A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews- I love them!
Just a reminder, this story is VERY AU
CHAPTER 9
Once the painful realization had come to him, Sam felt completely helpless as his master lay, dying and suffering, in his arms. And he could do nothing.
"Sam." The whispered voice was so quiet that Sam wasn't quite sure if he had actually heard it. But then he looked down at his master and saw that both startlingly blue eyes were open and struggling to focus on him.
Sam tried his best to put on a brave smile for his master, though he doubted if it really worked. The muscles in his face seemed to have forgotten how to do it.
"Sam." Frodo repeated with much difficulty. After each attempt at speaking he had to stop and catch his breath, wincing at the awful pain it caused him.
"Yes, Mr. Frodo? Your Sam's right here." Frodo gently squeezed Sam's hand and slowly closed his eyes, though he continued to try and speak.
"Sam.the Ring.all is lost.the Ring.they have It.Sam." Frodo gasped as fresh pain flared through his body. This time he was unable to suppress a loud cry that seemed to tear right through Sam's heart.
When the pain subsided again (except for the dull throbbing, of course, which was always present) Frodo lay limply in Sam's arms breathing hard but shallow, his eyes closed tightly in pain, sobbing openly now.
Sam cradled him closer. "Ssshh now, it's alright," he whispered in Frodo's ear, trying desperately not to cry himself. It didn't work however, and soon tears were trickling down his face once more. He made an attempt to hastily brush them away. "Don't try to talk now, Mr. Frodo. Rest, please, and everything will be alright."
"No Sam." Frodo started again weakly. "Y-you don't understand.the Ring.It's gone." The terrible feeling of emptiness that he had first experienced when he had discovered that It was gone had returned. Without It, he had not the will to live.
Slowly what Frodo had said penetrated Sam's slow-moving mind and he sat up suddenly, to pull the Ring and It's chain off from around his neck. The sudden movement, however, made Frodo gasp with pain and hold Sam's hand painfully tight until it dissipated once more.
"Oh, Mr. Frodo, I'm so sorry!" Sam gasped, horrified that he had caused his master more pain. "Please forgive me!"
"It's.alright Sam." Frodo whispered, still gasping from the pain the small sudden movement had caused him. "It doesn't.even hurt.th-that much."
Sam slowly pulled himself out of his horrified trance and remembered the Ring. He slowly pulled It over his head, careful to not move Frodo again. But his master seemed too caught up in the task of breathing for the moment to notice.
"Mr. Frodo." He whispered tentatively. "It is not gone, the Ring that is, I have It here with me."
Frodo's eyes immediately snapped open and although his vision was extremely clouded he could not miss the bright spot of gold dangling from a chain that Sam held up.
He gasped. "Sam.h-how.how did you.?" Then he stopped. It didn't matter how. All that mattered was that the Ring wasn't lost.
Suddenly the Ring seemed to take hold of his mind and Frodo heard himself demanding "Give It to me! It's mine!" in a voice as cold as ice. He couldn't remember ever resolving to say that. All he knew was the strong desire to have the Ring back in his possession. Now.
Sam looked at his master, startled. A second ago Frodo had been lying in his arms, completely spent, gasping for air and sobbing. Now he was looking up, alert, and cold anger flashed in his eyes though his cheeks were still wet with tears. He had never heard Frodo speak like that before and it frightened him.
"Al-alright, Mr. Frodo," He stammered and moved to hand the Ring over but Frodo's hand had already shot up and snatched It from him, holding It tightly in his small fist.
As quickly as it had come the strange feeling that had seemed to overcome his master disappeared, leaving him looking as exhausted as he had before. He sank back in Sam's embrace whimpering in pain once more and shutting his eyes, breathing heavily.
Sam gently pushed a dark curl off his master's pale forehead, wiped at the trail of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and sighed, grief overcoming all of his other worries.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Frodo lay in a haze of pain again, though he was strangely comforted by the feel of the cold metal held tightly in his palm. He had the Ring again. The empty feeling had disappeared, though it was only replaced again by the burning pain that throbbed through his entire body, refusing to leave him in peace.
The flashes of pain that tormented him came more often now, and although he felt Sam's cooling touch against his brow and the pressure of his hand against his own, Frodo could not even muster up the strength to open his eyes or slightly press his hand in thanks. For he was very grateful that Sam was there with him. It terrified him to imagine what it would be like to be going through this alone.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Suddenly Sam felt his master stiffen in his arms and his breathing come faster but weaker as though he were only taking half breaths. Frodo's eyes were closed tightly shut, dark circles outlining them, his brow furrowed in pain.
Sam looked at him, startled. Oh Elbereth, what was happening to him now? All of a sudden Frodo began to thrash, writhing in pain in Sam's arms, crying out. Sam attempted to quiet him but it was to no avail. He continued to shake convulsively, thrashing from side to side, an expression of pure torment etched in the fair features of his face. Sam could hardly bear it. What was it he was going through?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Frodo didn't even know what was going on, it happened so fast. One moment he was lying still, concentrating on taking slow breaths (as they seemed to be less painful) and the next moment an agonizing pain, unlike anything he had ever felt before in his entire life, had seized him.
He began to squirm in Sam's hold, crying out loudly. He couldn't control it, it hurt so badly. The sharp burning pain reverberated through his whole body, not letting up for a moment.
'Please, please just let it stop,' was the only thought that flashed across his mind.
Then, just as quickly as it had started, it stopped. The unbearable pain was no longer there. In fact, even the throbbing that had always been there before seemed to have dulled considerably.
"Mr. Frodo?" Sam cried, peering anxiously at his master's pale, sweat- soaked face. Just a moment ago he had been thrashing about wildly, obviously in some sort of terrible pain. But then he had suddenly gone completely still, lying quietly in his arms once more. "Mr. Frodo?" Sam repeated, louder this time, fear coursing through him. "Mr. Frodo, are you alright? What happened?"
Slowly Frodo opened his eyes and looked blearily up at Sam. Despite the fact that most of the pain that had been relentlessly torturing him was gone now, his breathing was more labored then ever and he struggled to get enough air. A dark grayness swam before his eyes. He could just barely make out the form of Sam leaning over him.
This was it. It had to be. Even the pain was leaving him now.
"Sam." He struggled to say, it came out in such a small whisper that he doubted if Sam had even heard, and he didn't think he could make it any louder. Miraculously, though, Sam had heard and leaned closer to hear. "Mr. Frodo?"
"Sam.th-thank you." Sam sat back a little, surprised.
"For what, Mr. Frodo?"
It took a few moments before Frodo had enough air to speak again. "For.everything Sam," He paused to gasp, "For.b-being here with me."
Tears flooded down Sam's face at this and he saw that Frodo's face was equally soaked with his own tears, though he fought to suppress them as it was hard enough to talk already.
"Oh no, Mr. Frodo, don't start talking like that now, " His voice now only came out in a light whisper as well. His master was saying good-bye and he could hardly stand it. "Everything will be alright, you'll see," he was sobbing openly now, despite his attempts to sound sure of himself.
Frodo's eyes, shiny with tears, remained locked on Sam's, despite the effort it cost him to hold his gaze steady. He would not look away, not now. Frodo weakly squeezed Sam's hand, his breathing slowing even more with each passing moment. He tried his best to smile, the corners of his mouth turning up just ever so slightly. "Thank you," He whispered again, ever so faintly, but still Sam heard him. "I love you, Sam."
Frodo's breathing slowed even more and a fresh panic coursed through Sam. No, no, no. This couldn't be happening. Not Frodo. Not his dear master. No.
"Mr. Frodo?!" He cried. "Mr. Frodo, what's wrong?"
Frodo's eyes slowly closed. "Nothing's wrong, Sam, " he whispered, "You always did worry too much." A small smile remained on his lips. "I'm alright Sam, really, it doesn't even hurt anymore." His voice slowly faded to silence.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
He didn't know how he had managed it, but he was smiling. Frodo now felt no pain at all, but the gray mist that hovered before his eyes grew thicker with each passing moment. He tried his best to remain brave for Sam, but he could feel tears trickling down his own cheeks. He was barely getting any air into his lungs now, and he couldn't find the strength to talk anymore. He simply closed his now useless eyes and gripped Sam's hand with all the little remaining strength he had.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Mr. Frodo?!" Sam cried. The moment Frodo had said 'it doesn't even hurt anymore.' he knew. Knew that this was it, and he could do nothing to prevent it. But the thought still terrified him. "Mr. Frodo! Please look at me." he sobbed despairingly. Then he felt the slight pressure against his hand. Frodo was still there, he was still holding his hand. Sam returned the pressure, sobbing, looking down at his master's bloodied form, watching his chest slightly rise and fall every couple of seconds.
Then, slowly, ever so slowly, the movement in Frodo's chest caused by his tiny breaths he managed to take, all but disappeared and he lay still, deathly pale, in Sam's arms.
Sam gasped, panicking, then put his hand to Frodo's chest, feeling for a heartbeat. The moments slipped by and there was nothing but silence. No slight beating could he feel.
Frodo lay, completely still, in Sam's arms. No sign of breath. No beat of heart. And slowly Sam realized that the small hand he held in his own was deathly cold and limp in his grasp. No slight pressure could be felt anymore.
Sam's loud cry of anguish echoed around the chamber.
~AC~
A/N: Wow, that was hard to write! I was crying as I typed it. Please review if you don't hate me after reading this! (No, this is not the end of the story)
Just a reminder, this story is VERY AU
CHAPTER 9
Once the painful realization had come to him, Sam felt completely helpless as his master lay, dying and suffering, in his arms. And he could do nothing.
"Sam." The whispered voice was so quiet that Sam wasn't quite sure if he had actually heard it. But then he looked down at his master and saw that both startlingly blue eyes were open and struggling to focus on him.
Sam tried his best to put on a brave smile for his master, though he doubted if it really worked. The muscles in his face seemed to have forgotten how to do it.
"Sam." Frodo repeated with much difficulty. After each attempt at speaking he had to stop and catch his breath, wincing at the awful pain it caused him.
"Yes, Mr. Frodo? Your Sam's right here." Frodo gently squeezed Sam's hand and slowly closed his eyes, though he continued to try and speak.
"Sam.the Ring.all is lost.the Ring.they have It.Sam." Frodo gasped as fresh pain flared through his body. This time he was unable to suppress a loud cry that seemed to tear right through Sam's heart.
When the pain subsided again (except for the dull throbbing, of course, which was always present) Frodo lay limply in Sam's arms breathing hard but shallow, his eyes closed tightly in pain, sobbing openly now.
Sam cradled him closer. "Ssshh now, it's alright," he whispered in Frodo's ear, trying desperately not to cry himself. It didn't work however, and soon tears were trickling down his face once more. He made an attempt to hastily brush them away. "Don't try to talk now, Mr. Frodo. Rest, please, and everything will be alright."
"No Sam." Frodo started again weakly. "Y-you don't understand.the Ring.It's gone." The terrible feeling of emptiness that he had first experienced when he had discovered that It was gone had returned. Without It, he had not the will to live.
Slowly what Frodo had said penetrated Sam's slow-moving mind and he sat up suddenly, to pull the Ring and It's chain off from around his neck. The sudden movement, however, made Frodo gasp with pain and hold Sam's hand painfully tight until it dissipated once more.
"Oh, Mr. Frodo, I'm so sorry!" Sam gasped, horrified that he had caused his master more pain. "Please forgive me!"
"It's.alright Sam." Frodo whispered, still gasping from the pain the small sudden movement had caused him. "It doesn't.even hurt.th-that much."
Sam slowly pulled himself out of his horrified trance and remembered the Ring. He slowly pulled It over his head, careful to not move Frodo again. But his master seemed too caught up in the task of breathing for the moment to notice.
"Mr. Frodo." He whispered tentatively. "It is not gone, the Ring that is, I have It here with me."
Frodo's eyes immediately snapped open and although his vision was extremely clouded he could not miss the bright spot of gold dangling from a chain that Sam held up.
He gasped. "Sam.h-how.how did you.?" Then he stopped. It didn't matter how. All that mattered was that the Ring wasn't lost.
Suddenly the Ring seemed to take hold of his mind and Frodo heard himself demanding "Give It to me! It's mine!" in a voice as cold as ice. He couldn't remember ever resolving to say that. All he knew was the strong desire to have the Ring back in his possession. Now.
Sam looked at his master, startled. A second ago Frodo had been lying in his arms, completely spent, gasping for air and sobbing. Now he was looking up, alert, and cold anger flashed in his eyes though his cheeks were still wet with tears. He had never heard Frodo speak like that before and it frightened him.
"Al-alright, Mr. Frodo," He stammered and moved to hand the Ring over but Frodo's hand had already shot up and snatched It from him, holding It tightly in his small fist.
As quickly as it had come the strange feeling that had seemed to overcome his master disappeared, leaving him looking as exhausted as he had before. He sank back in Sam's embrace whimpering in pain once more and shutting his eyes, breathing heavily.
Sam gently pushed a dark curl off his master's pale forehead, wiped at the trail of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and sighed, grief overcoming all of his other worries.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Frodo lay in a haze of pain again, though he was strangely comforted by the feel of the cold metal held tightly in his palm. He had the Ring again. The empty feeling had disappeared, though it was only replaced again by the burning pain that throbbed through his entire body, refusing to leave him in peace.
The flashes of pain that tormented him came more often now, and although he felt Sam's cooling touch against his brow and the pressure of his hand against his own, Frodo could not even muster up the strength to open his eyes or slightly press his hand in thanks. For he was very grateful that Sam was there with him. It terrified him to imagine what it would be like to be going through this alone.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Suddenly Sam felt his master stiffen in his arms and his breathing come faster but weaker as though he were only taking half breaths. Frodo's eyes were closed tightly shut, dark circles outlining them, his brow furrowed in pain.
Sam looked at him, startled. Oh Elbereth, what was happening to him now? All of a sudden Frodo began to thrash, writhing in pain in Sam's arms, crying out. Sam attempted to quiet him but it was to no avail. He continued to shake convulsively, thrashing from side to side, an expression of pure torment etched in the fair features of his face. Sam could hardly bear it. What was it he was going through?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Frodo didn't even know what was going on, it happened so fast. One moment he was lying still, concentrating on taking slow breaths (as they seemed to be less painful) and the next moment an agonizing pain, unlike anything he had ever felt before in his entire life, had seized him.
He began to squirm in Sam's hold, crying out loudly. He couldn't control it, it hurt so badly. The sharp burning pain reverberated through his whole body, not letting up for a moment.
'Please, please just let it stop,' was the only thought that flashed across his mind.
Then, just as quickly as it had started, it stopped. The unbearable pain was no longer there. In fact, even the throbbing that had always been there before seemed to have dulled considerably.
"Mr. Frodo?" Sam cried, peering anxiously at his master's pale, sweat- soaked face. Just a moment ago he had been thrashing about wildly, obviously in some sort of terrible pain. But then he had suddenly gone completely still, lying quietly in his arms once more. "Mr. Frodo?" Sam repeated, louder this time, fear coursing through him. "Mr. Frodo, are you alright? What happened?"
Slowly Frodo opened his eyes and looked blearily up at Sam. Despite the fact that most of the pain that had been relentlessly torturing him was gone now, his breathing was more labored then ever and he struggled to get enough air. A dark grayness swam before his eyes. He could just barely make out the form of Sam leaning over him.
This was it. It had to be. Even the pain was leaving him now.
"Sam." He struggled to say, it came out in such a small whisper that he doubted if Sam had even heard, and he didn't think he could make it any louder. Miraculously, though, Sam had heard and leaned closer to hear. "Mr. Frodo?"
"Sam.th-thank you." Sam sat back a little, surprised.
"For what, Mr. Frodo?"
It took a few moments before Frodo had enough air to speak again. "For.everything Sam," He paused to gasp, "For.b-being here with me."
Tears flooded down Sam's face at this and he saw that Frodo's face was equally soaked with his own tears, though he fought to suppress them as it was hard enough to talk already.
"Oh no, Mr. Frodo, don't start talking like that now, " His voice now only came out in a light whisper as well. His master was saying good-bye and he could hardly stand it. "Everything will be alright, you'll see," he was sobbing openly now, despite his attempts to sound sure of himself.
Frodo's eyes, shiny with tears, remained locked on Sam's, despite the effort it cost him to hold his gaze steady. He would not look away, not now. Frodo weakly squeezed Sam's hand, his breathing slowing even more with each passing moment. He tried his best to smile, the corners of his mouth turning up just ever so slightly. "Thank you," He whispered again, ever so faintly, but still Sam heard him. "I love you, Sam."
Frodo's breathing slowed even more and a fresh panic coursed through Sam. No, no, no. This couldn't be happening. Not Frodo. Not his dear master. No.
"Mr. Frodo?!" He cried. "Mr. Frodo, what's wrong?"
Frodo's eyes slowly closed. "Nothing's wrong, Sam, " he whispered, "You always did worry too much." A small smile remained on his lips. "I'm alright Sam, really, it doesn't even hurt anymore." His voice slowly faded to silence.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
He didn't know how he had managed it, but he was smiling. Frodo now felt no pain at all, but the gray mist that hovered before his eyes grew thicker with each passing moment. He tried his best to remain brave for Sam, but he could feel tears trickling down his own cheeks. He was barely getting any air into his lungs now, and he couldn't find the strength to talk anymore. He simply closed his now useless eyes and gripped Sam's hand with all the little remaining strength he had.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Mr. Frodo?!" Sam cried. The moment Frodo had said 'it doesn't even hurt anymore.' he knew. Knew that this was it, and he could do nothing to prevent it. But the thought still terrified him. "Mr. Frodo! Please look at me." he sobbed despairingly. Then he felt the slight pressure against his hand. Frodo was still there, he was still holding his hand. Sam returned the pressure, sobbing, looking down at his master's bloodied form, watching his chest slightly rise and fall every couple of seconds.
Then, slowly, ever so slowly, the movement in Frodo's chest caused by his tiny breaths he managed to take, all but disappeared and he lay still, deathly pale, in Sam's arms.
Sam gasped, panicking, then put his hand to Frodo's chest, feeling for a heartbeat. The moments slipped by and there was nothing but silence. No slight beating could he feel.
Frodo lay, completely still, in Sam's arms. No sign of breath. No beat of heart. And slowly Sam realized that the small hand he held in his own was deathly cold and limp in his grasp. No slight pressure could be felt anymore.
Sam's loud cry of anguish echoed around the chamber.
~AC~
A/N: Wow, that was hard to write! I was crying as I typed it. Please review if you don't hate me after reading this! (No, this is not the end of the story)
