Ithilien
"We have lingered here too long."
Frodo

Frodo and Sam's journey to find the back way into Mordor takes them through Ithielien. A once beautiful land now scarred with the presence of the enemy. Once this land was inhabited by the people of the King Isildur, however now it acts as a buffer against the evil forces of Mordor and the only people who go there are servants of the Dark Lord Sauron and the Rangers whose job it is to protect Gondor from danger.
The three companions take a break in their travels and stop a while to eat and rest. Before long they hear a strange noise and when the go to investigate they see a great host of Men all marching towards Mordor. With them are huge grey beasts which Sam recognises as the Olliphaunts out of legends and sighs that no one in the Shire would believe him. Suddenly a battle breaks out between the marching men and unseen archers, sending the Olliphaunts into a frenzy and many of the Men to be killed. Fearing that they may be caught Frodo and Sam make to move off when they meet a dark Ranger and his Men - the archers who attacked the servants of Sauron. Gollum has disappeared but the Ranger decides to take Frodo and Sam with him and will, no doubt, discover who they are and what they are carrying.