Disclaimer: I don't own Tolkien's characters or settings sigh. Mel is mine though…

To the reviewers:

Dy: Sequel???? How does the title 'The Messenger 2 : Return to Middle-Earth' grab you?? Lol, just kidding. I have not thought about a sequel and you will probably agree with me when you read the next chapter. But then again, these darn plot bunnies could well catch me unprepared in the middle of one night. Well, a girl's gotta do something when insomnia rules and the rest of the family are blissfully asleep lol.

Danceingfae: You of the wicked humor! I totally love it that you liked my depiction of Gollum, he is one of my favorites after all… and I put a lot of TLC into writing him.

Maverick Girl: Hope you like the ending, and thanks ever so much, once again!!

Christie: What happens next is that….wait! I cannot give away any spoilers!! By this time next week you shall find out J .

Samus: Sorry I confused you! Well, to explain: if you remember a previous chapter, Jerry (the programmer) uploaded a virus into the game and that made Tamara's presence possible. The beach is my representation of death (or if you want the state just before death), hence the comfort and peacefulness that Mel felt and her reluctance to leave. Aragorn was there in his capacity as healer and he managed to pull Mel away from it. And remember this VR game has actually managed to tap into a parallel universe (Middle-Earth). Hope this helps!!

~ Chapter 16 – Gollum's Cave ~

Mel' body heaved in a sharp intake of breath as her eyes flew open and she felt the breath of life run through her like a jolt of electricity. She blinked furiously several times and shortly her breathing slowed to a normal rhythm. Before long, the shadows she could not discern filled out and their shapes became familiar to her heavy-lidded eyes.

Three smiling faces hovered above her and Mel instantly remembered the last image before darkness had taken over: the Nazgul.

To look upon the faces of her friends was a blessing. Yet something, no..someone was missing from the picture.

'Tamara..' she whispered raggedly, her voice barely above a breath.

Aragorn's smile turned sad.

'You remember her? Do you remember where you saw her?'

Mel nodded, her eyes growing clearer by the minute as realization of what had happened dawned on her.

'Yes, I do remember…' she said and squeezed her eyes shut, overcome by sudden despondence, wanting to shield her despair from her companions who had risked enough to bring her to life. All was silent and for a moment, and they respected her solitude.

A water pouch materialized in Legolas' hands.

'You must be thirsty.'

The corners of Mel's mouth lifted slowly in a reluctant smile and she managed to sit up on her elbows and take the liquid that tasted so good and fresh like nothing she had ever drank before.

But once her thirst was assuaged, thoughts came rushing back in her head and her eyes darkened once more. She touched her neck tentatively and looked up at Gandalf.

'They've taken It, haven't they?'

The wizard shook his head gently, the promise of a smile on his lips.

'No, the Enemy did not take the Ring. Gollum did.'

A short while later, Mel had learned the outline of the events that had taken place since they fled from the orc camp. She spoke very little and Aragorn watched her closely as she sat up, hugging her knees to her chest, listening to Gandalf. Her improvement was quick and most welcome as time was running out. Yet the Ranger found her changed in a way that he could not put his finger on. It was Mel, yet at the same time there were depths in her eyes that had not been there before.

'So where is the waterfall?' Mel questioned when Gandalf had finished, glancing around. 'Is there still a long way to go?'

Why was she so anxious to get to the waterfall, did she not realize what it could mean for her?

'It is close by.' Gandalf answered.

Mel nodded and turned her eyes to Gollum, who was still lying unconscious, like a broken toy. She grimaced at the sight.

'It's sad to see him like this, in spite of all he's done,' she murmured then her eyes shifted, looking straight at Aragorn. 'How is your arm?'

'Healing quite well.' Aragorn replied carefully.

'But you look so pale' Mel protested. 'Is it still bothering you?'

'Not any more' was the Ranger's reply.

Mel stared for a moment, then understood.

'It's because you brought me back, isn't it?' she spelled out every word, not taking her eyes off Aragorn's steady gray gaze. 'You gave your strength to bring me back, didn't you?'

'And I am glad I did' Aragorn replied tersely. 'It was the least I could do.'

Mel sighed and shook her head. They were even.

'Thank you…' she whispered, lowering her eyes.

She averted her face and to Aragorn it seemed that she had done so on purpose to hide her emotions. He could not shake the feeling that Mel was somehow distracted. Physically, she was much better, yet she appeared distant and unreadable.

'Mel, is there something you wish to share with us?' Legolas asked and Aragorn knew beyond a doubt that the elf had felt the same thing.

'No, nothing at all.' Mel shook her head, then smiled thinly, mostly to herself, her eyes strangely unfocused. 'Except maybe that I still cannot believe I am here with you, moments from possibly returning home and not lying raped and dead in the orc camp.'

She rose unsteadily and stood still for a moment, willing herself to steady the world spinning around. She shook her head to chase the sensation away. Legolas was beside her in an instant, in case she could not hold herself up. She took a few cautious steps and found she could put one foot in front of the other without collapsing.

Mel padded across to where Gollum lay and sat next to him cross-legged, letting out a soft moan as she did so.

'Are you all right?' Legolas asked softly.

'I'm fine.' the answer came, too quickly and a tinge biting.

She sat there, hands clasped in her lap, a strange hollow look on her face. Suddenly she squeezed her eyes shut and Legolas saw tears running down her face. She pressed her lips tightly together and lowered her head. Dark hair spilled onto her face like a veil, covering her features.

'Mel, what is it?' Legolas asked desperately, taking hold of Mel's clasped hands. Her whole body had gone rigid and he knew it was because she was trying to control herself.

'It's all right, Mel, let it out.' Aragorn said in an appeasing tone. 'You've been through a lot.'

What happened next took all of them by surprise. Mel wrenched her hands free of Legolas' grasp and spun around, leaping to her feet, to Aragorn's surprise, who thought that she still had a long way to go until she could do something like that.

Her eyes were dark and wild and harried as she spoke.

''You don't understand! I don't care what I've been through!'

'Mel, it's all right..' Gandalf said kindly.

'No, it's not all right!' Mel retorted tartly, cold sweat running down her incensed cheeks as her eyes burned with a dark glow, pupils enlarged.

'You risked your lives to save me, bring me back from the dead, and all I can think about is….the Ring.. All I can think about is how soon this unfortunate creature will die so I can take It back….' her voice broke and she buried her face in her hands in a display of shame and regret.

Gandalf's brow knitted painfully, as he understood.

Legolas took one step towards Mel, but her arm shot forward in a desperate gesture that arrested his movement.

'Leave me alone!' she pleaded.

The elf gave Aragorn and Gandalf a pained look and the Ranger shook his head helplessly. He understood only too well, he would have reacted in the exact same manner. He himself had heard It's call night after night, promising him power unheard of, immortality and everlasting glory, if only he would stretch out his hand…and It would be his… He could hear it still, a soft hum in the back of his head, as It lay expectant in Gollum's dying grasp and for a moment, Aragorn was grateful that they had let the creature keep it.

Gollum stirred, cutting the bizarre standoff short. Mel stood over him and the creature's eyes grew wide at the sight of her as his breath hitched, ragged and terminal.

'Smeagol..' she sighed, compassion returning to her gaze.

The three watched closely as the creature motioned her closer. She bent her head close to his face to listen, her face turned away from them. But Gollum did not get to utter a word because he was overcome by another fit of coughing. Pink foam and blood sprayed out of his mouth as he struggled for breath. He clutched chain an Ring to his chest with both hands while his remaining vigor was spent thrashing about as all his air passages constricted and he slowly suffocated.

Mel watched helplessly as his enlarged eyes grew glassy and the breaths became more and more shallow. With it's dying breath, the creature was trying to say something even as his eyes darkened and his body convulsed with shock.

'You …will…submit…to It, preciousss…you…will..'

His body jerked up spasmodically one last time then he was still. For a brief instant the stifling air of the cave carried the echo of his last breath followed by a silence so heavy, it was almost palpable.

'I'm sorry, Smeagol…' Mel whispered. She took hold Gollum's inert hand and pried it open with some difficulty. She held up the chain, examined the Ring, then closed her fist protectively around it and looked up at her companions, her eyes two dark pools bearing no trace of emotion.

'…but you're wrong.'

~~

In the silence that followed, Legolas stood still, ears pricked, listening intently.

'They are coming' Aragorn confirmed the elf's suspicion.

Legolas ran to the entrance of the cave for a quick look.

'Orcs are climbing up the slope. I saw three Nazgul too, landing their steeds' Legolas warned breathlessly. 'They will be here in minutes.'

'How long does it take for the gateway to open?' Mel asked. The curtain of folly had lifted from her eyes, which were now free of the glazed over look from just moments ago.

'No one knows' Gandalf replied.

Aragorn and Legolas exchanged looks with the wizard.

The wizard nodded and drew his sword.

The unmistakable sound stopped Mel in her tracks, panic mingled with despair written all over her face as she understood what they meant.

'No, I can't go without you,' she cried, shaking her head forcefully.

'You must!' Aragorn said urgently ' We will hold them back.'

'No, please' Mel begged, 'there are too many of them, I saw their camp, you'll be killed.'

'No, we won't! There is no other way…' Aragorn replied briskly. 'You have to make a run for it.'

Legolas face was serene as he gazed at her.

'If you stay, all that we have fought for would be for nothing. You know that.'

Mel looked into Legolas' face closely. He still bore the marks of the torment he had endured at the hands of the orcs. She remembered her premonition when the elf had left them to bring his father's soldiers. She had been right. She had never laid eyes on him quite the way he was.

'I hope you find the healing that you need in the waters of this cave. I shall never forget what you did for us..' Aragorn's gray eyes were melancholic but resolute as he smoothed Mel's hair.

'Trust yourself Mel, and you will succeed in returning to your world' was all Gandalf said, smiling encouragingly, the gentle old man that had sustained Mel's spirit for so long, still very much there.

Her eyes brimmed with tears as she embraced them.

'When I look upon the sea for the first time, I shall remember you, mellon nin..' Legolas said with an easy smile. One would have never thought that he was about to do battle with innumerable enemies and most likely perish in the attempt. 'I wish we'd had more time…'

Mel bent her head and squeezed her eyes as she held him close, laying her head on his chest, seeking that distinctive feeling of protection and invincibility for one last time.

'So do I…'

The clatter of marching feet shattered the moment. The orcs were approaching and without warning, arrows began to hail on them, barely giving them enough time to dodge.

'Go, now! Follow this tunnel!' Aragorn said forcefully, thrusting a torch in Mel's hand. 'We will follow behind you as soon as we can!'

Mel's POV

'We will follow…', whom was Aragorn trying to fool? Trying to give me one last hope that they might make it out of the battle? I can already hear the tumult unfolding behind me. I cry even as I walk and I pray to whatever divinity Middle-Earth worships that they escape unscathed.

My body is still stiff and I am still slightly dazed so I do not make too good a job of running, I can barely walk. But I follow the way that Aragorn has indicated. It is a tight, winding tunnel, it smells of damp and something rotting, but I dare not look. Better off not knowing than having more panic to deal with.

The torch lights my way as the tunnel bends sharply left and suddenly the clamor of the fight is drowned. I stop for a moment to catch my breath and this almost painful need overcomes me. I wish at least one of them were here with me, because…

'Stop it!' I say aloud, if only to force myself to steady my arduous breath and I wonder if I am running out of oxygen and if this tunnel indeed leads anywhere.

But even as I take the next step, my mind follows through with the thought and I know that I cannot hide from it any longer: I wish one of them was here with me because I don't think I can see this through. I have never been so scared in my life.

What if I cannot do this?

Another abrupt bend and I suddenly find myself out of the tunnel and I see the lake. Here the cave is domed and sunlight filters through two round openings in the ceiling.

Sunlight in this place is so unexpected or unhoped for that my spirits lift instantly. At some point in the tunnel, I had made peace with the idea that I would never see daylight again, yet here it is, penetrating the murky blue water with its uncompromising intensity, giving the whole cave an uncanny smoky quality.

On the wall opposite to where I stand is the waterfall, and I have to look twice to make sure that the white foamy water that cascades down the golden gleaming rock is not frozen for it makes no sound as it falls on a round black surface, large enough to hold several people.

All around are dark rocky walls and I have no doubt that even if I whisper they will carry the echo into an acerbic resonance. The lake has no beach, the rocky floor gaping straight into the water, like a pool.

The quality of the air has suddenly improved and I feel a fresh surge of energy welling up my tired body and I cannot explain it. Could it be the healing effect of the waters that I have not even dipped into?

I cannot waste time, yet I allow myself a moment to admire the dark beauty of the surroundings. This will be the last place I will ever see, most likely.

Oh, if only I could find myself on that exquisite beach, where all was restful and from where I had been rushed away…so I could come here and die alone in the dark.

This place still reeks of Gollum's presence somehow and the thought makes my stomach turn.

I set the torch down by the edge of the pool and I still cannot see how deep the milky blue water is. I look around and there is no way around the pool to reach the waterfall.

I would have to swim there, no more than two hundred feet, I judge. I hope to have enough strength left.

I decide to keep my clothes on in case the water is freezing cold, too flimsy protection against the cold. I suddenly hate this water and what could lurk inside it. How ironic it would be if I had to be attacked and killed by some creature living under the surface, or if I had to be crippled by hypothermia halfway across. But then again, these waters are meant to be healing…

The only real dilemma I am faced with is what to do with the Ring while I swim across the lake. It still dangles on the chain and I have held it in my fist since I took it from Gollum. The chain is broken so I cannot put it around my neck again. Holding it would hinder my swimming and besides, it could still somehow slip from my grasp and get lost in the water. I would never find it again.

The only logical conclusion is wearing it. And hoping that it would not wreak too much havoc with my mind in the short while it would take me to cross the lake and reach the waterfall. The ring has been strangely silent since I took it back and I am almost tempted to believe that what I heard before was a figment of my imagination.

The faintest of rustles behind me, and I become aware that the sounds of the battle are drawing nearer to me. I pray for my friends to be protected and spared and although I know I cannot be of any help, I wish I could be there.

Trying not to cringe and chasing away fear of what might lurk under the surface, I edge inside the water, which I find suitably cold to keep me alert but not enough to send me into a hypothermia fit. I cannot touch the bottom and the water is thick like cream, or mud, making swimming difficult.

I rest my elbows on the edge while I let the Ring slide off the chain and I slip it on my finger.

It fits perfectly…

To Be Continued

A/N: Okay, one more chapter to go and then it's over! Promise!!!