The Elfling || A Frodo Baggins Love Story

Gollum's Evil Plot

The climb up the Secret Stairs was daunting and evil. I had a feeling that Gollum had plotted this way out for a reason. 

"Careful, Master!" said Gollum anxiously as Frodo continued to struggle climbing the stairs. "Very far to fall." 

Frodo struggled, and the groans he made shattered my heart. But my gaze shifted towards Gollum once more when I found him staring at the Ring with greed. His hand slowly reached out to grab it, but I was quicker. I unsheathed my sword without hesitation. 

Protecting Frodo was my top priority — it always had been. And I was not going to break that promise, even if he decided to push me away. We were already so close to Mordor, it didn't matter any more. Gollum couldn't scare me away. 

"Come to Smeagol. . . .," the evil creature snarled under his breath. 

"Stop!" I spat out defensively, sword aimed at him. Gollum glared daggers at me, but I didn't flinch. "Don't hurt him! Please don't hurt him!" 

Of course, Gollum had to hide his actions by pretending to help Frodo out instead. I let out a groan of frustration. 

"Why does sneaky elfses try to betray Smeagol?" he asked, pretending to be hurt. "Smeagol only wants to help." 

"Help?" I panted heavily once I'd gotten to my feet and put my sword back into its sheath. I glared at the foul creature. "More like leading us to further danger, if you ask me." 

I crouched in front of Frodo and helped him the rest of the way before helping Sam. When I reached Frodo's side again, I noticed that he could barely move. The Ring's power was too strong, pulling him down. So I helped him to his feet, allowing him to put all his weight on me. 

"I — I'm so tired, Elyse," he whimpered, clutching weakly to me as I gently sat him down against the wall. I allowed him to rest his head wearily on my shoulder. 

"I know," I answered calmly. I pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. "But I'm going to be here by your side, no matter what happens. Okay? Just close your eyes and get some rest."

He nodded, and he was immediately out like a light, his head slumped against my shoulder. With my free hand, I ran my fingers gently through his hair in hopes to relax him some more. Meanwhile, Samwise kept a lookout for us, occasionally glancing back at Frodo, smiling sadly at his friend. 

The Ring exhausted him greatly. And climbing these tedious, dangerous stairs made the burden all the worse. 

We let Frodo rest for as long as he needed to before we went ahead and continued our journey up the steep, dangerous stairs. But the higher we got, I could feel an evil, devious presence approaching our group. But Frodo didn't seem to notice. 

And unfortunately, I was right. 

One night, Sam had caught Gollum devising his plan with his other half, Smeagol. We were resting again for Frodo's sake. The Ring was taking a dangerous toll on his body. One wrong move, and the stairs could be responsible for his death. 

We tried reasoning with Frodo when we found out his evil plot, but he unexpectedly pushed us away. 

"Go home! Yes! You, too, Elyse!" 

I was obviously hurt. I did not expect Frodo to lash out like that. Tears blurred my eyes and began to close my throat. But Frodo did not seem to give either me or Sam any pity. The Ring was clearly making him think the wrong way. 

But unfortunately, we couldn't get him to side with us. He went along with Gollum and left us in the dust. I turned to stare at a distraught Sam, my expression full of disbelief. 

"We can't let him go in there like that!" I finally burst out. 

Sam agreed, nodding fiercely. "C'mon, Miss Elyse. Let's go after him before he gets into further danger!" 

They began to desperately climb up the steep stairs, failing more than once. After a long time of trying to find our way to Shelob's lair. As they did, they could hear Frodo's desperate cries for help. But by the time we found him, we were too late. Shelob had found him, first. She made happy, gurgling noises that made me feel physically sick, as she wrapped Frodo up in her strong web. 

Finally, I had enough. I had the courage to leap up in front of the creature, collecting both Sting and Galadriel's vial that she had given Frodo before we left to continue our journey. 

"Back!" I yelped threateningly. I aimed Sting at the disgusting creature, making sure to stand protectively in front of Frodo's motionless body. "Back, I say! Go back to the shadows where you belong!" 

After a couple of wild attempts, I managed to wound Shelob. I made sure to continue shine the light into Shelob's lair and wait until she had disappear completely. Finally, I let the sword and vial fall at my side and I quickly approached Frodo's motionless side. 

"Mr. Frodo?" I called, trying to pull apart the web that covered his face.

 I struggled to pull the web apart, as it was incredibly strong. My heart sank when I saw how pale his face looked, his eyes open, but unmoving. I could feel a lump forming in my throat as I placed a hand on his cheek, which felt deathly cold to the touch. 

"Frodo, please wake up," I pleaded desperately, shaking his shoulder. "Please don't leave me. Don't go where I can't follow. Please." I waited with hope that quickly fell into shreds. "Not asleep," I whimpered quietly. "D-Dead." 

I lowered my head and gently placed my forehead on Frodo's chest, sobbing quietly. But when the glow from Sting caught my eye, my heart stopped. But I knew that I had no choice. I leapt to my feet and grabbed both Sting and Galadriel's vial. Without a second thought, I took the Ring at the last minute in case we needed to complete the task for Frodo instead. Sam had the same idea and followed me to a shelf of rocks where we could hide. 

Finally, three goblin-looking men came into view, stalking over towards Frodo's lifeless body. 

"What's this?" the first goblin drawled as he approached Frodo. 

"Looks like Shelob's been having a bit of fun, eh?" the second goblin added gloatingly. "Is he dead?" 

The first goblin began to touch Frodo's lifeless body, making my skin crawl with disgust. 

"Get your bloody hands off him," I hissed under my breath.

"Miss Elyse," Sam hissed back, nudging me sharply in the side, making me wince. 

"This fellow ain't dead," the first goblin answered triumphantly. 

It felt as though my heart had been stabbed. 

"Not dead?" I whispered to myself.

I thought that I was about to pass out. I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Frodo was still alive? And how?! 

"Shelob has her way of playing with her victims. She likes to sting them with her stinger to paralyze her victims. After that, she wraps them in her silk. And then, she has her own fun. That's how old Shelob likes to feed — fresh blood. Let's get him to the Tower! This piece of scum should wake up in an hour or two, and then, we'll question him." 

"Elysia, you fool!" I breathed to myself, clearly full of disbelief by the fact that I could have saved Frodo, bringing him with us, before any more danger could come to him.

But I had a feeling that Frodo's danger was not completely over. Not until that damn Ring is destroyed. And who knows how much longer that could take? 

***Yikes! So sorry that this took so long, guys! I just didn't have the energy to complete this book! But, since the Lord of the Rings will be out in theaters again this weekend (also my birthday weekend, btw!), I figured that I should go ahead and publish another chapter! By far, I think that that Elyse & Frodo have had an . . . . interesting relationship. What d'you guys think?***