Walk To Rivendell" aka "The Eowyn Challenge"

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

“...The Ring is mine!” As I stumble into the doorway of the Sammath Naur, these words come echoing through the darkness and pierce my heart. We have come to the heart of the Enemy’s realm, and the end of our dark journey.

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The path across Gorgoroth Plain was a long and wearisome undertaking, with hunger and thirst our constant companions. I came to Mordor with Frodo and Sam, believing that I could help to lighten their burdens and keep them from harm…but now I can do nothing to diminish the suffering of my companions, and can only watch, helpless, as their strength wanes. Each day the Ring gains a greater hold over Frodo’s mind and will and like Sam, I am powerless to do anything to ease his torment.

It seemed that Frodo had spent the last of his stamina to reach the foot of the Mountain yesterday, and Sam and I had to carry him much of the way up today. Gollum attacked when we reached the roadway that wound around the Mountain, and Frodo went on ahead while Sam and I stayed to deal with the creature that had caused so much evil. This time, it was the pity of Sam that spared the wretch’s life, and we left him and hurried away to rejoin Frodo.

In the end, neither Sam nor I nor Frodo were able to destroy the Ring. It was Gollum who bit the Ring off of Frodo’s hand—finger and all—and fell with It into the fires and was destroyed. It was the pity and mercy of these two halflings towards Gollum that managed to counter the evil of the Ring and cause Its destruction.

We stand on a small hill of ash here at the foot of Mt. Doom and await the end. I am proud to have been a part of this adventure, and even prouder that these two valiant heroes name me as their friend. In death, their spirits will leave the confines of this world and go to a place known only to Ilúvatar, while I will dwell for a time in the Halls of Mandos. But—if it were permitted—I would choose to make the final journey with them; for I love them well and truly, and even in death I do not wish to be parted from them. We clasp hands, and their touch fills my heart with peace. The last thing my eyes see in this world are the two faces most dear to me—and I am content.

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“I am glad that you are here with me,” said Frodo. “Here at the end of all things, Sam.”

“Yes, I am with you, Master,” said Sam, laying Frodo’s wounded hand gently to his breast. “And you’re with me. And the journey’s finished. But after coming all that way I don’t want to give up yet. It’s not like me, somehow, if you understand.”

“Maybe not, Sam,” said Frodo; “but it’s like things are in the world. Hopes fail. An end comes. We have only a little time to wait now. We are lost in ruin and downfall, and there is no escape.”

…Frodo and Sam could go no further. Their last strength of mind and body was swiftly ebbing. They had reached a low ashen hill piled at the Mountain’s foot; but from it there was no more escape. It was an island now, not long to endure, amid the torment of Orodruin. All about it the earth gaped, and from deep rifts and pits smoke and fumes leaped up. Behind them the Mountain was convulsed. Great rents opened in its side. Slow rivers of fire came down the long slopes towards them. Soon they would be engulfed. A rain of hot ash was falling.

…And so it was that Gwaihir saw them with his keen far-seeing eyes, as down the wild wind he came, and daring the great peril of the skies he circled in the air: two [edit: three] small dark figures, forlorn, hand in hand upon a little hill, while the world shook under them, and gasped, and rivers of fire drew near. And even as he espied them and came swooping down, he saw them fall, worn out, or choked with fumes and heat, or stricken down by despair at last, hiding their eyes from death.

Side by side they lay; and down swept Gwaihir, and down came Landroval and Meneldor the swift; and in a dream, not knowing what fate had befallen them, the wanderers were lifted up and borne far away out of the darkness and the fire.