The Light in the Darkness
Chapter 8: On the Road Again
We are back for the next chapter! Thank you to all who reviewed!
Disclaimer: I sadly do not own The Lord of the Rings franchise. I only own the story, Lin and Neera who tells the story.
"This is the one ring, forged by the dark lord Sauron in the fires of Mt. Doom."
It was even more horrible to hear Grandfather say it again. The four of us moved away from the fireplace and into the kitchen to further discuss these horrible things. Frodo was trying to maintain some sort of normality and made tea for all of us and offered to cook something. But of course, the three of us were too anxious to even think about eating. Lin and my Grandfather sat at the table with Frodo, the Ring lay flat and quiet on the table. Grandfather smoked his long pipe as he spoke to Frodo and didn't even touch the tea Frodo had made for him. Frodo didn't even seem to phase with the smoke from the pipe as he poured tea for my sister. I stood in the corner with my cup in my hands and as far away from the table as possible. I was terrified of what might happen to me if I got too close to the ring again. I had already felt a searing pain in my entire body as a result of being too close to it or having it be near the fire. I had a feeling that the pain the Ring was giving me had something to do with the curse. No one in our line had ever made contact with it, so we didn't know for sure what this power was. If the Ring had been in the possession of our family, we would have found a reason to its actions. All I know was that I could feel its presence and its evil and twisted power and it was clearly trying to let me know.
But if that was true, then why wasn't it affecting Lin the same way it was affecting me? Lin was also apart of Shasta's bloodline and had the same curse over her as I.
"Taken by Isildur from the hand of Sauron himself."
I could feel the anger boiling up inside of me and as I looked over at my sister, I could tell that she was feeling the same way. That selfish bastard Isildur. It was all his fault; his fault for all of this. He was responsible for our curse upon our family because he chose not to destroy the Ring when he had the chance. We blamed him for being too weak to overcome the Ring and destroy it to save Shasta's life. She gave up her throne, her people and her reputation to be his wife. And how did he repay her for all of that? He abandoned his wife when she needed him the most and betrayed her for that piece of gold. Because of his weakness, he allowed the world to be plunged into darkness and that's how the Dark Lord managed to endure for all these years. So much pain and misery over the last few thousand years not just for our family, but also for thousands of other people. As long as Sauron lived, there would never be true peace. The Ring only brought pain and destruction and madness to whoever came across it.
No one who found it ever found happiness, and so I'm amazed that Bilbo was able to endure it for as long as he did. For someone who had the Ring in his possession for so long, it's a miracle that Mr. Baggins never became a terrifying monster.
"Bilbo found it," Frodo said in realization, holding his cup tightly and looking down at the horrible thing. "In Gollum's cave."
From my place in the corner, I hated Grandfather for telling him all of this. Frodo wasn't involved in this and he didn't need to be. If the Ring was such a concern to both Grandfather and Lin, then why didn't they tell us about it before they left? Instead, they left me to worry for two months and be kept in fear of what might happen to me and him if it was found. It would have been wiser to take away from here before it caused someone to get hurt.
"Yes," Grandfather confirmed, looking down at it as well from his wild hair covering his face and almost his eyes. "For sixty years, the Ring lay quiet in Bilbo's keeping, prolonging his life, delaying old age."
Lin nodded. "It's why your uncle didn't look a day over fifty by the time his birthday came two months ago. It's one of the many curses of the ring; it prolongs your life, but at a terrible price. Your uncle was lucky that he didn't suffer the fate of Gollum as a result of keeping the ring for all these years."
How was it that my sister knew so much of the ring as well? Did she study it back home when I wasn't looking? Is that why Grandfather took her with him when they left the Shire after Bilbo's birthday party? Grandfather then looked back up at Frodo and then his gaze and his tone changed quite dramatically. It was the gaze I saw when he and Lin came back, demanding the location of the Ring and demanding to see it.
"But no longer, Frodo," Grandfather said, getting directly to business and now we would finally hear what he has been hiding from us since he left. "Evil is stirring in Mordor. The Ring has awoken. It's heard its Master's call."
So Grandfather and Lin must have gone away to find out whether or not this ring was, in fact, the One Ring of Sauron. I understood everything. I now understood why I have been hearing Sauron's voice inside my head when I get close to the Ring. It must be trying to contact its Master through me and in doing so, cause the descendant of the woman who helped kill him nothing but pain and agony. It's nothing more than taking revenge. It knows that I'm not strong enough to fight back, which is probably why it's affecting myself more than my sister.
But of course, Frodo, being so innocent and so unaware of the evils of the outside world, didn't believe a word that Grandfather was saying.
"But he was destroyed?" he said, sounding like he was trying to convince himself. His beautiful azure eyes showing denial and confusion. "Sauron was destroyed."
And with those words, the Ring, as if to defy Frodo's words and prove him wrong, started whispering loudly to get their attention. Once it was sure that it had startled everyone in the room, it lay quiet again. I became frightened and moved away, even more, ignoring the slight stinging in my chest as a result of that attention stunt. But as I tried to leave, Grandfather called me back.
"My dear, you must not be afraid of it. You cannot let it control you."
So he knew all along? Why am I acting so surprised? But he was right, of course. I could not let this thing take a hold of me and try to control me. I then moved back into the kitchen and met Frodo's worried eyes. I wanted to smile and keep pretending that I was alright like I had done during the last two and a half months. The ring would cause me great pain and misery in the middle of the night, but I smiled and pretended like it was nothing for Frodo's sake. But I couldn't continue to do that. This time I couldn't keep pretending that nothing was wrong. As much as I hated to admit it, I couldn't keep lying to him and keep him the innocent and carefree man that I met after he knocked me to the ground my first day in the Shire. I couldn't continue to lie to him. This thing was going to kill me if I let it and I refused to let it. I also refused to let this thing harm him the way it has harmed so many others.
"No, Mr. Baggins," Lin said seriously. "His body was destroyed by Isildur as a result of cutting the ring from Sauron's hand, but..."
Lin had to stop speaking, as the anger at Isildur and what he had done to lead to the death of our mother corrupted her speech and so Grandfather finished her sentence.
"The spirit of Sauron endured," Grandfather said, his disgust and horror heavily affected the way he spoke that last word. "His life force is bound to the ring and the ring survived."
And because the ring survived, the curse of our family lived on, why it caused the deaths of so many people in our family. The only way the curse can be lifted is if Sauron is completely destroyed and since Isildur passed up the chance to save his wife by refusing to destroy the ring, the curse endured for over three thousand years.
Grandfather looked up from the ring laying quietly on the table and looked Frodo dead in the eye after looking at both Lin and me.
"Sauron has returned."
"No," I said, sinking to the floor, almost ready to fall into despair. I had already known it. I had known it for years, but I still had tried to deny it. Even though I expected as much, the words coming out of my Grandfather's mouth were like poison to me. I didn't want to believe it, but I know to deny it was pointless.
Frodo looked up at Grandfather, his gaze implying that he didn't understand how it was possible or why this was even happening. He didn't seem to be able to understand that the source of all evil is sitting quietly on his kitchen table. It was understandable since he had no idea that any of these things were even possible. Perhaps, part of that was Bilbo's fault, since he barely let Frodo know anything about the outside world. It was probably to protect him.
"His Orcs have multiplied, his fortress of Barad-Dur rebuilt in the land of Mordor. Sauron needs only this ring to cover all the lands in the second darkness."
I could only imagine what horrors Middle Earth would have faced if Isildur hadn't destroyed Sauron's physical body that day. Now that he's returned, who knows what he has in store for Middle Earth if he gets the Ring back.
"He is seeking it," Grandfather said disgustedly as he looked back at the ring. "Seeking it, all his thought is bent on it. For the ring years, above all else to return to the hand of its master."
He stopped and looked at Frodo again.
"They are one, the ring and the Dark Lord." He stopped again and then changed his tone completely to get Frodo to understand how serious this was. I could see it on his face that he was struggling to understand all of this.
"Frodo, he must NEVER find it."
It of course, only took a moment for my dear friend to continue denying how serious this was.
"Alright," he said, determined, scooping the ring up from the kitchen table and walked into the hallway, trying to convince himself that this wasn't real. He walked looking for a place to put it away. "We put it away. We keep it hidden, we never speak of it again."
Oh, my dear Frodo. I wish it were as simple as that, but this is reality.
"No one knows it's here, do they?" he asked. I expected an immediate response from Grandfather or Lin, but I received none. Frodo picked up on this as well and turned around to get the answer he was looking for. He didn't yet understand that he wouldn't get it.
"Do they, Gandalf?" he asked again. Grandfather struggled to find the right words.
"Grandfather?" I asked, preparing myself for the answer that I knew that I was going to get. "What is it you're not telling us?"
"There was one other, who knew Bilbo had the ring," he replied, his words very heavy and full of regret. "We looked everywhere for the creature, Gollum."
"But we were too late and the enemy had already captured him. They tortured him for information and didn't stop until they had what they wanted," Lin said, her tone matching Grandfather's.
I can only imagine what horrors they put that miserable creature through. He had suffered mental torture for five hundred years at the expense of the Ring. Now he knew more suffering and agony as a result of Sauron and his men. I could see it on Grandfather's face that the thought of being tortured at the hands of the enemy was too much for him to handle.
"I don't know how long they tortured him," he said, trying to hold back his discomfort to continue speaking. "But amidst the endless screams and inane babble, they discerned two words: Shire. Baggins."
I could almost hear the horrible shrieking in my head of those two words. But then it hit both Frodo and me that with those two words, the enemy now knew where to find us. My eyes widened with horror and I looked over at Frodo and his facial expression matched mine.
But I didn't care about the Ring. I only cared that Frodo was now in danger. Now, that the Ring belonged to Frodo, they would kill him if they knew he had it. No. I won't let that happen. So long as I draw breath, they will never harm Frodo, they won't even come within ten feet of him. Never. Unthinkable.
"Shire?" Frodo said horrified. "Baggins? But that would lead them here!"
And then I felt some horrible, evil presence in the air. It may have been far away, but it was coming towards us very quickly. It didn't feel human. I had no doubt that it was a servant of Sauron coming to take the ring back to its master and to kill the people that had kept it. Frodo sensed that as well and in his panic, tried to find some way to get rid of it.
"Take it Gandalf! Take it!" he begged in desperation, urging the ring closer and closer to where Grandfather stood, only to be refused.
"No, Frodo.." he said, forcing himself back as far as he could from Frodo's begging.
"You must take it!" he begged.
"You cannot offer me this ring." Grandfather held firm with Frodo, but Frodo was having none of it.
"I'm giving it to you!" he begged again.
"DON'T TEMPT ME FRODO!" Grandfather shouted, realizing that his usual calm demeanor was not going to get the message across to Frodo.
One would think that having a reaction like that would have stopped Frodo and his desperation to get rid of the ring. One would also be wrong in thinking that, because Frodo continued, now begging me to take the ring from him.
"Then you must take it, Neera! I can't take it! If Gandalf can't..."
Then I got scared all over again for a completely different reason. I know he didn't understand how evil it was or why it was hurting me so much. I know he was too young and naive to realize the evil of this Ring. But having him force this thing upon after he saw what it was doing to me was just too much for me to handle. I felt panic and fear and those two things completely unhinged my self-control. The more I moved back against the wall away from it, the more Frodo tried to close the distance, as he did with Grandfather moments ago.
"Please Frodo, you can't. I can't!" But still Frodo tried to push it more in my direction and I eventually snapped at him. "Frodo, don't bring that thing any closer to me! You saw what it did to me the last time you brought it close to me!"
"Please Neera!" he begged.
I then felt the searing pain again as Frodo tried bringing it towards me. I saw the eye of Sauron and immediately I heard his voice inside my head. I collapsed to the ground and began wincing and crying out in pain. It was even worse than before. It hadn't even felt that bad the last time. Nothing could compare to what this felt like. It felt like my skin was on fire and like my mind was about to burst. His haunting and terrifying voice inside my head increased the pain. He kept saying things in the language of Mordor and screeching his voice inside my head. I cried out and as opposed to before, it hurt so badly that I felt tears streaming down my face. It hurt so badly and I couldn't stop it. I couldn't move, I couldn't think, I couldn't speak, it felt like I had been thrown onto a fire pit and left there for dead. My whole body felt like it was on fire and I couldn't even think of what to do. I looked towards my sister, begging her without words to help me. I had the strength to fight it before, but this time, I couldn't even move.
"You foolish boy! What are you doing? Keep that thing away from her!" my sister shrieked at Frodo, pushing him back and causing him to floor down flat on the floor.
She took me into her arms again and began speaking an ancient language. Lin's specialty was healing and she knew how to heal every injury and probably had been training for years to heal me if this ever happened. As she was not as skilled in battle as I was, Lin used her magic for healing. Her magic that she inherited from our mother was used for that. That magic was Lin's light. A symbol that she was Shasta's descendant as I was. She used the same spell she had performed on the night of the first attack from the ring: saying her spell until her hand turned a bluish color and then placed it on my forehead. But unlike last time, the heat didn't immediately subside. Instead, it fought back and tried to resist the magic, causing Lin to increase the pressure of her hand. But eventually, the extreme heat went away and I held onto my sister. My eyes were wide and my breath was heavy. I had experienced a feeling that I hadn't experienced in a long time: fear. It made me feel weak and helpless.
And I absolutely hated it.
"Neera," Frodo said, looking at me horrified at what had just happened. This wasn't like the last two times that the Ring decided to torture me. This was on a whole different level of pain and we all knew it. The Ring wanted to prove that it had the power to kill me if it wanted to. That terrified me. Deep down, I had expected Lin and I would be vulnerable to its power because of the curse. That being said, I never knew that I could be so weak. I looked up into his azure blue eyes that were so full of fear and regret and sadness at what he had just seen. He now knew that this Ring was dangerous. He couldn't even form words after seeing that, but I knew that he was trying with all his might to apologize.
"Frodo, it's alright," I said weakly. I wouldn't tell him that I was alright, but I would say this: "I know you didn't mean to."
"Didn't mean to?" my sister said angrily. Lin was very overprotective of me and tended to lash out at people who she saw as a threat to my safety. "You foolish and irresponsible hobbit! I knew you were foolish the first time I saw you and now this proves it! I can't believe I left my sister with you for two and a half months! How could you do this to her? You saw what the ring has done to her both before and now, didn't you? How dare you ask her to take it when you have seen how it has hurt her..."
"Lin, it's not worth it. Please, stop yelling at him," I begged, my voice full of breath. I knew Frodo hadn't meant to hurt me. He would never hurt me intentionally. "This isn't the time or the place for this."
Lin respected my wishes, but I felt her grip around me tighten. I could see Frodo visibly shaken at whatever look of death my sister gave him.
Grandfather decided to step in and try to ease the tension of the situation.
"I dare not take it. Understand Frodo. Both Neera and I would use this ring with a desire to do good."
And I knew he meant it. I believe that if Isildur, despite what he did to his wife because of his weakness, was not by nature an evil person. If he had been in his right senses, he would have tried to destroy the Ring or to use it for good. But unfortunately, the Ring only has one true master, and it could never belong to anyone but him. I shook when I thought of what it could do to Grandfather. I didn't even want to imagine what it could do to him.
"But through me, " he said, changing his tone. "It would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine. And what you saw just happen with Neera is enough explanation of why she cannot take the Ring. I won't lie to you, Frodo, but it has the power to kill her if it so wished. As such, please do not repeat your actions. It may be very fatal to her well being."
Frodo's eyes widened at this and I looked back at him, confirming what Grandfather said, without saying so. The horror and fear in his eyes were painful to witness. But I hoped Frodo finally understood how dangerous the Ring was and how it couldn't stay here. If it did, it would just wait for someone to succumb to its will and then find its way back to Sauron. I couldn't tell Frodo why the Ring affected me in the way it did, but now he knew just how dangerous it was. It couldn't stay here or fall into the wrong hands.
"But it cannot stay in the Shire!" Frodo said in fear to Grandfather.
"No!" Grandfather agreed loudly, but then changed his tone when he spoke again. "No, it can't."
Well, what we were supposed to do? I can't ask Frodo to leave the Shire, but we can't leave the Ring here. Now, thanks to the creature Gollum, Frodo was in grave danger. If he stayed here, Sauron's servants are going to find him and kill him and take the ring back to Mordor.
The thought of Frodo dead sent a level of devastation through me. No. I will not allow that to happen. There was absolutely no doubt in my mind. That was not going to happen. If I have to step into battle to protect Frodo I would do it. Sauron will not harm him.
"Where am I to go?" Frodo asked, seemingly so small and scared all at once.
"You must leave," Grandfather said. "And leave quickly."
Frodo continued to quickly pack all the things we discussed that he would need. Just mere necessities for us to get through the next few days as we traveled. Oh, and that was also decided: that I would accompany Frodo to wherever it was we were going and protect him against those that were hunting the Ring. I had managed to get my strength back just enough to get myself ready and pack for the long journey ahead of us. I still felt very weak. As I was packing, there were times when I felt very light headed and had to sit down. But once that passed, I forced myself to get back up and ready.
"And where am I supposed to take him?" I said as I put my quiver on my back after filling it with arrows. My knives quickly found their place in their sheaths.
"Get out of the Shire," Grandfather answered, handing me some blankets from the cabinet. "Make for the village of Bree."
I had heard Grandfather talk about Bree quite often. I had often studied maps in my spare time, knowing that I wouldn't ever be able to go to the places written in black ink. But I did read maps with Bree located on them, so I was quite confident that I would be able to find my way. But at the same time, I felt scared because I had no experience surviving on my own. I know Frodo wouldn't be much help to me with directions as he told me that he had never left the Shire before. I just hoped we would be able to find our way there without running into any servants from Sauron.
"Bree," Frodo repeated, continuing to get everything he needed into his pack.
"You're coming with us, aren't you?" I asked as I hurriedly gathered my things.
"We'll be waiting for you," Grandfather said. "At the inn of the Prancing Pony."
I stopped. No, no they were not going to seriously leave me behind again, alone in a country that I have no knowledge of and expect me to survive on my own? Something that I have never done before. I attempted to keep myself from showing my real feelings about being separated from my family yet again.
Frodo packed some more food into his bag. "And the ring will be safe there?"
"I don't know Frodo," Grandfather said, trying to get us out of there as fast as he could. "I don't have any answers."
I handed Frodo some more blankets before asking Grandfather my next question.
"If you're not coming with us, where are you going?" I asked, trying to hold my composure.
"I must see the Head of my Order. He is both wise and powerful," he said, obviously sensing my feelings of dread of them leaving. "He is both wise and powerful." He placed a hand on my shoulder. "Trust me, Neera. He'll know what to do."
At this, I snapped. I knew it was selfish and childish, but I couldn't help it. My fear got the better of me. I couldn't do this on my own and now Grandfather is going to the head of his Order instead of staying and trying to protect us? And what about Lin? It's basically the same situation as before. They both run off in the other direction and leave me completely alone. I can't take that again. We're a family, aren't we? Aren't we supposed to stay together, no matter what?
"Yes, but what am I going to do, Grandfather? I can't do anything on my own. Living here for two months is one thing, but going off on the road, alone in open country?"
Grandfather sighed, obviously not knowing how to respond to me.
"Neera..." Lin began, but I stopped her, even more, terrified than before.
"No, Lin! I can't do this without you. You just got back and now you expect me to go off into a world that I have no knowledge about and try to survive without you? I can't do it! We're a family! We can't be separated again! I'm not like you. I'm not brave enough."
I knew I sounded weak. Pathetic and like a child. I hated sounded like this in front of Frodo. He must think so badly of me right now. I hadn't realized until now how much I had really missed them until they came back and told us all of this. It terrified me that I was going to be all alone again without them. I didn't know how to take it. I know I can't do this. Although I loved my Grandfather and hated being apart from him, I was used to it. Before we even came here, he left for months at a time and sometimes, even a year. I was used to that, but Lin and I had been inseparable since we were children. Even though I had enjoyed my time here with Frodo and his friends, being without my twin sister had been too much to bare at times. Now, she was asking me to be apart from her again, for who knows how long? I don't think I would be able to handle that. I'm not strong-willed like her, I'm not brave like her. I'm not independent. I'm the complete opposite. I don't think I can do this.
But then, Lin put her hands on my shoulders and urged me to look up at her. I did, feeling exposed and weak. She smiled softly.
"Neera, I know that you're afraid and you have every right to be. You've never been on your own like this before. But sadly, you don't have the luxury of being afraid right now. It doesn't matter if you think you're brave enough. You have to be brave enough to protect yourself and Mr. Baggins, as well. If you don't do that, the Ring will fall into the enemy's hands and your friend will die. But I know you won't let that happen."
I looked down in shame. I couldn't even look at her, but she brought my face back up to look her directly in the face.
"You can do this, my sister. I have nothing but absolute faith in you." She moved her hands to my face. "You're stronger and braver than you can possibly imagine. I believe in you. " She turned around and looked at Grandfather who nodded. "Grandfather believes in you too. And we won't be apart for very long, I promise. Not like last time. You're right: we're a family and we stay together. We won't be apart for as long as before, I promise."
I sighed. I knew she was right. It didn't matter if I thought I was brave enough. I had to brave not only for myself but also for Frodo. Yes, Frodo, whose safety now mattered more to me than my own. I had to protect him. I would never forgive myself if something happened to him. He meant too much to me and I felt as though I would rather have myself be hurt than see him injured. I had to be brave for him, if not for myself. Protecting him was all that mattered now.
I let out a small smile. "Alright, I'll do my best."
The two of them smiled at me and I picked up Frodo's coat and gestured him to come over to me so I could help him into it.
"You'll have to leave the name of Baggins behind you," Grandfather said as I helped him into the coat. "For that name is not safe outside the Shire."
He handed me my cloak and I caught and quickly fastened the latch.
"Travel only by day and stay off the road," he said to me, and I nodded.
"I can cross across country easy enough," he said proudly, slipping the ring into his coat pocket just above his heart.
I smiled at him, and he looked back at me wondering why. Even though there were monsters coming after us and although the Ring of Power was in our hands, Frodo still maintained that innocent look on his face. Hobbits truly are wonderful creatures, and he was by far, the most wonderful of them all. He probably didn't understand how grave the situation was, but he still managed to smile and it made me smile, as well. Just seeing his smile was enough to remove all the dark clouds and weight that I possessed. I honestly didn't care that I was still in shock after what the Ring did to me. As long as he could smile, that was strangely enough for me.
Grandfather clearly shared my sentiments. He smiled down at Frodo, clearly amazed at how Frodo could remain as himself, even with all the knowledge of what is going on.
"My dear Frodo," he said, with a smile, taking a moment to bring some joy in a nearly hopeless situation. "Hobbits really are amazing creatures. You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month, and yet, after a hundred years, they can still surprise you."
"I can speak for that all too well," I said, the smile still on my face and my heart full. He looked at me and returned the smile. It was like the two and a half months we spent together came back to us. All the happiness we had felt and how easy it was for him to make me smile. For a moment, I felt the fear evaporate and be replaced with happiness. Happiness that only he could supply. No one else but him.
Sadly, this moment between us was interrupted, as a sharp noise came from outside the window. We all turned towards it, not knowing if it was friend or foe. I wasn't willing to take any chances. When it came to Frodo, I couldn't afford to take any chances.
"Get down!" Grandfather said to Frodo, and he obeyed.
Grandfather, Lin and I went towards the direction of the sound. His staff raised, my mother's bow in my hand with an arrow ready to soar at any moment, and Lin's hands raised prepared to cast a charm. We both continued to walk slowly towards the window, ready to face whatever was on the outside. I saw the flowers move, someone was hiding. Grandfather raised his staff outside the window and then slammed it down on whoever the intruder was. There was a yelp of pain at Grandfather's actions, and then my stance of aggression quickly changed.
I immediately knew who it was.
Grandfather reached down into the flowers and hauled the intruder onto the table near the window. The intruder was none other than Samwise Gamgee, gazing up at my Grandfather in fear and terror as he loomed over him, clearly angry and frustrated at him. I couldn't say I blamed him: we were on the lookout for wraiths and other monsters coming after us, and Sam's visit had caught us all off guard.
"CONFOUND IT ALL SAMWISE GAMGEE! HAVE YOU BEEN EAVESDROPPING?!" Grandfather shouted, obviously frustrated for a moment being frightened, but also relieved that Sauron's minions hadn't found us yet.
I was tempted to let out a sigh of relief at the intruder being revealed as Sam. It meant that there was still time to get Frodo as far away from here as possible. I looked back at him, rising off the ground and didn't seem too surprised that Sam was the culprit that scared us half to death.
"I ain't been dropping no eaves, sir! Honest. I was just cutting the grass under the window there if you follow me..." he said, panicking, trying to save himself.
I had gotten to know Samwise over the last two months and it didn't surprise me that he would be out tending to the garden. But on the other hand, he outstayed his welcome and had clearly overheard everything we had been talking about.
And Grandfather also did not seem very convinced or satisfied by Sam's story either.
"It's a little late for trimming the hedges, don't you think?" he asked in the same tone as before, obviously unwilling to let Sam get away with this.
"I heard raised voices..." Sam said, trying to defend himself, but Grandfather refused to hear it.
"What did you hear?" he demanded and when Sam didn't reply, his response was: "SPEAK!"
Sam, very panicked at what Grandfather might do to him, struggled to find the correct words to save himself from Grandfather's wrath.
"Nothing important..." Sam stopped, but at Grandfather's facial expression, he tried again. "That is, I heard a good deal about a ring...and a Dark Lord. And something about the end of the world, but..." Sam obviously was panicking and honestly thought that Grandfather was going to do something horrible to him for eavesdropping. He saw Merry and Pippin's fate on the eve of Bilbo's birthday. "Please, Mr. Gandalf, sir, don't hurt me! Don't turn me into anything unnatural!"
"No?" Grandfather said, the humor very clear in his voice.
He looked up briefly from Sam's terrified expression to meet my and Frodo's faces of amusement. In his fear of my Grandfather, Sam clearly didn't see that Grandfather was just having a good laugh at him. We just couldn't help but laugh at Sam, as well. I saw from the look in Grandfather's eyes that we were going to have yet another companion joining us for the journey ahead of us.
"Perhaps not," he said, leaning forward into Sam's terrified face, obviously planning on scaring him further. "I've thought of a better use for you."
And that was how Samwise Gamgee joined the party leaving the Shire.
That's it! I hope you enjoyed it! Please review and favorite!
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Kagomehater4ever