AN- Well...it's been quite awhile hasn't it? Sorry, both Erin and I (Niori) were away to camp all summer and now that we're back, there's a VERY IMPORTANT note to all of you reader. Erin is no longer writing this story. She's lost her interest in it and now me, Carla and Jane will be writing her parts as well as our own. So there, ERIN IS NO LONGER WRITING THIS STORY! Just thought y'all should know. Now, please enjoy this probably long awaited chapter.

Chapter 37

Erin grunted in exhaustion as she pulled her body up on to the rocky ledges of the sloped mountain. This was so much harder than she had ever thought it would be...she just didn't know if she could even do this for much longer. Despite the fact she refused to let on, all of this, all of this climbing and traveling over such terrain was wearing her down.

Sam climbed up beside her and looked down at her resting form with concern in his eyes. They had been climbing for almost the past half an hour...and Erin looked like she was ready to pass out. Yet Sam didn't ask her if she was Ok...he knew that even if she wasn't, she would lie just so that they would continue in their way to wherever Gollum had lead Frodo.

" I'm fine," Erin replied, casting her eyes away from Sam to hide the lie in her eyes, " I'm just a little out of shape...and all this stupid extra weight from my pregnancy isn't helping very much,"

Without a word, Sam continued to climb up the sharp stairs as they climbed up into the dark heavens. This was not a time to argue with her...even if he knew Erin was lying about if she was alright or not. They had Frodo to save. No matter how cold he had been to Sam and Erin, they had to go after him. He held the fate of all Middle-Earth around his neck, and there was no way in hell that the two people who loved him the most were going to let him walk into a trap by some weird frogman who wanted the stupid ring.

The two continued to climb up the stairs without speaking while little Elijah slept peacefully in his mother's backpack. It was like a bloody miracle, how good the baby was. He virtually never cried, and when he did, it was only softly. It was like he knew what danger surrounded them and did his best to keep them out of it.

"How will we even know which way they went?" Erin asked Sam with dismay. They hadn't thought about that when they had courage sly started climbing this stupid rock to go to Frodo's rescue.

"We'll know," Sam stated bluntly, "we'll have to know if we want to save Frodo,"

And there ended that conversation. The two continued to climb. Finally they turned a long corner of rocks and found themselves standing in the large gaping, dark mouth of the mountain...the passage into a cave. It was black inside...and Erin felt a stab of fear hit her heart as she looked into the darkness. God only knew what could be waiting for Frodo in the darkness in there...

Suddenly, from deep within the darkness of the cave, a small and distant cry of fear erupted. The cry was short and from far away, but the voice was unmistakable...it was Frodo's.

Sam and Erin looked to each other and without the least bit of hesitation, darted into the cave.

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An- So yes, it's extremely short, but I just wrote it so short so I could get it up extremely quick cuz there's been o update in like forever! The next one will be longer, I promise it will and it will be up in a matter of days! Rock on!