Title: Nice Hobbit
Author/Email: Anemone Frost/weepingwillow987@aol.com
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Sam starts to feel the pressure of the Ring and his hatred towards Gollum begins to grow.
Feedback: Yes, please. I live for reviews. ;)
Warnings: Mild violence, angst. Sam acting a bit nastier than normal.
Archive: Hm, if you think it's good enough. Contact me first.
A/N: This doesn't necessarily follow the book or the movie, though some parts may, so it's AU.
Sam wiped at his brow, breathing hard under the blistering sun. Only a few moments ago the climate had been frigid. The weather had a knack for changing rapidly and unsuspectedly. Frodo was lagging behind, also panting for air. He stopped, hunching over and grasping the Ring with a trembling hand. Sam lowered his head with a heavy sigh. He noticed how his master's obsession with the Ring grew. The other hobbit would always reach to his neck, petting at the trinket underneath. Concern grew in Sam's mind. He couldn't help but wonder how long Frodo would last under the Ring's call.
A splash drew his attention ahead, where he spotted Gollum sliding along the stream, chasing after a wobbling fish. Disgust ran through his gut at the miserable sight. How could they let such an abominable creature be their guide?
"Hey, you keep where I can see you, Stinker!" Sam yelled, noticing that Gollum was slipping further down stream. "You hear me?! Stinker, get back over here!"
"Why do you do that Sam?" came Frodo's voice.
Sam turned, gazing in confusion at his master's enraged face.
"Well, why do you always have to cut him down? Always calling him Stinker?" Frodo inquired, eyes blazing.
"Because, Mr. Frodo," Sam answered. "That's what he is. His only goal is to obtain the Ring and he'll stop at nothing to get it."
"He can change Sam," Frodo murmured.
Gollum climbed atop a boulder, shaking off what remained of the water. He peered down at the two hobbits and smiled at Frodo, which turned to a look of dread when he caught sight of Sam's bitter expression. The creature crawled off, waving his hand, motioning the two to follow him.
"I have to believe that he can be brought back," Frodo repeated.
"Why?" Sam asked. "No good can come from him."
"Oh, what do you know about it anyway?!" Frodo snapped, stepping up to Sam until they were face to face. "Nothing! Nothing!"
Sam stood aghast. He had been reprimanded by Frodo before, but nothing to this extent. His eyes became downcast and he turned away, fighting back the onslaught of tears.
"Oh, Sam, I'm sorry," Frodo whimpered. "I don't know why I said that."
Sam knew. The answer was being clenched in Frodo's palm.
Frodo moved on, passing a widely grinning Gollum, muttering 'nice hobbit'. A growl came from Sam as he too passed the creature, shooting it an infuriated glance. Gollum grimaced, limping quickly to Frodo's side like a wounded puppy. The creature tiled its head, giving a faint smile to Sam.
"Nice hobbit," Gollum squeaked.
Scowling, Sam trailed after them, never taking his eyes off the wretched creature. He knew it was silly, but a part of him was starting to become jealous of the attention Gollum was receiving from Frodo. More kind words were being given to the creature than him.
A small laugh was elicited from Frodo as Gollum pranced around him, singing something about capturing fish and other nonsense. A nauseous feeling filtered into his stomach, making him wince as bile rose to his throat. It had been a long time since he had heard Frodo laugh. How could Frodo treat him so miserably when he treated Gollum like a friend? He was Frodo's loyal servant, yet he was dealt with like an enemy. Pangs of anger spread into his mind as he watched the odd spectacle. An overwhelming urge came over him to cast the creature aside from his master, tie the thing to a tree, and leave him to die in the wilderness.
'This is nonsense, Samwise Gamgee," the hobbit scolded to himself, attempting to calm his edgy nerves. 'Why are you getting yourself so worked up over a harmless act? Stinker ain't doing anything wrong, yet and besides, better him to look the fool than you. Mr. Frodo is just— well, I don't rightly know what's wrong with him at the moment, but I intend to find out. In the mean time, I have to keep my eye on old Stinker.'
"Come on hobbit!" Gollum barked at Sam. "You are lagging behind. We don't wants to keep the master waiting." A smirk grew on the creature's face and a wickedness gleamed in his bright eyes. "Perhaps we could move a lot faster if nasty hobbit weren't so fat. Maybe we should leave the fat hobbit behind, alone in the barren land. Yes, Precious?"
Sam's temper was already in a dangerous boiling point, and the degrading joke made it erupt. Muttering a curse, he bounded toward the creature, drawing out his blade to shimmer in the sunlight. Some unknown force was driving him onward, and he accepted its power, not caring where it came from. There was only one purpose on his mind, now.
Pure terror formed on Gollum's face as the hobbit bore down on him, and he shrieked, sprinting back to Frodo's side. He crouched before Frodo, desperately grasping at Frodo's waistcoat, burying his trembling face into the hobbit's belly.
"No! Don't let him hurts us with the nasty steel, master!" Gollum wailed, choking on sobs. "We were just joking! We means no harm by it! Please! We were just joking!"
"Get out of the way, Mr. Frodo!" Sam growled, reaching out for the creature. "Get out of the way so I can cut his ugly, little heart out!"
"Sam! Stop!" Frodo shouted, shielding Gollum from the other hobbit's advances.
He couldn't make out what Frodo said; he was only focusing on the quivering creature nestled against Frodo's waist. Sam's sword whipped by, slicing into Frodo's coat. The other hobbit drew out Sting, and slammed it against Sam's blade. The echoing clang of metal caused Sam to falter. The hobbit drew back, eyes wide in disbelief at his behavior. Never in his life had he felt so ashamed. He wanted to get at Gollum so badly that he risked his master's life by wielding the sword. Words kept reverberating in his mind, cut his throat out, making the hobbit whimper. What madness had come over him?
"What is wrong with you?!" Frodo yelled. "I know it was cruel joke, Sam, but that's no reason to try to kill him!"
"I– I— I– " Sam stuttered, unable to speak properly. He was eyeing the spot where his blade had torn the fabric on his master's coat. A few more inches, and the steel would have been imbedded in flesh. "— Sorry— "
"We're sorry master," Gollum whined, drawing Frodo's attention away from the other hobbit. "We means no harm, honest." He fingered the tear mark. "Master did not get hurt from steel, did he?"
Frodo shook his head and glared down at Gollum. "Smeagol, no more jokes, understand? You will show Sam the same respect as you do to me, although I'm not sure if he deserves much right now."
Warm tears trickled down Sam's cheeks at the harsh words his master spoke. He collapsed to the ground and broke out into sobs. He couldn't figure out what had possessed him to become so enraged. Over and over he muttered apologies to his master until soft arms securely wrapped around him.
"It's alright, Sam," Frodo murmured, rocking the other hobbit gently. "You are forgiven."
The memory was still rampant in Sam's mind later that evening. Still, he chided himself for almost harming his dear master. He ran a hand through Frodo's soft curls, gazing down in content at his master's sleeping face. That sensation of happiness drifted away when he spotted Gollum returning in the distance. Slowly, he began to feel drowsy, allowing the soft lull of the wind to let him drift off. Gollum was still on his mind, though. How he despised that creature, but in a short time he had become no better than the lowly thing.
That's not true.
Sam's head jerked at the soft voice entering his mind. He grumbled, passing it off as his own thoughts racing through.
You were only doing what you thought was best, Samwise Gamgee. It wasn't your fault that Frodo got in the way. He endangered himself. You did nothing wrong.
'I was, wasn't I?' Sam repeated to himself. 'I mean, no, there was no excuse for what happened. If Stinker had been trying to take the Ring, then my attack would have been justified. Poor Frodo. It was wrong in what I did. I nearly stabbed him in the belly. I'll never be able to forgive myself— '
But it is justified. You know Gollum is after the Ring. You can't allow him to take it. You can't allow him to harm your precious master. I bet if he got the chance, he would rip your master's throat out with his bare teeth. Then, the entire quest would be over, wouldn't it? Where would you be without Frodo? You wouldn't want that to happen, would you?
'No, I can't allow that to happen,' Sam thought. 'But what can I do?'
You already know, Samwise Gamgee. Kill the disgusting thing.
'What?!' Sam cried. 'I can't do that! I would be disavowing Mr. Frodo's wishes! He doesn't want Gollum to be hurt!'
Why should you listen to his orders! He treats you like filth! Look how he behaves around that creature! That thing is more valuable to him than you are! Forget about his orders! You should do what you think is best! And if Frodo gets in the way, immobilize him! Besides, the Ring would be better suited in your hands, Samwise the Brave. A fitting title for a fitting bearer.
'Samwise the Brave,' the hobbit thought, going deeper into a trance. 'That does have an appealing ring to it.'
Frodo shouldn't possess the Ring anymore! He would use it against you! Already he weakens under the hold and soon you will have two creatures to worry about throttling you in your sleep! Claim the Ring! Do it! You are stronger than him! Claim the Ring!
'Now, you just hold on one minute!' Sam snapped, becoming fully alert again. 'Who do you think you are trying to tell me to harm my own master and take the Ring for my own?! I thought you were just a figment in my mind, but now I see otherwise! Who are you?!'
There was only silence, besides Sam's pounding heart. He glared around, finding Gollum across from him. The creature stroking Frodo's dark curls between his fingers, all the while smiling back at Sam. The hobbit crept toward the creature and he immediately backed away, shivering in fright. That gave Sam some relief to know the creature feared him. Gollum wouldn't dare attempt anything with him around.
"You keep your grimy hands off my master!" Sam spat. "If I catch pawin' at him again I'll chop your hands—!" He caught himself, shocked once more by spiraling temper. This wasn't him. He shivered and knelt back to sleeping roll. "Just mind yourself, Stinker. Go out and hunt or something. Leave us in peace for a bit."
"Smeagol can do that," Gollum chirped. "We goes to find fish or other juicy things that slither and wriggle."
Sam glanced down at Frodo, finding the Ring glowing from the reflection of the moon in the hobbit's hand. He shuddered at the image, and went into a restless sleep.
To be continued.