The Lord of the Rings, #3
The Return of the King
by J. R. R. Tolkien
Contents
Chapter 1: THE TOWER OF CIRITH UNGOL
Overview
Sam, resisting the Ring’s growing lure near Mount Doom, infiltrates the Tower of Cirith Ungol amid orc infighting. He confronts Shagrat and Snaga, then finds and frees a stripped, tormented Frodo. After returning the Ring to Frodo despite a moment of mistrust, they don orc-gear and use Galadriel’s phial to break the Watchers’ spell and flee as a Nazgûl descends.
Summary
Sam awakens outside the under-gate of Cirith Ungol, despairing yet resolved to rescue Frodo. Hearing orc turmoil above, he realizes Shagrat and Gorbag are fighting over loot, likely Frodo’s mithril coat. He crosses into Mordor, confronts the Tower’s daunting layout, and feels the Ring’s power swell near Mount Doom, tempting him with grandiose visions. Love for Frodo and hobbit sense steady him.
At the gate, the Two Watchers’ unseen will bars Sam, but Galadriel’s phial weakens them; his entry triggers alarms. Inside, corpses show savage orc-on-orc slaughter. On the roof, Sam witnesses Shagrat kill the wounded Gorbag and flee with a black bundle. Choosing Frodo over pursuit, Sam returns to the turret, ascends by trapdoor, and, in fury, disarms the orc Snaga, who falls to his death.
Sam finds Frodo naked, whipped, and dazed but alive. Frodo recounts interrogation and theft. When Sam reveals he kept the Ring, Frodo, gripped by its power, momentarily accuses Sam of theft before recovering and accepting the burden again. Sam equips Frodo in scavenged orc-gear; they gather remaining lembas but lack water.
The hobbits descend through the fear-soaked tower, complete their disguise with shields, and face the Watchers’ crippling will at the gate. Sam calls on Elbereth with the phial, Frodo cries “Aiya elenion ancalima!”, and the Watchers’ power snaps. They dash out as the arch collapses behind them and a Nazgûl’s winged shape plummets from the dark.
Who Appears
- Samwise GamgeeResists the Ring’s temptation, infiltrates the tower, confronts orcs, finds and frees Frodo, returns the Ring, and leads their escape.
- Frodo BagginsImprisoned, stripped, and whipped; briefly succumbs to the Ring’s paranoia, then resumes bearing it and escapes with Sam.
- ShagratCaptain of the Tower; kills Gorbag, fights Snaga, and escapes with a black bundle of plunder.
- SnagaDefiant underling; accesses the top chamber via ladder; attempts to whip Frodo; disarmed by Sam and falls to his death.
- GorbagMorgul orc captain; wounded but rises to seize loot; slain by Shagrat on the roof.
- The Two WatchersMalevolent gate-guardians whose psychic barrier halts passage; overcome by Galadriel’s phial and elvish invocations.