The Strongest Bond [Middle-Earth Fanfic]

The Beginning of the End

I headed home, my spirits beginning to rise. I would see my mother and sister soon. I made good time through the mountains and back across the river until my village came just into sight.

Instantly, I knew something was wrong. The village glowed brightly. Too brightly. My heart leapt in my chest as realization dawned. The village was on fire!

I spurred my horse faster, my heart full of fear. If anything happened to my family, it would be my fault.

By the time I reached town, my horse was panting heavily. I jumped off his back, grabbed my pack, and raced through the chaos, searching for my home. The smoke was thick and made my lungs burn, but I kept going. My neighbors and other villagers ran past me, trying to escape the fiery inferno, many of them injured in some way. My heart reached out to them, but I didn't stop. My family needed me more. I never should have left.

I finally found my simple home and was even more horrified at the sight. Flames curled around the wooden beams and straw roof. The fire was quickly devouring it.

Without hesitating, I ran into the house, trying to avoid as much smoke and fire as I could. "Mother! Shara!" I screamed their names, trying to project my already horse voice through the roar of the flames.

Faintly, I picked up on another voice calling back to me. It was Shara! I climbed up the stairs and froze. Amidst the chaos, Shara cradled my mother in her lap on the dirty, wooden floor. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she looked up at me with a heart wrenching cry, "Sam, it's Mother...she's..." Shara didn't finish. She didn't need to. I saw the large gash in mother's stomach right away. Blood gushed out of it at a fast rate, already soaking the floor.

I knelt down beside her, "It's gonna be okay. I'm here now." I quickly picked up Mother and ushered Shara out in front of me.

We made it down the stairs, amazingly, and headed to the door. As soon as we made it out, the building collapsed. We didn't turn back as I looked for a safe place to take my family. Pretty much all the villagers were gone and we barely made it out between the collapsing buildings and chunks of flaming wood.

When we were safe up on a hill overlooking our village, I set Mother down gently and leaned over her. Shara knelt down beside me as I listened for the sound of my mother's breathe. "Please, Mom, breath. Come one. Breath." I begged her, but she couldn't hear me, and after several minutes, I sat back on my legs.

Shara's eyes widened and she looked to me for hope, "Sam, tell me she's okay. Please..."

I pulled her into my arms tightly, "I'm sorry, Shara. She...she's gone." I whispered, tears beginning to streak down my face.

Shara broke down, "No!" she screamed, "She can't be! No! no...no...she can't be dead." She buried her face in my chest, "Sam, bring her back. Please..."

"Shh...it's okay. We're okay." I soothed not exactly sure what to say.

She turned to me sharply, "Why did you go?" She demanded.

"Shara...I-"

"No, Sam. Did you find out how to get rid of that stupid thing or not?"

"I did." I brought out the poison and the stone before telling her what I needed to do.

She gasped, "No, you can't do that. I can't lose you too!" she cried.

"I need to do this. I can't push it on someone else." I looked down at my hands and set the items on the grass. Then, I pulled out the cork of the poison and poured it over the knife.

I looked up to see Shara looking at the items strangely. "Shara...?"

She looked at me with a determined expression. Suddenly, she grabbed the knife and plunged it into her leg.

"No!" I screamed as I lunged towards her. Shara fell backward as her eyes showed her immense pain. I couldn't stop it. I couldn't stop her. I had failed.

And that, my friends, is how the first part of this story ties into the rest of it. But don't worry! The story isn't over yet!:) Anyways, I know it's been really really really rrreeeaaallllyyy long since I updated and I am so so soooooo sorry, guys! :/ I hope you enjoy it anyways! Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Ithildae