Frodo opened his eyes to see nothing but darkness and the red glare of the
foul Mordor-sun rove above him. He groaned but did not move. His limbs felt
lethargic and he was so very tired. For a brief moment he wondered where he
was. Shelob? No not that cruel spider, not again! His eyes shot around
wildly for a moment and wondered if he had been poisoned. He thought for a
moment. "Now Sam will come. He will lean over me and cry. I so hate to see
him cry over me. After all it is my fault he's here. My fault all of this
happened. Why should he cry because I'm dead, anyway?" Frodo sighed
inwardly and waited but no Sam came and he felt terror shoot through him
like an even stronger poison.
Frodo's eyes came into focus slowly and he gazed back up at the darkening sky. A small red dot somewhere in the distance.
Above all shadows rides the Sun.
"But.." Frodo thought to himself, "That's isn't the sun if my memory serves me well. But ah, I cannot remember. This strange light pierces me. It- it's not looking at me, is it? No of course not the sun doesn't 'look' at you..." His thoughts trailed off into the nothingness and silence filled his mind with some terrible horror as that of night terrors on starless moonless days.
"Starless and moonless and nothing but darkness. Darkness and a- a red- eye?"
As if a spell released his mind, all the heavy poison surged out of him and a new fear filled his veins. His arm shot out and gripped his breast, twisted around his clothing to claw at what was buried deep under his tunic. His face contorted into that of dread and pain and he writhed on the ground. He grit his teeth and tried to shut his eyes but they wouldn't. His hand clawed deeper into the clothe, into his flesh, grasping the one thing that he both desired and loathed with all of his being.
Where was Sam?!
The gaze was almost on him. He could not fight. He could not fight. But he had to. And with a surging yell that began deep inside of him and wrenched through the air more terrible than that of a Nazqul and yet more despairing than any that has touched mortal ears. A scream of such anguished torture that it would shatter the hearts of even the coldest men and perhaps even orc. A cry that would wake the dead and have them mourn, those that should not mourn but me mourned for would lament in hearing.
It was this scream that brought the real Frodo back from the deepest confines of his mind and jolted him to waking. The monster of insanity stood face to face with him and snarled as they fought for control over the broken and tormented body. Frodo's eyes glazed as his mind fought itself once more and his breaths became stertorous until they were nothing but small strangled gasps. His mouth was wide and choking yet no air could reach his lungs and his nails now dug deep into his chest until he could feel warm droplets of blood dribble down his torso.
~~~
Sam opened his eyes lazily and for a moment he thought he could see the world through a thin grey veil. He blinked a few times but the grey veil did not recede. His eyes roved around slowly and it took some time to gain control over them. His mind worked slowly and piece by piece he gathered his surroundings. Everything ached terribly as if he were recovering from a terrible spell of illness. Wasn't he? He mused for a moment as he twitched his fingers lightly then flexed them firmly. They pained him so! Every muscle was tight and screaming. He tried to think where he was but he seemed always a small step away from knowing. His mind was focussed right now on moving. Slowly his hand braced the hard rock under him and his other arm moved to support himself. He let out a low moan as he maneuvered himself into a sitting position.
For a while darkness clouded his vision and his shook his head like a wet dog. He blinked a few times and the grey veil slowly receded. He let out a long sigh but the breath seemed to fill him with more life than ever before. He looked around slowly but before he could gather his surroundings some pitiful cry filled his ears and brought tears to his eyes immediately.
"Lor' bless me!" he thought, "What a woeful sound! How could any creature live in such pain?" Tears rolled down his cheeks and for a while he could feel them burn in his eyes. He could not remember feeling tears in a long time. There wasn't enough water in him to cry. And now it was as if a dam had broken.
The sound reverberated off the rock walls of the small outcrop and Sam looked about him. He stretched his legs but found that they still were not strong enough to hold him. He gathered himself on his knees and put his hand to the wall to stay his dizziness.
"Now now, Sam Gamgee, steady, steady," he coaxed himself. "As for that sound. What could possibly- oh no." Sam had a sinking feeling in his heart and he knew exactly why. Suddenly he felt he could not stay the dizziness and the world reeled. Frodo! Where was Frodo! Sam tried to gather his strength and will to come to his feet but it was in vain.
"Master! Master me dear!" he cried and fell to his hands his nose barely brushing against the cruel stone. He looked up wearily and found that his task would not be as difficult as thought. For there lay Frodo, his hand clutching his breast and his back arched into a twisted position that would have defined pain without that heartrending wail.
This did it. Sam was on his feet with a will that did not quite feel like his own. He bounded towards his master and fell to his knees stroking the older hobbit's hair. Frodo's eyes saw through Sam at the one red point of light that now pierced him. And he knew not of Sam or any other but the presence of such evil around him and in him. In him! Oh he felt his seer through him like that of a merciless fire always hungry and never relenting, consuming all that was left of his dear innocence and purity. There was a great battle waged in his mind and it seemed that both wills were struck at an impass of destruction. But there came a voice and both creatures that of sanity and insanity became aware of another in reality. Frodo looked up from his stance of holding off the dark creature that fought him.
"Sam!" he cried and there was a great joy in his heart that seemed to consume the darkness as the creature screeched in defeat.
"It iss not over preciouss!" and in that moment of understanding Frodo gaped as the creature faded into the deep confines of his mind. "Gollum?" Frodo whispered and knew no more.
Back in reality Frodo's eyes came back into focus for a short moment and a smile twitched across his contorted face. He felt tears hit him like warm droplets of rain and came to perceive his dear Sam crying over him once again. A shaky hand reached up and stroked Sam's cheek as Frodo trembled with shock and his eyes glazed again.
"I can't fight any more dear Sam. But you're alive. In my mind I have not failed entirely."
"No, Mr. Frodo!" Sam cried, "Don't leave me! We're at the foot of the mountain! Just a little ways to go and then you're free, master! You're free!" Sam sobbed and held Frodo close to him.
Frodo gasped and clenched his heart tighter. Sam noticed the small stain's of blood on his master's tunic and wept all the more. "Sam! The eye, it's on me! He sees me! I cannot-" Frodo trailed off as his hand slowly tore through the tunic like the claw of a wild beast and not the fair hand of Sam's dear master.
It struck Sam. He knew what he must do. He let Frodo lay on the ground so gently and pried the small claw-like hand away from his breast. He gripped both of his master's hands between his now and held them tight. He lay a kiss on each and pressed them to the ground.
*I'm waiting*
"No," muttered Frodo.
Sam just stroked his brow and whispered soothingly, "Hold on, master. It's for the best."
*Come now Frodo, you didn't think you could get rid of me, preciouss.*
"No, I fought you. You're dead." Sam looked down at Frodo bewildered yet he could feel his heart wrench with despair.
*Now now Frodo, love* the voice was angry and held a cold cruelty that made Frodo's heart quail. *Now beloved, you musst lissten to me. We are one and you cannot be rid of me unless you are rid of yoursself, preciouss Frodo*
"Sam," Frodo whispered and the younger hobbit turned his tear filled eyes to his master.
"Yes sir?"
"Take Sting out of my belt."
"Sir?"
"Just please Sam. Do it. Give me Sting."
Sam obeyed not sure why. He held out Sting and wondered at its elvish beauty. Slowly he turned it to his master and Frodo grasped it violently and desperately. Sam recoiled.
"Mr. Frodo?"
Frodo held the hilt against his breast tightly and trembled. He sucked in a gasp of breath and turned his tear streaked face to Sam. "Walk away, Sam."
"Mr. Frodo! No!"
"Just listen to me Sam!" Frodo screamed his voice harsh and cruel. "Walk away! Turn and run!"
"No, Mr. Frodo I won't leave you!"
"You won't have to then!"
Frodo looked up at the sky once more. His voice lowered into a whisper. "I have to do this." He closed his eyes and let the tears roll down his cheeks. When he opened them again they seemed to be filled with a bitter resolve as he stared at the dark sky. "I just wish I could see the stars.. One last time." His mind continued with what he did not want Sam to hear. "But they would scorn me. Look upon me for the wretch I am and turn away in disgust."
He turned again to Sam. "You see Sam I have to do this. I have honour, Sam, and I do not wish to turn into a monster again! No not again! I won't let him win! And I won't let the Ring win! Promise me Sam! When it's over you'll take the Ring and destroy it! Promise me you'll move on!"
"Don't do this Frodo!" Sam wailed. "Don't do this!"
"I'm sorry Sam. Please. Don't cry for me. I died long ago."
Frodo's eyes came into focus slowly and he gazed back up at the darkening sky. A small red dot somewhere in the distance.
Above all shadows rides the Sun.
"But.." Frodo thought to himself, "That's isn't the sun if my memory serves me well. But ah, I cannot remember. This strange light pierces me. It- it's not looking at me, is it? No of course not the sun doesn't 'look' at you..." His thoughts trailed off into the nothingness and silence filled his mind with some terrible horror as that of night terrors on starless moonless days.
"Starless and moonless and nothing but darkness. Darkness and a- a red- eye?"
As if a spell released his mind, all the heavy poison surged out of him and a new fear filled his veins. His arm shot out and gripped his breast, twisted around his clothing to claw at what was buried deep under his tunic. His face contorted into that of dread and pain and he writhed on the ground. He grit his teeth and tried to shut his eyes but they wouldn't. His hand clawed deeper into the clothe, into his flesh, grasping the one thing that he both desired and loathed with all of his being.
Where was Sam?!
The gaze was almost on him. He could not fight. He could not fight. But he had to. And with a surging yell that began deep inside of him and wrenched through the air more terrible than that of a Nazqul and yet more despairing than any that has touched mortal ears. A scream of such anguished torture that it would shatter the hearts of even the coldest men and perhaps even orc. A cry that would wake the dead and have them mourn, those that should not mourn but me mourned for would lament in hearing.
It was this scream that brought the real Frodo back from the deepest confines of his mind and jolted him to waking. The monster of insanity stood face to face with him and snarled as they fought for control over the broken and tormented body. Frodo's eyes glazed as his mind fought itself once more and his breaths became stertorous until they were nothing but small strangled gasps. His mouth was wide and choking yet no air could reach his lungs and his nails now dug deep into his chest until he could feel warm droplets of blood dribble down his torso.
~~~
Sam opened his eyes lazily and for a moment he thought he could see the world through a thin grey veil. He blinked a few times but the grey veil did not recede. His eyes roved around slowly and it took some time to gain control over them. His mind worked slowly and piece by piece he gathered his surroundings. Everything ached terribly as if he were recovering from a terrible spell of illness. Wasn't he? He mused for a moment as he twitched his fingers lightly then flexed them firmly. They pained him so! Every muscle was tight and screaming. He tried to think where he was but he seemed always a small step away from knowing. His mind was focussed right now on moving. Slowly his hand braced the hard rock under him and his other arm moved to support himself. He let out a low moan as he maneuvered himself into a sitting position.
For a while darkness clouded his vision and his shook his head like a wet dog. He blinked a few times and the grey veil slowly receded. He let out a long sigh but the breath seemed to fill him with more life than ever before. He looked around slowly but before he could gather his surroundings some pitiful cry filled his ears and brought tears to his eyes immediately.
"Lor' bless me!" he thought, "What a woeful sound! How could any creature live in such pain?" Tears rolled down his cheeks and for a while he could feel them burn in his eyes. He could not remember feeling tears in a long time. There wasn't enough water in him to cry. And now it was as if a dam had broken.
The sound reverberated off the rock walls of the small outcrop and Sam looked about him. He stretched his legs but found that they still were not strong enough to hold him. He gathered himself on his knees and put his hand to the wall to stay his dizziness.
"Now now, Sam Gamgee, steady, steady," he coaxed himself. "As for that sound. What could possibly- oh no." Sam had a sinking feeling in his heart and he knew exactly why. Suddenly he felt he could not stay the dizziness and the world reeled. Frodo! Where was Frodo! Sam tried to gather his strength and will to come to his feet but it was in vain.
"Master! Master me dear!" he cried and fell to his hands his nose barely brushing against the cruel stone. He looked up wearily and found that his task would not be as difficult as thought. For there lay Frodo, his hand clutching his breast and his back arched into a twisted position that would have defined pain without that heartrending wail.
This did it. Sam was on his feet with a will that did not quite feel like his own. He bounded towards his master and fell to his knees stroking the older hobbit's hair. Frodo's eyes saw through Sam at the one red point of light that now pierced him. And he knew not of Sam or any other but the presence of such evil around him and in him. In him! Oh he felt his seer through him like that of a merciless fire always hungry and never relenting, consuming all that was left of his dear innocence and purity. There was a great battle waged in his mind and it seemed that both wills were struck at an impass of destruction. But there came a voice and both creatures that of sanity and insanity became aware of another in reality. Frodo looked up from his stance of holding off the dark creature that fought him.
"Sam!" he cried and there was a great joy in his heart that seemed to consume the darkness as the creature screeched in defeat.
"It iss not over preciouss!" and in that moment of understanding Frodo gaped as the creature faded into the deep confines of his mind. "Gollum?" Frodo whispered and knew no more.
Back in reality Frodo's eyes came back into focus for a short moment and a smile twitched across his contorted face. He felt tears hit him like warm droplets of rain and came to perceive his dear Sam crying over him once again. A shaky hand reached up and stroked Sam's cheek as Frodo trembled with shock and his eyes glazed again.
"I can't fight any more dear Sam. But you're alive. In my mind I have not failed entirely."
"No, Mr. Frodo!" Sam cried, "Don't leave me! We're at the foot of the mountain! Just a little ways to go and then you're free, master! You're free!" Sam sobbed and held Frodo close to him.
Frodo gasped and clenched his heart tighter. Sam noticed the small stain's of blood on his master's tunic and wept all the more. "Sam! The eye, it's on me! He sees me! I cannot-" Frodo trailed off as his hand slowly tore through the tunic like the claw of a wild beast and not the fair hand of Sam's dear master.
It struck Sam. He knew what he must do. He let Frodo lay on the ground so gently and pried the small claw-like hand away from his breast. He gripped both of his master's hands between his now and held them tight. He lay a kiss on each and pressed them to the ground.
*I'm waiting*
"No," muttered Frodo.
Sam just stroked his brow and whispered soothingly, "Hold on, master. It's for the best."
*Come now Frodo, you didn't think you could get rid of me, preciouss.*
"No, I fought you. You're dead." Sam looked down at Frodo bewildered yet he could feel his heart wrench with despair.
*Now now Frodo, love* the voice was angry and held a cold cruelty that made Frodo's heart quail. *Now beloved, you musst lissten to me. We are one and you cannot be rid of me unless you are rid of yoursself, preciouss Frodo*
"Sam," Frodo whispered and the younger hobbit turned his tear filled eyes to his master.
"Yes sir?"
"Take Sting out of my belt."
"Sir?"
"Just please Sam. Do it. Give me Sting."
Sam obeyed not sure why. He held out Sting and wondered at its elvish beauty. Slowly he turned it to his master and Frodo grasped it violently and desperately. Sam recoiled.
"Mr. Frodo?"
Frodo held the hilt against his breast tightly and trembled. He sucked in a gasp of breath and turned his tear streaked face to Sam. "Walk away, Sam."
"Mr. Frodo! No!"
"Just listen to me Sam!" Frodo screamed his voice harsh and cruel. "Walk away! Turn and run!"
"No, Mr. Frodo I won't leave you!"
"You won't have to then!"
Frodo looked up at the sky once more. His voice lowered into a whisper. "I have to do this." He closed his eyes and let the tears roll down his cheeks. When he opened them again they seemed to be filled with a bitter resolve as he stared at the dark sky. "I just wish I could see the stars.. One last time." His mind continued with what he did not want Sam to hear. "But they would scorn me. Look upon me for the wretch I am and turn away in disgust."
He turned again to Sam. "You see Sam I have to do this. I have honour, Sam, and I do not wish to turn into a monster again! No not again! I won't let him win! And I won't let the Ring win! Promise me Sam! When it's over you'll take the Ring and destroy it! Promise me you'll move on!"
"Don't do this Frodo!" Sam wailed. "Don't do this!"
"I'm sorry Sam. Please. Don't cry for me. I died long ago."