Sauron Defeated Read Free Page B

Fields'
    and very probably accompanied the outline 'The Story Foreseen from Forannest' (see VIII.397). This preliminary version of 'The march of Aragorn and defeat of the Haradrim', which contains remarkable features, is given at the end of this chapter (p. 14).
    In this outline IV Gorbag is expressly the 'Master of the Tower', whereas in the fair copy manuscript of 'The Choices of Master Samwise' he is the Orc from Minas Morghul, as in RK. It is notable however that at his first appearance in this text he is the Orc from Minas Morghul, changed immediately to Shagrat - which is however marked with a query. This query suggests to me that after so much changing back and forth of the names of these beauties (see VIII.225, note 46) my father could not remember what decision he had come to, and did not at this time check it with the manuscript of the end of Book IV (cf. the case of 'Thror' and 'Thrain', VII.159 - 60). The same uncertainty is seen in outline III above (see note 6).

    (IV) Frodo is captured night of 10-11. Mar.12 Frodo in prison.
    (Sauron is distracted by news of the Ents and defeat of his forces in Eastemnet by Ents and Elves of Lorien.)
    No message is sent for some time to Dark Tower - partly because of general.......(10) Frodo is stripped, and the Mithril coat is found.
    [Gorbag >] Shagrat (?) covets this, and tries to stop Gorbag sending message: at first pleading need of searching for confederate.
    But quarrel breaks out, and Shagrat and Gorbag fight and their men take sides. Sam at last finds way in - by a front gate overlooking Mordor - and a steep descent down into a long narrow dale or trough beyond which is a lower ridge.(11) In end Gorbag (Master of the Tower) wins, because he has more men, and Shagrat and all his folk are slain. Gorbag then sends tidings to Baraddur together with the Mithril coat - but overlooks Lorien cloak.(12) Gorbag has only very few men left, and has to send two (since one won't go alone for fear of the missing spy) to Baraddur. Sam slips in and slays one of Gorbag's remaining two at the gate, another on stair, and so wins his way in to the Upper Chamber. There he finds Gorbag. Sam takes off his Ring and fights him and slays him. He then enters Frodo's chamber. Frodo lying bound and naked; he has recovered his wits owing to a draught given him by orcs to counter poison - but he has talked in his delirium and revealed his name and his country, though not his errand.(13) Frodo is filled with fear, for at first he thinks it is an orc that enters. Then hatred for the bearer of the Ring seizes him like a madness, and he reproaches Sam for a traitor and thief. Sam in grief; but he speaks kindly, and the fit passes and Frodo weeps.
    This is night of 13th. Sam and Frodo escape from Tower on 14th.

    It might be a good thing to increase the reckoning of time that Frodo, Sam and Gollum took to climb Kirith Ungol by a day, so that Frodo is not taken until night of 11-12. Quarrel between Orcs on 12th and sending of message that night or morning of 13th when Gorbag is victorious. Sam gets in on 13th. Otherwise Sam will have to spend all 11, 12 and part of 13 trying to get into Tower.
    Make Sam get in before fight and get mixed up with it. And so let Sam hear message sent to Baraddur?

    The last outline (V), while written independently of IV, evidently belongs closely with it, and has the same story of the Tower of Kirith Ungol - Gorbag is the captain of the garrison, and Sam slays him. This text, giving the first detailed account of the journey of Frodo and Sam to Mount Doom, is identical in appearance to 'The Story Foreseen from Forannest' and was clearly a companion to it.
    At the head of the page are written these notes on distances, which were struck through:

    Minas Tirith to Osgiliath (W. end) 24 - 5 miles. Width of city
    [written above: ruin] 4 miles. East end of Osgiliath to Minas Morghul about 60 miles (52 to Cross Roads?). Minas Morghul to top of Kirith Ungol (and pass below Tower) 15