"You disgusting creature," Sam hissed, feeling rough tongue against his skin.
"Not disgusting, not disgusting," Gollum argued. "We just needed a taste to satiate the hunger pain, though it doesn't help much, my Precious."
"If you are going to kill me then be done with it!" Sam snapped. "Otherwise quite tormenting me!"
Gollum caressed Sam's neck, eliciting a shudder from the hobbit. "We cannot do that. Tricky hobbit has hidden the Precious from us. No, the hobbit is no good dead when he holds the secret. We can sense the Precious in here but we cannot see it." He moaned pitifully. "Weak, so very weak. We cannot find it on our own." His tinted glare returned to Sam. "Perhaps we will let you live if you give the Precious to us. Yes, tell us where the Precious is hidden."
He turned his head and spat into Gollum's eyes.
The creature wiped furiously at his face and hissed. Gollum's hands tangled into Sam's curls and he drew the hobbit's head back, deathly close to snapping it. When it was as far as it could go, and Sam's cries grew desperate, Gollum rammed his head forward into the stone floor.
"Nasty hobbit!" Gollum growled. "We will make you tell. Yes, we have our ways of forcing you speak."
The hands around Sam's neck tightened further and he inhaled what he thought would be his last breath. Sharp teeth grazed across his flesh threatening to puncture. His hand slid across the stone floor and by sheer luck, it brushed over The Ring. The hobbit's eyes widened as he felt a surge of energy pass through him. With The Ring he could easily overtake Gollum and escape from the cave, yet, there was that lingering risk to lose control of himself. Thoughts raced back and forth inside Sam's mind. Put on The Ring, don't put on The Ring, put on The Ring, don't put on The Ring. He decided when the first fang sank into the side of his neck. He slid The Ring over his finger.
Taken back by shock Gollum released his hold giving Sam the opportunity he needed. The creature howled and toppled over as Sam turned and rammed his fist on the side of his face. Sam staggered to his feet and grasped his fallen sword. He spun around and faced Gollum, only his sword visible in the murky light. Gollum was on his feet quickly and launched himself at Sam. The hobbit swung his sword and jumped aside, barely avoiding the anxious hands. Gollum turned and squatted on all fours, keeping a watchful eye on the moving blade. Sam stood his ground and let the creature come to him, then cut fast. Blood spurted from Gollum but that barely slowed him down. Grunting, Gollum reached for Sam. The hobbit leapt back and aside and Gollum followed closely. He swung defensively but Gollum managed to avoid the blow and slammed into the hobbit. Sam kept his grip on the sword as he fell and grunted in pain as he hit the stone floor. He rose as quickly as he could in time to see Gollum almost on top of him. Sam rolled to the side as Gollum came crashing to the floor tearing wildly at the air. The blade rose in the air and struck Gollum again, this time landing a blow in the shoulder. The creature hissed in pain and held its seeping wounds. Gollum vanished into the shadows leaving Sam in momentary peace.
'Well, I suppose I showed him a thing or two,' Sam thought smugly. He removed The Ring from his finger. 'I have other things to worry about now. I can only hope the orcs have not started their search yet.' He rubbed The Ring in his palm. 'Oh, but what am I to do? I should leave immediately but I despise the idea of leaving that creature alone only cause more mischief. If I do not finish him off now he will surely hunt me down again to attempt to steal The Ring. But I do not know where he is. Perhaps I should not worry over it. He will not survive long with the injuries I have inflicted on him. If, by chance, he does survive I will deal with him then.'
Sam picked up his cloak and wrapped it around his neck. Sheathing his sword he walked toward the cave entrance. He made it halfway when he heard the growling and huffing of Gollum from behind. He made to turn but something exploded from the shadows and attacked him. Pain rushed along his arm, and he saw blood trickle down his sleeve. There was a gashing of teeth and claws. He cried out and pushed at the creature that was clinging to him. He couldn't reach his reach his sword. Sharp nails grazed across his cheek eliciting another cry from him. Desperate for any method of escape, he raised his hands and pressed his index finger against Gollum's right eye. With a forceful push his finger punctured the eye and the hold on him was released. Howling and clawing at his eye, Gollum dashed out of the entrance disappearing into the night. For a moment Sam braced himself against the wall trying to calm his breathing and his racing heart but it was soon beating fast again. In the distance he could faintly hear the call of a trumpet. He recognized it and ran.
The night air was piercing cold as he ran. A light mist was beginning to form over the barren land and Sam traveled into it hoping to set his pursuers off track. He gazed down at his arm and found that he was bleeding heavily, which left a noticeable trail on the stone earth. He tore at a portion of his cloak and tied it around the open wound. His mouth was becoming dry and his chest burned as he gulped for air. His strength was beginning to fail. He turned his head to gaze behind and tumbled abruptly. When he regained his composure he found himself in a short drop. In front of him stood a large split in the rock leading to darkness. Another trumpet called, this time much closer. Sam hesitated a moment and then darted into the cleft. He brought up his hands as the darkness closed over him, groping to find his way. When he thought himself a far distance, barely seeing the light from the entrance, he crouched down to wait. His fingers dipped into his pocket and played anxiously with The Ring.
Seconds later he heard the sound of his pursers. There was patter of feet at the entrance and Sam panicked. He placed The Ring over his finger. He nearly screamed when he saw the massive horde of orcs in the entranceway but clamped his hand over his mouth. One was sniffing and moving further into the cleft. It kept moving; moving until it stood directly over Sam. The hobbit was frozen in place and winced, as the orc was about to step on him.
"Come back here!" the leader of the pack snapped. "The hobbit isn't down there. Nothing would be stupid enough to venture into here. Besides, a few more feet and there's a drop off leading into lava so you better watch your step! Come on now, you slug! We have limited time here!"
"Leave it to the trackers to send us in the wrong direction," an orc grumbled. The tracker bared his teeth at the orc who, in turn, bared his too. "I don't see why we have to waste our time looking for such an insignificant hobbit. What does he posses that's so vital?"
"How should I know, eh?" the leader growled. "I'm never told the details of an assignment. I was just told to bring back the hobbit because he carries something important. I was also told to have him brought back alive. What he happens to carry is beyond me."
"Aw, what fun is there in bringing him back alive?" another complained.
"Keep quiet!" the leader barked. "You'll have your fun, all of you, I'm sure of that. But we have our orders for now and you know not to disobey him."
"Too bad the other one had to die so soon," one said. "I was beginning to like him. He turned the torture chambers into a real blood bath. Such a shame. He was being molded into a true killer" The orc scratched his chin. "I wonder why he allowed the hobbit such power in the first place. Seems like a foolish idea to me."
"Your opinion doesn't matter," the leader snarled. "You know better then to question his will. I don't understand it any better then you do. He had plans for the hobbit, for both of them, but what they were is beyond me."
An orc broke through the crowd and faced the leader. "There were signs of the hobbit in a cave south of here. His blood is all over the ground along with something else. There was a creature lurking in by there. I know him. He's the one we were having problems with a week ago. He was the one that kept trying to break into Barad-dur and when we were sent out to capture him he always eluded us. I can tell he's wounded. The way he was limping, the stink of his blood. What should we do about him?"
"You should have killed the blasted thing when you had the chance!" the leader screamed. The orc slashed the tracker across the throat and the tracker fell twitching to the ground. "Let this be a reminder to all of you! There is no room for failure on this mission! Our time here is running out! We are to have the hobbit by nightfall tomorrow! Time wouldn't normally be limited but we have an army invading the area and heading toward Barad-dur. We are to let nothing out of our sight! If you run across the demented creature, kill it! If you run across the hobbit, capture it and don't harm a hair on his body! Anyone that disobeys orders will suffer greatly! Now, move out!"
The orcs roared in agreement and vanished from the cleft. Sam let out a sigh of relief and slowly inched toward the entrance. He waited until the troop lumbered off and the sounds faded before taking off The Ring. He remained still and let time slip by before exiting the cleft. Sam kept a watchful on his surroundings but his mind drifted to other things. Thoughts fled back to his master and to the orc conversation, trying to make sense of it all.
For the rest of the night he traveled over the barren land, not knowing or caring about the distance he had gone. The night sky lightened and slowly began shift. Clouds formed overheard and once again he was left without the comfort of the sun. In the distance he could faintly hear horn calls but all soon drowned out giving him ease. The sky was starting to turn red and ash began to seep into his lungs, causing him cough violently. He was drawing closer to Orodruin and with every step he took the volcano became more menacing. He continued on pushing down the urge to scream for food or drink, pushing down the urge to lay on the earth and die. He was close now and after all this time, all the suffering; he would complete his task.
Hours passed, for him it felt like days, and the sky began to grow dark yet again. The day was fading and he would be left in bitter cold. He stumbled over a rock and came crashing to the ground. When he lifted his head a weak smile formed. He was at the base of the volcano. Sam rose to his hands and knees and started crawling up the steep slope, ignoring the jagged rocks that dug at his flesh and hanging on for dear life to keep from tumbling down. More time passed until he reached a small opening. Tears brimmed in his eyes as he recognized the entrance. He remembered entering there, trying to track his master. So caught up in his emotion the hobbit didn't notice a small troop movement at the base of Orodruin. The troop rushed forward at top speed, heading directly for the hobbit. Sam wiped at his eyes and pushed forward. Entering the darkness sent a chill down his spine. Instinctively, his hand slipped into his pocket. Flames from the crack shot into the air briefly lighting the dark passage. He hurried along when he suddenly stopped in cold fear. Ahead of him, illuminated by the shooting fire, stood Gollum. He was a miserable wreck. Blood had long since ceased flowing but, even in the darkness, Sam could see the forming puss of infection. The creature's eye was closed and seeping a clear liquid. Sam's fingers slid for The Ring. Gollum attacked then.
Sam was knocked down in a fury of claws and teeth. Gollum was all over him, clinging, tearing, and trying to reach for the hobbit's pocket. Sam kicked out violently and freed himself. His sword slashed out blindly, cut into something, then jerked free. He scrambled to his feet, trying to reach the crack but was thrown against the stone wall. Sam could feel gashes open on the back of his head and neck. Tears came to his eyes at the pain. He rolled clear and came to his feet, Gollum circling close behind. He tried to run but gnarled hands clutched roughly at him and held him in place.
The Ring was searing his lower abdomen like fire.
Burdened by the weight of the creature, and his failing strength, Sam began to fall. He knew all too well that if he fell he would not be able to get back up. He fought hard but was only gashed open on the shoulder and at the side of his belly. All reason fled from his mind and fear soon gave way to rage. Gollum was gnashing wildly at him, claws and teeth ripping, putrid breath against his skin. His hand plunged into his pocket and The Ring was inserted over his finger. There was an explosion of light and Gollum fell back hissing. Sam was free again. He threw his head back as power he had never felt before erupted inside of him, harsh and exhilarating. He was transformed and his fears of what he would become under The Ring's influence vanished. For a moment in time it made no difference to him who he was, the events that unfolded the last few days, or the reason why he had ventured here. The power was all that mattered to him now and the urge to display it was overwhelming. He stood and gazed down at the wretched creature. The light was swirling around him like a protective shield and Gollum tried to block his eyes from the intensity. Sam realized his purpose while glaring down at the creature.
He turned the force of the power on Gollum. The creature screamed in agony as the light swarmed over him, slowly roasting him alive. The light dissipated and all that remained of the creature was a pile of crisp bones and ash. He stood in awe of the power. Visions streamed over his mind, promising him wealth, leadership, happiness, and for a moment he was taken in by the dazzling sight. Other visions seeped in, weaker, almost drowned out completely by the stronger one. It was of Frodo, lying on the ground, wordlessly begging him. He suddenly understood. He closed his free hand over The Ring, and momentarily the visions ceased. The exhilaration of power left him, draining out in an instant. Weariness overtook him and felt ashamed. He had allowed The Ring to claim him, to snare him for its own purpose, to destroy his will to withstand its lure, to blacken the very root of his soul. He staggered, stepping over the ashes of Gollum, and entered the small opening. With tears streaming down his cheeks he made his way to the crack. As he walked it suddenly dawned on him. Even though he was wearing The Ring he was no longer invisible. A sob rose in his throat. The Ring really had claimed him.
He stood at the edge of the crack, staring into the spitting fire. Blood was spurting from almost every corner of his body and his head throbbed painfully. Placing his hand over the back of his head he found a gapping wound, deep enough that he could stick his finger in to almost touch bone. He was a mess; there was no denying it.
'What am I to do?' he sadly pondered. 'Even if I throw The Ring in there is no way I will ever reach Barad-dur again.' Tears formed and he choked. 'I am sorry, master, but it looks as if I will not be able to provide you with a decent burial. I hope you can forgive your Sam. I do not even know what I am going to do with myself.'
He continued to stare down at the fire when he heard a loud clink from behind. Spinning around he found the cave infested with orcs. He recognized the leader from the previous encounter.
"You, stand still!" the leader snapped. "Thought you could give us the slip, eh? Well, you should have thought better of us. We have our methods of tracking. Of course, your bleeding wounds helped quicken the pace. We probably never would have found you in time if it weren't for that. Now, be a good little hobbit and turn yourself over without a fight. I promise that me and my troop won't harm you. We have orders you know. Oh, and hand over whatever it is that you're carrying."
Sam glared at him and then back at the flames.
"Not a very good listener is he?" an orc growled. "Perhaps we should teach him a lesson in respect, eh?"
The Ring was burning Sam's hand. Tears streamed down as he fought the urge but he in the end he lost. The light was forming around him again and turned it toward the orcs. Instead of burning like Gollum, they blew into tiny bits. In mere seconds, they fell dead in a tangled bloody heap while some of their parts went spattering all over the walls. A few remained alive, without limbs, slowly bleeding to death, but all eventually wound up dead. Sam cried and shook his head at grotesque sight. He wanted no part in this type of power. He moved back to the crack and closed his eyes. Slowly he turned himself around so he was facing the entrance and not the lava below. A smile formed on his face at impending freedom; freedom of pain, freedom of sadness. He looked forward to it.
He was still smiling when he allowed himself to fall back. His body traveled fast into the crack and he could feel the heat beginning to gnaw at his flesh.
"I just wish things could have ended differently," Sam said out loud, traveling closer to the lava. "I wish Mr. Frodo and I could have departed together and in peace. No pain. Just peaceful."
A single tear streamed down but quickly evaporated in the intense heat. He felt himself burn for a moment and then there was no more pain.
More to follow.