Tolkien Calendar: The Great Years
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March 12, TA 3019
12 March 2006 21:28:02Categories: Tolkien Calendar
Gollum leads Frodo into Shelob;s Lair; Faramir retreats to the Causeway Forts; Aragorn drives the Enemy towards Pelargir; Ents defeat enemies of Rohan.
© "In Shelob's Lair" by Alan Lee.
Tolkien's interlacing becomes ever more complicated as events move toward resolution; only two weeks remain before the Defeat of Sauron. Four separate story lines are part of this day's events--two offer hope, one reminds us of the price our characters will pay in the Battle for Middle Earth, and the last lets us again glimpse the terrifying and unbelievably hard road Frodo and Sam have taken.
Aragorn, having won the allegiance of the Army of the Dead, continues to lead them toward Pelargir, clearing the servants of the Enemy from his lands as he goes. So eager are the Dead to find peace in his service, he must hold them from running ahead of him by his will alone. Despite their defense of Gondor and the fact they are routing Sauron's forces, the people fear the Dead and hide from them--only Angbor of Lamedon rides with his liege toward the harbor.
Theoden, preparing to ride to Minas Tirith, discovers that orc-hosts are marching against the eastern borders of Rohan--but as Eomer tells him, it is too late to turn aside from their course. However, the Rohirrim have allies in the Ents, and their implacable hatred of all things orc bring them to fight the orcs on the Wold of Rohan. They protect Theoden's back while he rides to the aid of Gondor.
In Osgiliath, Faramir continues to fight in the doomed effort his father Denethor has ordered to retake the overrun city. He has not a chance, and by now has retreated to the causeways. Beyond doubt he will prove to Denethor that he has courage to match his brother's, but the price will high, so high. . .
And in Mordor, Frodo and Sam enter the lair of Shelob and discover the treachery of Gollum, who has lead them there with the intention of having Shelob kill Frodo while he dispatches Sam and takes the Ring from Frodo after Shelob is done. Things don't quite work out as he had planned, for the hobbits have much more fight in them than either he or Shelob had dreamed--the encounter ends with Shelob badly wounded by Sam, who has fought her for the life of his master. But Sam believes that Shelob has stung Frodo to death, and after a period of soul-killing grief, decides he must continue the Quest. He arranges his master lovingly and takes leave of him, bearing away the Ring, thus for a short time becoming himself a Ringbearer.
Aragorn, having won the allegiance of the Army of the Dead, continues to lead them toward Pelargir, clearing the servants of the Enemy from his lands as he goes. So eager are the Dead to find peace in his service, he must hold them from running ahead of him by his will alone. Despite their defense of Gondor and the fact they are routing Sauron's forces, the people fear the Dead and hide from them--only Angbor of Lamedon rides with his liege toward the harbor.
Theoden, preparing to ride to Minas Tirith, discovers that orc-hosts are marching against the eastern borders of Rohan--but as Eomer tells him, it is too late to turn aside from their course. However, the Rohirrim have allies in the Ents, and their implacable hatred of all things orc bring them to fight the orcs on the Wold of Rohan. They protect Theoden's back while he rides to the aid of Gondor.
In Osgiliath, Faramir continues to fight in the doomed effort his father Denethor has ordered to retake the overrun city. He has not a chance, and by now has retreated to the causeways. Beyond doubt he will prove to Denethor that he has courage to match his brother's, but the price will high, so high. . .
And in Mordor, Frodo and Sam enter the lair of Shelob and discover the treachery of Gollum, who has lead them there with the intention of having Shelob kill Frodo while he dispatches Sam and takes the Ring from Frodo after Shelob is done. Things don't quite work out as he had planned, for the hobbits have much more fight in them than either he or Shelob had dreamed--the encounter ends with Shelob badly wounded by Sam, who has fought her for the life of his master. But Sam believes that Shelob has stung Frodo to death, and after a period of soul-killing grief, decides he must continue the Quest. He arranges his master lovingly and takes leave of him, bearing away the Ring, thus for a short time becoming himself a Ringbearer.