A/N: As in my other stories, because ff.net has changed, thoughts are now in ::thoughts:: Sorry it's been so long. Thank you reviewers 'cause they're nice...

Crecy: Yeah... randomness is definately my friend.. lol

Persephone's-Child: Yes! Sorry it's so late! please don't kill me! lol

CJ-Cj: Thanx!

Eamane-Elf: Thanks for ya review. I think I'd call it more a constructive critisism rather than a flame. If so, it is a wonderfully constructive critisism. Problem with spell check, is that it highlights so many 'Tolkien Words' and so, I rarely bother. Also, the school keyboards are crap and certain letters don't work on certain ones. On top of that, I sometimes put a letter on the wrong word so they ean something different and don't show up on the spell check because they are spelt corectly, although they don't make sense. I'm also half asleep when writing most of my storis, so quite often they don't make sense. ff.net puts all the lines together, so on word when writing the chapter, I have to put about 5 or 6 lines between each line to make it show up. In other words, ff.net squashes all the words together. I think I've covered all of your points... Good enough?

enjoy

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Chapter 8 - Failed?

It was absolutely deafening. I immediately covered my hands with my ears, though that still didn't block out the sound. Sam seemed to be the only person with his head screwed on the right way. The other two were screaming. I kept quiet, on the ground with my ears covered.

Gollum: Argh!! Sam: Black Riders! Gollum: Hide! Hide!

Frodo: Argh!

I then noticed that Frodo was screaming for a different reason. I could feel it. A sudden pain in my shoulder, as if somebody had stabbed me. And then the call of the ring.

Frodo: Argh!!

Sam: C'mon Frodo! C'mon!

Frodo continued to clutch at the Ring on his chest, immobilized. Sam dragged Frodo across to hide beneath some bramble bushes. I was still on the ground. Obviously I was invisible, because nobody was reacting to me being in the open.

"I have to find shelter."

Gollum: Quick! They will see us! They will see us!

Sam: I thought they were dead!

Gollum: Dead? No, you cannot kill them. No.

It screeched again, and I quickly covered my ears. Gollum had resorted to cowering behind Frodo.

Gollum: Wraiths! Wraiths on wings! They are calling for it. They are calling for the preciousss.

Frodo groped for his necklace. Sam saw this and grabbed hold of Frodo's hand.

Sam: Mr. Frodo! It's alright. I'm here.

I was well on my way, to the hobbits makeshift hiding place when it screamed, yet again. I cried out then fell to my knees, hands over my head, crouching down. The black rider seemed to be riding a dragon, which was just... kinda weird. Then, this whole madhouse is kinda weird. The beast landed heavily on the ground beside me. I froze. The description of a ringwraith, or Nazgûl, was 7-8 ft tall, metal armour, black cloak carrying a sword. I looked up and it came into sight. Not good. It was like something out of a nightmare. Except it was real. Very different from the description given.

Same height, but it was a dead person, somehow alive... rotten and decrepit, tangled hair beneath a crown. And grey, light grey robes, although there seemed to be nothing light about it. It was definitely nightmarish. It lifted its sword and looked down to face me. I was frozen from the fear. Nothing would have prepared me for this. I attempted to get to my feet, but tripped and ended up on my back. It advanced, sword raised.

"Why is it going for me?"

It then drew a long knife. When I say long, I mean long. I could see nothing else. I then felt pain shoot through my left shoulder. That could only mean one thing. I had been stabbed. It seemed like ages. Laying there, until –somehow – lifted my foot and kicked it in the shins. It screamed and jumped back, though why I don't know, as I hadn't exactly kicked him very hard. It immediately started running, and was soon in the air on the fell beast. The Nazgûl then circled overhead and flew off towards Mordor. Gollum had been cowering Frodo the whole time and hadn't noticed me.

Gollum: Hurry, hobbits. The Black Gate is very close.

He crept off in the same direction the Nazgûl had gone, followed by Frodo, who quickly gave Sam a meaningful look. Sam hung behind until Gollum was out of earshot.

Sam: Steph? Are you all right?

Steph: No, course I'm not bloody alright! I've just been stabbed for Christ's sake!

I looked down, and was very surprised at what I saw. No hole in my shirt, no blood. But I had been stabbed. Sam looked as baffled as I was.

Sam: But- but I saw it stab you. I saw it with my own eyes!

Steph: Yeah. That's what worries me.

Sam: Why should it worry you? You're fine!

Steph: Yes. I'm fine Sam. But that shouldn't have happened. I didn't kick it hard. It just seemed that when I touched it, it recoiled, as if I somehow caused it pain.

Sam stayed silent. We both had no idea what was happening.

Sam: C'mon milady. Or we'll lose Frodo. Can you walk?

Steph: Yeah, yeah fine.

I got to my feet, still slightly shocked at what had happened. I could still feel it, although that feeling wasn't exactly what you'd call pain. I smiled and started walking.

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We eventually caught up with Frodo, getting a fantastic view of the black gates from where we were. Gollum: The Black Gate of Mordor. It was absolutely enormous. A huge black metal gate on a turntable, with the wheels covered and two towers, black and spiky, on either side. There were several Orcs patrolling and standing guard on the towers and atop the walls. I whispered to Sam quietly.

Sam: Oh save us. My ol' Gaffer'd have a thing or two to say if he could see us now.

Steph: Now, I do know a few people who gate crash, but somehow I don't think we can storm this gate with two hobbits, a psycho and a schoolgirl who isn't suppose to be here.

Sam: How do you know you're not s'pose to be here?

I was cut off by Gollum, who still hadn't clicked that there were three, not two people he was leading to Mordor.

Gollum: Master says to show him the way into Mordor, so good Sméagol does. Master says so.

Frodo: I did.

Sam: That's it then. We cannot get past that.

His voice dropped to a whisper as he muttered to Frodo.

Sam: Steph's right. We cannot simply Gate-crash Mordor with 4 people, one of which would betray us, and another who walks unarmed.

From the right, an army of Easterling soldiers is marching to the Black Gate. A command was heard and an Orc sounded a horn, signalling for the Gate to be opened. Two enormous trolls stretched and growled and then pulled the mighty Gate open.

Sam: Look! The gate, it's opening! I can see a way down.

Steph: No Sam!

He moved closer to the edge. Suddenly, the rock underneath him gave way and he fell.

Frodo: Sam, no!

Sam: Argh!!

I launched forwards and grabbed him by his cloak. I gradually pulled him up, but we obviously hadn't gone unnoticed. Two Easterling soldiers snapped round to look at where we were. Sam, Frodo and Gollum were all out of sight, but I was standing up, clear as anything, looking around. Not exactly what you'd call an intelligent thing to do. To my surprise, they simply turned and joined their group, marching towards the Black Gate.

"Invisible... remember?"

Frodo crawled up behind me, ready to run.

Frodo: I do not ask you to come with me, Sam.

Sam: I know, Mr Frodo. I doubt even these Elvish cloaks will hide us in there.

...

Frodo: Now! I quickly stopped Frodo, pushing him back.

Steph: No! This is suicide! You won't last two seconds! Please! There has to be another way! There has to!

It seemed Gollum had attempted to stop Frodo aswel, though he hadn't heard me.

Gollum: No! No, no master! They catch you! They catch you! Don't take it to him! He wants the preciousss. Always he's looking for it! And the preciousss is wanting to go back to him. But we mustn't let him have it.

Frodo: Is there another way Smeagol? Tell me!

Gollum: Yes! There's another way. More secret. A dark way.

Sam: Why haven't you spoken of this before?!

Gollum: Because Master did not ask!

Sam: He's up to something.

Frodo: So there is another way into Mordor?

Gollum: Yes. There's a path, and some stairs, and then... a tunnel.

Frodo and Sam watch as the Black Gate closes. Gollum stroked Frodo's arm and burying his face in his cloak.

Frodo: He's led us this far, Sam.

Sam: Mr. Frodo, no.

Frodo: He's been true to his word.

Sam: No!

I whispered in Sam's ear.

Sam: Let it go Sam. I know there's something dodgy about him, but we have no choice. Think of Frodo.

Sam nodded very slightly.

Frodo: Lead the way, Sméagol.

Gollum: Good Sméagol always helps!

"That'll be the day."

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ASSBB

Kess ;P