An Uneasy Consensus

[periantari.livejournal.com]

B2MeM Challenge: Mar 23 prompt: What is the greatest sacrifice you can be asked to make? Think or write briefly about this. Write a story, poem or create an artwork where the characters make their greatest sacrifice.
Format: Tribble (Triple drabble)
Genre: G
Rating: G
Warnings: n/a
Characters: Frodo and Gollum
Pairings:
Summary: Sacrifice is in the eyes of the beholder. Is forced sacrifice still sacrifice?
Author's note: Thanks to grey_wonderer for bouncing title ideas off me!! :)

It wasn’t that Frodo did not hear Gollum’s tormented back and forth voices with himself. It spooked Frodo out that he did not sleep for several nights forward.

He knew of Sam’s glances at him and he knew that Sam did not approve of the plan to use Gollum’s shortcut.

But over the course of the Quest, Frodo had learned more about Gollum.

“You were not always called Gollum.”

“Why does Master care, we do not care that you care, do we preciousss,” Gollum replied looking away.

“You were one of us, in the past. Gandalf told me your sad story,” continued Frodo looking at him with pity.

“Go away, you do not know what we wants and why we wants it.”

“You were called Smeagol at one time… the Ring brought you to how you are now, didn’t it?”

Gollum jerked at Frodo calling It so obviously, leaned forward. “You gots it don’t you?”

Frodo recoiled at his reaction but kept his calm. “Why don’t we both resolve to keep it away from Him and you help me do that? That will be your ultimate sacrifice. This isn’t something for us to have, Smeagol. You’ve done your share of harm. Why don’t you help and turn it into a good action, instead?”

Gollum started weeping, “But we wants the precioussss, we needs it.”

“You don’t need anything and do not have to be controlled by anything,” Frodo replied sternly. “Promise me by the Ring that you won’t succumb to It and will do as I say. Sacrifice yourself.”

Frodo’s voice thundered and he seemed to have grown in height and power.

Smeagol shrunk and withdrew to what he was already, a former shell of his own self and he could do nothing but oblige.

“We will turn into dussst…”

Comments

[kayleelupin.livejournal.com]

Wow! I'm speechless!!

[periantari.livejournal.com]

Wow thank you so much! :)

[elwenlj.livejournal.com]

Lovely last line. :-)

[periantari.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! :)

[engarian.livejournal.com]

You've done a lovely job capturing Gollum in this. Just the right balance of sanity/insanity and his overwhelming desire for the Ring.

- Erulisse (one L)

[periantari.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I am glad i got Gollum right. He is an interesting character to write. :)

[shirebound]

*sniff* You make it easy for us to feel the same pity for Sméagol that Frodo felt.

[periantari.livejournal.com]

yes, indeed Gollum is not an entirely black or white character and "i do pity him once i've seen him". ;)

[lbilover.livejournal.com]

Very powerful and tragic story, Peri. Poor Gollum.

[periantari.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! yes, poor Gollum indeed!

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

I wanted to get here to read last night but work held me up. The good thing is I get to enjoy reading this again today. I love this conversation and you know how much I like dialogue. This is perfectly worded. I love how you can tell Gollum's is not exactly getting what he wants and is agreeing partly because it's his only option. I also like that Frodo sees their kinship due to the Ring and deals honestly with Gollum. This makes Frodo look way more take-charge than he did in the films and I like that too. I loved the films, but I think Frodo was a stronger character than Peter Jackson allowed him to be on film. As always, I loved every word and I enjoyed our discussion about titles via text. It's always fun to get a peek at your creative process. : )

[periantari.livejournal.com]

Thank you thank you! I always appreciate your thoughts and i appreciate you letting me on here too. Frodo sees thinks that are always more perceptive on his end. I like take-charge Frodo as well and the strong! Frodo is what i always will prefer.
I'm glad you're there for the creative process! I am so glad for first thoughts and also title ideas which i am so bad at !
:hugs: thanks dear TooK! Happy birthday too (again ;)

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

So, Frodo is able to use Its power to cow Gollum here. Poor Gollum. At least he did not die into the dust, but instead ashes and less than ashes.

Excellent angst!

[periantari.livejournal.com]

I think this really could've possibly happen as a preface to the last scene in Mt. Doom. Thank you for liking and commenting!

[antane.livejournal.com]

Sounds like Frodo was taken over by the Ring at the end there, love the rest though, and how he tried to reach Smeagol and save him. Alas for them both that the Ring was so strong. I find their relationship fascinating. Happy Day!

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)