Shelob's Lair

Shelob's Lair was at the top of a dangerous staircase and was surrounded by darkness and shadow. Near the peak of Cirith Ungol was a grey wall that served as the entrance to the tunnel of the Lair. The floor and walls were smooth, and there were a few steps. The tunnel was high and wide, and Frodo and Sam could walk beside each other with their hands stretching outwards to touch the walls. Inside the Lair were the rotting bodies and skeletons of the spider's prey. Going deeper into the cave, one could see numerous sticky webs in a complicated maze. One path of the Lair went to the Tower of Cirith Ungol that was obstructed by a door to keep Shelob out while other paths took to other locations that Shelob himself was only aware of. A foul smell came from the Lair that the Hobbits could sense. [1]​

Shelob had lived in the Lair for about an age. She received enough food when Sauron returned to Mordor. As her power grew, other creatures started using the borders of her Lair, and she grew greedier. Orcs had been using the tunnel and had paved new paths to avoid Shelob, but she found ways to attack them. [2] When Gollum led Sam and Frodo in the quest to destroy the One Ring, he intentionally left them in the tunnel to cross Mordor. Shelob used one of her tunnels and stung Frodo to eat him later. But Sam found them and fought Shelob with the help of the Phial of Galadriel and wounded her in the stomach. The spider had run back into her cave, and not much is known of what happened to her. It is believed that Shelob must have died of her wounds.​