Disclaimer: AU Story. The fourth large LOTR fic! My word, not another,
surely? The characters are not mine. The settings are not mine. The plot
is, however, my creation. I hope you find this an enjoyable read.
Shirebound: Heh. My mangy frogs. I'm sure Sting will be able to deal with them. The mangy Gollum frog, however, has strayed out of thought and time. Well, actually, he's somewhere behind the hobbits
Koko Kung: Mountainous regions to come. Yay! *claps hands* I love mountains. Please don't asphyxiate on my account! Read the story and be calm, child. Hope you enjoy!
????: I thought they needed a bit of help, really. So I rescued them through the thorns. Good thing too! But Gollum may wreck their plans. Heehee, you should try slowing the tape down now. Very sinister Galadriel
CStini: Yeah, but Sam's a good sort. He's a right hero. But yes! That should be his motto! Don't bring too many pans...
Stephanie-Lou: Hooray! Da li'l bee buzzes back! I'm so pleased you liked the first three- hope the fourth works out well too
Holly Wood: Ooh, scary music. *hides behind sofa* Hopefully the hobbits will get a little bit further before more trouble strikes. Glad you're enjoying it!
QTPie-2488: I'm sorry I've not been updating so quickly recently. Blame my school. But I'll try to get things up within weeks of each other rather than months. :-)
MagicalRachel: Lovely? Well, I appreciate the sentiment. :-) Crawling through thorns not exactly highlight of the day! Ooh. I still don't see why you have to have Frodo pyjamas! *blush* The Evil Hobbit-Torturing Person thanks you. I know, but the voice I try and put to Frodo is Ian Holm's from the original BBC recording. Lossa fun! Thank you for the review!
ViNguyen: Yes! How did you miss this? Down on your knees! Ahem...sorry, my power-hungry side exploded there. You made me really happy! Dramatic. *proud smile* Thank you!
Hmsgirl: OK *gasp* I shall update. Honest! Honest! *frightened sobbing*
Bookworm2000: Yes. Come to think of it, I'd like Sam's pan back! Poor little thing doesn't deserve to be eaten out of by smelly orcs. Good for you! You must be a very inspirational person. Don't worry about the Birdseyes thing- just my warped sense of humour. Teehee. But what if you lose your real personality? I mean, what if you dropped it down the back of the sofa by mistake?
Skye: Yay for Skye! Thou art an evil hobbit torturing person too, I'll warrant. I hope I keep amazing you in Ch. 4! D'aw, li'l Sam's all lookin' after his master and bein' all wonderful and loyal. Gotta love Sam. Ah, good idea! The great Hehop- a giant frog with clustered eyes. N'ah, sorry, it's just Gollum. The orcs didn't ask his name. Please do update! Thou might be evil but I doest enjoy thy tales of Frodo's woe and...OK, I'll shut up now. Please update!
Just 221 days until ROTK!
~ Chapter Four ~
They travelled far that day, not stopping once. The trees gathered in about them and the faint roar of a waterfall rang ahead of them. The sun rose into the eastern horizon and spilt gold across Ithilien. Sam scrambled up a low rise and looked back across the gardens to the hill, now little more than a smudge behind the conversing trees.
"I wish I hadn't lost that pan," he muttered. Frodo laughed dryly.
"Don't fret, Sam. I'm sure it'll find its way back to you somehow."
"Maybe and maybe not, Mister Frodo, but it bothers me what those filthy orcs might be doing with it. I don't want no orc food in that pan," he said and added, as a quiet afterthought, "It was a good pan that..." And he said little else.
--
They stopped a little while after noon. Clouds were beginning to gather in the sky and a murky grey was seeping from behind the ominous mountains. Sam broke a piece of lembas in two and they ate without pleasure. The hobbit noticed that Frodo kept glancing in either direction, his eyes scanning the landscape in a vaguely suspicious manner. Sam decided to ignore it but it troubled him greatly. After a brief rest, they set off again, trudging up an embankment, using their hands as much as their feet. For a while, the going was easy and the ground was level. They were travelling on high ground where the wind was fresh and the views spectacular. Ithilien was spread out before them and it appeared that they would go far that day.
"Watch out, Sam!" Frodo shouted and lunged out to his friend. A small avalanche of shale cascaded down the cliffside that had been all but invisible behind the thick ivy. Sam gripped Frodo's arm and let out a breath.
"Oh, sir...I never saw it coming! You saved me that time."
"Yes, Sam. We'll have to keep- goodness! Look at that!"
The hobbits gazed down through the veil of leaves and branches and saw, to their astonishment, whole armies passing below. Troops of men garbed in black cloaks and masks of blood red. Men. Orcs. Creatures they had only ever seen pictures of. Tramping in rank upon rank over the finery of the garden, towards Mordor.
"There's got to be a thousand and one of them down there," Sam breathed, "And it doesn't stop! See, Frodo? The lines go right back into the trees."
But Frodo was no longer listening. He could not hear his friend. To him, the trees uprooted and pulled themselves aside like curtains. The earth flattened to a straight path that led straight into the troops. The Ring's song seemed all the louder and more potent than ever. It wove around him. It told him to go on. It's song wound on and Frodo followed it. His fingers curled convulsively up to the chain at his neck. The Ring was calling him. And now...now it was alright. Frodo wondered why he had been frightened in the first place. He would just pass the Ring on. It was a small task. Then he and Sam could find the others and they could go home. To Bilbo and Gandalf in the Shire. No one would come to any harm. There was no Dark Lord. Sauron, no doubt, was just a story. Only the Ring mattered. Only the Ring had to continue the journey. It sang to him so beautifully. Why should anything with so sweet a voice need to be feared?
There was a faint hiss from the undergrowth. Sam spun round and drew his sword at once. Behind him, Frodo began to step forward. Tentatively at first, but then more confidently. Working his way down the side of the cliff.
"Who goes there?" Sam said angrily to the bushes, "Gollum? Gollum, is that you? Come out, you wretch. Stop your skulking and tell us your game. The orcs and all of it. Come on!"
The hiss subsided to a low growl and then, to Sam's dismay, it became a laugh. A hoarse cackle that made the hair on his arms stand on end.
"We won't come out, precious," Gollum sniggered, "We don't want to. It won't be long now, will it? Won't be long. The precious is calling and master hears it. Sam better get Master or the precious is gone. Yes, precious? Yes, yes, It is singing to him, precious..."
Sam dropped his sword in horror. Without turning to see, he slid himself to the edge of the slope and twisted his body round to the cliff edge and began to clamber down. He only knew that he must reach the bottom before Frodo. If not, well, he did not want to think of it. The idea made his skin crawl. But before, Gollum had been so adamant for the Ring not to fall into the Enemy's hands. But it was hardly Sam's way to stop and think of this. His duty was to his master. He tumbled a short way and caught a glimpse of Frodo, working his way stoically down the cliff side, eyes clouded, all else forgotten.
"Mister Frodo!" he called. But he dared not shout louder, for fear of alerting the armies, not a hundred yards away. Frodo did not heed him. He walked on, stepping out onto the ground and heading straight into capture. Sam inhaled sharply and waited until his master was just beneath him. Then he threw himself down, grabbing Frodo's arms as he went and toppling them both to the floor. Frodo let out a cry and Sam felt his hands being wrenched aside.
"No, Frodo, you mustn't," he pleaded, "Don't listen to It. That's not the way. That's not the right way!"
Sam almost fell back as a voice entered his mind.
*It is the only way,* it whispered, it's voice filled with malice, *Let him go! There is no hope left for Frodo. You have lost him. But I can save him. If he does this for me then he shall be well. You can return to the Shire. All will be well. You can be with Rosie and your father. Frodo and Bilbo will be back in Bag End. Just let him do this and I shall make everything go back to how it was before.*
But no matter how tempting Sam found these words, he knew his instructions. The Ring could not go to those men. They were to take it to Mount Doom.
"Fight it, Frodo!" he cried, "You know it ain't right. We have to go to the mountain, remember? The Cracks of Doom. Lord Elrond said that was the only way. Gandalf said it was!"
Frodo's angry struggles weakened and then stopped. His mouth opened and closed helplessly as his mind struggled against the powerful grip still holding it. The Ring's song dulled and, finally, faded back into memory. Sam felt the hands that had been fighting him before embrace him now.
The hobbits sat for a long while in silence until the vast company had passed them by and all was still. When the birdsong resumed, Sam helped Frodo to his feet and they stood there in quiet amazement. Only now they realised how close they had come to the final toll. How loudly the Ring still sang. Sam guessed that, in the few moments of quiet, he heard a dying voice cry out in his mind.
*Frodo shall never return unless he does this for me...*
Shirebound: Heh. My mangy frogs. I'm sure Sting will be able to deal with them. The mangy Gollum frog, however, has strayed out of thought and time. Well, actually, he's somewhere behind the hobbits
Koko Kung: Mountainous regions to come. Yay! *claps hands* I love mountains. Please don't asphyxiate on my account! Read the story and be calm, child. Hope you enjoy!
????: I thought they needed a bit of help, really. So I rescued them through the thorns. Good thing too! But Gollum may wreck their plans. Heehee, you should try slowing the tape down now. Very sinister Galadriel
CStini: Yeah, but Sam's a good sort. He's a right hero. But yes! That should be his motto! Don't bring too many pans...
Stephanie-Lou: Hooray! Da li'l bee buzzes back! I'm so pleased you liked the first three- hope the fourth works out well too
Holly Wood: Ooh, scary music. *hides behind sofa* Hopefully the hobbits will get a little bit further before more trouble strikes. Glad you're enjoying it!
QTPie-2488: I'm sorry I've not been updating so quickly recently. Blame my school. But I'll try to get things up within weeks of each other rather than months. :-)
MagicalRachel: Lovely? Well, I appreciate the sentiment. :-) Crawling through thorns not exactly highlight of the day! Ooh. I still don't see why you have to have Frodo pyjamas! *blush* The Evil Hobbit-Torturing Person thanks you. I know, but the voice I try and put to Frodo is Ian Holm's from the original BBC recording. Lossa fun! Thank you for the review!
ViNguyen: Yes! How did you miss this? Down on your knees! Ahem...sorry, my power-hungry side exploded there. You made me really happy! Dramatic. *proud smile* Thank you!
Hmsgirl: OK *gasp* I shall update. Honest! Honest! *frightened sobbing*
Bookworm2000: Yes. Come to think of it, I'd like Sam's pan back! Poor little thing doesn't deserve to be eaten out of by smelly orcs. Good for you! You must be a very inspirational person. Don't worry about the Birdseyes thing- just my warped sense of humour. Teehee. But what if you lose your real personality? I mean, what if you dropped it down the back of the sofa by mistake?
Skye: Yay for Skye! Thou art an evil hobbit torturing person too, I'll warrant. I hope I keep amazing you in Ch. 4! D'aw, li'l Sam's all lookin' after his master and bein' all wonderful and loyal. Gotta love Sam. Ah, good idea! The great Hehop- a giant frog with clustered eyes. N'ah, sorry, it's just Gollum. The orcs didn't ask his name. Please do update! Thou might be evil but I doest enjoy thy tales of Frodo's woe and...OK, I'll shut up now. Please update!
Just 221 days until ROTK!
~ Chapter Four ~
They travelled far that day, not stopping once. The trees gathered in about them and the faint roar of a waterfall rang ahead of them. The sun rose into the eastern horizon and spilt gold across Ithilien. Sam scrambled up a low rise and looked back across the gardens to the hill, now little more than a smudge behind the conversing trees.
"I wish I hadn't lost that pan," he muttered. Frodo laughed dryly.
"Don't fret, Sam. I'm sure it'll find its way back to you somehow."
"Maybe and maybe not, Mister Frodo, but it bothers me what those filthy orcs might be doing with it. I don't want no orc food in that pan," he said and added, as a quiet afterthought, "It was a good pan that..." And he said little else.
--
They stopped a little while after noon. Clouds were beginning to gather in the sky and a murky grey was seeping from behind the ominous mountains. Sam broke a piece of lembas in two and they ate without pleasure. The hobbit noticed that Frodo kept glancing in either direction, his eyes scanning the landscape in a vaguely suspicious manner. Sam decided to ignore it but it troubled him greatly. After a brief rest, they set off again, trudging up an embankment, using their hands as much as their feet. For a while, the going was easy and the ground was level. They were travelling on high ground where the wind was fresh and the views spectacular. Ithilien was spread out before them and it appeared that they would go far that day.
"Watch out, Sam!" Frodo shouted and lunged out to his friend. A small avalanche of shale cascaded down the cliffside that had been all but invisible behind the thick ivy. Sam gripped Frodo's arm and let out a breath.
"Oh, sir...I never saw it coming! You saved me that time."
"Yes, Sam. We'll have to keep- goodness! Look at that!"
The hobbits gazed down through the veil of leaves and branches and saw, to their astonishment, whole armies passing below. Troops of men garbed in black cloaks and masks of blood red. Men. Orcs. Creatures they had only ever seen pictures of. Tramping in rank upon rank over the finery of the garden, towards Mordor.
"There's got to be a thousand and one of them down there," Sam breathed, "And it doesn't stop! See, Frodo? The lines go right back into the trees."
But Frodo was no longer listening. He could not hear his friend. To him, the trees uprooted and pulled themselves aside like curtains. The earth flattened to a straight path that led straight into the troops. The Ring's song seemed all the louder and more potent than ever. It wove around him. It told him to go on. It's song wound on and Frodo followed it. His fingers curled convulsively up to the chain at his neck. The Ring was calling him. And now...now it was alright. Frodo wondered why he had been frightened in the first place. He would just pass the Ring on. It was a small task. Then he and Sam could find the others and they could go home. To Bilbo and Gandalf in the Shire. No one would come to any harm. There was no Dark Lord. Sauron, no doubt, was just a story. Only the Ring mattered. Only the Ring had to continue the journey. It sang to him so beautifully. Why should anything with so sweet a voice need to be feared?
There was a faint hiss from the undergrowth. Sam spun round and drew his sword at once. Behind him, Frodo began to step forward. Tentatively at first, but then more confidently. Working his way down the side of the cliff.
"Who goes there?" Sam said angrily to the bushes, "Gollum? Gollum, is that you? Come out, you wretch. Stop your skulking and tell us your game. The orcs and all of it. Come on!"
The hiss subsided to a low growl and then, to Sam's dismay, it became a laugh. A hoarse cackle that made the hair on his arms stand on end.
"We won't come out, precious," Gollum sniggered, "We don't want to. It won't be long now, will it? Won't be long. The precious is calling and master hears it. Sam better get Master or the precious is gone. Yes, precious? Yes, yes, It is singing to him, precious..."
Sam dropped his sword in horror. Without turning to see, he slid himself to the edge of the slope and twisted his body round to the cliff edge and began to clamber down. He only knew that he must reach the bottom before Frodo. If not, well, he did not want to think of it. The idea made his skin crawl. But before, Gollum had been so adamant for the Ring not to fall into the Enemy's hands. But it was hardly Sam's way to stop and think of this. His duty was to his master. He tumbled a short way and caught a glimpse of Frodo, working his way stoically down the cliff side, eyes clouded, all else forgotten.
"Mister Frodo!" he called. But he dared not shout louder, for fear of alerting the armies, not a hundred yards away. Frodo did not heed him. He walked on, stepping out onto the ground and heading straight into capture. Sam inhaled sharply and waited until his master was just beneath him. Then he threw himself down, grabbing Frodo's arms as he went and toppling them both to the floor. Frodo let out a cry and Sam felt his hands being wrenched aside.
"No, Frodo, you mustn't," he pleaded, "Don't listen to It. That's not the way. That's not the right way!"
Sam almost fell back as a voice entered his mind.
*It is the only way,* it whispered, it's voice filled with malice, *Let him go! There is no hope left for Frodo. You have lost him. But I can save him. If he does this for me then he shall be well. You can return to the Shire. All will be well. You can be with Rosie and your father. Frodo and Bilbo will be back in Bag End. Just let him do this and I shall make everything go back to how it was before.*
But no matter how tempting Sam found these words, he knew his instructions. The Ring could not go to those men. They were to take it to Mount Doom.
"Fight it, Frodo!" he cried, "You know it ain't right. We have to go to the mountain, remember? The Cracks of Doom. Lord Elrond said that was the only way. Gandalf said it was!"
Frodo's angry struggles weakened and then stopped. His mouth opened and closed helplessly as his mind struggled against the powerful grip still holding it. The Ring's song dulled and, finally, faded back into memory. Sam felt the hands that had been fighting him before embrace him now.
The hobbits sat for a long while in silence until the vast company had passed them by and all was still. When the birdsong resumed, Sam helped Frodo to his feet and they stood there in quiet amazement. Only now they realised how close they had come to the final toll. How loudly the Ring still sang. Sam guessed that, in the few moments of quiet, he heard a dying voice cry out in his mind.
*Frodo shall never return unless he does this for me...*