Frodo Baggins (theseabell) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-04-10 09:30:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, frodo baggins, gandalf, isabela, marian hawke, merrill, obi-wan kenobi, roland deschain, smeagol, varric tethras |
Merrill's Rescue Part 2
Who: Smeagol, Frodo, Merrill, Gandalf, Varric, Roland, Hawke, Isabela, Obi-Wan
Where: Caves, Undisclosed Location
What: Merrill's Rescue Log -- Frodo tries to trade the Ring for Merrill
When: A Month Ago
Warnings/Rating: PG-13; Warnings for violence, magical violence, character endangerment, character death
Status: Complete; Part 2 of 2
"Bagginnnnns..." Gollum's raspy, sing-song voice echoed along the large chamber of the cave, making it hard to pinpoint the origin of the sound. "Where is it?"
Yes, history was repeating itself before Frodo’s eyes. This was Shelobs’s lair all over again, this was the trap Gollum had laid, only this time Merrill was the bait. “Where’s my wife? I want to see her now!” He clung to the wall to guide him forward.
Gollum knew he couldn't let them get to Merrill before he got the ring. She was all of his leverage. Without her, he would never get what he wanted. Gollum snuck closer, moving toward the elf so that he could pounce before they did. "You can't have her!" he hissed. "Not till we have our precious. Our precious for yours."
Frodo was in the way of Varric's shot, it was frustrating, but he couldn't risk any obvious movements, to try to shoot an arrow into...whatever it was's head.
This wouldn't end well, Gandalf knew. There were too many people here quick on the trigger and they really couldn't let Gollum have that ring.
But they had no idea if Merril was being held in a trap. Gollum wouldn't come out if he didn't have some guarantee in mind. They'd come with more than enough force to overpower him.
They needed someone capable of a great deal of silence.
His eyes moved to Isabela, then moved in the direction that Gollum had come from. His lips didn't move, but his voice was quite clear in her mind. Can you slip past him?
Most would have panicked at that, but Isabela was used to Atton by now. She simply nodded, setting off without another word. She still hadn’t had every dream that she needed, she knew that - she hadn’t dreamed of Merrill, for fuck’s sake - but she knew enough to melt away.
Isabela kept to the shadows as she edged ahead, walking as noiselessly as she knew how. She still took it slow - no need to give more ground than necessary - but she was doing her best to take everything in. Sound, smell, sight - it was the last that gave her what she needed.
She was at the top of a short drop, keeping low to the ground once she saw that it overlooked a large cavern. The stream turned into a small waterfall, flowing from their tunnel into the larger body of water. She couldn’t see the creature, but she did see Merrill - sitting on the ground, on an island of sorts, with no noticeable trap but a very clear chain. That’d likely be Hawke’s department.
She motioned with one arm, letting them see where she’d stopped, hoping they’d all have the sense to keep low.
Hawke had already melded back into the shadows, dousing her flame but looking for a glint of the creature’s eyes. She looked over to Frodo and Gandalf, knowing they didn’t wish for quarter to be given. Still, if she could get Merrill free...
With precision that honestly surprised her, Hawke shot a missile of arcane energy right at the chain, breaking it in two.
Frodo moved carefully down the path into the cavern, alongside the waterfall. His clothing was soaked by the time he reached the ground. Gollum’s breathing filled his ears, but his form was still invisible. Frodo could, however, make out a figure in the center of the lake. Merrill! He gasped. “I have what you want, Gollum, but I’m not giving it to you until I have my wife.”
Obi-Wan disengaged his lightsaber and followed behind Frodo. The water from the falls drenched him, but his eyes immediately found Merrill on the little island. He began to balance his options, wondering if Gollum was simple minded enough to lose focus on his bait while the Ring was discussed. Swimming to the island would be easy...
Merrill pulled her arm free as the now-broken chain fell into the water. That was Hawke. She couldn't tell exactly where her friends were, but they were getting closer.
Gollum's raspy voice dropped into a guttural, low sound. "Show it to us," he called. "Show us you even has it." Gollum wasn't the only one here who could be tricksy.
Varric slipped behind a rock, balancing Bianca as his finger stroked the trigger. He waited for a signal, some proof that Daisy would be okay before he fired. Bianca would strike true, he just didn’t want to risk Merrill in the process.
Gandalf tugged on his beard. “It’s all right, Frodo. Show him the ring.”
For almost a full minute, Frodo was still. Except for his hand, which continued to turn the gold band over and over in his pocket. A fresh sweat broke on his forehead. He turned and looked at Merrill, her form faint in the dim light, and gulped. Slowly, he pulled out his hand and opened it, exposing the Ring to Gollum, wherever he was perched.
Silently, Obi-Wan lowered himself into the water.
Hawke was moving towards Merrill, ignoring the creature, ignoring Frodo, focusing entirely on Merrill’s safety. If the creature made a move for her, there was no question that Hawke would attack instantly, sure. Offence was the best defence, after all, but all Hawke cared about was her friend.
Isabela followed behind the Jedi, just waiting for the opportunity to strike. She didn’t want to jump the gun and cause any kind of mistake. As soon as it was safe, she would be on the creature. Nothing was allowed to do this to Merrill. Period.
While he wasn't the most eloquent creature, Gollum wasn't stupid. He knew that he couldn't just go rushing in with so many enemies. With so many sharp eyes looking for him, stealth was his best weapon.
Still, the ring was hypnotizing. Once the golden ring glinted in the light, Gollum was transfixed. With a screech, he pounced at Frodo.
Frodo felt the creature’s claws just before he saw him. Suddenly, he was on the ground, wrestling in the dark. The familiar smell of filth and fish filled his nostrils. The familiar sense of terror filled his heart. He clutched the Ring tight, lest it fly away and this all be for naught.
On the Island, Obi-Wan surfaced, soaked through. It was a good thing his lightsaber was waterproof. He looked behind him to see Isabela, whom he’d sensed in the water alongside him, and Hawke, whom he could see against wall. But Smeagol was officially no longer Obi-Wan's concern. Merrill had to be taken out of the caves. Frodo would follow when could, but even that had goal become secondary. It was a horrible choice to have to make, but it was a Jedi's calling to make difficult choices.
He reached for Merrill's hand. "Can you walk?" Better yet, could she swim?
Everything seemed to be happening so fast. Merrill reached up to take Obi's hand with both of hers. She struggled to stand up on a good day, let alone now, after she'd been off her feet for days and lost a fair amount of blood.
"I don't know.” Her breath was shallow and her grip was tight on Obi's arm. She was terrified.
Obi-Wan looked over his shoulder to Bela. They had to get Merrill back across the water. Somehow. His gaze turn to Hawke next. Maybe she had some more magic up her sleeve.
Merrill felt her head swim. She knew she could walk; her legs hadn't been injured. "Obi-Wan.." Tears started to run down her cheeks, and Merrill couldn't tell if they were from relief or panic.
She grasped her stomach then, crying out. "No, no, no, no.." This couldn't be happening.
A cold shock like lightning ran through him, as he felt her panic spike alongside his own. His free hand moved immediately to her stomach, too. She was close to her due date. Close enough that an early labor brought on by stress wasn't impossible.
"Merrill... Merrill..." He tried to keep her with him and looked over his shoulder to try to find Frodo.
"No, no, it's too early," she said. "I can't. We're in a cave, and it's too early, and where's Frodo?" Tears poured over her cheeks and she fought to catch her breath. She felt like she was having a complete breakdown, and she needed to get out of here.
Hawke heard ‘too early’ and knew she likely went white as a sheet. That could only mean one thing in Merrill’s particular condition, and that was nothing good.
They should have brought Bethy. At least then someone would be a healing mage.
“We’re getting out of here, stay strong, Merrill. It’ll be all right,” Hawke tried to soothe, as much for herself as for her friend.
Isabela heard the exchange between Hawke and Merrill and felt her own eyes go wide; this wasn’t exactly the place for anyone to have a sodding baby. As quickly as she could, she made her way through the pool toward her friends. “Come on, Hawke, let’s see if we can get her out between the two of us.” She didn’t waste time asking Merrill if she could walk; she just had Merrill lean on her. “You have to come with us, Kitten. For the baby’s sake.”
Merrill shifted to lean on Isabela, her breath still shallow. She couldn't see Frodo, wasn't sure what was happening. "Wait.. Please, Hawke." She turned to face her friend. "You have to stop Smeagol. It has to be you, Frodo can't--" She yelped again, doubling over in pain. "Please." Merrill didn't know everything about Frodo's dreamworld, but she didn't think her husband was capable of killing, even in self-defense. Even if he could, she didn't want him to have to reconcile that. She knew Hawke and her companions could handle what needed to be done.
Frodo held the Ring so tightly that it seemed to catch fire in his palm. Perhaps it truly did. “Smeagol, stop! Stop! Listen to me!” he tried cry above the clamor of their battle in the dark.
Gollum's eyes glinted in the dim light as his clammy fingers dug into Frodo's fist, trying to pry his hand open. "Give it to us!" he shrieked. "The Ring for the girl, give it to us or we'll eat her!" He'd already gotten a head start on the elf's shoulder, but they weren't close enough to see that.
Gollum’s head popped up when he heard Merrill's scream of pain, though. He looked down at Frodo, anxiously hoping the man would let go of the Ring at the sound. "We'll do it!" he said, hoping to convince Frodo he'd had something to do with the scream.
Frodo’s hand did at last open, like a oystershell pried apart. The Ring was the pearl inside. He gasped for breath as his muscles tingled and lightning bolts sparked in his field of vision. Merrill’s scream sounded so close, like she was beside him. He sat up with a jolt and scrambled to his feet. Suddenly, he wanted to be as far from the Ring as possible. “You have what you wanted. Now, I will take my wife out of here.”
Varric had heard enough, and had to trust Hawke and the Jedi had gotten to Daisy. A creature like this shouldn't have magical jewelry. It was bad enough that lyrium idol was out there somewhere.
Bianca's strings sang as Varric's finger caressed the trigger, a bolt sliding into place to replace the one that had just fired in a single second.
Gollum's eyes were wide as the Ring finally came within his grasp. His glee was palpable, and he shrieked in delight. Just as his fingers closed around the ring, he felt the sharp pain of Varric's arrow in his shoulder. He howled, but even through the attack he was grinning. "My precious! It's back, back!" It had been so long.
Gollum fell back, off of Frodo now. His fingers ran over the surface of the Ring, slipping it on.
Frodo watched in horror as Gollum completely vanished from sight, into the darkness, taking the Ring with him. And Varric’s arrow.
On the Island, Obi-Wan, Hawke and Isabela struggled to get Merrill through the water and came up on the other side. The snap of Varric’s bow sounded like a chord in his ears, and he debated with himself where he was more needed. And where had Smeagol gone?
Hawke let a fireball go just where the creature had vanished, playing the odds. At the very least he’d let out a scream, and let’s face it, his voice was more than a little distinctive. Hawke was hoping that if she could hear him, she could kill him.
The morality of killing Gollum simply didn’t enter into her mind at this time. “It’s all right, Merrill. I’ll get him.”
Isabela couldn’t have given less of a damn. She’d worry about Merrill for now; she just wanted the threat removed. Both of them - early labour in a place like this could be damned dangerous. “Come on, kitten. We’re going to get you out of here.” Surely someone had a phone. When they got outside they ought to be able to call and get her to hospital.
Obi-Wan nodded at Hawke as she made the choice to stay, then he turned his attention his Isabela. This time his nod said, Let’s get her out of here. Now. With urgency.
Gollum cried out in the darkness, the fire searing into his flesh. He was still invisible, but he was much less stealthy now that he was fighting two injuries. He splashed through the water--normally a familiar terrain he could move silently through--artlessly, sending noise and ripples as he tried to move away from Frodo.
Merrill's mind was still in a near panic. She was trying not to think about Smeagol and Frodo, and how the fight was going. Isabela was right, they needed to focus on getting out. She moved forward as best she could, leaning on her friends and counting on them to lead her out.
There were options. The creature didn’t have to die like this, but it wasn’t worth the risk of him getting away to attack Frodo and Merrill again.
Sometimes, being the champion only meant doing what must be done.
The second fireball was charged, if anything stronger from the first. The ripples made it so easy to locate him, and Hawke sent it whirling towards the nexus of the disturbance in the water, hoping it would be enough to end the miserable creature’s life.
Varric used the light of Hawke's fireball to aim, and Bianca sang again, a volley of arrows soaring through the air. A rapid series of Ker-chanks! ringing through the cavern.
Isabela could tell Merrill was getting more and more panicked, as opposed to less, so she kept up the chatter, if only to give the girl something to focus on. “There’s a big step up here, Merrill. It’s not too far out of here, kitten. The way should be clear.” Unless Varric missed something. Though she doubted Varric would have missed anything.
Hawke's aim was true, and flames appeared, outlining Gollum's invisible body. The creature howled as he burned and at least a dozen arrows hit him in the center of the chest. When his body hit the water, the flames extinguished, but nothing could be done for the arrows. There was some splashing as he twitched, then the water was still.
Frodo stared into the murky pool, eyes wide, gasping for breath. The fire had faded and the cave was dark once more. At the lip of the rock, the Ring rested, as though it had lept out of Gollum’s hands at the last possible moment. He stared at it like he was beholding something grotesque, like a severed arm or a dead bird full of maggots.
He did not want it anymore.
And yet, he was the Ringbearer.
Meanwhile, Obi-Wan and Isabela were guiding Merrill to fresher and fresher air. The blood from Merrill’s shoulder wound flowed fresh with each movement, soaking through Obi-Wan’s clothing. She trembled beneath his arm, pale and weak, unable to breathe fast enough to keep up with her rapid heart. Ghosts of Padme’s memory played tricks on the Jedi’s mind. He closed his eyes and relied on the Force to guide his feet. He focused on Merrill’s baby, focused on sending calming thoughts. We’re going to get you both out of here. He could not deny his own fear and doubt, but he had to stay abreast of it.
Merrill's panic was starting to subside as they neared the cave opening. She felt lightheaded and barely able to stay upright, but there was a calm about it, somehow. "Isabela?" It was almost like she only just realized the other woman was there. Like a light had been turned on, but there was still some fog there in her head. "I like your boots." Isabela was so pretty.
“I like them too.” Isabela smiled, but Merrill definitely sounded strange. “We’re almost out of here now, sweetling.” She looked over at the Jedi. “Tell me you have a phone or a car.” If Merrill’s water had broken, they didn’t have long at all. The shoulder looked bad, but not life-threatening for now. Hopefully.
Obi-Wan squinted into the sun. His truck wasn’t visible from here, but he could run and drive it back in ten minutes. Maybe less.
Because Merrill was still soaking wet from the underground lake, it was impossible to tell if her water had in fact broken. Obi-Wan carefully helped her sit down and looked up as Isabela, thinking that being a woman meant she might have more insight as to what to do now. He’d helped deliver a baby in another world, but not this one.
He placed his hand on Merrill’s belly and did a quick check on the baby, who seemed to be calming down thankfully, as if he knew they were out of the caves. “I’m going to run for my car. I can get her to a hospital faster than any ambulance. And I make sure we don’t get pulled over.” Jedi Mind Tricks were good for that, though Obi-Wan wasn’t sure how much Atton’s girlfriend knew about him.
Enough. Isabela nodded. “Go. I’ll stay here with her. But please bloody hurry.” She reached down and tore off the bottom of her shirt, exposing a little midriff, but small price to pay for something to press to Merrill’s wound.
Obi-Wan lingered for a second longer than he probably should have. Merrill’s pale face filled his field of vision. He leaned in, pressed his lips to her forehead, and dashed away. He was out of sight in a matter of seconds.
Merrill looked up at Obi, giving him a small smile before turning back to Isabela. "I want a shower," she told her friend. "Can we stop for a shower before we go to the hospital?" She didn't want to see her doctor like this. And she was sure a warm shower would help considerably.
“I don’t know if there’s time, kitten.” Isabela smiled, or tried. “Can we maybe see if you can lean against the rock here? I don’t want you to sit down, but I need to try and stop your shoulder bleeding.” She applied as much pressure as she could even while Merrill was still standing. “He’ll be back fast as he can, and then we’ll see if there’s time.” She doubted it, but no point in ruling it out.
Merrill leaned as she was instructed, wincing a little as Isabela pressed on the wound. "I hope so. I'm gross," she lamented, looking down at wet, grimy clothes and skin.
Still deep in the caves, Frodo stumbled backward and found Gandalf behind him. He turned quickly and looked up into the wizard’s eyes, trusting that he would know what to do with the Ring. Even if he didn’t, Frodo trusted that he would make a decision. He didn’t want to make one himself.
Gandalf rested his hands on Frodo’s shoulders. They couldn’t destroy the ring, at least not here, and there were few people with the ability to hold onto it without corruption. “You already know what you must do, Frodo. It is too dangerous for anyone else to wield.” He could only imagine the kind of damage the Ring could do, in the hands of Hawke or Varric.
“Please... No...” Frodo murmured. He sounded weak and tired, he sounded ancient.
"The ring is dangerous, and there are none here who could resist the temptation it brings, to wield its power. And using that power is what corrupts so absolutely," Gandalf said, sadness in his voice, and grief in his eyes. "None save you."
Frodo gave into his quivering knees and fell to them, a sigh pouring out of him like spilled blood. The gold glint of the Ring was no less bright in the caves than in the sun. He could see every grain of its perfect form. Frodo closed his eyes and listen to his heart beat between his ears. He must have moved, too, for when he opened his eyes again, the Ring was in the center of his palm.
He pushed it into his pocket and stood. “Let’s go... Let’s go to Merrill.”
Had this been a victory or a defeat?