Sam To The Rescue

Sam finally came to after almost knocking himself out against the barred door to the Orc tower. Sam had no doubt; he must find a way to save Frodo or die in the attempt. As he thought how he might do this his mind drifted to the rest of the Fellowship. "Out westward in the world it was drawing to noon upon the fourteenth day of March in the Shire-reckoning, and even now Aragorn was leading the black fleet from Pelargir, and Merry was riding with the Rohirrim down the Stonewain Valley, while in Minis Tirith flames were rising and Pippin watched the madness growing the eyes of Denethor" (p. 173, The Return of the King). Though in peril they too thought of the plight of Frodo and Sam. Finally, Sam found his way out of Shelob's lair and started toward the watch tower, Cirith Ungol, that he and Frodo had seen. He knew that Frodo would be kept there and the only option he saw was entering by the main gate. He stopped when he saw the tower again, he knew this would likely mean his death, and felt that once he began the descent into Mordor that move would be irrevocable.

On a whim he put the Ring back on. Now in Mordor the weight and burden of the Ring was stronger than ever. Sam could feel the Eye searching but the thick gloom and darkness it had made were now working against It's search. Sam's hearing was sharpened and he thought Orcs were starting a search for him until he realized the clanging of metal he heard was the sound of fighting. Suddenly he had hope; perhaps Shagrat and Gorbag had come to blows after all. With his renewed spirit Sam entered Mordor. He immediately took off the Ring, perhaps moved by some premonition, in reality he wanted to see better. Soon he beheld Cirith Ungol in all its might and no longer felt brave. It seemed to him that this watchtower was designed to keep enemies within Mordor rather than without. "It was indeed one of the works of Gondor long ago, an eastern outpost of the defenses of Ithilien, made when, after the Last Alliance, Men of Westernesse kept watch on the evil land of Sauron where his creatures still lurked" (p. 176, The Return of the King).

There was no way Sam could enter unseen. His thought turned to the Ring again and it started to play tricks on him. He envisioned himself much larger, as a conquering hero, overthrowing Mordor, and turning it into a land of plush gardens. All this, and more, would be his if he would simply use the Ring again. But love of Frodo and his plain hobbit sense staved the temptation. "The one small garden of a free gardner was all his need and due, not a garden swollen to a realm; his own hands to use, not the hands of others to command" (p. 177, The Return of the King). Sam pressed on. Soon he could hear fighting without aid of the Ring and he saw two orcs running from the Tower; away from him toward a main road--but they stumbled and laid still. With as much stealth as he could muster Sam crept along the Tower walls and wondered what could have set off Shagrat and Gorbag. He then remembered Frodo's mithril coat--that must be the answer to the riddle for Gorbag would want it and Shagrat was under orders to bring everything to the Eye.

Sam drew Sting and ran toward the entrance of the Tower. He was stopped short; some sort of invisible will blocked his way. He then saw the Two Watchers. "They were like great figures seated upon thrones. Each had three joined bodies and three heads facing outward, and inward, and across the gateway. The heads had vulture-faces, and on their great knees were laid clawlike hands. They seemed to be carved out of huge blocks of stone, immovable, and yet they were aware: some dreadful spirit of evil vigilance abode in them. They knew an enemy. Visible or invisible none could pass unheeded. They would forbid his entry, or his escape" (p. 178, The Return of the King). Unable to pass Sam revealed the phial of Galadriel and it's light broke the Watchers will. The moment he entered and shielded the light he felt their watch renewed and their heads released a terrible cry that was answered by a single stroke of a bell far above him. Sam knew he was know longer a secret.

Sam entered into the Tower but only saw dead Orcs around him. He started up a stair and soon heard footsteps coming down. Sam clutched the Ring but resisted putting it on. As the Orc came upon him it started in fear and ran back up the steps. For even though he did not wear the Ring it radiated powerful doom and enhanced the hobbits stature in the eye of the orc. Sam chased after but being weary and hungry he could not keep up. On and up he climbed. He reached the top and heard voices: one he recognized, Shagrat, the other (Snaga) was the orc who had run away. As Sam listened he learned Snaga was too scared to go back down and Shagrat had been wounded in the fighting. The two orcs argued and soon Shagrat began to chase Snaga around to either kill him or force him back down the stairs; Sam was able to watch as Snaga escaped to some unseen place. To Sam's amazement one of the lifeless bodies on the ground began to move toward Shagrat. Before the wounded orc could stab Shagrat he turned around and drove his knife through the neck of Gorbag.

Shagrat hacked away at Gorbag's body and quickly turned toward the doorway Sam had been hiding by. Shagrat picked up a package with his arm that was not maimed. All at once Sam jumped out at him, again the Ring enhanced Sam's image to Shagrat's eyes. Shagrat jumped to the side and slammed Sam with the package, nearly knocking him over, and fled down the stairs. Sam had another choice: to chase down Shagrat who would call for aid or look for Frodo who may be in the clutches of Snaga now. Sam chose Frodo. He ran all around the top floor but saw no sign of his master. Giving up, in despair, he began to sing, heedless of any danger around him. As he sang he thought he heard a voice answer but then silence. As he pondered this he heard Snaga approach yelling. Once again Sam hid watching Snaga bring a ladder to reach a trap-door in the roof of the room.

Sam watched Snaga climb up and begin yelling, clearly at Frodo, and then he heard the crack of a whip. In a rage Sam flew up the ladder and sliced off Snaga's hand before the whip struck Frodo a second time. Snaga ran in haste, tripping over the ladder head, and falling down the trap door. Sam finally found Frodo and gently roused him. Frodo thought perhaps he was caught in a terrible nightmare but he knew reality was much worse. "Sam felt that he could sit like that in endless happiness; but it was not allowed" (p. 186-187, The Return of the King). As urgently and compassionately as he could Sam sought to get Frodo moving again, every moment was precious now. Frodo wanted to know how he had been captured and how Sam had rescued him but they had not the time. He started to talk about his torture but Sam urged him not to think of that now. But a painful reality hit Frodo: "'They've taken everything, Sam' said Frodo. 'Everything I had. Do you understand? Everything!'" (p. 187, The Return of the King). Frodo thought the Quest had failed.

Sam revealed to Frodo it had not failed; he had taken the Ring but as he fumbled to give it back to his master he found himself reluctant. Frodo was overjoyed but he quickly turned stern demanding it back. Sam gave it back but, seeing how they were now in Mordor and its power grown immensely, he offered to help Frodo carry it. "'No, no!' cried Frodo, snatching the Ring and chain from Sam's hands. 'No you won't, you thief'" (p. 188, The Return of the King). This change in demeanor cut Sam to the core, his feelings crushed, eyes filled with tears. Quickly Frodo returned to normal apologizing knowing it was the power of the Ring. Sam knew, he understood. He pulled himself together and asked Frodo to stay up top with the ladder while he looked for clothes, food, and supplies. With Frodo's leave he held on to Sting and the light of Galadriel while he searched. He immediately brought back Snaga's knife so Frodo could have a weapon, the orc had broken his neck in the fall, and then Sam was off to find Mordor gear for he and Frodo to wear.

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019, March 14th
Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 173-189