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shook free； and throughout his realm a tremor ran； his slaves quailed； and his armies halted； and his
captains suddenly steerless； bereft of will； wavered and despaired。 For they were forgotten。 The
whole mind and purpose of the Power that wielded them was now bent with overwhelming force
upon the Mountain。 At his summons； wheeling with a rending cry； in a last desperate race there
flew； faster than the winds； the Nazg？l the Ringwraiths； and with a storm of wings they hurtled
southwards to Mount Doom。
Sam got up。 He was dazed； and blood streaming from his head dripped in his eyes。 He groped
forward； and then he saw a strange and terrible thing。 Gollum on the edge of the abyss was fighting
like a mad thing with an unseen foe。 To and fro he swayed； now so near the brink that almost he
tumbled in； now dragging back； falling to the ground； rising； and falling again。 And all the while he
hissed but spoke no words。
The fires below awoke in anger； the red light blazed； and all the cavern was filled with a great
glare and heat。 Suddenly Sam saw Gollum's long hands draw upwards to his mouth； his white fangs
gleamed； and then snapped as they bit。 Frodo gave a cry； and there he was； fallen upon his knees at
the chasm's edge。 But Gollum； dancing like a mad thing； held aloft the ring； a finger still thrust
within its circle。 It shone now as if verily it was wrought of living fire。
'Precious； precious； precious！' Gollum cried。 'My Precious！ O my Precious！' And with that； even
as his eyes were lifted up to gloat on his prize； he stepped too far； toppled； wavered for a moment
on the brink； and then with a shriek he fell。 Out of the depths came his last wail _Precious_； and he
was gone。
There was a roar and a great confusion of noise。 Fires leaped up and licked the roof。 The
throbbing grew to a great tumult； and the Mountain shook。 Sam ran to Frodo and picked him up and
carried him。 out to the door。 And there upon the dark threshold of the Sammath Naur； high above
the plains of Mordor； such wonder and terror came on him that he stood still forgetting all else； and
gazed as one turned to stone。
A brief vision he had of swirling cloud； and in the midst of it towers and battlements； tall as hills；
founded upon a mighty mountain…throne above immeasurable pits； great courts and dungeons；
eyeless prisons sheer as cliffs； and gaping gates of steel and adamant： and then all passed。 Towers
fell and mountains slid； walls crumbled and melted； crashing down； vast spires of smoke and
spouting steams went billowing up； up； until they toppled like an overwhelming wave； and its wild
crest curled and came foaming down upon the land。 And then at last over the miles between there
came a rumble； rising to a deafening crash and roar； the earth shook； the plain heaved and cracked；
and Orodruin reeled。 Fire belched from its riven summit。 The skies burst into thunder seared with
lightning。 Down like lashing whips fell a torrent of black rain。 And into the heart of the storm； with
a cry that pierced all other sounds； tearing the clouds asunder； the Nazg？l came； shooting like
flaming bolts； as caught in the fiery ruin of hill and sky they crackled； withered； and went out。
'Well； this is the end； Sam Gamgee；' said a voice by his side。 And there was Frodo； pale and
worn； and yet himself again； and in his eyes there was peace now； neither strain of will； nor
madness； nor any fear。 His burden was taken away。 There was the dear master of the sweet days in
the Shire。
'Master！' cried Sam。 and fell upon his knees。 In all that ruin of the world for the moment he felt
only joy； great joy。 The burden was gone。 His master had been saved； he was himself again； he was
free。 And then Sam caught sight of the maimed and bleeding hand。
'Your poor hand！' he said。 'And I have nothing to bind it with； or fort it。 I would have spared
him a whole hand of mine rather。 But he's gone now beyond recall； gone for ever。'
'Yes；' said Frodo。 'But do you remember Gandalf's words： _Even Gollum may have something
yet to do？_ But for him； Sam； I could not have destroyed the Ring。 The Quest would have been in
vain； even at the bitter end。 So let us forgive him！ For the Quest is achieved； and now all is over。 I
am glad you are here with me。 Here at the end of all things； Sam。'
_Chapter 4_
The Field of Cormallen
All about the hills the hosts of Mordor raged。 The Captains of the West were foundering in a
gathering sea。 The sun gleamed red； and under the wings of the Nazg？l the shadows of death fell
dark upon the earth。 Aragorn stood beneath his banner； silent and stern； as one lost in thought of
things long past or far away； but his eyes gleamed like stars that shine the brighter as the night
deepens。 Upon the hill…top stood Gandalf； and he was white and cold and no shadow fell on him。
The onslaught of Mordor broke like a wave on the beleaguered hills； voices roaring like a tide amid
the wreck and crash of arms。
As if to his eyes some sudden vision had been given； Gandalf stirred； and he turned； looking
back north where the skies were pale and clear。 Then he lifted up his hands and cried in a loud
voice ringing above the din： _The Eagles are ing！_ And many voices answered crying： _The
Eagles are ing！ The Eagles are ing！_ The hosts of Mordor looked up and wondered what
this sign might mean。
There came Gwaihir the Windlord； and Landroval his brother； greatest of all the Eagles of the
North； mightiest of the descendants of old Thorondor； who built his eyries in the inaccessible peaks
of the Encircling Mountains when Middle…earth was young。 Behind them in long swift lines came
all their vassals from the northern mountains； speeding on a gathering wind。 Straight down upon
the Nazg？l they bore； stooping suddenly out of the high airs； and the rush of their wide wings as
they passed over was like a gale。
But the Nazg？l turned and fled； and vanished into Mordor's shadows； hearing a sudden terrible
call out of the Dark Tower； and even at that moment all the hosts of Mordor trembled； doubt
clutched their hearts； their laughter failed； their hands shook and their limbs were loosed。 The
Power that drove them on and filled them with hate and fury was wavering； its will was removed
from them； and now looking in the eyes of their enemies they saw a deadly light and were afraid。
Then all the Captains of the West cried aloud； for their hearts were filled with a new hope in the
midst of darkness。 Out from the beleaguered hills knights of Gondor； Riders of Rohan； Dúnedain of
the North； close…serried panies； drove against their wavering foes； piercing the press with the
thrust of bitter spears。 But Gandalf lifted up his arms and called once more in a clear voice：
'Stand； Men of the West！ Stand and wait！ This is the hour of doom。'
And even as he spoke the earth rocked beneath their feet。 Then rising swiftly up； far above the
Towers of the Black Gate； high above the mountains； a vast soaring darkness sprang into the sky；
flickering with fire。 The earth groaned and quaked。 The Towers of the Teeth swayed； tottered； and
fell down； the mighty rampart crumbled； the Black Gate was hurled in ruin； and from far away；
now dim； now growing； now mounting to the clouds； there came a drumming rumble； a roar； a long
echoing roll of ruinous noise。
'The realm of Sauron is ended！' said Gandalf。 'The Ring…bearer has fulfilled his Quest。' And as
the Captains gazed south to the Land of Mordor； it seemed to them that； black against the pall of
cloud； there rose a huge shape of shadow； impenetrable； lightning…crowned； filling all the sky。
Enormous it reared above the world； and stretched out towards them a vast threatening hand；
terrible but impotent： for even as it leaned over them； a great wind took it； and it was all blown
away； and passed； and then a hush fell。
The Captains bowed their heads； and when they looked up again； behold！ their enemies were
flying and the power of Mordor was scattering like dust in the wind。 As when death smites the
swollen brooding thing that inhabits their crawling hill and holds them all in sway； ants will wander
witless and purposeless and then feebly die； so the creatures of Sauron； orc or troll or beast spell…
enslaved； ran hither and thither mindless； and some slew themselves； or cast themselves in pits； or
fled wailing back to hide in holes and dark lightless places far from hope。 But the Men of Rh？n and
of Harad； Easterling and Southron； saw the ruin of their war and the great majesty and glory of the
Captains of the West。 And those that were deepest and longest in evil servitude； hating the West；
and yet were men proud and bold； in their turn now gathered themselves for a last stand of
desperate battle。 But the most part fled eastward as they could； and some cast their weapons down
and sued for mercy。
Then Gandalf； leaving all such matters of battle and mand to Aragorn and the other lords；
stood upon the hill…top and called； and down to him came the great eagle； Gwaihir the Windlord；
and stood before him。
'Twice you have borne me； Gwaihir my friend；' said Gandalf。 'Thrice shall pay for all； if you are
willing。 You will not find me a burden much greater than when you bore me from Zirak…zigil；
where my old life burned away。'
'I would bear you；' answered Gwaihir； 'whither you will； even were you made of stone。'
'Then e； and let your brother go with us； and some other of your folk who is most swift！ For
we have need of speed greater than any wind； outmatching the wings of the Nazg？l。'
'The North Wind blows； but we shall outfly it；' said Gwaihir。 And he lifted up Gandalf and sped
away south； and with him went Landroval； and Meneldor young and swift。 And they passed over
Ud？n and Gorgoroth and saw all the land in ruin and tumult beneath them； and before them Mount
Doom blazing； pouring out its fire。
'I am glad that you are here with me；' said Frodo。 'Here at the end of all things； Sam。'
'Yes； I am with you； Master；' said Sam； laying Frodo's wounded hand gently to his breast。 'And
you're with me。 And the journey's finished。 But after ing all that way I don't want to give up yet。
It's not like me； somehow； if you understand。'
'Maybe not； Sam；' said Frodo； 'but it's like things are in the world。 Hopes fail。 An end es。
We have only a little time to wait now。 We are lost in ruin and downfall； and there is no escape。'
'Well； Master； we could at least go further from this dangerous place here； from this Crack of
Doom； if that's its name。 Now couldn't we？ e； Mr。 Frodo； let's go down the path at any rate！'
'Very well； Sam。 If you wish to go； I'll e；' said Frodo； and they rose and went slowly down
the winding road； and even as they passed towards the Mountain's quaking feet； a great smoke and
steam belched from the Sammath Naur； and the side of the cone was riven open； and a huge fiery
vomit rolled in slow thunderous cascade down the eastern mountain…side。
Frodo and Sam could go no further。 Their last strength of mind and body was swiftly ebbing。
They had reached a low ashen hill piled at the Mountain's foot； but from it there was no more
escape。 It was an island now； not long to endure； amid the torment of Orodruin。 All about it the
earth gaped； and from deep rifts and pits smoke and fumes leaped up。 Behind them the Mountain
was convulsed。 Great rents opened in its side。 Slow rivers of fire came down the long slopes
towards them。 Soon they would be engulfed。 A rain of hot ash was falling。
They stood now； and Sam still holding his master's hand caressed it。 He sighed。 'What a tale we
have been in； Mr。 Frodo； haven't we？' he said。 'I wish I could hear it told！ Do you think they'll say：
_Now es the story of Nine…fingered Frodo and the Ring of Doom？_And then everyone will
hush； like we did； when in Rivendell they told us the tale of Beren One…hand and the Great Jewel。 I
wish I could hear it！ And I wonder how it will go on after our part。'
But even while he spoke so； to keep fear away until the very last； his eyes still strayed north；
north into the eye of the wind； to where the sky far off was clear； as the cold blast； rising to a gale；
drove back the darkness and the ruin of the clouds。
And so it was that Gwaihir saw them with his keen far…seeing eyes； as down the wild wind he
came； and daring the great peril of the skies he circled in the air： two small dark figures； forlorn；
hand in hand upon a little hill； while the world shook under them； and gasped； and rivers of fire
drew near。 And even as he espied them and came swooping down； he saw them fall； worn out； or
choked with fumes and heat； or stricken down by despair at last； hiding their eyes from death。
Side by side they lay； and down swept Gwaihir； and down came Landroval and Meneldor the
swift； and in a dream； not knowing what fate had befallen them； the wanderers were lifted up and
borne far away out of the darkness and the fire。
When Sam awoke； he found that he was lying on some soft bed； but over him gently swayed
wide beechen