Aragorn and the remaining host, now numbering something less than six thousands, reach the Morgul Vale at nightfall.

The Morgul Vale is a bleak and nearly barren place laid desolate by long years as the doorstep of Mordor. The host camps here in the dark, Mordor enhanced, night. At the edge of the encampment wolves howl and other fearsome things prowl giving the host a sleepless night. I can imagine that the entire host is huddled with their own troubled thoughts of what tomorrow will bring.

Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam continue their journey. They take the last of their water and face the day. Tolkein describes it:

In those words, I think that Tolkien captures the total day for both Frodo and Sam as well as for the host. I can't even imagine what it would be like to have to carry on with such lack of hope. And yet, as Tolkien states, "their wills did not fail."

Today is Christmas and Easter and your birthday and every other good holiday in Middle-earth! Indeed, in Gondor, March 25 is New Years Day, because the event that was the best outcome that our friends could have wished for, the eucatastrophe, has actually happened. As Sam would have said, Glory and trumpets!

For all that, the end was simple and swift: "'My Precious! O my Precious!' And with that, even as his eyes were lifted up to gloat on his prize, he stepped too far, toppled, wavered for a moment on the brink, and then with a shriek he fell."

A mis-step? An intervention of the Valar? Obedience to the Ringbearer ("If you touch me ever again, you shall be cast yourself into the Fire of Doom.")? What was 'meant' to be, at the Cracks of Doom? I think for Tolkien, these are not contradictory explanations: causes work at different levels in Middle-earth.

March 25, close to the vernal equinox and the date of the Christian Incarnation, when hope was born into a world beset by Satan's temptation--and Frodo undoes evil at the very site where it was forged.

The Eagles are coming!

We must not forget that the Ring War extended throughout the north of Middle Earth, engulfing Men and Elves everywhere they lived. One of the most hotly contested areas was around Dale in the North--erstwhile home of Smaug and stronghold of the Lake Men. The battles involved the Dwarves of Erebor, Thorin Oakenshield's people, as well. On this date, King Bard II and Thorin III Stonehelm, who inherited when their fathers Brand and Dain were killed, routed the Easterling troops of Sauron.

Lórien, although portrayed as always serene, majestic and ethereal, historically sat between a rock and a hard place. Sandwiched as it were, in between two great evils, the borders were guarded with the utmost vigilance in order to protect this jewel...this 'Dream-flower'. The Elves were noted for their disdain of the Dwarves who delved too deeply into the depths of Moria and awakened the Balrog so that Moria, which lay to the west of Lórien, became altogether evil and continuously threatened the western borders of the home of the Galadrim.

To the east of Lórien lay Mirkwood and in the Third Age, the evil there grew to new heights, literally, when Sauron himself raised the tower of Dol Guldur and inhabited it for a time. The eastern borders of Lórien became even more treacherous than the western borders. All of this came to a climax as Lórien was assaulted in three major attacks at the height of the War of the Ring. The Elven forces were ultimately victorious, aided undoubtedly by the destruction of the Ring far to the South in Mordor.

Now in one final mighty gesture, Celeborn Lord of Lórien crosses the Anduin and lays waste to Dol Guldur along with the Lady Galadriel who personally reduces the tower and pits to rubble. No longer would Mirkwood be a place of darkness and fear.

This is a time of great joy to the people of the North. Mirkwood had been a place of darkness for over a thousand years. Now the people of Middle Earth can reclaim it and make it a prosperous place. The news of Sauron's fall is slowly moving North.

I can imagine how the people feel as the news comes north. Those who are servants of Sauron are undaoubtedly dismayed. But, those who have lived in the fear of these servants must feel as though a long dark night has passed and now the sun is rising and sending the dark shadows fleeing before it.