The March to the Black Gate
After the victory on the Pelennor Fields, the Captains of the West faced a bitter truth: they could not defeat Sauron by force of arms. Gandalf laid out the only remaining hope: to march openly toward Mordor, presenting themselves as bait so that the Dark Lord would empty his land and turn his Eye away from the true peril—the Ring-bearer creeping toward Mount Doom. Aragorn, who had already revealed himself to Sauron through the Orthanc-stone, declared that he would continue what he had begun. Éomer of Rohan and Imrahil of Dol Amroth pledged their forces. The sons of Elrond confirmed that this very counsel had brought them from the North. The decision was made: in two days, an army of seven thousand—six thousand foot and a thousand horse—would set out for the Black Gate.
The Composition of the Host
The army that mustered on the Pelennor was a shadow of Gondor's ancient might, yet it represented the last strength of the West. Aragorn brought some two thousand men from the southern fiefs, gathered after the liberation of Pelargir. Imrahil contributed three and a half thousand, including his knights of Dol Amroth. Éomer led five hundred of the Rohirrim who had lost their horses but remained war-worthy, alongside five hundred of his best mounted Riders. A further company of five hundred horse included the Dúnedain of the North and the sons of Elrond. The main body of the Rohirrim, some three thousand under Elfhelm, was sent to waylay the enemy in Anórien. The army marched with grim resolve, knowing that they were walking into a trap from which few expected to return.
The Journey to the Cross-roads
The host set out from Minas Tirith on the second morning after the debate. They passed through the ruins of Osgiliath, where workers labored to repair the crossings, and then took the long straight road that once linked the Tower of the Sun to the Tower of the Moon. On the first day they halted five miles beyond the river. The horsemen pressed on and by evening reached the Cross-roads, where the great ring of trees stood silent. There Aragorn ordered the trumpets blown and the heralds proclaimed that the Lords of Gondor had returned. The hideous orc-head that had been set in mockery on the fallen king's statue was cast down, and the old king's head, still crowned with white and golden flowers, was restored to its place.
The Approach to Mordor
From the Cross-roads the army turned north along the road toward the Morannon. They marched openly but heedfully, with scouts on every side. The weather remained fair, but the glooms and mists of the Mountains of Shadow clung to the land. Thrice daily the heralds proclaimed the coming of King Elessar, but no answer came. On the second day of the northward march, a force of Orcs and Easterlings attempted an ambush in the same cutting where Faramir had waylaid the Haradrim. The Captains, warned by Mablung and his Rangers, trapped the ambushers instead, driving them into the hills. Yet the victory brought little cheer; Aragorn judged it a feint meant to lure them on. From that evening, the Nazgûl followed the army, flying high but felt as a deepening shadow.
The Last Camp and the Challenge
On the fifth day of the march from Morgul Vale, the army came to the end of the living lands and entered the desolation before Cirith Gorgor. Many of the younger men, from Rohan and Lossarnach, were unmanned by the horror. Aragorn sent them back to retake Cair Andros, a task within their measure. With fewer than six thousand, the Captains reached the Slag-hills before the Black Gate. They drew up their host on two great mounds of blasted stone, with a mire of reeking mud before them. Then the Captains rode forth with a guard of horsemen, the banner unfurled, and the heralds cried out for the Lord of the Black Land to come forth and answer for his evils. The silence that followed was broken at last by drums and horns, and the great doors of the Morannon swung open.
The Parley and the Trap
Out of the Gate rode the Mouth of Sauron, a tall and evil figure, the Lieutenant of Barad-dûr. He bore tokens—Sam's short sword, Frodo's grey cloak, and the mithril-coat—and claimed that the Ring-bearer was a prisoner enduring slow torment. He offered terms: the West must withdraw beyond the Anduin, all lands east of the river would be Sauron's forever, and those west would be tributary to Mordor. Gandalf, seeing the lie in the Messenger's eyes, seized the tokens and rejected the terms utterly. The Messenger fled, and as he reached the Gate, Sauron sprang his trap. Drums rolled, fires leaped up, and from the Morannon and the hills on either side poured Orcs, Easterlings, and hill-trolls in overwhelming numbers. The men of the West were ringed in a sea of enemies.
The Last Stand
Aragorn ordered the battle as best he could. On one hill he stood with Gandalf beneath the banner of the Tree and Stars; on the other flew the banners of Rohan and Dol Amroth. The sons of Elrond and the Dúnedain held the left, Imrahil and the men of the Tower of Guard the right. The Nazgûl came with cold voices crying words of death. Pippin, standing beside Beregond in the front rank, drew his sword and thought of Merry, wishing he were there. The first assault crashed into them: hill-trolls waded through the pools, bearing huge hammers, and beat upon the line of Gondor. Beregond was struck down, and a troll-chief bent over him. Pippin stabbed upward with his Númenórean blade, piercing the troll's hide and bringing it crashing down upon him. As his mind fled into darkness, he heard voices crying that the Eagles were coming. The trap had been sprung, but the bait had served its purpose: far away, Frodo and Sam had reached the Sammath Naur, and the Ring was about to fall into the Fire.
