The Stairs of Cirith Ungol

After sunset Gollum urged Frodo and Sam onward saying the Cross-roads were not a safe place to tarry. Once past the Cross-roads the burden of the Ring weighed heavily on Frodo. As the path grew steep he looked up wearily to see Minas Morgul: City of the Ringwraiths. It was terrible, full of brooding watchful silence, pale dead light, and reek. They each had to force themselves forward eventually coming to a bridge that led toward the Tower. All at once Frodo began to run toward the bridge as if overcome by a will other than his own. Gollum was distraught trying to call quietly for him to turn back. It was Sam who caught his master; for once wholeheartedly agreeing with Gollum that they should not go that way.

Gollum led them to a gap in the wall beside the road which led down a narrow path by a foul river. It was pitch black and Frodo and Sam went fearfully forward seeing only Gollum's pale malicious gleam ahead of them when he turned. They reached a flat rock and Frodo could not go forward. "'I must rest a while, Sam,' whispered Frodo. 'It's heavy on me, Sam lad, very heavy'" (p. 314, The Two Towers). If I've not written of the crucial role Sam plays in Frodo's journey it's about to become self-evident. Frodo would never had made it so far without Sam by his side. What a beautiful picture, applicable to all of life, we need a friend by our sides as we journey forth. Gollum felt that they were not safe and urged Frodo to go on; with great effort Frodo obliged. But it was too late.

Thunder and lightening and noise erupted as the Gates of Minas Morgul opened. Worst was the high-pitched screech that rose above it all and sent Frodo and Sam to their faces. With effort Frodo peered over the edge of the rock. He saw many troops issuing forth and at their head was a great Black Rider with a crown-like helm upon his head. "Surely there was the Lord of the Nine Riders returned to earth to lead his ghastly host to battle? Here, yes here indeed was the haggard king whose cold hand had smitten down the Ring-bearer with his deadly knife. The old wound throbbed with pain and a great chill spread towards Frodo's heart" (p. 315, The Two Towers). Indeed, the King of the Wraiths stopped his horse parallel to the rock where the hobbits lay shifting his head back and forth as if noticing another power in his presence.

Frodo felt an urgent pull to put on the Ring. "He knew that the Ring would betray him, and that he had not, even if he put it on, the power to face the Morgul-king--not yet" (p. 315-316, The Two Towers). That is an intriguing not yet--even now as Frodo contemplating keeping the Ring? Frodo watched as his hand moved independently of his will toward the Ring; he strove with this outside will forcing his hand to find something else and indeed it did. "Cold and hard it seemed as his grip closed on it: the phial of Galadriel, so long treasured, and almost forgotten about till that hour" (p. 316, The Two Towers). The phial cleared Frodo's mind and broke the call of the Morgul-king. The host of Minas Morgul went forth toward Osgiliath. This was one of many hosts of Sauron, and large as it was, it was not the grandest.

Frodo thought of Faramir wondering if he would make it back to Minis Tirith before the onslaught. Dismayed by the numbers of enemy Frodo felt all was lost; that even if he destroyed the Ring all his friends would be gone. "Overcome with weakness he wept" (p. 316, The Two Towers). Sam roused Frodo when the host passed agreeing with Gollum that they could not stay. Gollum led them forth to the foot of a great stair, the stairs of Cirith Ungol. Up and up and up they climbed through treacherous, broken and uneven steps. With each passing climb they knew the fall below would be death. After a long while, probably past midnight now, they completed what Gollum called the Straight Stair.

Gollum would only permit them a short rest before climbing the even longer Winding Stair. Their only solace was that it was not as difficult a climb. Sam asked Gollum what came after the next stair. "'We shall see,' said Gollum softly. 'O yes, we shall see!'" (p. 318, The Two Towers). This answer did not please Sam and he pushed for information regarding the tunnel that had been mentioned; Gollum admitted to the tunnel but would not say much more. At this Frodo arose and called for his companions to start the next stair.

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019, March 10th
Today's reading comes from: The Two Towers, pages 312-318