31_days | (A Tainted Quest)(Lord of the Rings)(9/13/2006)

Title: A Tainted Quest …

Author: golden_quill37

Date/Challenge:September 13. I am following the enemy
Character/Pairing: Frodo / Sam/ Sméagol

Fandom: Lord of the Rings

Summary: Frodo and Sam have words on their journy to Mordor. It's about Sméagol. Sam tries to convince Frodo how bad he is.

Rating: PG No warnings.

Upon the leaving of the Black Gate, Frodo, Sam and Sméagol walked many miles. Sam felt much animosity towards Sméagol and could not take much more. Sméagol's eyes glowed big and round. His emaciated face made him look like a creature out to hunt prey. Sam felt like his quarry at times. Always when Frodo looked off in the other direction, he would scowl at Sam, and show his ugly blackened teeth. The once Hobbit, walked on all fours like a dog most of the time. He'd been living among the wild elements for many years. His heart hardened a lifetime ago to the ways of humankind. He did not care nor worry anymore. All he consumed his thoughts with, the only driving passion he had left glistened gold. The Ring, of which its evil master calls, haunts his dreams, and his waking hours. He will stop at nothing to posses it. He will kill anybody in his way.

The sun fell lower and the last rays stretched over the highest mountain peaks in the distance. They walked on all the while Sméagol's eyes glowed an evil light. This light seemed to control him, and only appeared when he did something bad. Sam felt frightened and certainly didn’t trust the creature.

On the trail leading to the secret pathway Sméagol said would show the way to Mordor, Sam stopped. Frodo nearly ran into his back. Sméagol stopped farther up the trail in the dusky twilight. He sat there waiting for them like a dog. Sam turned to Frodo.

'We are following evil, I tell ya,' said Sam in a whisper. The last thing he wanted was for the demented creature to hear him.

'Sam, he's trying to help, leave him be.' Frodo had that glint in his eyes, as if only purity ruled his heart and nothing could ever be bad. This frustrated Sam greatly.

'Frodo, wake up. He talks to himself all the time about murdering us. He hates us, and the only reason he is helping us is to get that ring from around your neck.' Sam's eyes opened wide and Frodo backed up knowing how angry his friend felt.

Frodo looked down in thought, for a while and glanced at Sméagol still sitting on the dusty trail in the near dark He was muttering something under his breath. Frodo could not make out the words, yet something didn’t feel right.

'Listen, he's doing it again. He's in total oblivion. He doesn't realise we can hear him. Listen to what he says,' said Sam, keen for Frodo to finally understand how bad this creature is.

Frodo's big blue eyes glistened in the moonlight; Sam could understand he meant to quiet. They slowly took small steps towards Sméagol. They made no quick moves; all they wanted to do is listen.

'Yes, yes, I will. She's hungry, and Sméagol will feed her. I promise we will have the precious soon, my love. It will be ours to cherish again, and my birthday present will be mine again. She will see to it. She will kill those Hobbitsis.'

Frodo took a deep breath, actually more like a gasp.

'See I told you,' whispered Sam.

Frodo motioned him to be quiet. All the time hoping Sméagol stayed unaware, they could hear him. They pretended to be talking just a few feet away from him.

'Who is he talking too? He's odd and I want to go. You can find this place without him, Frodo. Leave him to the Goblins. Lets take our chances without him,' said Sam nearly in tears. Frodo, looked to Sméagol and back to Sam, with a warm smouldering look of patients and charity. The evening mist formed over the ground. Night crept in and enveloped them.

'Sam, I know what he's like. I've known since I first saw him. Yet, I also know we do need him. He will lead us to the path we need. I need to destroy this ring. I feel its weight each day it hangs from my neck. It's choking me from the inside out. It consumes anyone who touches it. I need to be free of this bondage. We need to follow him. Sam, I'm sorry, but we do,' Frodo almost cried as he told his friend something he knew hurt him deeply. He felt Sam's fears and knew the struggle. Like a hot branding iron, it burned at the soul and screamed in the dark.

'Look at him, and how pathetic he's become. A hobbit that lived in Hobbiton, he was. Now look at him, Sam. This is what the Ring will do. I have to get rid of it, or we could -.' Frodo didn't finish; he nearly fainted from lack of food and water. The journey to get this far took most of their provisions, and they desperately hoped to find something to sustain them for the rest of the journey. They pushed on, in the dark to find a place to rest.

'Come on Sam.' Frodo patted him on the back in reassurance.

They both looked at Sméagol who snapped out of his odd behaviour.

'Are we going master? Are we going, or is the fat Hobbit telling lies about Sméagol?'

'No, he's not telling lies, Sméagol. Yes, we are going. Stay up ahead and lead the way,' said Frodo, looking at Sam, worried.

'At least we can keep an eye on him. Don't worry Sam. We'll watch him,' whispered Frodo as they walked on.

Sam looked at Frodo, as Sméagol walked partly on all fours and then both feet. All the time he muttered to himself, and sang odd songs. They grew tired and rested again. The early hours of morning comes faster than imagination could fathom in these parts. They knew this, and tried to get some much needed rest. Frodo and Sam slept in shifts all the time watching the demented Sméagol. Mordor glowed on the horizon in the darkness of midnight. Its fire burned with the rage of Sauron. Even in rest, and the peace of evening, Frodo felt its pull. The Ring's haunting calls for its master, Sauron. His giant eye upon his high-tower burned brightly, and scanned the sky. Though Frodo lay safely hidden from all skulking creature up too no good, he felt its gaze boring a hole in his soul.

END