Frodo woke from an uneasy slumber. When had he dozed off? He looked down at
the ring clasped tightly in his hand as if he were afraid someone would
steal it, or it would somehow disappear. His fingers gently stroked the
cool metal and ran along the silver chain. He cocked his head and gazed at
it sleepily. The faded light of the Mordor sun reflected like fire off of
the golden band and as he played with it it shot small beams of red light
in his eyes, blinding him. He smiled at it and he could no longer hear
himself thinking, no longer hear the voice of reason in his head, the voice
of Frodo Baggins. It was calming in a way, to be able to be so amused and
get so lost in the simplicity of light and gold flickering innocently in
his hand. His fingers ran along the outer surface. It was smooth and cool
and almost tantalizing. It drew him in, deeper, deeper. Like water
surrounding him, pulling him down, down into the deep. He rolled his head
about trying to catch a glimpse of the light at different angles. Slowly,
fluidly, his head moved about his neck, craning left, right, down, down
into the deep. For a while he heard nothing and the silence burned his
ears. His finger slowly rolled about the inside dangerously close, almost
through it. It was like dancing upon a cliff and at the end was a sheer
plummet into darkness. But with the danger came a thrilling sensation, like
adrenaline pumping through your veins. Dancing with death. Dancing with
doom and evil and danger and coming so close you could taste it, feel it,
reach out and touch it. And then pull back right when your heart jumps and
almost stops completely in fear of falling. And so his finger danced along
the edge, closer, closer to filling the empty circle with his flesh.
Closer, closer still and then back around again to feel the outer surface
of gold. He smiled and laughed deliriously.
"It's a game- precious- just a game-" He muttered between stifled laughs.
His finger ran along the surface and he watched the ring flicker and glint, the red light blinding his eyes. There was nothing in his head, nothing going on in his mind, just blank darkness and it felt so good! So good not to feel fear and pain and anguish! So good not to wonder what would happen next, if the next step would be his last, what would happen if he should fail. So good not to think about the danger just feel it grow closer and closer and not have to care. There were no more innocent lives hanging in the balance, no more beloved friends trusting in him to do this task! This terrible, heart-wrenching, mind-tearing task! Why him? What had he done to deserve all of this pain? This terrible burden? Why did they ask him to do it? No! They weren't friends! If they cared at all about him they would have never asked him to do this task! They would have never let him bear this burden!
"It's not fair, is it?" He said to the Ring, "You and I have a lot in common." He held it up on the tip of his finger, dangerously close, but not through it yet. He held it almost carelessly as Tom Bombadil had. "No one wants us. It's as if they want us both destroyed now isn't it. For that's what will happen to me when- if! I destroy you. Oh yes now, there's still a chance, do not be frightened. You must always- always-" He thought for a moment. What was it he was saying? His mind wandered. He looked back at the Ring.
"Eh? What was it I was saying now? Oh yes! Don't give up hope. You've still got a chance, you know, I haven't destroyed you yet. Oh! And I'm terribly sorry about it! I really feel terrible!"
"We are so alike. Just look you are empty. So empty. Just an empty space in you that needs to be filled. Craves to be filled." He rolled the ring about on his finger. "And I as well. There is emptiness inside of me. I could fill yours. Yes, easily I could fill yours. And I would. And I will. But could you fill mine?"
The Ring only flickered in response. The red light danced in Frodo's vision and he rolled his head about his neck again and smirked. "There now, do not be so sad. Why don't you talk to me?" He wondered why there was no soothing voice in his head, numbing his mind. But it didn't matter, it felt numb as it was, as if the poison would never leave now. Oh, he wished it so! "I hope it never leaves," he said, "I don't want to go back-" he glanced around almost feeling the poison wearing off again, "No! I don't want to be him any more! Frodo's gone! Gone I say! He felt pain! I don't want to be him!" he cried frantically feeling his mind start to come back. "Talk to me! Tell me what I want to hear! Promise me! Promise me!"
*Promise you what, Frodo?*
Frodo sighed and slunk back into his mindless stupor. "Ah, yes- that's it precious-"
*So you need me now, don't you?*
"Yes- precious-"
*Ah yes so it seems. But do you know, Frodo?*
"What?" Frodo smiled lolling his head back and forth as if listening to a hypnotizing melody.
*I need you too.*
"You do?"
*Yes. I need you to do something for me. Would you do something for me, Frodo?*
"Oh yes- precious- anything-"
*Fill my emptiness. And I promise I will fill yours.*
"I will! I will! Will you promise me?"
*I promise you peace of body and mind. Would you like that, Frodo?*
"Yes- Frodo would like that-" Frodo leaned back toying with the Ring, a wicked, naïve smile curled on his lips.
*I promise you light and a new day. Would you like that, Frodo?*
"Oh yes- he would- very much- precious- Frodo would-" Frodo nodded, blinking slowly.
*I promise you safety and power. Would you like power, Frodo?*
Frodo just smiled and lolled his head as if being put in a trance by a captivating melody ringing in his ears.
*Would you?*
Frodo thought for a moment, "Yes- safety- power-"
But somewhere deep inside Frodo's mind a voice whispered like the frail murmurs of a dying wind, "No! Please Elbereth No!" But whatever it was it was unheeded.
*I promise you no more pain. No more suffering.*
"No more pain for Frodo- and-" Frodo trailed off not sure where to go from there.
*No more pain for anyone. Not Frodo. Not Sam. Not Bilbo or Pippin or Merry or Strider or any other. Just peace. Are these the things Frodo wants? Are these the things Frodo desires?*
"These are the things Frodo wants- Frodo would be pleased-" nodded the hobbit as he slowly drifted into a madness there was no escape from. Falling into a dark pit and no matter how much his true identity clawed and cried and begged there was no escape.
~~~
And this was true. As the hobbit spoke with the soothing voice of the Ring, the real Frodo drifted slowly down into the darkness. He could feel a part of his mind standing on the edge of darkness and as he heard the words spoken he cried out and put his hands to his ears. There was a shake and rumble as the ground gave way under his feet and he fell. He fell and he fell and he fell always the words echoing in his tormented ears. He saw it all. He heard it all and now he could do nothing about it. He saw the insanity grab him. He saw it laugh and heard it speak and heard all the words of the Ring and everything drove him deeper deeper into the blackness. He knew that Sam still needed him. He knew that the world still needed him. And yet he fell. His cries echoed throughout his cell as he hit the ground hard. As quickly as he could he scrambled to his feet and jumped up and down frantically.
"Stop it! Stop it! Oh help! Someone help me! He's gone mad! Mad! I can't stop him!"
He heard. He saw. The Ring came closer, closer. Slowly it would slip around his finger and all would be lost!
"Oh no! Don't! Be gone whoever you are! Return to me my will! That is not me! That is not me!"
He jumped and clawed at the walls till his nails were gritted down and blood stained his prison. His skin tore at the merciless walls and his fingers were slowly worn down. But he did not notice the pain. He knew he had to get out! He had to stop this!
"Demon imposter!" Frodo cried out to the insanity that gripped him, "I would fight you till the end and all of me were destroyed! I would tear at you with no weapon but my own bloodied fingers! If you tore off my arms and legs I would bite you until I could not any more! I would fight till the very end! But this is true torture! To let me live unscathed by you and only bloodied by my own attempts in escape and know! Oh to know what you have done!" Frodo fell to the ground putting his bloody hands to his face and wept.
"Sam! Oh Sam it's up to you now! I can do nothing but watch! Pull me back! Pull me back! So that I may fight!"
~~~
Back in reality Frodo snickered as if amused by the wails and torments of the sanity inside of him. The Ring laughed as well cold and cruel and wicked as venom and now the moment had come and the Ring would win and Frodo, the real Frodo wept in despair.
*You cannot fight any more, Frodo.*
"No- cannot fight-" and there was a terrible laughing and echoed and rang and seethed Frodo's ears as he lay in the darkest confines of his own mind. It pierced him and terrified him. The true sound of corruption and insanity embodied in that terrible laughter and behind it rang the bitter venom of the Ring.
But in that moment, as hope was at its last, the laughter was suddenly cut off by some terrible commotion behind him that made Frodo's body cringe and the monster that took him wail. The sane Frodo looked up, hope gleaming in his eyes and the demon imposter raged. He felt himself being dragged back to reality and he fought it tooth and nail. "No no no!!!" The monster screamed frantically gripping to whatever would hold him in his euphoria. But he felt the poison draining and what it left made Frodo fall to the ground and writhe in torment. His fist gripped around the Ring until his knuckles turned white and he could almost feel it burning into his skin. His back arched and he grit his teeth, his other hand clawing at the ground and scratching at the dirt and stone. His body convulsed as he felt strength and pleasure draining from him leaving behind pain, anguish, terror, doom, shame, guilt, fear, death, despair, dread, panic, misery, disgrace, suffering, torment, torture! Knowledge of what he had done! What he was about to do flooded him and filled him with shame and dishonour. He pleaded to die! He pleaded for it to end! And as his body calmed and he lay on the ground weeping the sound returned to his ears again.
It was a terrible hacking and a dry scratch followed by a gurgle and sputtering. Frodo spun around, his sweat soaked curls flinging in front of his eyes. But through them he saw Sam sitting upright and coughing terribly. The sound hurt Frodo's ears and made his heart shatter. The bitter tears he was crying were replaced by an ocean of pity and overwhelming rains of love and terror for his friend. And these tears quickly washed over the ones of self-pity that stained and tainted his cheeks. He smeared those away with disgust. As quick as he could muster strength and will he darted to Sam's side tripping and stumbling.
Frodo gripped Sam's trembling, heaving shoulders as the bout of coughing continued and he leaned forward and retched. Frodo's eyes widened with horror and dread at what he saw. A wave of blood spurted from Sam's mouth and leaked down his chin. When the coughing had stopped Sam's body fell limp in Frodo's grasp. Quickly Frodo lifted him to see his face and saw the blood all along his lips and chin and neck. His body jerked feebly in small coughs for it was all the energy he could muster to relieve himself of all the blood he had swallowed from his raw throat. Sam's lips were parted partially and a tiny pool of blood was gurgling in his mouth. Frodo leaned him forward again and let Sam cough it out.
When he brought him back to a sitting position and leaned his body into an embrace, Frodo wept and buried his face in Sam's curls. Slowly he felt breath return to Sam as his body moved shakily up and down with each painful gasp of air. Frodo just sobbed into Sam's curls finally falling into despair. He would have stayed like that until he died for there was no more hope, but then he heard a slight, weak whimper and Sam's body twitched feebly. Frodo leaned Sam's head back to look at him and he was met by wide, frightened brown eyes.
"Sam? Oh Sam! Thank Elbereth Sam!" Frodo wrapped his arms tighter around Sam but he heard a cry emit from the younger Hobbit's throat and withdrew. He was met by the same terrified gaze. "Sam? Don't you know me?" Sam just whimpered and squeezed his eyes shut as if expecting certain death.
Frodo's arms slipped from holding Sam and let him rest in his lap. "Sam?" he said softly, "It's your master. No- no it's your friend. I'm your friend, Sam. It's me."
Sam saw the opportunity to try and get away. His captor had released his grasp, why he did not know. He heard his captor say something in a quiet and sorrowful voice but Sam just shook his head and tried to inch away. He twitched and his body hit the floor emitting a small cry from him. He backed away as best he could, slinking along the ground, shaking his head, and always keeping his eyes on his weeping captor.
Frodo held out his hand but could not quell the gasping sobs, "Oh Sam it's me! I wouldn't hurt you!"
Sam felt his back hit the wall and he squirmed for some means of escape. He looked up and around and cried out when he saw no way out. He shook his head and clenched his eyes shut expecting his captor to be infuriated and charge at him. Probably grab him by the hair and lift him reveling in his cries of pain. Probably whip out a sword and slowly cut him open. He tried to lift his hand and it came to his mouth. Blood! He cried out again.
"Sam," Frodo wept trying to come closer to him but not frighten the confused Hobbit. "Come now, Sam dear, I'll never hurt you."
"P- please-" Sam managed to croak and the sound of his weak and parched voice made Frodo's heart twist in agony. "P- please- d- don'- k- kill- m- me-"
Frodo fell to his knees again, "Oh Sam! I'd never! Never, never!"
"W- where- s' Fr-" Sam gurgled and coughed up another spurt of blood, "-odo- "
"It's me, Sam! I'm Frodo!" And with those words Frodo felt something in him shatter. The wires pulled again tighter, tighter! And oh the pain! Frodo saw a white flash as hot pain took him and he faltered. i Frodo! Frodo! I'm Frodo!i Frodo fell back and blinked a few times before Sam came back into focus. He tried to stay his racing mind. He stuttered. "It's- it's Frodo, Sam- Frodo!"
Sam looked about him, confused and frightened. Frodo made his way towards Sam almost blinded by his tears. He fell to his knees at his friend's side. His trembling hands ran along Sam's cheek and blood stained his fingers. Sam winced and gave a muffled cry. "Shh, Sam. Be calm. I won't hurt you. Your iFrodoi won't hurt you."
"B-but your n-not-"
Frodo's lip began to tremble and Sam stared up at him as if trying to come to a decision. "No," Frodo whispered almost to himself, "Maybe. I'm not. maybe it's all for naught. that I truly am dead. but I've got to cling to hope. hold on just a little longer. if I can just hold onto iFrodoi maybe. just maybe he can come back."
Sam's eyes searched Frodo's face but Frodo did not pay him heed any more. He walked over to where he left the flask and returned to a confused Sam. Calmly he went about his ministrations. First, dipping the piece of cloth in the water and wrapping it around Sam's forehead again. Then he dipped his own sleeve in and dabbed at Sam's chin to rid him of the blood. Then he put the canteen to Sam's lips and reluctantly he drank, his eyes never leaving Frodo's face.
"What does tomorrow bring, I wonder," said Frodo flatly, almost as if there was no emotion left in him at all.
Sam made to speak but Frodo silenced him. "Please, it will only make your throat worse." Sam shut his mouth and gazed at Frodo silently. After putting the canteen away he returned to Sam's side. He knelt gingerly and brushed Sam's curls out of his face.
"Rest now. Shall I sing to you? I suppose my voice may sound horrid now. It's been so long since I sang, and I'm afraid there are no songs I can remember. Just one. You sang it in Cirith Ungol. It's all I can remember. Do you remember?" Frodo looked down at Sam. His voice had been soft and just as emotionless and flat which frightened Sam more. Sam did not nod or shake his head, he only kept his frightened gaze on the older Hobbit.
In western lands beneath the Sun
The flowers may rise in Spring,
The trees may bud, the waters run,
The merry finches sing.
Or there maybe 'tis cloudless night
And swaying beeches bear
The Elven-stars as jewels white
Amid their branching hair.
Though here at journey's end I lie
In darkness buried deep,
Beyond all towers strong and high,
Beyond all mountains steep,
Above all shadows rides the Sun
And Stars forever dwell;
I will not say the Day is done,
Nor bid the Stars farewell.
When Frodo looked down and saw Sam's eyelids drooping sleepily. He ran his hand along Sam's hair and made a low click in his throat to sooth him. Sam struggled to stay awake a bit longer but finally succumbed to sleep. His last words were weak and soft and Frodo had to strain to hear them.
"W- will- I see- Mis- 'ister- Fr- 'odo- again?"
Frodo felt the tears fall down his already drenched cheeks. "You may yet, Sam. You may."
As Sam drifted into slumber insanity and hope waged war inside Frodo's small body and he fell to the ground in torment and despair. All he could do now was watch and hope and weep for he knew all was lost.
.And here at journey's end I lie.
"It's a game- precious- just a game-" He muttered between stifled laughs.
His finger ran along the surface and he watched the ring flicker and glint, the red light blinding his eyes. There was nothing in his head, nothing going on in his mind, just blank darkness and it felt so good! So good not to feel fear and pain and anguish! So good not to wonder what would happen next, if the next step would be his last, what would happen if he should fail. So good not to think about the danger just feel it grow closer and closer and not have to care. There were no more innocent lives hanging in the balance, no more beloved friends trusting in him to do this task! This terrible, heart-wrenching, mind-tearing task! Why him? What had he done to deserve all of this pain? This terrible burden? Why did they ask him to do it? No! They weren't friends! If they cared at all about him they would have never asked him to do this task! They would have never let him bear this burden!
"It's not fair, is it?" He said to the Ring, "You and I have a lot in common." He held it up on the tip of his finger, dangerously close, but not through it yet. He held it almost carelessly as Tom Bombadil had. "No one wants us. It's as if they want us both destroyed now isn't it. For that's what will happen to me when- if! I destroy you. Oh yes now, there's still a chance, do not be frightened. You must always- always-" He thought for a moment. What was it he was saying? His mind wandered. He looked back at the Ring.
"Eh? What was it I was saying now? Oh yes! Don't give up hope. You've still got a chance, you know, I haven't destroyed you yet. Oh! And I'm terribly sorry about it! I really feel terrible!"
"We are so alike. Just look you are empty. So empty. Just an empty space in you that needs to be filled. Craves to be filled." He rolled the ring about on his finger. "And I as well. There is emptiness inside of me. I could fill yours. Yes, easily I could fill yours. And I would. And I will. But could you fill mine?"
The Ring only flickered in response. The red light danced in Frodo's vision and he rolled his head about his neck again and smirked. "There now, do not be so sad. Why don't you talk to me?" He wondered why there was no soothing voice in his head, numbing his mind. But it didn't matter, it felt numb as it was, as if the poison would never leave now. Oh, he wished it so! "I hope it never leaves," he said, "I don't want to go back-" he glanced around almost feeling the poison wearing off again, "No! I don't want to be him any more! Frodo's gone! Gone I say! He felt pain! I don't want to be him!" he cried frantically feeling his mind start to come back. "Talk to me! Tell me what I want to hear! Promise me! Promise me!"
*Promise you what, Frodo?*
Frodo sighed and slunk back into his mindless stupor. "Ah, yes- that's it precious-"
*So you need me now, don't you?*
"Yes- precious-"
*Ah yes so it seems. But do you know, Frodo?*
"What?" Frodo smiled lolling his head back and forth as if listening to a hypnotizing melody.
*I need you too.*
"You do?"
*Yes. I need you to do something for me. Would you do something for me, Frodo?*
"Oh yes- precious- anything-"
*Fill my emptiness. And I promise I will fill yours.*
"I will! I will! Will you promise me?"
*I promise you peace of body and mind. Would you like that, Frodo?*
"Yes- Frodo would like that-" Frodo leaned back toying with the Ring, a wicked, naïve smile curled on his lips.
*I promise you light and a new day. Would you like that, Frodo?*
"Oh yes- he would- very much- precious- Frodo would-" Frodo nodded, blinking slowly.
*I promise you safety and power. Would you like power, Frodo?*
Frodo just smiled and lolled his head as if being put in a trance by a captivating melody ringing in his ears.
*Would you?*
Frodo thought for a moment, "Yes- safety- power-"
But somewhere deep inside Frodo's mind a voice whispered like the frail murmurs of a dying wind, "No! Please Elbereth No!" But whatever it was it was unheeded.
*I promise you no more pain. No more suffering.*
"No more pain for Frodo- and-" Frodo trailed off not sure where to go from there.
*No more pain for anyone. Not Frodo. Not Sam. Not Bilbo or Pippin or Merry or Strider or any other. Just peace. Are these the things Frodo wants? Are these the things Frodo desires?*
"These are the things Frodo wants- Frodo would be pleased-" nodded the hobbit as he slowly drifted into a madness there was no escape from. Falling into a dark pit and no matter how much his true identity clawed and cried and begged there was no escape.
~~~
And this was true. As the hobbit spoke with the soothing voice of the Ring, the real Frodo drifted slowly down into the darkness. He could feel a part of his mind standing on the edge of darkness and as he heard the words spoken he cried out and put his hands to his ears. There was a shake and rumble as the ground gave way under his feet and he fell. He fell and he fell and he fell always the words echoing in his tormented ears. He saw it all. He heard it all and now he could do nothing about it. He saw the insanity grab him. He saw it laugh and heard it speak and heard all the words of the Ring and everything drove him deeper deeper into the blackness. He knew that Sam still needed him. He knew that the world still needed him. And yet he fell. His cries echoed throughout his cell as he hit the ground hard. As quickly as he could he scrambled to his feet and jumped up and down frantically.
"Stop it! Stop it! Oh help! Someone help me! He's gone mad! Mad! I can't stop him!"
He heard. He saw. The Ring came closer, closer. Slowly it would slip around his finger and all would be lost!
"Oh no! Don't! Be gone whoever you are! Return to me my will! That is not me! That is not me!"
He jumped and clawed at the walls till his nails were gritted down and blood stained his prison. His skin tore at the merciless walls and his fingers were slowly worn down. But he did not notice the pain. He knew he had to get out! He had to stop this!
"Demon imposter!" Frodo cried out to the insanity that gripped him, "I would fight you till the end and all of me were destroyed! I would tear at you with no weapon but my own bloodied fingers! If you tore off my arms and legs I would bite you until I could not any more! I would fight till the very end! But this is true torture! To let me live unscathed by you and only bloodied by my own attempts in escape and know! Oh to know what you have done!" Frodo fell to the ground putting his bloody hands to his face and wept.
"Sam! Oh Sam it's up to you now! I can do nothing but watch! Pull me back! Pull me back! So that I may fight!"
~~~
Back in reality Frodo snickered as if amused by the wails and torments of the sanity inside of him. The Ring laughed as well cold and cruel and wicked as venom and now the moment had come and the Ring would win and Frodo, the real Frodo wept in despair.
*You cannot fight any more, Frodo.*
"No- cannot fight-" and there was a terrible laughing and echoed and rang and seethed Frodo's ears as he lay in the darkest confines of his own mind. It pierced him and terrified him. The true sound of corruption and insanity embodied in that terrible laughter and behind it rang the bitter venom of the Ring.
But in that moment, as hope was at its last, the laughter was suddenly cut off by some terrible commotion behind him that made Frodo's body cringe and the monster that took him wail. The sane Frodo looked up, hope gleaming in his eyes and the demon imposter raged. He felt himself being dragged back to reality and he fought it tooth and nail. "No no no!!!" The monster screamed frantically gripping to whatever would hold him in his euphoria. But he felt the poison draining and what it left made Frodo fall to the ground and writhe in torment. His fist gripped around the Ring until his knuckles turned white and he could almost feel it burning into his skin. His back arched and he grit his teeth, his other hand clawing at the ground and scratching at the dirt and stone. His body convulsed as he felt strength and pleasure draining from him leaving behind pain, anguish, terror, doom, shame, guilt, fear, death, despair, dread, panic, misery, disgrace, suffering, torment, torture! Knowledge of what he had done! What he was about to do flooded him and filled him with shame and dishonour. He pleaded to die! He pleaded for it to end! And as his body calmed and he lay on the ground weeping the sound returned to his ears again.
It was a terrible hacking and a dry scratch followed by a gurgle and sputtering. Frodo spun around, his sweat soaked curls flinging in front of his eyes. But through them he saw Sam sitting upright and coughing terribly. The sound hurt Frodo's ears and made his heart shatter. The bitter tears he was crying were replaced by an ocean of pity and overwhelming rains of love and terror for his friend. And these tears quickly washed over the ones of self-pity that stained and tainted his cheeks. He smeared those away with disgust. As quick as he could muster strength and will he darted to Sam's side tripping and stumbling.
Frodo gripped Sam's trembling, heaving shoulders as the bout of coughing continued and he leaned forward and retched. Frodo's eyes widened with horror and dread at what he saw. A wave of blood spurted from Sam's mouth and leaked down his chin. When the coughing had stopped Sam's body fell limp in Frodo's grasp. Quickly Frodo lifted him to see his face and saw the blood all along his lips and chin and neck. His body jerked feebly in small coughs for it was all the energy he could muster to relieve himself of all the blood he had swallowed from his raw throat. Sam's lips were parted partially and a tiny pool of blood was gurgling in his mouth. Frodo leaned him forward again and let Sam cough it out.
When he brought him back to a sitting position and leaned his body into an embrace, Frodo wept and buried his face in Sam's curls. Slowly he felt breath return to Sam as his body moved shakily up and down with each painful gasp of air. Frodo just sobbed into Sam's curls finally falling into despair. He would have stayed like that until he died for there was no more hope, but then he heard a slight, weak whimper and Sam's body twitched feebly. Frodo leaned Sam's head back to look at him and he was met by wide, frightened brown eyes.
"Sam? Oh Sam! Thank Elbereth Sam!" Frodo wrapped his arms tighter around Sam but he heard a cry emit from the younger Hobbit's throat and withdrew. He was met by the same terrified gaze. "Sam? Don't you know me?" Sam just whimpered and squeezed his eyes shut as if expecting certain death.
Frodo's arms slipped from holding Sam and let him rest in his lap. "Sam?" he said softly, "It's your master. No- no it's your friend. I'm your friend, Sam. It's me."
Sam saw the opportunity to try and get away. His captor had released his grasp, why he did not know. He heard his captor say something in a quiet and sorrowful voice but Sam just shook his head and tried to inch away. He twitched and his body hit the floor emitting a small cry from him. He backed away as best he could, slinking along the ground, shaking his head, and always keeping his eyes on his weeping captor.
Frodo held out his hand but could not quell the gasping sobs, "Oh Sam it's me! I wouldn't hurt you!"
Sam felt his back hit the wall and he squirmed for some means of escape. He looked up and around and cried out when he saw no way out. He shook his head and clenched his eyes shut expecting his captor to be infuriated and charge at him. Probably grab him by the hair and lift him reveling in his cries of pain. Probably whip out a sword and slowly cut him open. He tried to lift his hand and it came to his mouth. Blood! He cried out again.
"Sam," Frodo wept trying to come closer to him but not frighten the confused Hobbit. "Come now, Sam dear, I'll never hurt you."
"P- please-" Sam managed to croak and the sound of his weak and parched voice made Frodo's heart twist in agony. "P- please- d- don'- k- kill- m- me-"
Frodo fell to his knees again, "Oh Sam! I'd never! Never, never!"
"W- where- s' Fr-" Sam gurgled and coughed up another spurt of blood, "-odo- "
"It's me, Sam! I'm Frodo!" And with those words Frodo felt something in him shatter. The wires pulled again tighter, tighter! And oh the pain! Frodo saw a white flash as hot pain took him and he faltered. i Frodo! Frodo! I'm Frodo!i Frodo fell back and blinked a few times before Sam came back into focus. He tried to stay his racing mind. He stuttered. "It's- it's Frodo, Sam- Frodo!"
Sam looked about him, confused and frightened. Frodo made his way towards Sam almost blinded by his tears. He fell to his knees at his friend's side. His trembling hands ran along Sam's cheek and blood stained his fingers. Sam winced and gave a muffled cry. "Shh, Sam. Be calm. I won't hurt you. Your iFrodoi won't hurt you."
"B-but your n-not-"
Frodo's lip began to tremble and Sam stared up at him as if trying to come to a decision. "No," Frodo whispered almost to himself, "Maybe. I'm not. maybe it's all for naught. that I truly am dead. but I've got to cling to hope. hold on just a little longer. if I can just hold onto iFrodoi maybe. just maybe he can come back."
Sam's eyes searched Frodo's face but Frodo did not pay him heed any more. He walked over to where he left the flask and returned to a confused Sam. Calmly he went about his ministrations. First, dipping the piece of cloth in the water and wrapping it around Sam's forehead again. Then he dipped his own sleeve in and dabbed at Sam's chin to rid him of the blood. Then he put the canteen to Sam's lips and reluctantly he drank, his eyes never leaving Frodo's face.
"What does tomorrow bring, I wonder," said Frodo flatly, almost as if there was no emotion left in him at all.
Sam made to speak but Frodo silenced him. "Please, it will only make your throat worse." Sam shut his mouth and gazed at Frodo silently. After putting the canteen away he returned to Sam's side. He knelt gingerly and brushed Sam's curls out of his face.
"Rest now. Shall I sing to you? I suppose my voice may sound horrid now. It's been so long since I sang, and I'm afraid there are no songs I can remember. Just one. You sang it in Cirith Ungol. It's all I can remember. Do you remember?" Frodo looked down at Sam. His voice had been soft and just as emotionless and flat which frightened Sam more. Sam did not nod or shake his head, he only kept his frightened gaze on the older Hobbit.
In western lands beneath the Sun
The flowers may rise in Spring,
The trees may bud, the waters run,
The merry finches sing.
Or there maybe 'tis cloudless night
And swaying beeches bear
The Elven-stars as jewels white
Amid their branching hair.
Though here at journey's end I lie
In darkness buried deep,
Beyond all towers strong and high,
Beyond all mountains steep,
Above all shadows rides the Sun
And Stars forever dwell;
I will not say the Day is done,
Nor bid the Stars farewell.
When Frodo looked down and saw Sam's eyelids drooping sleepily. He ran his hand along Sam's hair and made a low click in his throat to sooth him. Sam struggled to stay awake a bit longer but finally succumbed to sleep. His last words were weak and soft and Frodo had to strain to hear them.
"W- will- I see- Mis- 'ister- Fr- 'odo- again?"
Frodo felt the tears fall down his already drenched cheeks. "You may yet, Sam. You may."
As Sam drifted into slumber insanity and hope waged war inside Frodo's small body and he fell to the ground in torment and despair. All he could do now was watch and hope and weep for he knew all was lost.
.And here at journey's end I lie.