Sometime in the night, Aragorn got everybody up and they started rowing along the river again. Boromir kept throwing uneasy glances at Aragorn, but he tried to ignore them and keep going. Eventually, the Fellowship passed giant statues on either side of the river. Everybody looked at them in awe and smiled. A little ways past the statues, the sun came out and everyone docked the boats on the gravel beach.

Merry and Pippin hopped out first, followed by Boromir. Sam got out next, then Gimli and Legolas, and then finally Frodo and Aragorn. The group started setting up a small camp and after that, Merry and Frodo went out to look for wood for a fire, Sam dosed off in a corner of boulders, and Pippin and Gimli sat down to eat some Lembas bread.

"We cross the lake at nightfall. Hide the boats and continue of foot. We approach Mordor from the North," Aragorn said.

He had read both riddles when everybody was asleep before and had figured out the answers. He had no desire in going to the two places that held the last two keys. They were too dangerous for the ring to enter territory in. So he decided they would enter Mordor at his own place of idea.

"Oh yes?! It's just a matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil? An impassable labyrinth of razor sharp rocks! And after that, it gets even better!" blurted out Gimli.

Pippin, who had been sitting next to Gimli, looked up to Aragorn alarmed.

"Festering, stinking marshlands, far as the eye can see!" Gimli mumbled on.

Aragorn replied calmly with,

"That is our road. I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength, Master Dwarf,"

"Recover my...?!" Gimli grunted.

Aragorn turned away, but only to run into Legolas.

"We should leave now,"

Aragorn was getting frustrated by this. It seemed that only the Hobbits trusted what he was doing. Well, Frodo and Sam anyway. It seemed as though the other two were just coming along for the ride and the desire for adventure.

"No. Orcs patrol the eastern shore. We must wait for the cover of darkness," Aragorn said.

Legolas opened his mouth to say something else, but shut it when Merry and Frodo came running out of the woods looking much panicked. Sam woke up with a start and ran to Frodo's side. Boromir looked up from sharpening his sword and Pippin and Gimli stopped chewing.

"What is it?" Aragorn asked suddenly.

"There are orcs running in from the west!" cried Merry.

"Isengard..." Legolas said under his breath, "Did they see you? Surely we are being hunted by Sarumon," Legolas said.

Merry and Frodo shook their heads quickly and Legolas continued,

"They now we are here,"

All the Hobbits huddled together be Gimli and were getting more scared by the moment.

"Gimli. You stay here with the Hobbits, okay?" Aragorn commanded.

"What? Never! I can fight em," Gimli said angrily.

Aragorn could now hear the orcs loud screams and growls getting closer and didn't want to argue anymore. He had to think fast.

"Fine. You three go out and fight and I will stay back with them," Aragorn finally said.

Boromir and Gimli started heading out to fight, but Legolas stayed back and put his hand on Aragorn's shoulder and said,

"We need you out there. I'll stay," Legolas said.

Aragorn shook his head and then said,

"If any orcs come this way, I will defend myself and them," he gestured towards the Hobbits, "Now go!"

Legolas reluctantly nodded, gave one last look at the terrified Hobbits, and then scampered away with bow in hand to fight.

"Hurry, quick we need to hide you. They will be searching only for the Halflings if Legolas is correct about them coming from Isengard," Aragorn said, "Merry and Pippin! In here quick,"

Aragorn shoved Merry and Pippin into one of the boats quickly and placed a couple blankets over them.

"Don't move and be silent," he said to them. And they were.

"I won't leave you, Mister Frodo," Sam whispered to Frodo.

They both looked afraid.

"I know, Sam," Frodo replied.

Aragorn quickly came back for them and told them to hide behind some leafy boulders. There were short plants and ivy on either side of them.

"Stay here," Aragorn whispered to the Hobbits.

Orcs were now flooding in on the area. Aragorn turned around and started swinging his sword at all of the orcs. Frodo and Sam tucked themselves in the plants as much as they could. They watched Aragorn and occasionally glanced at the boat with Merry and Pippin. There wasn't any movement, which was surprising since they were always on the move. They were probably frozen with fear since they couldn't see anything that was going on because of the cover of the blankets.

All of a sudden from behind, Sam was pulled upward by the scruff of his neck and was off the ground in seconds. He screamed and struggled to get down from the tight grasp.

Not thinking, Frodo jumped out from the plants and rocks suddenly and yelled,

"Let him go!"

There were two orcs. One of them held Sam tightly and the other one held a sharp knife to Sam's throat.

"Are there any more of you?" asked the orc holding the dagger.

Frodo was terrified, but shook his head slightly not wanting to give away Merry and Pippin.

"He's lying! Kill this one!" the orc holding Sam said.

"Wait!" Frodo yelped in a panic.

Sam stopped struggling.

"Tell us where they are, or this one dies!" the orcs growled.

Frodo gulped and stared at Sam. Sam shook his head and whispered,

"No, Mister Frodo... run!"

"Quiet you!" the orc holding Sam shook him a little and tightened his grip on his shoulders and arms.

The other orc dug the knife deeper into Sam's neck and blood started dripping down. Frodo didn't want to give away were his cousins where, but he certainly didn't want this loyal and best friend to die. Sam's eyes were filled with terror as he awaited Frodo's response. Frodo closed his eyes and slowly pointed towards the boats.

"No!!!" Sam said pulling backward into the orc holding him.

"Show us!" the orcs shouted loudly making Frodo jump and open his eyes again.

The orc holding the knife took it away from Sam's neck and grabbed Frodo by his arms.

"...In the..." Frodo started. Tears fell from face as he was about to saw the last word that would give away his crazy cousins that he loved, "...boats..."

Frodo and Sam both closed their eyes tight as they were both dragged away towards the boats. The orcs lifted the blankets up which reveled two very frightened Hobbit faces. Merry and Pippin gasped and jumped to the back of the boat. It rocked a little and some water splashed in and out.

The orc that was holding Frodo took out a horn and blew it. It was loud and made all the Hobbits squeeze their eyes shut tight. After the horn was blown, about twenty to thirty orcs came running. The first two orcs that arrived smiled evil like and snatched up Merry and Pippin with no problem. The Hobbits were no problem to hold since they were so light.

Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir were nowhere in sight. They were supposed to be there protecting them. A large group of orcs including the ones holding the Hobbits started running and yelling in orcish. All the Hobbits struggled to get free, but they all knew there was no point in trying. The orcs were too strong.

As they ran through the forest, neither of the Hobbits saw any of their companions and it was clear that they had been... taken. They were going to Isengard.