Frodo stood riveted in place. His heart raced.

“Fly you fools!” and Gandalf was gone.

Time stopped between one heartbeat and the next. Frodo’s mind raced to comprehend what his eyes had witnessed while his soul denied. The words to describe, understand or express, would not come forth. In the stillness of time his mind fought to scream the truth of what his soul fought to disavow. But the truth would not be silenced. Frodo’s soul lost the battle. The dam broke. Time rushed through. His heart beat. Heaven and earth wept as his voice and soul cried out “NO!”