The Stairs of Cirith Ungol - Gollum urges Frodo and Sam on toward Cirith Ungol, and soon they can see Minas Morgul glowing with an eerie light. Frodo feels the Ring has become very heavy and it pulls on the chain around his neck. Suddenly, the gates of Minas Morgul open and out of them issues an army led by the leader of the Nazgûl, the same one who stabbed Frodo on Weathertop. Frodo feels pain in the old wound and has a strong desire to put on the Ring. By holding on to the phial given to him by Galadriel, he is able to resist this urge, and the army passes by without noticing them.

Cirith Ungol, Gollum tells them, is made up of two stairways—one straight and steep, and one winding but less steep. They climb the steep stair, then rest for a moment before going on to the longer one. After a while, they take a break from walking to have some food. During this time, as the hobbits talk together, Gollum disappears. When he comes back, Sam and Frodo are sleeping, with Frodo resting on Sam. Gollum seems to recall, however distantly, what it was like to have friends or family, and he reaches out for Frodo's hand as if to hold it. But Sam, waking up suddenly, thinks Gollum is attempting to do harm, and speaks harshly to him. When Frodo wakes up, he tells Gollum he has now done what was agreed, and may go free. But Gollum wants to continue as their guide.