Disclaimer: erm. . . before I start, I would like to make it clear that this is Cathelle of Rivendell, who is writing, though MorwenMageGirl is helping me immensely by posting this story for me.

The Fires of Mt. Doom. . . or maybe not

Chapter one: Gimli's effective sneeze

Flashback:

"There is only one way to destroy the Ring." said Gandalf. "Find the Cracks of Doom in

the depths of Orodruin, the Fire-Mountain, and cast the Ring in there, if you really wish

to destroy it, to put it beyond the grasp of the enemy forever."

End of Flashback

Frodo glared at the Fellowship. "Absolutely not. I am going to Mt. Doom, and the rest of

you will go home and not worry about it. You are not coming with me."

Sam blinked away tears of happiness. . . er. . . sorrow. "But, Mr. Frodo, I've come

such a long way with you. Will you not let me claim some of the glory?"

Aragorn rolled his eyes. "I don't think you should go. You'd probably fall in yourself. I would be more suitable a companion. I could defend you better than Sam ever will be able to."

Sam winced at the criticism. The truth, definitely, but a sore blow to his pride all the

same.

Legolas shook his head. "I'm the best looking. And I have pointy ears."

"What does that have to do with anything?" asked Pippin. "I have pointy ears too."

"And so do I." Added Merry.

Legolas shrugged. "The author likes pointy elf ears."

Gimli grunted. "In case you haven't noticed yet, we still haven't decided who is going

with Frodo."

Frodo screamed in frustration. "No one is! I'm going ALONE!"

"I have a better idea." Started Gandalf.

At this point the argument was so heated that nobody wanted to listen to an old wizard.

He raised his staff. The sky darkened. Hail started pouring down.

"YOU SHALL NOT ARGUE!!!" shouted Gandalf.

Everyone immediately shut up like clams.

"Right." Said Gandalf, and the hail stopped. "Why don't we all go with Frodo?"

Frodo opened his mouth to protest and was cut off by Gandalf. "YOU SHALL NOT

PROTEST!!!"

"Okay." Said Frodo feebly.

A while later, at the Cracks of Doom

"Well, here we are," said Gandalf, whistling cheerfully as he motioned for the others

to follow him onto the bridge over the fire. "We are here to do what Isildur could not.

What a self-centered brat he was. Anyway, the Ring has been passed to Frodo, who had to bear it as a burden for the past. . . umm. . . well, for a very long time. Finally, we

have reached the end of our quest. Will you do the honours Frodo?"

Frodo was about to undo the chain that held the Ring, when suddenly, it felt so heavy

that it started dragging him downwards, in the direction of the fire.

"Help!" he cried as he fell.

Sam gasped in mortification. "Mr. Frodo! Come back!" He plunged after Frodo, succeeding in grabbing his cloak, then realizing that he had neglected to attach himself to the bridge and was drawing steadily closer to the fires of Mt. Doom.

Gimli, who was at the very back of the Fellowship, hadn't heard all the commotion. He

sneezed, and knocked into Legolas, who knocked into Aragorn, who knocked into Pippin,

thus creating a domino effect, and sending the rest of the Fellowship into the fire. Just

before they hit it, they heard: "Gimli, son of Gloin! You fool!" Then everything went

black, or rather, red.

Disclaimer: Pretty short chapter, I know. But anyway, REVIEW!!!