Chapter 5

The Secret of the Ring

Sam walked slowly back to his home. His talk with Marry and Pippin had been delightful and mysterious. They had agreed though, to join him in what ever may come. They had had a cup of tea and discussed the letter. Why it was in a blue envelope they did not know, for no one wrote letters besides men, elves, and dwarfs. The elves were no longer here and the restrictions of their life he did not know of. All he knew was that evil was coming and there would be no one to stop it. He also felt death drawing near but did not fear, nor welcome it. All he wanted was to go with Frodo and to be happy, forever with his family and companions. But he knew that would not happen, just yet.

A cool wind suddenly blew up behind him. The day had been peaceful until now. He did not think much of it, for he had other worries, much greater ones. In the distance a ship silently pulled into the dock. From his home on the top of the hill, he could see much. The dock was in the east where the land met the water. The direction in which the ship had come was that of the Undying lands, but no one would come from there for such joy and happiness was kept there and only the foolish would return.

He kept walking, slow yet steady, but he felt the presence of someone behind him. He turned, but saw no one. He kept waking until he came to the stairs of his house and once again felt the presence. Afraid to turn around, not knowing of the danger that awaited him, he stood there.

"Why do you fear?' a voice said behind him. "Why does your mind trouble you?" Sam turned to a radiant light that was exalted from her. The light was as pure as could be and she looked as an angel sent form above. In her hand she held a blue envelope.

"It was you." Said Sam in awe. "Yes it was I who delivered the letter, but it 'twas not I who wrote it. A dear friend asked me to give it to you." She held out the letter and Sam took it. "Frodo?" "Yes, Frodo Baggins of the Shire." Sam looked at the letter solemnly but doubt filled his mind. "Why are you here?" he asked, mystery and fear in his voice. "We must discuss this later, not here in the open for we do not know what lingers here watching us. Come we must go inside." She said leading him through the door. Inside was warm and smelled like that of fresh baked bread. Sam walked to the table and slid the letter inside the drawer, intending to read it when the right time came.

"What is your name, we have not properly introduced?" Sam asked. "My name is Farill, daughter of Marill from Ginlund. We are fairies, much like elves. And I have come to you now to help you in this time of danger. Sam paused for seconds. He stared out the window, into the peaceful Shire, then turned around to her.

"What is coming?" asked Sam. "Oh Sam, I wish I could fill your mind with everything I know, for I have foreseen it. But it would overwhelm you with much agony that I could only keep it to myself. But you are a clever hobbit, and should only know the bit that haunts me. She paused, a scared look on her face. Saruman has returned." "But how, why?" asked Sam, the fear of knowing in his trembling voice. "Sauron has raised him to fulfill his destiny of taking over Middle-Earth. Although we cannot feel Sauron's presence, Saruman can. It is only a whisper, but a clear one. Sauron has ordered Saruman to gather all creatures to him. He has awakened those that lie beneath the shadows of the mountains, where evil reigns." "But why, what does he want?" he gasped silently for he dreaded what she would say. "The Ring." She said softly. "No, but you don't understand, it was destroyed. I was there." Sam yelled. "No, that is where you are wrong. It was not destroyed, for I have seen it." "What do you mean it was not destroyed?" "When the creature Gollum fell with the ring, Sauron opened the only way out of Mount Doom, and to do this he had to give up all that he was. Although Gollum died, he and the ring fell through a small opening at the base of mount doom and fell though water, and now lay under the base of the mountain. That is why Saruman is gathering all creatures to him in search of the ring and the bearer. Sauron knows exactly where the ring is, but that is one of the many things he cannot tell Saruman. All he can say is 'The ring is alive.' "But what can we do?" asked Sam. "We must ask all of our allies to help us. We must find the ring, and destroy it. For if we throw it into Mount Doom, there is nothing Sauron, nor Saruman can do. It will be destroyed." "Does Frodo know of this?" "No I did not dare tell him, and Galadriels power, the power of the elves is weak, now that they are in the Undying Lands. They no much, but we, the faries, know more. Galadriel cannot tell him, for as far as she knows, the ring was destroyed. But she will find out. It will not be long and all knowledge will come to her about the ring. She knows that Saruman was raised but she does not know why. It is a great fear against her."

Sam arose and tended to the heaping fire at the hearth, overwhelmed at what had been told to him. The fire crackled as logs were thrown upon it, and it blazed with extreme light.

"So our journey was for nothing?" he said to her. "Oh Sam, it was not for nothing, for you made Sauron make a disturbing decision. You destroyed most of him. You destroyed his being. And someone had to do that. We are all grateful for your courage. But now we need your courage now at this time of evil."

In his heart Sam did not want to fight, but he knew that he must; for his sake and the sake of Middle-Earth.

"What must I do?" he asked her. "We must leave tomorrow and meet your friends, Merry and Pippin, and from there go to Kanall, the empire of the dwarfs. It is them who will be our greatest help. For they know the underworld and will be able to help us find, and destroy the ring of power. If they don't, it will all be lost, and the future of Middle-Earth will no longer be in our grasp." "Then we must go." Said he, a sigh escaping from his lips.

Seeing the fear, she leaned down to him.

"It is all right to fear, for not everything in this world is good. Maybe I have lain too hard of troubles upon your shoulders this night. It is late, and we must get a start tomorrow. For it is coming, and there will be no stopping it."

Sam just looked at her and smiled. For every time words left her mouth it was like music to his ears. She was a brave woman and she would fight till the end.

"Well, goodnight then." He said. "I shall leave and be back in the morning." She walked to the door, touched the handle with the most gentle of care but turned around once more. "Sam, I must beg of you not to tell of the evil I have spoken of tonight. It is a secret I am most willing to keep." With that she left, closing the door behind her.

Sam walked over to his desk and pulled out the letter from within the wooden drawer. But as he opened the letter, he heard a voice. A dark voice. A whisper that was evil itself. The silent whisper of 'bring it to me.' Sam yelled grabbing his forehead in pain. The evil voice of Sauron lingered here, the place where the ring was kept for many years. This was the home of Frodo and Bilbo Baggins, and was now in his care. But he knew that it was haunted with evil, and he could no longer stay here.

He lay in bed and read the letter from his friend. Almost brought to tears from the love of Frodo, he could not finish the letter. He wanted to write back, but he did not know how it would reach the Undying Lands. The thought was quickly lost and he drifted to sleep in the shadows of the night.

~*~

Sam awoke to the sound of loud knocking on the front door. He quickly got out of bed and he remembered. Today they must leave on their challenging experience. He dressed hastily and leaped to the door,. Outside Farill was standing, ready. She was cloaked in white with a sword in her belt. Not any longer in the gleaming dress, but still full of radiant light.

"Come, you must pack, for it will be a long journey." She said leading him into the house. He rushed in behind her putting clothes, food and water, in a woven bag. They went out the door, knowing they may never see it again. She welcomed that thought, as he feared it. As they left the house, Farill started to walk opposite form the Shire, the opposite direction of meeting Merry and Pippin. "Where are you going?" Sam yelled after her. "Are we not going to meet Merry and Pippin?" "They are meeting us at the Rough Mile, a tower upon the plains. We must hurry so we reach there in time. And be careful, for we are never alone." "How far away is this Rough Mile?" he asked with uneasiness, a smile creeping on his face. She noticed this and smiled. "A fair distance." She gave a petite laugh and continued walking beside him.

They walked all day through the Shire once again, like before. They left his home hoping they would return, but knowing they wouldn't.

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