Part 2: Why Did He Save Him?

I follow Gollum as he leads us through the marshes – Dead Marshes Gollum called them. The air is so rotten I can barely breathe. I cannot remember what fresh air smells like. I watch Gollum crawl on all fours as he determines the safest place for us to walk. I still don't understand why Frodo did not let me tie the disgusting creature up and leave him to die.

"But now that I see him, I do pity him."  I shake my head. How could Frodo pity the creature? Gollum tried to hurt him when he went for the Ring! I don't trust his promise to help us. And I don't like how he is all trying to please and being friendly. He is probably trying to get us to let our guard down and then seize the Ring.

That is why I prefer to have myself between Gollum and my master. The more distance between them, the better. And if Gollum does anything to try to get the Ring, he'll have to deal with me first.

I turn to check on Frodo, and I see he is several yards behind. He does not follow me. He stares blankly into the water, his head bent down.

"Frodo!" I shout.

He shows no sign of hearing me. Suddenly he simply falls forward into the water. My eyes widen in horror, and I rush back to where he was, trying to be careful of not stepping on a part of the ground that is soft and hence fall into the mucky water, too.  I do not see him at the place where he fell in.  So I speed even further back, my eyes frantically searching through the marsh.

I am starting to panic. Frodo has not come up for air. Now I know he can swim, a very strong swimmer he is, but his not coming up is unsettling.

The sound of someone gasping and heaving causes me to turn. Gollum has found Frodo. He drags Frodo out of the water and into the ground. I breathe a sigh of relief. But then I tense. I don't like how Gollum is bending over Frodo. They are so close… All Gollum would have to do… I rush towards them. I will kill the creature if he does anything funny. Gollum looks at me and cowers. He then hobbles away. Good, he has some fear of me. I notice he seems to prefer hobbling on one hand, but I do not dwell on it. Frodo is all I care about.

I throw myself to my knees next to Frodo. I wrap my arms around him, reassuring myself that he is all right. But he does not look at me. He watches Gollum.

"Gollum?" he calls after the creature. Is it my imagination, or is there a little concern in his voice?

I glance at the retreating figure. What has he done to deserve Frodo's concern? A thought hits me, and I do not like it.

You owe him – you owe him for saving Frodo's life.

I clamp my eyes shut and gnash my teeth together. No, I do not want to think about it. But as I try to calm myself, I wonder: why did he save him?

"Mister Frodo! Are you all right?"

I swear to myself that I will watch Frodo more carefully and help him as best I can.