Chapter XV: Gollum

Gollum's moans had been reduced to mere whimpers by the first morning light. Frodo hadn't fallen asleep until the wee hours and was now fast asleep. His slumber was undoubtedly induced by sheer fatigue.

As soon as Merida woke up, she began to pack up whatever she had out and prepared for the long journey ahead. Boromir had watched Gollum all night, though he wasn't in the least bit tired. The gangly thing had tried to get the Frodo and Merida's attention all night to no avail. Boromir had given him a deathly, fear-inspiring glare whenever he made so much as a twitch of his limbs that even remotely suggested the intent to escape or awaken his masters. Despite his ghostly state, Boromir was still quite able to hold a solid grip on the rope that hung around Gollum's neck.

Merida went over to Frodo with the intention of waking him up. She was about to gently shake his shoulder when she noticed his face, which was as still and serene as a statue. It'd been awhile since she'd seen him so peaceful. She could tell the Ring was increasingly tormenting him - perhaps sleep was one of his few escapes.

An escape...

An insane idea popped into her head. She shook it out of her mind almost as soon as she thought of it.

No! I'm a princess trying to prove her quality, not a comfort woman!

Her mind wandered back to when she'd tended to the scar on his shoulder and ended up rubbing his back.

I've indulged far too much already. Perhaps he's affecting me as much as the Ring is affecting him.

She shook his shoulder, finally mustering the courage to wake him. Frodo softly groaned as his eyes fluttered open. He slowly sat up, his blue eyes surveying the world around him.

"Are you all right, Frodo?" Boromir asked.

Frodo narrowed his eyes and studied him in fascination. Boromir looked as alive as ever, as though he had decided to accompany him all along and had never been shot by Orcs.

"Yes, I'm fine," Frodo responded as he began to pack his things.

"Well, that's good," Merida remarked. "We've got a long way ahead - especially with THAT thing." She instantly glared at Gollum, who was now whimpering pathetically as Boromir readied his makeshift leash.

Frodo looked on at the gangly creature, unsure of what to make of her remarks before joining the others in continuing the journey. It hadn't been more than twenty minutes later when Gollum began to shriek.

"NOOOOOOO! AAAAAAGGGHHHH! It burns! IT BURNS!"

Gollum writhed dramatically on the ground, halting the entire party with the spectacle.

"It freezes! IT FREEZES US TO DEATH! Nasty elves twisted it! AAAAAGGGH! GOLLUM! GOLLUM!"

Merida groaned in frustration.

*Can I shoot him now?!*

Apparently, Boromir felt the same way.

"We've got to find a way to silence him! Every orc in Mordor's going to hear this racket!"

"TAKE IT OFF US!" Gollum screeched.

"Why can't we just tie him up and leave him?" Merida asked.

"NO! That would kill us, KILL US!"

"It's no more than you deserve!" Boromir snapped.

Frodo's eyes softened slightly at the sight of the pitiful thing.

"Maybe he does deserve to die. Now that I see him... I do pity him."

Merida furrowed her brow as she watched the creature's reaction. Gollum suddenly had a seemingly innocent expression on his face as he shifted his gaze to Frodo.

"We'll be nice to them if they'll be nice to us," he said as he held out the rope to the Ring Bearer.

"Take it off us. We swear to do what you want- we swears...!"

"There's no promise you can make that I can trust."

"We swears to serve the master on the precious. We will swear on... the Precious! Gollum! Gollum!"

"The Ring is treacherous... but we'll hold you to your word."

"Yess... on the preciousss... On the preciousss..."

"You know the way into Mordor?"

"Yes."

"You've been there before?"

"Yes...!"

Frodo knelt and gently removed the rope from Gollum's neck.

"You will lead us to the Black Gate."

Boromir and Merida glowered at Gollum.

The gangly creature gulped as he stared up at them and scampered away towards Mordor. The three of them followed him into the growing night.

"To the gate, to the gate, to the gate Master says!"

...

The night had fallen a while ago. Legolas and Gimli were already fast asleep. Gandalf, however, was standing out at the edge of their encampment (if it even could be called that), staring out at the streak of red in the distant sky. Aragorn rose from his place and joined him. The sight of those two men piqued Fergus' interest, and so he remained awake and inched a bit closer, remaining in a seated position.

"The veiling shadow that glowers in the east takes shape," Gandalf remarked, apparently referring to the red cloud in the distance. "Sauron will suffer no rival. From the summit of Barad-dûr, his Eye watches ceaselessly. But he is not so mighty that he is above fear. Doubt ever gnaws at him."

Gandalf glanced at Aragorn, as though he were a proud father about to praise his son. "The rumor has reached him. The heir of Númenor still lives."

"Sauron fears you," the wizard continued. "He fears what you may become. And so he'll strike hard and fast against the world of men. He will use his puppet Saruman to destroy Rohan. War is coming. Rohan must defend itself, and therein lies our first challenge, for Rohan is weak and ready to fall."

Gandalf shook his head before continuing on. Fergus' heart was just about ready to sink into his boots as his thoughts turned to his old friend Théoden.

"The king's mind is enslaved; it's only a device of Saruman's. His hold over King Théoden is now very strong. Sauron and Saruman are tightening the noose. But for all their cunning, we have one advantage."

Gandalf and Aragorn glanced at one another.

"The Ring remains hidden."

Fergus' face was now akin to that of a dumbfounded deer.

*They know about the Ring?!*

Gandalf carried on.

"And that we should seek to destroy it has not yet entered their darkest dreams. And so the weapon of the enemy is moving towards Mordor in the hands of a hobbit. Each day brings it closer to the fires of Mount Doom. We must trust now in Frodo. Everything depends upon speed and the secrecy of his quest."

Aragorn looked down, suddenly pensive.

"Do not regret your decision to leave him. Frodo must finish task alone."

Aragorn sighed.

Fergus finally rose to his feet and approached them.

"He shouldn't be. My daughter and I went to Rivendell. We spoke to Lord Elrond, and she, of her own volition, offered herself to accompany him on the quest."

Gandalf turned to him, puzzled. Aragorn couldn't hide his surprise either.

"A daughter?" Gandalf asked. "You have a daughter?"

"Aye. Her name is Merida."

"Do you not fear for her?"

"I do," Fergus admitted. "Although she is far stronger and braver than most. I fear for her along with my wife and my wee lads back at home."

"What about you?" Fergus asked. "Do you not fear for Frodo?"

"I do," replied Aragorn. Gandalf glanced back at the red cloud in the distance, then returned his gaze to the two other men.

"As do I."