OH! SWEET! ELBERETH! Reviewsess! *does a creepy jig, vaguely resembling a
corrupted bohemian dance* I can't tell you guys how excited your comments
make me! You people are the best! ^_^ *throws chocolate covered shroomies
to reviewers, while Frodo!Muse screams and thrashes behind bars*
Individual thank-ya's at end of chappie!
Now this chap's gonna be a lil shorter, cause SOMEONE *glares meaningfully at Frodo, who whistles* set a bug lose in my computer! Look! *holds up miniature orc* Can you believe that? The nerve! Well, all systems crashed, and I lost a ton of stuff, so as a peace offering for taking so long I thought I'd post this. Tell me if ya want the loong chapters again.
*Cracks knuckles* Brace yourself Sam! *gollum, gollum*
Chapter 2 ~ Ashes
Frodo grimaced, gagging slightly on the lembas bread that was, for what seemed like the gillionth year running, his and Sam's sole dinner course. Sam was munching hungrily on his portion, ravenous after another long day's trek through the rough land that lay beyond the dead marshes. Frodo managed with no small effort to gulp his bite down, and screwed his eyes shut as he roled his tongue around inside his mouth, as though to rid it of a foul taste.
Sam watched Frodo with a quizzical look on his face, while the dark-haired hobbit grimly investigated the piece of bread in his hand, turning it over several times with a now confused in addition to mildly disgusted look on his face.
"What's wrong, Mr. Frodo?" Sam finally inquired, after swallowing a second large bite of his lembas. Frodo, still clutching his bread in his hand, looked up at Sam, an apprehensive gleam suddenly in his eyes.
"Sam? Does, does your lembas taste strange tonight?" he asked, and it was clear which answer he wanted, and which one he dreaded.
Sam furrowed his brow. "No," he said simply. "Tastes just as bland and not- tater-ish as ever." Frodo looked mildly horrified, as though a terrible thought had only just fully presented itself. He slowly put down his lembas and leaned back against the tree behind him, his eyes wide as the full moon rising through the trees behind him.
His gaze flew to Gollum, who was revoltingly devouring several "crunchy birdsess" just outside the edge of the hobbits' pitiful camp. He swallowed and blinked quickly, averting his eyes from the disgusting site and fixing them instead on his white-knuckled hands.
Sam worriedly shoved the remainder of his bread into his mouth and crawled over to Frodo's side. But before one question could leave his mouth, Frodo pulled himself to his feet, staggered to his bed role, and flopped onto the ground.
"Night," he muttered simply.
Sam hesitantly curled up on his own bed role beside his friend and closed his eyes. But he could tell by Frodo's quick breathing that he was not asleep.
************************* "Welcome back, Samwise." The voice echoed. Oh no. . .
Sam slowly raised his head, clearly wanting many things more than seeing what (whom?) he knew was there. Sure enough, Destiny's Muse smiled down at him, without smiling at all. Oh, Elbereth, no, not AGAIN!
"No, plea-"
The muse stared back at him with gigantic, lamp-like, fish eyes. And vanished. The last Sam saw of her were two eerie, light blue orbs glowing sinisterly through the black mist.
Sam shuddered, and curled up as small as possible as the colored threads flew back again, wondering what horrors he would be forced to endure this time, and never wanting to find out. He wasn't sure if he could take it again.
Drip, drip.
Sam's teeth chattered.
Drip, drip, drip.
He raised his head from his knees.
He was in a cave, and if a hole in rock could possibly be evil, this one was. He pressed himself against the slimy, cold stone behind him, desperate to put as much space between him and that dark as possible. He was forcefully reminded of the goblins from Moria, though he could not say why.
As his eyes adjusted to the gloom, the first thing he noticed, with a jolt to the stomach, were bones littering the wet, moldy floor. But before his heart could even properly leap into his throat and suffocate him, Sam realized that they were fish bones. Yes, there was a decided stench of rotting fish in this place.
Sam gagged on the none-too familiar smell. This place reeked of Gollum.
He shrieked as he raised his gaze and came face to face with the repulsive creature.
Well, eye to eye was more like it. All he could make out of the emancipated being were the tell-tale, glowing blue lamps. He forced his breathing to slow and summoned his voice.
"Hey, stinker. What're you doing here?"
Funny. For a second Sam could have sworn something like hurt was reflected out of those eyes along with the eerie sapphire light.
Someone may as well have driven Sting through Sam's chest, in the place of what happened next. The tormented animal whimpered softly, low in its throat, and crawled closer to Sam, cringing into a shaft of light as it did.
Sam certainly felt like he was bleeding to death. His heart had surely been ripped out.
This was Gollum's cave no longer.
The rotting, slinking skin and bone remainder of Frodo Baggins cowered before him, like a cornered animal under the dull light shining on his twisted and emancipated form. He wasn't yet as wasted away as Gollum, but his hair was long and thinning, though still curly and dark. Ripped, ragged and filthy remains of Frodo's shirt and breeches hung limply from his shrunken body, at least four sizes too big for him. His fingers were long, and flat at the ends. Blood seeped sluggishly from many scratches and cuts running up and down the creature's arms, thickest around its wrists. One could easily tell they were self-inflicted.
It shivered violently and stared up at its, no, HIS former friend, a forerunner to remembrance flickering behind the animal void of its huge, cat-like eyes.
Sam realized that he wasn't breathing, and forced his body to suck in a rattling breath that echoed in the cave. Frodo cringed back, hesitant and frightened. Only then did Sam's heart quiet enough for Sam to realize Frodo was speaking. Though hissing would probably describe it better.
"Who be that, preciousss, eh? We wantss to know, yess we do. We seess him before, we can'tsss remember." The former hobbit squeaked and twisted itself on the ground, as though in horrible pain and frustration, whimpering to itself in agony, the whispers becoming increasingly more high- pitched and cracked. "It hurtsss us preciouss! Picturesss in poor head, why can'tsss we remembersess?"
Sam was still holding his breath from before. He forced himself to exhale.
"Nasssty hobbit," the creature, for Sam could not bring himself to acknowledge it as his master, snarled, its stance suddenly more menacing, its pupils contracted. "Whatsss it doing here, preciousss? It wantsss to rob us, yess, yess it doess! But we mustn't. . . let. . . him. . . have it."
Before Sam could even remind himself to breath again, it pounced, bearing sharp, pointed teeth. But no sooner had it slammed Sam into the wall, but it released him, careening backwards, swaying violently.
"No, no!" it squeaked. "No, we musn't! We knowss, we knowss him. Poor hobbit don't wantss to hurt him!"
"Filthy hobbitsess! We should drownss him and squeeze out his insidess!"
"No, no, nice hobbit no wantsss to do that!" the whimpering voice cracked, tears evident behind the blue orbs. "He is. . . he is. . ." Frodo was clearly grasping at straws. ". . . our brother! He is my brother! Leave us alone. . . don't makess poor hobbit. . ."
The shell of Frodo toppled over again, screaming in pain and writhing on the ground, ripping at his arms in agony, desperate to feel a pain that was his own doing and not his other half's. Though when Frodo's breath ran short between shrieks, Sam could just hear the demon sharing his body laugh horribly, coughing occasionally.
"Aw-law, aw-law aw-law!"
"Go away! Go away, Ala! Leave uss alone! AAAAAAAHHhhhhhssss" Frodo's huge blue eyes glowed even brighter, their light enhanced by his tears. Sam could see the awareness slowly fading from the Frodo-half's eyes. He was drifting away to another place, another time, another life. . .
"Orcsess, orcsess, they takess it. They takess everything! Everything! They iss coming back. They hass nasty burning whip! Whip! No, not again, poor hobbit don't knowss where nasssty ring-elf be!" the screaming reached a crescendo. "SAAM!"
The force holding Sam in a paralyzed trance was broken.
"Frodo!"
The former ringbearer lay sprawled on the damp floor, gasping desperately and creepily still compared to how he had thrashed before. Slowly, tremulously, he forced himself upward on his weak, bloody arms, and stared at Sam with eyes so wide and hurt Sam almost would have preferred Gollum's fish stare. Almost.
"Wh- what?" Frodo's voice shook so bad Sam could hardly understand him.
"Frodo," Sam repeated, noticing in an abstract way that his voice was shaking almost as terribly. "Oh, Frodo, 'ave you forgotten everything?" Judging by the ex-hobbit's nearly blank stare, Sam reckoned so. "Frodoo," he cooed softly. "That was yer name."
Frodo still trembled, staring into Sam's chocolate eyes at though he was searching for something. "Sa-sam-hobbit?"
Sam felt a smile pulling at his lips. Ironic under the circumstances, in his opinion. He nodded.
Frodo stared at him in shocked silence, his eyes taking up most of his scarred face. Sam wondered in a detached state where all those scars had come from. Frodo's stare dropped to fix on Sam's feet, and sluggishly shifted to stare at his own, taking in their size and the curly hair still clinging to them.
"Frodo," he whispered. "Frodo Sam hobbits." If possible, his pupils contracted even more with a sudden fear. "Ring-hobbits." He stared up at Sam as if for confirmation of this. After a brief hesitation, Sam nodded again.
Frodo swayed. "I remember," he croaked, before collapsing in racking sobs. Sam hovered, not exactly sure what to do, and probably too apprehensive to do anything anyway.
Frodo solved his indecision for him. Slowly, as though fearing a whip would lash out at him at any minute, Frodo crawled forward, and all at once flung his thin, slimy arms around Sam's shoulders and cried into his shoulder, like he had so many other times so many years ago.
Sam jumped, his first impulse when a Gollum-like creature sprang at him being to throttle its throat.
Before he could stop himself, Sam pushed the repulsive half-corrupted creature away. Frodo lost his balance and half fell into the murky water. When Frodo looked up, Sam could have very easily throttled himself, had he not forgotten to breathe again, never mind move.
Fat tears dripped down Frodo's face. They looked somewhat out of place on such a Gollum-ish likeness.
"Frodo, Frodo forgetsess. Sam-hobbit no likess Stinker. Slinker can't come back. There's nothing no one can do for himsess. . ." He sobbed brokenly. Suddenly, his pupils contracted, and a malicious grin contorted his face.
"Why does he cry, Frodo?"
Frodo looked horrified. "Go away," he whimpered. "Leave me alone, let me come back." Frodo threw back his head and screamed to the ceiling. "I WANT OUT!!"
Sam was struck numb. The meaning of Frodo's words a few days ago. . . or was it a million years? suddenly hit him.
"I have to believe he can come back."
"There's nothing you can do for him, Mr. Frodo."
Had, had Goll-, no, had Smeagol been like his Mr. Frodo once? Had Smeagol had a friend? Did Smeagol know what was happening to him?
Suddenly, Frodo's anger that day made way too much sense. Sam remembered his friend's red, puffy eyes later after their argument. And Sam understood.
Frodo knew he could easily end up like Gollum. Frodo knew Sam hated Gollum. Frodo knew, but refused to believe, that his Sam, his /brother/, would hate what he could become.
Every insult Sam had ever thrown at Gollum had been reflected neatly off the creature's lamp-like orbs, and stabbed like fragments of glass into his master's heart.
Frodo watched, day after day, as the ring slowly ate him away. Watched Smeagol send him knowing, sympathetic looks. Watched Gollum leer at him viciously. Watched Sam look after who he was. Watched Sam scorn what he would become.
And the whole time, a great fiery eye watched his torment, waiting for him to fall. Burning away his life and soul until all that remained in his world was a wasted black ash of things once green. Even the food he ate turned to dust in his mouth. . .
When Sam could finally see again, the May-Be was gone, though he could hear its tearful bawling echoing off the walls of its cave. Sam flew, staggering, to his feet, and screamed into the slowly unraveling darkness.
"Frodo! I'm sorry!"
The crying quieted. A pale face appeared in the darkness, peering around a corner.
Sam swayed and fainted, the tortured look in Frodo's eyes too much to bear.
************************ Sam awoke with a wild gasp, jerking violently, his chocolate eyes frantically darting around him.
"Ashes. . ."
Sam had to bite his tongue to choke back his startled shriek at finding Frodo's head lying next to his. Sam put a hand to his heart and breathed several deep, shuddering breathes before his eyes agreed to focus again.
Frodo was breathing hard, his eyes screwed shut and his face pale, sweat on his brow. "Burning," he mumbled weakly, before he tossed fitfully onto his side. His fingers reached out in front of him, grasping at the air as though searching for something. "Fire. . . why's'it so cold?"
Sam choked on a sob, and ceased both Frodo's cold hands in his own shaking ones, squeezing them warmly and whispering, "Frodo, I'm so sorry. I won't let that happen to you. I promise."
Frodo, even in his own nightmare, seemed to sense Sam was there. He edged closer, and Sam wrapped his arms around his friend protectively, and rested his own tear-streaked chin on Frodo's sweat-dampened curls. Sam would never let go, as long as Frodo was frightened, and he tightened his hold, wanting more than anything to make up for pushing him away.
"Ashes, it tastes like ashes, I'm sorry Sam, so sorry, don't leave me here!" Frodo quivered, panting for breath. Sam cried.
"No! Not alone!" Frodo gave a final weak yelp and was dashed back to wakefullness. He scrambled to his elbows, tangled in his blanket. Finally, he managed to free himself, and his frantic eyes fell on Sam's.
Again they stared at each other, not sure what to believe and what not to. After a long moment, they both blinked at the exact same time, freeing the tears welled up in their eyes.
Without a word, Frodo teetered and collapsed, his exhausted head falling on Sam's chest. Using the last of his strength, Frodo wrapped his arms around Sam's neck, and went completely limp. Sam simply let his tears fall and returned the hug, folding his hands on Frodo's back.
"Don't leave," Frodo whimpered weakly. "I don't wanna be alone."
Sam whispered. "I won't leave if you don't."
Frodo nodded into Sam's shirt, and began to breath more slowly, drifting off to sleep. Sam followed him only seconds later.
Destiny's Muse didn't torment either hobbit for the rest of the night.
********************* So, whatcha think? PLEASE let me know. Like I said, I'm new to this serious writing, and need all the help I can get! Reviews are appreciated to an unhealthy level! *pets review* Preciousss *ahem* yes.
THANK YOU REVIEWERS! Valar you mean the world to me!
Evil Vampire Lady: my first reviewer! *sniff* You deserve shroomies! Frodo!Muse: NUUUUUUU! *tosses EVL a shroom anyways* don't worry, he'll make it. Thank you sooo much! I'm really glad you like it. As for the fate *shudder* creepy one. I just watched FotR today, for the gillionth time. If I don't use it here, mind if I write an AU? *puppy eyes* Hope you liked this chappie!
Linriel: *gags* Slash, how I hate it. Can't we let these poor guys be friends without them sleeping with each other! *growls* If anyone says one ill word about my Sam. *ahem* Yes. I loved your idea about Frodo having nightmares too, you totally were the inspiration for the little end bit here. *tosses shroom* THANK YOU SOO MUCH! ^_^
Earthangel10: Thanks! *shroom for you!* Hope you liked this chapter too!
H. Warrenbeck: *pets review* my own, my. *frodo!muse leaps out of closet and wallops Silver with a frying pan* MEEP! Ouch! Sheesh, frying pans HURT! Omg, thank you SOO MUCH for the PRECIOUS review! *truckload of shrooms!* Wow, it was you that inspired me to get over the computer crash and start writing again! THX!! :D
*shifts nervously* Heh heh, and yea, I am Nutmeg *ducks projectile sporks* MEEP! Ala's on vacation! In transylvania! Leave us alone!
Frodo!Muse: ACK! ASHES!
Ala: bwa ha ha.
Nutmeg: um, maybe she's not in transylvania. . .
NEXT CHAPTER: BARAD DUR, BRING IT ON!
Individual thank-ya's at end of chappie!
Now this chap's gonna be a lil shorter, cause SOMEONE *glares meaningfully at Frodo, who whistles* set a bug lose in my computer! Look! *holds up miniature orc* Can you believe that? The nerve! Well, all systems crashed, and I lost a ton of stuff, so as a peace offering for taking so long I thought I'd post this. Tell me if ya want the loong chapters again.
*Cracks knuckles* Brace yourself Sam! *gollum, gollum*
Chapter 2 ~ Ashes
Frodo grimaced, gagging slightly on the lembas bread that was, for what seemed like the gillionth year running, his and Sam's sole dinner course. Sam was munching hungrily on his portion, ravenous after another long day's trek through the rough land that lay beyond the dead marshes. Frodo managed with no small effort to gulp his bite down, and screwed his eyes shut as he roled his tongue around inside his mouth, as though to rid it of a foul taste.
Sam watched Frodo with a quizzical look on his face, while the dark-haired hobbit grimly investigated the piece of bread in his hand, turning it over several times with a now confused in addition to mildly disgusted look on his face.
"What's wrong, Mr. Frodo?" Sam finally inquired, after swallowing a second large bite of his lembas. Frodo, still clutching his bread in his hand, looked up at Sam, an apprehensive gleam suddenly in his eyes.
"Sam? Does, does your lembas taste strange tonight?" he asked, and it was clear which answer he wanted, and which one he dreaded.
Sam furrowed his brow. "No," he said simply. "Tastes just as bland and not- tater-ish as ever." Frodo looked mildly horrified, as though a terrible thought had only just fully presented itself. He slowly put down his lembas and leaned back against the tree behind him, his eyes wide as the full moon rising through the trees behind him.
His gaze flew to Gollum, who was revoltingly devouring several "crunchy birdsess" just outside the edge of the hobbits' pitiful camp. He swallowed and blinked quickly, averting his eyes from the disgusting site and fixing them instead on his white-knuckled hands.
Sam worriedly shoved the remainder of his bread into his mouth and crawled over to Frodo's side. But before one question could leave his mouth, Frodo pulled himself to his feet, staggered to his bed role, and flopped onto the ground.
"Night," he muttered simply.
Sam hesitantly curled up on his own bed role beside his friend and closed his eyes. But he could tell by Frodo's quick breathing that he was not asleep.
************************* "Welcome back, Samwise." The voice echoed. Oh no. . .
Sam slowly raised his head, clearly wanting many things more than seeing what (whom?) he knew was there. Sure enough, Destiny's Muse smiled down at him, without smiling at all. Oh, Elbereth, no, not AGAIN!
"No, plea-"
The muse stared back at him with gigantic, lamp-like, fish eyes. And vanished. The last Sam saw of her were two eerie, light blue orbs glowing sinisterly through the black mist.
Sam shuddered, and curled up as small as possible as the colored threads flew back again, wondering what horrors he would be forced to endure this time, and never wanting to find out. He wasn't sure if he could take it again.
Drip, drip.
Sam's teeth chattered.
Drip, drip, drip.
He raised his head from his knees.
He was in a cave, and if a hole in rock could possibly be evil, this one was. He pressed himself against the slimy, cold stone behind him, desperate to put as much space between him and that dark as possible. He was forcefully reminded of the goblins from Moria, though he could not say why.
As his eyes adjusted to the gloom, the first thing he noticed, with a jolt to the stomach, were bones littering the wet, moldy floor. But before his heart could even properly leap into his throat and suffocate him, Sam realized that they were fish bones. Yes, there was a decided stench of rotting fish in this place.
Sam gagged on the none-too familiar smell. This place reeked of Gollum.
He shrieked as he raised his gaze and came face to face with the repulsive creature.
Well, eye to eye was more like it. All he could make out of the emancipated being were the tell-tale, glowing blue lamps. He forced his breathing to slow and summoned his voice.
"Hey, stinker. What're you doing here?"
Funny. For a second Sam could have sworn something like hurt was reflected out of those eyes along with the eerie sapphire light.
Someone may as well have driven Sting through Sam's chest, in the place of what happened next. The tormented animal whimpered softly, low in its throat, and crawled closer to Sam, cringing into a shaft of light as it did.
Sam certainly felt like he was bleeding to death. His heart had surely been ripped out.
This was Gollum's cave no longer.
The rotting, slinking skin and bone remainder of Frodo Baggins cowered before him, like a cornered animal under the dull light shining on his twisted and emancipated form. He wasn't yet as wasted away as Gollum, but his hair was long and thinning, though still curly and dark. Ripped, ragged and filthy remains of Frodo's shirt and breeches hung limply from his shrunken body, at least four sizes too big for him. His fingers were long, and flat at the ends. Blood seeped sluggishly from many scratches and cuts running up and down the creature's arms, thickest around its wrists. One could easily tell they were self-inflicted.
It shivered violently and stared up at its, no, HIS former friend, a forerunner to remembrance flickering behind the animal void of its huge, cat-like eyes.
Sam realized that he wasn't breathing, and forced his body to suck in a rattling breath that echoed in the cave. Frodo cringed back, hesitant and frightened. Only then did Sam's heart quiet enough for Sam to realize Frodo was speaking. Though hissing would probably describe it better.
"Who be that, preciousss, eh? We wantss to know, yess we do. We seess him before, we can'tsss remember." The former hobbit squeaked and twisted itself on the ground, as though in horrible pain and frustration, whimpering to itself in agony, the whispers becoming increasingly more high- pitched and cracked. "It hurtsss us preciouss! Picturesss in poor head, why can'tsss we remembersess?"
Sam was still holding his breath from before. He forced himself to exhale.
"Nasssty hobbit," the creature, for Sam could not bring himself to acknowledge it as his master, snarled, its stance suddenly more menacing, its pupils contracted. "Whatsss it doing here, preciousss? It wantsss to rob us, yess, yess it doess! But we mustn't. . . let. . . him. . . have it."
Before Sam could even remind himself to breath again, it pounced, bearing sharp, pointed teeth. But no sooner had it slammed Sam into the wall, but it released him, careening backwards, swaying violently.
"No, no!" it squeaked. "No, we musn't! We knowss, we knowss him. Poor hobbit don't wantss to hurt him!"
"Filthy hobbitsess! We should drownss him and squeeze out his insidess!"
"No, no, nice hobbit no wantsss to do that!" the whimpering voice cracked, tears evident behind the blue orbs. "He is. . . he is. . ." Frodo was clearly grasping at straws. ". . . our brother! He is my brother! Leave us alone. . . don't makess poor hobbit. . ."
The shell of Frodo toppled over again, screaming in pain and writhing on the ground, ripping at his arms in agony, desperate to feel a pain that was his own doing and not his other half's. Though when Frodo's breath ran short between shrieks, Sam could just hear the demon sharing his body laugh horribly, coughing occasionally.
"Aw-law, aw-law aw-law!"
"Go away! Go away, Ala! Leave uss alone! AAAAAAAHHhhhhhssss" Frodo's huge blue eyes glowed even brighter, their light enhanced by his tears. Sam could see the awareness slowly fading from the Frodo-half's eyes. He was drifting away to another place, another time, another life. . .
"Orcsess, orcsess, they takess it. They takess everything! Everything! They iss coming back. They hass nasty burning whip! Whip! No, not again, poor hobbit don't knowss where nasssty ring-elf be!" the screaming reached a crescendo. "SAAM!"
The force holding Sam in a paralyzed trance was broken.
"Frodo!"
The former ringbearer lay sprawled on the damp floor, gasping desperately and creepily still compared to how he had thrashed before. Slowly, tremulously, he forced himself upward on his weak, bloody arms, and stared at Sam with eyes so wide and hurt Sam almost would have preferred Gollum's fish stare. Almost.
"Wh- what?" Frodo's voice shook so bad Sam could hardly understand him.
"Frodo," Sam repeated, noticing in an abstract way that his voice was shaking almost as terribly. "Oh, Frodo, 'ave you forgotten everything?" Judging by the ex-hobbit's nearly blank stare, Sam reckoned so. "Frodoo," he cooed softly. "That was yer name."
Frodo still trembled, staring into Sam's chocolate eyes at though he was searching for something. "Sa-sam-hobbit?"
Sam felt a smile pulling at his lips. Ironic under the circumstances, in his opinion. He nodded.
Frodo stared at him in shocked silence, his eyes taking up most of his scarred face. Sam wondered in a detached state where all those scars had come from. Frodo's stare dropped to fix on Sam's feet, and sluggishly shifted to stare at his own, taking in their size and the curly hair still clinging to them.
"Frodo," he whispered. "Frodo Sam hobbits." If possible, his pupils contracted even more with a sudden fear. "Ring-hobbits." He stared up at Sam as if for confirmation of this. After a brief hesitation, Sam nodded again.
Frodo swayed. "I remember," he croaked, before collapsing in racking sobs. Sam hovered, not exactly sure what to do, and probably too apprehensive to do anything anyway.
Frodo solved his indecision for him. Slowly, as though fearing a whip would lash out at him at any minute, Frodo crawled forward, and all at once flung his thin, slimy arms around Sam's shoulders and cried into his shoulder, like he had so many other times so many years ago.
Sam jumped, his first impulse when a Gollum-like creature sprang at him being to throttle its throat.
Before he could stop himself, Sam pushed the repulsive half-corrupted creature away. Frodo lost his balance and half fell into the murky water. When Frodo looked up, Sam could have very easily throttled himself, had he not forgotten to breathe again, never mind move.
Fat tears dripped down Frodo's face. They looked somewhat out of place on such a Gollum-ish likeness.
"Frodo, Frodo forgetsess. Sam-hobbit no likess Stinker. Slinker can't come back. There's nothing no one can do for himsess. . ." He sobbed brokenly. Suddenly, his pupils contracted, and a malicious grin contorted his face.
"Why does he cry, Frodo?"
Frodo looked horrified. "Go away," he whimpered. "Leave me alone, let me come back." Frodo threw back his head and screamed to the ceiling. "I WANT OUT!!"
Sam was struck numb. The meaning of Frodo's words a few days ago. . . or was it a million years? suddenly hit him.
"I have to believe he can come back."
"There's nothing you can do for him, Mr. Frodo."
Had, had Goll-, no, had Smeagol been like his Mr. Frodo once? Had Smeagol had a friend? Did Smeagol know what was happening to him?
Suddenly, Frodo's anger that day made way too much sense. Sam remembered his friend's red, puffy eyes later after their argument. And Sam understood.
Frodo knew he could easily end up like Gollum. Frodo knew Sam hated Gollum. Frodo knew, but refused to believe, that his Sam, his /brother/, would hate what he could become.
Every insult Sam had ever thrown at Gollum had been reflected neatly off the creature's lamp-like orbs, and stabbed like fragments of glass into his master's heart.
Frodo watched, day after day, as the ring slowly ate him away. Watched Smeagol send him knowing, sympathetic looks. Watched Gollum leer at him viciously. Watched Sam look after who he was. Watched Sam scorn what he would become.
And the whole time, a great fiery eye watched his torment, waiting for him to fall. Burning away his life and soul until all that remained in his world was a wasted black ash of things once green. Even the food he ate turned to dust in his mouth. . .
When Sam could finally see again, the May-Be was gone, though he could hear its tearful bawling echoing off the walls of its cave. Sam flew, staggering, to his feet, and screamed into the slowly unraveling darkness.
"Frodo! I'm sorry!"
The crying quieted. A pale face appeared in the darkness, peering around a corner.
Sam swayed and fainted, the tortured look in Frodo's eyes too much to bear.
************************ Sam awoke with a wild gasp, jerking violently, his chocolate eyes frantically darting around him.
"Ashes. . ."
Sam had to bite his tongue to choke back his startled shriek at finding Frodo's head lying next to his. Sam put a hand to his heart and breathed several deep, shuddering breathes before his eyes agreed to focus again.
Frodo was breathing hard, his eyes screwed shut and his face pale, sweat on his brow. "Burning," he mumbled weakly, before he tossed fitfully onto his side. His fingers reached out in front of him, grasping at the air as though searching for something. "Fire. . . why's'it so cold?"
Sam choked on a sob, and ceased both Frodo's cold hands in his own shaking ones, squeezing them warmly and whispering, "Frodo, I'm so sorry. I won't let that happen to you. I promise."
Frodo, even in his own nightmare, seemed to sense Sam was there. He edged closer, and Sam wrapped his arms around his friend protectively, and rested his own tear-streaked chin on Frodo's sweat-dampened curls. Sam would never let go, as long as Frodo was frightened, and he tightened his hold, wanting more than anything to make up for pushing him away.
"Ashes, it tastes like ashes, I'm sorry Sam, so sorry, don't leave me here!" Frodo quivered, panting for breath. Sam cried.
"No! Not alone!" Frodo gave a final weak yelp and was dashed back to wakefullness. He scrambled to his elbows, tangled in his blanket. Finally, he managed to free himself, and his frantic eyes fell on Sam's.
Again they stared at each other, not sure what to believe and what not to. After a long moment, they both blinked at the exact same time, freeing the tears welled up in their eyes.
Without a word, Frodo teetered and collapsed, his exhausted head falling on Sam's chest. Using the last of his strength, Frodo wrapped his arms around Sam's neck, and went completely limp. Sam simply let his tears fall and returned the hug, folding his hands on Frodo's back.
"Don't leave," Frodo whimpered weakly. "I don't wanna be alone."
Sam whispered. "I won't leave if you don't."
Frodo nodded into Sam's shirt, and began to breath more slowly, drifting off to sleep. Sam followed him only seconds later.
Destiny's Muse didn't torment either hobbit for the rest of the night.
********************* So, whatcha think? PLEASE let me know. Like I said, I'm new to this serious writing, and need all the help I can get! Reviews are appreciated to an unhealthy level! *pets review* Preciousss *ahem* yes.
THANK YOU REVIEWERS! Valar you mean the world to me!
Evil Vampire Lady: my first reviewer! *sniff* You deserve shroomies! Frodo!Muse: NUUUUUUU! *tosses EVL a shroom anyways* don't worry, he'll make it. Thank you sooo much! I'm really glad you like it. As for the fate *shudder* creepy one. I just watched FotR today, for the gillionth time. If I don't use it here, mind if I write an AU? *puppy eyes* Hope you liked this chappie!
Linriel: *gags* Slash, how I hate it. Can't we let these poor guys be friends without them sleeping with each other! *growls* If anyone says one ill word about my Sam. *ahem* Yes. I loved your idea about Frodo having nightmares too, you totally were the inspiration for the little end bit here. *tosses shroom* THANK YOU SOO MUCH! ^_^
Earthangel10: Thanks! *shroom for you!* Hope you liked this chapter too!
H. Warrenbeck: *pets review* my own, my. *frodo!muse leaps out of closet and wallops Silver with a frying pan* MEEP! Ouch! Sheesh, frying pans HURT! Omg, thank you SOO MUCH for the PRECIOUS review! *truckload of shrooms!* Wow, it was you that inspired me to get over the computer crash and start writing again! THX!! :D
*shifts nervously* Heh heh, and yea, I am Nutmeg *ducks projectile sporks* MEEP! Ala's on vacation! In transylvania! Leave us alone!
Frodo!Muse: ACK! ASHES!
Ala: bwa ha ha.
Nutmeg: um, maybe she's not in transylvania. . .
NEXT CHAPTER: BARAD DUR, BRING IT ON!