Legolas looked at the goblin in a questioning manor. "What did you say?" He asked. "I implored your mercy Master elf." Gkoxs replied. Soon the dwarf and other man were upon him. "I say we kill the rat," The dwarf said gruffly and began to raise a double-sided dwarven war axe. It was promptly stopped by the grip of the second man. "Wait Gimli, I have an idea of what to do with him." "Speak quickly Boromir," Strider told him. "He is an orc, right?" He told them in a triumphant manor. "Goblin." Gkoxs corrected him with a growl. "Quiet he is trying to save you so cut him some slack," Yelled one of the hobbits. "Settle down Samwise. Now continue Boromir," Strider commanded. Boromir went back to his speech and started by saying, "Well I'll bet he knows this country side better than any of us, so why not have him lead us through the ways that the other orcs and goblins don't use?" "That might actually work," piped up another Hobbit. Gkoxs seemed to remember them calling this one Frodo. All eyes turned to him expectantly. He hesitated before finally answering, "Yes, I will help you." After he told them this his weapons were confiscated and his hands were bound with ropes. He said to the other eight, "Follow me." And he walked them to a nearby path. It would have been missed from where they were standing, unless they had been deliberately looking. As they traversed the path he told them, "We are going around four orc encampments this way, and it ends right at the mouth of the forest of Lothlorien…" "I feel there is a catch," Aragorn said interjecting Gkoxs. "Your intuition serves you well Strider, there is a catch." He replied. "Then tell us goblin!" Commanded Gimli and Legolas together. "I was getting to it." He said after covering his sensitive ears with his bound hands. "It is that there are usually one or two scouting parties up on this ridge." "Then why did you lead us here?" asked Sam the fat hobbit. "Because it is the quickest way!" Gkoxs sneered. "And knowing your mission you need all the speed you can get." Sam stepped back to his natural place at Frodo's side. Gkoxs head pricked up as he heard the sound of orcs in the distance. "It appears that we are closing on one of the parties now." As if on que a band of five orcs came into view. All were visibly stout and bow-legged. The one that seemed to be in charge had a large nose ring like a bull and his elfish ears were pierced with many more rings. Legolas had already drawn his bow and fired an arrow strait into the heart of one of the lesser orcs. The remaining four charged the group, but Aragorn was already rushing head first with Boromir to meet them. Swords clashed and in a matter of minutes the battle was over. Five orcs lay slain and no harm befell the two men. Obviously they were skilled fighters and Gkoxs noticed this. "You had a chance to run." Legolas said to him. "I know I did" He replied in a smart tone. "Then why didn't you?" asked Frodo. "Because someone has to help you guys onward. Well I know you can fight. Why not give me back my weapons and let me fight with you." "No," said Strider sternly. "Give him a chance," pleaded Frodo. Strider hesitated but ended up agreeing with the hobbit. He sliced Gkoxs' bonds and gave him back his weapons. "Thank you" the little goblin said. They continued on the mountain path without any other disturbances. Arriving at the entrance of Lothlorien he turned to them in self pride and said, "See, what did I tell you?" He smiled at them but it quickly faded as the group was surrounded by armed elves.