Frodo and Sam lost track of time after hours of climbing the stairs of Cirith Ungol. In the morning at Minis Tirith even the return of Faramir could not keep hearts stout for long. All over the City the defenders wondered if the Riders of Rohan would come; Gandalf assured them they would--even if they came too late. Denethor had called a council with his captains to discuss defense plans. He was sure Osgiliath would bear the brunt of Sauron's assault and he was loath to leave the River and fields of the Pelennor unguarded. Faramir reminded his father that when the enemy was turned back their numbers were much smaller. The Prince of Dol Amroth cautioned the Steward about reports of other hosts of Mordor and attack from other directions.
Denethor would not listen to their counsel. "'But I will not yield the River and the Pelannor unsought--not if there is a captain here who has still the courage to do his lord's will'" (p. 90, The Return of the King). After silence Faramir offered to defend Osgiliath to make up for loss of Boromir; only he asked that his father think better of him when he returned. "'That depends on the manner of your return' said Denethor" (p. 90, The Return of the King). As Faramir made ready to depart with those who dared to go with him Gandalf urged him to be careful. "'Do not throw away your life away rashly or in bitterness,' he said. "You will be needed here, for other things than war. Your father loves you, Faramir, and will remember it ere the end'" (p. 90, The Return of the King).
Meanwhile Sam and Frodo continued to slow ascent up the stairs of Cirith Ungol. They climbed through the night and into the morning. As they neared the end of the stairs Frodo noticed a tower with a red light shining. He was not happy that Gollum failed to mention this way was guarded. 'All ways are watched, yes' said Gollum. 'Of course they are. But the hobbits must try some way. This may be the least watched. Perhaps they've all gone away to big battle, perhaps!'" (p. 319-320, The Two Towers). Unhappily Frodo and Sam found a crevice to hide in and ate a small meal to refresh themselves. They had been climbing for countless hours and needed to rest before the last leg of this journey. As they discussed where they might find water and if it was clean the hobbits entered into a fascinating dialogue about the old tales. I will quote it extensively, starting with Sam:
"'And we shouldn't be here at all, if we'd known more about it before we started. But I suppose it's often that way. The brave things in the old tales and songs, Mr. Frodo: adventures, as I used to call them. I used to think that they were things the wonderful folk of the stories went out and looked for, because they wanted them, because they were exciting and life was a bit dull, a kind of sport, as you might say. But that's not the way of it with the tales that really mattered, or the ones that stay in the mind. Folk seem to have been just landed in them, usually--their paths were laid that way, as you put it. But I expect they had lots of chances, like us, of turning back, only they didn't. And if they had, we shouldn't know, because they'd have been forgotten. We hear about those as just went on--and not all to a good end, mind you; at least not to what folk inside a story and not outside it call a good end. You know, coming home, and finding things all right, though not quite the same--like old Mr. Bilbo. But those aren't always the best tales to hear, though they may be the best tales to get landed in! I wonder what sort of tale we've fallen into?'
'I wonder,' said Frodo. 'But I don't know. And that's the way of a real tale. Take any one that you're fond of. You may know, or guess, what kind of tale it is, happy-ending or sad-ending, but the people in it don't know. And you don't want them to.'
'No sir, of course not. Beren now, he never thought he was going to get that Silmaril from the Iron Crown in Thangorodrim, and yet he did, and that was a worse place and blacker danger than ours. But that's a long tale, of course, and goes on past the happiness and into grief and beyond it--and the Silmaril went on and came to Earendil. And why, sir, I never thought of that before! We've got--you've got some of the light of it in that star-glass that the Lady gave you! Why, to think of it, we're in the same tale still! It's going on. Don't the great tales never end?'
'No, they never end as tales,' said Frodo. 'But the people in them come, and go when their part's ended. Our part will end later--or sooner'" (p. 320-321, The Two Towers).
What an illuminating exchange. Professor Tolkien was on to something here. The great tales, the ones that stir our hearts, are filled with people like you and me. Ordinary folks who did not turn back when most do. Ordinary folks who strive day in and day out in the story of humanity; men and women who fight for the inherent value, dignity, and worth of the human spirit in all of us. There is pain and suffering and evil all around us; and there are those who do something about it. It's the story of life. And the Story of Life: the Biblical narrative. The Bible is the story of how God came to the rescue even with pain and suffering and evil all around us. The Bible is filled with ordinary folks, like you and me, who sought to follow God and would not turn back even when most do. Who was David? A lowly shepherd who committed adultery. Who was Moses? An exiled killer. Who was Peter? An uneducated fisherman. Ordinary folks, caught up in the Tale that really matters: God's story.
As they continued to discuss there is a heart-warming scene where Sam hopes that Frodo's story is remembered as one of those great tales that matter: "'Frodo was very brave, wasn't he dad?' 'Yes, my boy, the famousest of the hobbits, and that's saying a lot'" (p. 321, The Two Towers). This produced a loud clear laugh from Frodo bringing joy to his heart. He returned the compliment: "'But you've left out one of the main characters: Samwise the stouthearted...Frodo wouldn't have got far without Sam, would he, dad?'" (p. 322, The Two Towers). This embarrassed Sam but his master was not joking; he meant every word. As they talked on Sam wondered what kind of character Gollum would make and they realized he had disappeared once again. There was no food in those parts so they knew it was treachery. Sam was very concerned but Frodo seemed content to let things play out; for he knew Gollum would never betray them to Sauron as his mind was only on the Precious. Overcome with exhaustion Sam had Frodo lay close to him with his head on Sam's lap. That way if Gollum decided to try something soon Sam would know.
Meanwhile night had fallen in Minis Tirith. News came that a large host had issued forth from Minas Morgul and was nigh to Osgiliath. News also had come that this force had met up with Men from Haradrim in the South. Worst of all it was known that the King of the Ringwraith's rode at the head of the invading forces.
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019, March 11th
Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 89-90; The Two Towers, pages 318-323; The Return of the King, pages 90-91
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