The War of the Ring (Part III)

by Aeneas2

The End of the War

On March 4 King Théoden and his company reaches Isengard. Once there they hold a parley with Saruman. However Saruman refuses all of their offers, and they depart without achieving much success. Yet some worth is found in the meeting when Wormtongue drops the palantir of Orthanc down, aiming for Saruman and Gandalf, but missing both. When the company reaches their camp later in the day, one of the Nazgul passes overhead. This causes Gandalf to set out for Minas Tirith with Pippin soon after. Also on this date, Frodo, Sam, and Gollum hid near the Morannon, and they depart at dusk.

The Grey Company finds Aragorn on March 6. These welcome reinforcements are given permission to pass through Rohan. On this date, Théoden sets out from Helm’s Deep to Harrowdale. He is followed by Aragorn and his companions later in the day. On March 7, Frodo and his companions are captured by Faramir, and they are taken to Henneth Annun. Aragorn and his followers reach Dunharrow at nightfall. On the next day, March 8, Faramir releases, Frodo, Sam, and Gollum from captivity in Henneth Annun. Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and the Grey Company take the Paths of the Dead, and by nightfall, they have come to Erech, with an oath from the Dead that they (the Dead) will aid Aragorn in the upcoming battle.

Gandalf and Pippin reach Minas Tirith on March 9. Faramir leaves Henneth Annun, Aragorn and his companions come to Calembel, Théoden reaches Dunharrow, and Frodo reaches the Morgul-road. The next day the Muster of Rohan occurs, Aragorn passes Ringlo, and Frodo (along with his companions) reaches the Cross Roads. He also sees the host of Minas Morgul set for, poised to attack Osgiliath. Gollum visits Shelob on March 11. However, he nearly repents when he sees Frodo asleep. Faramir is sent by Denethor to Osgiliath to lead its defense. Aragorn crosses into Lebennin. Also on this date was the First assault on Lothlorien. Eastern Rohan is invaded as well. On March 12, Frodo is led by Gollum into Shelob’s lair. The assault on Osgiliath forces Faramir to retreat to the Causeway Forts. The Rohirrim camp near Minrimmon. With the aid of the Dead, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and the Grey Company drive the forces of Sauron toward Pelargir. Further north, the Ents defeat the invasion of Eastern Rohan.

On March 13, the Pelennor Fields are overrun by the armies of Sauron. Faramir is wounded. Frodo is captured, and taken to the fortress of Cirith Ungol by Orcs. The Rohirrim travel thought Druadan Forest. Aragorn and his companions capture the fleet of Corsairs at Pelargir, dismiss the Dead, and are joined by many Gondorians of the southern regions of Gondor. On the next day (March 14), Minas Tirith is besieged. Sam enters Cirith Ungol, and finds Frodo. The Rohirrim are led to the Grey Wood by the Wild Men. Throughout the day, and even through the night, the armies of Sauron assault Minas Tirith.

The Battle of the Pelennor Fields occurs on the next day. Early in the morning, the Gates of Minas Tirith are broken by the Witch-King. Around the same time, perhaps a little earlier, Denethor, believing that there is no hope, burns himself on a pyre. Soon after the Gates are breached, at the cockcrow, the horns of the Rohirrim are heard in the city. Théoden leads a charge into the rear of the surprised host of Sauron, beginning the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. However, the Witch-King counters the charge by slaying Théoden. Then Eowyn, with the help of Merry, kills the Witch-King in retribution. Soon following this the remaining defenders of Minas Tirith, led by Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth, sally forth. When the battle begins to turn against the vastly outnumbered Free Peoples, the Corsairs of Umbar appear on the Anduin, crushing all hope of the defenders. However, as the standard of the foremost ship was unfurled, the defenders saw that it was the standard of the King. As Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli led the reinforcements to the field, they drove the forces of Sauron back, and eventually defeated them. The Elves of Mirkwood area assaulted on this day, but they manage to drive back the attack. Lothlorien is assaulted for a second time as well.

The next day leads to a debate between the commanders in Minas Tirith as to what should be done. It is decided that an army of 7,000 will march forth, and challenge Sauron at the Black Gate. Frodo and Sam come within sight of Mount Doom on this day. On the 17th, the Battle of Dale is fought. It ends with King Brand and King Dain dead, and the remaining Men and Dwarves retreating into the Lonely Mountain. Shagrat brings Frodo’s things (taken from him during his captivity in Cirith Ungol) to Barad-Dûr.

The Host of the West departs from Minas Tirith on March 18. Frodo and Sam continue their journey to Mount Doom, but they are overtaken by Orcs. Luckily, they escape on the next day. The Host reaches the Morgul-Vale on this day as well. They destroy the bridge to Minas Morgul, and burn the surrounding fields. Frodo and Sam turn south to Mount Doom, leaving the road on March 22. Lothlorien is assaulted for the third and final time on this day. The Host of the West leaves Ithilien on the 23rd, with Aragorn dismissing the faint of heart, sending them instead to retake Cair Andros. On the 24th, Frodo and Sam reach the foot of Mount Doom. The Host reaches the Desolation of the Morannon. The Host is surrounded and attacked on the next day. Meanwhile Frodo and Sam reach the Sammath Naur. Here Gollum takes the Ring, and falls into the Cracks of Doom, ending his life, and destroying the One Ring. This causes the passing of Sauron, the destruction of Barad-Dûr, and the rout of his remaining armies.

On March 27, Bard II and Thorin III Stonehelm drive the Easterlings from Dale. Celeborn leads the forces of Lothlorien across the Anduin on the 28th, and begins the destruction of Dol Guldur on the same day. Celeborn and Thranduil meet on April 6 to decide the future of Mirkwood (now called Eryn Lasgalen, The Wood of Greenleaves).

King Elessar is crowned on May 1. The Wedding of Elessar and Arwen occurs on Mid-year’s Day. The funeral escort of Théoden sets out from Minas Tirith on July 19. It reaches Edoras on August 7, and the funeral takes place on August 10. The guests leave Edoras on August 14, and come to Helm’s Deep on August 18. They reach Isengard on the 22nd, and Aragorn leaves them at sunset. They overtake Saruman on August 28, but they leave him in peace. Saruman then heads for the Shire. Celeborn and Galadriel leave the company on September 13, departing over the Misty Mountains for Lothlorien. The others head toward Rivendell, which they reach on September 21. The next day is Bilbo’s 129th birthday, as well as (unfortunately) the day that Saruman reaches the Shire

Gandalf and the four Hobbits leave Rivendell on October 5. They reach Bree on October 28, and the Brandywine Bridge on the 30th. On November 1, the Hobbits (Gandalf had left them at the Bridge) are arrested. However, they are released soon after, and they come to Bywater, rousing the Hobbits there the next day. The Battle of Bywater occurs on the next day, and is won by the Hobbits. Saruman is defeated, and the Scouring of the Shire is over. This is the end of the War of the Ring.

References

J.R.R. Tolkien – The Lord of the Rings