Book 4, Chapter 9 Summary

The cloud from Mordor still covers the sky as the hobbits move forward. They climb the last upward stretch and enter Shelob's Lair. The smell is overpowering, but the hobbits go on. Soon, Gollum disappears into the gloom.

Unable to see enough to move forward, Frodo uses the phial of light from Galadriel to see through the darkness and, as they try to peer through the inky blackness, Shelob, a huge spider, comes out to attack them. However, the phial of light and the power of Galadriel are enough to scare her away.

Passing farther through the Lair, the hobbits reach an exit only to find that Shelob has spun a web across it and only Frodo's elven blade can cut the strands. In order to free his hands, Frodo gives Sam the phial and he slashes through the web.

After...