A/N: Ok, I know the last chapter was very short and kind of stopped in the middle of it. Well, that was the middle of it actually. I accidentally posted only half my chapter. So here's the other half. (Here comes Sam to the rescue- finally!)



Chapter 6 (other half of Chapter 5)

Sam paused to catch his breath and decide where to turn next. He felt completely lost as the real hopelessness of his situation came to him. What hope did he have of finding Frodo in such a vast place?

Sam closed his eyes, shutting out the dreary grayness of the world about him, trying to calm his mind and think straight. But as his eyes closed a sight which he never wanted to see again haunted his mind. A vision of his master lying as if dead on the cold ground materialized before his mind's eye. He was so pale, and no familiar rise and fall of breath could be seen. And when Sam reached out to touch him he was so cold.

Sam's eyes flew open. He feared more than ever that he might see a similar scene if he did not hurry. So with thoughts of Frodo to urge him on, Sam forced his reluctant legs to move.

Just then an icy cold gust of wind whistling through some unknown crevice in the stone rushed through the landing, making Sam shiver and extinguishing the little torch he held- his only source of light.

Sam gasped as he was plunged into complete and utter darkness. Not a light could be seen, there were no torches lining the walls of the three ominous- looking corridors leading out of the landing.

Still all was silent and all Sam could hear was the beating of his own heart. Tentatively he stepped forward, feeling along the cold stone of the wall with his hands. He crept along this way, peering through the inky blackness with all his might.

Eventually, he made it passed all the openings to the other corridors and seemed to be on the opposite side of the landing from where he had entered at the top of the stairs.

Suddenly the wall he had been leaning against disappeared and Sam lost his balance, nearly toppling over. Reaching out his hands he could feel the wall angle. He had stepped into a corner just outside the last entrance that he had not seen before as it had been hidden in shadows.

All of a sudden several loud voices exploded out of nowhere, apparently having a heated argument. Sam jumped, his heart racing. What had startled him more than anything was that the voices seemed to be coming from right above him, echoing around the landing. But how could that be? He had seen no more stairs leading up. Sam stopped and listened intently to what they were saying.

".just playin' with 'im.need to take control!.If he won't talk."

This one particularly hideous voice seemed to go on and on but Sam wasted no more time. He knew who they meant. He had to find Frodo. Now.

Sam started to feel his way out of the corner as quickly as possible when he suddenly walked right into something tall and hard, nearly knocking it over. He caught it before it fell, standing it back up to where it was.

Cautiously, Sam felt the object up and down, not wanting to waste any unnecessary time. It was made of wood and taller than he was. He felt rungs.a ladder! Of course, a trap door would lead to the top of the tower! And that's where Frodo would be.

Without even stopping to think Sam raced up the ladder, his heart pounding painfully against his chest. When his head found the trap door, he felt for the latch, undid it, and swung the door open. Sam gasped at what he saw.

Several great black Orcs and a Man were in the small circular room in the middle of what seemed to be an all-out sword fight. All had their weapons drawn and were aiming vicious swings at each other. A small curly-haired figure lay in the corner dangerously close to them, covered in blood. Frodo. He was hardly recognizable but Sam knew it was him. He was not moving.

But before Sam could even move something happened that made his heart seem to stop altogether.

The Man dodged a vicious blow by a dark orc-blade, sending the Orc stumbling forward and onto its knees, dropping its sword. However, it wasted no time in retrieving a short curved knife from its belt. The Orc attempted to get to its feet, but not fast enough. The Man stepped smoothly forward in the blink of an eye, slicing the Orc's head clean off.

Its body swayed for a moment, then fell- right on top of Frodo, driving the curved knife blade deep into the hobbit's back.

A heart-wrenching scream filled the air.

~AC~

A/N: Sorry about the terrible cliffhanger! Please don't hate me! But the next chapter should be VERY angsty. Puh-LEASE review! Thanks!