Sam comes to consciousness after being stunned by running into the doors of the Orc tower where Shagrat and Gorbag took Frodo. He decides that he will need to go around to find the front entrance rather than wait for this door to open again. He puts on the Ring to avoid detection, hearing the distant sound of Orcs fighting. He takes the Ring off again as he climbs up the pass so that he will be able to see more clearly. Sam crosses into the land of Mordor. In the distance he sees the volcano Mount Doom where the Ring was forged. As he looks out at Mordor, the Ring begins to tempt him more intensely. Sam imagines himself seizing its power and turning the polluted landscape into a beautiful garden. However, Sam is able to resist the temptation due to his humility and his loyalty to Frodo.

Sam finds the front entrance to the fortress, guarded by two vulture-like stone statues. He finds himself unable to walk between them, stopped by some invisible force. Using the light of the Phial of Galadriel, Sam is able to force his way through, but a bell rings as he does.