Chapter 8: Riddles
Bilbo looked up and spotted the ring. The soul trapped within tried to reach him, but…this was different…there was no desire but purity despite him being a thief. He picked it up never the less and pocketed it.
Trapped inside the ring, the Soul of Sauron dared not breathe; there were voices.
Gollum apparently wanted to eat the thing, but they made an agreement; if the thief beat Gollum at riddles, then Gollum would have to lead him out of the cave. Gollum agreed and the games began.
"This thing all things devours: Birds, beasts, trees, flowers; Gnaws iron, bites steel; Grinds hard stones to meal; Slays king, ruins town, And beats high mountain down." Gollum croaked. The thief thought for a moment and Gollum started to get slightly excited.
"Give me a moment! Aha! Time, the answer is time." The thief said. Gollum cried out in disappointment. "Alright; what has roots as nobody sees, is taller than trees; up, up it goes, and yet never grows?"
The ring could feel Gollum's thoughts circle through the ring and the answer came to Sauron just as it did Gollum.
"Mountain," Gollum said, he then proceeded with the next riddle; "No-legs lay on one-leg, two legs sat near on three legs, four legs got some."
The thief took a moment and then snapped his pudgy fingers; "A fish on a little one legged table, a man sitting at the table sitting on a three legged stool, and the cat gets the bones."
Gollum gurgled in disappointment. "Now then, shall we go?"
"NO!! Not over yet, oh no, not over till fat hobbits or us cannot answer."
"Very well," the thief sighed, "An eye in a blue face saw an eye in a green face. 'That eye is like to this eye' said the first eye, 'But in low place not in high place.'"
Gollum took a moment to think, scratching his bald head, then, "Sun on daisies growing on field."
The thief groaned silently, but nodded.
Gollum whooped with joy, then started the next riddle; "Alive without breath, as cold as death; never thirsty, ever drinking, all in mail never clinking."
The thief rubbed his forehead, no answer was coming to him, Gollum began to drool; the ring could feel the hunger in her servant— "Fish!"
Gollum screamed and hissed, but the thief continued: "It cannot be seen, cannot be felt,
cannot be heard, cannot be smelt. It lies behind stars and under hills, and empty holes it fills. It comes first and follows after, ends life, kills laughter."
Gollum gurgled unpleasantly then cackled: "Dark."
"Drats…"
"Thirty white horses on a red hill, first they champ, then they stamp, then they stand still," Gollum rolled on. The ring didn't move enough for the thief to feel it, but the soul inside was fidgeting with apprehension.
"Oh! Teeth," the thief said. The soul was impressed; the thief had to have been educated at some time in his life. "I have another riddle; a box without hinges, key or lid, yet golden treasure inside is hid."
Gollum growled slightly—"Gollum, gollum." He stopped hacking and thought for a moment…"Egg."
The Thief sighed.
"Voiceless it cries, wingless flutters, toothless bites, mouth-less mutters."
The thief fidgeted slightly…"Oh, I…think it's wind…" Gollum cried out angrily.
"Now, one more riddle."
"But…I just said all the riddles I know…"
"Then we wonders…we wonders if hobbits is tasty…"
"Oh, for heaven's sake, let me think of one more…" He placed his hand in the pocket and an idea struck him, when he fingered the ring. "What do I have in my pocket?"
Gollum silenced and a moment later began listing any possible thing that could be in a pocket; none of which was "ring."
"Well, you couldn't guess; that means I win. You will lead me out of here and back to my company," the thief said. Gollum sighed and told him that he would be back soon. Moments later, Gollum could be heard screaming. The thief took the ring out and placed it on his finger. Moments later, Gollum came out and looked around.
"It's gone! Precious! It's gone…the hobbits…he stole it from us! Thief! Thief! He must know the way out!" At that moment, Gollum ran right past the thief and headed up the winding tunnels. The Thief, whom was named Bilbo Baggins, followed him with the soul right behind him…When Gollum blocked the entry way, Bilbo raised his sword but the soul stopped him.
Why should I kill him? Poor thing had been living in this madness for years? Those who ought to die deserve life while those who live ought to die. I will spare him for now…
Bilbo stayed his hand and sheathed his sword, then he jumped over Gollum and the soul followed him.
Moments later, she, the soul that is, could hear the voices of others calling out Bilbo's name. She saw a glimpse of several dwarves and a wizard…he looked familiar…
Harry!
Bilbo took off the ring and approached them.
"I'm alright."
"Bilbo Baggins, you better have a good explanation for this," shouted one of the dwarves.
And so, Bilbo explained his finding the Ring and the riddles in the dark, with that, they set out again. Gandalf, or Harry, never suspected the Sauron's presence among them.
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