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.
MagicalRachel: _Why_? You ask "why" I, hobbit torturer and general sadist, torture Frodo? It's my job! Actually, at this stage, I am banging my head on the desk and screaming at myself but- apart from Sam, of course- I have no idea who could comfort him. Sorry. He has to go on in pain. Glad you liked Gollum. You know, this is the first time in a fic I'm actually gonna make him turn out good? Aw, you like my A/Ns? I always thought they were a bit pointless. Just a thank you very much for your lovely comment. :-)
Shirebound: *big hugs* I'm sorry! I'm sorry! At least Frodo isn't completely alone, right? He has got the Ring to talk to. OK, not much compensation for his Sam. I promise there's only a couple more chapters left! Then Frodo can be happy again! My next fic- thank you very much for your permission- is going to be happy. Honest.
Bookworm2000: Ah, no, I like it when people speculate about my stories. Please, feel free! Hehe, wish I could hear your Gollum impression, we could freak each other out! (Btw, I heard that you were getting a livejournal soon. When?? :-))
Holly Wood: I know, isn't the Ring evil, though? I'd prefer to talk to Sam any day! Frod-si needs him Sam more than ever now. Wish I could go in and tell him that he hasn't got long to go...
QTPie-2488: Yay! You return! So pleased you're enjoying "Garden of the Moon". I'm afraid there's not much longer to go, but I hope I can keep you curious up until the very end ^^
~ Chapter Eleven ~
The Nazgûl swept like a black dart over the ruined mountains, jagged as knives. Its brothers now roamed their way towards Pelennor and the rebellious mortals that waged their foolish war. The dragon beneath its clawed hands screeched at the sight of smoke fogging the horizon. Flames flickered in the beast's glassy eyes. The Nazgûl felt a desperate longing to go there. It knew it. It could feel the presence of the Ring. The feeling was intense-almost overwhelming. The Nazgûl tugged at the reins and the dragon cried out again, turning its leathery wings so that it faced the billowing smoke head on. At its master's command, it beat its wings against the air and ploughed forwards again. Far below, men fought for their lives, not noticing the vast black shape that writhed above them. Little did they know how close they were approaching their own destruction.
--
In the dusky morning, Faramir's troops departed, bows slung across their shoulders and eyes continually checking every movement around them.
"Forward!" the captain ordered and the men started their march. Sam was lost amid all the tall figures surrounding him. Faramir's hold on his wrist tightened as the rangers passed by in an endless cavalcade. In all the confusion, Sam might have tried to escape for a fourth time, but he knew it was hopeless. He had no idea where his master was. And anyway, where would they go? Surely they could not go through the Black Gate?
"Oh, Mister Frodo," he sighed, "If you think about it, it's all Gandalf's fault. If he hadn't come lookin' for a hero in the Shire, Mr. Bilbo might never have gone off on no adventure and then.then he'd never have found that sneaking Gollum and the Ring. None of this need ever of happened. But it has, Samwise Gamgee, and there ain't no point in wondering what it might be like if it hadn't. That's going to get you about as far as the Black Gate. Nope, you've got to do what you can. When we get to this Osgiliath place, you've got to escape as soon as possible. Mister Frodo can't go into Mordor on his own and that's a fact. I'll follow him all the way to Mount Doom. You'll have to, Sam, won't you? Never leave your master, not for nothing and no one...he's your friend too and no one goes off and leaves a friend to deal with a problem on their own. It's not right. Mister Frodo wasn't made for this sort of thing. Sam, you've got to find him. Gotta find him before it's too late."
The hobbit had no idea he had said any of this aloud, yet Faramir had heard every word. He could not stave off the immense weight of guilt. Whatever secrets Sam wanted to hide, he could hide them. Not here would he learn of his brother. Sam was too loyal to betray anything of that. The captain put a hand to his eyes to quickly brush away the tears. He knew he was letting the chance of a lifetime slip between his fingers. But he would let it. His prisoner wanted nothing to do with the Ring. He knew where it was.Faramir felt something cold slither through his veins.desire.creeping stealthily towards his heart. No, he thought determinedly, no, the Ring can wait. The Ring can stay where it is. I will free Sam at Osgiliath. May all the blessings of Gondor go with him to find his master. Faramir turned to the hobbit, smiling. He had never felt so sure of something in all his life. This was important- Something thin and grey launched itself out of the tree above and collapsed on top of Faramir, knocking him to the ground. The creature bounded about, eyes wide and breath ragged. He suddenly cried out in delight and dived for Sam.
"Stupid hobbit, t'is you! T'is you! We've found the fat hobbit, precious. Now the precious will be saved."
It let out a hoarse laugh and the bony fingers dug into Sam's hand. But the hobbit did not seem so pleased.
"Why of all the good-for-nothing vermin, it had to be you. You're going to pay for this, you filthy Stinker, I lost my master because of you."
"What is this?" Faramir exclaimed in horror, drawing himself backwards on hands and knees, "You know this beast, Samwise?"
"Though I wish I'd never met it!" Sam yelled. He drew back his free hand to strike but Gollum let out a venomous hiss.
"We don't wish to be here either, precious. We have little desire to ask for your help. We hates fat hobbit. Fat hobbit hates us, we know. But Sméagol needs hobbit now. We need each other perhaps."
"What are you blathering about now?" the hobbit spat.
Faramir was astonished at how much contempt Sam held the withered creature in. It hissed again, turning in circles and almost wrenching off Sam's arm in the process.
"Ach! We knows that fat hobbit loves his master and Sméagol does too, yes, yes. The master of the precious is in terrible danger. Sméagol knows fat hobbit can save him."
"What have you done with Frodo, you poisonous-"
"Frodo, yes, Frodo! The master is in the burning city. He is giving up the Ring to Him. He is going to- to- kill us all. The wraiths are coming for him!"
The captain stared at him.
"Wraiths? The Nazgûl?" Then his eyes fell on Sam. "Your master bears the Ring of Power?"
"You want it do you? Well, here's your chance, Captain Faramir! I don't care what you want to do with me now but I'm going with Gollum to this burning city to get my master and take him into Mordor with Ring. You'll have to fight the both of us if you want It so badly!"
"Stupid man knows nothing of the precious' power!" Gollum snarled.
For a moment, just for a second, Sméagol and Samwise were in agreement. Faramir looked from one to the other and remembered the promise had made just minutes before. He had a vague awareness that the rest of the column was watching the scene in amazement. He swallowed.
"No, I do not want the prec- the Ring. This burning city is Osgiliath. It burns as we speak and the enemy overrun its shores. But I will take you there.I will do all I can to save your master. The Ring will continue on to Mordor. Rangers! Come! To Osgiliath as fast as we may!"
--
The Nazgûl was right overhead now, circling patiently over the river. The men were falling like flies now, overcome by their exhaustion, pinned to the walls by arrows. Orcs leapt between the crumbled buildings and brought their swords with sickening crunches into an enemy's back. There was the sudden thunderous sound of falling stone and the clatter of pebbles on the shattered bridges. Suddenly, the rider's head snapped up. There it was again, that burning desire leaping in its wraith-like mind. Its hands clenched involuntarily on the reins. It scented the air. The Ring was calling again. The dragon turned and finally, there, on the hillside, crawling down with agonising slowness was the hobbit from Amon Sûl. In its shrouded vision, the Nazgûl could see the wound in his shoulder glowing white hot. The hobbit doubled over with a scream and it tumbled towards the city. No matter. The Nazgûl could wait. Soon the Ring would begin its call once again and there would be no will on this Middle-Earth that could resist It.
MagicalRachel: _Why_? You ask "why" I, hobbit torturer and general sadist, torture Frodo? It's my job! Actually, at this stage, I am banging my head on the desk and screaming at myself but- apart from Sam, of course- I have no idea who could comfort him. Sorry. He has to go on in pain. Glad you liked Gollum. You know, this is the first time in a fic I'm actually gonna make him turn out good? Aw, you like my A/Ns? I always thought they were a bit pointless. Just a thank you very much for your lovely comment. :-)
Shirebound: *big hugs* I'm sorry! I'm sorry! At least Frodo isn't completely alone, right? He has got the Ring to talk to. OK, not much compensation for his Sam. I promise there's only a couple more chapters left! Then Frodo can be happy again! My next fic- thank you very much for your permission- is going to be happy. Honest.
Bookworm2000: Ah, no, I like it when people speculate about my stories. Please, feel free! Hehe, wish I could hear your Gollum impression, we could freak each other out! (Btw, I heard that you were getting a livejournal soon. When?? :-))
Holly Wood: I know, isn't the Ring evil, though? I'd prefer to talk to Sam any day! Frod-si needs him Sam more than ever now. Wish I could go in and tell him that he hasn't got long to go...
QTPie-2488: Yay! You return! So pleased you're enjoying "Garden of the Moon". I'm afraid there's not much longer to go, but I hope I can keep you curious up until the very end ^^
~ Chapter Eleven ~
The Nazgûl swept like a black dart over the ruined mountains, jagged as knives. Its brothers now roamed their way towards Pelennor and the rebellious mortals that waged their foolish war. The dragon beneath its clawed hands screeched at the sight of smoke fogging the horizon. Flames flickered in the beast's glassy eyes. The Nazgûl felt a desperate longing to go there. It knew it. It could feel the presence of the Ring. The feeling was intense-almost overwhelming. The Nazgûl tugged at the reins and the dragon cried out again, turning its leathery wings so that it faced the billowing smoke head on. At its master's command, it beat its wings against the air and ploughed forwards again. Far below, men fought for their lives, not noticing the vast black shape that writhed above them. Little did they know how close they were approaching their own destruction.
--
In the dusky morning, Faramir's troops departed, bows slung across their shoulders and eyes continually checking every movement around them.
"Forward!" the captain ordered and the men started their march. Sam was lost amid all the tall figures surrounding him. Faramir's hold on his wrist tightened as the rangers passed by in an endless cavalcade. In all the confusion, Sam might have tried to escape for a fourth time, but he knew it was hopeless. He had no idea where his master was. And anyway, where would they go? Surely they could not go through the Black Gate?
"Oh, Mister Frodo," he sighed, "If you think about it, it's all Gandalf's fault. If he hadn't come lookin' for a hero in the Shire, Mr. Bilbo might never have gone off on no adventure and then.then he'd never have found that sneaking Gollum and the Ring. None of this need ever of happened. But it has, Samwise Gamgee, and there ain't no point in wondering what it might be like if it hadn't. That's going to get you about as far as the Black Gate. Nope, you've got to do what you can. When we get to this Osgiliath place, you've got to escape as soon as possible. Mister Frodo can't go into Mordor on his own and that's a fact. I'll follow him all the way to Mount Doom. You'll have to, Sam, won't you? Never leave your master, not for nothing and no one...he's your friend too and no one goes off and leaves a friend to deal with a problem on their own. It's not right. Mister Frodo wasn't made for this sort of thing. Sam, you've got to find him. Gotta find him before it's too late."
The hobbit had no idea he had said any of this aloud, yet Faramir had heard every word. He could not stave off the immense weight of guilt. Whatever secrets Sam wanted to hide, he could hide them. Not here would he learn of his brother. Sam was too loyal to betray anything of that. The captain put a hand to his eyes to quickly brush away the tears. He knew he was letting the chance of a lifetime slip between his fingers. But he would let it. His prisoner wanted nothing to do with the Ring. He knew where it was.Faramir felt something cold slither through his veins.desire.creeping stealthily towards his heart. No, he thought determinedly, no, the Ring can wait. The Ring can stay where it is. I will free Sam at Osgiliath. May all the blessings of Gondor go with him to find his master. Faramir turned to the hobbit, smiling. He had never felt so sure of something in all his life. This was important- Something thin and grey launched itself out of the tree above and collapsed on top of Faramir, knocking him to the ground. The creature bounded about, eyes wide and breath ragged. He suddenly cried out in delight and dived for Sam.
"Stupid hobbit, t'is you! T'is you! We've found the fat hobbit, precious. Now the precious will be saved."
It let out a hoarse laugh and the bony fingers dug into Sam's hand. But the hobbit did not seem so pleased.
"Why of all the good-for-nothing vermin, it had to be you. You're going to pay for this, you filthy Stinker, I lost my master because of you."
"What is this?" Faramir exclaimed in horror, drawing himself backwards on hands and knees, "You know this beast, Samwise?"
"Though I wish I'd never met it!" Sam yelled. He drew back his free hand to strike but Gollum let out a venomous hiss.
"We don't wish to be here either, precious. We have little desire to ask for your help. We hates fat hobbit. Fat hobbit hates us, we know. But Sméagol needs hobbit now. We need each other perhaps."
"What are you blathering about now?" the hobbit spat.
Faramir was astonished at how much contempt Sam held the withered creature in. It hissed again, turning in circles and almost wrenching off Sam's arm in the process.
"Ach! We knows that fat hobbit loves his master and Sméagol does too, yes, yes. The master of the precious is in terrible danger. Sméagol knows fat hobbit can save him."
"What have you done with Frodo, you poisonous-"
"Frodo, yes, Frodo! The master is in the burning city. He is giving up the Ring to Him. He is going to- to- kill us all. The wraiths are coming for him!"
The captain stared at him.
"Wraiths? The Nazgûl?" Then his eyes fell on Sam. "Your master bears the Ring of Power?"
"You want it do you? Well, here's your chance, Captain Faramir! I don't care what you want to do with me now but I'm going with Gollum to this burning city to get my master and take him into Mordor with Ring. You'll have to fight the both of us if you want It so badly!"
"Stupid man knows nothing of the precious' power!" Gollum snarled.
For a moment, just for a second, Sméagol and Samwise were in agreement. Faramir looked from one to the other and remembered the promise had made just minutes before. He had a vague awareness that the rest of the column was watching the scene in amazement. He swallowed.
"No, I do not want the prec- the Ring. This burning city is Osgiliath. It burns as we speak and the enemy overrun its shores. But I will take you there.I will do all I can to save your master. The Ring will continue on to Mordor. Rangers! Come! To Osgiliath as fast as we may!"
--
The Nazgûl was right overhead now, circling patiently over the river. The men were falling like flies now, overcome by their exhaustion, pinned to the walls by arrows. Orcs leapt between the crumbled buildings and brought their swords with sickening crunches into an enemy's back. There was the sudden thunderous sound of falling stone and the clatter of pebbles on the shattered bridges. Suddenly, the rider's head snapped up. There it was again, that burning desire leaping in its wraith-like mind. Its hands clenched involuntarily on the reins. It scented the air. The Ring was calling again. The dragon turned and finally, there, on the hillside, crawling down with agonising slowness was the hobbit from Amon Sûl. In its shrouded vision, the Nazgûl could see the wound in his shoulder glowing white hot. The hobbit doubled over with a scream and it tumbled towards the city. No matter. The Nazgûl could wait. Soon the Ring would begin its call once again and there would be no will on this Middle-Earth that could resist It.