The Atlas of Middle-earth

by Karen Wynn Fonstad

  A mile east of the Bridge, they turned up a narrow ravine that led north. Here again, as in The Hobbit pathways map, two variations have been shown in the Trollshaws: the original map, based on the 1965 edition of The Hobbit in which the Trolls’ camp seemed to be near the Last Bridge, and the revised map, placing the campsite near a lesser stream closer to the Bruinen.7 With either, the reader can at least gain a visual impression of the number of days spent off the Road, and of the relative directions followed through the rugged lands. The walkers “had to pick their way . . . encumbered by fallen trees and tumbled rocks.”8 The weather was rainy, and Frodo’s wound was worsening. After following the ravine north they probably attempted to go east, but on October 16 were “forced to turn northwards out of their course.”9 The next day they started late and headed southeast, but once more were blocked by a ridge where they were forced to spend the night. On October 18 they found a path leading southeast to the Road, and at mid-day discovered Bilbo’s Stone-trolls.

  In the afternoon they reached the Road, and went along it as swiftly as possible. The road in the Trollshaws has been corrected, as was the course of the Bruinen (Loudwater), to agree with Tolkien’s original conception: running along the edge of the hills, yet near the course of the Bruinen for much of the distance “the Road turned away from the river . . . clung close to the feet of the hills, rolling and winding northward among woods and heather-covered slopes . . .”10

  At dusk they were ready to rest, but when Glorfindel arrived he led them on until dawn of October 19.11 Less than five hours later they continued, and “covered almost twenty miles before nightfall.”12 They were still “many miles” from the Ford of Bruinen, but they hobbled on and reached it in the late afternoon—only to be attacked once more.13 After the Black Riders had been swept away by the flood, the Company carried Frodo slowly on toward Rivendell, reaching it in the deep night. The first stage of the journey was over.

  Rivendell to Lórien

  AT DUSK ON DECEMBER 25 the Fellowship departed, reaching Hollin Ridge at dawn January 8.1 On January 11 they camped at the foot of the Redhorn and began the ascent in the dark.2 By only midnight snow forced them to stop,3 and the next morning they retreated—only to be attacked by wolves that night.

  The West-door of Moria was fifteen miles southwest of the Pass; yet from the knoll where they spent the night of January 12 Gandalf pointed southeast to the Walls of Moria. All the morning of January 13 was required to find the road next to the Sirannon, and it was past dusk when they finally reached the Door.4 After Frodo was attacked, all “were willing . . . to go on marching still for several hours.”5 Gandalf had estimated it was more than forty miles; yet by sometime after midnight they had apparently covered almost half the distance. From the Guardroom Gandalf decided it was time to climb,6 and climb they did—for eight hours. By that night (January 14) they reached the Twenty-first Hall of the North End. The next day they were attacked and managed to escape the mile to the first Deep; but there Gandalf fell.7 The travellers fled from Moria at 1 P.M.., and by early evening had reached Nimrodel—“little more than five leagues from the Gates” (about fifteen miles).8 For the next two days Elves led them through Lórien, and they entered Caras Galadon after dusk on January 17.9

  On the morning of February 16 the Fellowship departed, and after hiking ten miles to the Anduin, they paddled out.10 Aragorn insisted they start early each morning and journey far into the dark; yet for the first three days they merely drifted with the current.11 On February 19 they passed downs on their west, and wolds on their east. The following days the lands seemed so sinister that they paddled for long periods and changed from day to night journeys.12 Thus, they found themselves unexpectedly at Sarn Gebir about midnight of February 23. Paddling hard, they escaped both the rapids and the Ores, and during the next day they portaged the few miles to the foot of the rapids. On the morning of February 25 they paddled south again, and by evening they had reached the lawn of Parth Galen.13

  LÓRIEN TO RAUROS

  Rauros to Dunharrow

  AT NOON ON FEBRUARY 26 the Fellowship was broken: Frodo and Sam fled; Boromir was slain; and Ores carried Merry and Pippin toward Isengard.1 Afternoon was fading as Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas began their chase. The trail went west to the Entwash, then followed the valley to Fangorn.2 The Ores’ five-hour lead widened to thirty-six,3 for in the entire distance of some 165 miles they apparently camped only once in sixty hours4 until they reached Fangorn and were trapped.5 In contrast the three friends spent one night and three days of running, plus half a day riding, to reach Fangorn. The friends ran forty-five leagues (135 miles), covering twelve leagues each day on the plains; and (as Éomer acknowledged) that was no small feat!6

  The chase of the three friends ended without a reunion, however, for Merry and Pippin had managed to escape the previous dawn (February 29) and had met Treebeard. The old Ent had carried them to Wellinghall by dusk—“seventy thousand ent-strides” (100 miles at seven and one-half feet per stride).7 On March 1 the Hobbits had already been at Derndingle a day and a half by the time Aragorn came to Treebeard’s Hill and met Gandalf.8 In the late morning Gandalf led the way toward Edoras, which they reached at dawn, March 2. Early that afternoon they rode west, and at dusk on March 3 they turned south toward Helm’s Deep and an all-night battle.9 After the enemy was defeated Gandalf led a small company toward Isengard.10 They camped at the mouth of Nan Curunír on March 3, and the next morning covered the last sixteen miles to Isengard;11 but the Hobbits were there before them.12

  After talking with Saruman, Gandalf collected the Hobbits and the company retraced its path to the mouth of the valley. They camped at Dol Baran; but when a Nazgûl flew over they departed as quickly as possible and sped on through the night.13 By dawn Gandalf and Pippin had reached Edoras, and the rest of the company returned to Helm’s Deep.14 Then all roads headed east. Gandalf raced toward Minas Tirith, arriving at dawn, on March 9. Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and the Dúnedain galloped along the highway, reaching Dunharrow at dusk on March 7. Théoden, Merry, and the Rohirrim took mountain paths and arrived at sunset on March 9.15

  RAUROS TO DUNHARROW Upper: MERRY AND PIPPIN Lower: ARAGORN, LEGOLAS, AND GIMLI

  Dunharrow to the Morannon

  NOW ALL THE FORCES OF THE WEST were called to Minas Tirith for battle. At dawn on March 8 Aragorn led the Dúnedain deep into the glen behind Dunharrow and they entered the Paths of the Dead.1 Summoning the Oathbreakers, he went on and at “two hours ere sunset” of the same day they reached Morthond Vale,2 then rode “like hunters,” arriving at the Hill of Erech just before midnight.3 From Erech it was “ninety leagues and three to Pelargir,”4 but the road ran almost three hundred sixty miles. The Dúnedain daily covered between ten and thirty miles more than Théoden’s riders until they neared the coast and were obliged to fight.5 After defeating the Corsairs of Umbar at Pelargir on March 13, they readied ships and rowed north the next morning. The current was strong, but at midnight a southerly wind sped them. They sailed the remainder of the distance by midmorning on March 15 and joined the Battle.6

  On the evening of March 9, Merry reached Dunharrow with the Rohirrim.7 On the Dawnless Day, March 10, Théoden chose to lead his Riders swiftly along the highway. The distance to Minas Tirith was stated as one hundred two leagues (306 miles), but this apparently was a straight-line measurement, for the road was about 360 miles. The Rohirrim set forth from Edoras just after noon and camped that night some twelve leagues (36 miles) east.8 Three nights later, March 13, they were bivouacked near Eilenach in Druadan Forest, having ridden about eighty miles each day. Seeking secrecy, the army followed the Wild Men through the Stonewain Valley and camped in the Grey Wood. Before dawn, March 15, they travelled the last seven leagues (21 miles) to the Rammas Echor and began the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.9

  On the morning of March 18 the troops set forth for Mordor. With Aragorn went all the remaining members of the Fellowship except Merry. The infantry (including Pippin) halted f
ive miles east of Osgiliath, but Aragorn and the mounted troops continued east to the Cross-roads and were joined by the infantry the next day.10 On March 20 the Host of the West started north “some hundred miles” to the Morannon.11 On March 21 they were ambushed near Henneth Annûn; and on March 23 they left the road, lengthening the distance.12 Off the highway the going was slow, but at last on the morning of March 25 the Host stood among the slag heaps, facing the impassable Black Gate.13

  DUNHARROW TO THE MORANNON

  The Journey of Frodo and Sam

  SHORTLY AFTER NOON ON FEBRUARY 26, the day the Fellowship was broken, Frodo and Sam paddled across Nen Hithoel and beached the boat on the south side of Amon Lhaw.1 During the afternoon and the following three days they toiled in the eastern Emyn Muil. As the cliffwall overlooking the Dead Marshes was too steep in the south, they worked their way along it.2 On the afternoon of February 29 they crept down a ravine and finally managed to escape the hills.3 A brief time later they saw and heard Gollum creeping down the very spot they had descended, and they thought it was best to capture him. Frodo decided to trust Gollum as guide, and upon his advice set out again after moonset the same night.4

  Gollum led the Hobbits into the nearby gully, and they crept along the stream inside. The gully went south and east toward the Dead Marshes, and after walking the rest of that night and all of the next, they reached the fens at dawn on March 1.5 They apparently were entering the northern edge, for the marshes stretched west back to the cliffwall, and Dagorlad was only “back a little, and round a little,” to the north and east.6 After only a brief rest Gollum led them into the marshes, and, “when the sun was riding high” they stopped. Before dusk they went on, and in the dark evening they were slogging through the very heart of the marshes, surrounded by lights of the Dead. Continuing, they managed to reach firmer ground. When a Nazgûl flew over they stopped for two hours, then tramped on, and by dawn (March 2) they were near the southeastern edge.7

  Beyond the marshes lay formless slopes, the arid moors of the Noman-lands; and after struggling through this pathless land for two nights, the Hobbits came to the beginnings of the slag heaps piled for twelve nights between there and the Morannon.8 During that night’s march they stopped twice when a Nazgûl was overhead, but before March 5 they stood a mile away from the western Tower of the Teeth.9 After Gollum persuaded Frodo to go thirty leagues (90 miles) south to the Pass of Cirith Ungol, they set out after dusk. They crept along just west of the highway heading southwest. By dawn they had covered eight leagues (24 miles) and finally turned the corner of the mountains.10 During the next night’s march they passed into northern Ithilien, and by daylight of March 7 they had reached the swift stream that ran southwest past Henneth Annûn.

  When Sam’s fire revealed their camp to Faramir, two Men of Gondor stayed with them during the skirmish with the Haradrim. Between late afternoon and sunset they quickly crossed the “somewhat less than ten miles” downstream to Henneth Annûn.11 At that refuge they spent the night, and at dawn they went south through the wood. Faramir thought it safe: “you may walk under daylight . . . The land dreams in a false peace.”12 They kept well west of the road and after two marches came to the valley of the Morgulduin in which ran the road from Osgiliath. They hid in an oak to rest, and at midnight they headed east.13 The land was broken and steeply pitching, and the going was slow. As night ended they sheltered under the east bank of a hogback, but there was no sunrise; for during the dark hours Sauron’s vapors had blown even as far west as Rohan. It was March 10: the Dawnless Day.14 Before “tea-time” (about 4 P.M.) Gollum returned and led them south over the broken slope for about an hour, then east to the Southward Road.15 They crept along and reached the Cross-roads just as the sun was setting.16

  Turning east, they climbed the Morgul-road to the bridge, which was not far within the valley’s mouth. Sam guided his stumbling master to the north where the path left the main road. Slowly they toiled up the winding path, and just opposite the north-facing gate of Minas Morgul, Frodo stopped, and saw the Morgul-host ride forth.17

  On Tolkien’s map the width of the Ephel Dúath was little more than twenty miles, probably no more than a day’s journey or so; but three nights and days actually passed. It was the evening of March 10 when the Hobbits had reached the trail, and during the rest of that night they ascended the Straight Stair, then went along a passage that “seemed to go on for miles.” They finally came to the top of the Winding Stair, where they stopped at dawn to rest (March 11).18 They apparently slept twenty-four hours or more, for when Gollum found them asleep “hours later” he said it was “tomorrow,” and it was again daytime.19 Gollum led them a mile up the ravine to the entrance to Shelob’s Lair.20 The travellers entered the passage on March 12 and did not escape the east end until late afternoon of March 13. The discrepancy can apparently be explained by Tolkien’s continuing struggle in synchronizing the chronologies of four different simultaneous paths. In his notes he wrote, “It might be a good thing to increase the reckoning of the time that Frodo, Sam, and Gollum took to climb Kirith Ungol by a day . . .” And in the “Tale of Years,” the dates agree with those given here; but for once Tolkien seems to have not completely clarified the change in the final text.21 As a result, it appeared they had spent at least 30 hours in that dark hole!

  THE JOURNEY OF FRODO AND SAM

  Beyond Shelob’s Lair Frodo was stung, then captured by Ores and taken to the Tower. Sam uselessly threw himself against the Under-gate,22 and when he awoke, it was noon March 14. By the time Sam again reached the exit from Shelob’s Lair, it was dusk.23 Before dawn on March 15 the Hobbits escaped from the Tower and jumped into the ravine west of the Morgai.24 They plodded north along the valley road until late afternoon, then crossed the valley and slept.25 The next day they attempted to climb the Morgai, but were directly above a large camp and had to retrace their steps. Turning north again, they trudged on until past dawn of March 17. They had gone “about twelve leagues north from the bridge” (36 miles).26 During the next night they reached the north end of the valley, and at dusk on March 18 set out on the road that ran to the Isenmouthe. Twelve miles later they were over taken by an Ore troop and were forced to go at a “brisk trot” the remaining eight miles.27 After escaping near the Isenmouthe, they slept until early morning (March 19).

  The remainder of the journey was made in the daytime, for Sauron’s troops moved mostly at night. Rising later on March 19 the Hobbits covered only “a few weary miles” in the rugged terrain until Sam led Frodo back to the causeway.28 Even on the road they walked only forty miles in slightly less than three marches. During March 22, the fourth day from the Isenmouthe, they drew even with Mount Doom and turned south.29 After two more days of torment they had crept to the Mountain’s foot, and during the morning of March 25 they reached the Crack of Doom and the Ring was destroyed.30

  COMPOSITE PATHWAYS

  THE ROAD HOME

  The Road Home

  THROUGH THE EARLY SUMMER the travellers remained in Minas Tirith, loathe to dissolve their Fellowship; but after the wedding of Aragorn and Arwen, the time of parting drew near. On July 19 an escort left for Rohan with the bier of King Théoden. Going without haste, they reached Edoras on August 7; and it was not until August 14 that they set out for Helm’s Deep. After two days there, they rode north to Isengard, arriving on August 22. On that day the members of the Fellowship separated, with Legolas and Gimli going through Fangorn, Aragorn returning to Minas Tirith, and Gandalf and the Hobbits continuing north toward Rivendell.1

  Six days later, on August 28, they met Saruman in Dunland. The company continued north; but Saruman turned toward the Shire, planning evil while the Hobbits were “riding round twice as far.”2 On September 6 they stopped west of Moria, and after a week Celeborn and Galadriel departed for Lórien; while Elrond’s people, Gandalf, and the Hobbits went on to Rivendell, which they reached on September 21. There they visited Bilbo for almost a fortnight, until October 5, when they left on t
he last leg. The next day they crossed the Ford of Bruinen, and (going slightly faster in the worsening weather) they came to Bree the evening of October 28.3 After visiting for a day with Butterbur they headed out for the one day’s ride to the Shire. Gandalf turned aside to visit Bombadil, and the Hobbits hurried on, reaching the Brandywine Bridge in the evening. Seeing the situation of their homeland, they rode straight for Bag End. On November 1 they covered the twenty-two miles to Frogmorton; and the next day they continued to Bywater (with a shirriff-escort for much of the way).4 After the skirmish that evening and the Battle of Bywater the next morning, they arrived at Bag End in the afternoon of November 3, only to be confronted by Saruman himself. In the ensuing action, Saruman was slain, and with his death came the end of the War of the Rings.5

  Over the next two years, the Hobbits reordered the Shire, and their own lives; but Frodo was never again wholly free of pain. On September 21 of F.O. I (T.A. 3021 by the old reckoning), he set out with Sam for the Grey Havens. Going south to Woody End he met Elrond, Galadriel, and Bilbo; and on September 29 they came to the firth of Lune. There Gandalf awaited them; and as Sam returned to the Shire with Merry and Pippin, the ship crossed the Straight Road into the West.6