A/N: Omg, I was way to excited NOT to post the ending of TTTs! We now come to the end of this part in their wonderful journey, we see the love that is Legolas/Laura, and now, ladies and gentlemen, I give you back the love that is Frodo/Karolyn! That's right, read to find out! ROTK is my favorite movie/book, and believe it or not I almost have the entire ending battle all written out! This chapter (if you want to make it more enjoyable/realistic) does have one part where it has music to it! The Samwise the Brave Speech! BTW, I've been waiting FOREVER to write out that part in this chapter! I've had it planned out forever, not even kidding! I'm so happy I got to it(:

Guys, thank you for all your reviews so far. I really appreciate it. Thank you for sticking with me though this story. I'm almost sad we are coming to ROTK because that means the story ends!): (And it isn't helping that I am listening to the "Samwise the Brave" piece from the soundtrack!)

And, is it wrong that I almost cried while writing this chapter?:/ Agh!

Also, ANONYMOUS REVIEWER!... Half the time I (perhaps we...) don't know what the hell YOU are talking about. I must admit, you have some very odd and amusing reviews! I thought I had that Anonymous Review setting turned off... obviously I didn't, so now it is on. I do not have a short fuse, and I do take advice and criticism. I do apply it to my stories. I trust that the reviews my readers leave are truthful and honest, what they think about my story, whether they love it, like it, or hate it, I trust what they say is their honest opinion. So, Anonymous Reviewer, if you truly do not like my story, I thank you for letting me know. But, if you don't like it, why are you wasting your time reading it? Just wondering(:

With that, if anyone has a review they would like to add after reading this chapter, do post it. Post it with the truth and only that. If you hate it, let me know and "unadd" it from your favorites list. Thank you!

DC: I own anything you DON'T recognize.

Chapter 9

"The fortress is taken, it is over." Theoden mumbled darkly as soldiers hustled about to protect the king. The Hornburg had been taken over, it was the truth. Laura sighed as she found some arrows and placed them in her quiver. She was still reeling over the scene she had just seen with Sam. She was so close! He would still be alive is she had just had the arrows! Why did he have to die? Laura found herself quietly crying to herself as she sat in front of a pillar. Sobs wracked her body as she held herself tight, arms wrapped around her middle. She felt a comforting, warm, tight embrace from behind her.

"We're riding out with Theoden. Go down into the caves with the women and children." Legolas whispered in her ear as he rocked her back and forth.

"No! If you're riding out, I'm going with you, Legolas. You cant stop me." Laura replied spinning around in his embrace. Legolas sighed and placed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"It will be safer in the caves, please go." he said in a voice barely above a whisper. Laura could tell he really wanted her to go, even if it meant not seeing each other for awhile.

But she wasn't going to listen.

"No, I, am, GOING." Laura then pulled his face to hers and crushed her lips onto his, confirming her decision. Legolas reluctantly agreed and pulled her up to her feet.

"The sun is rising," Gimli pointed out after a silence. Aragorn's eyes widened as he looked out the small window. He had remembered something. Something Gandalf had told him.

"Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east."

"Yes!" Gimli suddenly took off to a flight of stairs.

Theoden seemed to realize what he was planning, "Yes. Yes! The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time!" Theoden exclaimed as he mounted his horse. Everyone followed suit as Laura and Legolas shared one more comforting glance.

"FORTH EORLINGAS!" Theoden called out with a cry as they all charged straight into the Hornburg. Any Uruk-hai they came into contact with was either killed or severely injured, either way they didn't stand a chance in the midst of their fierce rage.

"Gandalf," Laura mumbled as she looked off into the distance. There, in the midst of the rising sun, Gandalf the White stood, leading the Rohirrim. Theoden gasped as a small, proud smile played at his lips.

"Eomer!" he called out as another rider rode up behind Gandalf. Laura let out a victory cry as the Rohirrim and Gandalf began to charge down the slope they stood on. Swords, shields, and spears of all sorts were at the side of the riders, armed and ready. As Laura turned back to continue fighting, the sun rose higher than ever. The Uruk-hai turned around and were momentarily blinded by the light, and in came the unexpected Rohirrim and white rider! Orcs screamed and attempted to fight back as now, the new addition to the Gondorian army, was engaged in battle.

"It's all his fault! If he had never gotten that ring, we would be safe!" Ginger exclaimed as she struggled against her bound hands.

"His fault? How is it his fault when he didn't even know his uncle possessed it? How is it his fault that he was forced to go on this journey? You're so conceited and naive, Ginger!" I spat back as she glared daggers at her. In our safe little corner, the fighting and clashing of swords could be heard from behind that wall. It was so scary, men screamed, the Nazguûl screeched so loudly I could have sworn I went deaf soon afterwards. Frodo is what scared me the most though. His eyes seemed so, so, almost as if they were blind. His breathing was quick and loud, and he didn't speak. Whenever the Nazgûl shrieked though, that was a different story! He would let out these ear piercing wails that made us cover our ears! Sam was about to die just from shaking I swear! Suddenly, in the middle of my tears and trembling, Frodo stood up.

"What are you doing?" I asked as he casually passed me in silence.

"WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" Sam finally shrieked as we watched him walk up the steps. To me, it looked like Frodo was deaf. Nothing mattered, everything around him seemed to fade away and whatever he was focusing on seemed to be the most important. I gasped as Sam and I huddled together to watch what was taking place. Suddenly, a Nazgûl with a black rider atop of it emerged from the ground, facing Frodo on the bridge. All the while, Faramir watched with startled eyes.

"FRODO!" Sam and I called out countless times, over and over again as loud as we could. He just couldn't hear us! Or he was ignoring us... He began to mess with the ring in his finger as the Nazgûl and it's rider seemed pleased he was doing so. That's when me and Sam took off and ran after him. Everything moved in slow motion. The Nazgûl moved closer and closer, as did me and Sam. Suddenly, Sam jumped on to Frodo and the two toppled over and down the stairs. Faintly, I could hear something calling me as I passed the beast. An arrow was released from below though and struck it. Rounding the corner as quick as ever, panting and crying, I watched as Frodo rolled to a stop and unsheathed his sword. He held Sam in a death grip and moved his sword to Sam's throat, letting out an angered cry.

"It's me!" Sam said crying, "It's your Sam! Don't you know your Sam?" he asked painfully. I sighed and closed my eyes, followed by quiet cries as I slid down the wall. Burying my face into my knees, I pulled them to my chest and began to cry. I felt sick, sad, scared, nervous, and confused. Nothing was right, Frodo especially! Thoughts whirled around in my head as I sat up and puked, but I wasn't surprised. Looking up, Frodo's face had gone back to his calm, sad, worried face it had been the past few days. He released Sam and stood up, stumbling, he collapsed against a wall and Sting fell to the ground.

"I can't do this, Sam, Karolyn." (Start "Samwise the Brave" from the Two Towers Soundtrack.) Frodo muttered as he looked into space. I wiped my mouth and shakily stood and reached for Sting. When Frodo said that, my heart nearly broke into two and tears began to pour down my face.

"I know. it's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here! But we are." Sam began as he stood against a wall, "It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And you didn't want to know the end. Because, how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was, when so much bad had happened?"

"Victory! We have victory!" Theoden cried as he raised his sword, everyone cheering after him.

"But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass, a new day will come. And when the sun shines, it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't! They kept going because they were holding on to something." Sam finished off still looking into the distance.

"What are we holding onto, Sam?" Frodo asked as I helped him up. Sam turned back to face us.

"There's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for." all the while, Gollum had followed us and seemed to understand. Now, tears of inspiration, sadness, and hope streamed down my cheeks. Faramir knelt before Frodo now. Ginger was still in the corner, crying.

"I think at last, we understand each other, Frodo Baggins." he respectfully said as he stated at us.

"You know the laws of our country! The laws of your father! If you let them go, your life will be forfeit." a ranger reminded him harshly. Faramir took one last look at us three.

"Then it is forfeit. Release them." I sighed and smiled as I felt a rangers hands release his hold on my shoulders. Sam shook the ranger's hands off with a huff and glared at Faramir.

"What about Ginger?" I asked as the two began to walk away.

Faramir looked at her, "I'm sorry, but she will not be parting with you." I sighed and shook my head as I made my way to her.

"Goodbye. Tell everyone I say hi and I love them of you get the chance to see them." I said as I stuck out my hand to her. Her eyes were red from crying and she trembled. She reached forward and pulled me into a hug.

"I'm sorry! I'll miss you, Karolyn." she whispered as she took a breath.

My eyes grew wide and I suddenly began to cry, "I forgive you," I whispered back.

We parted, maybe for the last time. We shed our last tears and I turned to Faramir.

"Thank you," I said smiling and nodding my head.

"Keep safe." he said as I walked away.

Sam and I walked behind Frodo as we made our way onwards. Little was said as we started out.

"I wonder if we'll ever be put into songs or tales?" Sam wondered out loud. Frodo and I let out small chuckles as we looked at him.

"What?" Frodo asked with a smile.

"I wonder if people'll ever say, 'Let's hear about Frodo and the Ring!' and they'll say 'Yes, that's one of my favorite stories.' 'Frodo was really courageous, wasn't he, dad?' 'Yes, my boy. the most famousest of hobbits. And that's saying a lot.'" Sam finished his daydream as I began to laugh at his story.

"Huh! You left out one the two chief characters! Samwise the Brave, and Karolyn the Beautiful. I want to hear more about them." Frodo turned to look at us as we stared at him in confusion. "Frodo wouldn't have gotten far without them."

A smile made it's way to my lips as I blushed horribly, he truly was in love with me! My trust was earned back from him at that moment, everything I had struggled for, cried for, and waited for was paid off. It was then and there I knew I couldn't live without him. I was in love, with Frodo Baggins.

"Now, Mr. Frodo. You shouldn't make fun! I was being serious." Sam said with a small frown.

"I think he was," I said walking next to Frodo.

"So was I." Frodo replied to Sam with a smile as we turned to look at each other. We grasped hands and turned to walk on.

"One step at a time." I reminded him as we walked on.

"Samwise the Brave!" we could hear Sam announce proudly. Laughing I turned to look at him with a happy grin, he returned it with a "congratulations" look on his face at the sight of us holding hands.

"Hey, where is that little twirp, Smeagol?" I asked looking around.

"Smeagol!" Frodo called out, almost looking panicked.

"We're not gonna wait for you! Come on!" Sam replied looking just as annoyed as I was. Gollum, er, Smeagol, was growing sketchier and sketchier by the day. He always talked to himself now, looked into the distance, and always threw glancing looks towards Frodo's chest. Where the Ring was.

We were off, off to Mount Doom.

"Master, master looks after us! Master wouldn't hurt us!"

"Master broke his promise,"

"Don't ask Smeagol, poor, poor, Smeagol."

"Master betrayed us! Wicked, tricksey, false! We ought to wring his filthy little neck! Kill him! KILL HIM! Kill them, all three! And then, we take the precious, and WE be the master!"

"The fat hobbit, and the master's lover, they knows... Eyes, always watching."

"Then we stabs them out! Put out his eyeses! And HIM crawl. And slice her head off, making master weak! Suffer!"

"Yes... yes... YES!"

"Kill them."

"Yes! No, no... It's too risky! It's too risky!"

Smeagol could hear the hobbits calling after him, and he scuttled behind a nearby tree.

"We, we could let her do it."

"Yes... She could do it!"

"Yes, precious she could. And then we takes it, once they are all dead."

"Once they're dead..."

"Ssh!"

Smeagol nodded his head in his final decision and joined the hobbits with a happy look of pride and suspicion on his face.

"Follow me!"

And so, the four continued on their way to the place they wanted to get farther away from. That is, Mount Doom.

Okay, so I about started to cry when I was writing about Ginger and Karolyn saying goodbye.

1.) I was listening to Samwise the Brave! I have been the past hour to get in the mood to write this chapter, haha!

2.) She (Karoyln, maybe Ginger to) just met one of her friends, that she hasn't seen since she got murdered!

3.) I put myself in her shoes.

So... FRODO AND KAROLYN ARE BACK TOGETHER!XD

Please keep your reviews coming!

Now... ONTO ROTK! BRING IT ON! We are so close guys! Stay with me.

I'm sorry that my updates are horribly slow. But hey! Keeps the suspense up, right?(: I love you guys so much! Alright, I should go before I begin crying to myself.

-Mrs. Frodo Baggins

Kendall

Mirabella Millstone of Bywater