At the Black Gate, the Mouth of Sauron produces three objects that seem capable of destroying the last hope of the West: a short sword carried by Sam, a grey Elven cloak, and Frodo’s mithril coat. The Captains recognize them. For a terrible moment, they have every reason to fear that Frodo has been captured … Read more
King Théoden rides onto the Pelennor Fields at the height of his restored strength. He is no longer the diminished old king whom Gandalf found sitting uncertainly in Meduseld. At Minas Tirith, he is mounted on Snowmane, leading the Rohirrim personally, and for a brief, astonishing stretch of the battle he seems almost unstoppable. Then … Read more
How the Mountains of Shadow Protected Hithlum, Dor-lómin, and the Western Road into Beleriand When the armies of Morgoth looked west from Angband, Hithlum was not simply another Elven realm waiting beyond an open plain. Between the northern enemy and the lands of Fingolfin stood the Ered Wethrin—the Mountains of Shadow—an immense natural wall wrapped … Read more
At the Black Gate of Mordor, the armies of the West are not waiting for rescue. They are waiting to die. Aragorn has brought only a fraction of the strength that Sauron can command. The Black Gate opens, Mordor’s forces pour out, and the Men of the West are surrounded. Trolls smash into their lines. … Read more
How Morgoth Opens the Bragollach with Fire to Break the Land Before His Armies Advance The most frightening weapon Morgoth unleashes at the beginning of the Dagor Bragollach is not an Orc-host, a Balrog, or even Glaurung. It is the land itself being destroyed. For centuries, the Noldor had maintained the Siege of Angband. Between … Read more
Fëanor comes to Middle-earth for a war that he expects to shape the fate of the world. He has sworn the terrible Oath of Fëanor, led part of the Noldor into exile, crossed the sea in stolen ships, abandoned Fingolfin’s people behind him, and burned those ships at Losgar. Ahead lies Morgoth, and within Morgoth’s … Read more
Merry and Pippin are among the most valuable prisoners Saruman’s Orcs have ever taken. They have been seized alive at Parth Galen, carried away from Boromir’s last stand, and are being hurried toward Isengard under strict orders not to kill them. So when Uglúk suddenly cuts their leg-bonds and forces them onto their feet, the … Read more
Hithlum looks, at first, like exactly the place one would choose to survive a war against Morgoth. The cold northern land lies behind formidable mountain barriers. The Ered Wethrin, the Mountains of Shadow, separate it from much of Beleriand and from the northern plains facing Angband. To the west rise the Ered Lómin, the Echoing … Read more
At the Black Gate, the Captains of the West are already losing when something stranger than reinforcements changes the battle. Sauron has surrounded Aragorn's far smaller host. Orcs and Trolls press inward. Easterlings and Southrons fight alongside them. The Nazgûl circle above the battlefield, spreading terror. The march from Minas Tirith has achieved its real … Read more
When black-sailed ships appeared on the Anduin during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, the defenders of Minas Tirith initially had every reason to despair. The Corsairs of Umbar had been one of Gondor’s oldest maritime enemies, and their fleet was supposed to deliver another blow against a kingdom already fighting for survival. Instead, Aragorn … Read more