By
G.S. Donaghy
PROLOGUE
It has been five years since Frodo Baggins destroyed the One Ring of Power in the fires of Mount Doom. The Dark Lord Sauron had put so much of his power into this One Ruling Ring and when it was destroyed, he too was also.
It all began in the Shire where Frodo Baggins son of Drogo Baggins kept the lost Ring of Power. The wizard Gandalf had warned Frodo of the troubles that the Ring possessed and told him that he must leave the Shire and go into exile, and to travel to the realm of the Elf Lord Elrond in Rivendell. On June 20th 3018 the evil Dark Lord Sauron attacked the river-city of Osgiliath and weakened the defenses of Gondor. Also around that time, while Gollum was imprisoned by the elves of Mirkwood, Thranduil was attacked and Gollum escaped. Gandalf went to Isengard to seek the advice of the greatest wizard of his order, Saruman the White. While he was at the stone tower of Orthanc in Isengard, Saruman had betrayed Gandalf and imprisoned him in the tower. Saruman's purpose was to rival the evil Dark Lord because the Ring had corrupted his mind and clouded his wits. It is also noted that this is when the Black Riders had entered the Shire in search for the Ringbearer. Frodo met the Ranger Strider at The Prancing Pony in Bree, along the way to Rivendell and he took up with them. When they reached the old watch tower of Amon-Sul, which is Weathertop, they camped for the night and during the night they were attacked by five of the nine Ringwraiths and Frodo was mortally wounded by a Morgul blade. They now made haste and traveled to Rivendell as fast as their feet could bear them. They reached Rivendell on October 21st and Frodo awoke and found Gandalf sitting there in a chair next to his bedside. Gandalf then told him why he was late in coming to Frodo's aid and how he escaped the tower of Orthanc. The next two days there was much singing and merrymaking in the halls of Elrond.
On October the 25th was the Council of Elrond where many tales about the Ring were told and they decided what should be done with the Ring. Frodo volunteered to take the Ruling Ring to Mordor and cast it into the fires of Orodruin. Elrond chose for him nine companions that would guide him on his journey as Ringbearer. Those eight companions were: the Ranger Strider, who was known as Aragorn, Boromir of Gondor, Gandalf, Legolas an elf of the Woodland Realm, Gimli the dwarf who was the son of Gloin, who was a companion of Bilbo when they went on their adventure to the Lonely Mountain, and the hobbits Meriadoc Brandybuck, Peregrin Took, and Samwise Gamgee.
They left Rivendell on December 25th to face unknown and uncertain dangers. They wanted to make for the White City of Minas Tirith, the great city of Gondor, by way of the Gap of Rohan. But when Gandalf told them the news of Saruman, it was no longer possible. Their paths lead them to the Mountain of Caradhras but the snowstorms and hailstorms did not allow them to pass so they had to take a path that no one wanted to take because of the stories they had heard. They were to go under the Misty Mountains through the Mines of Moria. It is during this time that the creature Gollum began to trail the Ringbearer. The Fellowship was attacked by orcs and goblins in Moria and fled for the bridge of Khazad-dum. At the bridge of Khazad-dum they encountered the Balrog, an evil creature of the underworld. Gandalf fought with the Balrog and both the wizard and the Balrog fell. Gandalf pursued the Balrog to the peak of Zirakzigil and there he threw down the Balrog and passed away, his body was left lying on the peak. The Fellowship had little time to mourn for their friend because they needed to flee the mountainside and the lands around it because the orcs and goblins of Moria would pursue them after nightfall.
They came to the forest of Lothlorien and there they met the great elf-queen Galadriel, one of the Three Keepers of the Rings. During this time Gandalf came back to life and for a while he was in a trance. In Lorien Frodo looked into the Mirror of Galadriel and foresaw things that would come to pass if he did not destroy the Ring of Power. After a short stay in Lorien the Fellowship said farewell to Galadriel and Celeborn and started on their journey to Rohan. The company passed the great statues of Argonath and made their camp at Parth Galen. While this was happening, Saruman's armies of Uruk-hai were tracking down the Ringbearer and the orc-band attacked the Fellowship near the shores of Sarn Gebir. Merry and Pippin distracted the Uruk-hai so that Frodo could escape. Boromir was slain after rescuing the two hobbits, and the orc-band captured Merry and Pippin. Frodo knew that he could not stay and both he and Sam made for the eastern Emyn Muil. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli set out in the pursuit of the Uruk-hai to rescue Merry and Pippin from torment and death.
In the realm of Rohan, the King Theoden's mind was poisoned by Saruman, and against the King's orders, his nephew Eomer set out from the Eastfold to pursue the orcs. Eomer and his group of horsemen overtook the orcs just outside the outer rims of Fangorn Forest. Meriadoc and Pippin escaped the band of Uruk-hai and fled into Fangorn Forest and there they met Treabeard, an Ent. The Rohirrim attacked at sunrise and destroyed the orcs. At this time, Frodo and Sam descended from the Emyn Muil and meet Gollum. In Gondor, Faramir, brother of Boromir saw the funeral boat of his brother. After a couple of days the Entmoot began and Eomer, upon returning to Edoras, capital of Rohan, meets Aragorn.
In March of the year 3019 Frodo and Sam, lead by Gollum, began their passage through the Dead Marshes. And in Fangorn Forest Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli came upon a stranger clad in a white robe. At first they thought that it was Saruman but lo and behold it was Gandalf the White. Then the four set out for Edoras. In Gondor, Faramir left on an errand to Ithilien. Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli reach Edoras and healed Theoden of the demons that were inside of him. At this point an army of ten thousand Uruk-hai crossed the river Isen and planed to march on Helm's Deep. In Fangorn Forest, the Entmoot ended and the Ents decided to attack Saruman and march on Isengard, which they reached that night.
In fear of Saruman attacking Edoras, Theoden retreated to Helm's Deep, the Rohirrim's greatest defense. And during the night the army of Uruk-hai reached Helm's Deep and the Battle of the Hornburg began. Also during that night the Ents came to Isengard and completed the destruction of it. The army of Rohan along with help from Gandalf and Eomer defeated the army of Uruk-hai and freed Rohan from tyranny for the time being. After days of repair and mourning, Theoden and Gandalf set out from Helm's Deep and made for Isengard. Near Mordor, Frodo had reached the slag-mounds on the edge of the Desolation of the Morannon. The next day Gandalf and Theoden, along with a company of men, reached Isengard and parleyed with Saruman in Orthanc.
In the land of Ithilien, Frodo meet Faramir and Faramir took him to Henneth Annun. It was during this time that Aragorn, along with Legolas and Gimli, took up the "Paths of the Dead" and reached Erech that night. Gandalf and Pippin left the company and made for Minas Tirith and they reached the White City on March 9th 3019. Frodo, Sam and Faramir set out from Henneth Annun and reached the Morgul-road near the Black Gate of Mordor. At this time darkness began to flow out of Mordor.
March 10th began the Dawnless Day and also the Muster of Rohan when the Rohirrim rode forth from Harrowdale. Faramir let Frodo go and was rescued by Gandalf outside the gates of the City. Frodo and Sam passed the Cross Roads and saw the Morgul-host set out from Mordor. On March 11th Gollum visited with Shelob and planned for Frodo's death. The next day he lead Frodo into Shelob's lair and Frodo was poisoned. Sam rescued him and mortally wounded Shelob. The Orcs of Cirith Ungol then captured Frodo. The Pelennor was overrun by the Morgul-host and Faramir was wounded. The next day Sam found Frodo in the Tower and they disguised themselves as orcs and escaped. On March 14th the armies of Mordor besieged Minas Tirith. Minas Tirith was outnumbered by about ten to one and their odds of winning were slim. In the early hours the Witch-king broke the gates of the City and invaded. Denethor burned himself on a pyre because of the madness. The horns of the Rohirrim were heard near the City and they came to the Pelennor Fields and charged on the Morgul-host. Theoden was slain in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields and Eowyn was injured. Aragorn came and raised the standard of Arwen.
There was a battle under the trees in Mirkwood and Thranduil repelled the forces of Dol Guldur. Lorien was also assaulted. On March 16th, from the Morgai, Frodo and Sam looked out over the camps to Mount Doom.
In Esgaroth, a force of Sauron's army came and laid assault on Dale. The Battle of Dale. King Brand and King Dain Ironfoot fell. Many Dwarves and Men took refuge in Erebor and were besieged.
The Host of the West lead by Aragorn marched from Minas Tirith. They came to Morgul-vale. Frodo and Sam came in sight of the Isenmouthe and were overtaken by Orcs on the road from Durthang to Udun. They later escaped and began their long journey along the road the Barad-dur. They then left the road and turned south to Mount Doom.
The Host passed out of Ithilien and Aragorn dismissed the faint-hearted. The Host camped in the Desolation of the Morannon when Frodo and Sam made their last journey to the feet of Mount Doom.
On March 25th 3019, the Host was surrounded on the Slag-hills and fought a terrible and bloody battle. They were outnumbered by about five to one. Frodo and Sam had reached the Sammath Naur and Frodo began having regrets. Gollum appeared and fought with Frodo for the Ring. Gollum seized the Ring and fell into the Cracks of Doom. This was the downfall of Barad-dur and the passing of Sauron.
After the fall of the Dark Tower and the passing of Sauron the Shadow was lifted from the hearts of all who opposed him, but fear and despair fell upon his servants and allies. Lorien had been assailed three times from Dol Guldur. Though grievous harm was done to the fair woods on the borders, the assaults were driven back; and when the Shadow passed, Celeborn came forth and led a host over the Anduin in many boats. They took Dol Guldur, and Galadriel threw down its walls and laid bare its pits, and the forest was cleansed. The Shadow was driven back and destroyed in every place that it had dwelt and the people of Middle-Earth were freed again from evil. Aragorn son of Arathorn was crowned as King Elessar and the realms in Middle-earth remained ever after, as long as they lasted, in friendship with Gondor; and they were under the crown and protection of the King of the West. During that night came Elrond and his daughter Arwen. Elrond surrendered the scepter and laid the hand of his daughter into the hands of the new King. Together they went up to into the High City. And Aragorn King Elessar wedded Arwen Undomiel in the City of the Kings upon the day of Midsummer, and the tale of their long waiting and labors came to their fulfillment.
The Ringbearers were honored on the Field of Cormallen and after weeks of stay in Minas Tirith, they made their long journey back home. Samwise, Meriadoc, and Peregrin returned to the Shire. Frodo, Gandalf, Bilbo, and the three Keepers of the Rings, Galadriel, Celeborn, and Elrond, came to the Grey Havens and departed over the sea. And an end came to the Third Age.
