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Chapter 7: The Stairs of Cirith Ungol

Mithrandir and Legolas crouched behind a boulder. Past their hiding place threaded a column of Men and packhorses. "Haradhrim traders," breathed the wizard once the column had passed. Legolas wrinkled his nose.

"I cannot fathom why Men would trade with Sauron. Don't they understand that the Dark Lord is no friend to mankind?"

"Legolas, the Haradhrim care not for 'friendship'. All that matters is profit, and they earn much wealth bearing goods to Mordor."

"Would Sauron have grown so powerful without the connivance of such Men?"

"Perhaps not, and that is why the Haradhrim do not fear Sauron. They are useful to him, and as long as they do not cross him, they remain under his protection. But if Sauron ever subjugates Gondor and the West, the Southrons will come to rue the day that they allied themselves with the Dark Lord. Once they are no longer vital to him, Sauron will treat them no better than his slaves. For why would he trade for that which he can take by force?"

"I would not pity them should that happen," Legolas declared fiercely, "for 'twould be a fate that they brought upon themselves."

"Do not be too quick to withhold your pity, Legolas. It is true that the Haradhrim are a corrupted race, but you must never forget that even Elves have on occasion been susceptible to corruption."

Legolas fell silent. Mithrandir's words had hit home, for the young Elf had once come very near to falling under the malign influence of Saruman. Under pretense of kindness and in his most mellifluous voice, the white wizard had sought to persuade Legolas to remain at Isengard under his tutelage. 'Saruman put on such a show of solicitude as he tried to sway me', Legolas reminded himself, 'that even now I do not know how I had the strength to break free of his spell. Perhaps I should not have been able to do so if I had not hoped for sanctuary in Imladris. Had I no such prospect in mind, perhaps I should have accepted Saruman's offer. Likely I would have felt that I had no choice'.

Mithrandir trusted Saruman, but Legolas never had. Now he shivered at the thought that he could have become the white wizard's creature. Mithrandir looked at him with concern. Grown Elves were not in the habit of suffering from the cold. "Are you well, Legolas?" he asked anxiously. Legolas did not reply but shivered all the more. Now Mithrandir was alarmed. He took off his cloak and wrapped it about Legolas. When Legolas continued to shiver, Mithrandir began to rub the Elf's arms and shoulders. Gradually Legolas began to feel warm again.

"You gave me a fright, mellon-nîn," said Mithrandir when the Elf had at last begun to recovered. "What ailed you, my son?"

"The thought of being corrupted by such a one as Sauron," whispered Legolas.

"Ah," said Mithrandir. "I see that my little speech had greater efficacy than I expected. I am sorry, Legolas. I did not mean to alarm you."

Legolas shook his head. "It is not your fault, Mithrandir. You spoke the truth. Why should you apologize for doing so?"

"Even one who speaks the truth should be mindful of its effect upon his listeners," Mithrandir replied. "Legolas, you still shiver a little, and you look pale. You must swallow a sip of miruvor."

"I thank you, Mithrandir, but no. We should save that elixir for a wound more grievous than the one I suffer."

Now reasonably recovered, Legolas arose to his feet. "The Haradhrim are far ahead by now, Mithrandir. We should move on. Are we not close to our destination?"

"Yes, we draw near to Imlad Morgul, or Morgul Vale as Men call it."

"And you mean to try the Morgul Pass?"

Mithrandir shook his head. "Indeed I do not, Legolas. The Morgul Pass is well known and equally well guarded."

"Elrond was wrong, then. You do not after all mean to enter into Mordor but merely to spy out its borders."

"No, Elrond was correct. I do intend to cross into Mordor, albeit very briefly. There is another way over the Mountains of Shadow."

"I have not heard that there was one hereabouts."

"This pass is not generally known—which is of course why I mean to try it. It is the Pass of Cirith Ungol."

"Why is it not well known?"

"Because it is much more dangerous than the Morgul Pass and therefore less frequented."

"It is well guarded by Orcs, then?"

"Oh, it is indeed well guarded—but not by Orcs."

"You are speaking in riddles, Mithrandir, but I am no novice! Speak forthrightly, for as your comrade in this venture, I am entitled to know all."

"You have been my comrade, yes, but now we shall be sundered for a space. I shall attempt this path on my own."

Legolas was aghast. "Mithrandir! You said this pass is more dangerous than the Morgul Pass. This is hardly the time for our paths to be sundered!"

"Indeed it is," Mithrandir said calmly. "It is my intention to try out all the lesser ways into Mordor. I would know all the small, secret paths that may be attempted by one person—and not by a warrior, mind you, but by one who will rely on stealth and secrecy rather than the strength of his arms."

"If I accompanied you, I would not prevent you from accomplishing that task," argued Legolas. "Moreover," he added, the truth dawning upon him, "you say that this pass is called Cirith Ungol. That means the "Pass of the Spider." Its guardian is a spider, isn't that so? Then who better to accompany you than a Mirkwood Elf well-acquainted with the ways of the descendants of Ungoliant?"

Mithrandir smiled. He could not help but be touched by the Elf's eagerness to safeguard 'his' wizard. "Legolas," he said gently, "I want to explore this path with the eyes of someone who will not be acquainted with the ways of the giant spiders of Mirkwood. I must know what he will see so that, should it be necessary he come this way, I will be able to give him good counsel that may help him safeguard himself. You would not be able to restrain yourself from sharing your knowledge of Mirkwood spiders. Therefore"—and here the wizard's voice grew stern—"I forbid you from accompanying me up the Stairs of Cirith Ungol."

Legolas had heard Mithrandir use that tone of voice before and knew it would not be wise to argue any further. Perplexed and troubled, he silently followed the wizard. Whatever did it mean, all this speech about a person who was no warrior and who would attempt a dangerous path through stealth and secrecy alone?

In a little while, wizard and Elf had penetrated far enough into Morgul Vale to come in sight of the tower of Minas Morgul where it stood on the far side of the bridge across the Morgulduin, River of Sorcery. On the northern side of the river ran the Morgul Road, which led directly to the Morgul Pass, but they were not going that way. Instead, Mithrandir led Legolas to some tumbled blocks at the base of the cliff almost directly across from the bridge. He pointed at the cliff, and Legolas saw carved into its side an almost impossibly steep set of stairs. "I will ascend the Stairs of Cirith Ungol," said Mithrandir. "This is the Straight Stair. Past it lies the Winding Stair."

"And beyond that?" said Legolas.

"A tunnel that leads to the Pass of Cirith Ungol."

"The spider has its lair in the tunnel, I'll warrant."

"Yes, Legolas. Shelob's lair."

"How do you propose to slip by Shelob?"

"That's what I mean to find out, my lad. Orcs prefer the Morgul Pass, but it is the longer way. When their masters drive them to make haste between Minas Morgul and the Tower of Cirith Ungol, they will try this path, and very often survive, too. I imagine that there may be small niches off the main tunnel where they can secrete themselves when Shelob is on the hunt. Perhaps there are also side tunnels through which they are able to escape. If so, I intend to spy them out, and when I return I shall draw a map that may prove to be very useful."

"How long do you expect me to wait?"

"Oh, you are free to depart whenever you wish," Mithrandir said airily.

"That is not what I meant, and you know it!" cried Legolas angrily. "How long must I wait before I am allowed to come after you?"

Mithrandir grew serious at once. "I am sorry, my son. I was only trying to make light of the situation. Still, if I have not returned in two days, you had better make your way north."

"I will not!"

"Elrond be dratted for insisting that you accompany me!" cried the wizard. "I do not want you to come to any harm!"

"And I do not want you to come to any harm," the young Elf retorted.

"Legolas," pleaded Mithrandir. "Your father once thought you had been lost to spiders. I do not wish his fear to become the truth."

"I made a promise, Mithrandir. I swore to Elrond that I would see you safe to Mordor and back again. I don't mean to break that promise."

Mithrandir groaned and put his head in his hands. "Stubborn, stubborn Elf," he muttered. He sighed and looked up. "Legolas," he declared firmly, "you may not accompany me, and there is the end of it." He seized his staff and arose. "It is sundown. As soon as it is full dark, I will begin the climb." Seeking a way to forestall further conversation, the wizard strode to a spot where he could pretend to keep watch upon Minas Morgul.

As for Legolas, he sat brooding. 'He is Mithrandir, my teacher and mentor', he thought unhappily. "I am bound to obey him. Of course', he mused, 'Elrond, too, has been my teacher and mentor. Am I not bound to obey him as well?'

Legolas puzzled over his dilemma for awhile and then suddenly brightened. 'Mithrandir said I couldn't accompany him', he observed to himself. 'He never did say that I couldn't follow him'.

Now serene, the Elf waited patiently. When it was full dark, Mithrandir turned to him. "I am going now," the wizard said shortly.

"I can see that," Legolas said calmly. Mithrandir looked at him suspiciously. "You do understand why you cannot accompany me?"

"Yes, Mithrandir. I do understand why you do not wish me to accompany you."

Mithrandir still looked suspicious. "You had best obey," he threatened.

"I would not dream of disobeying you," Legolas assured him.

"Hmmph," snorted the Istar skeptically. He began his climb, every few minutes looking down to make sure that the Elf had not moved. At last, somewhat reassured, Mithrandir ceased peering down and threw himself entirely into ascending the steep path that edged its way up the side of the cliff.

Legolas waited until the wizard had passed around a bend and was no longer in sight, and then he, too, began to climb the Straight Stair.