His name in youth was Olórin in the West, but he was called Mithrandir by the Elves (Grey Wanderer), Tharkûn by the Dwarves (said to mean "Staff-man"), Incánus in the South, and Gandalf in the North, but "to the East I go not." ... "The North" must refer to the North-western regions of Middle-earth, in … Continue reading QOTW: The River Running →

But his chief peril lay in the south, where the Haradrim had occupied South Gondor, and there was much fighting along the Poros. When Ithilien was invaded in great strength, King Folcwine of Rohan fulfilled the Oath of Eorl and repaid his debt for the aid brought by Beregond, sending many men to Gondor. With … Continue reading QOTW: The Crossings of Poros →

Loud rose a din of laughter hoarse,self-loathing yet without remorse;loud came a singing harsh and fiercelike swords of terror souls to pierce.Red was the glare through open doorsof firelight mirrored on brazen floors,and up the arches towering clombto glooms unguessed, to vaulted domeswathed in wavering smokes and steamsstabbed with flickering lightning-gleams.–The Lay of Leithian The … Continue reading QOTW: The Dungeons of Cirith Gurat →

Southward beyond the road lay the main force of the Haradrim, and there their horsemen were gathered about the standard of their chieftain. And he looked out, and in the growing light he saw the banner of the king, and that it was far ahead of the battle with few men about it. Then he … Continue reading QOTW: The Black Serpent →

There agelong she had dwelt, an evil thing in spider-form, even such as once of old had lived in the Land of the Elves in the West that is now under the Sea, such as Beren fought in the Mountains of Terror in Doriath, and so came to Lúthien upon the green sward amid the … Continue reading QOTW: Beneath the Sands →

But wherever the mûmakil came there the horses would not go, but blenched and swerved away; and the great monsters were unfought, and stood like towers of defense, and the Haradrim rallied about them.–The Return of the King Race Across Harad Stats Groups registered: 12 Total attempts: 33 Most attempts: 5 Average attempts per entry: 2.8 Total number of … Continue reading QOTW: Race Across Harad →

His scarlet robes were tattered, his corslet of overlapping brazen plates was rent and hewn, his black plaits of hair braided with gold were drenched with blood. His brown hand still clutched the hilt of a broken sword. It was Sam's first view of a battle of Men against Men, and he did not like … Continue reading QOTW: The Mûmakil →

The darkness was breaking too soon, before the date that his Master had set for it: fortune had betrayed him for the moment, and the world had turned against him; victory was slipping from his grasp even as he stretched out his hand to seize it. But his arm was long. He was still in … Continue reading QOTW: The Long Arm of Mordor →

''Tis said that there were dealings of old between Gondor and the kingdoms of the Harad in the Far South; though there was never friendship. In those days our bounds were away south beyond the mouths of Anduin, and Umbar, the nearest of their realms, acknowledged our sway. But that is long since. 'Tis many … Continue reading QOTW: Escape from Umbar →

Then Ar-Pharazôn hardened his heart, and he went aboard his mighty ship, Alcarondas, Castle of the Sea. Many-oared it was and many-masted, golden and sable; and upon it the throne of Ar-Pharazôn was set. Then he did on his panaply and his crown, and let raise his standard, and he gave the signal for the … Continue reading QOTW: The Hunt for the Dreadnaught →