Lingering Too Long - by Larner

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

B2MeM Challenge: 2009 Cue 16: Meeting or exceeding limitations.
Format: drabble
Genre: general
Rating: PG
Warnings: n/a
Characters: Pippin, Gandalf
Pairings: n/a
Summary: What could happen to one possessed by the Ring?



Lingering Too Long

“But, if Gollum began as a Hobbit, how could he have carried the Ring for five centuries? We Hobbits don’t live so long!”

Gandalf sought to explain. “Such is the nature of the great Rings. They cause their bearers, if mortal, to live longer than is natural. Those who wore the Rings wrought for Dwarves gave them to their heirs when they wearied, and thus were able to die near their proper times. But the One Ring doesn’t release Its bearers as did the Dwarven ones. I doubt Gollum will be able to die until It is destroyed.”

Pippin shuddered.

Comments

[elwenlj.livejournal.com]

That ring was awful. And the sad thing about the extended life is that is a period of years only . . . not life itself.

Lovely piece of writing. It tells Pip so much in few words.

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

I so agree. Living longer doesn't necessarily mean enjoying that life, after all. Thanks so, Elwen!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

And Pippin was right to shudder... never was truer word spoken.

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

Indeed, CW. Thanks!

[kayleelupin.livejournal.com]

*shudders* Poor Smeagol, to be so caught in that thing's snare. I imagine he must have been much like Lotho - spoiled and self-assured, probably, even to begin with, altogether unlike the usual run of Hobbits - but that doesn't make him any less pitiable knowing that this is what came of it.

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

Oh, I so agree, Kaylee. His intelligence was twisted early, and his grandmother's love he used rather than throve under. But the Ring stole even more from him than It did from Frodo!

[periantari.livejournal.com]

That is a chilling observation that Gandalf shares to Pippin.. how insightful.

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

Indeed so, Periantari.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Life that is no life is very scary.

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

I suspect that by that time Gollum was very weary of life as well as hungry to hold the ring once more.

[nialoke]

It is chilling to think that in essence, all the ring did was lengthen his bearer's suffering...

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

So very true! Thanks.