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Sam was waiting for the class today to start just as every other day. They were boring sometimes, and today they were. Professor Treebeard was teaching them about ent reproduction. And listening to professor Treebeard was very boring.
Mr Frodo must be teaching Sindarin at this time. He wished he could go and learn from him.
Instead he had to sit here and learn about Ents.Merry and Pippin seemed weirdly fascinated by said lecture, but he would rather learn new languages.
Sam was twenty one, a bit old to be in this class but he hadn't been able to go to university at the right time, as he had had to take care of his Gaffer, and had to work many jobs.Now his Gaffer was better, and "worked" as a gardener at the Bagginses. Bilbo had also offered to sponsor Sam's education, as he seemed to have endless heaps of money.Of course, Sam was going to pay him back when he got enough money, however much he refused.Bilbo also had a young nephew. Frodo Baggins.
This man was a weird sort, just like his uncle.Frodo didn't have any social media, and the only people he interacted with were the Head of the uni, Gandalf White, his old uncle, Gaffer, his two young cousins, and Sam.He taught, twice every week. But he never talked more than necessary, and mostly wrote or showed even in his lectures.So people thought his lectures were boring and not very helpful.
But Sam wanted to attend them. He couldn't do that right now, as Mr Frodo didn't teach first years, but next year, he would take the extra subject.People also thought that he was a bit too young to teach, as he was twenty eight, and almost all the other teachers had grey hair.
Classes were over, It was time to go home. Gaffer and Sam lived in a small 2 bedroom house next to the Bagginses' large, but still only one story house.
Frodo and Bilbo live there all alone Sam didn't like the thought of that.He thought it makes Mr Frodo more detached than he already is. Sam didn't understand why he's like that. He seems so far away, different from everyone, just like his uncle.
They both just seem less emotional, less present than everyone else.
(No mentions of ring, but ring trauma is there, less intense than in the original, but still there)
Sam goes to the washroom to have a quick leak before the journey home. As he finishes and gets out, his sharp ears register a faint sound of conversation. It sounds as if someone is having an argument.He always had better hearing than most, so being the curious lad he was, he quickly tracked down where that voices were coming from.
As he gets closer, he can hear clearer too.
"Yeah, Shagrat I'm having the watch, you can have the other things for all I care!"
"Gorbag you shitface! I'm taking that!"That was Shagrat and Gorbag, and they didn't seem to be doing anything good."Silence!" That sounded like Professor Shelob, the chemistry teacher "No one will touch it before I'm done with it."Normally, he would have let them do their thing and tried to get out of their way as soon as possible, as Shagrat and Gorbag weren't people he wanted to cross.But today he had an uneasy feeling, and he just had to see what they're doing. So he quickly hid round the corner and tried to watch without being seen.He slowly stuck his head out from his hiding place.
Gorbag and Shagrat were standing a few feet away from a woman who is crouching over something, she must have been professor Shelob.He stuck his head a little further out to try and see what it is.Shelob shifts a little, and Sam catches sight of dark curls peeking out from behind Shelob.That looked familiar- Mr Frodo! what was he to do? How would he save Mr Frodo?
He was sure Shelob had very bad intentions towards his Mr Frodo."I have need of some things" Shelob said to her two lackeys "I'll be back in a few minutes. Hide it well. Take everything you want. I want the skin unmaimed and untouched! The body is mine and you will not touch it!" Saying this, Shelob started coming down the corridor.Sam quickly ran away and hid behind a door a few meters away. He saw as Shelob came nearer. On her face, he saw a monstrous lust of hunger.
If he left Mr Frodo there, he dare not think what would happen to him.
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As he saw Frodo laying there, unmoving, his clothes ragged as they had been torn to find hidden riches by the two, he felt rage so intense as he ever would.He first hit Shagrat hard on the head. And then Gorbag. Gorbag was out cold, and he chased Shagrat away by giving a few more whacks, who was scared by the "ghost" who was after them.Sam ran back to Frodo and called out to him, but got no answer. Still not wanting to wake Gorbag he didn't turn on any lights.Sam kneeled beside Frodo and softly called his name in his ears. But still he lay, as still as ever. Sam placed a hand on the pale forehead and took temperature.He gasped, shaken, for the forehead of Frodo was cold as steel."Mr Frodo! What did they do to you?" He wailed, shaking the unresponsive body.Sam slipped his hand under Frodo's neck and knees and lifted him up, shuddering as his arm touched the cold skin.Even his chest was not rising and falling! What did they do?He quickly got out of the empty campus, and laid Frodo down on the back seat of his car. "Hold on Mr Frodo... I'll find a way to bring you back, don't you go where I can't follow!"Sam's vision blurred and a tear dropped on Frodo's cheek.Sam quickly turned around and got into the drivers seat. What he didn't see was that Frodo's finger was twitching and his pupils were moving as if he were dreaming.Sam was going fast. He had to get to the hospital. Quick. What did Shelob do? He would kill her! As soon as Mr Frodo woke up, He would kill her, even if it landed him in jail! But would he ever wake up?He had to! Bilbo needed him, Sam needed him!"Focus, Samwise Gamgee" He scolded himself, as he blinked away his tears "You won't be any help if you crash the car!""Then go a bit slower, Sam, this speed makes me dizzy"Wait what? "Mr Frodo!" Sam cried, abruptly stopping the car, as cars piled up behind them and the air was filled with the sound of honking cars.Sam turned around, and sure enough, there was Frodo sitting up in the back seat. Sam clambered right through the car into the backseat, which wasn't too difficult, as short as he was.He plopped down next to Frodo and checked his forehead. This time, it was burning up, and his face and back were drenched in a cold sweat."We still need to go to the hospital." Sam decided, and got into the driver's seat. The right way out and back in this time, and they drove off, slower and more carefully than last time.The doctor had checked Frodo, and decided that he needed to be under supervision, but wouldn't die. They still weren't sure about what effects the poison would have in long term, though.Frodo was sleeping, and Sam was sitting on the floor, with his head laid on the bed. Anyone might have been mistaken him for being asleep. Except that his eyes were open.He looked at Frodo beseechingly silently begging him to stay safe and sound."He looks weary, weary and older than he is," He thought to himself "But he's beautiful and I love him wether or no" And he too drifted off into his peaceful dreamlands."Mr Gamgee" He heard someone call him. He opened his eyes blearily and looked down at the hand gripping his. It was warm "Good" He thought, he's recovering.He got up to see Dr. Elrond standing nearby, his face grim."What is it, Doctor?""He has been poisoned, Mr Gamgee, and I'm afraid this will be a police case.""I guessed as much" Sam replied "I will tell them what happened. I was there. For the rest of it they'll have to wait till Mr Frodo recovers""No, Sam, they have to know as early as possible for me to get closure to the case"When had he woken up again? "Alright, whatever you say, Mr Frodo, whatever you say."
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Frodo was done giving his lecture, and was just packing up and leaving. He had a mild headache, which had been recurring ever since that day. Feeling a bit faint, he swayed and sat back down on his chair, massaging his temples."Would you like some water, Professor?" someone asked. He looked up to recognize a student of his. Of the name Smeagol, he recalled."Thank you" He said, even as he took the water and slowly sipped it.The water didn't help with his fainting fit, but he felt strangely lightheaded.He heard Smeagol say something, but couldn't make it out.Smeagol pulled at his shoulders as if to tell him to stand, so he stood, and walked as the student ushered him, not quite hearing what was said.He was walking for a long time (or was it a few seconds?) before he stopped.He vaguely felt a sharp, but at the same time dull and hazy pain at the back of his neck.His vision grew hazy, and then darkened.Frodo crashed onto the ground. Behind him, in the dark, one could see several orbs glowing a pale yellow.Abruptly they went out, and a woman stepped out from the darkness. "Gorbag, Shagrat" she called. Two large uni students stepped out, with weirdly greyish complexions and features that looked in a way slightly animalistic, such as was hard to describe."You will stop keeping watch now. you will hide it, and you can also keep any trinkets you can find."Shagrat and Gorbag were greatly excited at the thought of the loot they could get, and they started quarelling. That might attract unwanted attention, Shelob thought, frowning from annoyance.She managed to shut them up. "Finally" she thought, turning to her prey.It was so small, so helpless, so delicious. She was going to crush its dreams and hopes, ending the life it wished to have.She crouched down and felt it's chin and held it. So dainty, so fragile and breakable, all for her to have.All hers! Nobody else would get to have it!As she was thinking thus, she felt a sudden pang in her stomach. She had underestimated her hunger."I have need of some things" She said, not wanting to eat her helpers in a bout of hunger, she needed to get away to someplace where she could peacefully feed."I'll be back in a few minutes. Hide it well. Take everything you want. I want the skin unmaimed and untouched! The body is mine and you will not touch it!"She then hurried away to satiate her ever growing appetite.
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Frodo had filed his case, and he and Sam had laid bare all that they knew.Against Smeagol, however there was no evidence to hold, as the CCTV footage of that evening had been deleted.Smeagol claimed that he went home late, as he had to do some work and had gone home later.When the footage was checked, he had indeed gone home later, but the footages of everywhere the student claimed to be in meantime were deleted, and even the security guard who should have seen him said that he had accidentally dozed off at the time.Both sides stood by their claims unwavering.Thus they both were now under watch, and prohibited from leaving the country."'Tis unfair!" Sam told Frodo "They're clearly covering him, but it's still us that gets into trouble!""That is expected, Sam.Just because the police exists doesn't mean our lives are easier." Frodo said smiling softly at the younger man(hobbit)"Indeed, they make the days of those dealing with problems even worse by tormenting them with court hearings and interrogations.However it is indeed necessary, and it's no good getting all worked up, eh?""Oh, yes Mr Frodo you're right, just as you always are.What will happen if Shelob or Gorbag or Shagrat get captured though?""It will indeed be to our benefit if Shelob is captured, but ever since that day, she hasn't been seen by anyone."Sam leans into Frodo and pulls him closer and presses their heads to each other. "I won't let her get to you Mr Frodo! I don't know what she has to do with you or wants from you, but I'll always protect you from her. So don't you ever be afraid of her!""I'm not easily frightened, Sam, and don't you go picking fights with people like Shelob. They're very dangerous" Frodo's voice was joking, but his eyes earnestly boring into his were telling Sam that he wasn't joking.Well, neither was Sam."No, Mr Frodo, even if the Lord himself stands before you, I will always shield you!"Sam stared defiantly back at Frodo, and noticed that the distant eyes looked different, as if the shell covering them had broken.A tear slid down Frodo's eye "Oh Sam" he muttered staring at him.Mr Frodo was crying?Were his words that impactful?Sam cast his arms around Frodo and just let him have his cry."Just let it out Mr Frodo, I know you won't be able to tell me, I know it's impossible to explain, so just let it out"----------------------Gorbag and Shagrat were cought, trying to flee the country, and Frodo's possessions were found on them, thus proving them guilty.The interrogator asked Gorbag and Shagrat who Shelob was and what she asked them to do."She offered to us that she would rob a rich teacher from the university, and we just had to keep watch that no one interrupted, and warn her if anyone came.""What were you promised of this deal?""All the spoils we would get, and she wanted to keep the body. We weren't to taint it, or she wouldn't let us have the spoils, she said.""She also asked us to deliver dead animals to her. She knew exactly where they were, and we had to deliver them back to her, by properly hiding the kadavers.""Except that the animals weren't always dead. Once we were supposed to deliver a dead deer to her. It was dead when we collected it, cold and not breathing, but it started struggling in the bag on the way.""We quickly knocked it out and didn't tell her about that.""Most like the teacher""In fact, I think I even saw-"Unable to finish the sentence Shagrat lurched forward clutching at his throat and his head crashed onto the table.Nobody noticed the little black shadow that skuttled out of Shagrat's shirt and out of the room.------------------------"These poisons are extremely peculiar and unheard of, utterly new to all of us" Dr Elrond said to Frodo "The effects are also completely novel to us. I assure you, if the poison itself didn't work such as you woke up after some time, there would have been nothing we could have done to save you"Sam paled, and gripped harder at Friends hand.Frodo squeezed back, as if saying, "don't be scared I'm still here.""How did the poison get into our bodies?" Frodo asked, curious to know."About, that Mr Baggins, we can't be sure.Your shoulder and neck have a patch of slightly differently colored skin, as if a wound has healed. But it is precisely where you remembered you felt pain"Sam looked at Frodo's neck, seeing that there was, indeed, such a patch poking out from under the blouse Frodo was wearing. He felt guilty, guilty about not noticing it earlier."On the interrogated, however, we could see small twin punctures of size that would rival pinpricks""Like a spider bite?""Precisely, Master Gamgee, you are correct."--------------------"This is all too much Mr Frodo, I've had enough of spiders and poisons! I wish they wouldn't come after you! Why us, and no one else?""Well, at least for now we won't be seeing anymore of them, will we?""You neck, Mr Frodo, does it hurt?I'm so sorry for not checking, I'm so sorry I didn't see or notice earlier, I should've asked-""Enough of that Sam!" Frodo said sternly, covering Sam's mouth with a hand. "It doesn't hurt, and I don't want you fussing over it. Can't we just live normally now that it's all over? Why do you have to remind yourself and me about it all the time?" Looking at Sam's innocent wide eyes, his voice softened "Let's try and move on, eh?"So they didn't mention it again.But as the two tried to forget her, Shelob didn't want to forget.She remembered them very well, oh very well indeed!
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After Frodo was saved from her, Shelob, realizing that her comfortable life in human civilization would be ending, fled into the forest.Her assassin had been forced to kill one of her servants, who delivered food for her, and could also be eaten, if other food was scanty.Now she was suspected, she had to hunt and kill for herself, while at the same time not revealing her webs to the humans.But she still had her spider servants.Thus thinking, Shelob summoned a sortie, and ordered them to get her the best thing they saw.Now Shelob had to wait. What would they find?A dog? A few cats? A cow?Or would she get lucky and manage to get some humans?Humans, they were a delicious, delicate meat.Their screams and struggles were the sweetest.A small black spider came scuttling to her, and she lifted it up to her ear.When she heard the message her lips pulled back in a smile.Good. They had cought her her prey.She slowly followed the little spider as it led her nearer to the edges of the woods.A group of campers had thought it a good idea to camp near the edge of the woods. They did not know that it was spiders' forest now."How much time till they wake?" She asked the little spider. The reply was to her liking. Good, she thought, plenty of time to play.If any of the campers had been concious, they would have witnessed as the tall dark haired sallow skinned woman slowly started fading and her body seemed to emit a black mist. The woman completely disappeared, and the black mist formed into a ten foot high spider like monster, with many eyes and legs as thick as a small child's waist and as hard as steel.The monster scooped up all four campers in it's front legs, and went back into the deeps of the forest to enjoy it's meal in peace.Shelob went to the deepest corners of the forest and laid the bodies back down.She would have the smallest one first.She seperated the petite twenty something woman from her companions, and stung with her smaller sting. (Not a spider property, but Shelob is spider-like, not spider, so it's fine)The woman woke up, groggily rubbing at her eyes.As she beheld the sight in front of her, she screamed, for the form of Shelob was a terrible sight. But her company was as good as dead, and no other humans were anywhere in the radius of over ten miles.If Shelob had had a mouth, she would have laughed.So fragile, so scared, so full of adrenaline!But nowhere near as sweet as it would be to see her dear colleague screaming there instead of this woman.He had ruined her nice, comfortable life, and now she would ruin his, and tear apart the one who saved him in front of his eyes.She turned to the wailing woman in front of her."Nuisance!" she thought. Her screams weren't sweet enough. Shelob shot out her webs and wound them around the woman's arm, and placed a leg on her chest, forcing her to the ground.Then she pulled, slowly. The woman's eyes bulged, and then she screamed, screamed so hard that her voice cracked. Her features twisted into a tortured expression, and her breaths were sharp and laboured."Better" Shelob thought, and wrenched the arm out. Blood gushed out of the woman's side, and she had passed out from pain."Weak" Shelob thought as she devoured the arm, whole, bone and all, and moved on to the rest of the woman.She'd had enough of this woman, and looked at the rest.She'd had the smallest, now she'd have the largest.
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After Shelob was done with her meal, all that was left of the campers was a few large bloodstains on the forest floor, and one leg, which was given to the spiders as reward.The little spiders, the children of Shelob looked like average spiders, except for the fact that they were all the size of a small child's fist. However, they were anything but regular spiders.They tore away at the flesh as if was paper, and each spider seemed to eat its weight in human meat.Soon, all that was left of the leg was a bloody pile of the femur, fibula, tibia, and smaller foot and joint bones.And Shelob quickly ate them, leaving no evidence of the campers except for blood sprinkled here and there.Even if she was fed, however, she still craved the blood of Frodo.For she was fixated on his scent, and she wanted to taste his flesh, hear his screams of pain and for mercy when she tore his saviour apart.Now she was ready.She would make him regret!-------------------Sam was happy that Frodo seemed happier, livelier, and more involved than he was before.But he sensed that it was facade, and beneath it, Frodo was suffering, worse than before.He wondered why it was like that? Did Shelob have anything to do with it?Done combing through Frodo's dark curls, "There" he said "You're all done, and ready to teach."He offered his hand to him, and taking it Frodo let himself be led to the garage.Frodo got into the driver's seat, and Sam got into the one beside him.Frodo had decided that he would no longer be teaching next year, and would be shifting to a different house, in Buckland, as he didn't want to live in Hobbiton anymore.Sam thought this was a pity, as he would never get to attend a lecture from Frodo, but he knew this was important for Frodo, so he didn't say anything.But Sam would be going to Buckland with him, and apply to a new college, as he didn't want Frodo to be alone.This was Frodo's last lecture, and in a week they would be shifting.So Sam had made sure that he looked his best today, making him wear his new waistcoat with gold buttons and even styled his hair.But as they were going, the car broke down in a deserted alleyway.There were no lights and not a human in sight.Sam tried to call a mechanic, but there was no signal either."You sit inside, I will go and check if something is wrong with the car." Frodo told Sam, and got out.He had just opened the engine, when he heard her voice "Greetings, my dear colleague,"Shelob! Sam heard her voice and almost jumped out of the car.He needed to get out, and get to Mr Frodo, before she did.Sam quickly rushed out and planted himself before Frodo, determined to protect him."It was you wasn't it?" Shelob said, looking down at him. "You saved him back then.""And people who snatch my prey away from me don't get away lightly!"Shelob lunged at Sam, and Sam just stared back, not knowing what to do.And then he heard a gunshot ring out and saw that Shelob retreated, clutching at her blood soaked shoulder.Turning, he saw Frodo holding up a gun, pointing past him, at Shelob."Come, let's go" Frodo grabbed Sam's hand and ran up the alleyway, dragging Sam behind him.But Sam was still staring at Shelob, who was now emitting black vapours, which looked strangely solid, and vaguely resembled a giant spider.Shelob disappeared, and in her place stood a spider the size of a small house.Sam screamed, not fully able to comprehend what was going on. All he knew was that he was going to die.Frodo however, didn't seem to be affected as such.Sam saw that he charged at the spider, and shot at her eyes.Shelob seemed to be crazed by pain, and lunged at Frodo with her front two legs.However, blinded by pain, she didn't do too much damage, but she still managed to hit him in the arm.The gun flew out, and Frodo collapsed in pain, clutching at the hurt arm.Sam went to Frodo, but seeing that Shelob was also charging to them, he ran to get the gun.However, the spider was already almost onto Frodo by the time he came back.He shot, but the armour on her back was so hard and thick that the bullet became embedded in it, but didn't hurt the inner body of the spider.Fearing that all was lost, and Frodo would die, he rushed at the monster in one last futile attempt to save him.However, before he could get there, the spider suddenly recoiled, and he saw a gleaming blue blade sticking out of another of it's eyes.Mr Frodo was alright, but he wouldn't be, if the spider survived.He had to end it.He rushed over, getting under the spider.Its large pale bloated belly was its weakness.He shot the spider in the stomach.Once, twice, thrice. Thrice he shot it, and she dragged her injured body away, to her hidden lair.
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Shelob never had thought that her meal would someday injure her to this degree.This was outrageous, and she would take her incomplete revenge.She summoned her spiders and told them to kill the two with poison.However her children,
her servants, refused to heed her command, seeing her injuries and fleeing.Such treachery!She wouldn't stand for it.-----------However, the children of Shelob, whom she took for her servants refused service to her, and later killed her in her sleep, for they would not stand for her treatment of them any more.And there they disbanded, each going to their own homes in the forests, not coming into human civilization ever again.-------------Frodo and Sam had shifted into a smaller house in Buckland.Frodo didn't work, but Bilbo's money seemed to be never ending, and they were now living a comfortable life off of it.Sam was done cooking "Fried fish and big golden chips!" He said, setting the dish of fish and chips onto the table.Frodo smiled, "That smells perfect. You spoil me so, Sam, that one of these days I shall start growing flabby from lack of exercise and excessive feeding.""You sure need it, Mr Frodo. If my Gaffer saw you, he would scold me for feeding you too little!"Frodo looked thoughtful, as if he were contemplating something."Sam," said he "How would you like to learn Sindarin?I know you've always wanted to learn it from me, so would you like it if I taught you at home?"Sam smiled brightly at him across the table, pleased at the pleasant surprise. "Sure!" He said "I would love that, Mr Frodo."