We're so close to the end of it all. I will admit I had a bit of trouble writing some of this and ended up redoing sections three or four times. I don't think I ever rewrote a chapter that much. Changed ideas before writing it down, sure, done that plenty of times, but going back and re-reading it to do the first round of proofreading and be like "No. Rewrite it," that's not something that happens often.
Special thank you to reviewer Kit (Guest). I would like to say that I had intended to do more with that thought, but I couldn't make it work the way I wanted it to. But I'm glad you liked it so much.
Frodo suddenly came to his senses in a cold room. He was covered in spider webbing and his wrists were tied with rope. There was noise behind him.
"Hey! Hands off!" said an ugly voice. Orc! "That shiny shirt, that's mine."
"It's going to the Great Eye, along with everything else," said a second Orc.
Frodo realized he had been stripped almost naked. He reached up to his neck and found the Ring gone.
"I don't take orders from stinking Morgul rats!" said the first Orc.
"You touch it, and I'll stick this blade in your guts!"
The two Orcs began fighting. It didn't last long.
"The scum tried to knife me!" the first Orc shouted to someone. "Kill him!"
Frodo began hearing sounds of fighting from below him. Wherever he was, there were many Orcs.
He waited until everything quieted down before trying to get his hands free. He grunted and struggled, trying to twist his hands free.
"Stop your squealing, you dunghill rat!"
Frodo rolled over and saw an Orc snarling back at him.
The Orc drew its knife. "I'm gonna bleed you like a stuck pig!"
It pulled its knife back to stab Frodo, but it stiffened and cried out in pain. It dropped the knife. A glowing blew blade pushed through its chest. Sam's head popped up over the Orc's shoulder.
"Not if I stick you first!" Sam said in its ear.
"Sam!" cried Frodo in joy and disbelief.
Sam pulled Frodo's sword free and the Orc fell to the ground. He then knelt down next to Frodo.
"Oh, Sam, I'm so sorry," Frodo apologized. "Sorry for everything."
Sam smiled gently at him. "Come on." He started untying the ropes around Frodo's wrists.
"It's too late," Frodo despaired. "It's over. They've taken it. Sam, they took the Ring!"
"Begging your pardon, but they haven't," said Sam. He stood up and reached into his pocket. He withdrew the Ring by the chain.
The Ring called to Frodo.
"I thought I'd lost you," Sam told him. "So I took it – only for safe-keeping."
Frodo let his gaze drop to the Ring. "Give it to me."
Sam hesitated. He began to pull his hand back. The Ring called to Sam, wanting him to keep it, to use it.
"Give me the Ring, Sam," Frodo said. "Sam! Give me the Ring!"
Sam stretched out his hand slowly.
Frodo snatched the Ring from Sam and the Ring's whispers instantly stopped. Frodo put the Ring around his neck. Sam continued to stare at it on Frodo's marred chest.
Frodo felt his heavy burden and looked up at Sam. "You must understand . . . The Ring is my burden . . . It will destroy you, Sam."
Sam looked at Frodo, his face full of compassion. "The Ring is evil. You are good."
Frodo was surprised. "How?"
"You used to repeat it over and over at night," said Sam.
"Ricky made me learn it," Frodo said.
"Very smart of him, Mr. Ricky," said Sam. "You should recite it more often."
"Yes," Frodo quietly agreed.
"Come on, Mr. Frodo, we'd best find you some clothes," said Sam. "You can't go walking through Mordor in naught but your skin."
They gathered Frodo's clothes and found a disguise in the form of Orc armor. The two Hobbits stood on the summit of Cirith Ungol and walked down into Mordor. They both stopped and stared ahead. Mount Doom was in sight, but yet still far away.
"We did it, Mr. Frodo," said Sam, his voice a little distorted from the helmet he wore. "We made it to Mordor."
Frodo's eyes traveled down towards the plains between them and Mount Doom. Thousands of Orcs had encamped there.
"There are so many of them," Frodo said. "So many. We'll never get through unseen."
Then they looked at the tower and the fiery eye on top. It gazed around, searching Mordor, a beam of light showing exactly where it was looking.
Frodo drew back in terror. "It's him – the Eye."
Sam gently urged Frodo on. "We have to go in there, Mr. Frodo. There's nothing for it. Come on. Let's just make it down the hill for starters."
Sam led the way, sliding down. Frodo followed after him. They were almost there.
In the tower hall, Gandalf had called a meeting. The Fellowship minus the Hobbits stood around along with Éomer. They had all cleaned up and had gotten some sleep. Gimli was sitting in the steward's chair smoking his pipe. Ricky was sitting on the steps to the king's throne dressed in a tunic and pants with her hair loose. She caught Boromir casting glances at her, indecision in his eyes.
"Frodo has passed beyond my sight," said Gandalf. "The darkness is deepening." He turned and walked across the hall.
Aragorn had his back to Gandalf. "If Sauron had the Ring, we would know it."
Troubled and worried, Gandalf went on. "It's only a matter of time. He has suffered a defeat, yes, but behind the walls of Mordor our enemy is regrouping."
Gimli took his pipe from his mouth. "Let him stay there. Let him rot! Why should we care?"
Gandalf looked at the Dwarf. "Because ten thousand Orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom." He gave a small shake of his head. "I've sent them to his death."
Aragorn turned around. "No."
They all looked at him.
"There's still hope for Frodo. He needs time and safe passage across the Plains of Gorgoroth. We can give him that."
"How?" asked Gandalf.
"Draw out Sauron's armies," replied Aragorn. "Empty his lands. Then we gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate."
Gimli choked on his pipe.
Éomer stepped forward. "We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms."
"Not for ourselves," said Aragorn. "But we can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron's eye fixed upon us. Keep him blind to all else that moves."
"A diversion," said Legolas, understanding.
"Certainty of death, small chance of success, what are we waiting for?" Gimli asked.
"There is no guarantee Sauron will send all of his armies to us," said Boromir. "He knows he has dealt a blow though we were victorious here. He knows it's foolish to march on the Black Gates with the forces we have."
"He's right," said Gandalf. "Sauron will suspect a trap."
"'Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak'," Ricky spoke up. They looked at her, confused. "Do we have anything to make us look stronger than we are?"
"I know of something," said Aragorn.
That evening, Ricky sat in the hallway next to the doors of the tower hall. She was holding a bottle of liquor in one hand. She wasn't sure what exactly she had stolen out of the kitchen, but it was strong. She figured now was the time to drink if there was any time. Tomorrow they would march on Mordor.
At the meeting Aragorn had suggested using the Palantir to bait Sauron. They all had mixed feelings about the plan, but all supported Aragorn's idea in the end. Gandalf had already left the Palantir in there and no one was allowed in the tower hall until after Aragorn used it.
Ricky heard footsteps coming towards her. She looked up and saw Aragorn.
"Ricky? What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Havin' a drink," she said, giving the bottle a shake. "Want a swig before you go in?"
"No. And should you be drinking that?"
"Probably not," she said breezily with a shrug. She became serious. "Be careful in there. Don't let him get in your head. And yell if you need me."
Aragorn gave a nod and entered the tower hall.
Ricky took a swig from the bottle. She was pacing herself as she didn't want to get so drunk that she couldn't fight with the hangover in the morning. Then a thought popped into her head. They were going to be marching to Mordor. Sauron would have the field advantage this time, not them. They were bringing the fight to him to distract him from Frodo and there wasn't much hope that any of them would walk away from this. She really could die tomorrow. The sudden realization had Ricky pausing with the bottle at her lips. This could be her last night alive. She put the cork back in the bottle and set it down. Her heart sank as the realization continued to sink it. She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them.
The door to the tower hall was yanked open and Aragorn stepped out looking haunted. Ricky looked up and got to her feet.
"Aragorn?"
He stopped and turned as if he remembered Ricky had been sitting outside.
Ricky noticed that the necklace he always wore was missing. She could have sworn he had been wearing it when he went in.
"You good?" she asked.
"I need some time alone," he answered quietly.
"Hey, whatever he showed you, don't let it get to you," Ricky reminded him. She heard her voice shake a little.
Aragorn frowned. "Ricky?"
"I'm okay," she quickly said, her voice shaking more as she blinked away tears. "It's okay."
Aragorn hugged her. "If you wish to stay behind tomorrow, I understand."
Ricky shook her head. "No way. We're in this together."
Aragorn gave a nod. He took the bottle from her hand. "You don't need this," he said. "Get some rest, Ricky. Tomorrow will come quickly."
"Okay," she said in a small voice.
Instead of going back to her quarters, Ricky went down to the Houses of Healing. If she only had a few hours left to live, there was something she had to do.
"Ricky?"
She stopped to see Merry and Pippin heading for the Houses of Healing as well. The Hobbits had been staying in Pippin's quarters instead of Merry being in the Houses of Healing. Merry hadn't been hurt too badly and the bed was needed for the more injured.
"You okay, Merry?" she asked, worried something else had happened to the Hobbit.
Merry nodded. "We're going to see Éowyn."
"Merry thought she could use some visitors," said Pippin. "Want to come?"
Ricky had wanted to talk to Éowyn, but she wasn't sure if she wanted to talk to her with anyone else around. "Sure," she finally decided.
A healer directed them to the private room Éowyn was staying in. Merry knocked on the door and they waited for her to answer.
"Come in," came the soft answer.
Merry opened the door. "My lady, may we come in?"
Éowyn was sitting up in bed in a white gown. She smiled when she saw Merry. Her smile faded when she saw Ricky. "Have you come to reprimand me for going to battle?" she asked her.
Ricky walked right in. "No," she said. "You know, I never had a problem with you fightin'. My problem was you wanted to to it to make a name for yourself."
"So my cousin has pointed out," Éowyn said.
This was the closest either of them were going to get to an apology.
"It wasn't what I thought it would be," Éowyn admitted. "I was terrified. But I faced them down."
"Did you piss yourself?" Ricky asked bluntly.
"Ricky!" Merry scolded. "My lady, I am so sorry for my friend."
Pippin giggled. "It wouldn't be Ricky if she didn't say something like that."
"No shame if you did," Ricky went on. "I almost did when the Nazgûl landed in front of me."
"I killed the Witch King," Éowyn said, choking up a little. "He killed my uncle."
Ricky gave a nod. "I saw. Glad you found somethin' to fight for."
Merry went up to her. "I'm sorry for your loss, my lady."
Éowyn gave a sad smile and put her hand on Merry's head. "He died well."
A small pitter-patter sound caught their attention.
"It sounds like it is raining," said Éowyn.
"The first rain of spring," Pippin commented. He frowned and looked at Merry. "Right?"
Merry nodded. "The first day of spring was a few days ago."
"Tomorrow is March 25 if you would like to know," said Éowyn. "I've kept track of the days so I knew what day the battle was."
"A time for hope," Ricky said quietly. She thought she wasn't loud enough for them to hear her, but then she saw them looking at her in confusion. "Frodo said somethin' like that to me once."
Mentioning Frodo seemed to bring the Hobbits' spirits down.
"He's not wrong," said Pippin. "Winter is ending, but spring hasn't fully come. And we could really use some hope right now."
Ricky left the Houses of Healing not long after that. Merry and Pippin started telling stories about the Shire and their misadventures and Ricky started to feel awkward about being there. She excused herself and went to the kitchens for something to eat. She brought a plate of food back to her quarters so she didn't have to deal with the stares and whispers of people while she ate. She wasn't in her quarters long before someone knocked on the door.
"Yeah?" she called.
Boromir entered with a solemn look on his face. He came in and closed the door behind him.
"I must speak with you," he said.
Ricky just watched him.
"I do not like being deceived," he went on.
Ricky remained quiet.
"Aragorn and the others told me about . . . you," Boromir said, looking uncomfortable. "I did not believe them at first. But then I began to look back on our journey together and things began to make sense, yet I still refused to believe. All this time. Why did you not tell us you were a girl?"
"You talked to Aragorn. Didn't he tell you?" asked Ricky.
"He did," answered Boromir. "But still, why didn't you tell us? All of us are honorable men!"
"Would you have treated me the same?" Ricky asked. "Would you have let me go with you? Would you have let me fight with you?"
Boromir opened his mouth to respond, but stopped. "No," he said quietly.
"There you go."
There was silence for a moment as Ricky drank from her cup.
"I had envisioned the line of stewards opening their home and hearts to a boy, a strange boy with a will of steel and a sharp tongue, a boy who saved my life," said Boromir.
Ricky put her cup down and blinked in surprise.
"I thought of how my brother and my father would welcome the boy into our family," Boromir went on. "I knew it would take some time, but they would come to love him like I had. And now I learn the boy who I travelled with is a girl."
Ricky knew he was disappointed with her.
"But I would still be honored to have her in my family."
Ricky's jaw dropped.
"I don't know if you ever thought of what you would do if we make it through this, but you will have a place in Gondor," said Boromir. "That is if you want it."
"You'd let me stay with you?" Ricky asked.
"Of course," replied Boromir. He looked at her half-empty plate. "I should leave you to your meal. Forgive me for interrupting."
Ricky rolled her eyes and groaned. "Oh, don't start that. Just because you know I'm a girl now doesn't mean you gotta treat me differently. I rather you didn't."
"Still, you'll need all of your strength tomorrow." Boromir's shoulders slumped a little. "I wish you would stay behind."
"Not happenin'," she said. "Like I told Aragorn, we're in this together."
"That's what I thought you would say," said Boromir with a wane smile. "Which is why I'll be going with as well."
"You sure?" asked Ricky, looking Boromir up and down. He looked better than when she found him drugged up in bed, but he still looked weak.
"I will follow my king," said Boromir resolutely. "I'll see you in the morning." He turned to leave.
"Hey, Boromir," Ricky called impulsively.
He stopped. "Yes, Ricky?"
She swallowed hard before answering. "I'm sorry about Denethor."
Boromir looked her in the eye. "I know you did what you had to do to save us. I am not angry with you. In fact, I thank you for saving our lives."
Ricky nodded and Boromir left.
Sam and Frodo slid down a steep ridge and reaching the plains. A horn sounded. Sam looked ahead and saw the Orcs marching away.
"Look! The Orcs, they're moving off!" Sam turned to Frodo. "You see, Mr. Frodo, some luck at last!"
The joy was short lived as they heard an Orc shouting up the path they just reached.
"Move it, you slugs!"
They turned to see a troop of Orcs marching towards them, the Orc captain snapping a whip to drive on the Orcs. Sam and Frodo hid themselves behind the rocks and hoped the Orcs would pass by without noticing them.
The Orc captain continued to shout and beat the other Orcs. It walked up to where Sam and Frodo were hiding and happened to look down at them.
"Get up!" the Orc captain yelled at the Hobbits in disguise. It whipped them both repeatedly. Come on, you slugs! You two are going to the front of the line! Move it, come on! Move it!"
Frodo and Sam kept their heads down as they joined the troop of Orcs.
"To the gate, you slugs! Move it! Don't you know we're at war?"
Frodo and Sam were horrified. Not only were they now surrounded by Orcs, but they were going to be moving westward with the other Orc armies.
They marched about a half mile before the Orc captain shouted a new order.
"Company, halt! Inspection!"
Sam's eyes widened. They would surely be caught now. Next to him, Frodo sank to the ground.
"Sam, help me," whispered Frodo.
Sam grabbed Frodo's arm and tried to get him to his feet. "Stand up, Mr. Frodo!" he urged quietly. "Stand up!"
"It's so heavy!" Frodo reached for the Ring around his neck.
Sam looked up and saw an Orc general coming straight for them. "What do I do?" He looked around. "What do I do?"
"Hit me!" Frodo told him. "Hit me, Sam! Start fighting!"
"Get off me!" Sam gave Frodo a shove. "Nobody touches me, you filthy Orc maggot!"
Frodo found the strength to swing a punch in Sam's direction.
This whipped the other Orcs up in a frenzy and soon they were all pushing and punching each other.
"Break it up!" shouted the Orc captain. "Break it up!"
The Orc general had now reached the Orc captain. "Oy! I'll have your guts if you don't shut this rabble down!"
The Orc captain turned to the general and Frodo saw their chance.
"Go, Sam! Now!"
They ducked under the fighting Orcs and hid behind some rocks.
"Run!" Frodo encouraged Sam.
They hurried across the rocky terrain, hearing the Orc captain and general shouting orders for the troop to move on. The Orcs never noticed the two small forms running across the plains.
Frodo and Sam continued to walk all day, Mount Doom getting closer and closer. They were climbing up some rocks when Frodo slipped and tumbled backwards. He took off his helmet and cast it aside.
"I can't!" he panted. "I can't! I can't manage the Ring, Sam."
Sam hurried to Frodo's side. He took off his helmet and dropped it on the ground.
Frodo shook his head. "It's – it's such a weight to carry. It's such a weight."
Sam pointed at the mountain. "We're going that way, straight as we can. There's no point carrying anything we're sure not to need."
They stripped off their Orc armor and their packs and left them behind. Sam guided him over to some rocks where they could hide from the Eye. They tucked themselves into a crevice. Frodo rested against Sam, shivering.
"Mr. Frodo, look!" Sam was looking up at the sky. There were a few breaks in the thick smoglike clouds. "There is light and beauty up there that no shadow can touch."
Frodo didn't move from his place against Sam.
Sam thought Frodo had the right idea and that he should rest.
The combined armies of Gondor and Rohan marched for the Black Gate. Aragorn led the way on horseback, dressed in the armor of the king of Gondor. Behind him was Legolas and Gimli, Gandalf with Pippin dressed in his Gondor armor, Éomer with Merry in his Rohirrim armor, and Boromir with Ricky.
Ricky gave her new leather vest a tug, not used to wearing it. It was black with the White Tree of Gondor. Boromir had given it to her to represent Gondor as well as give her a little protection as she refused to wear mail. Her hair was neatly braided and tucked up under her knit hat courtesy of Legolas as she couldn't get it the way she wanted. He had done it in such a way that if she lost her hat her hair would still stay out of her eyes. Gimli had inspected her blades before they saddled up to leave to make sure they were sharp and wouldn't fail her. Legolas had been a little perturbed at that, saying they were Elvish blades and didn't need the inspection of a Dwarf. Gimli laughed in his face.
She looked around Boromir. The Black Gate was in sight. It ran between two mountians and was higher than the defensive wall around Minas Tirith. It was also made of metal or at least metal plated. On either side was a tall watch tower.
Ricky jumped when she felt something touch her hand. She quickly looked at Boromir. He was looking over his shoulder at her.
"It's all right to be scared," he whispered.
"I've fought in Helm's Deep and Minas Tirith," Ricky told him firmly. "I can do this."
Boromir gave a nod and faced forward.
"I can do this," Ricky whispered, reassuring herself.
Frodo struggled to hold up his waterskin and get the last few drops of water out, but there was none left.
"Take mine." Sam held his waterskin out to him. "There's a few drops left."
Frodo drank the last bit. "There will be none left for the return journey," he panted.
"I don't think there will be a return journey, Mr. Frodo," Sam said softly.
They looked at each other, silently acknowledging what lay ahead. Sam held out his hand to Frodo. Frodo took it and let Sam pull him to his feet.
They continued their journey across the plains of Gorgoroth with Frodo walking ahead of Sam. Whispers began to fill his head. Frodo held out one hand as if he was blind or trying to swat the whispers away. His other hand went to the Ring. The whispers grew louder and Frodo looked around for their sourse.
Sam turned and saw a ray of light sweep the landscape behind them. "Frodo, get down!" he shouted as he dove behind some rocks. "Hide!"
Frodo turned to see the Eye looking directly at him. He turned as if to run, but dropped to the ground.
"Frodo!" Sam yelled as the Eye's gaze swept across the general area, trying to see the Ring.
The armies of Gondor and Rohan stood before the Black Gate. It was silent and there was no sign of the enemy.
"Where are they?" Pippin whispered.
Aragorn urged his horse forward, Gandalf, Legolas, Boromir, and Éomer all doing the same along with a Gondorian flag-bearer. They rode up to the gates.
"Let the lord of the Black Land come forth!" Aragorn shouted up at the gates. "Let justice be done upon him!"
Silence.
Then the great gates began to open to allow a single horseman ride out. Both horse and rider were armored for war. The rider wore a black cloak and his face was covered by his helmet all except for his giant mouth.
"My master, Sauron the Great, bids thee welcome," he said in a deep booming voice. He smiled grotesquely, showing yellowed and blackened teeth.
Ricky was disgusted by the sight.
"Is there any in this rout with the authority to treat with me?" the rider asked.
"We do not come to treat with Sauron, faithless and accursed," said Gandalf.
The rider turned his head to look at Gandalf, his movements jerky like a bird.
"Tell your master this," Gandalf continued. "The armies of Mordor must disband. He is to depart from these lands, never to return."
"Aha! Old Greybeard!" the rider said with a laugh. "I have a token I was bidden to show thee."
The rider held up a white shirt that clinked. Ricky recognized it. It was Frodo's mithril shirt. The rider threw it to Gandalf, who caught it.
"Frodo!" Pippin cried out in despair.
The rider grinned.
"Silence," Gandalf ordered, his voice shaking.
"No!" Merry cried.
The rider looked at Merry.
"Shut up!" Ricky yelled.
"The Halfling was dear to thee I see," said the rider mockingly. "Know that he suffered greatly at the hands of his host. Who would have thought one so small could endure so much pain? And he did, Gandalf, he did."
"I thought I said 'shut up'," Ricky snapped. "I meant you, too, tin can."
The rider looked at her. "Can you not handle the truth?"
"Truth?" repeated Ricky. "I can handle that just fine. The lyin' is what annoys me."
"You think I lie?" asked the rider.
"Frodo would go out kickin' and screamin'," said Ricky. "And Orc's ain't that clean. There's no blood on that shirt. And you don't strike me as the type of guy to wash stuff before you return it."
"Oh, so sure you are," taunted the rider.
Aragorn moved forward on his horse.
"And who is this?" asked the rider, turning to Aragorn. "Isildur's heir? It takes more to make a king than a broke Elvish blade."
In one swift movement, Aragorn drew that very blade and beheaded the rider with a yell.
"I guess that concludes negotiations," Gimli said flatly.
"I do not believe it," said Aragorn to the group. "I will not!"
The gates opened once more. This time it was the Orc army that was marching through.
"Pull back!" Aragorn ordered. "Pull back!"
They rode back to their army with the Orcs marching behind them.
The soldiers began to take a few steps back seeing the massive Orc army coming through.
Aragorn rode up to them. "Hold your ground! Hold your ground!" He rode across the field in front of them. "Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers!"
They all listened to him.
"I see it in your eyes, the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day! An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the age of Men comes crashing down, but it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand! Men of the West!"
They all drew their weapons, ready for battle.
Those on horses dismounted as the Orcs surrounded them on all sides.
"Never thought I'd die fighting side by side with an Elf," Gimli commented.
"What about side by side with a friend?" Legolas asked.
Gimli looked up at him. "Aye. I could do that."
For some reason, the Eye stopped its search for the Ring and looked to the west. With it gone, Sam came out of hiding and helped Frodo to his feet. They stumbled and crawled to the base of Mount Doom, smoke coming up through the rocks as they grew closer. Balls of fire shot from the top and the ground rumbled.
Tired and exhausted, both Hobbits fell to the ground. Frodo lifted his head to see how close they were. He grabbed at rocks and pulled himself up the mountain until he could go no farther and collapsed.
Sam gathered his strength and got up. He turned Frodo over and cradled him in his arms.
"Do you remember the Shire, Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked. "It will be spring soon and the orchards will be in blossom. And the birds will be nesting in the hazel thicket." He started to cry. "And they'll be sowing the summer barley in the lower fields."
Frodo opened his eyes and looked up at Sam.
"And eating the strawberries and cream," Sam went on. "Do you remember the taste of strawberries?"
"No, Sam," he rasped. "I can't recall tasting food, nor the sound of water or the touch of grass. I'm naked in the dark. There's – there's nothing, no veil between me and the wheel of fire." His eyes widened as he panicked. "I can see him with my waking eyes!"
"Then let us be rid of it!" Sam said determinedly. "Once and for all! Come on, Mr. Frodo! I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you! Come on!"
Sam picked up Frodo and threw him over his shoulders. He found his footing and started up the mountain once more, a fire in his eyes.
Ricky held her daggers in hand. It had been a standoff for several minutes now, neither army making a move. Then Aragorn moved. He took a few steps forward and lowered his sword. Ricky frowned, not sure what he was doing. Aragorn then looked back at them.
"For Frodo," he said. He turned and charged.
Pippin and Merry followed him, yelling. Ricky was right behind the two Hobbits with a warcry of her own. And she wasn't the only one. The army yelled as one and everyone was running into battle.
Sam stopped and looked ahead of them. The entrance into Mount Doom was in sight.
"Look, Mr. Frodo!" Sam cried excitedly. "We're almost there!"
"Clever Hobbits to climb so high!"
Gollum dropped down from above and tackled Sam and Frodo, sending them all tumbling. He jumped on Frodo and wrapped his hands around his throat. Frodo struggled to free himself, but Gollum wouldn't let go.
"Mustn't go that way," hissed Gollum. "Mustn't hurt the Precious!"
"You swore!" Frodo choked out. "You swore on the Precious!"
Gollum mocked him.
"Sméagol promised!" Frodo went on.
"Sméagol lied!" Gollum said wickedly.
Sam picked up a sizeable rock and threw it at Gollum. It hit him in the head and he reared back with a scream. He made his way back to Frodo, holding where the rock at hit him. Gollum went to pounce, but Sam beat him to it. He tackled Gollum away from Frodo. Gollum slammed Sam's head on the ground and bit his shoulder. Sam yelled and managed to push Gollum off. He drew his sword and slashed Gollum across the belly. Gollum let out a scream, holding his wound. He retreated and hid.
Sam looked around for Frodo, but he couldn't find him. "Frodo!" He looked up at the entrance to Mount Doom and saw Frodo running inside.
Ricky stabbed another Orc in the endless swarm they fought against. She had black blood smeared on her goggles impeding her vision. She swiped her sleeve across them to clean them, ducking and slicing through an Orcs leg. Shrieks of the Nazgûl filled the air. Ricky let out a shout of her own to drown them out. Then there was another cry, this one of an eagle.
"The eagles! The eagles are coming!" she heard Pippin yell.
She spared a glance up at the sky to see the giant eagles swooping in and taking on the Nazgûl and Fellbeasts. That glance almost cost Ricky her head, but she ducked out of the way of an Orc's sword and thrust her dagger under its chin. She then spun away to help a soldier next to her.
Sam followed Frodo into Mount Doom. Frodo was walking along the pathway leading into the center of the mountain.
"Frodo!" he shouted.
Frodo stopped and turned. "I'm here, Sam!" he called back strongly.
Sam slowly moved towards him. "Destroy it!"
Frodo held the Ring on its chain out. The Ring whispered in his mind, telling him to wear it, to wield its power. He looked down at the fiery pit and then back at the Ring, conflicted at what to do.
"Go on!" shouted Sam. "Now! Throw it in the fire!"
Frodo stared at the Ring.
"What are you waiting for? Just let it go!" Sam yelled.
Frodo drew the Ring closer to him, a mad glint appearing in his eyes.
Sam decided to try another tactic. "What is the Ring?" he yelled to Frodo.
Frodo took the Ring from its chain. "The Ring is mine!"
"No!" yelled Sam.
The Ring's whispers became louder with promises of power. Frodo put on the Ring and disappeared.
Sam looked around desperately for Frodo. He didn't noticed Gollum come up behind him.
Gollum hit Sam in the back of the head with a rock, knocking the Hobbit out. He then searched around for where Frodo was.
But Frodo hadn't moved from where had been standing. The Ring howled with the promises of riches, glory, and power and all Frodo had to do was return it to its master. But then, amidst the roaring of the Ring, there was a faint whisper.
The Ring is evil. You are good. You carry love and hope in your heart. The Ring carries empty promises.
The words Ricky had drilled in his mind repeated over and over. And then there was the memory of the night Ricky taught Frodo that.
Ya gotta make a judgment call. I made mine when you said you would take the Ring to Mordor.
Frodo was so engrossed in the Ring's powers and the sudden memory, he didn't notice Gollum stalking him.
Who am I dyin' for? A hero or a liar?
Frodo reached for the Ring on his finger and yanked it off with a shout.
Now visible, Gollum wasted no time in jumping onto Frodo's shoulders. He grabbed the hand that was holding the Ring and pulled it up to his mouth. Frodo let out a cry as Gollum bit into his hand. He lost his grip on the Ring. Gollum quickly snatched it and jumped off of Frodo.
Frodo fell to the ground, clutching his bleeding hand. He had deep teeth marks at the base of his thumb and on the back of his hand. Behind him, Gollum danced and cheered, holding the Ring between his fingers.
Aragorn dispatched his enemy and heard a roar behind him. He turned to see an armored Troll charging up to him.
Legolas heard the Troll as well and saw it making its way towards Aragorn. He couldn't do anything to help his friend.
The Troll swung its sword at Aragorn. Aragorn blocked it, but was pushed back. The Troll knocked him to the ground and put its foot on Aragorn.
"Aragorn!"
Aragorn watched as Ricky jumped into his line of vision. The teen climbed up onto the Troll's shoulders and began stabbing it in the neck.
The Troll roared in pain. It reached back and grabbed Ricky.
"No!" yelled Aragorn.
Ricky let out a yelp as the Troll grabbed her and threw her away. She landed on top of both Orcs and soldiers before hitting the ground. A blinding pain went through her side and she couldn't move at all.
Aragorn pulled out his dagger and stabbed the Troll. The Troll pulled its foot back.
"Yes! Yes!" Gollum cheered, dancing and jumping around. "Precious! My Precious!
Frodo got up and attacked Gollum. He tried to grab the Ring so he could throw it into the fire. Gollum fought back. The two of them stuggled and they both toppled over the edge. Gollum held onto the Ring as he fell into the pit. As he sank into the lava, he held the Ring up above his head. The lava hardened as Gollum's hand disappeared and the Ring sat there innocently.
Above, Frodo was clinging onto the rock.
"Frodo!" Sam appeared above him. He held his hand down, trying to reach for him. "Give me your hand!"
Frodo reached up with his injured hand. He tried to grab Sam and missed. He swung back, looking below him.
"Don't you let go!" Sam yelled at him. "Don't you let go! Reach!"
Frodo tried again. This time Sam caught his hand and pulled him up.
The hardened lava the Ring was perched on melted and it sank into the lava.
A terrible screeching noise filled the air, ten times worse than the Nazgûl. It sounded like something dying. The Troll that had been attacking Aragorn fled. Both armies looked back at Mordor and saw the tower with the Eye of Sauron collapsing. The Eye exploded, sending a shockwave for miles.
"Frodo!" Merry shouted gleefully. "Frodo!"
The Black Gate began to collapse. The Orcs tried to run as the ground gave way under them. The ground remained firm under the armies of Gondor and Rohan. The Orcs that managed to escape scattered in different directions, trying to get as far away as they could from Mordor and the armies of Men who were cheering in victory.
Their celebrating was shortlived as Mount Doom erupted. The Fellowship looked on in horror, knowing that Frodo and Sam couldn't have escaped so quickly.
Pippin fell to his knees. "Frodo," he wept.
Frodo and Sam ran out of Mount Doom as the mountain erupted around them. Once outside, they jumped across a chasm to escape the lava flow pursuing them.
Frodo stood still and looked around. "It's gone," he said with a smile. "It's done."
Sam could see Frodo was now at peace with the Ring destroyed. "Yes, Mr. Frodo. It's over now."
There was a crash and the ground quaked. They fought to stay upright and struggled farther up the rock they were on. Lava surrounded them on all sides.
Frodo collapsed on his back and closed his eyes. "I can see the Shire . . . The Brandywine River . . . Bag End . . . Gandalf's fireworks . . . The lights on the party tree."
"Rosie Cotton," Sam added with tears in his eyes. "She had ribbons in her hair. If ever I was to marry someone, it would have been her." He let out a sob. "It would have been her."
Frodo got up and put his arm around Sam's shoulders. "I'm glad to be with you, Samwise Gamgee, here at the end of all things."
Both Hobbits embraced each other as Mount Doom continued to erupt and fireballs rained down from the sky.
"Ricky!" Aragorn called, searching for the girl. He found her lying on her side not moving. He ran over to her to see if she was alive. He pulled her goggles off so he could see her eyes. "Ricky."
Ricky coughed, blood coming up. She tried to get a breath, but couldn't. "Aragorn," she rasped painfully.
"Stay still," he told her as he looked her over.
"Aragorn," she tried again.
"Shh, don't speak," said Aragorn.
Legolas joined them, kneeling next to Aragorn to see if he could help.
"Tell . . ." She coughed and spat up more blood. "Tell Frodo I made it."
Aragorn was strickened. Ricky hadn't seen Mount Doom erupt. She didn't know Frodo and Sam might not have escaped.
"I made it," she said again.
"Made what, Ricky?" Aragorn asked.
"To my next birthday." Ricky closed her eyes.
Several great eagles flew through the fire and ash filled sky of Mount Doom. Gandalf rode on the back of one of them in search of Frodo and Sam. He saw them lying on a a rock surrounded by lava. The eagle he was riding swooped down and picked Frodo up while another eagle got Sam.
Frodo watched wearily as Mount Doom receded into the distance. He closed his eyes and fainted. It was finally over.
Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak. -Sun Tzu "Art of War"
Yes, I just did that. The last chapter will be up in the next week or two - I'm so close to having this finished!
I know I've taken liberties with the timeline of events, but I always wanted Ricky's birthday to be the day they defeated Sauron. I read somewhere as I started writing this back in 2016 that Sauron was defeated March 25 or Aragorn was crowned king of Gondor on March 25. I went with the former. And a little story about Ricky's birthday: After I long since decided on March 25, I was researching something about six months ago and found a birthday horoscope personality thing that tells you your personality based on the day you were born. For giggles, I plugged in Ricky's birthday and scared myself with what it said. Highly dynamic, among the most active and energetic people, appear to be destined to be great leaders, but are lonely and silent, can be explosive and harsh in criticism, faithful to those they love in their own strange way, show diplomacy in certain situations but are direct and have exploding tempers. There was more to it and if you go read it (I think I Googled birthday personality or something along those lines), you would think I planned it all out ahead of time. I swear, I did not.