The Elfling || A Frodo Baggins Love Story

The Black Gates of Mordor

We climbed up a very steep stair set to get to the Black Gates. I’d stayed below Frodo, just in case he slipped and fell. 

  “The Black Gates of Mordor,” Gollum announced, his voice full of fear. 

  He immediately shielded the Gates from his view. I stared at the Gates in disbelief. A tight knot formed in my stomach, and it did not feel pleasant. 

  “Good Lord, save us!” I whispered as I stared at the massive gates in disbelief. 

  Frodo came to my side and looked just as stunned as I felt. 

  “My old Gaffer would have a thing or two to say, if he could see us, now,” Sam grumbled. 

  “A thing or two?” I echoed, amazed. “Sam, he’d probably be saying many insults if he saw this place.”

  “That’s it,” said Sam in defeat. “We’ll never get past that.” 

  Suddenly, an army of Men came marching through. We made sure to stay hidden from the army. A horn blew loudly, causing Gollum to cover his hands over his ears to block out the noise. I noticed that the Gates began to open, and my eyes widened in surprise. 

  “Look!” I breathed, grinning broadly. “I can see a way down!”

  Unfortunately, my weight was too much, and I unexpectedly tumbled down the slope, with Frodo screaming after me. 

  “Eira — no!” 

  I tumbled halfway down the mountain before managing to get stuck in the dirt, waist up. I struggled, trying to get myself out of the mess. Luckily, Frodo was immediately at my side, struggling to pull me up. But I was too deep in the sinkhole. 

  My heart stopped when we saw two of the Easterlings. Fortunately, Frodo had his cloak available, and he covered the both of us with it, praying and hoping that we would not get caught. 

  We waited with bated breath, not daring to move even an inch. I could feel Frodo’s warm breath tickling the exposed skin on my neck as he waited anxiously for them to move on. The breath on my neck caused pleasant goosebumps to rise. One of his arms was still clenched around my waist, holding me securely to him, as if he was protecting me, as I had protected him. 

  Finally, the Easterlings left, going back to the line of men who were headed to Mordor. Frodo took the cloak off around us and helped me out of the sinkhole I landed myself into, before going straight to the rocks that shielded us from everyone else's view. Sam joined us seconds later, panting slightly. I approached Frodo and put a comforting hand on top of his. He looked over at me with a confident look in his eyes. 

  “I do not ask you to come with me, Eira. Same to you, Sam.”

  “I know, Frodo,” I answered, holding tightly onto his hand. “Even I doubt that these Elvish cloaks will hide us there.” 

  “NOW!” Frodo cried out. 

  We were about to sprint towards the gates, but Gollum immediately pulled us back. He pulled on my hair, causing a painful throb in my head. 

  “NO!” he wailed as he yanked us back. “They catch you! They catch you! Don’t take it to him!” 

  We stared at him, dumbfounded. I stared at him in anger and disbelief. Gollum panted heavily, giving us pleading looks. 

  “He wants the precious. Always. He’s looking for it! And the precious wants to get back to him. But we mustn’t let him have it!”

  We began to take off again, but Gollum stopped us once more. 

  “No! There’s a secret, more dark way!”

  I grabbed Gollum by the shoulders, furious with him. I’ve distrusted Gollum from the start. And now he’s saying there are different ways when he could have said that before? 

  “Why haven’t you spoken of this before?!”

  “Because Master did not ask!”

  I groaned in frustration before shoving him away from us. I turned to look at Frodo. This little piece of sh!t was already getting on my nerves. I knew that this vile creature was up to no good at all, whatsoever. 

  “He’s up to something!” I declared. 

  “Are you saying that there’s another way into Mordor?” Frodo asked. He sounded interested. 

  I, however, did not buy it. No matter how innocent Gollum tried to be, I could see his true identity. And I knew that he would hurt Frodo if he wanted to get to the Ring. 

  “Yes,” said Gollum. “There’s a set of stairs, and then. . . . a tunnel.”

  He clawed at Frodo’s arms, pleading him to go the way he wanted to go. I was not buying it. Once Gollum got too dramatic, Frodo finally looked over at him before looking up at us. 

  “He’s led us this far, guys,” he finally said. 

  “What?! Frodo, no!” I pleaded desperately. 

  “He’s been true to his word,” Frodo went on, completely ignoring me. 

  “No,” I whispered, though I knew that I would not win this argument. Frodo trusted Gollum too much. 

  “Lead the way, Smèagol.”

  "Good Smèagol always helps," the foul beast replied before slinking away. 

  I glared at Frodo. I didn’t want to get mad at him, but I did. And I feared that the Ring was going to force him to think the wrong way. Frodo gave me a look of guilt before turning to look at the Black Gates, which were closing again.