Anonymous ID: 8f0c39 Nov. 24, 2021, 12:58 p.m. No.15073204   ๐Ÿ—„๏ธ.is ๐Ÿ”—kun

โ€˜All the same,โ€™ said Frodo, โ€˜even if Bilbo could not kill

Gollum, I wish he had not kept the Ring. I wish he had never

found it, and that I had not got it! Why did you let me keep

 

it? Why didnโ€™t you make me throw it away, or, or destroy it?โ€™

โ€˜Let you? Make you?โ€™ said the wizard. โ€˜Havenโ€™t you been

listening to all that I have said? You are not thinking of what

 

you are saying. But as for throwing it away, that was obviously

wrong. These Rings have a way of being found. In evil hands

 

it might have done great evil. Worst of all, it might have fallen

 

into the hands of the Enemy. Indeed it certainly would; for

 

this is the One, and he is exerting all his power to find it or

 

draw it to himself.

โ€˜Of course, my dear Frodo, it was dangerous for you; and

that has troubled me deeply. But there was so much at stake

that I had to take some risk โ€“ though even when I was far

 

away there has never been a day when the Shire has not been

 

guarded by watchful eyes. As long as you never used it, I did

 

not think that the Ring would have any lasting effect on

 

you, not for evil, not at any rate for a very long time. And

 

you must remember that nine years ago, when I last saw you,

 

I still knew little for certain.โ€™

โ€˜But why not destroy it, as you say should have been done

long ago?โ€™ cried Frodo again. โ€˜If you had warned me, or even

 

sent me a message, I would have done away with it.โ€™

โ€˜Would you? How would you do that? Have you ever tried?โ€™

 

โ€˜No. But I suppose one could hammer it or melt it.โ€™

 

โ€˜Try!โ€™ said Gandalf. โ€˜Try now!โ€™

Frodo drew the Ring out of his pocket again and looked at

it. It now appeared plain and smooth, without mark or device

that he could see. The gold looked very fair and pure, and

 

Frodo thought how rich and beautiful was its colour, how

 

perfect was its roundness. It was an admirable thing and

 

altogether precious. When he took it out he had intended to

 

fling it from him into the very hottest part of the fire. But he

 

found now that he could not do so, not without a great

 

struggle. He weighed the Ring in his hand, hesitating, and