Disclaimer: Why don't I own Lord of the Rings? *sigh* Well, until maybe the
Tolkien family takes pity on me, I do not own any of the characters or
places mentioned in this story. Please don't sue me! I know I am cruel to
them but I swear I will try to save them. Hope you enjoy!
Tortoro the Mosus Slayer: I'm finishing it slowly! So happy you like it.
Avie Kokyre: Mez and Pips will have their glory, never fear. Hehe- do I torture Legolas or what?
~ Chapter Seven ~
Sam woke in the middle of the night. There were tears on his cheeks. He sat up and put his head in his hands. Aragorn was keeping vigil and turned at the sound of gentle weeping.
"Sam," he said gently, walking across, "I really cannot say anything that will ease your pain. What do you want to hear?"
Sam sniffed. "That Mister Frodo is safe and well. I want to hear that he is coming up that hole right now with Master Legolas and that we can go home to the Shire."
Aragorn bent down and put his hand to the hobbit's cheek. He gazed into the bleary brown eyes and wished he could take all that worry away. He wished that Sam could go home with Frodo. All he wanted was to this to be over and done with. But he had long ago learnt that wishes never come true. Not unless you help them grow.
"We will wait for news," he said firmly.
"But there's is nothing I can do to help my master!" Sam cried. His voice grew quieter. "And Gandalf told me I was to look after him." He buried his head in his hands again. Aragorn lifted his chin up.
"There is something you can do for Frodo, Sam. We do not know what has happened to him and he might be in danger. He needs you to be strong for him now. You know that he would not want you to weep for him. Be strong for your master, Samwise."
Frodo put a hand to his throat and caught his breath. It was true! The Ring had slipped off when he ran. A pang of fear went through him. He couldn't let them have it! He would not! In a burst of courage, he leapt out into the corridor and grabbed the Ring tight in his fist. For a moment he stood stone still, looking at the two startled orcs before him. Then he turned and ran.
"Yaar! Chase 'im, Ishtû! Catch 'im! It must be one of 'em halflings!"
Frodo swung round the corner and back down the main path. His breath came raggedly in his throat. He glanced over his shoulder to see the orcs pursuing him. With a cry of frustration he flew down to the next level.
Legolas could hear footsteps ringing out far ahead. Distantly but he was sure of them.
"Frodo?" he called uncertainly.
The hobbit heard his name. He felt a swell of hope. His legs were aching now and his wounds throbbing. The green light from the torches behind him were drawing closer with each bound. His name was shouted again- closer this time.
"Legolas?" he cried out hopefully.
Legolas ran harder. Frodo was there! He had finally found him!
"Frodo! Frodo, I'm coming!" he yelled.
Frodo heard the elf's light footfalls.
Legolas heard the hobbit's steady pace approach.
They met at a corner, crashing into each other. Legolas brought Frodo close to him.
"I found you at last! Frodo, I was afraid for you. Are you hurt? Are you wounded? Is there-"
"Legolas!" Frodo was sobbing. He seemed to be fighting some inner turmoil. The orcs were stuck on the upper level but he could hear them coming closer. He yanked across his companion's hand and pressed the chain and Ring into his palm. "Go! You must go now!" he shouted. Legolas could not take in what the hobbit was raving about. He opened his mouth, trying to take Frodo by the hand, try to lead him back to the tunnel but he was pushed away. Frodo shook his head desperately. "I'll- I'll catch you up," he tried, "Now leave!" The elf nodded dumbly, walking slowly backwards.
"I do not understand, Frodo. But I trust you," he said. And then he was gone. Frodo brushed a hand over his eyes and made to dart into another passage. He had to distract the orcs from Legolas. But just as his face passed into the shadow, he felt two heavy claws dig into his shoulder. He cried out in agony. The orc guards flung him to the floor. Frodo gave himself up to the pain and exhaustion and let himself fade away.
Legolas was running though his mind was telling him to go back. The Ring was a truly heavy burden. He heard a cry go up behind him. Frodo was in danger. What had happened? The elf forced himself to turn back around. 'I'm coming Frodo,' he thought, 'I will not lose you again.' But all was suddenly very quiet. And when he reached the spot where he and Frodo had met, the place was empty. Not a sound or sight anywhere. Legolas opened his hand and looked at the Ring sitting innocently in his palm. And he knew. In his heart and mind, he knew that the Ring had betrayed Frodo.
Tortoro the Mosus Slayer: I'm finishing it slowly! So happy you like it.
Avie Kokyre: Mez and Pips will have their glory, never fear. Hehe- do I torture Legolas or what?
~ Chapter Seven ~
Sam woke in the middle of the night. There were tears on his cheeks. He sat up and put his head in his hands. Aragorn was keeping vigil and turned at the sound of gentle weeping.
"Sam," he said gently, walking across, "I really cannot say anything that will ease your pain. What do you want to hear?"
Sam sniffed. "That Mister Frodo is safe and well. I want to hear that he is coming up that hole right now with Master Legolas and that we can go home to the Shire."
Aragorn bent down and put his hand to the hobbit's cheek. He gazed into the bleary brown eyes and wished he could take all that worry away. He wished that Sam could go home with Frodo. All he wanted was to this to be over and done with. But he had long ago learnt that wishes never come true. Not unless you help them grow.
"We will wait for news," he said firmly.
"But there's is nothing I can do to help my master!" Sam cried. His voice grew quieter. "And Gandalf told me I was to look after him." He buried his head in his hands again. Aragorn lifted his chin up.
"There is something you can do for Frodo, Sam. We do not know what has happened to him and he might be in danger. He needs you to be strong for him now. You know that he would not want you to weep for him. Be strong for your master, Samwise."
Frodo put a hand to his throat and caught his breath. It was true! The Ring had slipped off when he ran. A pang of fear went through him. He couldn't let them have it! He would not! In a burst of courage, he leapt out into the corridor and grabbed the Ring tight in his fist. For a moment he stood stone still, looking at the two startled orcs before him. Then he turned and ran.
"Yaar! Chase 'im, Ishtû! Catch 'im! It must be one of 'em halflings!"
Frodo swung round the corner and back down the main path. His breath came raggedly in his throat. He glanced over his shoulder to see the orcs pursuing him. With a cry of frustration he flew down to the next level.
Legolas could hear footsteps ringing out far ahead. Distantly but he was sure of them.
"Frodo?" he called uncertainly.
The hobbit heard his name. He felt a swell of hope. His legs were aching now and his wounds throbbing. The green light from the torches behind him were drawing closer with each bound. His name was shouted again- closer this time.
"Legolas?" he cried out hopefully.
Legolas ran harder. Frodo was there! He had finally found him!
"Frodo! Frodo, I'm coming!" he yelled.
Frodo heard the elf's light footfalls.
Legolas heard the hobbit's steady pace approach.
They met at a corner, crashing into each other. Legolas brought Frodo close to him.
"I found you at last! Frodo, I was afraid for you. Are you hurt? Are you wounded? Is there-"
"Legolas!" Frodo was sobbing. He seemed to be fighting some inner turmoil. The orcs were stuck on the upper level but he could hear them coming closer. He yanked across his companion's hand and pressed the chain and Ring into his palm. "Go! You must go now!" he shouted. Legolas could not take in what the hobbit was raving about. He opened his mouth, trying to take Frodo by the hand, try to lead him back to the tunnel but he was pushed away. Frodo shook his head desperately. "I'll- I'll catch you up," he tried, "Now leave!" The elf nodded dumbly, walking slowly backwards.
"I do not understand, Frodo. But I trust you," he said. And then he was gone. Frodo brushed a hand over his eyes and made to dart into another passage. He had to distract the orcs from Legolas. But just as his face passed into the shadow, he felt two heavy claws dig into his shoulder. He cried out in agony. The orc guards flung him to the floor. Frodo gave himself up to the pain and exhaustion and let himself fade away.
Legolas was running though his mind was telling him to go back. The Ring was a truly heavy burden. He heard a cry go up behind him. Frodo was in danger. What had happened? The elf forced himself to turn back around. 'I'm coming Frodo,' he thought, 'I will not lose you again.' But all was suddenly very quiet. And when he reached the spot where he and Frodo had met, the place was empty. Not a sound or sight anywhere. Legolas opened his hand and looked at the Ring sitting innocently in his palm. And he knew. In his heart and mind, he knew that the Ring had betrayed Frodo.