[Published: 30.07.2020]

This was it. Frodo was to toss the ring of power into the fiery depths of Mordor. They'd all be free. The whole world would be free. Frodo would be liberated from his suffering. Everything would go back to the way it was. (Y/N) stumbled through the mist, and waited patiently for him to toss it over. Sam stood by her side, his arm hanging over her neck.

But Frodo just stood there.

It was as if he was suspended, paralysed. The ring swayed on the end of the chain, rocking back and forth. The Hobbit seemed enamoured by its shine and its golden colour. (Y/N) shook her head, and cried out to him. "What are you waiting for?" she screeched.

"Just let it go!" Samwise piped in. The two Hobbits clung to each other, as Frodo turned.

He wore an expression that was very unlike Frodo. It was a sort of snarl, as if he was growling maliciously. (Y/N), for a dark moment, thought he somewhat resembled the creature Gollum. No, this was not the Frodo she knew. His eyes seemed empty, as if the life in him was not his own. He did not look upon his friends with fondness- he looked at them with malice and apprehension. He did not care for what they thought.

"The ring is mine!"

The defiant cry was enough to shatter the girl's heart to pieces. She and Sam gasped in unison, eyes widening in complete and utter disbelief. They clung tighter to each other, as Frodo's mouth upturned into an unnatural smirk. (Y/N) could scarce believe it- he was giving up, after everything? After all the pain he had endured, after the suffering that ring had put him through, he chose it over his friends? Over her?

No, she couldn't except it. She would not except it! Frodo Baggins was the honourable nephew of Bilbo Baggins, and had endured the worst to deliver the ring to Mount Doom. When victory was in grasp, he could not fail. For the Hobbit she knew and loved would not do such a thing, especially when victory is in grasp.

But she couldn't stop him- he pulled the chain off the ring, and placed it upon his finger. Sam screamed after his master, and scrambled forward. (Y/N) whispered his name, over and over, desperately trying to wrap her head around what was happening.

So this was the end. The Hobbit she had followed through day and night, who she cared for in dire times had failed. The end was near. Her future had been wiped clean. She shouldn't have loved him any longer; but she did. She vowed, in that moment of turmoil, she would love him to the end of days, because Frodo Baggins was a good, honest and true Hobbit! And she would never leave him to continue to fester in the darkness.

"FRODO!" she cried out, watching as footsteps appeared in the floor. "Get some sense into your head! We will all die if this ring is not destroyed!"

"(Y/N), there's no use," Sam sobbed, "He's too far gone. It was his mission, and he failed. We failed."

"We only fail if he leaves Mount Doom with the ring. Now, stop sobbing, Samwise! We're better than this! If anyone can do it, we can!"

Both of them were cut short, however, as they were both hit hard on the heads. Falling down, (Y/N)'s vision went blurry. She heard screeches and snarls, and watching a grey ball of flesh creep up and wrestle an invisible man. Her vision continued to blur, and momentarily, she closed her eyes.

(Y/N) opened them again upon hearing Sam's screams. Frodo and Gollum were nowhere to be seen, but Sam had crept to the edge of the platform and had knelt down. The woman bounded up towards him, and looked down. Below, clinging on for dear life, was her dear Hobbit Frodo, with a single finger missing.

"Frodo!" she cried, reaching down to pull him up. Both she and Samwise hauled him back onto the platform. Instantaneously and absentmindedly, she embraced him, tears sweeping down her face. It was when the ground under them rumbled, the three of them clambered to their feet and sped out of the erupting volcano.

They trudged through the cracks and crevasses, making their way through the maze of rocks, and running from the rivers if lava flowing down. After many minutes, the three of them settled on a raised rock that jutted out of the volcano, which would protect them from the lava.

(Y/N), settling herself down next to Frodo, and rubbing his arm gently. He did not look at her, and instead looked to Sam for comfort. "Frodo?" she whispered, "Are you all right?" The Hobbit shook his head softly, and tried blinked away his tears. He stared down at the floor, spluttering. "What must you think of me..."

"Goodness, Frodo!" she cried, wrapping her arm around his back. "What on earth do you mean?"

"This quest...this mission...it was all on me to destroy it. I wanted to destroy it, I did, but...I couldn't let go of it. After all I had suffered, I still needed it. I still had to have it! I was selfish, I was weak, I--"

"Hush now, Baggins!" (Y/N) cried, grabbing his chin and pulling it up. "I don't think you weak! I don't think you selfish! That ring was the problem! Not you, and whether you were able to destroy it or not!"

"No... I made a choice. I chose to turn my back on my family, friends, the woman I loved for that wretched thing! I was prepared to let the whole world die to have it!" Frodo sobbed fiercely, shoulders shaking as he lowered his head onto her shoulder. (Y/N)'s heart panged, not only to hear him cry, but here such words spoken. Perhaps some of it was him. The ring had no idea of who or what Frodo was before this quest- it did not bend Frodo's intent, he did that by himself.

"The ring is gone, Mister Frodo...it need not bother you any longer. You're free from it," Samwise said, patting his friend on the back. He and (Y/N) exchanged sad smiles as Frodo raised his head.

"Sam, (Y/N)...I remember the shire! The taste of strawberries...the touch of grass, the sound of the rivers..." He smiled up at the woman, and wiped away his tears. Frodo breathed deeply, as if he had never breathed before, and new life flourished in him. "It's gone..." he smiled, "It's done!"

He surprised the woman when he turned to her. Frodo stared sadly at her, reaching for her hand. "I-I am sorry...you didn't deserve this. You deserved a life of your own, (Y/N)."

"When will you understand," she whispered, tears welling in her eyes, "That I'd go to the ends of this earth with you, no matter what. Because I didn't want any old life, Frodo. I wanted a life with you."

It didn't seem to register with him for a second. Then, the Hobbit laughed nervously, tears forming once more in his eyes. He shrugged, finding the right words to respond with. He then spluttered, his face falling. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I've ruined all chance of that life now..."

"I had a short time beside you, though," she said soothingly, squeezing his hand, "And we have now..."

"But you deserved the world, (Y/N). I gave you the end of it..." Frodo whispered, shaking his head. "No, you didn't Frodo! You gave me hope and a mission! Me, you and Sam saved Middle-Earth! What better life could there be, Frodo?"

"A lifetime together."

Their hands intertwined.

"I would've married Rosie..."

The two turned to Sam, who was all teary eyed and melancholy. "We would've had...a good home. A real good home. And we'd... we'd..." He too descended into sobs. Both (Y/N) and Frodo pulled him to their chests, and rocked the Hobbit back and fourth.

"Dear Frodo...I wish I had told you this sooner, but I love you. I have loved you for years, and..."

"And I love you, (Y/N). I wish...I wish I could've given you more than this..."

"And Samwise? You are a brave Hobbit, and don't you forget that! Rosie Cotton will always have you in her heart!"

"You've been a good man, Sam. I wouldn't have gotten far without you, dear Sam..."

And the three of them cradled each other in their arms, crying softly, till fatigue took them.

When Frodo woke, he was greeted with none other than the man who had started him on this journey- Gandalf. He thought he was dreaming at first. Then the two burst out in laughter and merriment, relief washing over them.

It was done.

And when (Y/N) came to his bedside, he greeted her with a kiss.