Fighter || The Lord of the Rings

18 Dead Marshes

      "We've led you out." Gollum said. "Hurry, Hobbitses. Hurry! Very lucky we find you."
I would disagree with Gollum that we were lucky but he was telling the truth about leading us out because we stood on the last bit of rocky ground before a long large smelly marsh.

    "Nice Hobbit." Gollum said as we passed.

—————

"I don't trust this, Gollum one bit." Sam said to me.

"I know, I don't like him either but I do remember something that Gandalf said." I say.

"What was that?" Sam asked.

"He said that Gollum still may yet have a part to play in all this." I explain. "I don't trust Gollum but do trust Gandalf." I say and we continue walking.

——

    "It's a bog." Sam cried as his foot sunk in. "He's lead us into a swamp."

    "A swamp, yes, yes. Come, Master. We will take you on safe paths through the mist." Gollum lead. "Come, Hobbits! Come! We go quickly."

Slowly, Frodo, I, and Sam made our way through the quiet swamp trying out best to follow where Gollum had stepped.

   "I found it. I did. The way through the marshes, Orcs don't use it. Orcs don't know it. They go round for miles and miles. Come quickly." Gollum explained. "Soft and quick as shadows we must be."

———

    "I hate this place." Sam muttered after two days of being in the marsh and  walking all day we sat down for food and rest. "It's too quiet. There hasn't been sight nor sound of a bird for two days."

    "No, no birdses to eat. No crunchable birdses. We are famished! Yes! Famished we are, Precious!" Gollum cried as he reached in the water and pulled out a leach and ate it.

     "Here." Frodo said tossing Gollum a piece of Lembas.

    "What does it eats?" Gollum asked. "Is it tasty?" Gollum picked it up and stuffed it in his mouth but only after a couple seconds he started to choke and spit it out. "It tries to chokes us! We can't eats Hobbit food! We must starve!"

    "Well, starve then. And good riddance!" Sam said.

    "Oh, cruel Hobbit. It does not care if we be hungry. Does not care if we should die." Gollum cried. "Not like Master." Gollum slowly started to get closer to
Frodo. "Master cares. Master knows. Yes. Precious. Once it takes hold of us..." The way Gollum spoke to Frodo made me uncomfortable. "It never lets go."
Gollum reached his hand forward.

    "Don't touch me!" Frodo said shoving Gollum off.

—————

The farther we walked through the marsh the more quiet it became the more uneasy I felt. I looked around but something caught my attention in the marsh there were spots of fire.

    "There are dead things!" Sam cried, I looked down and he was right in the water there were many cold pail corpses there faces standing out. "Dead faces in the water."

    "All dead. All rotten. Elves and Men and Orcses. A great battle long ago. Dead Marshes. Yes. Yes, that is their name. This way. Don't follow the lights." Gollum said.
I help Frodo out as he food sunk in the water.

    "Careful now! Or Hobbits go down to join the dead ones and light little candles of their own." Gollum hissed.

I continue to walk thinking Frodo was behind me but when I turned around I saw him far behind staring into the water.

"Frodo!" I yell as he leans forward as if in a trance.

He doesn't respond and just falls forward into the water.
Sam and I instantly run forward but Gollum was able to get there before us.
Gollum soon was dragged a soaking wet Frodo out from to water.

"Don't follow the lights." Gollum warned then walked away.

"Mr. Frodo." Sam said as he reached Frodo.

"Frodo, are you alright." I say looking him over.

—————

Soon it came night again and I lay wide awake listening to the rumbling clouds of Mordor and the whispers of Gollum.

"So bright. So beautiful. Our Precious." Gollum said and I sat up looking at he skinny creature hunched over.

"What did you say?" I heard Frodo ask.

"Master should be resting." Gollum said. "Master needs to keep up his strength."

Frodo and I both looked at each other before we stood up and walked over to Gollum.

"Who are you?" Frodo asked.

"Mustn't ask us. Not it's business." Gollum hissed. "Gollum. Gollum."

"Gandalf told me you were one of the river-folk." I said crouching down.

"Cold be heart And hand and bone Cold be travelers Far from home." Gollum sang trying not to listen.

Frodo moved and crouched in front of Gollum as he turned away.
"He said your life was a sad story." Frodo said.

"They do not see What lies ahead When sun has failed And moon is dead." Gollum sang louder as I moved in front of him.

"You were not so very different from a Hobbit once. Were you?" I say.

"Sméagol." Frodo said as we were both in front of him.

"What did you call me?" Gollum looked up.

"That was your name once, wasn't it?" Frodo told him.

"A long time ago." I added.

"My name. My name." Gollum repeated. "S...Sméagol." Gollum said and I think he smiled.

Suddenly there was this loud cold screech sending fear through my blood and pain in my leg. Sam shot up from sleep as Gollum yelled.

"Black Riders!" Sam yelled getting up.

"Hide! Hide!" Gollum cried and ran off.

I looked to Frodo who yelled in pain and clutched The Ring.

"Come on Frodo! Come on!" Sam yelled as he started to drag Frodo over to some bushes. I helped but the pain in my leg grew and I let out a yell.

"Quick! They will see us! They will see us! Gollum yelped as I collapsed under the bushes beside Frodo.

"I thought they were dead." Sam said.

"Dead? No, you cannot kill them. No." Gollum said and we heard more screeching coming closer.

I looked up through the bushes to see a big black dragon like creature flying over us.

"Wraiths! Wraiths on wings!" Gollum cried. "They are calling for it. They are calling for The Precious."

I was breathing heavily from the pain in my leg but I pushed that aside and looked at Frodo who was reaching for The Ring. Without saying a word I grab Frodo's hand pulling it away from The Ring and hold it in mine.

"Mr. Frodo, it's alright." Sam said looking back at him.

"Their leaving." I breathe my pain decreases as it leaves.

"Hurry, Hobbits. The Black Gate is very close." Gollum warned.