Frodo and Sam make their way through the stony and confusing maze of hills known as the Emyn Muil. Frodo worries that they have been delayed by the difficult terrain. The hobbits come to a cliff that they will need to climb down in order to leave the Emyn Muil and enter into the marsh beyond it on their journey toward Mordor. Frodo attempts to climb down the cliff, but falls to a ledge when a Nazgûl scream rings out from above them. Frodo seems to be momentarily blinded in the dark, but Sam remembers the Elven rope he took from Lothlorien and lowers it down to Frodo.

The two of them manage to climb down to the base of the cliff using the rope. Sam is reluctant to leave the rope, worrying that Gollum, who has been following them, will be able to easily use it as well. He tugs on the rope once and it unties itself and falls into his hand. Frodo worries that Sam’s knot was unsound, but Sam is confident that the Elven rope came because he called it.

The hobbits rest for the evening in a gully under the light of the moon and stars.