As Gandalf and Pippin came to the gate that barred the burial grounds of they found the porter slain and the gate open. More evidence of Sauron's will at work. They heard the clanging of swords and yelling. They found Beregond fighting with the servants of Denethor; two were slain and they were accusing Beregond of treachery. Denethor could be heard from inside the mausoleum for the Stewards yelling at his servants to kill Beregond as he blocked their path and torches. Gandalf sprang forward staying the fighting by revealing a powerful white light in his anger. He questioned Denethor who was obstinate and would not be answerable to anyone calling himself the Lord of Gondor. I think that is quite significant; he didn't say Steward of Gondor. Denethor told Gandalf Faramir was not yet dead but was burning (fever) along with all of the West. Gandalf could see the madness in Denethor's words and eyes. Showing his power he sprang passed the Steward and picked up Faramir's body, soaked in oil; surrounded by wood, like it was a feather.
Faramir stirred and called for his father. His voiced almost snapped Denethor into reality but he quickly spoke again of Gondor's fall and wished he and his son would die together. "'Authority is not given to you, Steward of Gondor, to order the hour of your death,' answered Gandalf. 'And only the heathen kings, under the domination of the Dark Power, did thus, slaying themselves in pride and despair, murdering their kin to ease their own death'" (p. 129, The Return of the King). Once more Gandalf asked Denethor to join him. Denethor sprang onto the pyre and revealed a palantir. He said he could see the defeat of the West. Furthermore he accused Gandalf of trying to supplant him with Aragorn: "'I will not bow to such a one, last of a ragged house long bereft of lordship and dignity'" (p. 130, The Return of the King). Denethor approached Faramir with knife in hand only to be stopped by Beregond; calling to his servants he grabbed their fire brands and lit himself into roaring flames. "'So passes Denethor, son of Ecthelion,' said Gandalf" (p. 131, The Return of the King).
At the coming of Rohan the King of the Nazgul vanished from the gate. Theoden had cut deep into the enemy forces while Elfhelm drove against the walls of the City. Dernhelm followed the King closely. The leader of the Haradrim saw the King's banner alone and unfurled his banner, a red flag adorned with a black serpent, and rallied his forces to attack Theoden. But Theoden, being fey, would not await his death; he charged his remaining knights at the Haradrim. In a fell swoop of his sword he hewed both banner and bearer of the Haradrim. The victory was short lived as an immense black shape flew down from the sky causing terror in every man and horse. Theoden tried to rally his men but Snowmane bucked into the air and was struck by a poison arrow falling to the ground with Theoden underneath. The immense flying creature, some fell beast of Mordor, landed bearing the Lord of the Nazgul to desecrate the body of Theoden. But the king was not forsaken: "Yet one stood there still: Dernhelm the young, faithful beyond fear; and he wept, for he had loved his lord as a father" (p. 115, The Return of the King). Merry was there but mastered by the fear of the Black Rider though he tried to rouse his cold heart.
The Captain of the Black Riders bid Dernhelm to begone but the young warrior would not go. Merry listened and recognized Dernhelm's voice. The Lord of the Nazgul promised death for no living man could defeat him. To Merry's surprise, he was answered with laughter. "'But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Eowyn I am, Eoumund's daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him'" (p. 116, The Return of the King). This brings tears to my eyes. Faithful beyond fear. Love for her father-king. Eowyn's strength is unmatched. She is one of the strongest character's in Tolkien's world. All the better that she is a woman. The Nazgul Lord seemed to be in doubt but did not relent. With tears streaming down her cheeks Eowyn raised her shield and sword. This roused Merry's courage who simply would not her die alone and unaided (more tears, even as I type this). He began to crawl slowly to the Black Rider.
The fell beast lunged at Eowyn and with one deadly strike she beheaded it. The Lord of the Ringwraiths swung his mace at Eowyn shattering her shield and arm as she crumpled to the ground. Standing over her with his mace poised for a deathblow the Nazgul King suddenly cried out in agony. Merry had stabbed him in the back of the knee with his sword. Merry called for Eowyn as she stabbed her enemy between his crown and mantle. Eowyn fell forward onto her foe a shapeless cloak on the ground. "Shapeless they lay now on the ground, torn and tumbled; and a cry went up into the shuddering air, and faded to a shrill wailing, passing with the wind, a voice bodiless and thin that died, and was swallowed up, and was never heard again in that age of this world" (p. 117, The Return of the King).
Gandalf, Beregond, and Pippin bore Faramir's body toward the Houses of Healing, set aside for the recovery of the sick or injured; the only green space in Minis Tirith. Passing the dead porter Beregond was regretful of his deeds. At the Houses of Healing were the only remaining women in the City who knew the arts of healing or were in the service of the healers. Even as the reached the Houses all could hear a terrible wail. "So terrible was that cry that for a moment all stood still, and yet when it passed, suddenly there hearts were lifted up in such a hope as they had not known since the darkness came out of the East; and it seemed to them that the light grew clear and the sun broke through the clouds" (p. 132, The Return of the King). And yet Gandalf, overlooking the Pelennor, was downtrodden. He announced that acts of great renown had been done but with much sorrow; but for the madness of Denethor he may have been able to avoid the sorrow. Indeed, Gandalf now knew how Sauron's will had gripped the City: by Denethor's use of the palantir.
Merry stood in a stupor looking at the bodies of Eowyn and Theoden; to his surprise he found that Theoden yet lived. "'Farewell, Master Holbytla!' he said. 'My body is broken. I go to my fathers. And even in their mighty company I shall not now be ashamed. I felled the black serpent. A grim morn, and a glad day, and a golden sunset!'" (p. 117-118, The Return of the King). In his closing moments Theoden forgave Merry for disobeying his orders to stay behind, declared Eomer should be king, and thought of Eowyn, dearer then a daughter, not knowing she lay near him fallen on the field. Merry noticed battle converging toward where the King lay; he thought of Gandalf and wondered if he might have been able to save Theoden and Eowyn. Eomer rode up with some Rohirrim and grieved at the sight of their king. With his dying breath Theoden signaled his banner should be passed to Eomer: "'Hail, King of the Mark!'" (p. 119, The Return of the King). With tears Eomer commanded Theoden's knights stay and guard the body of the King and those who fell around him and scanning the fallen he saw a most unexpected sight: his sister.
For a long moment he was in a shocked silence and then he cried out for her. In hot wrath he called for the Riders of the Mark to ride to their deaths. He charged the great host of enemies that lay before them and with one voice the Riders chanted death and followed their new King into the fray. Meanwhile Frodo and Sam watched the sky lighten as Theoden was dying on the Pelennor Fields. They too heard a cry rise up on the wind. "As it went it sent out a long shrill cry, the voice of a Nazgul; but this cry no longer held any terror for them: it was the cry of woe and dismay, ill tidings for the Dark Tower. The Lord of the Ringwraiths had met his doom" (p. 196, The Return of the King). Sam was greatly encouraged but Frodo, being burdened by the Ring, still did not see much hope. They shared some lembas before continuing the trek to Mount Orodruin.
Merry stood in the same spot with tears in his eyes. He was unable to use his right arm, the arm in with which he had stabbed the Black Rider. He began to look for his sword, since Theoden's knights were not talking to him. He found it smoking on the ground until it was consumed. "So passed the sword of the Barrow-downs, work of Westernesse" (p. 119, The Return of the King). Indeed, it was wrought during the reign of Angmar and no other blade would have wounded the King of Angmar so. I wonder if old Tom Bombadil had an idea of what the hobbits might encounter when he chose those blades. The knights bore the bodies of Theoden and Eowyn toward Minis Tirith and Merry followed. As a rain began to fall, quenching the flames in the city, they were met by Imrahil, Prince of Dol Amroth. Seeing the dead King Imrahil grieved and was filled by wonder at the body of Eowyn. The knights explained who she was and as he studied her Imrahil realized she was still alive. Imrahil sent one of his riders back to the City to bring aid and then he left the solemn knights to join battle.
Merry, who's eyes grew dim, and his company reached the Gate of Minis Tirith. Signs of intense battle were everywhere and litter bearers were exiting the City. Eowyn and Theoden were taken in honor and Merry left to himself. Merry tried to follow but all went dark as if he were in a cave and that's when he heard a most unexpected voice: an anxious Pippin. He could tell Merry was not doing well. Merry explained his arm was useless and cold and all had been going dark since stabbing the Black Captain. Pippin tried to lead Merry to the Houses of Healing but he was too much to bear. At that moment Bergil ran by, on errands for the Healers, so Pippin sent a message about Merry to Gandalf. Quickly Gandalf found them and he looked over the wounded hobbit: "'He should have been borne in honour into this city.' he said" (p. 135, The Return of the King). The Wizard was thankful Elrond had agreed to let Pippin and Merry come on the Quest for they had done much good. Still he sighed: "'And yet here is another charge on my hands, while all the time the battle hangs in the balance" (p. 136, The Return of the King).
Imrahil came to Eomer's aid just in time. For the Rohirrim had cut through their enemy but the oliphaunts had disbursed the Riders and scared their horses. Gothmog, lieutenant of Morgul and now commander of the field for Sauron, threw all his forces into battle. Most of which were men under the dominion of Sauron cutting off the forces of Gondor and Rohan from another. As the tide turned against the enemies of Sauron horns could be heard. Ships could be seen on Anduin: Corsairs of Umbar. Those in the City rang the bells of retreat hoping that some of those in the Pelennor Fields might make it back to the safety of the walls. Eomer saw the ships and knew he was in trouble. Thinking clearly he rallied all the Riders near him thinking to create a last stand before death took them. He rose his sword in defiance toward the ships and wonder took him for the lead ship unfurled it's banner. "There flowered a White Tree, and that was for Gondor; but Seven Stars were about it, and a high crown above it, the signs of Elendil that no lord had borne for years beyond count. And the stars flamed in the sunlight, for they were wrought of gems by Arwen daughter of Elrond; and the crown was bright in the morning; for it was wrought of mithril and gold" (p. 123, The Return of the King).
Aragorn had arrived. The forces of Mordor were in confusion. They were caught between Eomer and Imrahil who had renewed hope. The ships began to empty. "There came Legolas, and Gimli wielding his axe, and Halbarad with the standard, and Elladan and Elrohir with starts on their brow, and the dour-handed Dúnedain, Rangers of the North, leading a great valour of the folk of Lebennin and Lamedon and the fiefs of the South. But before all went Aragorn with the Flame of the West, Anduril like a new fire kindled, Narsil re-forged as deadly as of old; and upon his brow was the Star of Elendil" (p. 123, The Return of the King). Upon the battefield Eomer and Aragorn met beyond all hope. Eomer was glad but told his friend that much sorrow had already befallen. "'Then let us avenge it, ere we speak of it!' said Aragorn, and they rode back to battle together" (p. 124, The Return of the King). Through the course of the day many more acts of renown were done and after hard fighting the enemy was utterly destroyed. Still many great warriors would not survive: Theoden, Forlong, Halbarad, and Grimbold among others.
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019, March 15th
Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 126-132; 114-117; 132-133; 117-119; 196; 119; 134-136; 123-125
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019, March 15th
Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 126-132; 114-117; 132-133; 117-119; 196; 119; 134-136; 123-125
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