Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR and am making no money
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"Are they still gaining?"
Aragorn glanced back at Frodo as he stood on top of a hill, looking back the way they had come. He could not see anything, but he still felt something. "Yes. They are determined to catch us."
Wearily Frodo slumped down on a rock. "How?" he asked plaintively. "We are leaving no tracks and we are moving from sun-up to sun-down."
Sitting down beside the dejected hobbit Aragorn handed him a piece of lembas. "Elves do not need to rest as much as humans or hobbits, and Gollum is nearly tireless. As for Sam, all he cares about is you and I doubt he will even feel his own fatigue. If it is too strong he is not proud like Gimli, and will not object to Legolas carrying him." He looked out to the way they had to travel. "We are almost to the dead marshes."
Frodo looked up at him. "I know what you are going to say, and the answer is no. It is bad enough I am dragging you on this journey, I will not risk any others."
Not liking the defeated air surrounding Frodo Aragorn tilted his head up so their eyes could meet. "You are dragging me nowhere. This is my choice, remember? Your burden is heavy enough without adding to it. You are responsible for no one's actions except your own." Knowing the ring-bearer was not going to like the next topic of conversation he looked back off toward the dead marshes. "The ring grows heavier, does it not?"
He could feel Frodo stiffened, before he again slumped down. "The closer we move to Mordor, the more it presses upon me." He gazed up at the ranger, needing reassurance. "Does it call to you?"
Again looking down to meet Frodo's eyes Aragorn nodded. "Yes, but I am not tempted to take it. I faced its strongest temptation and turned away. It may whisper all it wants to me, but it no longer has any power over me. I do not need to the ring to accomplish my goals, it will only hinder me."
Frodo looked down. "I'm glad. We had better get moving."
****************
Wearily Sam trudged along behind Legolas. He focused only on putting one foot in front of the other. He did not worry about anything else. Legolas would sense and warn them of danger. The gardener forced his burning eyes to remain open. The ground was too uneven for him to safely walk with his eyes closed, even if Legolas would never allow him to fall. They had rested for no more than a four hours a night since reaching the emyn muil. At least they were gaining ground, or so Legolas told him. And Sam believed him. It would not be long before Legolas would again need to carry him. He would not be able to stay on his feet much longer. But he hated to do that. He still did not trust their reluctant guide. Gollum stayed with them out of fear of Legolas and the burning desire to find the ring-bearer. Sam did not know what Legolas had threatened, or bribed, the wretched creature with to make him accompany and lead them and did not want to know. It was enough that he was. Although Sam would rather not have his help, Legolas did not know the way and Aragorn was being careful to leave no tracks. The air felt different. Coming out of his haze Sam looked up to see that they were on the edge of the emyn muil. In front of them lay an endless swamp. The hobbit shuddered. The midgewater marshes had been bad enough, he did not want to go through another swamp. But he did not say anything. If this was the way Frodo and Aragorn had traveled, it was the way they too must go.
"We will rest here for a bit," Legolas announced.
Too weary to argue Sam just dropped to the ground while Gollum moved a little ways ahead. While he did not want to stop Sam had decided early in the journey to simply follow Legolas' lead. "Are we getting any closer?" he asked. Even though Legolas had assured him they were earlier he needed to hear it again.
Looking down at his collapsed companion Legolas smiled in awe at his dedication. Sam had not complained about lack of food or sleep once, doggedly following Legolas without question. "Yes." Lightly he laid a reassuring hand on Sam' shoulder. "We will find them."
His eyes looking out over the dead marshes Sam nodded. His gaze moved to Gollum, restlessly talking to himself about ten feet away. "You trust him."
"No," Legolas answered immediately. "There is nothing left to him but desire for the ring. He is a hopeless wretched thing and nothing he did during his imprisonment in Mirkwood changed that opinion. He will guide us as long as it gets him close to the Ring."
"And when we do catch them?"
Legolas shrugged. "I made no promises other than that we would catch them and he would get close to the one who carries the ring. Aragorn will not be surprised that we caught up and has most likely guessed that Gollum is with us. Otherwise we would not have made such good time."
Turning his eyes up to Legolas he asked, "what do you think they will do when we catch them?"
With a sigh Legolas gracefully dropped down beside him. "I do not know. I think Aragorn will be glad of the company. But it will not be his decision."
Sam nodded. "Frodo will not want us. He does not want to take anyone else with him to Mount Doom. Do you really think Frodo is the one making the decision?"
"Yes." Seeing the hobbit's puzzled expression he went on. "Aragorn knows that we follow by our own choice. He was only twenty when he left the safety of Rivendell to find his people. The rangers accepted him as their chieftain immediately and due to the death of the man that had been leading them since his father's death Aragorn was thrust into the position as commander within a month. The rangers of the north have thankless lives. Their time is spent protecting people who scorn them and leaving their own families unguarded. It is a life that must be chosen willingly. Aragorn feels guilt when any die under his command, but he knows they chose that life freely and he will not belittle their decision by taking blame that is not his."
"Frodo will not think that way. He will blame himself."
For a moment Legolas was silent. "Okay, do you want to go back?"
"No," he responded immediately.
Suddenly Legolas dropped to the ground and pulled Sam down beside him. A moment later Gollum dropped down beside them, cowering pitifully. Waves of cold and dread washed through the hobbit. Forcing himself to look up he saw something, something completely unnatural and horrifying flying across the sky. "Dark riders?" he questioned fearfully, although he already knew the answer.
Legolas nodded. "They search for the ring."
In horrified silence they watched the three nightmares circle before flying into the distance. "Evil, evil," Gollum muttered. "They seeks the precious. We must go. Guard the precious. He must not gets it." Rising he scampered away.
Exchanging a quick glance Legolas and Sam hurriedly followed.
**************
With a shudder of dread and disgust Frodo stared hopelessly at the gigantic closed black gates. He could see no way in there. "What now?" he asked Aragorn, crouched beside him.
The ranger did not reply immediately, looking into the distance. A moment later Frodo heard what had distracted the ranger. Loud, marching steps. Looking to the right of the gate he saw a troop of three hundred men approaching the gates in armored formation. A horn sounded from the fortress and the gate slowly started to open.
"Easterlings," Aragorn whispered next to his ear. "Sauron is gathering his army."
Sliding down farther to lean against the boulder that concealed them Frodo looked desperately up at Aragorn. "We can not get in that way, can we?"
The rangers eyes were still evaluating the black gate. Once the easterlings were all within and the gate closed he sank down beside the hobbit. "Not easily, and not without great risk."
"How?" Frodo could see no way.
Aragorn was silent for a few moments before answering. "If Sauron is gathering all forces to him it will not be long before the Haradrim arrive. I know how to fit in with them, we could find a way to conceal or explain your feet you could pass for my son with some modifications. Or," here he hesitated a moment, glancing back at the gate. "How are you holding up with the ring?'
Caught completely off-guard by the question Frodo looked up into his guardian's eyes, and was captured, unable to look away. It felt as though the ranger could see into his soul. "Okay, why?"
"When I captured Gollum he was far from the black gates, but I got the impression he had not been long away from Mordor. We could try to find the way he took, my guess is it would be a secret way, known to few. I am sure I can find it, but it may take a little while." The grey eyes turned even more intense. "Can you resist the ring?"
Swallowing hard Frodo looked back at the black gates. The ring was growing stronger in his mind and heavier on his chest. All he wanted to do was get rid of it and go home. No, he wanted to keep the ring, it had come to him. Closing his eyes he curled up into a tight ball, sobbing softly as he fought with himself and desires he had never known he had. A comforting and supportive hand settled on his shoulder. With a deep shuddering breath Frodo slowly forced himself to sit up. Looking into Aragorn's eyes he saw no disappointment or loathing, only concern and friendship. "Stay by me."
"As long as you will have me."
Slowly Frodo nodded. "Then I can last." His gaze drifted back to the gates for a moment. "At least for a while." Determinedly he rose. "Lets go."
***************
"Are we sure this isn't a trick?" Sam demanded as he trudged along behind Legolas and Gollum. They had been travelling on this new course, away from the black gate for nearly half a day now. "How do we know he is not leading us away from them to trick us?"
"Bad mans and thiefs baggins goes this way," Gollum hissed. "Seeks, secret paths they do."
Legolas increased his pace so he was walking beside the wretched creature. "What secret path?"
Gollum hissed at him. "Mine, Darkses, long tunnel. Mine!"
Falling back Legolas met Sam's eyes. "Aragorn said he thought he caught Gollum leaving Mordor, if that is true I doubt it was by the black gate. The ranger in Aragorn has a better than average shot of finding this path."
Sam shrugged, settling his pack more comfortably. "Then we must follow. And since Gollum knows where he is going and Strider does not we have a better chance of catching them." Not waiting for the elf's answer the hobbit hurried to catch up with their reluctant guide. Soon they would catch up with Frodo and all would be right.
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"Are they still gaining?"
Aragorn glanced back at Frodo as he stood on top of a hill, looking back the way they had come. He could not see anything, but he still felt something. "Yes. They are determined to catch us."
Wearily Frodo slumped down on a rock. "How?" he asked plaintively. "We are leaving no tracks and we are moving from sun-up to sun-down."
Sitting down beside the dejected hobbit Aragorn handed him a piece of lembas. "Elves do not need to rest as much as humans or hobbits, and Gollum is nearly tireless. As for Sam, all he cares about is you and I doubt he will even feel his own fatigue. If it is too strong he is not proud like Gimli, and will not object to Legolas carrying him." He looked out to the way they had to travel. "We are almost to the dead marshes."
Frodo looked up at him. "I know what you are going to say, and the answer is no. It is bad enough I am dragging you on this journey, I will not risk any others."
Not liking the defeated air surrounding Frodo Aragorn tilted his head up so their eyes could meet. "You are dragging me nowhere. This is my choice, remember? Your burden is heavy enough without adding to it. You are responsible for no one's actions except your own." Knowing the ring-bearer was not going to like the next topic of conversation he looked back off toward the dead marshes. "The ring grows heavier, does it not?"
He could feel Frodo stiffened, before he again slumped down. "The closer we move to Mordor, the more it presses upon me." He gazed up at the ranger, needing reassurance. "Does it call to you?"
Again looking down to meet Frodo's eyes Aragorn nodded. "Yes, but I am not tempted to take it. I faced its strongest temptation and turned away. It may whisper all it wants to me, but it no longer has any power over me. I do not need to the ring to accomplish my goals, it will only hinder me."
Frodo looked down. "I'm glad. We had better get moving."
****************
Wearily Sam trudged along behind Legolas. He focused only on putting one foot in front of the other. He did not worry about anything else. Legolas would sense and warn them of danger. The gardener forced his burning eyes to remain open. The ground was too uneven for him to safely walk with his eyes closed, even if Legolas would never allow him to fall. They had rested for no more than a four hours a night since reaching the emyn muil. At least they were gaining ground, or so Legolas told him. And Sam believed him. It would not be long before Legolas would again need to carry him. He would not be able to stay on his feet much longer. But he hated to do that. He still did not trust their reluctant guide. Gollum stayed with them out of fear of Legolas and the burning desire to find the ring-bearer. Sam did not know what Legolas had threatened, or bribed, the wretched creature with to make him accompany and lead them and did not want to know. It was enough that he was. Although Sam would rather not have his help, Legolas did not know the way and Aragorn was being careful to leave no tracks. The air felt different. Coming out of his haze Sam looked up to see that they were on the edge of the emyn muil. In front of them lay an endless swamp. The hobbit shuddered. The midgewater marshes had been bad enough, he did not want to go through another swamp. But he did not say anything. If this was the way Frodo and Aragorn had traveled, it was the way they too must go.
"We will rest here for a bit," Legolas announced.
Too weary to argue Sam just dropped to the ground while Gollum moved a little ways ahead. While he did not want to stop Sam had decided early in the journey to simply follow Legolas' lead. "Are we getting any closer?" he asked. Even though Legolas had assured him they were earlier he needed to hear it again.
Looking down at his collapsed companion Legolas smiled in awe at his dedication. Sam had not complained about lack of food or sleep once, doggedly following Legolas without question. "Yes." Lightly he laid a reassuring hand on Sam' shoulder. "We will find them."
His eyes looking out over the dead marshes Sam nodded. His gaze moved to Gollum, restlessly talking to himself about ten feet away. "You trust him."
"No," Legolas answered immediately. "There is nothing left to him but desire for the ring. He is a hopeless wretched thing and nothing he did during his imprisonment in Mirkwood changed that opinion. He will guide us as long as it gets him close to the Ring."
"And when we do catch them?"
Legolas shrugged. "I made no promises other than that we would catch them and he would get close to the one who carries the ring. Aragorn will not be surprised that we caught up and has most likely guessed that Gollum is with us. Otherwise we would not have made such good time."
Turning his eyes up to Legolas he asked, "what do you think they will do when we catch them?"
With a sigh Legolas gracefully dropped down beside him. "I do not know. I think Aragorn will be glad of the company. But it will not be his decision."
Sam nodded. "Frodo will not want us. He does not want to take anyone else with him to Mount Doom. Do you really think Frodo is the one making the decision?"
"Yes." Seeing the hobbit's puzzled expression he went on. "Aragorn knows that we follow by our own choice. He was only twenty when he left the safety of Rivendell to find his people. The rangers accepted him as their chieftain immediately and due to the death of the man that had been leading them since his father's death Aragorn was thrust into the position as commander within a month. The rangers of the north have thankless lives. Their time is spent protecting people who scorn them and leaving their own families unguarded. It is a life that must be chosen willingly. Aragorn feels guilt when any die under his command, but he knows they chose that life freely and he will not belittle their decision by taking blame that is not his."
"Frodo will not think that way. He will blame himself."
For a moment Legolas was silent. "Okay, do you want to go back?"
"No," he responded immediately.
Suddenly Legolas dropped to the ground and pulled Sam down beside him. A moment later Gollum dropped down beside them, cowering pitifully. Waves of cold and dread washed through the hobbit. Forcing himself to look up he saw something, something completely unnatural and horrifying flying across the sky. "Dark riders?" he questioned fearfully, although he already knew the answer.
Legolas nodded. "They search for the ring."
In horrified silence they watched the three nightmares circle before flying into the distance. "Evil, evil," Gollum muttered. "They seeks the precious. We must go. Guard the precious. He must not gets it." Rising he scampered away.
Exchanging a quick glance Legolas and Sam hurriedly followed.
**************
With a shudder of dread and disgust Frodo stared hopelessly at the gigantic closed black gates. He could see no way in there. "What now?" he asked Aragorn, crouched beside him.
The ranger did not reply immediately, looking into the distance. A moment later Frodo heard what had distracted the ranger. Loud, marching steps. Looking to the right of the gate he saw a troop of three hundred men approaching the gates in armored formation. A horn sounded from the fortress and the gate slowly started to open.
"Easterlings," Aragorn whispered next to his ear. "Sauron is gathering his army."
Sliding down farther to lean against the boulder that concealed them Frodo looked desperately up at Aragorn. "We can not get in that way, can we?"
The rangers eyes were still evaluating the black gate. Once the easterlings were all within and the gate closed he sank down beside the hobbit. "Not easily, and not without great risk."
"How?" Frodo could see no way.
Aragorn was silent for a few moments before answering. "If Sauron is gathering all forces to him it will not be long before the Haradrim arrive. I know how to fit in with them, we could find a way to conceal or explain your feet you could pass for my son with some modifications. Or," here he hesitated a moment, glancing back at the gate. "How are you holding up with the ring?'
Caught completely off-guard by the question Frodo looked up into his guardian's eyes, and was captured, unable to look away. It felt as though the ranger could see into his soul. "Okay, why?"
"When I captured Gollum he was far from the black gates, but I got the impression he had not been long away from Mordor. We could try to find the way he took, my guess is it would be a secret way, known to few. I am sure I can find it, but it may take a little while." The grey eyes turned even more intense. "Can you resist the ring?"
Swallowing hard Frodo looked back at the black gates. The ring was growing stronger in his mind and heavier on his chest. All he wanted to do was get rid of it and go home. No, he wanted to keep the ring, it had come to him. Closing his eyes he curled up into a tight ball, sobbing softly as he fought with himself and desires he had never known he had. A comforting and supportive hand settled on his shoulder. With a deep shuddering breath Frodo slowly forced himself to sit up. Looking into Aragorn's eyes he saw no disappointment or loathing, only concern and friendship. "Stay by me."
"As long as you will have me."
Slowly Frodo nodded. "Then I can last." His gaze drifted back to the gates for a moment. "At least for a while." Determinedly he rose. "Lets go."
***************
"Are we sure this isn't a trick?" Sam demanded as he trudged along behind Legolas and Gollum. They had been travelling on this new course, away from the black gate for nearly half a day now. "How do we know he is not leading us away from them to trick us?"
"Bad mans and thiefs baggins goes this way," Gollum hissed. "Seeks, secret paths they do."
Legolas increased his pace so he was walking beside the wretched creature. "What secret path?"
Gollum hissed at him. "Mine, Darkses, long tunnel. Mine!"
Falling back Legolas met Sam's eyes. "Aragorn said he thought he caught Gollum leaving Mordor, if that is true I doubt it was by the black gate. The ranger in Aragorn has a better than average shot of finding this path."
Sam shrugged, settling his pack more comfortably. "Then we must follow. And since Gollum knows where he is going and Strider does not we have a better chance of catching them." Not waiting for the elf's answer the hobbit hurried to catch up with their reluctant guide. Soon they would catch up with Frodo and all would be right.