Angel

Chapter 27: "Damn You Samwise!"

Author's Note: As you may notice, I leave some scenes out. If I don't think I can add to them to make the story better, I don't write them in. I just figure that you guys really wouldn't want to read through stuff you already know. ;;

"Black Riders!"

"Stop staring in shock and hide!" Tersa said, yelling over another screech. She dragged Sam by the arm under a thorn bush. "Wait a minute, where's Frodo?!"

"He and Gollum must still be out there!" Sam said, already starting to get up.

"We have to go save Frodo at least then. Onward!"

When they found Frodo he was curled up in a ball on the ground clutching his shoulder and talking to himself.

"No- Ahgh! –They wouldn't- Not-"

"Come on Mr. Frodo, we have to get out of sight." Sam explained, picking Frodo up and carrying him back to the thorn bush where Gollum was waiting.

"Thanks for all the help out there." Tersa said softly after the Nazgul finally gave up on catching the three hobbits. She glared at Gollum. "And no thanks to you."

"Hss. You were no help either, oh no precious. The cross hobbit is the one that carried master." Gollum said, receiving a glare from Sam and a point to a frying pan from Tersa. "Ss… fine… we will not speak any longer…"

"It's fine Sméagol, it was not your fault or Tersa's. It wasn't anyone's except my own. My shoulder started to ache again and I nearly blacked out again." Frodo sat up, still holding his shoulder.

"What were you saying out there Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked. "When we found you, meaning."

"Nothing. Some nonsense the ring was trying to convince me of… that you two would leave me to die alone after the ring was destroyed… it's just trying to keep itself out of Mt. Doom…"

Sam and Tersa looked at each other guiltily for a few moments until Frodo sat up.

"We should get up… we can't stay here tonight." He looked from Sam to Tersa and back again. "And stop looking at each other like this was your fault. I'm fine." He stood up. "Lead the way Sméagol."

"Are you going to sit there and stare or talk to her?" Frodo asked, nudging Sam in Tersa's direction. It was very late when they stopped, and it was nearly completely dark, but Frodo could tell Sam was gazing over in Tersa's direction. "She did help me to get you out after you were buried in rock today. You might want to thank her."

"I looked like a fool in front of her, I'm sure she doesn't want to talk to me." Sam sighed, looking over at Tersa whom was brushing her hair with an old wooden brush. "Besides, she's been ignoring me ever since then."

"So? You know how Tersa is. She's done this to you before, just go talk to her anyway." Frodo gave Sam another nudge. "She doesn't bite. Well, she probably won't bite you, let me put it that way."

"Fine. But I wouldn't be surprised if she hit me over the head with that brush of hers." Sam muttered, getting up and walking over to where Tersa was sitting on the ground. "Tersa?"

Tersa said nothing, but started brushing her hair a bit more forcefully.

"Tersa, I'm sorry. Whatever it was I did, I'm sorry." Sam looked at Tersa, whom kept glaring straight a head with an irritated look on her face. "And thank you for helping me today. I didn't mean to-"

"Didn't mean to what? Scare me to death?!" Tersa snapped, turning and glaring at Sam. "Curse you do you know how worried about you I was today?! I was sure you would break your neck from the fall, and if not that you would be captured and killed! And THEN where would I be, I can't bloody well help Frodo to do this on my own, I don't even know if I can get myself through this horrid place!" Tersa's voice was rising with each sentence. "You just make me-! Damn you-!"

She kissed him quickly, then turned away.

"Some times I don't know if I want to kiss you or wring your neck!" She finished, then picked up her pack and moved a few feet away and lay down with a last 'Damn you Samwise' and went to sleep.

Meanwhile, Sam sat gaping after her with his mouth hanging open in shock.

"Sam?" Frodo said, moving over to where Sam was. "Sam?"

"Mngh?!"

"Sam can you say anything faintly resembling common tongue?"

"What just happened-?!"

"Apparently you made Tersa so angry that she kissed you." Frodo laughed. It was a true laugh, such as had not been heard since they entered Mordor.

"Eh?!"

"I don't know either. At least she didn't hit you with her brush."

"Nngh-?!"

"Just go to sleep Sam, maybe you will be able to talk by then."

(AN: Lindsey, I can hear your squealing from here…-)

The next morning started off as the night had begun, with Tersa ignoring Sam and Sam confused on what on earth he did to annoy her. After breakfast they started off again with Gollum leading the way, but Tersa was the first behind Gollum for a change.

"Sss…"

"Could you quit hissing?"

"Sss… Girl hobbitses so nasty to poor Sméagol, though he is so good and kind to show them the way, so mean… It is not our fault she is in a bad mood, oh no precious."

"I am not in a bad mood you dratted frog." Tersa growled.

"Of course not, we is mistaken… Girl hobbitses are just more obvious with her abuse to poor, poor Sméagol today, gollum. Poor abused Sméagol."

Tersa sighed. "All right all right, I'm sorry. I AM in a bad mood, but it isn't my fault." She glanced back at Sam and Frodo who were walking side by side a little ways behind her.

"Angry at the cross, rude hobbit, yes." Gollum nodded.

"Don't call him that! It's not true; you just don't get along with him! You don't even know him!" Tersa said angrily. "He isn't usually like this!"

"Sss! She is angry at the cross hobbit and still defends him, precious! And she says that we is the ones that are not in their right mind." Gollum shook his head. "We doesn't understand hobbitses."

"Oh be quiet you!" Tersa crossed her arms over her chest and blushed. "Where are you leading us anyway? The Black Gate was supposed to be the only way in to Mordor."

"We knows a dark way, a secret way. We will get the hobbitses there safe, we promises. Even the cross one." Gollum smirked over his bony shoulder at Tersa.

"Shut up."

Wooo! Another chapter done. I'm sorry that was so short. ;; But now that school is out you can expect chapters to be posted more frequently! Now, to respond to reviews!

Lindsey: Well, it wasn't a confession, but I hope it will be able to tide you over until I get to that point.

Cavca: 'Mighty Master of the Pen'? Sweatdrop I'm not sure I would go that far, but thank you. As for the paparazzi, I don't think just one person qualifies. Recruit half the Shire to stalk us, then you've got a paparazzi. Keep the fun reviews coming!

EJ Kridom: Thank you. It's fun to write those bits with Frodo and the Ring, I get to have multiple personalities for a while.

Meha: I don't have a response for you because you refuse to review! Review darn you!