The Lord of the Rings, #3
The Return of the King
by J. R. R. Tolkien
Contents
Chapter 3: MOUNT DOOM
Overview
Sam and Frodo push across Gorgoroth, discard burdens, and turn straight for Mount Doom. Sam carries Frodo up Sauron’s Road. At the Crack of Doom, Frodo claims the Ring, but Gollum bites off his finger and falls into the fire, destroying it. Barad-dûr collapses, the Nazgûl perish, and Frodo is released from the burden.
Summary
Hidden near the Isenmouthe, Sam rations water and waybread and steels himself to see the journey through, even to death. He leads Frodo back onto the road for speed, then off toward Mount Doom across the ash-strewn wastes. With hope fading, they discard their orc-gear and all but the barest supplies.
Turning directly for the Mountain, they find few watchers, for the Nazgûl shadow the Captains in the north. Frodo staggers under the Ring’s growing weight, while Sam endures thirst and fumes. At dawn of their last day, Sam lifts Frodo onto his back and discovers he can bear him, climbing the northern slopes toward a circling road.
They reach Sauron’s road to the Sammath Naur. A momentary parting of clouds reveals Barad-dûr; Frodo collapses, clutching the Ring, and Sam carries him on. Gollum ambushes them on the path, grapples with Frodo, and is thrown off. Sam spares the cowering Gollum, urging Frodo to continue.
Inside the Crack of Doom, Frodo stands over the fire and refuses the task, claiming the Ring and vanishing. Sauron’s Eye turns to Mount Doom; the Nazgûl race south. Gollum attacks the invisible Frodo, bites off his finger with the Ring, and, gloating, slips over the brink into the fire. The Ring is unmade.
Orodruin erupts; Barad-dûr collapses; the Nazgûl burn and fall. Sam carries Frodo to the threshold and witnesses Mordor’s ruin. Frodo, wounded but at peace, acknowledges that without Gollum the Quest would have failed, and he and Sam accept the moment as the end of all things.
Who Appears
- Samwise GamgeeResolute companion; rations, guides, carries Frodo up Mount Doom, spares Gollum, and saves Frodo at the end.
- Frodo BagginsRing-bearer crushed by the Ring’s weight; claims it at the Crack of Doom; loses a finger; freed after its destruction.
- Gollum (Sméagol)Ambushes on Sauron’s road; fights Frodo; bites off Frodo’s finger; falls into the Fire, destroying the Ring.
- SauronHis Eye turns to Mount Doom as Frodo claims the Ring; Barad-dûr collapses with the Ring’s unmaking.
- The NazgûlRace to Mount Doom at Sauron’s summons; caught in the eruption and perish in fiery ruin.