I heard raised voices," Frodo replied weakly with his head resting in his hands as he tried to regain full consciousness, "I wanted to make sure that everything was all right, but when I got up I fell, and I must have hit my head..."

Gandalf shook his head slowly and shot Aragorn a worried frown,

"And Samwise? Why are you up so late?"

"I heard a loud bang, y'see my room is right below Mr. Frodo's," Sam told the old wizard, feeling guilty under his stare even though he'd done no wrong.

"Well, I think we've had enough excitement for one night," Aragorn told them, "Frodo, get back to sleep. Sam, you go back downstairs."

The two hobbits nodded obediently, still slightly nervous that their two friends would be mad at them for eavesdropping.

Sam retreated from the room, casting one final, concerned look at his master before closing the door gently behind him. Frodo watched him go with a heavy heart, before climbing back under the blankets and closing his eyes.

"Frodo, what did you hear of our talk?" Gandalf asked gravely. The hobbit did not answer.

"Frodo?" Aragorn prompted, but there was still no reply. The only noise in the dark room was the sound of Frodo's even breathing from beneath the sheets.

"He's fallen back to sleep," Aragorn murmured, "I hope he didn't hurt himself badly when he fell..."

"His head will be aching tomorrow," Gandalf replied quietly, "But I do not think the damage will be too terrible. We'll talk to him about his journey in the morning."

Aragorn didn't reply for a few moments, then he gave a nod of his head and briskly left the room, leaving the door open behind him and letting the light shine in from the corridor outside. The light cast across Frodo's face and his eyes twitched in his sleep. Gandalf sighed heavily and followed Aragorn, shutting the door silently after him.

Next chapter up soon