The Cross-roads as depicted in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Cross-roads of the Fallen King, or simply the Cross-roads, was where the Harad Road and the North Road of Ithilien crossed the Morgul-road.
Description[]
The Cross-roads of the Fallen King were located some hundred miles south of the Black Gate, and were roughly a day's ride from Minas Tirith.[1] The location was surrounded by a great ring of trees, and nearby was built a statue of an unknown former King of Gondor.[2]
History[]
The Cross-roads, along with the nearby statue, were presumably constructed by the Men of Gondor in the Second Age.[1] By the time of the War of the Ring, however, Gondor had relinquished effective control of the region, leading Orcs to vandalize the statue.[2]
In the year TA 3019, Gollum led Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee through the Cross-roads of the Fallen King on their way to the Morgul Vale, in their attempt to enter Mordor. The hobbits found the statue's head, which had been broken off and replaced by a hideous stone orc-head.[2]
Later that year, following the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, Aragorn led the combined armies of Gondor and Rohan through the Cross-roads on their way to the Morannon, stopping to reclaim the location for Gondor and repair the king's statue.[1] A force was left to guard the Cross-roads in case Sauron sent an army over the Morgul Pass to attack Gondor whilst the Army of the West marched to the Black Gate.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, Book Five, Ch. X: "The Black Gate Opens"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, Book Four, Ch. VII: "Journey to the Cross-roads"