STAYING THE COURSE 69 because he is small and a burden. Eówyn, under the disguise of a soldier named Dernhelm, sneaks him away with her—two desperate individuals determined to contribute despite being told they could not make a difference. And it is Eówyn and Merry at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields who defeat the Witchking of Angmar, one of Mordor’s most dangerous threats. Pippin faces similar character tests through chances to prove his bravery in the Siege of Minas Tirith. He joins the service of Lord Denethor and witnesses Faramir, Boromir’s younger brother, seek to fight for his country despite overwhelming odds. He sacrifices himself to try and reclaim the city of Osgiliath, and it is Pippin who saves him when he returns nearly dead. Even when the end seems hopeless in so many ways, they can’t give up. The Three Hunters From the other side of the Battle, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli take the road to the Paths of the Dead with the Dunedain to seek a “hail Mary” chance of enlisting Isildur’s Dead Army. No one who has ever entered has been seen again, but they recognize the need to try: if they fail in this then there is no chance of victory anyway. Aragorn in particular is operating under nothing more than pure determination by this point, but it pays off and his risk aids to the victory of the Battle. Still, the War is not over, and they must all make the choice to bring the final fight to Sauron himself by marching on the Black Gate of Mordor. Aragorn knows this battle is one they will not win—they are drastically outnumbered and weakened. Yet they refuse to surrender, to hide in Minas Tirith and wait for the end. Instead, they try to give Frodo one final chance to reach Mount Doom by distracting Sauron’s attention. “We have come now to the very brink,” Aragorn says, “where hope and despair are akin. To waver is to fall.” The Trials of Frodo and Sam Facing the harshest trials, Frodo and Sam must choose every day to keep walking toward their destination. By the time they reach Mount Doom, they are exhausted, injured, malnourished, dehydrated, and hopeless beyond all count. The Plains of Gorgoroth they must cross are barren wastelands of
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