The Shire-Reckoning

March 10, 1419 S.R.

2010-03-11T00:00:00Z

The Dawnless Day. The east wind has continued overnight. By morning, all of eastern Gondor lies under the ceiling of dark cloud — presumably composed of smoke and volcanic ash — which stretches westward from Mordor. In Minas Tirith, only a dim grey light indicates that it is daytime.

Gandalf rouses Pippin in the dark morning and the two go to Denethor, who has ordered Pippin arrayed as a Guard of the Tower and employs him as an esquire. The wizard attends the Steward's councils through the morning, then leaves the city upon Shadowfax to gather news in the dark outside. He returns in the evening, and drives off five Nazgûl that harry Faramir and his men as they retreat from Osgiliath toward the city.

The ghostly Oathbreakers march through a second swift day alongside Aragorn and his companions. By evening they have passed the river Ringló and entered Lebennin, largest of the lands of southern Gondor.

The dawn brings only dim light to Dunharrow that, like Minas Tirith, now lies beneath the shadows of Sauron. Théoden decides, under the cover of this darkness, to abandon secrecy and race across the plains to Minas Tirith, bringing only supply enough to feed them until their arrival. By noon he and his army has reached Edoras. There, Théoden intends to leave Meriadoc behind; but Éowyn, who has accompanied the riders in disguise under the name Dernhelm, takes him on her horse. The army continues east and camps at the junction of the Snowbourn and Entwash.

Gollum wakes just after midnight and leads Sam and Frodo, who have not slept, eastward beside the Morgulduin. When they again rest, beneath brambles, Gollum disappears. Before dawn, the eastern sky glows red above the Mountains of Ash, as Orodruin begins to billow forth black vapor; the darkness upon the land is thick when Gollum returns in the afternoon and they again march — south to the great crossroads where the sun, falling beneath the rack of vapor, gives them a last sunset.

The east road brings them in sight of the white bridge before the fortress of Minas Morgul, but Gollum leads them off the highway to the left and up the path leading to Cirith Ungol. There, above the valley, they watch the Witch-king lead out the armies that will soon besiege Minas Tirith. For a moment the Witch-king seems to dimly perceive the Ring, but his sense is frustrated when Frodo grasps instead the phial of Galadriel.

An army recently issued from the Black Gate reaches Cair Andros and begins to cross into Anórien.

March 9, 1419 S.R.

2010-03-10T00:00:00Z

Having long prepared to invade Gondor, and spurred by the sight of Aragorn in the palantír of Orthanc three days ago, the Lord of the Rings ignites Orodruin. From Minas Tirith they see the smoke and ash that billows from its cone as a darkness standing up above Mordor, stained red from underneath by Orodruin's fire. At sunset, the wind begins carrying the darkness westward from Mordor, and by the middle of the night, Ithilien lies wholly under shadow.

It has taken only three nights for Shadowfax to carry Gandalf and Pippin nearly to Minas Tirith. Before dawn they pass within the Rammas Echor, the walls which Gondor has built as a defense around the fields of the Pelennor, and with the rising of the sun they come at last to Minas Tirith. The Steward of Gondor, Denethor, questions Pippin sharply about the death of his son Boromir, suspicious that a Hobbit should survive when a strong warrior was killed. The young Hobbit in repsonse credits Boromir with saving his life, and in return offers fealty to the Steward. In the afternoon, three thousand reinforcements from southern Gondor enter the city — far fewer than the defenders had hoped.

Théoden comes to Dunharrow in the evening and finds most of his army already gathered, thanks to Gandalf's unauthorized instructions given at Edoras three days ago. From Éowyn he learns that Aragorn has travelled the Paths of the Dead. Late in the evening a messenger of Gondor arrives with the Red Arrow, summoning Rohan to the aid of his realm, and is dismayed when Théoden cannot promise that his Riders will reach Minas Tirith at the earliest in one week. Merry, as royal esquire, rests in a small tent beside that of Théoden.

At dawn, Aragorn and his companions set out from the Hill of Erech with the ghost-army of the Oathbreakers. The ghosts try to sweep past Aragorn, but he commands them instead to follow. By dusk they cross the river Ciril and reach the town of Calembel, whose people flee before them. The sun, setting behind them, stands beneath racks of dark smoke that are passing overhead.

Gollum rejoins Frodo and Sam as they wake beneath the trees of Ithilien, and they continue marching south beneath the tense airs above them. They reach the ravine in which the Morgulduin flows from the Mountains of Shadow toward the Anduin to the west; beside it runs the road from Minas Morgul to the ruins of Osgiliath. They remain on the north side of the valley and, urged on by Gollum, hike on after nightfall, then take a few hours of rest in the branches of a tree.

Faramir leaves the secret refuge at Henneth Annûn and reaches Cair Andros. As darkness covers Ithilien, he sends his forces south to Osgiliath, while with three men he himself rides for Minas Tirith.

March 8, 1419 S.R.

2010-03-09T00:00:00Z

Messengers reach Minas Tirith from Lebannin, reporting that a large fleet of corsairs from Umbar are approaching the mouths of Anduin from the south. The men of Lebinnin and Belfalas will have to reserve much strength of arms to meet this invasion, leaving Minas Tirith with far less strength than she expected. The Steward Denethor orders the beacons along the White Mountains lighted.

At dawn Gandalf and Pippin rest from their overnight ride upon Shadowfax, the second of the three nights of riding that the wizards hopes will bring them to Minas Tirith before war overwhelms its approaches. After resting through the day they set off upon this last stage, and as darkness gathers they see the ancient war-beacons upon the White Mountains come alight — the Steward Denethor summoning Rohan to his aid according to the ancient covenant.

For a third day Théoden rides secretly through the Mountains, leading his forces from their victory at Helm's Deep. By evening they are only one day away from their mountain stronghold of Dunharrow.

Aragorn leaves Dunharrow in the morning and, against the earnest wish of Éowyn, walks the Paths of the Dead. With him walk Dúnedain, the Sons of Elrond, and Legolas, each leading their horse; and finally Gimli aghast with with terror. They emerge from the dark Paths onto the southern slopes of the White Mountains about two hours before dark, and after hard riding reach the Stone of Erech at midnight where Aragorn calls the ghosts of the Oathbreakers to his allegiance.

Faramir wakes Frodo in the early hours and they catch Gollum fishing in the pool below Henneth Annûn, who grudges this treatment despite the fact that Frodo has saved his life. They depart from the hidden retreat in the morning and begin marching southward through the woods; by dark they are seven leagues to the south. Frodo and Sam camp but Gollum disappears.

March 7, 1419 S.R.

2010-03-08T00:00:00Z

After riding through the night, Gandalf and Pippin spend most of the day resting under cover, having completed one-third of their journey from Edoras to Minas Tirith. They set off again upon Shadowfax in the evening, leaving the setting sun behind them as they speed eastward.

Théoden rides the mountain-roads toward Dunharrow for a second day, having set out from the Hornburg yesterday at noon.

The ride of Aragorn and his companions across the plains brings them to Edoras in the afternoon, and Dunharrow at twilight; there they eat and rest before taking the Paths of the Dead tomorrow.

By dawn, Gollum has lead Sam and Frodo into the rich woodland of Ithilien. Sam stews a breakfast of rabbits. The smoke attracts Rangers of Gondor patrolling the area, who detain the Hobbits while they execute an ambush against forces from Harad that are marching along the road to Mordor. Sam gets his only glimpse of an Oliphant during the successful engagement. Afterwards, the Hobbits are interrogated at length by Faramir, the leader of the Rangers. They convince him that, while they did march south with his brother Boromir, they are not responsible for — and, in fact, had not even learned of — his death.

At sunset, the Rangers return to their secret refuge behind the waterfall of Henneth Annûn. There Frodo and Sam enjoy hearty dinner and wine for the first time since leaving Lórien almost three weeks ago. In private conversation afterwards, the Hobbits inadvertently reveal that Frodo bears the Ruling Ring and intends to destroy it. In response, Faramir promises as much aid to their quest as he can give.

March 6, 1419 S.R.

2010-03-07T00:00:00Z

The sun is rising upon the golden eaves of Meduseld as Shadowfax brings Gandalf and Pippin to Edoras, only a few hours after setting out from Dol Baran, north of the Fords of Isen. Pippin and Shadowfax rest while Gandalf persuades the captains of Rohan to hasten their muster. After a winged Nazgûl passes low over the hall, the wizard makes a further amendment to their plans, counseling that Rohan should gather secretly at Dunharrow instead of openly here at Edoras. He and Pippin set off upon Shadowfax in the evening, racing toward Minas Tirith before it falls under siege.

Back north of the Fords, Aragorn, Théoden, and their companions abandon the camp at Dol Baran before dawn. After crossing the Fords of Isen, they are overtaken by thirty Dúnedain, who have ridden from the North in the belief that their captain Aragorn has summoned them. He confesses that he has not, but guesses that Galadriel sent a message after discerning in his mind an unspoken need for his kinsmen. With the company of Dúnedain ride the two sons of Elrond, who wish to employ their own swords in the defense of the West, and Aragorn's own horse, Roheryn.

When they reach the Hornberg, Aragorn does not rest with the others, but closets himself alone with the Palantír of Orthanc. He reveals himself and his ancient sword Andúril as a challenge to Sauron, then wrests control of the the stone from his Enemy, claiming it for himself as a prerogative of the ancient Kings. With the palantír he sees a fleet from Umbar approaching southern Gondor, where thousands of men remain to meet the invasion who would otherwise have joined the defense of Minas Tirith.

After noon, Théoden sets off with his bodyguard and Merry to travel well-concealed mountain paths toward Dunharrow. But Aragorn, having finally resolved to take the Paths of the Dead, and desperate for speed lest he arrive too late to defend southern Gondor, sets out at twilight directly across the plain. With Aragorn ride the Dúnedain, Legolas and Gimli, and the two Sons of Elrond.

By morning Gollum has lead Frodo and Sam out of sight of the gates of Mordor and along the south road towards Ithilien. They rest in deep heather during the day, glad to be among growing plants again. At night they set out south along the road.

March 5, 1419 S.R.

2010-03-06T00:00:00Z

By dawn, the Ents dismantle the last of the dams with which they had diverted the Isen yesterday to flood Isengard. As the waters subside, Merry and Pippin descend from the walls and have breakfast. Wormtongue arrives on horseback, and Treebeard — faithful to the instructions of Gandalf — forces the traitor into the tower of Orthanc.

The hours before dawn are less restful for those camped beside the Isen with King Théoden. The few who sleep are startled awake when a rustling darkness moves toward them from the south and surrounds the camp. The Huorn, the herds of wild trees, are passing back north toward Fangorn Forest after avenging themselves upon the Orcs yesterday at Helm's Deep. Closer to dawn, water suddenly returns to the dry riverbed of the Isen.

King Théoden and the others ride at daybreak, reaching Isengard just after noon. They find Merry and Pippin waiting at the gate, whom Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli have not seen since the two Hobbits were captured ten days ago. While Gandalf and the King go to speak with Treebeard, the Hobbits provide their companions with food, pipeweed, and an account of how they survived both their capture and the seige of Isengard.

In the afternoon, Gandalf leads them to the foot of Orthanc to speak with Saruman. The cunning wizard fails to bring either King Théoden or Gandalf under the control of his voice. When he refuses to repent or leave Orthanc, Gandalf reveals that, upon his return from death four weeks ago, he became Gandalf the White — leaving Saruman without his own color, without a place among the order of Wizards. Gandalf breaks Saruman's staff and dismisses him.

The party then rides back south and camps at Dol Baran, where Pippin looks in the palantír which Wormtongue hurled at them from the tower as they finished speaking with Saruman. Realizing that Saruman has been using the palantír to inform Sauron of the events of the western war, Gandalf orders King Théoden to ride immediately south, while the wizard himself rides for Minas Tirith with Pippin.

By dawn, Gollum has finally lead Frodo and Sam within sight of the entrance to Mordor itself, the dreadful Gates of Morannon. Only now does Frodo announce openly to Gollum that he plans simply to march toward the gate and attempt entrance. When Gollum pleads that Frodo should instead let Gollum lead them to a secret entrance, where capture would be less likely, Frodo accepts the offer. At dusk they set out westward along the road to Ithilien, with the red eye of the Towers of the Teeth twinkling in the distance behind them.

March 4, 1419 S.R.

2010-03-05T00:00:00Z

Hours before dawn, the Ents complete the dams they have been building, and send the Isen pouring into the Ring of Isengard to drown its pits and fires. Merry and Pippin watch the flood from atop the walls, and sleep there while the waters recede.

By dawn the forces of King Théoden have fought and died through many grueling hours to defend Helm's Deep from the army of Orcs that Saruman has deployed against them. Despite their valor, despite the leadership of Aragorn, and, yes, despite even the forty-one Orcs killed by Legolas and the forty-two by Gimli, all but the last defenses have been lost. The Dike fell very quickly; the Deeping Wall repelled an initial assault with ladders, but then was breached with explosives; and after standing for several hours against repeated explosions, the outer wall of the Hornburg is breached just before dawn, leaving the inner citadel as the last defense. Éomer, Gimli, and many other defenders who are not able to reach the Hornburg retreat to caves further up the Deep.

The battle dismays King Théoden. Had he lead his éored into action on the fields, his men could have enjoyed the strength and mobility of their horses, instead of fighting dismounted as common foot soldiers; and the King's own horsemanship would have allowed him a role in the contest. After the Deeping Wall is breached, the King resolves to make the horses of his guard ready for a final charge out of the citadel should the wall of the Hornburg also succumb. Aragorn agrees to join him.

And so the foremost Orc-companies, who at the moment of dawn stand atop the causeway peering through the dust and rubble that a moment before had been the gates of the Hornburg, see not a citadel closed and barred and awaiting their assault, but hear the bright Horn of Helm ringing from the tower as through open doors the King himself leads the charge against them. Fighting from horseback, the King and his guard not only clear the causeway but drive as far as the Dike, where they see that a forest of trees — the force of Huorn that Gandalf requested from Treebeard last night — now stands across the mouth of the Deep behind the Orc-army, where before swept only the grasses of the Westfold. With their horns blowing in echo to the Horn of Helm, Erkenbrand and a thousand foot soldiers follow Gandalf over the western ridge of the Coomb and attack the flank of the enemy. And, summoned by further blasts upon the Horn of Helm, the defenders in the citadel and in the caves pour forth to join in the assult. Assaulted from two sides, and particularly terrified at the charge of the Wizard, most of the Orcs attempt a retreat through the forest of Huorn; none emerge from the wood's far side.

After resting through the day, the King and his guard ride with Gandalf for Isengard, accompanied by Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. Four hours after sunset, they reach the Fords of Isen. It was there, nine days ago, that Théoden's son fell in the First Battle of the Fords of Isen, and there Erkenbrand was defeated in the Second Battle the day before yesterday. They find the Isen no longer flowing, its riverbed bare and silent. They find a burial mound already built, under which the Riders fallen in the battle lie safe from scavengers — another labor to which Gandalf assigned some men during his rides last night.

They continue riding, and by midnight are five leagues past the Fords. There they stop to rest for the remainder of the night.

By dawn and the end of their weary nighttime march, Gollum has lead Frodo and Sam to the reeking desolation lying north of Mordor. They sleep through the day in an oily pit. In the afternoon, Sam awakes and overhears Gollum debating about whether to seize the Ring — and hears, but does not understand, Gollum's decision to lure the Hobbits into the lair of Shelob. Frodo wakes, refreshed, from a pleasant but forgotten dream, and the three set out again at dusk. Late in the evening, another Ringwraith passes overhead on his winged steed.

March 3, 1419 S.R.

2010-03-04T00:00:00Z

By dawn the far destruction of the Ring of Isengard is far advanced, but fires from beneath the plain are endangering the Ents; so they retreat and spend day and evening preparing to divert the Isen. In the late evening Merry and Pippin observe more Huorns pouring south to reinforce those who are already pursuing the armies of Saruman.

King Théoden and the Eorlingas break camp at dawn and ride for a second day toward the Fords of Isen, accompanied by Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. In the morning-light Legolas discerns, far to their north, the distant shadow of the Huorn-wood which is attacking Isengard. At sunset they meet a refugee from yesterday's Second Battle of the Fords of Isen, who reports Erkenbrand's defeat; at this news Gandalf sends the King and his companions flying south to the Hornburg before it is besieged, while the wizard himself sets out across the fields.

Gandalf searches the Westfold south of the Fords. He determines that Saruman has defeated and scattered the western éored with a force of roughly ten thousand orcs, and that his forces are now all moving south toward the Hornburg. Gandalf organizes several responses by directing the fugitives he encounters: those who still have hope of reaching the Hornburg he sends there to buttress its defense; some others under Elfhelm he sends east towards Edoras, to protect it from any plundering party Saruman may have spared from his main force; and the majority, including a force under Grimbold of Westfold, he sends southwest to join Erkenbrand, who survived the disaster of the Fords. In the early night Gandalf interrupts this work to visit Isengard itself, where he negotiates with Treebeard who deploys a force of Huorns against the Orc-army.

Frodo and Sam trudge wearily after their guide, Gollum, through the blasted waste lying north of the gates of Mordor, in growing fear, and with the weight of the Ring dragging ever heavier upon Frodo.