At that instant screams pierced the once silent air. Both hobbits stared out the window. The fires were growing, the red-orange flames lit the dark night and the smoke grew thickly. Out of many homes, Hobbits ran and cried out, terror in their face.

Suddenly Sam saw a terrible sight and gasped. Frodo said not a word, for only a moment after, he saw the dreadful sight.

There, in the once peaceful shire, was an orc. Or a creature that resembled an orc, yet it's entire body was gleaming in the fire light and the thing held no emotion as it quickly slayed a hobbit with a sword. No, not one orc. Through the thick smoke, a multitude of orcs could faintly be seen. The Shire had been invaded.

"Sam!"

Samwise turned from the scene and saw Rosie. Her beautiful face held such worry that it made the old hobbit want to sob.

"Rosie, where are the children?"

"In the sitting room."

Sam turned to Frodo, who still stared out at the destruction.

"Hurry, Mr. Frodo! We have to leave!"

What came next was a small and meek reply, "Was it all in vain?"

Sam frowned, urgency tugged at his heart. "What?"

"There is still evil in Middle Earth." Frodo's voice was solemn.

Sam felt his voice raise, "As long as there is good in this world, evil will fight to destroy it."

Frodo finally turned from the window. His face pale and eyes dark. "Yes, Sam."

"Come on!"

Sam pulled on Frodo's arm. He was grateful that Frodo followed, though reluctant. Rosie and Elanor were comforting the little ones. Fastred, stood anxiously, watching the window.

"What should we do?" He asked.

To everyone's surprise, the sound of a sword being unsheathed rang loudly.  All eyes followed the sound, to see Frodo tightly gripping his sword, Sting. Instead of a bright blue warning, the sword stayed its normal dark gray color.

"Those are no ordinary orcs." Whispered Sam as he stared at the sword in utter despair.

"Take your family and go." Returned Frodo.

"But, Mr Frodo!" Sam felt tears welling up in his eyes.

The shouts and screams continued outside. Frodo stood taller and held Sting with determination.

"You have saved my life countless times Sam, it is my turn. You have always been my dearest friend. I am no longer truly a part of this world, but you are. Go my friend, save your family."

"I just got you back, I will not lose you again!" Argued Sam.

"There is no time, You kept your promise to me all those years ago, that you wouldn't leave me. Let me now make a promise to you. You will live to see another day."

Rosie tugged on Sam's arm. That small act seemed to settle everything. Quickly Frodo ran outside, Sting slashing the air. Rosie hushed one of the young ones who had begun to cry.
Sam looked from his family to where Frodo had bravely dashed outside. The heavy smoke slowly found its way through the door, as an univited guest.

"Mr. Frodo shall keep his promise."

Rosie noticed at once a spark in her husband's eyes. That same spark he showed during the Battle of Bywater, defeating Sharky and his ruffians.

Rosie picked up little Poppie and gave a hard look toward the door.

"Come along Elanor, Fastred." She said.

Elanor gave her husband a worried look but it soon faded as she ushered her children to gather near. Sam only gave a short nod. Together, they left the comfortable and cozy hobbit hole, and entered the battle feild.

The bright flames burned away the night sky. To Sam's horror, he witnessed the fall of the Shire. Old friends laid motionless on the ground, their eyes showed that their last moments had been fearful ones.

"Sam, we must hurry!" Rosie whispered.

Sam did not and could not pull away from the scene. It was like nothing he had ever seen. Not even the images he had seen in Lady Galadriel's mirror  could compare. Nearby a hobbit's plea for mercy was cut short.

"We must head towards Rivendale!" Sam ordered.  He had always had faith in the elves, and now he clung to that faith.

All of a sudden, the frightened family came to a stop. Out of nowhere one of the orcs appeared. Sam now was sure these were not average orcs. The orcs he had fought in the past would grin deviously when they knew they had won. They would laugh, say cruel things, and an evil glint in their eye would make one quake with fear.

Not these monsters. The one before them held no emotion, it spoke not a word. Sam could not read its horrid face. But it was clear its mission was to slay, with no fear of being slayed.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Only a small ember was to be seen of the once numerous fires. The dark sky once again reigned supreme. The orc- like monsters had left hours ago, having completed their first mission and moving on to the next.

The Shire would never again hear the laughter of hobbit children, never to be fertile with the flowers and crops many a hobbit cherished. Every care free hobbit was gone.

All but one ceased to breath. Samwise Gamgee laid on the ground, his breaths coming hard and forced. He slowly raised a shaky hand to his abdomen. His hand came back dark and sticky.

"R-Rosie? Elanor? Poppie-e?" His voice refused to reach louder than a whisper.

The empty silence that replied, ached.

With a grunt of effort, Sam rolled over to his side. A groan of pain escaped his dry lips. His eyes grew moist as he looked on at the once green and happy Shire. The darkness shielded him from seeing all of the destruction and suffering.

Then his eyes landed on a familiar object. Sam had to squint to see it clearly, but there it was.

"Sting."

Just a few feet beside lay Sting. The sword of the Ring Bearer.

"Mr. Frodo..." The words carried such a weight that Sam had to close his eyes.

Suddenly, on the horizon, a pink and orange flame illuminated the sky. The darkness was forced to give way to the coming day. Sam looked on as the sun was coming up, like an old friend to greet them all. It had come too late though.

To his own surprise Samwise smiled tiredly.

"He kept his promise. I- I did live to see another day."

His sight grew dim and he knew no more.

A/n

Ahh!!!! I can't believe I just did that. These fingers just killed off my favorite fictional character!!! I am sooooooooo sorry for this but- but- well I did warn you all..... and this is just the beginning.....