Chappie 7

Arachnophobic Hobbits

DISCLAIMER: Do I even need to post this? (Nothing is mine!)

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"Is this the only way, Smeagol?"

We had come to the opening of Torech Ungol, AKA Shelob's lair. After walking another mile or so up that accursed path, we had come to a cave. A really smelly cave.

"Yes, yes, we must go this way now."

"D'you mean to say you've been through this hole?" Sam asked. "Phew! But perhaps you don't mind bad smells."

"He doesn't know what we minds, does he, precious? No, he doesn't. But Smeagol can bear things. Yes. He's been through. O yes, right through. It's the only way."

I started whining. "But I don't wanna go through the cave! It's smelly and filled with carcasses."

Frodo and Sam looked at me.

"Well," said Frodo, "Carcasses or no, it's the only way, and we must take it."

I took one last breath of fresh air and walked inside. After taking a few steps, we were in complete dark. Not just ordinary dark, either. No, the really deep dark, where if you were to put your hand over your face, it may just as well be your foot. The air was thick, and it felt like I was walking through a vat of chocolate icing. Yes. Icing indeed.

Even though I couldn't see, my other senses were a lot sharper, and could feel the smooth stone on the wall. I stretched out my other hand and bumped into Frodo.

"Frodo!' I cried out, hugging him.

"Shh!" Sam whispered.

"Oh, right." I grabbed Frodo's hand and resumed walking.

We kept on walking, seeming to go steadily upwards the whole while. It wasn't a very good way to tell our progress, however, and after a while I had no idea how long we had been walking. I felt numb, and couldn't hear Gollum ahead of us. Luckily, Sam broke the silence.

"There's more than one passage here." he whispered. "It's as orc-like a place as ever there could be!"

He was right, there were several gaps in the tunnel walls, some smaller and some larger than others. It was easy to keep along the main path though, it was straight and kept going upwards.

After what had seemed like hours of walking through that dark, stuffy, horribly smelling place, I almost fell over. There was a large void, which seemed to be where the smell was coming from. I reeled over, and tumbled into Frodo and Sam.

"Up!" Frodo coughed out. "It all comes from here, the stench and the peril. Now for it! Quick!"

I dragged myself up, and stumbled forward. After taking a few reluctant steps, we passed the stink hole. Almost immediately we ran into more trouble. There was a fork in the path, and neither way was straighter than the other.

"Which way has Gollum gone? And why didn't he wait?" Sam asked breathlessly.

"Smeagol!" Frodo called. Oh man. "Smeagol!" Frodo called again. We were very, very screwed.

"Frodo. We're screwed." I said.

"He's really gone this time, I fancy." Sam pointed out. "I guess this is exactly where he meant to bring us. Gollum! If I ever lay my hands on you again, you'll be sorry for it."

As Sam was muttering to himself, Frodo and I were fumbling with the left passage. It was blocked, a stone must have fallen in the way.

"This can't be the way." Frodo whispered. "Right or wrong, we must take the other." I nodded, pointlessly.

"There's something worse than Gollum about." Said Sam. "I can feel something looking at us."

I had forgotten all about Shelob. "This is bad…" I whispered. I went to catch up with Frodo and Sam, only to hear a gurgling noise behind me. Followed by a hiss. I ran to catch up, they were a few paces ahead of me. Both of them stood still.

"Master, master!" Sam cried. "The Lady's gift! The star-glass! A light to you in dark places, she said it was to be. The star-glass!"

"The star-glass?" Frodo asked.

"The phial of Galadriel, you fools!" I couldn't believe they were standing there, discussing it while a ten foot tall, poisonous, man-eating spider was ready to pounce on us. "Frodo! In your shirt! For the love of the Valar, take it out!" I stood, staring at the void.

"Why yes!" Frodo said. "Why had I forgotten it? A light when all other lights go out! And indeed light alone can help us."

For a moment, I couldn't see anything. Then I saw a faint light, which was getting brighter by the second. Staring at the beautiful, shiny light held aloft by Frodo's hand, I heard a voice cry out.

"Aiya Earendil Elenion Ancalima!" Frodo shouted. (A/N: I hate posting in mid-sentence, but I have to give myself a pat on the back for remembering this line. You'd be amazed how hard it was for me to memorize this!)

As Frodo called out, I became aware of two enormous, faceted eyes staring at me. I stood there, horror stricken.

I heard Frodo and Sam calling behind me. Realizing what I was doing, I backed up, and started running. Frodo and Sam were already behind.

"Stand, stand!" Frodo called. "Running is no use."

Pulling out the Phial again, he cried out, "Galadriel!" Taking his sword out of his sheath, he began to advance towards the spider.

The eyes started to back up, and then vanished completely.

"Master, master!" Sam cried.

I leapt over towards Frodo, grabbing him in a bear hug.

"Stars and glory!" Sam continued. "But the Elves would make a song of that, if they ever heard it! And may I live to tell them and hear them sing."

"Elanor," Frodo coughed. "You're choking me."

"My bad!" I let go.

Sam stood staring at us. "Shouldn't we be getting out of this hole?"

We began walking at first, then running. We were climbing up a steep slope, leading ever away from the stink of the tunnels. At long last, I saw an opening- a light at the end of the tunnel. Dying to get above ground, I jumped up towards the light, only to get stuck.

"What the hell is this!" I screamed. "We get all the way to here, finally, and right when we reach the end, it's just another trap. What sick, twisted fool would do such a thing!"
"Cobwebs?" Sam scoffed. "Is that all? Have at 'em, down with 'em!"

Picking up his sword, he struck the web. The only good it did was toss the sword out of his hand. Sam took his sword again, and hit it two more times with all of his force. One strand gave way, and snapped right onto Sam's hand, leaving an ugly gash. He drew his hand to his mouth to nurse it.

"It will take days to clear a road like this. What's to be done?"

"I'll tell you what's to be done…" I muttered. "Try Frodo's sword. It sure is a better blade, and I need to get down from here fast. My legs are cramping!"

"Here," Frodo handed the phial of Galadriel to Sam. "Take the star-glass." He took Sting, and with one sweeping stroke he managed to clear a hole. In about five minutes I was free, and we made it to the other side of the web.

"Come! On, on!" Cried Frodo. He took off running, shouting as he went. "The pass! Run, run, and we'll be through- through before anyone can stop us!"

I ran on ahead, trying to catch up with Frodo. Unfortunately, I tripped over my feet. Cursing, I started to get up, when I heard a shout from behind me.

"Look out behind-" Was all I heard, when I blacked out.