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They need me, thought Ender Baggins, and if I fail, there may not be any Shire to return to.
But he did not believe it. Gandolf's urgency was just another trick. Then the minions of Sauron appeared, and his weariness turned to despair.
He heard Sam behind him coughing nervously. He was beginning to realize that Baggins didn't know what to do.
I don't care anymore, he thought. You can keep your Ring.
Baggins laughed. Sauron was taking this all so seriously. Forget it, Gandalf. I don't care if I pass your test.
The enemy was concentrated on Baggins, closing him in. Excellent, thought Baggins. Closer. Come closer....
Then he whispered an oath and the Ring dropped like a rock into the volcano. Baggins leaned in to watch what happened. Mount Doom, which filled half the simulator field, began to bubble. Within three seconds all of Mordor burst apart.
Baggins took off his headphones, and only then realized there was just as much noise behind him. Elves were hugging each other, laughing, shouting; some were weeping. Elrond detached himself from the others and to Baggins's surprise he embraced him, held him tightly, and whispered, "Thank you, thank you, Baggins." He tried to make sense of this.
The crowd parted and Gandalf walked through. He came straight to Baggins and held out his hand.
"You made the hard choice, halfling. All or nothing. Congratulations. It's all over."
All over. Baggins didn't understand.
Gandalf laughed. "Baggins, you never played me!" He grew serious. "Baggins, for the past few months, you have been the Ringbearer. There were no games, the battles were real, and the only enemy you fought was Sauron himself. You did it. You."
Real. Not a game. Baggins's mind was too tired to cope with it. They weren't just points of light on the screen, they were real orcs and wraiths that he had fought with and the real Ring he had destroyed. He walked through the crowd, ignoring their rejoicing. When he got to his own room, he ate a second breakfast, stripped off his mithral, climbed into bed, and slept.