Awareness


From Gwahirís back Gandalf looked worriedly from one hobbit to the next trying to detect any signs that either one was still alive as the Eagles lifted them from the rock. His heart skipped a beat when he thought he saw Frodo stir. But Gandalf allowed himself no joy at this. The movement was so slight that it may simply been caused by the eagles wings.


Frodo felt himself being lifted up. He thought to himself, "this is it then, I have died and my spirit is leaving Middle Earth". But as the air around him cooled and the toxic black smoke gave way to fresh clean air, Frodo knew that he was still alive and was somehow being carried away from Mordor.


Just then a single word entered Frodoís mind. Sam. Frodo tried to look around. He had to know if Sam had survived. But Frodo was too weak and in too much pain to lift his head. His throat was dry and scratchy as sandpaper, his arms and legs felt like they were on fire and every breath he took was like the stab of a knife. As darkness once again built around Frodo one work escaped his lips, "Sam", and he welcomed the numbing blankness of unconsciousness.


Sam found himself lost in a dream. He was flying through blue summer skys. Below him was his home, the Shire. he could see the green hills and deep blue lakes and rivers. He espied his house at #3 Bagshot Row. His gaffer was in the garden as usual tending his beloved flowers and vegetables. White fluffy clouds floated by as Sam drifted along. Suddenly Sam became aware that they werenít clouds but thick black smoke and the land passing below him was not the green hills of the Shire but the charred wastelands of Mordor. Sams mind screamed in agony and a searing pain shot through his body. Then, there was nothing.


Back in Ithilien, Aragorn had sent scouts out to watch the sky for any signs of Gandalf and the eagles. Aragorn was growing anxious, he felt that time may be growing short.