1Disclaimer: I wish I owned Mordor, Frodo, Sam, Gollum and the Ring, but I do not. I am thankful that a certain Mr. J.R.R. Tolkien owns them, however, because if they belonged to me, they would be lost in about ten feet of snow on Caradhras. Anyway, enjoy the chapter and do not neglect your duty to review it.

MornieGalad

Chapter Three: Deadly Decisions

"Don't put it on. They'll see. He'll see. You can't put it on," Frodo whispered to himself as his hand wavered over the ring. Subconsciously, he felt death closing in on him. Had their entire quest, all the suffering and loss, been in vain? No, it couldn't be true. with all his remaining resolve, Frodo drew his hand away from the ring and into his pocket. He grasped the phial that Galadriel had given to him and whispered the incantation. A brilliant light pierced the darkness. A few feet away, Sam had drawn his sword and was poised to engage the Nazgul in mortal combat. Frodo wracked his brain for an escape: any escape.

Sam was perspiring, striving to conceal his fear as he glanced about at the scene. Behind a boulder crouched Gollum, unimportant to the servants of Mordor. Their attention was fixed on Frodo, but Sam barred their path, for his motive was centered around the subject of the enemy's focus. He mustn't allow any harm to come to Frodo. The Nazgul unsheathed their swords and closed in on Sam just as Frodo struggled to his feet. He took Sam's hand in his and, so the beasts could not see, he released the ring. Then, before he could second guess himself or Sam could object, he dashed away, hoping again hope that the Nazgul would follow him, believing he still had the ring. Fortune favored him for once and the Ringwraiths sped after Frodo, leaving Sam to stare bewildered after his master.

"No, master mustn't go," cried Gollum from his hiding place, but his cries fell on deaf ears. The rush of wind from the wings of the fell beasts knocked both him and Sam to the ground. Their battle cries filled the air and Sam felt he could feel his master's rapid pulse as the enemy covered him like a blanket. He started to follow them, but stopped, thinking of the ring. Frodo had given it to him for protection, so he had to keep it from the enemy. Was there any use in hiding, though, Sam wondered? Once they discovered Frodo didn't have the ring, they would surely sense it and find him. There was no place he could hide in his barren place that would conceal him from the Wraiths. Then what was the point of it all? Hope was lost. If that was true, though, Sam wondered why the Nazgul had even chased after Frodo. Couldn't they sense that he no longer had the ring? Whatever the reason, they had followed him.

The Nazgul screeched. Then again. It was coming closer. What had they done to Frodo? Was he still alive? Another screech. Sam's mind raced. In a last, desperate effort, he doe beneath his elven cloak, braced for the end and prayed to the Vala that it would be quick.

So, what do you think. Yes it is a cliffie. No, neither Sam nor Frodo is doomed, yet. Any advise for the next chapter would be very much appreciated.

MornieGalad