The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3)

by J.R.R. Tolkien

Yet the deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised.’

As part of the release of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, celebrated authors (and huge fans) of the books are sharing their exclusive annotations with readers. We hope you enjoy these notes from Veronica Henry, a debut Fantasy novelist. In this short, impactful sentence, Aragorn reminds us that you don’t need an audience to benefit from doing the right thing. Life lessons without being pedantic.

The drums rolled louder. Fires leaped up. Great engines crawled across the field; and in the midst was a huge ram, great as a forest-tree a hundred feet in length, swinging on mighty chains. Long had it been forging in the dark smithies of Mordor, and its hideous head, founded of black steel, was shaped in the likeness of a ravening wolf; on it spells of ruin lay. Grond they named it, in memory of the Hammer of the Underworld of old. Great beasts drew it, orcs surrounded it, and behind walked mountain-trolls to wield it.

Excellent imagery and deceptively simple language that packs a powerful emotional punch

In rode the Lord of the Nazgûl. A great black shape against the fires beyond he loomed up, grown to a vast menace of despair. In rode the Lord of the Nazgûl, under the archway that no enemy ever yet had passed, and all fled before his face.

Incredible use of language in this description in this whole passage. Evocative imagery. I can feel the drama building with every sentence. This facedown between Gandalf and the Nazgul played prominently in a similar showdown in my novel, The Quarter Storm. Writer goals.

But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Éowyn I am, Éomund’s daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.’

Love this! Éowyn spends much of the novel feeling trapped. Love this moment of triumph for her. Reader anticipates almost certain death but everyone, Nazgûl included, have underestimated her.

Thus came Aragorn son of Arathorn, Elessar, Isildur’s heir, out of the Paths of the Dead, borne upon a wind from the Sea to the kingdom of Gondor; and the mirth of the Rohirrim was a torrent of laughter and a flashing of swords, and the joy and wonder of the City was a music of trumpets and a ringing of bells.

Talk about build up! In this one, admittedly long sentence, we know immediately that Aragorn is a character of great importance. Excellent use of metaphor to evoke a sense of awe and majesty. I’ve made prodigious use of the long sentence structure in my own work.

His grief he will not forget; but it will not darken his heart, it will teach him wisdom.’

Very profound sentiment that reminds us that in all things, we have a choice. Here, grief could consume, could harden and taint, but Tolkien suggests an alternative – that something can be learned from grief.

In that hour of trial it was the love of his master that helped most to hold him firm; but also deep down in him lived still unconquered his plain hobbit-sense: he knew in the core of his heart that he was not large enough to bear such a burden, even if such visions were not a mere cheat to betray him.

Tolkien does an outstanding job at conveying his character’s innermost thoughts. In this passage, Sam acknowledging that Frodo kept him going, yet fully understanding that without him, perhaps even with him, he knows that he isn’t up to the task.

Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the end of our fellowship in Middle-earth. Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.’

Happiness, sadness, hope – an emotional buffet. The adventure is over. All that was wrong has been set right. In Gandalf’s send-off, really appreciate the permission he grants to feel.