The Oathbreakers' State

The Oathbreakers' State is the cursed condition of the Men of the Mountains, a people who dwelt in the White Mountains and swore an oath of allegiance to Isildur, the heir of Elendil, in the early days of Gondor. When Sauron returned and grew in might, Isildur summoned them to fulfil their oath, but they refused, for they had worshipped Sauron in the Dark Years. In his wrath, Isildur laid a curse upon them: they would never rest until their oath was fulfilled. This curse bound them to the earth, and they became the Dead Men of Dunharrow, a host of shadowy figures that haunted the Paths of the Dead and the Hill of Erech, unable to find peace or pass beyond the world.

The Nature of the Curse

The curse was pronounced by Isildur upon the king of the Men of the Mountains, declaring that he would be the last king of his line, and that his folk would be summoned again ere the end of the world. The Dead were thus trapped in a state of eternal unrest, their spirits bound to the places where they had broken their oath. They were described as 'the Sleepless Dead,' and their presence brought terror to the living. The Paths of the Dead, which ran beneath the Dwimorberg, the Haunted Mountain, were guarded by these spectres, and no living man could pass through them without facing their dread. The Dead were also said to gather at the Stone of Erech, a black stone brought from Númenor by Isildur, where they would whisper and await their summons.

The Summoning by Aragorn

Aragorn, as the heir of Isildur, was the one who could command the Oathbreakers. Guided by the prophecy of Malbeth the Seer, which spoke of the heir of Isildur passing the Door to the Paths of the Dead, Aragorn took the Paths with the Grey Company, a band of Rangers and the sons of Elrond. As they journeyed through the darkness, they were followed by the Dead, who were summoned by Aragorn's will. At the Stone of Erech, Aragorn blew a silver horn and called out to the Dead, asking why they had come. A voice answered, 'To fulfil our oath and have peace.' Aragorn then declared that he was Elessar, Isildur's heir, and commanded them to follow him to Pelargir, promising that when the land was cleansed of Sauron's servants, they would be released from their curse.

The Fulfilment of the Oath

The Dead followed Aragorn to Pelargir, where they swept through the fleet of the Corsairs of Umbar, striking terror into the hearts of the enemy. Their presence was so fearsome that the sailors and soldiers of the Haradrim fled or were slain, and the ships were captured without a single loss among Aragorn's forces. After the victory, Aragorn spoke to the Dead, saying, 'Your oath is fulfilled. Go back and trouble not the valleys ever again! Depart and be at rest!' The King of the Dead broke his spear and bowed, and the entire host vanished like a mist, finally released from their long torment. This act fulfilled the prophecy and allowed Aragorn to bring the captured fleet to the aid of Gondor, turning the tide at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

Significance

The Oathbreakers' State is a powerful example of the consequences of breaking a solemn vow, and it underscores the theme of oaths and their fulfilment that runs throughout the narrative. The Dead are not evil in the same way as the servants of Sauron; they are tragic figures, bound by their own failure to keep faith. Their release is a key moment in Aragorn's rise to kingship, demonstrating his authority as the heir of Isildur and his ability to command even the dead. The episode also highlights the importance of the Paths of the Dead as a perilous but necessary route, and it shows how the past can be redeemed through courage and the keeping of promises.