Ch. 20: Assault on Mordor
After two day's rest, the army of the
West assembled again. Merry was too ill to ride with them, but Pippin
joined Gandalf, Aragorn, Éomer, Imrahil, Legolas, Gimli, Worf, and
the Dúnedain and the sons of Elrond. At the end of the day's
ride, they came to a Cross Roads, and the heralds cried, "The Lords of Gondor
have returned and all this land that is theirs they take back."¹
When morning came, they left a guard
and rode to the entrance of Morgul Vale. The third day, at a suggestion
from Imrahil, the cry of the heralds became "The King Elessar is come!
Let all leave this land or yield them up!"² The day after that, they
were ambushed by a large group of Orcs and men. The army had received
warning from their scouts, and the ambush was easily defeated. Aragorn
saw through it easily. It was a feint, meant to deceive them into thinking
the enemy weak. That night and from then on, Ringwraiths patrolled
their path, silent and high enough only Legolas could see them, but all
could feel their dread.
Finally, the army came to the Black
Gate. They went in knowing full well they walked into ambush, that
Enemy forces were hidden in the hills, and that the Nazgûl were gathered
there in force. Aragorn, Gandalf, the sons of Elrond, Éomer,
Imrahil, Gimli, Legolas, and Worf approached the gate; all the enemies of
the great Enemy were represented in that group.
The heralds cried out, "Let the Lord
of the Black Land come forth! The King of Gondor demands that he should
atone for his evils, and depart then forever. Come forth!"³
After a long moment, great drums sounded,
then horns that could be felt in the very earth, then finally the gates opened
and a rider came forth, wearing black and seated upon a black horse.
This was no Ringwraith, but a man, the Lieutenant of the Tower of Barad-dûr.
It was all a mind game, and they all knew it. He was intimidating,
but held none of the power for terror of the Nazgûl.
The ambassador was quick to mock them.
"Is there any one in this rout with the authority to treat with me?
Not thou at least!" He turned to Aragorn. "It needs more to make a
king than a piece of elvish glass." 4 Aragorn locked eyes with
the Lieutenant, and after a short moment, the Messenger flinched as if attacked.
"A herald may not be assailed!"
Gandalf replied in kind. "Where
such laws hold, it is also the custom for ambassadors to use less insolence.
You have naught to fear from us, until your errand is done." 4
"You art the spokesman, old greybeard?
Have we not heard of thee ever hatching plots and mischief at a safe distance?
But this time thou hast stuck out thy nose too far, Master Gandalf.
I have tokens that I was bidden to show thee, if thou shouldst dare to come."
4
The Messenger held up Sam's short sword,
an elven cloak, and Frodo's mithril-mail. The Messenger spoke again.
"Sauron does not love spies, and the fate of the spy depends now on your
choice." He saw the recognition in their eyes, and that was enough.
"His errand has failed. And now he shall endure the slow torment of
years, and never be released, unless you accept my Lord's terms." 5
"Name the terms." Gandalf's voice
was steady, but the anguish in his eyes was plain to see.
"These are the terms. The rabble
of Gondor and its deluded allies shall withdraw at once beyond the Anduin,
first taking oaths never again to assail Sauron the Great in arms, open or
secret. All lands east of the Anduin shall be Sauron's forever, solely.
West of the Anduin as far as the Misty Mountains and the Gap of Rohan shall
be tributary to Mordor, and men there shall bear no weapons, but shall have
leave to govern their own affairs. But they shall help to rebuild Isengard
which they have wantonly destroyed, and that shall be Sauron's, and there
his lieutenant shall dwell: not Saruman, but one more worthy of trust." 5
Worf was not the only one to scoff at
this demand. Gandalf replied, "This is too much to demand for the
delivery of one servant: that your Master should receive in exchange what
he must else fight many a war to gain. And why should we trust that
Sauron the Base Master of Treachery will keep his part?" 6
The messenger seemed bewildered at this
refusal, bur recovered quickly. "Sauron gives no surety. These
are his terms. Take them or leave them!"
"These we will take!" Gandalf cast aside
his cloak and white light shone forth. The Messenger fell back before
him, and Gandalf seized the mail, cloak, and sword. "We take these
things in memory of our friend, but as for your terms, we reject them utterly.
We did not come here to waste words with a slave of Sauron. Begone!"
6 With that, the Messenger's face twisted in anger, and he fled
back to the gates.
¹ p. 178, Return of the King
² p. 179, Return of the King
³ p. 182 Return of the King
4 p. 183 Return of the King
5 p. 184 Return of the King
6 p. 185, Return of the King