CHAPTER 17

THE END OF ALL THINGS

Millie's POV

We crept up the rocky slope foot by foot. The dark tower loomed in the distance and a strong, ashy wind slowly buffeted us as we climbed. A tremor rippled through the ground and a red flame exploded into the sky. Sam and I looked up at the mountain, fearful that it would explode at any moment. We struggled to get up the large boulders that looked like steps. We came to a huge boulder and looked up to see a doorway. "Look, Mr. Frodo," said Sam, "A doorway! We're almost there!" excitement and relief flooded into his voice. Suddenly Gollum appeared on the boulder, "Clever hobbits to climb so high," he said, then, before Sam could get away, the creature dropped onto Frodo's back on top of Sam, they struggled but Sam fell back and dropped Frodo, Gollum grappled with Frodo and got his hands clasped around Frodo's throat. "Mustn't go that way, mustn't hurt the precious." He began to squeeze Frodo's throat.

"Mustn't hurt him!" I yelled with my voice full of menace. I picked up a rock and threw it at him and hit him in the head. Gollum fell at Frodo, who gasped for air. Gollum growled and lunged toward him again, but I wasted no time, I launched myself at the creature and we wrestled and rolled away down the hill. All the hate that I had had for this creature since the beginning came pouring from me and I fought fiercely, fiercer than I had ever fought in my life. I pushed him off of me and slashed his stomach with my sword. He screamed in pain and I turned and ran to follow Frodo and Sam into Mount Doom, clutching the shoulder that Gollum had bitten during our fight. I ran in through the door to the inside of the mountain. I appeared next to sam who called, "Frodo!"

I looked ahead of me; Frodo was standing on the edge of the pathway and looking down into the Cracks of Doom. He looked back at us, "I'm here Sam." His voice was strong.

"Destroy it!"

Frodo took the ring from around his neck and held it up over the lava, watching it.

"Go on! Now! Throw it in the fire!" I exclaimed. He kept looking at the Ring.

"What are you waiting for? Just let it go!" said Sam.

Frodo held the Ring in front of his eyes. There was silence, save the roaring of the lava. He turned and looked at us, he looked mad.

"The Ring is mine." He said. He pulled it off the chain.

"No." Sam said softly. Frodo put on the Ring and vanished from our sight.

"Nooooo!" Sam exclaimed. Suddenly, Sam fell to the ground. I turned sharply; Gollum had just hit him in the back of the head with a rock. The creature looked around anxiously. He saw Frodo's footsteps. He dropped the rock and jumped onto Frodo's invisible shoulders. Frodo cried out as Gollum struggled with him. Suddenly Gollum raised something to his mouth and bit down. Frodo appeared suddenly, screaming in pain. Gollum danced about as Frodo stumbled, holding his hand. He fell to the ground. Half of his finger was missing. He was bleeding. He held it, gasping. I rushed to Frodo's side and looked at Gollum, he held the Ring up, gazing at it. Gollum laughed, "Yesss! Yesss! Precious! My precious!" Frodo stared at him with fire in his eyes. Then he got up and staggered toward him, advancing on him. I gasped when I realize dhow dangerously close to the edge they were. I got up and ran towards Frodo as he and Gollum grappled for the Ring. I grabbed Frodo's middle and tried to pull them apart. But, instead of stopping the fight, I found myself caught right in the middle, dodging and protecting myself from their blows. Suddenly, we all tumbled over the edge. Frodo grabbed the ledge above me and I think I was screaming when I grabbed the one directly below. Gollum fell in. I heard a sizzling as both he and the Ring were burned to nothing. The roaring of the magma and the rumbling of the walls made it hard to understand any dialogue but I did catch the words, "Take my hand! Millie, take my hand!" Frodo's voice was suddenly very strong. I looked up, the light had returned to his blue eyes and they were etched with fear and sorrow…and one other thing…love.

Tears welled in my eyes as I shook my head no, "no," I said, "Not this time, I weigh more than both of you…it will be the death of us all."

His eyes were tearing up, "Millie, you must…it is the only way…please…you and Sam are all that have kept me going, and if you are gone, what shall I do…please…I love you…" I continued to gaze up at him. His good hand was reaching down for me, as he was grasping Sam's hand with his damaged one. I couldn't do this to him…not after he had said that. I reached up and grabbed his hand, and Sam began to pull us to safety.

Once we were on solid ground, we began to run, supporting Frodo, as the shaking of the mountain became more and more violent. When we excited the mountain, we managed to get upon a high rock, away from the lava flow as the mountain erupted. We lay breathing hard.

"It's gone," Frodo said, "It's done." Now his eyes were completely clear.

"Yes Mr. Frodo," said Sam.

"It's all over now…all over." I said, laying back and closing my eyes. I coughed. I felt Frodo lay beside me, imitating my closed eyes.

"I can see the Shire. The Brandywine River. Bag End. Gandalf's fireworks. The lights on the party tree." He said.

"Samantha…" Sam said, tears welling his eyes, "she was a little clumsy on the dance floor…but she-her singing voice…it was beautiful." I smiled and began to cry bittersweet tears as I thought of my friends. "If I ever were to marry someone…" Sam said, "It would've been her…it would've been her."

She would have been happy to hear that. I thought. I smiled, my eyes still closed, still crying. I felt someone's warm hand on mine. I opened my eyes, Frodo's face was looming over me, his blue gaze upon mine and, despite his tear stained face, there was a small smile on his lips. I smiled back, ran a dirty hand across one of his cheeks and closed my eyes again, drifting into unconsciousness, a smile upon my face.

AN: this is not the end, keep reading….