Chapter 16

'Wait a minute', said Piper uncertainly. 'You love me?'

She took a step backwards. She had expected Aragorn anything else, anything else but this...

'What about Arwen?'

'Why does she matter when you're the one I love', asked Aragorn impatiently.

'Since when exactly?'

'Since your world', said Aragorn happily. 'The way you handled things over there...'

'Aragorn', she interrupted, 'that's the problem. We live in different worlds. I can't keep the barrier open so I can keep orbing back and forth whenever my sisters need me. And you can't live in my world because you're the king of Gondor. You just can't pick up your bags and leave.'

'Says who?'

'Says me, says Gandalf, says the entire damn fellowship. It's your destiny and you know it.'

Aragorn was silent. He knew it was true, but he wanted to be with Piper so much, he would give the world just to be with her.

'Come on', said Piper more calmly. 'We best get this quest over with.'

They walked back into the clearing where the fellowship was waiting. Aragorn left Piper with out a word and joined Gandalf. Frodo stepped forward and stood beside Paige.

'We decided Phoebe would orb everyone else to Gondor while we take Frodo here to Mount Doom', Paige informed Piper.

'OK. Let's go.'

Suddenly, just as Paige began to orb out, a dark creature darted out from behind a bush and launched himself onto Frodo. They all disappeared. Phoebe and her group saw nothing of this as they had orbed out a split second before Paige's group did. The clearing was silent for a few minutes and then Wyatt orbed into the clearing. He looked around at the dead ashes of the fire and the few packs that had been left behind.

'They were here', he muttered. 'But where are they now?'

He orbed out.

Phoebe touched down in the Great Hall of Gondor where the kings of old once sat... right in front of Denethor, the Steward of Gondor.

'What is this devilry', Denethor yelled at the top of his voice.

'Uh oh, got to go', she muttered. She turned to the others. 'You guys explain.'

And she orbed out.

The moment her hearing returned, Piper heard Frodo screaming.

'Frodo', Paige cried.

Frodo disappeared out of Gollum's hands and reappeared in Paige's arms. Piper froze Gollum. Phoebe orbed in.

'Great', huffed Piper. 'Now we got this skunk to worry about now.'

'Who or what is it?' asked Phoebe disgustedly.

'Never mind right now. Frodo get rid of It. Now.'

Frodo ripped the chain that held the Ring off his neck and walked the edge of the walkway. He held out the Ring over the fire. Then he seemed to hesitate.

'Frodo', called Paige. 'This is when you let go!'

Still the Ring hung over the fire. Then, he drew the Ring close to him, and turned around. There was a mad grin on his face.

'Frodo', said Piper coldly. 'Drop it yourself or we'll make you drop it.'

The mad grin never flickered. Instead, it grew more insane that before.

'No', he said, shaking his head. 'I may have come on the Quest to destroy it but I've decided against it. The Ring shall not be Sauron' s or Gollum's. The Ring is mine!'

With that he disappeared.

'OK that does it', said Phoebe angrily 'Ring!'

Frodo reappeared a few steps closer to them, but this time with out the Ring. The Ring was in Phoebe's hand.

'Wow, that thing is strong. It's already trying to take a hold of my mind. No one Frodo fell for it...'

'Get rid of it', ordered Piper. 'Now. If it corrupts anyone of us now, we're all doomed.'

'I'm trying...' Phoebe said with an effort. It won't... let me...'

She began to turn to the edge they were beside. They heard a growl behind them. Gollum had unfrozen. He grabbed the Ring and pushed Paige towards the edge. She might have regained her balance if she hadn't bumped into Piper and Phoebe. They lost their balance and their feet got tangled and they fell over the edge of the cliff. Wyatt orbed in just in time to his mother go over.

'NO!' he screamed.

Gollum was dancing around in happiness near the edge of the cliff. A little to close. His foot slipped and he fell over the edge. They heard his shrike until he hit the fire, then all was silence. Frodo crawled over to Wyatt.

'I'm sorry', he whispered. 'It's my fault. I was taken by the Ring. But now it's gone. It's gone!'

Frodo then took a good look at him.

'Who are you again?'

Wyatt looked at Frodo, tears streaming down his face.

'No one now. I've failed and now my mom's gone.'