Chapter Three

The stench had been steadily increasing as they climbed farther and farther up the stairs. Sam felt as if he couldn't climb another stair, but Gandalf continued upward, a grim look on his face. Aragorn was behind Sam, helping him along as needed, but never speaking. The six hadn't spoken a word since they had come within eyesight of Minas Morgul.

It felt as if there were eyes watching him, and Sam couldn't help but peer nervously into the shadows surrounding them all. Gandalf had not dared to give them any light for fear that it would draw Sauron's attention to them. Sam only hoped that by avoiding Sauron's attention, they weren't inadvertently drawing the attention of something far worse.

At last they reached a plateau, but Gandalf showed no signs of resting. There was fear in his eyes as they approached the dark cavern set in the great stone wall, and his hand never strayed far from Glamdring. Legolas had an arrow notched on his bow and was ready to shoot at a moment's notice. Behind him, the two men already had their swords drawn and their sharp eyes were constantly scanning the shadows and darkness.

Gimli was the first to find trouble as he walked into a sticky web and started spluttering loudly. Gandalf hushed him harshly, cutting through the mass of thick fibers easily with his sword. Sam felt the unease increase in the group, and suspected that they had already awoken the beast.

Light appeared ahead. Sam could smell fresh air, and hope filled him. They had made it this far and nothing had happened. The end was in sight. Gandalf's pace quickened. Closer and closer they came, until Sam tripped. Boromir helped him to his feet. Just as Sam was about to whisper a soft thank you, a low bubbling sound reached his ears, and before he could move, Boromir was snatched away by two long, hairy legs.

Aragorn was in front of Sam in an instant, Andúril held at the ready. It was only a moment later before the others had also placed themselves in front of him. The creature let out a despairing wail as Legolas blinded her with his arrows, his aim true even in the darkness.

Despair had filled Sam, but Aragorn's clear voice broke through the darkness.

"Aiya Eärendil Elenion Ancalima!" he shouted, and it seemed as if Andúril flared to life. The darkness had started to recede, even as Shelob charged the group, bent on getting revenge for her mutilated eyes.

Gandalf stood, sword in one hand, staff in the other, facing the giant spider. There was a bright flare of light that forced Sam to cover his own eyes. Gandalf suddenly seemed much larger and much more imposing than the hobbit had ever seen him. A power had started growing inside the cavern, and the Ring around Sam's neck almost hummed with anticipation.

"I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass." The light flared again, though Sam could not be sure where it came from. His thoughts were suddenly distracted as the Evil Eye flared into his mind, searing through him. A sick sort of dread filled him, and temptation filled him to put the Ring on his finger. Laughter echoed through his head, broken only by the distant shouting of Elvish phrases.

It was not until many minutes later when Sam returned to his senses. They were outside of the cave now, and Gandalf's robes were stained with a thick, black fluid that reminded Sam strongly of tar. Gandalf and Aragorn were speaking softly in Elvish, casting worried glances in his direction.

It took a moment for everything to sink in. They had made it through Torech Ungol, but Boromir was dead. The image of Boromir being torn away from them was burned into his mind. His screams rang in his ears. The spider had made quick work of the man, even before Aragorn and Gandalf had a chance to try and save him. If he lived through this, Sam didn't think he would ever be able to forget that image.

"We must make haste. Sauron will have realized that we are here," Gandalf stated. "If we are lucky, we might be able to reach the slopes of Mount Doom before the Orcs can reach us." No one protested as they quickened their pace.

Gandalf walked beside Sam as Aragorn took the lead. "You saw the Eye," Gandalf stated. Sam looked at him in silence for a moment, noting how tired the wizard looked. He looked almost hopeless, and it scared Sam almost more than the Eye had.

"Yes, I did. What was it that you did to the spider?" Sam asked. Gandalf stared off into the distance for a moment, before lifting his hand towards Sam. He wore a ring with a red stone on it.

"This is Narya, the Ring of Fire. I would not show it to you if I did not think that Sauron did not realize I had it. But he knows, and it may yet worry him at least a little. I will not tell you who bears the other Rings, for it is not my place to reveal such things. As you well know, the burden of a Ring bearer is heavy. If we fail here, they will be revealed, though time enough they might have to still make a difference in this war," Gandalf replied solemnly.

"Do you really think that we can win?" The question had been bothering Sam for days now, and this seemed as good a time as any to finally ask it.

"I think that great things can be accomplished with the help of friends and in times of great desperation. The five of us represent the free people of Middle Earth, and as such, it is our duty to the rest of the world to continue fighting until the bitter end.

"You are stout, Samwise Gamgee, more so than even I could have guessed. The love you hold for your friends, especially for Frodo, will help you accomplish this task. One way or another, we will end this," Gandalf answered, a cryptic smile crossing his face. It gave Sam hope to see the wizard smile, and some of his weariness left.

Author's Note: One chapter left. I'll post it in a few days. In the meantime, I'd really like to know what everyone thinks of my story so far...