One Sock to rule them all,

One Sock to find them;

One Sock to bring them all, 

and in the darkness bind them.

JRR Tolkein

~

A short story challenge by Challenge Corner (see external link) where we had to produce a Lord of the Rings fan fic. The only character from LOTR we were allowed to include was Gollum with a rather unexpected Precious where Precious could be anything except the ring. It also had to be a three page story. And include three quotes from a list. The ones I chose are highlighted in bold. Enjoy!

~ 

And In the Darkness Bind Them

The fish broke through the surface of the underground lake, its pale skin gleaming in the faint phosphorescence of the slimy rocks. Gollum's hand darted into the water and flipped the fish onto the rocks where he pounced on it, killing the colourless creature with a swift bite to the back of its head.

"Fish Precious, lovely lovely fishes." Obscene smacking noises filled the cavern as Gollum chewed his way through his meal. 

A short time later Gollum lay replete stretching out his long sinewy limbs on his favourite smooth rock, a few fishy remnants spattering the rocks nearby. Reaching into the grimy pouch he wore around his waist, he caressed the contents lovingly. "Hello, my Precious." The Sock was shaped onto his hand like a puppet but said nothing: it seldom did, but dark intent radiated from it and Gollum planted a kiss on the 'mouth' of the Sock.

He bent an ear to the sock puppet as it moved, and nodded sagely. "Yes Precious, fishes is always good to eats, lots and lots of fishes in the caverns. Nasty Spiderses don't like fishes, only orcses and big warm things. Warm things like me. So we eat fishes. But I have you Precious, you protects me, don't you Precious."

There was a knock of stone on stone from the depths of the caves beyond the cavern and Gollum's large eyes widened in fear.

"Something comes Precious, we must be careful."

The Sock that once belonged to the lord of darkness was stowed back in its pouch and Gollum crept into the maze of caves to investigate.

~~~

"I am liking this escapade less by the minute, cousin."

"Don't be such a daisy. All we have to do is make it to Durin's Bridge, chuck in the cursed thing and we can be away."

"Aye, that's simple. 'Just chuck it in' he says." The shorter of the two men cast a dark look at his cousin. "And how do we know some creepy little creature won't fish it out again?"

"You heard the elder when he was harping on the other day Torlin." The taller of the two men struck a pose and deepened his voice. "Deep is the abyss spanned by Durin's Bridge, and none has measured it. Yet it has a bottom, beyond both light and knowledge."

"Thankfully the elder's bottom is beyond both light and knowledge," muttered Torlin. "I don't like this place Andra, it's dark and full of spiders: big spiders."

"Aye, well we'll try and avoid them eh? I am wise enough to know that there are some perils from which a man must flee. Spiders are definitely one of them."

The two men continued for a while in silence, both stopping as the cave opened out into the cavern.

Gollum, who had been watching the two men for a while, slipped the Sock onto his foot with a whispered "my precious" and, now invisible, snuck up behind the two men to listen in on their conversation.

"... take a break now for some food. I'm hungry."

"You're always hungry Torlin, but you're right this is as good a place as any to stop for a rest."

The two men unpacked some basic field rations and munched away in the wan light of the cavern for a while in silence, the hard tack requiring significant chewing.

Gollom watched from nearby then cautiously reached out toward a lump of cured sausage, his hand touching it just as the man reached for it. Torlin's hand grabbed hold of the sausage and yelped in fright as Gollum's long fingers squirmed in his grasp.

Andra reacted to the faint shimmer caused by Torlin's interaction with Gollum by throwing his goblet of water over the creature, Torlin's blade coming to rest at Gollum's throat a second later. Torlin reached forward with his free left hand and grabbed Gollum by the neck, hauling him into the air. As he lifted from the ground, the Sock slipped from his foot and he re-appeared startling both men.

"Please don't hurt me," squealed Gollum piteously. "I meant no harms to mens. Nice men aren't they Precious? No, they come to steal the Precious."

"Steady now," said Andra as Gollum retched and argued with himself. "Put him down Torlin. He's no threat, I think he's just hungry." The man addressed the cowering form of Gollum who scrabbled on the ground for the Sock stuffing it back into his pouch so the men couldn't see it. "You hungry little fella?"

"Hungry yes. Aren't we precious... Gollum Gollum." Gollum reached out tentatively for the lump of sausage and Torlin growled. Golum cowered back and Andra laughed. "Torlin, he already touched it, you may as well let him have it."

"Humph," grumbled Torlin and sat on a rock watching as Gollum slobbered his way through the remnants of his meal.

"Nice humans, yes, lovely humans aren't they Precious. But where do humans go, what are they doings? Humans live in the light, not in the dark..." Gollum raised a questioning eyebrow at Andra who smiled broadly.

"We're going to Durin's Bridge."

Gollum shrank back from them, his eyes wide in horror. "The Dark Bridge? But that is where the creature lives."

"Creature? It's not a spider is it?" Asked Torlin.

"No, no, humans. Creature is far worse, far darker and more ancient than any spiders. Not a good idea to go there Precious, not good at all. Silly humans aren't they Precious."

Andra leant forward on his rock. "You know the way? You've been there before haven't you?"

Gollum shook his head, but raised it again as Andra waved a honey cake under his nose. "Here you go friend, perhaps this will help jog your memory."

Torlin looked away as Gollum stuffed the sweet cake into his mouth, crumbs spraying across the rocks as he moaned in pleasure. "Mmm... honey, Gollum, Gollum. We loves honey don't we Precious, but the nasty bees stings us don't they. Nice human."

Gollum beamed at Andra, his lank hair falling in greasy strings over his gummy smile.

"Now, how about a few more?" Gollum nodded enthusiastically. "But, how about you show us the way to Durin's Bridge first?"

"Tricksty human," muttered Gollum. "Almost as bad as hobbitses." The creature glared at Andra and nodded his agreement, holding out one slimy hand into which Andra deposited another cake.

Torlin raised his eyes skywards as another paroxysm of appreciation came from the smelly creature.

"This way humans, this way." Gollum scampered across the rocks and the two men shouldered their packs hurriedly.

"You think we can trust this creature Andra?" asked Torlin softly.

"As long as we keep feeding him cake, I think he'll do as we ask. Keep an eye on him though, there's something curious about this Gollum."

"Curious doesn't begin to describe it," muttered Torlin. As he watched Gollum moving swiftly up ahead he changed the subject. "Do you think getting rid of this thing might end our troubles?"

"I doubt it," sighed Andra. "This might help though. Once we've done this, then we can tackle the Orcs."

"Tackling the Orcs would imply all the tribes working together."

"It's happened before, but the elder thinks the presence of this," Andra patted one pocket, "is the cause of the disharmony amongst our peoples."

"I think the elder is talking out of his rear end. The only way the tribes of man will join together is if they talk together and understand the threat posed."

"Man will always be happier sitting behind a wall than doing something constructive."

"If we all got angry together something might be done."

"The only folk who get angry together are the dwarves, and only then if they've been quaffing mead. Nasty stuff..."

Up ahead Gollum paused listening to the soft conversation behind him. "They has something precious Precious." He chuckled at his own wordplay and a look of cunning came over his features. "Two Preciouses Precious. Imagine how lovely that would be..."

~

The walls fell away as they approached the Durin's Bridge and the two humans stood open mouthed at the narrow stone span arching over the vast darkness of the pit.

"Your bridge humans," whispered Gollum. "Do what you must do."

"Thank you Gollum." Andra passed over the last of his cakes. "Are you ready cousin? We must be strong."

Torlin nodded, his face pale, and Andra reached into his pocket to pull out an odd looking piece of material with a dangling piece of metal.

Gollum's mouth opened in surprise and a covetous look crept across his face as one hand rested on the pouch containing the Sock. "Do humans need more help? What has it got in its pocketses Precious?"

Torlin cast him a dark look. "We're fine thank you, your services are no longer required."

"Fine, humans. We will leave, won't we Precious. Nice humans, enjoy bridge and trip out past spiderses."

As Gollum scampered away Andra rounded on his cousin. "Damn, there goes our best way out."

"We're better off without him. Come on, let's get rid of this thing."

The two men made their way carefully onto the bridge, Andra holding the artifact, Torlin with his sword in his hand. Sulphurous fumes stung their eyes, and the deep red glow of molten rock below lit the pit from the belly of the earth.

At the top of the narrow arch, they paused and Andra held out the artifact. "Begone you evil thing."

As he drew back his arm to throw it away, Torlin appeared to stumble and a rock held aloft by invisible hands smacked with sickening force into his skull, tumbling him from the bridge.

"Torlin!" screamed Andra a split second before the rock smashed into his nose. Blinded he dropped the artifact, sinking to his knees, and there was a triumphant cackle from the air nearby.

"Stupid humans," screeched Gollum. "Now I have Precious and Precious." Footsteps slapped the stone and Gollum raced from the scene, invisible and cackling into the darkness.

As Andra stood, groggily shaking his head, there was a bellow from the pit below and he looked over the side of the bridge to see a creature born in the darkness climbing swiftly toward him.

~

Gollum sat on his favourite rock overlooking the cavern, the stale smell of slime tingling his notrils as the water of the underground lake lapped against his seat. He lay on his back draped over the stone, with his feet in the air, a smile broad on his face. 

"Well Precious, don't you look lovely today. And now we have another precious, both reunited after so many years." He admired his foot clad in the grimy sock, its baggy length held tight to his leg with the sock suspender, its dark elastic radiating evil intent.

A fish broke the surface of the water nearby and Gollum's eyes glowed with malicious intent. "Fish Precious, lovely lovely fishes. Not as lovely as honey cakes though, stupid humans.

"Stay here Precious, it's time for lunch..."