Author's Note: Thanks again to all who reviewed (hint, hint)! These characters do not belong to me…yet! Muahahaha! *Clears throat* Anyways…This is my fourth LOTR story! Yay! So, Please review!!! And if you read any of my other stories, please review them too! I always welcome suggestions!

Random song line of the chapter:

Can you help me, does anybody hear me, can they even see me…This is my reality…

Chapter Three: Screams in the Night

Sam ran to the kitchen and grabbed a glass. He then went down to the cellar where Frodo kept his water. As he filled up the glass, confused, guilt-ridden thoughts raced through his mind.

Why did I come alone? Why didn't I come earlier? How could I get so wrapped up in Rosie that I forgot about my best friend? HOW could I forget him?

Sam knew that these thoughts weren't helping Frodo, so he hurried back up the steps towards his friend.

He got into Frodo's bedroom. Frodo was still unconscious, and was hardly moving…Sam guessed that was a blessing. He cupped Frodo's head in one hand, and put the glass of water up to his lips. He carefully poured water down Frodo's throat, careful not to dribble or give Frodo too much, lest he begin to choke.

Frodo's eyes fluttered open once, but they seemed more at peace…they seemed to recognize Sam now. That was a relief.

Frodo weakly sipped the water, then seemed to regard Sam gratefully. His eyelids fluttered, and he went to sleep.

~*~*~*~

Sam sat by Frodo's bed for a while, making sure he didn't wake up. He finally got up, meaning to walk calmly out of Bag-End, but found himself running to where Merry and Pippin were.

He got there and began to pound on the door.

"Go away! It's like 2:00 in the morning!" Came Merry's voice.

"MERRY! OPEN UP! THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH FRODO!" Sam screamed.

There was a shuffling and thumping from behind the door, and it swung open to reveal a puffy-eyed Merry.

"Oy! Pip! GET OUT HERE, NOW!" cried Merry over his shoulder. Pippin was saying in Merry's Hobbit-Hole for Sam's party.

"Wha?" He asked, stumbling out.

Merry and Sam didn't even bother to answer him, merely grabbed him and half-dragged him to Bag-End.

~*~*~*~

Frodo was still lying unconscious when they burst back into his bedroom.

"By Elbereth, what happened here?" asked Pippin, staring around at the ruins of the room.

"I don't know…what about Frodo?" asked Sam in return, resting his hand against Frodo's sweaty brow.

Pippin moved over and brushed his hands through Frodo's hair.

Frodo's eyes opened suddenly, wild and crazed looking. He stared around at them, and any recognition that had been there before was gone. He opened his mouth, and screamed.

~*~*~*~

Frodo had been sleeping peacefully (or as peacefully as he could, considering the degree of fever he had) when Pippin's voice disturbed his dreams. Not wanting to be rude to his guests, he opened his eyes to greet his friend.

When he opened his eyes, he saw that he was surrounded by three Orcs!

His heart froze, and he began to scream for Sam.

~*~*~*~

At first they couldn't understand what Frodo was screaming, but eventually they understood.

"SAM! SAAAM! ORCS!" Frodo screamed, thrashing in his bed.

"I'm right here, Mr. Frodo!" cried Sam, grabbing Frodo and forcing him into a hug. He was shocked at how hot Frodo's body was…he was absolutely burning with fever. He was also very thin…much thinner then he had thought or expected.

Frodo continued to thrash, but weaker now. Finally he stopped, and lay gasping against Sam's chest, crying slightly. Sam held him and cooed quietly, not looking at Merry or Pippin, both of whom were wide-eyed with shock at Frodo's condition.

"What'll we do? He's obviously bad off…" Pippin finally said quietly.

"We have to get him to Rivendell. Or find Gandalf…he'll know what to do." Replied Sam quietly.

Author's Note: Hope this chapter was okay, tell me what you think! Sorry it was so short. Please review!!!