Author's Note: I had no more idea than you that there would be another chapter to this fic. I wrote this piece to be a separate fic, but I thought that it fit in very well with this one, in every way. I think that I am going to make this my place to put all of my prosy vignettes about Frodo and Sam's friendship. Thus, it will be updated sporadically, so if you want to know when I write more, you'll have to keep a sharp eye out.

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Evenstar Elanor- nope, this is definitely not slash. Nymredil does not write slash. Thank you so much for your kind words about the style. All three of these vignettes started out as poems--- they just didn't work out, and I think that accounts for the strange lyrical style in these pieces. Your writing is much more beautiful than this, though, and I certainly do not rival Tolkien... no mortal can claim to do that.

Sigil Galen- hmm... these pieces are definitely much more flowery than my usual work. The way that I'm writing these pieces is following Frodo's thoughts, so they are rather long and rapidly changing. I would like to know why you think I am new to Tolkien. I haven't loved him my entire life, but it's been almost three years since I read the books and I have reread them numerous times since then. I also read The Silmarillion... once... although it wasn't to my liking. These were really pieces that could have taken place in both the movie and book-verses, so I want to know why you think that these were movie characterizations... Did I make a stupid mistake? I'm just curious...

FrodoBaggins87- Thank you! I hope you enjoy this next chapter... I don't like it as much as the others, but I think it's alright.

Socrates399- you flatter me! BTW, your "one pathetic story" was amazing! You should really post something else soon, because you are very talented!

Laurajslr- thank you very much! That is the greatest compliment you could ever give me... Yes, I was very fond of that part... I really like writing anything about the days before the quest, because it's so happy. All of the angst is fun to read, but the days of the Shire are assuredly the most enjoyable to write. That line was reckoning back to those pleasant days, and... I dunno, I liked it.

Crimsondawn- I've already written to you, sending you my profuse thanks... I'm also really sorry that this took so long to be posted after I got the idea... I've had other things to write, and my muse has been very temperamental these days... I'd like to hire a new one, but that just might cause more trouble.

Frodo's sister- ::blushes:: thank you very much.

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"Shadow"

You have become naught but a shadow cast down by the sun to torment me. Where all once was clear, you have drawn black lines of fear in my mind. I once was free, but you would use these lines to contain me, telling me that if I should dare to cross, the consequences would be dire. I have done my best to ignore you, but there you are: the shadow of doubt ever- tracing my steps.

You are much as a bit of rust on a pale band of gold, tarnishing my mind with questions that I do not want to hear, nor to which know the answers. Always you would have me choose the harder road, caring not that you cause me such pain! Why must you always lurk, somewhere nearby, ever reminding me of what I have lost, and what I can never again obtain?

Faded are the words in my dusty book of memory, pages crumbling at my clumsy touch. Eternally lost are the times when you would meld yourself with the day, ever the bearer of joy and hope. No, my friend, you did not blight out the sun! You were the sun, sending forth dazzling rays of hope, and I would bask in your glow, pretending there were no clouds looming in the distance that would take you away from where I could reach you.

Now, in essence, you are a vague cloud on the ever-dimming horizon. At least, you have clouded my vision with obscurities and uncertainties, ever hovering over me and casting me in darkness. O, why was I chosen to be borne so far from the times of old, when the world was a song and the days could be drunk like sweet and pungent wine? Why do I hear naught but accursed shrieks on the wind, instead of the lilting laughter of the breeze? My perception has become dulled, so that with the bestial thoughts in my traitorous mind I would unravel the threads of life's tapestry of splendor and with them create something entirely loathsome and vile!

How might I rid myself of you, you accursed shadow? How might I prevent you from dogging my steps with foolish persistence, so that you might tell me that my every desire is for ill? For the only way that I can fathom would be to stretch a curtain of ebony across the sun, and such an action would be inconceivable!

At this thought, all of my musings are thrown into a new and wondrous light, in spite of your sable cloak. You, as a shadow, are a creation of the sun; you were crafted by the rays of hope, in all their glory. Truly, you are an angel of the light, flown down from the radiant heavens to guide me away from all paths ever laden with twilight. It is I who have become a creature of the ebon night! I create this cloud of gloom in which I have lost myself by denying all that you hold dear and rejecting the hope to which you so desperately cleave. All that was evil which I perceived in you was a mere reflection of myself created my your dancing eyes. How could I have maligned you with my bitter words?

My dear Sam, you are indeed my shadow. You have followed me to the ends of this world, through water, dust, and fire, breathing with me the poisoned air of this wicked land. You have bound yourself to me, never questioning to what end I shall lead you. I only wish that you did not have to share in my evil fate, though your only wish is to perish at my side.

You chose to become my shadow, Sam, a decision I shall forever rue but never fathom. Must it be this way, my friend? Must you trod on this cruel road?

My appointed path is one without hope or light, and yet you stumble on! All has become painfully clear and I see now that I was mistaken, for you are no shadow. We have past beyond the lands where shine the sun, where hope can be kindled. By all rights I should be alone, but here you are, my constant companion through all grief, tears, and sorrows.

O, Sam, dearest of all hobbits, how could I have thought you my shadow? For a shadow could not carry me.

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Please review! I love you, I love you, I love you, so PLEASE review!!! And... ::makes evil !i!i!about to plug herself!i!i! face:: please check out all my other fics, 'cause I know you'll love 'em! That is all, my lovely readers. Thank you for taking the time to read this fic.

Toodles!

---Nymredil