The sound carried through the chamber stopping Aragorn in the doorway, his
eyes shifted from Sam lying unconscious by the fire with Elrond at his
side. The elf staring toward the sound, Gandalf by the fire to the far
corner, the firelight flickering on to the wall, Merry was backing away
from something the look of terror still in his eyes. His eyes followed
Merry's stare, hurrying toward the small bundle on the floor Aragorn
reached down toward it. A hand landed on his shoulder jerking him away.
"Gandalf?"
The wizard watched the bundle coldly, pulling Aragorn away from it.
"Leave him, do not touch him."
Shaking off the wizard's hand Aragorn stood up his eyes darting to Merry huddled over by the far wall, the small hobbit was trembling violently, his eyes never leaving the bundle by the wall. The face turned down where Merry had dropped it, hiding its features. Looking back to it he noticed that the hair was dark, near black, streaked through with silver, glinting in the firelight.
"Gandalf."
"That is not Pippin.I know."
Looking back to him Aragorn searched the wizened face. Eyes dark and intense staring at the creature below them, trying to pierce its heart and mind with just a look, so it seemed. His long white hair, pushed away from his face, a face that seemed older, sadder, laden with something.guilt? Maybe it was guilt he saw in those deep lines creasing around his eyes. Reaching out he touched the wizard's arm, causing him to start, his eyes meeting Aragorn's.
"Meriadoc, go to Lord Elrond, help him move Samwise away from here."
Turning to him, Merry stared incredulously.
"I'll not go anywhere till I know what's happened to Pip!"
Something seemed to spark within the depths of Gandalf's eyes. Turning suddenly he strode over to the Hobbit, covering the distance in the blink of an eye. Reaching down he caught the hobbit's chin in his hand.
"This is not the time to argue with me! Meriadoc, you have neither the skill or importance to hold you here now, you will only hinder us in what we have to do and you may end up another victim!"
Aragorn stepped back at the violent outburst by the wizard, Merry's face had gone whiter and his hands against the wall, ready to run when Gandalf let go. A sudden movement caused Aragorn to look down, the bundle was shaking and small hissing sounds were issuing from within. They drew the attention of everyone within the room, Aragorn stepped back, a feeling growing inside. Gandalf let Merry go but the Hobbit did not flee, he rose to his feet and stared at the small fabric bundle the shook, his eyes like saucers, a remembrance of what he saw underneath the cloth coming back to him.
"Merry, go now" Gandalf whispered, Merry didn't move except for his fests to clench tighter to the stone. "Merry!" Gandalf cried, gripping his shoulder and pushing him away toward Elrond who stood with several guards by Sam, the hobbit limp, his face twisted, moaning he began to struggle in the guard's arms. Elrond nodded to the guard who grasped Sam tighter and hurried out of the room, Elrond gripping Merry and pulled him out too, the guard holding the door looked to Aragorn.
"Your Highness?"
"Leave now, close the doors and do not open them under any circumstance, do you understand!"
The guard's eyes flitted to the trembling bundle the sounds growing louder, turning in to a parody of laughter. The guard stepped back and turned to go.
"Have the gates to the gardens shut and bolted"
"Sire?"
"The far doors leading in to gardens, I want them closed and blocked off."
The guard's face twisted uncertainly.
"But Sire, they are already closed, no one has been able to open them for years."
Aragorn turned to the far wall, the large doors were closed, black iron fastenings bolted, no trace of light entered from underneath. Behind him the doors slammed shut, the sound of the bolts being drawn rumbled through the chamber. Looking over to Gandalf Aragorn saw the wizard grip his staff, left by the fire many hours ago, his knuckles whitened.
"So you choose to lock yourselves in here with us all alone."
The voice echoed around the chamber drawing Aragorn back to the figure, still leaning against the wall it looked more like a thick black shadow than a figure, but the voice Aragorn knew, knew well.
"Do you really think that it is Wise?"
The voice teased, sarcastic humour rippling through it, he had never heard that tone in his voice before; it was unsettling to say the least.
"Where is Frodo?"
To his own ears his voice seemed thin, hollow, not as rich or resounding as Frodo's as it echoed through the halls.
"Here is here with us."
Aragorn looked to Gandalf, the wizard's body was tensed watching the figure, his eyes piercing.
"You cannot reach us old Man, you may as well save your strength, and the Valar will not restore you a second time I think."
Amusement was high in Frodo's voice, mocking them. He knew something they could not even begin to guess at, otherwise why the games?
"Why? Well, why not, I have little left to do but amuse myself with you pitiful mortals, alas the fun wanes.you are not as entertaining as I had thought, you offer me no challenge. I believed that I had found a group of creatures that could challenge me, after all you kept My Ring a secret for so long. But wait, it was not you was it, My Ring left your keeping long ago, only Frodo kept it from me. He has been a challenge to overcome, truly I have never met a will so strong as in him, a part of his allure wouldn't you say so?"
Aragorn sprang forward his hand on the hilt of Andúril, his thoughts fiery as he prepared to cut this creature in half after what he had said. The creature before him stood up, cloak swept back to reveal the creature within.
Frodo stood before him, pain and disorientation written over his features, skin white and covered with a sheen of sweat, luminous. His eyes wide and filled with fear, they were glassy, unfocused. Looking down Frodo reached out a hand, it was pale to the point of transparency, the floor showing through below.
"Aragorn? .What is."
Aragorn reached out, his rage forgotten as he tried to gather the Hobbit to him, protect him. Behind him Gandalf began to murmur, strange words, unfamiliar to him. As his hand touched the black cloak Frodo's eyes rolled back in their sockets, he let out a cry of pain and fell back against the wall, turned away from them. Gandalf moved in closer, gripped Aragorn's arm and pulled him back, struggling Aragorn turned back in time to see Frodo turn back to face them, the breath left his body in shock, Gandalf's arm tightened and he heard him hiss something low under his breath. Before them Frodo stood, but not the Frodo of a second ago, this was the one that Aragorn had seen only that afternoon, but the skin was now hollowed to his bones, shrunken to the point of emaciation, Lips blue as in death, the eyes a brilliant blue, shocking, not for their colour but for the emotions that hid behind them. A blank hunger shone out, greedy, dripping with malice and vengeance. In reality colder than the ice flows of the ancient land of Helcaraxë. The lips twisted upwards forming in to a cruel, mocking smile at the looks of horror on the faces of Aragorn and Gandalf.
"You see, we are one.the only way to banish me is to kill the one you try to protect, and by doing that you will only bring us closer.he has signed himself over to me, offered me his soul in return that Samwise was saved."
The two watched in horror as Sauron grew in confidence, laughing at their reeling emotions.
"You cannot save him, he has done this of his own will."
"Why would you want him after he destroyed the Ring?"
Aragorn watched carefully, his thoughts reeling, he needed time to think, to take all of this in.
"Want him? How can you ask such a question after knowing him.there is an innocence about him that I find.intriguing, sadly if left to you it will wear away, he will age, turning him in to another useless piece of flesh. The strain My Ring left him with has already begun to wear him away, if I could I would have waited until he had left this land, but time was short."
The blue eyes became distant, looking through the walls, seeing but not seeing.
"We are alike, the two of us, both hunger for something more.I for Power he for Peace, and yet My Ring has corrupted him a little, he feels the Power too, needs it, desires it, wants it."
Horrified Aragorn turned the conversation away; the thought of Frodo as becoming like . this Thing was utterly repellent.
"What of Pippin? Where does he feature in this tragic tale of yours?"
The eyes blazed back at him, stumbling backwards he felt the stare pierce him, began to pull at him. The loathing was almost soul destroying.
"Do not play games with me, Mortal. I tell you what I do because I know that it will repeat in your mind until it drives you mad, you know what I say is true and it tortures you. Peregrin is little more than a toy to play with, he amuses me. Where he is now? You need not concern yourselves with it, he will be found.when the time is right.and yet he plays a larger part than you realise."
Sucking in a breath Aragorn met those eyes again.
"Then there is a reason to this, not merely for the sake of your amusement are we treated so?"
Laughing out loud, a sound that hurt his ears, Sauron looked over to Gandalf, whose silence had been puzzling him.
"Well Wizard, have you nothing to say? No brave words with which to comfort the small creature you sent out to die? He does not blame you, you know.he blames he; he hates himself, his weakness.how does that make you feel Wizard? A creature you both swore to protect is suffering. The guilt must be crippling you."
Laughing again he answered the thoughts in both of their heads.
"He is beyond your aid now, he is with me, I will be protecting him, indeed he will be safer with me than he ever was with you.he is dear to me, his light comforting after so long in the dark, he will be with me as I take apart your world and reshape it in to my own. You cannot stop me now, indeed you will help me before this is over, you will help me and willingly so, you will not know it until too late."
Aragorn felt cold settle in to his body, a deep sense of foreboding. Abruptly Gandalf's voice called out.
"What of Samwise? Where is his part in this? He has already given Frodo to you, why continue his torture?"
Sauron smiled coldly, his voice lowering become as cold as his eyes.
"I need no more from Samwise, I enjoy his pain. He took my Light from Me, he took My Ring from Me, with his soul he will pay for that deed, By his death he will give me Frodo completely, Mind, Body and Soul, to do with as I please. A fitting gift I think for all of his crimes against Me."
Aragorn looked away, pain and horror seeping through his cold limbs, soaking his mind.
"Come now Aragorn, Son of Arathorn, the loss of one halfling is not cause for such despair."
Feeling the anger rise in him again he shook off Gandalf's restraining arm and sprang toward Sauron, his hands closing about the fabric of the cloak, a cry from Frodo and the garment dropped to the floor.
Empty.
They were gone.
Aragorn turned back to face Gandalf, the wizard's faced filled with pain and determination.
"Come, Sam needs us now, by telling us a little of the future he has given us a way to prevent it."
Gandalf turned toward the door, his bearing swift, clutching the staff tightly, and his body a silhouette surrounded by a fiery glow.
"What of Frodo?"
Gandalf stopped suddenly and turned back to Aragorn, his face became old again, the same look as when handed Frodo's clothing by the Hand of Sauron, the look of despair.
"We can do nothing for Frodo now, he is beyond our aid."
"I refuse to accept it! I will not leave him to Sauron."
Gandalf moved closer, looked Aragorn in the eye, saw the stubborn glean in there; he would not abandon Frodo, not by his life.
"By saving Samwise, we may give Frodo the ability to fight Sauron.but we must hurry."
Aragorn strode after him, his mind recalling his thoughts earlier.
"Gandalf, why would you not have Arwen here"
He stopped again and turned, this time there was fire in his eyes, a fearsome sight. They had known each other for many years and Aragorn had never been afraid of him, yet fear now coursed in his veins as he took in the countenance of Gandalf the White.
"That, I will not answer, for if I utter it, it may come true, and I would not bring that fate upon her or you.when the danger is passed I will tell you of my fear, but not before. Do not speak of it again."
He turned away and lifting his staff toward the doors, Aragorn heard the bolts scrape back and the shouts of his men outside as they remembered his warning. The doors opened wide allowing a little light to enter the chamber. Ignoring the guards that fell back against the walls, Gandalf moved past, heading toward the small distant chamber where Samwise Gamgee lie in an uneasy state, Lord Elrond tending the Hobbit, Meriadoc standing by the window looking out in the night sky over Gondor, hoping for news of his cousin, regretting his angry thoughts earlier.
Hanging his head King Elessar followed the Wizard and sent a prayer to whoever listened for those he loved.
Outside the warm air drifted through the gardens and through the streets, unaware of the fears of men.
***************************
Another really big thank you to everyone who keeps reading this, I can honestly say that any Ideas about the ending I had are now long gone, so the magical mystery tour will be going on for a while and as your tour guide I can honestly say that I have no more of an idea about the places we will be visiting than you do, but I hope you enjoy it. Any responses of feedback you would like to leave are always welcome and highly appreciated.
"Gandalf?"
The wizard watched the bundle coldly, pulling Aragorn away from it.
"Leave him, do not touch him."
Shaking off the wizard's hand Aragorn stood up his eyes darting to Merry huddled over by the far wall, the small hobbit was trembling violently, his eyes never leaving the bundle by the wall. The face turned down where Merry had dropped it, hiding its features. Looking back to it he noticed that the hair was dark, near black, streaked through with silver, glinting in the firelight.
"Gandalf."
"That is not Pippin.I know."
Looking back to him Aragorn searched the wizened face. Eyes dark and intense staring at the creature below them, trying to pierce its heart and mind with just a look, so it seemed. His long white hair, pushed away from his face, a face that seemed older, sadder, laden with something.guilt? Maybe it was guilt he saw in those deep lines creasing around his eyes. Reaching out he touched the wizard's arm, causing him to start, his eyes meeting Aragorn's.
"Meriadoc, go to Lord Elrond, help him move Samwise away from here."
Turning to him, Merry stared incredulously.
"I'll not go anywhere till I know what's happened to Pip!"
Something seemed to spark within the depths of Gandalf's eyes. Turning suddenly he strode over to the Hobbit, covering the distance in the blink of an eye. Reaching down he caught the hobbit's chin in his hand.
"This is not the time to argue with me! Meriadoc, you have neither the skill or importance to hold you here now, you will only hinder us in what we have to do and you may end up another victim!"
Aragorn stepped back at the violent outburst by the wizard, Merry's face had gone whiter and his hands against the wall, ready to run when Gandalf let go. A sudden movement caused Aragorn to look down, the bundle was shaking and small hissing sounds were issuing from within. They drew the attention of everyone within the room, Aragorn stepped back, a feeling growing inside. Gandalf let Merry go but the Hobbit did not flee, he rose to his feet and stared at the small fabric bundle the shook, his eyes like saucers, a remembrance of what he saw underneath the cloth coming back to him.
"Merry, go now" Gandalf whispered, Merry didn't move except for his fests to clench tighter to the stone. "Merry!" Gandalf cried, gripping his shoulder and pushing him away toward Elrond who stood with several guards by Sam, the hobbit limp, his face twisted, moaning he began to struggle in the guard's arms. Elrond nodded to the guard who grasped Sam tighter and hurried out of the room, Elrond gripping Merry and pulled him out too, the guard holding the door looked to Aragorn.
"Your Highness?"
"Leave now, close the doors and do not open them under any circumstance, do you understand!"
The guard's eyes flitted to the trembling bundle the sounds growing louder, turning in to a parody of laughter. The guard stepped back and turned to go.
"Have the gates to the gardens shut and bolted"
"Sire?"
"The far doors leading in to gardens, I want them closed and blocked off."
The guard's face twisted uncertainly.
"But Sire, they are already closed, no one has been able to open them for years."
Aragorn turned to the far wall, the large doors were closed, black iron fastenings bolted, no trace of light entered from underneath. Behind him the doors slammed shut, the sound of the bolts being drawn rumbled through the chamber. Looking over to Gandalf Aragorn saw the wizard grip his staff, left by the fire many hours ago, his knuckles whitened.
"So you choose to lock yourselves in here with us all alone."
The voice echoed around the chamber drawing Aragorn back to the figure, still leaning against the wall it looked more like a thick black shadow than a figure, but the voice Aragorn knew, knew well.
"Do you really think that it is Wise?"
The voice teased, sarcastic humour rippling through it, he had never heard that tone in his voice before; it was unsettling to say the least.
"Where is Frodo?"
To his own ears his voice seemed thin, hollow, not as rich or resounding as Frodo's as it echoed through the halls.
"Here is here with us."
Aragorn looked to Gandalf, the wizard's body was tensed watching the figure, his eyes piercing.
"You cannot reach us old Man, you may as well save your strength, and the Valar will not restore you a second time I think."
Amusement was high in Frodo's voice, mocking them. He knew something they could not even begin to guess at, otherwise why the games?
"Why? Well, why not, I have little left to do but amuse myself with you pitiful mortals, alas the fun wanes.you are not as entertaining as I had thought, you offer me no challenge. I believed that I had found a group of creatures that could challenge me, after all you kept My Ring a secret for so long. But wait, it was not you was it, My Ring left your keeping long ago, only Frodo kept it from me. He has been a challenge to overcome, truly I have never met a will so strong as in him, a part of his allure wouldn't you say so?"
Aragorn sprang forward his hand on the hilt of Andúril, his thoughts fiery as he prepared to cut this creature in half after what he had said. The creature before him stood up, cloak swept back to reveal the creature within.
Frodo stood before him, pain and disorientation written over his features, skin white and covered with a sheen of sweat, luminous. His eyes wide and filled with fear, they were glassy, unfocused. Looking down Frodo reached out a hand, it was pale to the point of transparency, the floor showing through below.
"Aragorn? .What is."
Aragorn reached out, his rage forgotten as he tried to gather the Hobbit to him, protect him. Behind him Gandalf began to murmur, strange words, unfamiliar to him. As his hand touched the black cloak Frodo's eyes rolled back in their sockets, he let out a cry of pain and fell back against the wall, turned away from them. Gandalf moved in closer, gripped Aragorn's arm and pulled him back, struggling Aragorn turned back in time to see Frodo turn back to face them, the breath left his body in shock, Gandalf's arm tightened and he heard him hiss something low under his breath. Before them Frodo stood, but not the Frodo of a second ago, this was the one that Aragorn had seen only that afternoon, but the skin was now hollowed to his bones, shrunken to the point of emaciation, Lips blue as in death, the eyes a brilliant blue, shocking, not for their colour but for the emotions that hid behind them. A blank hunger shone out, greedy, dripping with malice and vengeance. In reality colder than the ice flows of the ancient land of Helcaraxë. The lips twisted upwards forming in to a cruel, mocking smile at the looks of horror on the faces of Aragorn and Gandalf.
"You see, we are one.the only way to banish me is to kill the one you try to protect, and by doing that you will only bring us closer.he has signed himself over to me, offered me his soul in return that Samwise was saved."
The two watched in horror as Sauron grew in confidence, laughing at their reeling emotions.
"You cannot save him, he has done this of his own will."
"Why would you want him after he destroyed the Ring?"
Aragorn watched carefully, his thoughts reeling, he needed time to think, to take all of this in.
"Want him? How can you ask such a question after knowing him.there is an innocence about him that I find.intriguing, sadly if left to you it will wear away, he will age, turning him in to another useless piece of flesh. The strain My Ring left him with has already begun to wear him away, if I could I would have waited until he had left this land, but time was short."
The blue eyes became distant, looking through the walls, seeing but not seeing.
"We are alike, the two of us, both hunger for something more.I for Power he for Peace, and yet My Ring has corrupted him a little, he feels the Power too, needs it, desires it, wants it."
Horrified Aragorn turned the conversation away; the thought of Frodo as becoming like . this Thing was utterly repellent.
"What of Pippin? Where does he feature in this tragic tale of yours?"
The eyes blazed back at him, stumbling backwards he felt the stare pierce him, began to pull at him. The loathing was almost soul destroying.
"Do not play games with me, Mortal. I tell you what I do because I know that it will repeat in your mind until it drives you mad, you know what I say is true and it tortures you. Peregrin is little more than a toy to play with, he amuses me. Where he is now? You need not concern yourselves with it, he will be found.when the time is right.and yet he plays a larger part than you realise."
Sucking in a breath Aragorn met those eyes again.
"Then there is a reason to this, not merely for the sake of your amusement are we treated so?"
Laughing out loud, a sound that hurt his ears, Sauron looked over to Gandalf, whose silence had been puzzling him.
"Well Wizard, have you nothing to say? No brave words with which to comfort the small creature you sent out to die? He does not blame you, you know.he blames he; he hates himself, his weakness.how does that make you feel Wizard? A creature you both swore to protect is suffering. The guilt must be crippling you."
Laughing again he answered the thoughts in both of their heads.
"He is beyond your aid now, he is with me, I will be protecting him, indeed he will be safer with me than he ever was with you.he is dear to me, his light comforting after so long in the dark, he will be with me as I take apart your world and reshape it in to my own. You cannot stop me now, indeed you will help me before this is over, you will help me and willingly so, you will not know it until too late."
Aragorn felt cold settle in to his body, a deep sense of foreboding. Abruptly Gandalf's voice called out.
"What of Samwise? Where is his part in this? He has already given Frodo to you, why continue his torture?"
Sauron smiled coldly, his voice lowering become as cold as his eyes.
"I need no more from Samwise, I enjoy his pain. He took my Light from Me, he took My Ring from Me, with his soul he will pay for that deed, By his death he will give me Frodo completely, Mind, Body and Soul, to do with as I please. A fitting gift I think for all of his crimes against Me."
Aragorn looked away, pain and horror seeping through his cold limbs, soaking his mind.
"Come now Aragorn, Son of Arathorn, the loss of one halfling is not cause for such despair."
Feeling the anger rise in him again he shook off Gandalf's restraining arm and sprang toward Sauron, his hands closing about the fabric of the cloak, a cry from Frodo and the garment dropped to the floor.
Empty.
They were gone.
Aragorn turned back to face Gandalf, the wizard's faced filled with pain and determination.
"Come, Sam needs us now, by telling us a little of the future he has given us a way to prevent it."
Gandalf turned toward the door, his bearing swift, clutching the staff tightly, and his body a silhouette surrounded by a fiery glow.
"What of Frodo?"
Gandalf stopped suddenly and turned back to Aragorn, his face became old again, the same look as when handed Frodo's clothing by the Hand of Sauron, the look of despair.
"We can do nothing for Frodo now, he is beyond our aid."
"I refuse to accept it! I will not leave him to Sauron."
Gandalf moved closer, looked Aragorn in the eye, saw the stubborn glean in there; he would not abandon Frodo, not by his life.
"By saving Samwise, we may give Frodo the ability to fight Sauron.but we must hurry."
Aragorn strode after him, his mind recalling his thoughts earlier.
"Gandalf, why would you not have Arwen here"
He stopped again and turned, this time there was fire in his eyes, a fearsome sight. They had known each other for many years and Aragorn had never been afraid of him, yet fear now coursed in his veins as he took in the countenance of Gandalf the White.
"That, I will not answer, for if I utter it, it may come true, and I would not bring that fate upon her or you.when the danger is passed I will tell you of my fear, but not before. Do not speak of it again."
He turned away and lifting his staff toward the doors, Aragorn heard the bolts scrape back and the shouts of his men outside as they remembered his warning. The doors opened wide allowing a little light to enter the chamber. Ignoring the guards that fell back against the walls, Gandalf moved past, heading toward the small distant chamber where Samwise Gamgee lie in an uneasy state, Lord Elrond tending the Hobbit, Meriadoc standing by the window looking out in the night sky over Gondor, hoping for news of his cousin, regretting his angry thoughts earlier.
Hanging his head King Elessar followed the Wizard and sent a prayer to whoever listened for those he loved.
Outside the warm air drifted through the gardens and through the streets, unaware of the fears of men.
***************************
Another really big thank you to everyone who keeps reading this, I can honestly say that any Ideas about the ending I had are now long gone, so the magical mystery tour will be going on for a while and as your tour guide I can honestly say that I have no more of an idea about the places we will be visiting than you do, but I hope you enjoy it. Any responses of feedback you would like to leave are always welcome and highly appreciated.