Henneth Annûn

Henneth Annûn, the Window of the Sunset, is a hidden cave-refuge and waterfall in Ithilien, the fairest of all the falls of that land, as Faramir himself declares. It is not a kingly hall but a rough-hewn rock chamber, its entrance veiled by a thin curtain of falling water that, at sunset, breaks the red light into many flickering beams of ever-changing colour, like a window threaded with jewels of silver and gold, ruby, sapphire, and amethyst. The cave is dry and filled with great store of arms and victuals, and its only ways in or out are the passage by which the blindfolded enter and the Window-curtain itself, which falls into a deep bowl filled with knives of stone. It is a place of watchfulness and secrecy, a last hidden refuge for the Rangers of Ithilien in a land overrun by the Enemy.

Faramir's Encounter with the Ring-bearer

It is at Henneth Annûn that Faramir, Captain of Gondor, brings Frodo and Sam after their capture in the woods. There, in a recess at the back of the cave, he questions Frodo closely, pressing him on the nature of Isildur's Bane. The conversation is a tense fencing match, with Faramir's keen wit probing Frodo's evasions. Sam, unable to contain himself, bursts into the ring of men and blurts out the truth: that Boromir had desired the Enemy's Ring. This revelation, which Frodo had tried to conceal, forces the crisis. Faramir, after a moment of stern silence, reveals his true quality. He declares that he would not take the Ring even if he found it on the highway, and that he marvels at Frodo for keeping it hidden and not using it. He offers Frodo his protection and a night's rest, a decision that stands in stark contrast to the temptation that overcame his brother.

The Forbidden Pool and the Fate of Gollum

The refuge is also the scene of Gollum's capture. Faramir brings Frodo to a high stone platform overlooking the pool at the foot of the waterfall, where they see a small dark thing diving for fish. Frodo, recognizing his guide, begs Faramir not to shoot. He explains that Gollum is wretched and hungry, and that Gandalf had forbidden the Elves to slay him. Faramir, though wary, agrees to spare the creature and has him brought before him. In the cave, Gollum is interrogated and forced to swear an oath on the Precious never to return. Faramir then surrenders Gollum to Frodo's protection, declaring that the creature is under the shield of Gondor as long as he walks with the Ring-bearer. This act of mercy, born from Frodo's plea, sets the stage for Gollum's final, fateful role in the quest.

A Moral Turning Point

Henneth Annûn is more than a physical refuge; it is a moral crucible. It is here that Faramir, a man of Gondor, proves himself to be of a different mettle than his brother Boromir. He is offered the Ring, the ultimate weapon of the Enemy, and he refuses it, not out of fear, but out of wisdom and a clear understanding of its peril. He tells Frodo, "I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend." This speech, delivered in the quiet of the cave after the evening meal, reveals the depth of his character. The refuge, therefore, becomes the site of a crucial test passed, a moment where the integrity of the West is reaffirmed against the lure of power. It is a place of healing and hope, where Frodo and Sam are given food, rest, and a renewed sense of purpose before they must venture into the darkness of Mordor.