A/N: Mwahahaha! I'm sucking you in, Celtic. I'm brainwashing you! Also, I was thinking about a sequel for this story if you wanted me to make one. :D I've already got one chapter written and another one in the embryotic stage. Let me know though. :D

Chapter 4: Shelob's Lair

Gollum scrambled up to the last landing then waited as Frodo helped Valia up before turning to the anxious creature. "There…" Gollum turned and pointed into the tunnel.

Valia covered her nose and mouth with her hand. "What is this place?" she whispered, gripping Frodo's hand.

"Master and mistress must go inside the tunnel," Gollum whispered.

"Now that we're here, I don't thinkwe want to," Frodo said, glancing at Valia who nodded in agreement.

"It's the only way!" Gollum cried frantically. "Go in…or go back."

Frodo sighed. "We can't go back."

Slowly, the two of them stepped into the tunnel, and Gollum followed.

"What is that smell?" Valia asked.

"Orcses filth. Orcses come in here sometimes," Gollum replied.

Gollum continued on, passing them and disappearing into the darkness in moments. Frodo and Valia hesitantly continued.

She stumbled and touched the wall. "Ah! It's sticky." She pulled away, and Frodo held her close. "What is it?"

"You will see!" Gollum called out. "Oh, yes, you will see!"

"I don't like this," Valia whispered.

"I don't either." Frodo looked around then gripped her hand.

They slowly walked forward together until Valia felt something crunch beneath her feet. She shut her eyes tightly, gripping onto Frodo.

"Please tell me that isn't what I think it is," she whispered.

"We need to get out of here."

Holding the phial and holding Valia's hand tightly, Frodo led the way through the tunnels. Something moved nearby, and they whirled around. A huge, disgusting, hairy spider was crawling toward them. Valia tripped pulling Frodo down with her. He held the phial toward the spider, and the spider took a step back. He helped Valia to her feet just as the spider came toward them again. He held the phial out once more, and she stepped back.

"Run!" Valia cried, pulling Frodo behind her.

They ran into a tunnel too small for the spider. Valia screamed as she tripped, and her ankle became entangled in a web. Frodo attempted to help her, hacking at the web with his sword as Shelob attempted to squeeze her way into the tunnel.

"Naughty little fly, why does it cry?" Gollum sang, poking his head from around a boulder. "Caught in a web. Soon you will be…eaten!"

Valia pulled her foot from the webbing, and Frodo helped her to her feet then they both ran after Gollum. Gollum was quick to run away, and they chased him out into the open. Valia whirled around and screamed as the spider bore down on her. She fell to the ground, staring up at the spider in fear.

"No!" Frodo hacked at the spider; it let out a screech and ran after him.

"Frodo!" Valia got to her feet and ran after him. She grabbed his arm and pulled him under cover of a boulder. "You need to get to Mordor."

"Valia, what do you mean?" He gripped his hand in hers when she looked toward the spider. "No! Valia…"

"I have to. It's the only way." She put her hand on his cheek, gazing into his eyes. "Stay here until it's safe then run as fast as you can."

"Valia…"

She stopped him with a kiss. "I love you," she whispered, then ran from the cover of the boulder.

It was the last thing she remembered before she felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck, and everything went dark.