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I don't know about any of you, but when Frodo is captured by the Orcs near Cirith Ungol, I could not possibly imagine how he would ever get out of that pickle, even with the help of Sam. And Tolkien builds the anxiety superbly with comments from Shagrat that hint at the Orcs being on the watch for Hobbits and all other type of intruder into Mordor, and the fear of Sauron if they are not brought to him immediately upon capture. "He's going out of harms way, I tell you" Shagrat says of Frodo, "See? He's precious."

This is most certainly also a time of dread and panic for those seeking to defend Gondor and stop the black tide flowing from the Land of Shadow. Many of us who have by now been captivated by the nobility and honor of the young Faramir are disheartened when he appears to be mortally wounded. Would he become another Théodred, cut down in his prime? Yet we know more about and care more for the Captain of Gondor. It hurts to see him fall.

The broad fertile plain of the Pelennor is now overwhelmed by the forces of Sauron. One can virtually feel the fear as it mounts in the city of Minas Tirith. Tolkien's graphic description of this dark time is incredibly vivid. "...though the darkness had reached its full and grew no deeper, it weighed heavier on men's hearts, and a great dread was on them."



To the North, Théoden and Éomer know full well that "Mundburg is on fire!", and they meet with Ghân-buri-Ghân in the Drúadan to assess that, even with all haste, they may arrive at Minas Tirith too late to save the city and its people.

To the South, Aragorn has summoned the Dead and in the attack on Pelargir the Haradrim are defeated and the fleet is taken. Legolas spoke of the battle and Aragorn.

"In that hour I looked on Aragorn and thought how great and terrible a Lord he might have become in the strength of his will, had he taken the Ring to himself. Not for naught does Mordor fear him. But nobler is his spirit than the understanding of Sauron; for is he not of the children of Lúthien? Never shall that line fail, though the years may lengthen beyond count."

And Gimli gives us a picture of the night...

"When night came it did but deepen the darkness, and our hearts were hot, for away in the North we saw a red glow under the cloud, and Aragorn said: 'Minas Tirith is burning.'"