Middle Earth lay under a deep, menacing shadow. Everything beautiful and
happy had been destroyed, and despair hung over all the survivors. The Lady
Galadriel lay in the dungeons of Barad-Dur, from which no one had ever
escaped. Lothlorien lay in ruins-the mallorn trees had been burnt to the
ground, the Nimrodel falls were polluted by the orcs who now resided there.
Rivendell had been raised to the ground-Elrond had boarded a ship to the
Undying Lands, grief-stricken that his daughter would now perish in a world
ruled by evil. The Shire was little more than a prison camp.
Sauron had found the One Ring.
The peoples of Middle Earth were enslaved, their homelands overrun by the minions of the Sauron, whom they must now bow before, and call 'Lord.'
All seemed lost.
***********
Frodo Baggins tumbled off the back of Gwaihir, Lord of the Eagles, unconscious. Samwise Gamgee rolled off the back of the next eagle, and sat next to his master, his head bowed.
'Get up, hobbits! I did not bring you from the Cracks of Doom to lie in a heap on the floor, lamenting what cannot be undone!'
Sam looked up, and his jaw dropped. He scrambled hurriedly to his feet, and bowed clumsily. 'Mr Gandalf, sir', he said in amazement, 'how...you...but in Moria?!'
'Come now, Samwise', Gandalf interrupted impatiently, 'my apparent resurrection is the least of your troubles at the moment. Is Frodo alive?'
The old wizard bent over the second hobbit, and rolled him onto his back. Frodo was deathly pale, and frighteningly thing, but still alive. Gandalf sighed heavily, and placing his hands on Frodo's brow, muttered some words under his breath. 'This was too great a task to lay on the shoulders of one so small', he remarked sadly, 'had the Fellowship endured, we might have succeeded...but 'what if's and 'maybe's are of no use to us now. Come, Sam, you must tell me everything that happened.'
So Sam Gamgee recounted the tale of his journey to Mordor with Frodo. Whenever he spoke of Gollum, he clenched his fists, and every time he looked at Frodo, tears sprang to his eyes. 'And then, Mr Gandalf', he concluded, 'when that creature bit off Mr Frodo's finger, he put the Ring on, and I saw his footprints go past me. He took it off when he got out of the Fiery Mountain, and he ran all the way down. The Eye, in the black tower was watchin' him all the time, and I wanted to run after him and stop him, but Mr Frodo was hurt, sir, and I can't run fast enough to match that devious little Gollum. If I'd gone down, the orcs would've taken me too, Mr Gandalf, and a fine old to-do that would've been for poor Mr Frodo, left alone to drown in the fire.' And with that, Sam burst into tears, and it was several minutes before Gandalf could get another sensible word from him.
'Orcs, you say', he prompted gently, when Sam's sobbing had reduced to sniffling, 'they took Gollum, did they?'
'I don't rightly know, sir', Sam sniffed, 'but I'm guessing so. They were everywhere. When the Eye looked at the Mountain, a load of orcs came runnin' back into Mordor-they'd left a while earlier, y'see, to go to the Black Gate, I don't know what their purpose was there. But then after a while, there was a big earthquake, worse than when an oliphaunt walks past, and that's no lie! And everything went very dark. I started to help Mr Frodo down the mountain-he was dying, Mr Gandalf, or so I thought-he couldn't talk, and he was staring straight ahead, like he could see somethin' nobody else could. And then the Eye looked straight at us again, and I couldn't see nothing, because I'd got used to going around in the dark by that time, sir. It hurt a lot, and I thought we were both dead then and there, but next thing I know I'm...on an eagle, and we're landing here!'
Gandalf sighed again. 'And so Gollum, who was spared by so many because of pity, has been the ruin of us all. Perhaps my speech to Frodo long ago at Bag End was made foolishly-perhaps if I had not awoken pity in him for that loathsome creature, he would have killed him-or allowed you to do so.'
Frodo moaned softly, and stirred. Sam sprang over to him, and knelt beside him. 'Mr Frodo!' He whispered anxiously, 'Mr Frodo, wake up!'
'Frodo will not wake up for some time', Gandalf told Sam, 'he has gone beyond death, and has narrowly escaped becoming a wraith, and being tortured by Sauron for eternity. I have healed some of his hurts, but more expertise in the art of healing is needed. He may still die, Samwise, I warn you now. Had the Ring been destroyed, he would still have had little chance of ever being truly happy or peaceful in this world again. But Sauron knows of him, and will search for the one who dared to try and destroy him-much will have to be done to protect Frodo.'
'Mr Gandalf, sir', Sam said timidly, 'where are we, exactly? And begging your pardon, but are Merry and Pippin all right? And what about that Strider, and Boromir, and Legolas and Gimli?'
'To answer your questions in order, Master Gamgee', Gandalf answered solemnly, 'we have travelled over the Sea-no, not to the West, Sam, and let me finish before you start to speak-to the ancient land of the Numenoreans- the ancestors of your Strider. Oh yes, in legends it is told that Numenor sank without a trace, when those men defied the Valar, but Sauron has created a world of darkness and fire-what does he care for the beautiful rivers and oceans of this world? He has created such disturbances in the world that Numenor, in the earthquakes, rose once more above the sea. This I knew would happen if Sauron rose to power, for I have dreamt of it often, and saw it in the Mirror of Galadriel. And so, when the darkness fell, I commanded two eagles to bear me to you, and rescue you, and take you to Numenor. The other eagles, I bade them aid some others in an escape from Middle Earth.'
'Who escaped?' Sam asked curiously, gazing mournfully at his master's pale face.
Gandalf made no reply, but stood up, and walked a short distance away. He banged his staff on the ground, and called out in a language that to Sam's ear sounded distinctly elvish.
Sam let out a cry of joy, as out of the trees which seperated the rest of the island from the shore, came six people-five of whom he recognised. He leapt to his feet, as two of the others broke into a run, and embraced him tightly.
'Sam!' Pippin cried delightedly, 'we were sure you were dead! Old Gandalf Gloomyboots was trying to prepare us for the worst, but we KNEW you were alive!'
'The World as we know it has come to an end, and still Peregrin Took manages to be foolish', Gandalf muttered.
'Master Merry! Master Pippin!' Sam's muffled voice, as he tried to extricate himself from his friends' grips. 'You don't know how glad I am to see you again!'
'Is Frodo...dead?' Merry asked in hushed tones, catching sight of the unconscious hobbit a few feet away.
'No. But he is resting and recovering, and I will thank you not to interfere with him for the time being', Gandalf said swiftly.
Sam now turned to the remainder of the group. He smiled up at the tall, dark man with the grim face, who was watching him closely. 'Strider!' He said happily, 'or I should call you Aragorn, shouldn't I? I'd only begun to get used to that when me and Mr Frodo left you all.'
'It is wonderful to see you again, Sam', Aragorn said, placing a hand on the hobbit's shoulder, 'even if I would have wished for a different manner of meeting.'
'Samwise, the stout-hearted halfling', said the elf who stood next to Aragorn, with a slight smile, 'greetings.'
'Legolas', Sam said shyly-he had forgotten how these people filled him with awe. Now, they looked even stronger, and wiser than ever, 'and Gimli!'
'That was a nice trick you played on us, Sam', the gruff dwarf boomed, leaning on the handle of his axe, 'running off in that boat with your master, leaving us with not so much as a clue as to what had happened to you!'
'I'm sorry Gimli', Sam apologised.
Gimli laughed, and embraced Sam awkwardly. 'You halflings have grown on me now', he said with a sigh.
Sam looked up at the last of the group, and bowed, for he could see this man was a very important person.
'Do not bow to me, Master Hobbit', the man said, in a deep thoughtful voice, 'for you have endured much, and but for misfortune, we would be hailing you as our rescuer. I am Eomer, son of Eomund, from Rohan.'
'Samwise Gamgee', Sam muttered, although he was sure this man already knew his name.
'What happens now, Gandalf?' Legolas asked quietly. 'We are the only free peoples now, having left many behind.'
'The elves will begin to fade, before long', Aragorn said in a strange voice, 'we must save the Lady Galadriel from Barad-Dur, and find the Lady Arwen, for she gave up her kindred, to live among Men, only to discover now that this is not the Age of Men after all, but the Age of Darkness.'
'Why didn't the eagles save her too?' Sam asked nervously, 'and Mr Frodo and I met Boromir's brother, Faramir. I s'pose they're together, wherever they are. Why didn't they escape too?'
'Boromir died saving Merry and I', Pippin said sadly, 'the day you went off to Mordor. And Faramir and the Lady Eowyn must be dead, or Sauron's slaves now, mustn't they, Gandalf?'
'We will make no foolish prophecies here, Peregrin Took', Gandalf said sharply, with a sideways glance at Eomer, 'and I do not need it pointed out to me what we must do. To answer your question, Sam, there were only three eagles and they could only carry so many. We were in the midst of a battle at the Black Gate when the Ring was once more placed upon Sauron's finger, and I knew that now was not the time to attempt to repeat history, and take the Ring from him once more, when he came forth. Aragorn told everyone to retreat, at which point I gathered those whom you see here together and ordered them to let the eagles take them. You are all part of the original Fellowship, so it seemed fitting to have you here with me at the end of the Third Age. Eomer I brrought because he is the King of Rohan now; a worthy man, and a fearless one. Faramir I could not save, nor the Lady Eowyn, for they were recovering in Minas Tirith, and not on the battlefield. And where the Lady Arwen Undomiel was, I knew not. Let us hope that she lives still.
'As for the Elven Ring which I posessed, for I can see this question in Aragorn's eyes, I bade Gwaihir fly over Orodruin, and I cast Narya into its fiery depths-otherwise, I should now be captive, like the Lady Galadriel, who refused to travel to the Undying Lands, but wanted to make a final stand. She made it, and I am certain Sauron will feel the pain of her elven power for some time to come. This, however, does not set her free.
'Thus, we are presented with two choices: We can remain here on Numenor, and live in peace, knowing that we will be safe from Sauron, at least for the moment; Or, the nine of us can return to Middle Earth and attempt to go one step better than Isildur; take the Ring from Sauron's finger and throw it into the fires of Mount Doom.'
Gandalf finished his speech, and gazed around at his comrades: Aragorn was completely still, gazing out over the Sea, a fire in his eyes; Legolas was looking back, towards the Undying Lands, a wistful expression on his face. Gimli leaned heavily on his axe, staring intently at the sand beneath his feet. Eomer's hadn rested on the hilt of his sword and his eyes were closed. Sam, Merry and Pippin all stood beside Frodo, watching the old wizard, and waiting.
'To me', Sam said at last, in a small voice, 'it seems there isn't really any choice to be made, if you get my meaning.'
'I'm not sure I want to try and live happily ever after 'til the end of my days, as Bilbo put it', added Pippin, 'if the Shire and Minas Tirith, and all my friends are suffering.'
'Will we be cowards, like the men of the Haunted Mountain?' Aragorn said loudly, 'will we hide from battle, and allow our people to suffer, while we do nothing? A failed attempt brings more honour than no attempt at all, and to hide here on this cursed land, which Sauron also destroyed once, would bring shame and dishonour on the heir of Isildur, and his comrades, Legolas, the prince of Mirkwood, Gimli, Gloin's son, of the Lonely Mountain, Eomer, King of the Mark, and four halflings who have more than proved their worth.'
'I for one will not sit and wait for the darkness to spread across the sea', Legolas announced, 'let us try and defeat Sauron yet-but if we can not, let us be brave in the attempt.'
'And win honour for our people!' Gimli said determinedly.
'If we can not succeed, no one will', Eomer remarked, 'this alone should give us new resolve.'
'We have discussed this enough', Gandalf said, 'I knew you would choose this path. We must wait for some days, to plan, and allow our Ring Bearer to recover. Aragorn, will you see to him? Rangers are more skilled in healing hurts of all kinds than wizards. Come, Samwise, you need rest', he added hurriedly, as Sam began to sway on the spot and Pippin and Merry had to hold him up, 'I suspect you had rather a larger role in this story than you will admit to.'
And so Gandalf prepared some blankets and cloaks as a bed for Sam, then returned to the others, and lit a fire. There they sat all night long. None of this group, the final Fellowship perhaps of Middle-Earth, would allow sleep to take them. As still as statues they stood or sat, the fire casting their shadows on the ground. And not a word passed between them; they were content in the knowledge that they were safe in each others' company, and somewhere out there, across the Sea, was the One Ring, which they must pluck from the finger of its Lord.
Sauron had found the One Ring.
The peoples of Middle Earth were enslaved, their homelands overrun by the minions of the Sauron, whom they must now bow before, and call 'Lord.'
All seemed lost.
***********
Frodo Baggins tumbled off the back of Gwaihir, Lord of the Eagles, unconscious. Samwise Gamgee rolled off the back of the next eagle, and sat next to his master, his head bowed.
'Get up, hobbits! I did not bring you from the Cracks of Doom to lie in a heap on the floor, lamenting what cannot be undone!'
Sam looked up, and his jaw dropped. He scrambled hurriedly to his feet, and bowed clumsily. 'Mr Gandalf, sir', he said in amazement, 'how...you...but in Moria?!'
'Come now, Samwise', Gandalf interrupted impatiently, 'my apparent resurrection is the least of your troubles at the moment. Is Frodo alive?'
The old wizard bent over the second hobbit, and rolled him onto his back. Frodo was deathly pale, and frighteningly thing, but still alive. Gandalf sighed heavily, and placing his hands on Frodo's brow, muttered some words under his breath. 'This was too great a task to lay on the shoulders of one so small', he remarked sadly, 'had the Fellowship endured, we might have succeeded...but 'what if's and 'maybe's are of no use to us now. Come, Sam, you must tell me everything that happened.'
So Sam Gamgee recounted the tale of his journey to Mordor with Frodo. Whenever he spoke of Gollum, he clenched his fists, and every time he looked at Frodo, tears sprang to his eyes. 'And then, Mr Gandalf', he concluded, 'when that creature bit off Mr Frodo's finger, he put the Ring on, and I saw his footprints go past me. He took it off when he got out of the Fiery Mountain, and he ran all the way down. The Eye, in the black tower was watchin' him all the time, and I wanted to run after him and stop him, but Mr Frodo was hurt, sir, and I can't run fast enough to match that devious little Gollum. If I'd gone down, the orcs would've taken me too, Mr Gandalf, and a fine old to-do that would've been for poor Mr Frodo, left alone to drown in the fire.' And with that, Sam burst into tears, and it was several minutes before Gandalf could get another sensible word from him.
'Orcs, you say', he prompted gently, when Sam's sobbing had reduced to sniffling, 'they took Gollum, did they?'
'I don't rightly know, sir', Sam sniffed, 'but I'm guessing so. They were everywhere. When the Eye looked at the Mountain, a load of orcs came runnin' back into Mordor-they'd left a while earlier, y'see, to go to the Black Gate, I don't know what their purpose was there. But then after a while, there was a big earthquake, worse than when an oliphaunt walks past, and that's no lie! And everything went very dark. I started to help Mr Frodo down the mountain-he was dying, Mr Gandalf, or so I thought-he couldn't talk, and he was staring straight ahead, like he could see somethin' nobody else could. And then the Eye looked straight at us again, and I couldn't see nothing, because I'd got used to going around in the dark by that time, sir. It hurt a lot, and I thought we were both dead then and there, but next thing I know I'm...on an eagle, and we're landing here!'
Gandalf sighed again. 'And so Gollum, who was spared by so many because of pity, has been the ruin of us all. Perhaps my speech to Frodo long ago at Bag End was made foolishly-perhaps if I had not awoken pity in him for that loathsome creature, he would have killed him-or allowed you to do so.'
Frodo moaned softly, and stirred. Sam sprang over to him, and knelt beside him. 'Mr Frodo!' He whispered anxiously, 'Mr Frodo, wake up!'
'Frodo will not wake up for some time', Gandalf told Sam, 'he has gone beyond death, and has narrowly escaped becoming a wraith, and being tortured by Sauron for eternity. I have healed some of his hurts, but more expertise in the art of healing is needed. He may still die, Samwise, I warn you now. Had the Ring been destroyed, he would still have had little chance of ever being truly happy or peaceful in this world again. But Sauron knows of him, and will search for the one who dared to try and destroy him-much will have to be done to protect Frodo.'
'Mr Gandalf, sir', Sam said timidly, 'where are we, exactly? And begging your pardon, but are Merry and Pippin all right? And what about that Strider, and Boromir, and Legolas and Gimli?'
'To answer your questions in order, Master Gamgee', Gandalf answered solemnly, 'we have travelled over the Sea-no, not to the West, Sam, and let me finish before you start to speak-to the ancient land of the Numenoreans- the ancestors of your Strider. Oh yes, in legends it is told that Numenor sank without a trace, when those men defied the Valar, but Sauron has created a world of darkness and fire-what does he care for the beautiful rivers and oceans of this world? He has created such disturbances in the world that Numenor, in the earthquakes, rose once more above the sea. This I knew would happen if Sauron rose to power, for I have dreamt of it often, and saw it in the Mirror of Galadriel. And so, when the darkness fell, I commanded two eagles to bear me to you, and rescue you, and take you to Numenor. The other eagles, I bade them aid some others in an escape from Middle Earth.'
'Who escaped?' Sam asked curiously, gazing mournfully at his master's pale face.
Gandalf made no reply, but stood up, and walked a short distance away. He banged his staff on the ground, and called out in a language that to Sam's ear sounded distinctly elvish.
Sam let out a cry of joy, as out of the trees which seperated the rest of the island from the shore, came six people-five of whom he recognised. He leapt to his feet, as two of the others broke into a run, and embraced him tightly.
'Sam!' Pippin cried delightedly, 'we were sure you were dead! Old Gandalf Gloomyboots was trying to prepare us for the worst, but we KNEW you were alive!'
'The World as we know it has come to an end, and still Peregrin Took manages to be foolish', Gandalf muttered.
'Master Merry! Master Pippin!' Sam's muffled voice, as he tried to extricate himself from his friends' grips. 'You don't know how glad I am to see you again!'
'Is Frodo...dead?' Merry asked in hushed tones, catching sight of the unconscious hobbit a few feet away.
'No. But he is resting and recovering, and I will thank you not to interfere with him for the time being', Gandalf said swiftly.
Sam now turned to the remainder of the group. He smiled up at the tall, dark man with the grim face, who was watching him closely. 'Strider!' He said happily, 'or I should call you Aragorn, shouldn't I? I'd only begun to get used to that when me and Mr Frodo left you all.'
'It is wonderful to see you again, Sam', Aragorn said, placing a hand on the hobbit's shoulder, 'even if I would have wished for a different manner of meeting.'
'Samwise, the stout-hearted halfling', said the elf who stood next to Aragorn, with a slight smile, 'greetings.'
'Legolas', Sam said shyly-he had forgotten how these people filled him with awe. Now, they looked even stronger, and wiser than ever, 'and Gimli!'
'That was a nice trick you played on us, Sam', the gruff dwarf boomed, leaning on the handle of his axe, 'running off in that boat with your master, leaving us with not so much as a clue as to what had happened to you!'
'I'm sorry Gimli', Sam apologised.
Gimli laughed, and embraced Sam awkwardly. 'You halflings have grown on me now', he said with a sigh.
Sam looked up at the last of the group, and bowed, for he could see this man was a very important person.
'Do not bow to me, Master Hobbit', the man said, in a deep thoughtful voice, 'for you have endured much, and but for misfortune, we would be hailing you as our rescuer. I am Eomer, son of Eomund, from Rohan.'
'Samwise Gamgee', Sam muttered, although he was sure this man already knew his name.
'What happens now, Gandalf?' Legolas asked quietly. 'We are the only free peoples now, having left many behind.'
'The elves will begin to fade, before long', Aragorn said in a strange voice, 'we must save the Lady Galadriel from Barad-Dur, and find the Lady Arwen, for she gave up her kindred, to live among Men, only to discover now that this is not the Age of Men after all, but the Age of Darkness.'
'Why didn't the eagles save her too?' Sam asked nervously, 'and Mr Frodo and I met Boromir's brother, Faramir. I s'pose they're together, wherever they are. Why didn't they escape too?'
'Boromir died saving Merry and I', Pippin said sadly, 'the day you went off to Mordor. And Faramir and the Lady Eowyn must be dead, or Sauron's slaves now, mustn't they, Gandalf?'
'We will make no foolish prophecies here, Peregrin Took', Gandalf said sharply, with a sideways glance at Eomer, 'and I do not need it pointed out to me what we must do. To answer your question, Sam, there were only three eagles and they could only carry so many. We were in the midst of a battle at the Black Gate when the Ring was once more placed upon Sauron's finger, and I knew that now was not the time to attempt to repeat history, and take the Ring from him once more, when he came forth. Aragorn told everyone to retreat, at which point I gathered those whom you see here together and ordered them to let the eagles take them. You are all part of the original Fellowship, so it seemed fitting to have you here with me at the end of the Third Age. Eomer I brrought because he is the King of Rohan now; a worthy man, and a fearless one. Faramir I could not save, nor the Lady Eowyn, for they were recovering in Minas Tirith, and not on the battlefield. And where the Lady Arwen Undomiel was, I knew not. Let us hope that she lives still.
'As for the Elven Ring which I posessed, for I can see this question in Aragorn's eyes, I bade Gwaihir fly over Orodruin, and I cast Narya into its fiery depths-otherwise, I should now be captive, like the Lady Galadriel, who refused to travel to the Undying Lands, but wanted to make a final stand. She made it, and I am certain Sauron will feel the pain of her elven power for some time to come. This, however, does not set her free.
'Thus, we are presented with two choices: We can remain here on Numenor, and live in peace, knowing that we will be safe from Sauron, at least for the moment; Or, the nine of us can return to Middle Earth and attempt to go one step better than Isildur; take the Ring from Sauron's finger and throw it into the fires of Mount Doom.'
Gandalf finished his speech, and gazed around at his comrades: Aragorn was completely still, gazing out over the Sea, a fire in his eyes; Legolas was looking back, towards the Undying Lands, a wistful expression on his face. Gimli leaned heavily on his axe, staring intently at the sand beneath his feet. Eomer's hadn rested on the hilt of his sword and his eyes were closed. Sam, Merry and Pippin all stood beside Frodo, watching the old wizard, and waiting.
'To me', Sam said at last, in a small voice, 'it seems there isn't really any choice to be made, if you get my meaning.'
'I'm not sure I want to try and live happily ever after 'til the end of my days, as Bilbo put it', added Pippin, 'if the Shire and Minas Tirith, and all my friends are suffering.'
'Will we be cowards, like the men of the Haunted Mountain?' Aragorn said loudly, 'will we hide from battle, and allow our people to suffer, while we do nothing? A failed attempt brings more honour than no attempt at all, and to hide here on this cursed land, which Sauron also destroyed once, would bring shame and dishonour on the heir of Isildur, and his comrades, Legolas, the prince of Mirkwood, Gimli, Gloin's son, of the Lonely Mountain, Eomer, King of the Mark, and four halflings who have more than proved their worth.'
'I for one will not sit and wait for the darkness to spread across the sea', Legolas announced, 'let us try and defeat Sauron yet-but if we can not, let us be brave in the attempt.'
'And win honour for our people!' Gimli said determinedly.
'If we can not succeed, no one will', Eomer remarked, 'this alone should give us new resolve.'
'We have discussed this enough', Gandalf said, 'I knew you would choose this path. We must wait for some days, to plan, and allow our Ring Bearer to recover. Aragorn, will you see to him? Rangers are more skilled in healing hurts of all kinds than wizards. Come, Samwise, you need rest', he added hurriedly, as Sam began to sway on the spot and Pippin and Merry had to hold him up, 'I suspect you had rather a larger role in this story than you will admit to.'
And so Gandalf prepared some blankets and cloaks as a bed for Sam, then returned to the others, and lit a fire. There they sat all night long. None of this group, the final Fellowship perhaps of Middle-Earth, would allow sleep to take them. As still as statues they stood or sat, the fire casting their shadows on the ground. And not a word passed between them; they were content in the knowledge that they were safe in each others' company, and somewhere out there, across the Sea, was the One Ring, which they must pluck from the finger of its Lord.