Dragon Rider in Middle Earth

XVIII

-You cannot pass!- he had shouted at the Balrog back in the mines of Moria.

-Gandalf!- Frodo's shout sounded muted.

-I am the servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the Flame of Anor...Go back in to the shadow. The dark fire will not avail you! Flame of Udûn!- Gandalf and the Balrog face one another on the bridge of Khazad-dûm- You — shall not — pass!- The bridge breaks, causing the Balrog to fall.

Gandalf sighs, and turns around, but the whip of Balrog catches his ankle, and he is pulled down. He grabs onto the edge of the bridge, but cannot keep his grip. Boromir grabs Frodo to stop him from running back onto the bridge.

-Fly you fools!- the wizard loses his grip and falls.

Gandalf falls after the Balrog and grabs Glamdring, his sword, on his way down.
Gandalf hacks at the Balrog, as they continue falling, wounding it. They fall into a spacious cavern and into water.

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•••••

-Gandalf!- Frodo screams and awakes with a start.

-What is it Mister Frodo?

-Nothing. Just a dream- he rubs his head.

Frodo, followed by Sam, repel down a cliff.

-Can you see the bottom?

-No! Don't look down, Sam! Just keep going!- a box falls from Sam's pocket.

-Oh! Catch it! Grab it, Mister Frodo!

Frodo grabs the box, but it slips and falls down into the dark.

-I think I've found the bottom- Sam reaches the bottom.

-Bogs and rope, and goodness knows what. It's not natural. None of it.

-What's in this?

-Nothing. Just a bit of seasonin'. I thought maybe if we was having a roast chicken one night or somethin'.

-Roast chicken?

-You never know.

-Sam! My dear Sam.

-It's very special, that. It's the best salt in all the Shire.

-It is special. It's a little bit of home- Frodo examines the hanging rope.

-We can't leave this for someone to follow us down.

-Who's gonna follow us down here, Mister Frodo? It's a shame really. Lady Galadriel gave me that. Real Elvish Rope. Well, there's nothing for it. It's one of my knots. Won't come free in a hurry.

Sam tugs on the rope. The knot loosens by itself and the rope falls around the Hobbits.

-Real Elvish rope?

Frodo and Sam are walking on rocky terrain. Then they stop to look into the distance, into the dark mountains in the distance.

-Mordor. The one place in Middle-Earth we don't wanna see any closer. It's the one place we are trying to get to. It's just where we can't get.

-Lets face it Mister Frodo. We're lost. I don't think Gandalf meant for us to come this way.

-He didn't mean for a lot of things to happen Sam. But they did.

Frodo sees the Eye of Sauron and he falls down, panting.

-Mister Frodo? It's the Ring, isn't it?

-It's getting heavier- he clutches the Ring, then takes a sip from his canteen.

-What food have we got left?

-Well, let me see.

Sam takes out a package from his backpack.

-Oh yes, lovely. Lembas bread. And look! More Lembas bread.

Sam breaks off a piece and tosses it to Frodo. They both eat the lembas slowly, trying to not waste it.

-I don't usually hold to foreign food, but this elvish stuff, it's not bad- Sam says with his mouth stuffed.

-Heh, nothing ever dampens you spirits, does it Sam?

Sam looks up at the dark clouds now covering the sky.

-Those rain clouds might- the hobbits huddle in the night rain.

They continue walking through the rocky terrain.

-This looks strangely familiar- Sam stated as he surveyed their surroundings.

-Because we've been here before. We're going in circles.

-Uh! What's that horrid stink? I wonder if there's a nasty bog nearby. Can you smell it?

-Yes, I can smell it.

Frodo turns to look at Sam, giving him a sad look as he knows they can no longer go back.

•••••

The hobbits were sleeping when a figure climbs down from above them.

-You thieves! You thieves... You filthy little thieves! Where is it? Where is it? They stole it from us. My Precious- Gollum whispers as he creeps closer -Curse them! We hates them! It's ours it is... and we wants it!

Gollum reaches out his hand towards the hobbits. The hobbits jump up and grab Gollum's arms and pin him down to the ground.

They struggled since the creature was strong. Gollum gets loose and jumps on Frodo. They fall, and Gollum sees the Ring around Frodo's neck.
He desperately tries to get it, but Sam grabs him.

He wriggles loose once more, and jumps on Frodo again. Sam gets a hold of him. Gollum bites him on the shoulder, and clasps his arms and legs around Sam. Frodo draws Sting and holds it to Gollum's throat the cold metal of the blade making him freeze.

-This is Sting. You've seen it before, haven't you — Gollum!

-Yes- the creature affirmed.

-Release him, or I'll cut your throat!

Gollum slowly loosens his grip on Sam and lets out a wail.

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