Unexpected Fate

Chapter 6: Mithril and Dragon Scales

The fellowship came to a stop at the top of a steep staircase. The path continued until it forked into two directions, each leading to a separate doorway. We appeared to be on some form of a cliff, as to the companies left was a sheer drop into the open space. The ceilings here were rounded and tall, giving Svell plenty of room to stretch her wings. It was a large cavernous space around us.

"I have no memory of this place," Gandalf said as he looked between the two doors.

"Are we lost?" Pippin asked.

"No, I don't think we are," Merry said.

The company stood in silence for a moment before Pippin spoke again. "Merry?" he asked.

"What?" he sounded annoyed.

"I'm hungry,"

The only answer he received from the other Hobbit was a roll of his eyes.

"Vilansia," my dragon said to me, "there is something out there,"

I turned to her, her gaze peering into the cavernous beyond. She was tense and poised, observing everything around her as if on the hunt. I walked towards the edge of the ledge, crouching down next to Frodo. His eyes were wide as he looked into the darkness. As I extended my mind, I felt it. A groveling creature focused on only one thing. The Ring of Power. Its mind was dark and clouded and full of anger. Large eyes reflected in the dark, watching us.

Frodo scrambled back to Gandalf's side. "There's something down there!"

"It's Gollum," the old wizard replied simply. "He's been following us for three days,"

I internally commended the creature for escaping my notice until now. How sneaky, indeed.

"He escaped the dungeons of Barad-dur!" Frodo exclaimed.

Gandalf tilted his head towards the Hobbit. "Escaped? Or set loose?"

I shifted from where I sat to better face the two of them, my interest piqued.

"Now that the Ring is known again, he won't be ridden of his need for it," Gandalf continued. "he hates and loves the Ring, as he hates and loves himself. Smeagol's life is a sad story," Frodo looked up at him, confused. "Yes, Smeagol he was once called...before the Ring found him. Before it drove him mad,"

"It's a pity that Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance," Frodo spat.

"Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand," Gandalf raised an eyebrow. "Many that live deserve death, but some that die who deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo?" The Hobbit said nothing. "Do not be too eager to deal out death and judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends," Gandalf looked outwards towards the darkness. "My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play, for good or ill, before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may hold the fate of many,"

Frodo furrowed his brows, then, and his shoulders dropped as he released a heavy sigh. "I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened,"

I couldn't help but frown. In trying to do what was right, he had sealed his fate with the Ring, for better or worse. The task was daunting for even myself and Svellevarina, I could not imagine the fear that grasped the Hobbit's heart.

"So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide," Gandalf looked down at Frodo, his eyes soft. "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces that work in this world, Frodo, besides evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring, in which case you were meant to have it. And isn't that an encouraging thought?" He offered a smile to lighten the Hobbit's worry.