Sam, Frodo and Gollum’s Destination – Morannon, the Black Gates
Sam, Frodo and Gollum went from Emyn Muil and passed through the Dead Marshes and arrived at the north of Mordor, the Black Gates. The Black Gates was called Morannon as Morannon means Black gates in Sindarin elf language.
The Black Gates guarded the passage of Cirith Gorgor, the northern entrance into Mordor watched over the two towers called the Towers of the Teeth. The Dagorlad plain lay in front of the Morannon.
The Black Gates itself was built by Sauron but the Towers of the Teeth were actually built by Gondor after Sauron’s defeat after the Battle of the Dagorlad Plains.
Gondor once guarded Mordor but had to abandon the posts of Mordor due to the Great Plague that hit the population of Gondor. The Black Gates were guarded 24/7 by orcs of Mordor and it took trolls to even open the Black Gates.
Easterlings – The Wicked Men that passes through the Black Gates
Sam and Frodo were watching the Black Gates but Sam fell down the hills. Sam, Frodo and Gollum were almost caught by the Easterling scouts that were probably patrolling the flanks or the rears of the Easterling troops that were passing through the Black Gates.
The War of the Ring was not necessarily a war against dwarves, elves and men against orcs, goblins and trolls. Many of the allies and servants of Sauron were men.
The Easterlings were the men that lived on the far east that included the lands of Ruhn and even further. Easterlings have been a allies and servants of the dark forces since the 1st Ages(there were some that served the elves) serving Morgoth and Sauron.
Wainriders, balchoths were all tribes of Easterlings that threatened Gondor once. After Sauron prepared for war, Sauron called upon his allies including the corsairs of Ubmar, Hardrim of Harad, men from Khand and the easterlings.
Why were there wicked men/humans serving Sauron and Morgoth
J.R.R. Tolkien describes that men were easily corrupted but this was also anticipated by Iluvatar the god of the Legendarium due to their fear of death.
Iluvatar made death a privilege to men but humans were not able to understand the true purpose of death as Iluvatar allowed the souls of men travel further even beyond the powers of Iluvatar by death.
When the first humans awakened on middle earth at the far east, Morgoth intercepted the humans before the Valars indoctrinating false propaganda of Iluvatar.
Eventually most humans ended up worshiping Morgoth due to Morgoth’s plot. Only a few people disapproved Morgoth and headed west becoming the Edain humans and non-corrupted men.
After Morgoth, the humans of the east and the south such as the Harardrim, Khand, Ruhn, variags, southrons, easterlings that were the descendants of the people that served Morgoth still remained a strong ally with Sauron.
Many believe that the motif for the easterlings was the Mongolian Empire as the Mongolian Empire shocked the European world in history.
Sam, Frodo and Gollum’s Destination – Ithilien
Sam, Frodo and Gollum realized that it was impossible to pass through the Black Gates as it was heavily guarded. Gollum suggests taking the pass of Cirith Ungol instead of Morannon that was less guarded by the forces of Mordor.
Smeagol or Gollum informs Sam and Frodo that they would have to approach Mordor from the east so the trio would journey from the north of Mordor to the east of Mordor, the Ithilien region. The Ithilien region was once the land of Gondor but it was taken by the forces of Mordor.
Gandalf, Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn’s journey to Edoras, Capital of Rohan
Edoras was the capital of Rohan where the Golden Hall of Meduseld stood. Edoras was located near the valley of Harrowdale and near the snowbourn river. The south part of the Harrowdale valley lay Dunharrow while the south of Rohan lay the ridges of the White Mountains.
The Fangorn Forest was north of Edoras, and Gandalf, Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn headed to Edoras from the Fangorn Forest to release king Theoden from Saruman’s sorcery.
Eowyn was threatened by Grima Wormtongue who secretly longed for her. In the movie, Eowyn grieved the fall of Rohan where the flag of Rohan drifted through the wind.(This was a NG scene in the movie but the dramatic effect made it in the films).
Release of king Theoden from Saruman’s magic and banishment of Grima Wormtongue
Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas arrive at Edoras and encounter king of Rohan Theoden ensnared by the magic of Saruman.
Gandalf could release more of his powers as a Maiar which Saruman didn’t know and Saruman’s sorcery that haunted king Theoden was released by the powers of Gandalf.
Theoden, the king of Rohan and son of Thengel finally finds his sanity but already Rohan was in a great crisis. Theoden gave Grima a choice rather to choose to fight until death or to be banished.
Grima Wormtongue was set to exile for his treachery against the king of Rohan and Grima Wormtongue heads to Saruman at Isengard.
Death of Theodred
Theoden first realizes that his only son Theodred had already passed away by the wounds Theodred got from the First Battle of the Isen Fords.
Theoden gives a proper burial for his only son Theodred at the Barrowfields, the tomb of the kings of Rohan. Theoden grieves on the Simbelmyne the small white flowers to bloom on the tombs of the kings of Rohan while he was in pain and regret.
Theoden’s retreat to Helm’s Deep
Although King Theoden found his sanity, Rohan’s westfold was already pillaged and scorched by the forces of Saruman.
In the novel, Eomer wasn’t banished and was present at Edoras. Theoden also quickly sends Eomer to the Fords of Isen to halt the advance of Saruman but this attempt fails and Theoden decides to evacuate Edoras and heads to Helm’s Deep.
Eoemer would also head to Helm’s Deep and participates in the Battle of the Hornburg castle. In the movie, Theoden evacuates Helm’s Deep immediately and Eomer was in exile wandering the lands of Rohan assembling warriors.
Gandalf’s search for Eomer
In the novel, Eomer was also stationed at Helm’s Deep since the beginning of the battle of the Hornburg. Instead in the novel Gandalf went searching for the marshal Ekrenbrand of Rohan that took command of the Rohan military of the Westfold.
In the movie, Gandalf quickly searches for Eomer that was in exile by Grima Wormtongue’s plot for reinforcements.
Gandalf informs Aragorn to look at the east on the dawn of the 5th day promising Aragorn that he will bring Eomer and reinforcements of Rohan. (For middle earth, the sun rises from the east) Gandalf also hints that he is an immortal as he states that he has lived as long as 3 hundred lives of men but he has no time.
Aragorn’s horse Brego – movie adaption
Aragorn tames a horse named Brego in the movie Lord of the Rings as a movie adaption. Aragorn would then accompany Brego until the end of the series of the Lord of the Rings. Brego was the name of the second king of Rohan, the son of Eorl the Young himself.
