Who: Merrill, Gollum (and Smeagol) What: Captivity When: Tuesday night, after this Rating PG-13, Trigger warnings for kidnapping, creepiness and physical violence
When Merrill woke up, it was dark and damp. The back of her neck was warm and sticky. She sat up slowly, wincing at the pain in her head. Where was she? How had she gotten there? The last thing she remembered was being at school. “Hello?” she called.
Gollum felt conflicted. Part of him had liked this woman. The Smeagol part. Merrill had been nice to him, when others were cruel. She’d acknowledged him, talked to him, smiled at him.. Why did Baggins get all the nice things?! Seeing her laying there was somewhat upsetting, so he’d found some of his old clothes to make a pillow for her. He’d also found a few cushions in the van that might make her more comfortable.
Merrill frowned a little when she heard strange gurgling and breathing noises as her attacker approached. Perhaps calling out wasn’t the best idea after all. She gasped when he came into sight. What sort of creature was this? Darkspawn? Was the Blight here?
Gollum slumped forward, making himself look small, non-threatening, as he looked up at Merrill with wide eyes. “We brings pillows,” he said brightly, holding out the pile of assorted pieces of dirty cloth.
It was a kind, if oddly-placed, offering. She tilted her head to the side, looking at the creature. There was something about the way he spoke. “Smeagol?” she asked, feeling fear well up in her. How could this have happened to him? She’d seen that his mental health seemed to be failing the last time he’d visited the house, but this... This was dreadful. He didn’t even look human.
“You remembers!” Smeagol looked pleased as he spread out the 'pillows' on the rock beside her.
Merrill forced a smile, hoping to put him at ease.”Thank you,” she said slowly, as if she were talking to a student. Despite Smeagol’s placating demeanor, she was here against her will, and it wasn’t likely she was free to leave. “Smeagol, I need you to let me go home,” she said calmly, still trying to sound friendly.
Smeagol tilted his head and spread his arms. “We can’ts,” he said, giving her a strained, toothy smile, his eyes still friendly. “Not till we has our present back.” His voice dropped into a low, dangerous whisper.
“Your present,” Merrill repeated, remembering him talking about that before, when he’d visited their house. “The ring, yes?”
Gollum lunged forward, excitement in his face. “Yes, yes! Ring! Give it to us!”
His hands were cold and clammy as he touched her arm, and Merrill instinctively pulled away. She was trying not to panic. This man--this creature--had no intention of letting her go. She remembered the news story now. He’d killed Frodo’s secretary. Her hands fumbled as she reached for her wedding ring which was on a chain around her neck. Her heart sank as she pulled it off, already missing the symbol of her love. “Here, please.. Take this and let me go.” Surely that was worth any ransom he could set.
Gollum took the ring, turning it over and looking at it in the light. He scowled. “No, not this!” he cried, his tone distraught. “Filthy trash!” He threw it into the deep part of the cave’s lake.
Merrill gasped, leaning forward, but she knew she couldn’t go after it. She could hardly see back here, and she could barely swim on a good day. If only she could use magic! She’d always been told that she would regret making that deal with the demon for blood magic, but she didn’t think it would be like this. She was afraid to use any magic now, for fear that it might use her life essence and the baby’s. Imagining her prized wedding ring sinking to the bottom of a deep lake, Merrill began to cry.
Gollum frowned deeply at the noise. “Stop its. Stop!” But the woman kept crying.
“Maybe we should lets her go,” Smeagol suggested, looking hopeful. “She doesn’t have our Precious.” And she was scared. Smeagol didn’t like it when she was scared.
“No!” Gollum hissed back. “Baggins wants her back. He’ll bring it to us. Trades Precious for her.”
“He’ll be angry,” Smeagol warned. “And he might have swords.”
“Then we eats her now,” Gollum said, turning slowly toward the woman. “And we finds out what baby Bagginses tastes like.”
The creature leapt forward before Merrill could react, landing on her and knocking her back. He took a fierce bite out of her shoulder, ripping the flesh away. Merrill screamed, trying to push him back.
Gollum hissed, backing away and spitting out blood and flesh. “Awful, nasty elf!” he howled, trying to rub off his tongue. “Rotting poison from the inside!” he complained, quite angry that he couldn’t eat her. He grumbled, walking away from his prisoner, going to get water to rinse his mouth.
At least she was somewhat safe, for the time being.