The Two Towers

By J.R.R. Tolkien

Perseverance in Darkness

The Fellowship has broken. Frodo and Sam trudge toward Mordor with their treacherous guide Gollum. Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas chase across Rohan. Merry and Pippin find themselves prisoners of orcs. This is the long middle of the war—the darkest hour when hope seems lost and the enemy's victory feels inevitable. Yet each character perseveres. Sam carries Frodo when Frodo can't walk. Aragorn serves even when kingship seems impossible. The Ents march to war. Tolkien teaches us that heroism isn't victory—it's continuing when continuation itself seems impossible.