A/N: Say it, just say it now. I'm such an ass when it comes to uploading chapters. I am so sorry! I have not given up on this story I promise you! Well, here we are with the beginning of ROTK! My fave book/movie of the trilogy! Thanks for sticking with me through this guys!

ANNOUNCEMENT: Guys, I need someone to make a banner for me. OR, if you draw good, draw Frodo and Karolyn for me! Please! I would appreciate it!

Also, I started another story. A Treasure Planet fic! Check it out! This story, my Newsies fic, and my TP fic one are the ones I'm going to be updating the most.

I've given up on some of my other stories... FOR NOW! Until I finish this one is when I'll start updating the other ones.

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Thanks, and enjoy! Sorry for a short chapter, that might just be how they are from now on):

Chapter 1

Have you ever had a dream, that felt so real, you could feel it? Feel anything you touched, tasted, you could even smell? The sounds, as clear as day. Everything so real. That was how my dreams were turning out to be. And my visions. One vision flashed back and forth in my head a lot of the time. It was Faramir, and Ginger. I could see Faramir being drug by a horse into a strange white city. Then, I could see Ginger. Fighting in a war, side by side with her sister. I didn't know what they meant, so I figured I would let time tell.

Traveling went on for days as we drew closer to Mount Doom. The worst part of it wad knowing that we may not make it back. My necklace Galdriel had given me had now died down to an almost pink color, which, I guess was good? And I still carried my Bible, looked in it from time to time. Whenever I did have time. That was another problem, every day was growing darker, so you could never tell if it was night or day. The Ring was growing heavier around Frodo's neck, you could tell by his face. You could also tell by the marks on his neck. Physically, it was really leaving scars! There were chain marks on his neck from it. The scars on the back of my head were still there, and hurt sometimes. I know, this is A LOT of complaining it sounds like. The only thing that lifted my spirits?

Samwise Gamgee.

Never once has his spirits gotten down, never once has he given up hope, never stopped believing. Good 'ol Sam, never left Frodo's side. He and I were growing closer each day, and he was more protective of me now. He was like my big brother.

I woke up to the same hard ground. Cold, the air was musty and dread hung in the air. We had taken shelter in a small, filthy little culvert the night before (or was it day?). Looking around, I saw Frodo asleep on his side, Sam was snoring, and Smeagol was nowhere to be seen.

"Little asshole." I grumbled to myself as I sat up and stretched. Rubbing my eyes I stood up and began to walk outside. Suddenly, I tripped over some of Sam's cooking pots, which began to tumble out of the culvert with loud bangs. Freezing where I stood and closing my eyes shut tight, I hoped no one had woken up. Sam's snoring could still be heard, thank god! And Frodo, well, there was no telling if he was sleeping or not. Sighing, I made my way out carefully to pick up the scattered pots. I took a moment to stop outside and enjoy the view.

Ha! Some view. The trees were dead, the sky was grey, nothing was alive. I tucked a piece of wavy hair behind my pointed ear (which I was still getting used to) and stared into the sky. Looking down, my feet were still HUGE and hairy from last time I had checked. Now that I thought about it, my hair was barely even wavy! When I had gotten here, my hair had been in these amazingly perfect ringlets. Now? It was back in it's normal, wavy, sunny blonde state. Like it had been back home... And I was still incredibly short, no fair! Huffing to myself, I sat down and let the air fill the silence. For that one moment, everything was peaceful and quiet.

May I remind you, I said for that one MOMENT.

"Wake up!" Gollum jumped from behind, "Wake up! Wake up, sleepies!" he exclaimed with his rude wake up call. I gasped at his sudden outburst and turned to glare daggers at him. He simply smiled at me with menacing giggle. God I hated his laugh. Sam slowly sat up, glaring at him as well.

"Haven't you any sleep, Mr. Frodo?" he asked looking over to the now wide awake Frodo. The bags under his eyes had grown darker and his skin paler, his amazing blue eyes seemed so distant now. Even his personality was almost bland and boring. Frodo looked at him and shook his head as he leaned back against the culvert's walls.

"What about you, Miss Hadley?" Sam suddenly asked as I was snapped out of my thoughts.

"Oh. Enough, I guess."

"You don't look it!"

"Sam, first, you can just call me Karolyn! And second, I'm not the one you should be worrying about," I motioned my head towards the spaced out Frodo. Sam and I stared with concerned faces of sadness. Seeing him in such a state was a little nerve-racking I had to admit.

Sam shook his head, "And what about you?" I asked him as he looked back at me.

"I've gone and had too much," he said looking to the ground. Making my way to the pack, I searched for the Lembas bread.

"Sam, that's perfectly fine. Sleeping in once in awhile is okay." I reassured him as I munched on some Lembas. Looking over to Frodo, I watched as his hand slowly trailed to the chain around his neck, his eyes lingered for the touch of the ring. I could tell. I couldn't take it! Standing up abruptly, I made my way over to him quietly. He barely noticed me until I sat down next to him.

"Hey," I greeted him as I smiled.

"Hello."

"Sleep much?"

"Not at all. I don't sleep much anymore these days." it went silent for a moment as Frodo dropped the ring from his grasp. I reached over and grabbed his hand, massaging it in mine.

"Frodo, you have to be strong." I whispered as I laid my head on his shoulder.

"Only if you are." he whispered back, barely. I nodded my head and continued playing with his hand. We both looked up simultaneously to watch the passing brown clouds.

"I miss the Shire." I said as Frodo kissed the top of my head.

"I do too." he whispered back. His voice was hoarse and hushed, losing all sound.

"Frodo, your in love with the Shire, aren't you?" I asked with the best smile u could manage while I looked up at him.

Frodo let out a small chuckle and nodded his head, "Very much. But I'm also in love with what's beside me."

Gosh he is so sweet, isn't he?

"It's getting late," Sam said from behind us.

"No, no it isn't even midday yet. The days are growing darker." Frodo's eyes once again drifted into a sea of emptiness. Sighing, I squeezed his hand and my thoughts drifted to home.

"Come on! Must go! No time!" Smeagol began to rush us as he impatiently waited for us to move. All of us sat there staring at him confusedly.

"Chill, we just woke up!" I responded standing up and making my way to the entrance of the culvert.

"Not until Mr. Frodo 'as had somethin' to eat." Sam shot back coldly as Smeagol rolled his eyes.

"No time to lose, silly!" Smeagol rolled his eyes and bounded outside. I watched him scamper around for a bit, then tuned into the conversation behind me.

"Here," Sam handed Frodo some Lembas.

Frodo accepted it reluctantly, "What about you?" Frodo was always concerned about others.

"I'm not hungry, leastways, not for Lembas." Sam was SUCH a bad liar, I had to chuckle a little at this.

"Sam," Frodo must have detected it to.

Sam sat there for a few seconds before giving in, "Alright, but we don't have that much left."

There was a silence, nothing but the wind and the occasional caw of a crow.

"We have to be careful or we're going to run out. You go ahead and eat that, Mr Frodo, I've rationed it. There should be enough." Sam handed him the last piece. I think me and Frodo had the same puzzled looks on our faces.

"For what?" he took the words right out of my mouth.

"The journey home." Sam finished off.

Home.

That place I had nearly forgotten.

Kansas.

Mom, dad.

Freddie.

I sighed as I looked up to the sky, wondering just what was going to happen. If there even would be a journey home. Back to the Shire, back to Kansas. I missed it all so much.

Gollum came galloping in, "Come, Hobbitses. Very close now. Very close to Mordor! No safe places here. Hurry!" Ew. Gollum was so creepy. I couldn't help but notice Frodo still had that same pitied look on his face when he looked at him. He knew his pain, I understood that. But, why did he have to? This was all so frustrating sometimes.

Us hobbits looked at each other. Here we went again. Off to travel even further!

The sound of laughter rang through the forest as peace had settled in this part of the land again. Isengard was under the care of Treebeard now, and the little people who had helped him stood guard at the entrance. Sitting on top of the ruined gate, our friends Diamond, Genevieve, Merry, and Pippin sat having a few smokes and drinks.

"I feel like I'm back at the Green Dragon, after a hard days work." Peregrin "Pippin" Took said as he pecked Diamond Zander on the cheek. Mediator "Merry" Brandybuck merely scoffed at his cousin.

"Only, you've never done a hard days work, Pippin!"

"Merry, I'm sure you haven't either!" Genevieve Nicks responded as she playfully pushed him. The four all began to chuckle as they all toasted.

"You know what I feel like, Diamond?"

"What, Gen?"

"Like I'm swimming in a pool of... Root Beer!"

"That, sounds, AMAZING!"

The two began to laugh as they recalled memories of their home. Pippin and Merry eyed the girls with confusion, they never understood what they were saying half the time. Suddenly, four horses emerged from the forest. The hobbits all grew quiet as they watched the figures slowly come into focus.

"Who the hell?" Gen asked standing up suddenly.

Pippin and Merry gasped as the faces of Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli, Theoden, Laura and Legolas were shown. Smiling and letting out squeals, Gen and Diamond ran to their friend whom they hadn't seen in what felt like ages.

"Welcome! My Lords, and Lady! To Isengard!" Merry slurred as he smiled ear to ear, pipe in his hand as Pippin began to laugh.

"I thought I'd never see you again!" Diamond said to Laura as the three parted.

"Well, here I am!"

The three grew quiet as Karolyn suddenly came into their minds.

"You young rascals! A merry hunt you've led us on, and now we find you feasting and smoking!" Gimli cried as he jealously eyed the food they ate.

Pippin smiled, mouth full of food, "We, are sitting on a field of victory! Enjoying a few, well earned comforts!" he leaned over, "The salted pork, is particularly good!"

Gimli gasped, "Salted pork?"

Gandalf shook his head and rolled his eyes as the girls laughed, "Hobbits!" he muttered.

"We're under orders from Treebeard! Who's taken over management of Isengard." Gen said to Gandalf as Merry and Pippin nodded their heads. The company then mounted the few horses that were available and led them into the now flooded Isengard, where Treebeard could be seen giving orders to fellow trees. Laura gasped as they came closer.

"I thought that too, but he's really nice!" Diamond whispered to her. Treebeard saw the horses approaching and turned to them.

"Young Master Gandalf, I'm glad you've come! Wood and water, stock and stone I can master. But there's a wizard to be managed here, locked in his tower." everyone looked up to the room where Saruman stayed, waiting for something to happen.

"And there Saruman must remain, under your guard, Treebeard." Gandalf instructed.

"Let's just have his head and be done with it." Gimli suggested with anticipation. Gandalf stared up at the tower once more with weary.

"No. He has no power anymore."

Everyone felt relieved at that statement, no more ruin or destruction.

"The filth of Saruman is washing away, trees will come back to live here! Young trees, wild trees!"

Pippin, however, was not listening to the ongoing conversation behind him. Something in the muddy waters had caught his eye. A rock maybe? He couldn't contain it anymore, he had to pick it up. Aragorn suddenly turned as he watched Pippin slide off his horse and into the water. Everyone now watched as Pippin picked up an odd marble ball of some sort. Gandalf's eyes grew wide as he watched Pippin study it.

"Well, bless my bark!" Treebeard exclaimed.

"Peregrin Took! I'll take that, my lad!" Gandalf urged Pippin to give it to him. The girls all watched with worry as Pippin didn't move and Gandalf became even more antsy.

"Quickly now!"

Diamond noticed, he seemed to not want to give him the ball, but he did eventually. Pippin stared at the ground when Gandalf scooped it from his hands. Diamond couldn't help bur worry for him, she could tell he wanted it back.

Well, what'd ya think? A good start? Lemme know! Karolyn and Frodo are so cuuteee!

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Check out my TP fic and Newsies fic if you haven't!

-Mrs. Frodo Baggins

Kendall

Mirabella Millstone of Bywater