She dreamed that night, and this dream she would remember for the first in a long time. It was of when Sam said he was trying to carry the ring to Mt. Doom himself. While walking he stopped and grabbed the ring, holding it up and speaking to it.

"I could be Samwise the strong!" A song seemed to start from somewhere and Shantel recognized the tune, but couldn't place it. Before she could ponder it longer, the dream started to fade.

They were woken by a small patch of sun, Sam and Shantel were at least. Frodo slept on a small look of peacefulness on his face. Sighing, thought she seemed to sigh a lot lately, Shantel brushed away some of Frodo's hair from his face. Almost there and this would be done, her friend wouldn't have to worry anymore about that burden, and hopefully this war will end. Getting up, Shantel left Sam to rouse Frodo, while Shantel stretched and looked around. Still hungry as ever, she tried to ignore the pangs that the stomach made by sipping some water.

"Ugh!" Turning, Shantel's eyes widened seeing Sam struggling to pick Frodo up, via piggy back. He got to his feet and looked ready to go, but Shantel stormed back over.

"Sam you are not carrying him," Shantel said as she got closer.

"But Shantel he can barely walk," Sam protested as Shantel lifted Frodo from Sam's back. This was a bit hard, being tired, but biting her lip, she managed.

"I'll carry him," Shantel said, setting him on her hip like a small child. "I got the hips for it anyway."

"Are you sure?" Sam protested. "I mean you are so thin, I don't want you getting too tired…"

"If I do, I'll let you carry him," Shantel said reaching down and squeezing Sam's hand. Frodo's head lay on her shoulder, arms dangling at his sides. It would seem that he was still asleep to some. "Lead the way Sam, I have no idea where we are going." Sam wasn't sure either but turned and started up, making certain not to get too far ahead, or wanting Shantel to fall with Frodo. He was concerned for her, but he didn't want to be cruel and say that he was more concerned about Frodo, than he was of Shantel. Both have face dangers that would take too much energy to explain now, but Frodo beared the one burden that meant winning or loosing.

Knowing this, Shantel tried not to take this personally. Every time Sam stopped he would touch Frodo's foot, or ask Shantel if she needed a break. She knew that he was more concerned for Frodo, and that made her more stubborn to give him to Sam to carry, though her arms were getting tired and her hip sore. Stopping a moment, Shantel slowly shifted Frodo from one hip to the other and took a breath from the relief the other hip shouted at her. Sam noticed and came running back.

"Shantel, Frodo? Should I…"

"I'm fine, lets go," Shantel didn't let him finish. Then a thought occurred to her. Maybe it was more of being sure that Frodo was okay. Something a little deeper that Shantel couldn't quite comprehend. Slowly, Sam noticed she stopped and went over again.

"You were right Sam," Shantel said. "Here, I'll place him on your back."

"Yes, all right," Sam seemed almost excited, and Shantel smiled. Maybe he's helping Frodo like Frodo may have helped him. "There's a path, that will make this easier!"

"I'll be right behind you Sam," Shantel said. Slowly Sam started with Shantel following. The slope became steep and for a moment, Sam thought he was going to fall back, but a reassuring push from behind reminded him that he had help. She wouldn't let them fall. Sam stopped just before the path, and shook his head, he wasn't going to make it, it was too much, this whole journey and he's failed…

"Give me your hand Sam!" He looked up to Shantel's face, she was holding a hand out while kneeling on her knee's. Reaching up their hands gripped and she pulled him over, where he put Frodo down and lay there for a moment.

"Drink some water," Shantel insisted, but Sam shook his head. "Look I can carry Frodo here, but I'm not going to make it carrying both of you." Reluctantly Sam nodded and took a small sip, when Frodo sat up alarmed.

"Help me, Sam! Help me, Sam! Hold my hand! I can't stop it!" Frodo whispered urgently reaching for the ring. Sam quickly went over and put Frodo's palms together, gently kissing them.

"He's spotted us!" Frodo exclaimed. Sam went to lift Frodo again and slowly started off. Shantel was right behind him and helped Sam over the road, some was rough while bits had fallen away. A sense of urgency had reached them, and Shantel knew that this was it, the end of all ends was near, and who knew what they would bring. When Sam paused in his step, Shantel almost ran over him.

"Sam what is…" But she never got to finish the question. A great weight fell onto Sam, knocking him and Frodo over and Shantel gasped. This creature was so familiar, and wrestling with Frodo for the ring, who was he, Shantel should know this. As he spoke Bilbo's tale came back to her, almost like she was hearing it again in Rivendell.

"Gollum get off him!" Shantel shouted, much to her dry throats dismay. Then Frodo, poor week Frodo, seemed to regain a new surge of energy as he pushed the creature Gollum off and towered over him holding the ring. AS he took a hold of the ring in his palm, Frodo changed before Shantel's eyes. He stood up straighter, and seemed almost to glow with power. He ordered Gollum away and seemed frighteningly tall to Shantel. Tall and powerful. A song popped into Shantel's head although she didn't remember where she had heard the tune from but she did recall it was in her dream.

The bearer of the ring
the bearer of the ring
Stands on the very brink of fate
Staring into eyes of darkness and despair
That rise and shrink with hate

As he stopped speaking, he became Frodo again, and Gollum was ready to jump.

"Watch he'll spring again," Sam brandished his sword. "Go Master, I'll deal with him." Frodo acknowledged and disappeared on the slope upwards. Shantel watched him go knowing he had to do this and turned hearing Sam speak.

"At last I can deal with you," And jumped at Gollum. But Gollum only fell to the ground whimpering, pleading to be let go. With a grimace, Shantel didn't know weather to cheer Sam to kill him or to make Gollum leave.

"This pity is almost sickening," Shantel whispered.

"Tell me about it," Sam sighed. "Master Frodo and I had to deal with him for far too long." Raising his sword, Sam was ready to bring it down with a killing blow then stopped, hastily putting his sword away.

"Oh curse you, you stinking thing!" Sam shouted. "Be gone with you! I do not trust you as far as I could kick you, or I shall hurt you! Now go!" Gollum nodded and glanced at Shantel warily.

"Ssshe knowsss ssssomethinsss," Gollum hissed edging closer to Shantel. "Ssshe hearsss thinsss in her head." This was frightening to hear from Gollum. How could he know what was going on in her head?

"But sshe doessn't remember…" But Sam stood in front of Shantel blocking Gollum's view of her.

"I told you to leave, now!" Gollum peeked around Sam at Shantel then he slunked off out of sight. Sam turned to follow his Master knowing that Shantel would be behind him. As the path curved again, a large crack appeared and Sam and Shantel peeked inside.

"Master!" Sam called.

"Frodo where are you!" Shantel called out. There was no reply and Shantel took Sam's hand as they stepped inside. Sam pulled out the light Galadriel gave Frodo but it gave no reassuring light in the hole.

"I don't think that will work here Sam," Shantel whispered. "This is the root of the evil, where the ring was made, you know?" She was sure Sam nodded his head, even though it couldn't be seen. A flash of red lighten the cavern, showing they were in a long dark hall. As it faded another red flash illuminated and Sam pointed, calling out as he did.

"Master!" Shantel saw that Frodo stood on the brink of the edge of the cliff holding the ring. Flashes from the story that Lord Elrond told at the council flashed through Shantel's mind.

"I led Isildur to the brink of Mount doom, to destroy the ring, from whence it came." Lord Elrond's voice said. " I told him 'Cast it into the fire! Destroy it!!' But he did not heed my words."

"No." This was Frodo's voice shaking Shantel back to reality. He held the ring, standing tall. He turned walking towards the edge of the cliff, and the song, like memory started again.

The bearer of the ring
the bearer of the ring
He hears a voice compelling him
Filling him in thoughts that echo in his mind
It should be telling him

Beware the power is a power never known
Beware the power that was simple now has grown
Beware oh bearer of the ring
The final power has yet to be shown

"I will not do what I came to do! The Ring is mine!" Frodo turned putting the ring on and vanished. Before Shantel and Sam could do more than gasp, something pushed them aside, violently pushing Sam onto the rock, where he fell unconscious, and Shantel looked up from where she lay. Crawling forward on her hands and knee's, she watched Gollum jump on an unseen foe, Frodo, and wrestle for the Ring. So that was who knocked them over. They were near the chasm and Shantel, had crawled near them, hesitated not wanting to knock Frodo in. The ledge jutted out like a long peninsula over the molten lava below. Shantel took a moment to peer over and saw it bubbling in a rise as the heat grew.

A brush of something on her hair, Shantel turned to see that Gollum had his back to her unaware that she was even there. Frodo gave a cry of pain, but Shantel couldn't see where he was hurt. She had to help him. Reaching she grabbed one of Gollum's arms throwing him off balance for a moment, but his frown turned to a sneer.

"Gollum tossssss wickesssss girl over edgesssss," Gollum said yanking his arm about, making Shantel fall to the edge, one leg dangling over the edge. Pushing herself up, an invisible foot stepped onto her hand, making her cry out and slip. The cloak caught on something and Shantel flung it off before it could cast her over the edge. Another cry from Frodo rang out, Shantel felt like it pierced her heart.

"Precious, precious, precious!" Gollum's voice rang out. Shantel cursed under her breath. If she had to, she'd push Gollum in. Lifting her head up, she looked at Gollum dancing over the rocks holding something then slipping a some pebbles himself. Falling he hit his head and lay there as a ring slowly fell out of his hands onto the ground. Frodo was laying on the floor withering in pain, Sam was still passed out. With a breath, Shantel grabbed the ring intending to throw it over the edge before she could change her mind, but then she remembered what happened the first time she grabbed it. The power has grown, it was unbelievable.

No longer was she standing in the crack of Mt Doom, instead she was standing in a high tower, dressed in the finest cloaks, and ribbons and jewels cascaded in her hair. Her friends were gathered all around, being served on platters of gold, while a bard was singing songs of praise. They had won, the war was over, and Shantel had the power. Standing up, the sum shinning brightly, she was ready to make an announcement when all went dark. Looking up, a tall figure, as tall as a mountain was coming towards them, but Shantel felt no fear.

"Stand down," She shouted. "Be gone before I smite you!" The dark figure laughed.

"Shantel, this power is great, but wouldn't it be easier to have me help you, to rule under you?" For a moment Shantel cocked her head in thought and considered this. That didn't sound like too bad an idea, and this figure could handle the power, she could feel it.

"Just hand it to me," The figure held a hand out. Shantel drew her hand back, the one that was wearing the ring. "I will not take it, I promise." The voice was dripping with sweetness. Slowly putting her hand out, the figure grabbed her hand and pulled the ring away. The image faded before her. She was still in the crack of Doom and Gollum awake, had taken the ring back.

"It is mine! Oh my Precious!" At the last moment, Shantel shook herself trying to clear that image out of her head. Gollum not paying attention to where he was going, tripped on Shantel's leg, toppled straight over the edge, clawing at her leg, as he fell into the pit yelling, "Precious!" Not bothering to look at Gollum as he fell, mostly because Shantel didn't think she could stand it if she did, she rolled over as flames of confusion shot straight up and through the mist and haze, the tower shook and Sam was calling her name.

"This way Shantel, come out of there." With her sore leg, Shantel ran, limping mostly to where Sam lay cradling Frodo, at the crack of the entrance.

"This is the end, my friends," The voice of Frodo drifted up to them. Shantel looked down and saw Frodo, but he was different from when she first met him, even from the watchers tower, back in those October days. There was peace, no sign of the strain that he carried, the burden that weighed him down.

"Shantel, this is my sweet Master of the Shire you are seeing," Sam almost wept. Shantel reached a hand out to close it over Frodo's then paused gasping. Sam looked over catching what Shantel saw.

"Oh Master! Your poor hand!" Sam cried. The finger which the ring was worn was gone. The cry Shantel heard was when Gollum bit the ring from Frodo's hand. Shantel tore off a piece of fabric from what remained of her tattered shirt, and followed instructions as Sam binded Frodo's hand.

"I am glad you two are with me, at the end of all things," Frodo said. "That I'm not alone."

"You're never alone Frodo," Shantel said, putting her hand on her heart. "I carry all of you in here, and am split between everyone."

"I am glad you are with me, at the end," Frodo gave Shantel a small smile and turned his gaze to Sam.

"I am too," Sam said. "And the journey is over, but something in me, doesn't want to let me just give up." Sam was able to convince Frodo to move away from the crack of Doom only a little further down the path. Shantel held Frodo's hand, while Sam gently held Frodo's injured one. They noticed Shantel limping and offered to stop and bind her leg.

"With all that's left of my shirt," Shantel said. "That would leave my chest bare." Shantel laughed. "I think I'll keep my top on and not show off my womanly chest." Even with all that's happened the hobbits laughed lightly and continued down the hill, until they all could go no further. Shantel lay her leg stinging, and even bleeding a little, but she still held her friends hands.

"I hope I was helpful, and not just a tag along," Shantel whispered.

"You were," Frodo said. "I knew you carried me, and helped Sam making him drink water. I was just not able to move much."

"Thank you Frodo," Shantel whispered. The mountain shook again and hot ash rained down as lava started to flow down the sides.

"Do you think they'll tell of Frodo of Nine Fingers and the Ring of Doom?" Sam asked, and continued talking, if just to keep the fear away. "Oh I wish I could hear it!" Shantel coughed her vision growing hazy her lungs felt choked by smoke. Then it felt like she was flying. I suppose this is what it is like to die, to just fly away from it all.

Shantel woke slowly, in a comfortable bed. She didn't want to wake, she hasn't been this comfortable in a long time. But some one was tending to her, her right leg to be exact, and that is what woke her. Opening her eyes, she saw Aragorn, putting some finishing bandages on, and quietly murmuring some words in elvish too low for Shantel to hear.

"Aragorn, is this a dream?" Shantel whispered.

"No Shantel, your leg will heal soon, and we'll be heading home," Aragorn said.

"Home!" Shantel perked up at these words.

"Well it will be your home until we find a way home for you," Aragorn said. "You shall live with me, as my sister."

"Oh!" Shantel didn't know what to say then remembered her friends. "How are Frodo and Sam?"

"Resting, they are fine," Aragorn said. "Frodo woke and is now waiting for Sam to wake."

"What day is it? The time?"

"You are full of questions, Shantel," Aragorn laughed. "It is nine and the eight day of April, Shire reckoning." Shantel nodded and slowly sat up.

"There's some clothes there for you," Aragorn pointed to a chair.

"Where in the world did you get a dress out here?" Shantel asked bewildered.

"Ask no more questions," Aragorn shushed her. "Do you need help cleaning up?" Blushing at the thought of any having to help her get cleaned Shantel shook her head and slowly got up. Once seeing that she could stand with out falling over, Aragorn left, and Shantel looked around the small tent she was in. A moment later, two men entered with a small basin of water and washcloths and left. Once Shantel had cleaned up, she looked at the dress and sighed. It looked like one of Eowyn's dresses which meant it would be too tall for her. Slipping it over her head, it was indeed too long, and Shantel was turning around in circles trying to tie the back up.

"Man this is so not cool," Shantel sighed, twisting her arm one way and then back again.

"Lady Shantel are you ready?" She recognized that voice.

"Elrohir come in and help me will you?" Shantel called. The elf entered and smiled at Shantel glad to see she was better.

"You gave us quite a fright," He said going behind and starting tying the back.

"Next time I'll be sure to take a horse and not ask a wraith for a ride,' Shantel joked back. "Where's everyone else?"

"My brother is standing out front, and Legolas and Gimli are ready to start to their own war, until Aragorn assured them that you were all right," Elrohir gave the ties one last yank, getting a small yelp from Shantel, gave her an apologetic smile then finished them up. "Now you should probably come out before they go crazy." Shantel's leg still ached but she wasn't limping as bad as she was back at Mt. Doom. Out side Elladan gave her a hug, then before Shantel knew what was going on, she was being squished by Legolas and Gimli.

"Thank goodness you're all right," Legolas said, Gimli nodded his head then both let her go.

"Why are you limping?" Gimli asked.

"I'll show you," Shantel said, and reached down to lift the hem of her skirt. A few of men passing stopped to see what she was doing but Shantel took no notice. "All I'll tell you is that Gollum clawed my legs, but that's all I'll say. The rest is for when Sam and Frodo are present to tell. It is their story not mine."