towers

the stairs of cirith ungol 925
waited, like a bird at the approach of a snake, unable to move.
And as he waited, he felt, more urgent than ever before, the
command that he should put on the Ring. But great as the
pressure was, he felt no inclination now to yield to it. He
knew that the Ring would only betray him, and that he had
not, even if he put it on, the power to face the Morgul-king
– not yet. There was no longer any answer to that command
in his own will, dismayed by terror though it was, and he felt
only the beating upon him of a great power from outside. It
took his hand, and as Frodo watched with his mind, not
willing it but in suspense (as if he looked on some old story
far away), it moved the hand inch by inch towards the chain
upon his neck. Then his own will stirred; slowly it forced the
hand back and set it to find another thing, a thing lying
hidden near his breast. Cold and hard it seemed as his grip
closed on it: the phial of Galadriel, so long treasured, and
almost forgotten till that hour. As he touched it, for a while
all thought of the Ring was banished from his mind. He
sighed and bent his head.
At that moment the Wraith-king turned and spurred his
horse and rode across the bridge, and all his dark host followed
him. Maybe the elven-hoods defied his unseen eyes,
and the mind of his small enemy, being strengthened, had
turned aside his thought. But he was in haste. Already the
hour had struck, and at his great Master’s bidding he must
march with war into the West.
Soon he had passed, like a shadow into shadow, down the
winding road, and behind him still the black ranks crossed
the bridge. So great an army had never issued from that vale
since the days of Isildur’s might; no host so fell and strong in
arms had yet assailed the fords of Anduin; and yet it was but
one and not the greatest of the hosts that Mordor now sent
forth.
Frodo stirred. And suddenly his heart went out to Faramir.
‘The storm has burst at last,’ he thought. ‘This great array of
spears and swords is going to Osgiliath. Will Faramir get