“Faithless is he who says farewell when the road darkens.” -Tolkien One of the greatest strengths of Tolkien’s most famous work is that it covers the journeys of so many different characters. By the end of the quest in The Return of the King that began in The Fellowship of the Ring, readers have followed the separate journeys of at least four different parties: Frodo and Sam on their way to Mordor with Gollum; Merry with the Rohirrim, including Eówyn, Eómer, and King Théoden; Gandalf and Pippin in Minas Tirith with Faramir; and Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli in The Paths of the Dead. All of these characters are worn with exhaustion and discouragement as they press on toward the end of the War—a War they have little hope of winning. And yet, their ability to keep fighting and keep seeking every opportunity is a shining example of perseverance in the face of hardship. The Separation of Merry and Pippin Merry and Pippin are keenly aware of how out of place they are in the War. They joined the Fellowship in Rivendell in order to help Frodo, and they did not fully understand what that would mean. When Pippin is whisked off to Minas Tirith with Gandalf, Merry is left behind in Rohan. He begs King Théoden to be put to use, and becomes a Royal Esquire of Rohan, though he is told he cannot join them on their ride to battle in Gondor Staying the Course: Endurance and Hope in The Lord of the Rings Bryana Fern
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