Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings. If you see any characters or any
of that stuff that you don't recognize, it's mine. The rest belongs to
Tolkien.
Chapter Twenty-Two
A few hours later, the four of them climbed up to the top of a hill. Ali looked over the edge of the hill and saw a huge, black gate. Ali glanced over at Gollum.
"What is it?" she whispered to Gollum. "Is it the Black Gate of Mordor?"
"Yes, yes. That is what they are called. The Black Gate of Mordor," Gollum replied.
"Save us," Sam said. "My old Gaffer would have a thing or two to say if he saw us now."
"Gaffer? Who's that?" Ali asked.
"My dad. Everybody calls him the Gaffer," Sam told Ali.
"Master says to show him the way into Mordor so good Sméagol does. Master said so," Gollum said.
"So I did," Frodo said.
"It looks like we can't get past them," Sam said.
"Oh, bloody joyful. This was a complete waste of time. So we came here to be stuck and no way to get in and destroy the ring?" Ali asked.
"Look! The gate is opening! I can see a way down!" Sam interrupted.
Ali looked down. A huge army was marching its way towards the Black Gate and the gate was opening to let them in. Ali glanced over at Sam.
"Are you mad? If we follow after them, someone in that army'll be sure to notice four small creatures following after them," Ali said.
Frodo looked at Ali sharply and Ali fell silent.
"This is our only way. We have to try," Frodo said.
Sam nodded in agreement and the three of them rushed foreword. Suddenly, Ali tripped on a rocked and fell, going round and around down the hill.
"Ali!" Ali heard Sam and Frodo cry out. Ali fell to the bottom of the hill and sat up dazedly. When she glanced up, Ali gasped as she saw two soldiers coming toward heard. "Crap," Ali muttered to herself.
The two soldiers kept coming closer and closer. Ali didn't know what to do. She was sure they'd find her and that'd be the end of that. Then Ali remembered what Haldir had said about their cloaks before the Fellowship had left Lothlorien. "Let these cloaks hide you from unfriendly eyes," he had said. Ali quickly threw her cloak over her, and just in time.
The two soldiers stopped just in front of her and looked around. They seemed to be confused about something.
"I could've seen a figure sitting here just a second ago," the first soldier said. Ali forced her breathing to go as slow and silent as possible.
"I could've, too. Seemed like a young maiden," the other one replied to the first soldier.
"Maybe she's hiding from us," the first one said.
The second one shook his head. "We mustn't look. We have other matters to tend to. And we might've been seeing things, as well. The air around this place makes you see things."
The first one nodded and the two turned and marched back to their places in the army. Ali breathed a sigh of relief and threw her cloak off her and looked around. Frodo and Sam, suddenly appearing out from under Frodo's cloak, rushed to her.
"That was a close shave with it," Sam said.
"Yes, it was," Ali said. "I thought they were going to catch me."
"If we're going to go, we best go now," Frodo said. Ali and Sam nodded and Frodo continued. "I do not ask you two to come with me."
"We know, but we're coming with you, anyway," Ali said.
"Ok. Now!" Frodo said and the three rushed out towards the gate.
Someone suddenly grabbed all three of them and yanked them backwards. Ali groaned as she heard her back pop as she landed on her back. She glanced up and saw Gollum standing there looking distressed.
"No! No! No master! They catch you! They catch you. Don't take it to Him. He wants the precioussss. Always he's looking for it. And the preciousss is wanting to go back to him, but we musn't let him have it," Gollum said.
Frodo sighed and tried to go on again, but Gollum pulled him back again. "No! There is another way. More secret, a dark way."
Ali sighed and spoke up. "Why didn't you speak up about it before?
"That's what I want to know!" Sam exclaimed.
"Because master did not ask!" Gollum said.
"He's up to something, I'm telling you Mr. Frodo," Sam said.
"If he knew a better way, he would've told us. He's a sneak!" Ali added.
"Are you saying that there is another way to Mordor?" Frodo asked.
"Yes. There's a path and then some stairs and a tunnel," Gollum stated.
Frodo turned to Ali and Sam. "He's led us this far and has been true to his word."
"But-" Ali said.
"No, Frodo, we can't!" Sam exclaimed.
Frodo turned back to Gollum. "Lead the way, Sméagol."
"Good Sméagol always helps," Gollum said and Frodo followed after him. Sam and Ali looked at each other in another exasperated glance and followed after Gollum and Frodo.
February 16, 2003, by my world's reckoning.
The past few days have been strange. First we get to the Black Gate and Gollum says there's another way to get into Mordor. Frodo trusted him, of course, and now we're off to this secret way that Gollum speaks of. Funny, Frodo called him Sméagol. I wonder why. Maybe that used to be Gollum's name? I will never know. If I ever get back home, I will read the books and find out.
Just yesterday, while we were walking and Gollum was trying to catch a fish, Frodo and Sam got into a small argument. Frodo didn't want Sam to call him names anymore. Then after that, Frodo got sharp with Sam and after a few words exchanged, Sam asked Frodo if he knew what whom Frodo sounded like. Frodo didn't answer and we continued on our way. I didn't get into it. I don't want to get into hot water. But that's all I can catch you up to date with. And all the time and I can write in here, anyways, 'cause I think Frodo's coming over here to tell me it's time to set off again. I'll write sometime soon if I can manage it.
Sincerely, Ali
Ali closed her journal and put it back into her bag as Frodo came over to her.
"It's time to go, Ali," Frodo said.
Ali smiled sadly. "I figured that's what you were coming over here to tell me."
Frodo sighed. "Look, Ali, I'm sorry for all of this. I know you don't trust Gollum, but I can't help but trusting him."
"I understand, Frodo. I don't blame you. What must be done, must be done," Ali said.
"I'm glad you say so," Frodo said.
Ali shook her head. "Don't trouble yourself, so."
"I can't help but do just that. Well, let's have enough of this chatter and go on, shall we?" Frodo asked.
Ali nodded. Frodo smiled and Ali followed after him. As the day wore on, they looked over a small hill and saw a huge army.
"Who are they?" Sam asked.
"Wicked men, servants of Sauron. They are called to Mordor. The Dark One is gathering all armies to him. It won't be long now. He will soon be ready," Gollum replied.
"Well, that's comforting," Ali said.
Sam, Frodo, and Ali went to the edge and laid down on their stomachs to look at them.
"Ready to do what, I wonder?" Sam muttered to himself.
"To make His war. The last war that will cover all the world in shadow," Gollum said.
Ali closed her eyes briefly and opened them again. She hoped it wouldn't come to that, but if Frodo failed, then that WAS what was going to happen.
"We've got to get moving. Ali, Sam, c'mon," Frodo said.
Sam suddenly grabbed Frodo's arm. "Look, an Oliphant! Nobody at home's going to believe this!"
Ali looked where Sam was looking and smiled to herself. It must be their word for an elephant, but this thing was 10 times bigger than the elephants she knew about. As they were looking at it, Gollum sneaked away. Ali just glanced as he left, but turned back to watching the Oliphant. But as they watched, chaos suddenly broke out and the army down below started panicking. Arrows flew out and some of them were killed.
"We've lingered here too long. We must be going," Frodo said, getting up and walking away.
Ali sighed, and turned to leave. She wondered what had started chaos in the army. Frodo turned back around.
"Ali, Sam, c'mon!" Frodo said.
Ali looked past Frodo and gasped. "Frodo, watch it!" But her call was too late. Frodo ran into a really tall man with orangey-blond hair.
"Frodo!" Sam called, unsheathing his sword. Ali did the same before some knocked both of them flat on their backs more men coming out of the bushes. The man handed Frodo to another man and approached Ali and Sam. Ali closed her eyes briefly again and opened them.
"A young woman with two men. This is unusual. But bind their hands and blindfold them, anyway. We'll get their information out of them later," the man said.
The other men nodded and did as they were bid. Ali felt herself being picked up and being carried. She didn't dare struggle, or she might get her and her two friends in worse trouble. Ali made herself go limp. They were caught, and Ali didn't know what to do about it.
A/n: There's chapter twenty-two. I hoped you all liked it. I hope it's long enough to make up for the last chapter, but I was feeling sick and anyways, today's Saturday and I had more time to type more. One more thing before I shut up, I'm trying out for the spring musical this Wednesday. If I make it, I might not have as much time as I had to type up more because this musical's a big thing. But that's saying IF I make it. I just thought I'd let you know in case you're all wondering why I haven't been updating in the next few weeks.
A'mael- Thanks for the review! Yeah, you have a good point, but don't make too many assumptions; I may surprise you. As Gandalf says, you can learn all about my ways in a month, and yet after 100 years, I can still surprise you. One more thing, your suggestion made me think of another idea for my story, but I ain't tellin' yeh, obviously. Anywho, thanks again for the review!
Melissa Ocean- Thanks for the review! Glad you liked the story.
Kage Miko- Thanks for the review! Yesh, they're a hilarious team, no doubt. But anyhow, thanks again for the review! And keep working on them puzzles and mysteries (though I forget what our conversation was, that's how long ago it was).
Sunni07- Thanks for the review! Glad you love the story. And I'm glad you can picture Pip and Ali together in your head now, laugh out loud. Anywho, thanks again!
Chapter Twenty-Two
A few hours later, the four of them climbed up to the top of a hill. Ali looked over the edge of the hill and saw a huge, black gate. Ali glanced over at Gollum.
"What is it?" she whispered to Gollum. "Is it the Black Gate of Mordor?"
"Yes, yes. That is what they are called. The Black Gate of Mordor," Gollum replied.
"Save us," Sam said. "My old Gaffer would have a thing or two to say if he saw us now."
"Gaffer? Who's that?" Ali asked.
"My dad. Everybody calls him the Gaffer," Sam told Ali.
"Master says to show him the way into Mordor so good Sméagol does. Master said so," Gollum said.
"So I did," Frodo said.
"It looks like we can't get past them," Sam said.
"Oh, bloody joyful. This was a complete waste of time. So we came here to be stuck and no way to get in and destroy the ring?" Ali asked.
"Look! The gate is opening! I can see a way down!" Sam interrupted.
Ali looked down. A huge army was marching its way towards the Black Gate and the gate was opening to let them in. Ali glanced over at Sam.
"Are you mad? If we follow after them, someone in that army'll be sure to notice four small creatures following after them," Ali said.
Frodo looked at Ali sharply and Ali fell silent.
"This is our only way. We have to try," Frodo said.
Sam nodded in agreement and the three of them rushed foreword. Suddenly, Ali tripped on a rocked and fell, going round and around down the hill.
"Ali!" Ali heard Sam and Frodo cry out. Ali fell to the bottom of the hill and sat up dazedly. When she glanced up, Ali gasped as she saw two soldiers coming toward heard. "Crap," Ali muttered to herself.
The two soldiers kept coming closer and closer. Ali didn't know what to do. She was sure they'd find her and that'd be the end of that. Then Ali remembered what Haldir had said about their cloaks before the Fellowship had left Lothlorien. "Let these cloaks hide you from unfriendly eyes," he had said. Ali quickly threw her cloak over her, and just in time.
The two soldiers stopped just in front of her and looked around. They seemed to be confused about something.
"I could've seen a figure sitting here just a second ago," the first soldier said. Ali forced her breathing to go as slow and silent as possible.
"I could've, too. Seemed like a young maiden," the other one replied to the first soldier.
"Maybe she's hiding from us," the first one said.
The second one shook his head. "We mustn't look. We have other matters to tend to. And we might've been seeing things, as well. The air around this place makes you see things."
The first one nodded and the two turned and marched back to their places in the army. Ali breathed a sigh of relief and threw her cloak off her and looked around. Frodo and Sam, suddenly appearing out from under Frodo's cloak, rushed to her.
"That was a close shave with it," Sam said.
"Yes, it was," Ali said. "I thought they were going to catch me."
"If we're going to go, we best go now," Frodo said. Ali and Sam nodded and Frodo continued. "I do not ask you two to come with me."
"We know, but we're coming with you, anyway," Ali said.
"Ok. Now!" Frodo said and the three rushed out towards the gate.
Someone suddenly grabbed all three of them and yanked them backwards. Ali groaned as she heard her back pop as she landed on her back. She glanced up and saw Gollum standing there looking distressed.
"No! No! No master! They catch you! They catch you. Don't take it to Him. He wants the precioussss. Always he's looking for it. And the preciousss is wanting to go back to him, but we musn't let him have it," Gollum said.
Frodo sighed and tried to go on again, but Gollum pulled him back again. "No! There is another way. More secret, a dark way."
Ali sighed and spoke up. "Why didn't you speak up about it before?
"That's what I want to know!" Sam exclaimed.
"Because master did not ask!" Gollum said.
"He's up to something, I'm telling you Mr. Frodo," Sam said.
"If he knew a better way, he would've told us. He's a sneak!" Ali added.
"Are you saying that there is another way to Mordor?" Frodo asked.
"Yes. There's a path and then some stairs and a tunnel," Gollum stated.
Frodo turned to Ali and Sam. "He's led us this far and has been true to his word."
"But-" Ali said.
"No, Frodo, we can't!" Sam exclaimed.
Frodo turned back to Gollum. "Lead the way, Sméagol."
"Good Sméagol always helps," Gollum said and Frodo followed after him. Sam and Ali looked at each other in another exasperated glance and followed after Gollum and Frodo.
February 16, 2003, by my world's reckoning.
The past few days have been strange. First we get to the Black Gate and Gollum says there's another way to get into Mordor. Frodo trusted him, of course, and now we're off to this secret way that Gollum speaks of. Funny, Frodo called him Sméagol. I wonder why. Maybe that used to be Gollum's name? I will never know. If I ever get back home, I will read the books and find out.
Just yesterday, while we were walking and Gollum was trying to catch a fish, Frodo and Sam got into a small argument. Frodo didn't want Sam to call him names anymore. Then after that, Frodo got sharp with Sam and after a few words exchanged, Sam asked Frodo if he knew what whom Frodo sounded like. Frodo didn't answer and we continued on our way. I didn't get into it. I don't want to get into hot water. But that's all I can catch you up to date with. And all the time and I can write in here, anyways, 'cause I think Frodo's coming over here to tell me it's time to set off again. I'll write sometime soon if I can manage it.
Sincerely, Ali
Ali closed her journal and put it back into her bag as Frodo came over to her.
"It's time to go, Ali," Frodo said.
Ali smiled sadly. "I figured that's what you were coming over here to tell me."
Frodo sighed. "Look, Ali, I'm sorry for all of this. I know you don't trust Gollum, but I can't help but trusting him."
"I understand, Frodo. I don't blame you. What must be done, must be done," Ali said.
"I'm glad you say so," Frodo said.
Ali shook her head. "Don't trouble yourself, so."
"I can't help but do just that. Well, let's have enough of this chatter and go on, shall we?" Frodo asked.
Ali nodded. Frodo smiled and Ali followed after him. As the day wore on, they looked over a small hill and saw a huge army.
"Who are they?" Sam asked.
"Wicked men, servants of Sauron. They are called to Mordor. The Dark One is gathering all armies to him. It won't be long now. He will soon be ready," Gollum replied.
"Well, that's comforting," Ali said.
Sam, Frodo, and Ali went to the edge and laid down on their stomachs to look at them.
"Ready to do what, I wonder?" Sam muttered to himself.
"To make His war. The last war that will cover all the world in shadow," Gollum said.
Ali closed her eyes briefly and opened them again. She hoped it wouldn't come to that, but if Frodo failed, then that WAS what was going to happen.
"We've got to get moving. Ali, Sam, c'mon," Frodo said.
Sam suddenly grabbed Frodo's arm. "Look, an Oliphant! Nobody at home's going to believe this!"
Ali looked where Sam was looking and smiled to herself. It must be their word for an elephant, but this thing was 10 times bigger than the elephants she knew about. As they were looking at it, Gollum sneaked away. Ali just glanced as he left, but turned back to watching the Oliphant. But as they watched, chaos suddenly broke out and the army down below started panicking. Arrows flew out and some of them were killed.
"We've lingered here too long. We must be going," Frodo said, getting up and walking away.
Ali sighed, and turned to leave. She wondered what had started chaos in the army. Frodo turned back around.
"Ali, Sam, c'mon!" Frodo said.
Ali looked past Frodo and gasped. "Frodo, watch it!" But her call was too late. Frodo ran into a really tall man with orangey-blond hair.
"Frodo!" Sam called, unsheathing his sword. Ali did the same before some knocked both of them flat on their backs more men coming out of the bushes. The man handed Frodo to another man and approached Ali and Sam. Ali closed her eyes briefly again and opened them.
"A young woman with two men. This is unusual. But bind their hands and blindfold them, anyway. We'll get their information out of them later," the man said.
The other men nodded and did as they were bid. Ali felt herself being picked up and being carried. She didn't dare struggle, or she might get her and her two friends in worse trouble. Ali made herself go limp. They were caught, and Ali didn't know what to do about it.
A/n: There's chapter twenty-two. I hoped you all liked it. I hope it's long enough to make up for the last chapter, but I was feeling sick and anyways, today's Saturday and I had more time to type more. One more thing before I shut up, I'm trying out for the spring musical this Wednesday. If I make it, I might not have as much time as I had to type up more because this musical's a big thing. But that's saying IF I make it. I just thought I'd let you know in case you're all wondering why I haven't been updating in the next few weeks.
A'mael- Thanks for the review! Yeah, you have a good point, but don't make too many assumptions; I may surprise you. As Gandalf says, you can learn all about my ways in a month, and yet after 100 years, I can still surprise you. One more thing, your suggestion made me think of another idea for my story, but I ain't tellin' yeh, obviously. Anywho, thanks again for the review!
Melissa Ocean- Thanks for the review! Glad you liked the story.
Kage Miko- Thanks for the review! Yesh, they're a hilarious team, no doubt. But anyhow, thanks again for the review! And keep working on them puzzles and mysteries (though I forget what our conversation was, that's how long ago it was).
Sunni07- Thanks for the review! Glad you love the story. And I'm glad you can picture Pip and Ali together in your head now, laugh out loud. Anywho, thanks again!
