Chapter 5

The Staircase of Minas Morgal

"It must be getting near tea-time," Sam said, breaking the silence as they continued through the woods. "At least it will be in decent places if there is still tea-time."

"We're not in decent places," Gollum sneered, looking at them with a strange smile on his face. Frodo stopped right in his tracks suddenly, with a look of fear on his face. Hazel stopped and looked at him, concern rising in her heart.

"What is it?" She asked.

"It's just a feeling." Frodo said. "I don't think I'll be coming back."

"Yes you will," Hazel said, walking over to him. "Of course you will! That's just senseless thinking! We will go there and back again, just like Bilbo! You'll see!"

Frodo took Hazel's hand and they continued to walk. They came upon a place where statues and ruins laid all around them.

"I think these lands were once part of the kingdom of Gondor," Frodo said. "Long ago, when there was a king." He added, gazing up at a large statue of a king, who's head was cut off and lying nearby on the ground, covered with flowers. The sun peeked over the clouds and its' beautiful light fell upon the hobbits. Sam turned and looked at the head, the flowers across his head had brightened in color and looked like a beautiful crown.

"Mr. Frodo, look!" Sam said. "The king's got a crown again!" Frodo and Hazel looked at the wonderful sight. That is until the sun was hidden behind the clouds and the vision was gone.

"Come on hobbits!" Gollum cried. "Mustn't stop now, this way!"

~jb~

They had traveled for another day in the woods, until they finally came across a barren land. They walked over and peered out at a strange city, with dim, sickly lights and a foul presence filled the air.

"The Dead City," He said. "Very nasty place, full of…enemies." He added, looking directly at Sam.

They jumped up and walked across the path.

"Quick, quick!" Gollum said. "They will see! They will see!" He began climbing up a nearby cliff. Frodo paused and looked over at the gate of the city.

"Turn away! Turn away!" Gollum hissed. "Look, look, we have found it! The way into Mordor! The Secret Stair!" The hobbits looked up and their stomachs dropped. The stairs went on as far as they could see. High, high up and a long drop down. Hazel's head spun and felt the weight of the ring on her neck. It began to tighten. She tried to massage her neck a little.

Sam started climbing. Frodo and Hazel felt a strange urge to walk toward the city, but Hazel shook it off and hurried after Sam. She felt like chains had been tied all around her body and were pulling her down. She fought hard to resist the urge. She looked down and noticed Frodo was walking toward the city.

"No!" Hazel cried.

"Mr. Frodo!" Sam followed.

"Not that way!" Gollum added. All three of them crawled down and ran to their friend. What was he thinking? Had he gone insane?

"What's it doing?" Gollum demanded.

"No," Hazel said as she grabbed Frodo's arm.

"They're calling me," He said quietly, trying to continue toward the city, reaching out his arm as if to grab at something. Hazel, thinking hard (or hardly thinking) grabbed him by the collar and planted a kiss on his lips. Immediately, Frodo senses returned and the ground shook. They all fell backwards and onto the ground. A strange pillar of light arose from the city and shot straight up into the air. Hazel gripped her chest, feeling the ring burning against her bare skin.

Frodo helped Hazel up and the group began to climb up the stairs once more. The shaking ground made it seem harder than Hazel could bear. She and Frodo fell to the ground and peered over the rocks. Out of the city came the bat-like creature, and riding on it was the leader of the Ring-Wraiths. He was covered in frightening armor. He let out a screech that pierced the ears of the hobbits. Hazel covered her ears and screamed, for the sound was agonizing. Frodo gasped and put a hand to his left shoulder. Out of the screams, Hazel could barely him gasp.

"I can feel his blade!" He said, wincing in pain. He secretly longed for another kiss.

The doors of the city opened and out marched an army of orcs. The leader swooped over on a large, strange creature and followed.

"Hurry now hobbits!" Gollum said. "We climb, we must climb!"

They did so up, up, up the stairs. Hazel noticed for the first time how dirty her feet were, and for once she wished that hobbits would wear shoes.

"Up, up, up the stairs we go, and then it's into the tunnel!" Gollum said, enthusiastically.

"Hey," Sam demanded. "What's in this tunnel?" Gollum didn't reply, so Sam reached and grabbed his arm, and pinned him to the walls of the cliff. "Now you listen to me!" He snarled. "You listen good and proper! If anything happens to them, you'll have me to answer to! One sniff if anything's not right, one hair snips off the back of my head-it's over! No more Slinker, no more Stinker! You're gone, got it? I'm watching you!"

Sam let go and followed after his cousin. "What was that all about?" Hazel asked.

"Nothing," Sam said. "Just wanted to clear something up."

Gollum smiled evilly, and followed after the hobbits.

The climbing continued endlessly on, as the hobbits struggled to keep up with Gollum. The ring weighed itself more and more on Hazel's neck. How in all of Middle-Earth could Frodo stand the weight? What was he made out of? Rock? He's got to be insane! The thoughts went through Hazel's head as she continued to climb. She wondered if she should give Frodo the ring back. But she knew she couldn't right at the moment. Gollum would see; their plan to trick him would fail. Besides, if this was all she could do to help her friend: so be it!

Hazel suddenly slipped and nearly fell.

"Careful Mistress, careful!" Gollum called out. "Very far to fall! Very dangerous on the stairs!" Hazel reached up and pulled herself onto a shelf, sweat pouring down her head. She felt weak and tired.

Frodo struggled finding a grip on the shelf.

"Come, Master come." He said. "Come to Sméagol." He reached out at Frodo, as if to grasp at his neck. He seemed to have thought the ring was there.

Sam gasped and drew his sword. "Mr. Frodo! Get back you!"

But Hazel stayed calm and crawled over to Frodo. "Come, Sméagol," She said. "Let's help Master." Gollum snapped back to his senses and grabbed Frodo's hand, and Hazel grabbed the other.

"Why does he hate poor Sméagol?" Gollum cried. "What did Sméagol ever do to him?" He turned to Frodo and patted him on the back, while Hazel helped Sam onto the cliff. "Master carries a heavy burden."

Hazel and Frodo exchanged an uneasy glance with a dash of amusement. Then Hazel felt light-headed and started to faint on the shelf. She felt Frodo catch her, wrapping his arms around her, and she faded into deep sleep.

It's getting intense now! Ah!