Author's Note: Here is the final part to this story. I am sorry for taking so long to update. I thank everyone who read and reviewed this.

A few notes: this chapter gives a reference to Unguarded, one of my other Frodo, Smeagol, and Sam stories. There are also some references in here to The Hobbit. The quote in italics is taken directly from chapter 4, Riddles in the Dark, from The Hobbit.

And lastly, I have changed this story's rating. It had been "G," now I have made it "PG-13" to be on the safe side. There is nothing really graphic in this chapter, but there is some violence and great intensity, and some major angst.

Well, that's all now. On with the story!

~~~

Part 3: Leaving the Black Gate – and the Past – Behind

I cannot stop trembling as I scale the rock face. It is windy and cool; I do not tremble from coldness, though. The further I go, I start panting heavily. My heart feels as though it will burst from my chest. My head pounds terribly. I cannot keep back the images, smells, feelings, from rushing forward as I draw nearer. Terror builds inside me. For a moment I freeze, not wanting to go on. But I continue on.

"The Black Gate of Mordor," I hiss fearfully as I lead the two hobbits over the top of the cliff. It seems as if a giant wave hits me as I find myself on the threshold of this place…that had once been my prison. For a moment I gaze at the humongous black steel gate, and then beyond, toward Mount Doom. Black smoke rises into the air. The sky is red, and orange blots of lightning flash over the mountain. Gazing on the sight is too much. I huddle behind a rock. Too close! Too close! I quiver and put my hands over my face. Not again!

I lift up my head and turn it slightly. I watch with fearful eyes the fat hobbit and master as they pass me and crouch slightly behind a boulder. I press my hands to my cheeks and lower my head.

"Oh, save us! My old Gaffer would have a thing or two to say if he could see us now."

The fat hobbit's awed voice causes me to forget my terror for a moment. I uncurl my body from the ball I had curled it into and crawl to master's side.

"Master says to show him the way into Mordor; so good Smeagol does, master said so," I murmur in a low voice. I look at the gate and the orcs walking back and forth on it. I then flick my gaze to master. He stares intently and grimly at the Black Gate. I watch him with a little uncertainty, wondering how well I have done my task.

"I did," master says simply, though he does not turn to me.

I move away and lean against a rock. I rock back and forth, whimpering slightly, as memories start to rush back to me.

~~~

We blink our eyes as we are blinded by light as the blindfold is roughly pulled away from our face. A torch is inches away from our face. We cry out. Light! We hates the light! Hate the sun, hate the moon! Give us darkness. Yesssssssss, precious.

Our head snaps back and bangs into something hard as an orc slaps us. The cry catches in our throat and we whimper.

"Quiet!" a husky voice growls threateningly.

We cannot see beyond the light. It hurts our eyes! Gollum! Gollum!

"Don't you want to play with pretty light?" another voice grasps.

The flames dance, first creeping closer then further away from us. We struggle to get away. But we cannot. We are tied down to a large metal table. We can only turn our head back and forth.

"It is bright like your precious."

"No! No! Precious!" we wail.

Unseen orcs laugh.

"It will be like old times," one chuckles. "When you would cradle It and admire it."

We do not understand. The torch moves away from our face. We follow it with our eyes. It glides to the side and stops by our strapped hand, palm up. We yell in pain and everything spins as we are hit hard on head. Something warm runs down our head and face. What is it, precious? A hideous stinking face peers at us. We quiver.

"Where is It?" the orc whispers. "Where is the precious?"

We close our eyes and moan.

"Answer! Where is It?"

"What has happened to It? Lost. Lost! My precious is lost!" We cry, remembering that terrible day…

A clawed hand grabs our face and forces it forward as much as possible. Everything is still. Not a sound is heard. It is like we are waiting.

Begin.

The waiting is over. Our blood seems to turn cold and die within us. There is no doubt. We have heard the command – that one word – from Him. The Dark Lord himself has spoken. We shake. Hopelessly we strain against our chains. His laugh echoes in our mind.

You shall tell me. I will find out. You cannot escape. You cannot go without my leave. He taunts us. 

We stiffen. We feel Him. He gazes upon us. Yes, precious! He turns from us. Then an orc laughs. Our head is thrown back. 

"Gladly, My Lord!" a voice sneers.

Sweat forms on us. We breathe rapidly and unsteadily. Waiting again, listening to the sounds around us. What will happen to us, precious?

We feel heat. We open our eyes and turn our head towards where it is coming from. The torch's flames lick at the palm of our hand. Our eyes widen, wild with fear. It hovers in the air.

"Where is It?"

We watch the changing shape of the fire. We whimper slightly at the uncomfortable heat.

"Who has It?"

"Lost…" We sigh sadly.

"Proceed."

Before we are aware of what's happening, the red flames come down. Agony races through our body.

"Precious!!!!!!!!" The word speeds from our lungs and raises in the air. We continue issuing ear-splitting shrieks of pain and terror. Precious!

We vaguely hear laughter – at us.

~~~

Fire… From that day I have feared fire. When the fat hobbit asked to build a fire, just hearing it mentioned made me uneasy.

Never again do I wish to enter that land which is covered in dust and ash, a wasteland. But what if master must enter Mordor? We will go with him. Good Smeagol will help master. We must make sure the Dark Lord does not get the precious.

I have slipped by Him already and can do it again. He said I could not leave Mordor without His leave. There was no escape. But He was wrong. I did escape! I managed to lose my guards, and I avoided running into any other creatures when I left this place behind. He was not aware of me. He would not be aware of me this time either.

A shout from below reaches my ears. I look down and immediately back away at the sight of a large Easterling army marching toward the Black Gate. The roar of the Easterlings rise in answer loudly. I cover my ears, gasping. I shake my head back and forth.

They are going to enter… Go to Him, to wait for His command to fight.

~~~

We cannot keep quiet. Every movement is painful like a thousand knives. Our eyes roll one way, then the other. We feel faint… So weak… Two orcs drag us along the ground by our arms. Our back is aflame, stinging pain. The whipping so long.

"Precious our only companion," we mumble, half-senseless.

We hiss as we are thrown down on our back. Our back hurts, hurts! Something heavy is placed on our stomach. The strength to fight back left us long ago. We gasp, trying to breathe as more pressure is applied to our stomach. We start coughing.

"Who has It?"

"What has roots as nobody sees… …Toothless bites… …All in mail never clinking," we bauble. "Gollum! Gollum!"

~~~

I stand up on the tips of my toes, trying to get a peek into the clothes Ma holds in her arms. She smiles down on me and lowers her arms for me to see. Curiously, I look into a small pink colored little face with a wisp of dark hair. I smile. Hello, little one.

"This is your new sister, Leila."

I frown and take a step back. "I want a brother!" I cry.

***

Deagol chokes on his drink and sputters. He wipes the moisture from his mouth with his sleeve and gives me a double-take.

"What did you say?" he asks, titling his head at me curiously.

"Where do babies come from?" I repeat my question, looking up at him expectantly.

He shifts uncomfortably and turns red. "Uh, better ask your Ma."

"I did! She said I should ask Da. But he had told me to ask Ma." I wait for Deagol to speak.

"So why me?"

"Because you know everything, Deagol!" I reply confidently.

He buries his face in his hand. "Your question would take a long time to answer…" he trails off.

I plop myself down on the floor of the kitchen. "I have all day." I rest my chin in my hands.

"That's what I was afraid of," Deagol mutters.

I let the comment pass and wait for him to answer me.

***

I stand alone with Leila by the riverbank as they lower the coffin with Da into the water. He did so love to swim, and Ma thought the water would be the best place for him to rest. She herself is too ill to be here today. Leila and I drop the flowers in our hands into the water and watch them float away.

I feel so alone. Now I am the head of the family. How can I handle this burden? I am so young…

Leila and I turn back to face the mourning hobbits who watch us. As we walk, I spot Laura in the crowd. She looks at me with sympathy and tears in her eyes. We exchange a sad smile. Then I am hustled away by family members for the meal.

***

I half walk, half crawl away from all that was once important and dear to me. From my home, friends, and family. Nothing matters anymore. Nothing but this precious treasure. Never have I owned anything so bright and beautiful.

I feel no sadness or regret. They do not want me, and I do not want them.

"My precious…"

Without taking a last look upon my home, I put my ring on my finger.

***

We tense. Not a muscle do we move. Our eyes dart about. But nothing do we sees. But he is there. We sense him. We stretch our neck forward, waiting. Just faintly we hears the light bounce. We lunge backwards, to grab the hobbit which tries to leap over us. But we are too late. Only empty air gets trapped in our grasp. No!

We jump up and bound after him. But it is too late. We halt. We have lost our meal. And what he carries with him. What he stole from us, the thief.

"My precious!" we wail despairingly.

~~~

The weight is crushing now. Our heart will burst from the pressure. We cry in pain and outrage. The torture is too much for us. We hates him! Yes, my precious, hates him forever! We manage to draw in a deep breath.

"SHIRE!!!!!! BAGGINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" We scream at the top of our voice.

Suddenly we feel Him looking upon us. Searching to see, to test us. Then He releases us.

That is enough.

The crushing force on our chest is gone. But the pain remains. We can barely breathe. We cannot move. Everything is spinning. Things rush up, not being able to stay down. We cough.

"Shire. Baggins," we hiss faintly.

Everything goes black.

~~~

"Sam!" master shouts in a scared, warning voice.

My thoughts are shattered. I whirl in time to see the fat hobbit drop off the cliff.

"No!" he screams.

Master leaps forward and goes over the edge.

"Master!" I cry after him. I watch him slide down the cliff on the loose rocks, dust rising in the air. I make my way along the top of the cliff, crawling over and between rocks. I cautiously stick my head over the edge and peer down, searching for master. I carefully, closely look over the bottom. Two Easterlings walk away from the cliff and join the rest of the army that marches through the gate. I scan the area from which they came. All I see is rocks. Then suddenly there is master! And…the fat hobbit is stuck.

I go over the edge and make my way slowly and carefully down the cliff. I reach the bottom. And go to my left to reach them. They seem about ready to run. The gate is starting to close.

"Now!" master exclaims.

I jump forward and grab each hobbit by the shoulder and pull them back. Both turn to me in surprise and bewilderment. I snap my head between the two.

"No! No! No, master!" I cry, shaking. "They catch you! They catch you!"

Master turns away from me and tries to scramble up. I grab him again. I meet his questioning gaze.

"Don't take it to Him!" I plead, releasing him and bringing my hands together.

Master is silent, waiting for me to explain.

I become fearful. "He wants the precioussss. Always He's looking for It." I crawl to peer around the rock and the gate, slowly shutting. "And the preciousss is wanting to go back to Him, but we mustn't let Him have It," I finish with a determined hiss, my brow furrowing.

Master tries to make another run for it. I stop him.

"No!" I tell him. "There is another way. More secret, a dark way." I am growing desperate.

The fat hobbit speaks up. "Why have you not spoken of this before?!" he asks angrily, grabbing me roughly by the arm, glaring at me.

"Because master did not ask!" I exclaim in defense, turning to him, still holding onto master. He pushes me.

"He's up to something," he states suspiciously.

Master turns to me, his eyes a little hard also. "Are you saying there's another way into Mordor?" he demands.

I nod a little uncertainly. "Yes. There's a path, and some stairs…" I pause, vaguely remembering when I traveled the path. Master looks at me with uncertainty in his own eyes. "…and…a…tunnel," I state. I rub my hand over master's sleeve and turn my gaze toward the gate. Then I bury my face in master's clothing, shaking my head nervously back and forth. I feel master's hand brush against my arm slightly.

"He's led us this far, Sam," I hear master speak.

I close my eyes and am still, listening for the other's answer.

"Mister Frodo, no!"

I do not have time decide how much more I dislike the hobbit, for master continues as though his friend had not spoken.

"He has been true to his word."

I open my eyes in surprise. Did master just praise me? I raise my head and look at master, hesitantly. A smile creeps over my face slowly. I am pleased.

"No!" I hear the fat hobbit's quiet objection.

Master looks at him and then back at me, deciding. A choice is made. "Lead the way, Smeagol." He nods slightly.

This time my pleasure comes forth, and I smile broadly. "Good Smeagol, always helps!" I say and scamper off to lead the way. I turn back and wait for master to come alongside, and I crawl beside him.

I am relieved as we leave the Black Gate behind. It is closed to us.

THE END 

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