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Wight
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<img src="http://www.barrowdowns.com/images/posticons/onering.jpg" align=absmiddle> Re: Alternate Endings
<blockquote>
Quote:<hr> He speculates that if things had gone differently, Gollum might still have seized the Ring by force at the last, but then, perceiving Sauron's great evil and his own inability to keep the Ring from its Dark Lord, he would have cast himself willingly into the Fire for the sake of Frodo and the regenerative love that Frodo had shown him, thereby sacrificing himself and destroying the Ring. He also speculates a similar twist in which Frodo "succeeds" in his quest when, after having claimed the Ring, he throws himself into the Fire to destroy it. <hr></blockquote>
I was thinking about this while washing dishes, and I just don't quite see it. Even if they wanted to, wouldn't they be too much in the thrall of the ring? IMO, an alternative ending would be something more like this:
As soon as he put on the ring, he could feel Sauron's awareness of him and where he was, his fear and his hate. And though the Ring was telling him Yes, he was strong enough to take even Sauron, Frodo knew deep down that it was false, that all he and the others had worked for was in vain because of his weakness. At that moment every part of his being wanted to rip off the Ring and fling it to the deepest reaches of the Cracks. But he couldn't. He was frozen to that spot. As much as he loathed it, the Ring would not allow him to do more than clench his fists until the nails cut through the skin. He forced himself in another direction, and finally managed to call out.
"Sam."
"Master?" Sam cried in fearful hope.
"Push...me over."
"What?" Sam gasped. "No! I-I couldn't!"
"You must!"
Tears streamed down his face as he understood what his master was going through. He looked in the direction of his voice and saw a few drops of blood betraying where he stood. Still he hesitated.
"Do it!" Frodo shouted. All of his will was focused now on not
moving, as the Ring perceived his new intent. He still could not step over the edge, but neither would he step away. He looked away from Sam and into the Crack.
Sam understood Frodo's mind completely. He knew that the Quest had to succeed, and that there was too little time left. There was no other way. He closed his eyes and ran straight in the direction of the last Ring-Bearer.
Dang. How's that for heart-wrenching?
They cannot conquer forever!</p>