The rocky path wound between sharp stones. Frodo's discomfort grew with each step, his face contorted with the strain of his unseen burden.

"Master carries heavy burden, yes, precious," hissed Gollum, crawling closer to Frodo. "Sméagol knows places, secret places where master can release what he holds."

Sam glared. "Keep your distance! Mr. Frodo doesn't need your kind of help."

"What does fat hobbit know of such burdens?" Gollum spat. "Sméagol carried precious burden for years and years. Knows how it weighs, yes, how it PRESSES."

Frodo winced, shifting his weight. "How much further, Sméagol?"

"Not far, precious, not far. But why does master let fat hobbit watch? Private thing, releasing the burden. Sméagol could show master. Just master and Sméagol."

"Don't listen to him, Mr. Frodo," Sam protested. "I've helped you with your burdens before."

"Helped?" Gollum's eyes widened. "Hobbitses SHARE burdens? Nasty, filthy—"

"That's not what I meant!" Sam flushed.

Gollum slithered closer to Frodo's ear. "Master sees? Fat hobbit wants precious burden for himself. Wants to WATCH master's private moments. Tricksy, false!"

"Sam has been nothing but loyal," Frodo muttered, though his stance shifted away from his companion.

"Then why does he follow, hmm? Always behind master when master seeks relief. Always WATCHING."

"I'm protecting him from YOU!" Sam exclaimed.

"Master's burden grows heavy," Gollum observed, noting Frodo's pained expression. "Sméagol knows this feeling. When it builds and builds until it must come out. Fat hobbit wouldn't understand such urgency."

"Now see here—"

"Sam," Frodo interrupted sharply. "Perhaps... perhaps you should scout ahead."

Sam's face fell. "But Mr. Frodo—"

"Yesss," Gollum hissed triumphantly. "Master needs privacy for precious relief. Natural, yes, very natural."

As Sam reluctantly moved ahead, Gollum turned to Frodo with gleaming eyes.

"Now master sees. Sméagol helps with burden. Knows ALL the best places for release." He patted a suspiciously stained rock. "This one Sméagol's favorite."

Frodo looked at the rock, then at Gollum, his expression a mixture of desperation and disgust.

Some burdens, it seemed, were truly his alone to bear.