Halflings

Chapter Fifty

~ Chapter Fifty: Shelob's Lair ~

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Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Sam await three large ships from on the shore.

"You may go no further!" Aragorn yells to them. "You will not enter Gondor!"

The Boson steps up. "Who are you to deny us passage?"

"Legolas, fire a warning shot past the Boson's ear." Aragorn says, softly.

"Mind your aim." Gimli warns.

Legolas fits an arrow to his bow and takes aim. Just as he releases the arrow, Gimli deliberately knocks the bottom of the bow sending Legolas' aim off. The arrow kills a mercenary standing next to the Boson. Legolas glares at Gimli, and Aragorn looks across at Legolas, as Sam looks at Legolas in shock.

"Oh!" Gimli puts his hand to his mouth. "That's it, right, we warned you! Prepare to be boarded!"

The mercenaries laugh.

"Boarded, by you and whose army?"

"This army." Aragorn whispers.

The King of the Dead and his army emerge through Aragorn, and attack the ships.

Frodo and Gollum continue to climb up the stairs of Cirith Ungol. They arrive at a cave entrance, and Gollum points into it.

"In there."

Frodo looks around, uncertainly. "What is this place?"

"Master must go inside the tunnel."

"Now that I'm here, I don"t think I want to." He backs off.

"It's the only way. Go in, or go back."

Frodo thinks for a moment. "I can't go back."

He walks into the tunnel entrance, and Gollum watches him, then follows.

"What's that smell?" Frodo asks.

"Orcses filth. Orcses come in here sometimes."

They walk further into the tunnel, and it becomes pitch black.

"Hurry! This way." Gollum disappears.

Frodo walks on alone, and begins to look around. "Smeagol?"

"Over here."

Frodo stumbles towards the distant voice. He falls against a wall, and gets spider web stuck to his hands.

"Aaah!" He exclaims. "It's sticky! What is it?"

"You'll see." Gollum's voice sounds even more distant. "Oh yes, you will see."

Frodo moves slowly forward. "Smeagol?" He hears no response. "Smeagol?! SMEAGOL?!"

Frodo stands alone, and tears begin to sting his eyes.

"Esmeralda." He whispers.

He takes a deep breath, and walks forward onto some bones. He looks terrified, and turns to look around. He sees various animals hanging up in webs, and begins to panic and starts to run through the tunnels.

Meanwhile, Esmeralda is climbing back down the stairs, crying. Suddenly, she slips and falls down the remainder of the stairs. After a few moments of grunting in pain, she reached the bottom.

"Ow!" She hissed, before slowly sitting up.

She leans against a rock, and buries her head in her hands, and begins to sob. After a few minutes, she wipes her eyes, and takes a deep breath. She looks at her wrist, and notices her bracelet that Lady Galadriel gave her.