A/N: Soz it's been ages since I last updated – I was trying to get my other story completely reformatted and reposted... annoying, isn't it? I hope it's worth the wait....

Thank you to all my wonderful reviewers; Lady of Rivendell, boobtubesngrass, Chantel J, Crecy, elvenstorm (thas ok), and Persephone's- Child.

Sorry I haven't got time to answer all of your reviews – lunch time ends in 3 minutes!

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Chapter 9 – Fighting Back... GO SMÉAGOL!!

I followed Frodo quietly as Gollum dived into a river, unsuccessfully attempting to catch a fish. He slipped and fell, grasping at it as he went. Frodo and Sam caught up with him.

Sam: Hey Stinker! Don't go getting too far ahead!

Frodo: Why do you do that?

Sam: What?

Frodo: Call him names; run him down all the time.

Sam: Because... because that's what he is, Mr. Frodo. There's naught left in 'im but lies and deceit. It's the Ring he wants. It's all he cares about.

Frodo immediately glared at Sam. It was as if a switch had been flicked.

Frodo: You have no idea what it did to him. What it's still doing to him. I want to help him, Sam...

Steph: Woah, cool it, dude.

Sam: Why?

Frodo: Because I have to believe he can come back.

Sam: You can't save him, Mr. Frodo.

Frodo instantly became the person he had been 5 seconds ago, snapping at Sam.

Frodo: What do you know about it? Nothing!

I nudged him, becoming visible for a second.

Steph: Oi! That was uncalled for.

Frodo: I'm sorry, Sam. I don't know why I said that.

Sam: I do. It's the Ring. You can't take your eyes off it. I've seen you. You're not eating. You barely sleep. It's taken a hold of you, Mr Frodo. You have to fight it!

Frodo grew angry again. This seemed to be getting out of control.

Frodo: I know what I have to do Sam. The Ring was entrusted to me! It's my task! Mine! My own!

Sam: Can't you hear yourself? Don't you know who you sound like?

I stopped beside Frodo, whispering to him.

Steph: Yes. You do know. Don't go down the same route. You do have a choice.

Frodo paused, then continued to walk away without looking back.

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The hobbits were sleeping. I didn't want to do the same, feeling completely awake, despite the long walk beforehand. I had always had my lunch money nicked, so I seemed to have gotten used to less food, less rest and always being on the move. Something – or rather someone – got my attention, as Gollum dragged himself out of a small corner. He seemed to be having an argument with himself.

"Ok, I do talk to myself and occasionally have arguments, but I swear this nutcase's schizophrenic."

Gollum: We wants it. We needs it. Must have the precioussss. They stole it from us. Sneaky little hobbitsesss. Wicked, trickssssy, falssse!

Sméagol: No! Not Master. I

found myself immediately siding with Sméagol – the Gollum side of him just seemed to be so demanding, but clever. Very clever.

Gollum: Yes, precious. False. They will cheat you, hurt you, lie.

Sméagol: Master's my friend.

"Come on, Sméagol... don't give up...." Gollum now began to taunt. Seemed to have the characteristics of a bully than a creature from a very warped imagination.

Gollum: You don't have any friends. Nobody likes YOU... Sméagol covered his ears, eyes wide with a mix of fear and determination.

Sméagol: Not listening. I'm not listening.

Gollum: You're a liar and a thief. Sméagol shook his head, refusing to believe his psychopathic 'friend'.

Smeagol: Nope.

"Go Sméagol!" It was as if this were a game; one side cheating and the other playing fair.

Gollum: Mur...derer...!

The good side of the wretched creature just seemed to collapse, weeping and whimpering.

Sméagol: Go away.

Gollum: Go away! Cackles HAHAHAHA!! (Yeah, I know that's not technically in the script...)

Sméagol: I hate you. I hate you!

Gollum snapped back at this comment, its mood changing instantly from the laughing, mocking thing it had been only a few seconds ago, become fierce.

Gollum: Where would you be without me? Gollum, Gollum. I saved us. It was me. We survived because of me!

Sméagol: Not anymore.

Gollum: What did you say?

Sméagol: Master looks after us now. We don't need you.

Gollum: What?

Sméagol: Leave now and never come back.

"Go Sméagol!"

Gollum: No!!

Sméagol: Leave now and never come back!

Gollum: Arrrgh!!!

Sméagol: LEAVE. NOW. AND. NEVER. COME. BACK!

Sméagol panted, then leaned forward in anticipation, as though half expecting Gollum to return.

Sméagol: We... we told him to go away! And away he goes, preciousss.

I decided to interrupt here. There was no need to hide anymore. I hopped down from my viewpoint, trying to remain visible in the moonlight.

Steph: No, Sméagol. You. No one else, but you told him to go.

He was startled at my appearance, hiding behind a rock.

Sméagol: You! Who are you?! No! It can't be you! We've seen you... No! I've seen you! I! ME!!

He began to hop around in joy, doing his own little dance.

Sméagol: Gone, gone, gone! Sméagol is free! Me!! I'm FREEEEE!!! I told them- Him to go... and he goes! Off and away! But you... you told the black rider to go... and he goes too! I smiled.

He seemed very excited about it all, definitely happy, although a little hyper. Understatement of the century.... My smile widened to a grin.

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The next day, both hobbits seemed nothing short of amazed of Sméagol's transformation overnight. On top of that, I now decided to stay visible, as there was no need not to. I explained this to them. We stopped at a suitable place, out of the wind, and much more comfortable than our previous stops had been. Rest seemed to be the only thing on the hobbits mind, so I decided to attempt to make up for the previous night.

Sméagol soon appeared carrying two rabbits, and dropped them in Frodo's lap.

Sméagol: Look! Look! See what Sméagol finds! Hehehe! Hahaha!

Frodo looked at up him with bloodshot eyes. It was obvious he was tired. He looked over Sméagol's shoulder at me and I shrugged. He smiled at Sméagol and looked at Sam. Sméagol raised a fist in self-congratulation, dancing around. He then picked up one of the rabbits and snapped the rabbit's back in front of Frodo. He went a bit too far.

Sméagol: They are young. They are tender. They are nice. Yes they are! Eat them! Eat them!

Steph: Er... Sméagol? Master's quite tired at the moment – he's been walking around all day and hasn't got much sleep, though I'm sure he's pleased at what you've found.

Frodo nodded at this, confirming my story. I didn't like to lie to him, but he was like a small child, believing everything anyone said to him, and sometimes it was easier that way. Sméagol nodded and walked away from Frodo with the rabbits; one in his mouth and one in his hand. He then bit and tore into the raw meat, obviously enjoying it. Sam looked disgusted, rushed over and snatched the rabbit out of Gollum's hands.

Sam: You'll make him sick, you will, behaving like that! There's only one way to eat a brace of coneys. S

teph: Er... Sam. Sméagol found the rabbits. And he has had nothing to eat for quite a while, so don't you think it's fair if we take all the rabbits?

I pointed at Sméagol, mouthing, until he finally got the point.

Sam: No, I guess not.

Eventually, Sméagol got one of the rabbits, and Sam got the other. I sat next to Sam who was by the fire, throwing herbs into a pot of stew.

Steph: I'm sorry Sam. Thing is, Gollum would go to any lengths to get the ring, but at the moment, that is Sméagol. I intend to keep it that way.

Sam: What would happen if he did become Gollum?

Steph: Dunno. Probably kill Frodo for the ring. So, please, I know you don't like him Sam, but please be nice to him.

A faint calling sound caught my attention. It seems Frodo had heard it too, although Sam seemed completely oblivious to it. I wanted to find the source of the sound, and it seemed Frodo did too.

Steph: Sam, c'mon.

I followed Frodo, and found him lying down near some bushes looking at a huge army marching across the land. They looked like no other people I had seen; no particular uniform, all going their own ways in the same direction.

Sam: Who are they?

Smeagol: 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.

Sam: Ready to do what?

Smeagol: To make his war. The last war that will cover all the world in shadow.

Frodo: We've got to get moving. Come on, Sam. Sam: Mr Frodo! Look! It's an Oliphaunt!

Steph: A what?!

I needn't say anymore. Very big. About 4 times the size of an elephant, with twice as many tusks looking twice as dangerous. It was carrying a great kind of tower on its back, with yet more people up there.

Sam: No one at home will believe this... I felt Sméagol slip away.

Frodo: Sméagol?

Then all Hell broke loose. From what I could work out in the confusion, the soldiers were being ambushed. I immediately faded. Cloaked rangers fired arrows at the soldiers and Oliphaunts from behind bushes. I jumped to my feet as an Oliphaunt stomped towards us, swinging his huge trunk and tusks. One arrow hit a soldier on the beast, killing him instantly. I stepped to the side and he landed where I had been not 2 seconds ago.

Frodo: We've lingered here too long. Come on, Sam!

Frodo ran straight into one of the cloaked soldiers, who grabbed hold of him and threw him onto his back. Sam saw Frodo in danger and grappled for his sword. I however, did bugger all, not knowing whether to run or fight. Sam was knocked down. I was in the middle and nobody could see me.

Sam: Wait! We're innocent travellers!

The leader appeared in front of the hobbits.

Leader: There are no travellers in this land. Only servants of the Dark Tower.

"Then what are you doing here?"

Frodo: We are bound to an errand of secrecy. Those that claim to oppose the enemy would do well not to hinder us.

Dude: The enemy?

I stepped out of the way as he walked towards the dead enemy and turned the body so he could see his face.

Leader: His sense of duty was no less than yours, I deem.

I bent down and took hold of both the hobbits swords, dragging them slowly along the ground so no one would notice.

Leader: You wonder what his name is, where he came from. And if he was really evil at heart. What lies or threats led him on this long march from home. If he would not rather have stayed there ... in peace. War will make corpses of us all.

Steph: It certainly will.

I jumped quickly, behind the leader, holding one sword at his throat, and pointing sting at his men. It was possibly the most idiotic and stupid thing I could have done. But hey, I did it.

Steph: Move, I kill your leader. Yes, I know you can't see me.

Leader: What do you want?

He said this so casually, as if he were laughing at me. Looking back, I'm not really surprised.

Steph: What do you think I want? A cup of tea and jam on bread?

Leader: Well I'm sorry, but we don't any on us. I tightened my grip, half strangling him, and turned to face him.

Steph: Release them. Now. Or I will – WILL – kill you.

As I moved out of the shadow, I became visible for just a second. In that second he saw my face – not properly – but he saw enough to know I meant it. He seemed to think about what I had just said.

Leader: Go on then. I don't think you have it in you. You look young. It's most likely you have never attacked someone before, let alone kill them.

That got me angry. That was just downright unfair. That was what drove me to do it. If I had known, If only I had known, I would've stopped right there. But I didn't.

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A/N: REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll try to update quicker next time...

assbb!!

Kess ;P