Movies

The Lord of the Rings Movies Skipped the Most Incredible Piece of Gondor Lore

BBG News

In Peter Jackson’s film series based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” novel, we only saw a portion of the author’s extensive Middle-earth tales. Some stories written by Tolkien, such as those about Borondir Udalraph, a Gondorian soldier, were not relevant to “The Lord of the Rings” or fell outside Jackson’s rights for adaptation. These untold stories can be found in Tolkien’s “Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth.”

One such tale is the story of Borondir Udalraph, set 500 years before the events of “The Lord of the Rings.” During this time, Gondor was frequently at war with Sauron’s followers, known as the Men. Under the rule of Lord Cirion, the 12th Steward of Gondor, Gondor faced an invasion by a group called the Balchoth, or “Horrible Horde,” who had settled near Mirkwood. They mercilessly wiped out any inhabitants they found there. Over the following decades, the Balchoth expanded and prepared to invade Gondor, which lay south of their territory.

In their initial strategy, the Balchoth aimed to begin by traversing the river Anduin and seizing control of Calenardhon, the northernmost region of Gondor. This move would provide them with an easy route to the rest of the kingdom and allow for a gradual conquest. Cirion was skeptical that Gondor could withstand the Balchoth’s threat, given that Calenardhon had fewer inhabitants and weaker defenses compared to other parts of the kingdom. He sought assistance from old allies, the Éothéod, who dwelt beyond Mirkwood. However, this request for aid presented a challenge since the Éothéod resided north of Mirkwood, forcing any messenger to travel directly through the Balchoth’s territory. In desperation, Cirion sent out six brave volunteers at different intervals over three days, hoping that one might somehow survive the perilous journey across enemy lines and reach the Éothéod. Among these volunteers was Borondir, who would eventually become Gondor’s savior, though with the help of a beloved character from “The Lord of the Rings.

Borondir Was One of the Greatest Horsemen in Gondor

Descending from a lineage said to be distantly related to the skilled horse-riding Éothéod, Borondir appeared to have an innate bond with horses, making him a suitable choice to convey Cirion’s message. In accordance with “The Ride of Eorl” as described by Tolkien, Borondir rode nonstop for fifteen days, traversing hundreds of miles. Approaching the midpoint, he was attacked by Balchoth archers, causing one of his fellow messengers to perish. However, Borondir miraculously evaded capture due to luck and the swiftness of his horse. Post this narrow escape with death, Borondir tended to veer off the main route to steer clear of additional adversaries. He exhausted his food supplies after 13 days, leaving no time for hunting or gathering, hence completing the final stretch of his journey on an empty stomach. Defying all odds, he arrived at Framsburg, the fortress of the Éothéod, becoming the only one among Cirion’s messengers to reach their destination. He was warmly received by Eorl, the leader of the Éothéod. Despite being utterly exhausted, Borondir found the strength to recite the message from Cirion he had committed to memory. Additionally, he presented a stone engraved with Cirion’s seal as evidence of his mission.

Eorl decided to lend aid, not just because it was morally correct, but also due to his conviction that his people would be the next victims if Gondor collapsed. With 7,000 spearmen and several hundred archers, Eorl prepared extensively before embarking on their journey. Borondir accompanied him, serving as a guide through the treacherous landscape. Although smaller groups of Balchoth posed no threat to such a formidable force, they encountered other perils. As they neared their destination, they found themselves in the vicinity of a stronghold tainted with darkness, a place known to be inhabited by the Necromancer, or Sauron, as some may recall from the films of The Hobbit. The area was infested with malice. To avoid the worst of it, they kept close to the Anduin, yet the oppressive darkness cast a shadow of unease. To add to their troubles, a shroud of white mist blew in from the west, concealing their path ahead. However, this mist unexpectedly proved beneficial.

Unexpected Aid Came to Borondir and the Éothéod

Borondir and the Éothéod soon understood that this wasn’t an ordinary fog bank. Instead of retreating from Dol Guldur’s shadow, it actively pushed back, shielding the riders from the Necromancer’s malevolent influence. In a strange twist, they found themselves able to see clearly within the mist as if it were illuminated by a light devoid of shadows. Yet, it also concealed their movements. Their horses, too, seemed invigorated by the mist. Eorl remarked about his steed, Felaróf, “He senses no evil. His spirits are high, and his weariness is alleviated.” Unsurprisingly, the Éothéod were perplexed by this mysterious fog, but Borondir proposed a theory. He suggested, “It seems that the Lady of the Golden Wood stands with us,” referring to Galadriel from The Lord of the Rings. Borondir believed she was the source of the mist since she resided near the Anduin River. Neither he nor the Éothéod had ever encountered Galadriel or her Elven comrades, but they’d heard tales of powerful beings dwelling in the forest.

As a devoted cinephile immersed in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, I find Borondir’s theory about Galadriel and Dol Guldur highly plausible. The geographical alignment, the mist’s eerie appearance, and the color white all seem to point towards a connection. Notably, Galadriel had extensive experience battling the shadow of Dol Guldur, evident in her alliance with others to expel the Necromancer from Dol Guldur as depicted in Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.”

Following the events of “The Lord of the Rings,” Galadriel would eventually eradicate Dol Guldur once and for all, thereby cleansing Mirkwood of its dark influence. This is supported by her possession of Nenya, one of the Elven Rings of Power, which could theoretically summon a magical fog bank over a river – a feat demonstrated by Elrond and Gandalf, who wielded other Elven Rings, causing the river Bruinen to flood with water that took on the form of stampeding horses in Tolkien’s original “The Lord of the Rings” narrative.

In the Third Age, cooperation between Elves and Men was scarce, but Galadriel’s involvement in Gondor’s affairs served as a testament to the unity of the Free Peoples of Middle-earth against Sauron.

Borondir’s Actions Saved Gondor Before The Lord of the Rings

Due to Galadriel’s enchanting fog, Borondir and the Éothéod managed to reach Gondor unscathed, just in time, as a conflict had erupted on the Field of Celebrant. True to form, the Balchoth had attacked, but there was more; at the same instant, they also assailed Gondor’s troops from the rear. Tolkien didn’t clarify whether this was mere coincidence or if the Orcs had joined forces with the Balchoth. Either way, it placed the Gondorians in a tight spot, surrounded and outmatched by their enemies. According to Tolkien,

Unexpectedly, riders appeared from the Northern regions, catching the enemy off guard at their rear. This sudden shift led to a reversal in the tide of battle, causing the enemy to flee with heavy casualties towards Limlight. Eorl and his men pursued relentlessly, instilling such fear in the invaders that they too became panicked. The riders from the North continued to chase them across the plains of Calenardhon.

Due to Borondir’s valiant delivery of the crucial message to Eorl, the day was rescued, but he never got to enjoy his triumph. In the heat of battle, he selflessly gave up his life to shield Cirion. Known for his heroism and greatness, he was revered as one who stood among the elite. Buried in the sacred Hallow of Minas Tirith, a place typically reserved only for Kings and Stewards, a ballad called “Rider of the Last Hope” was penned in his tribute. Had it not been for Borondir’s courage, skill on horseback, and a timely intervention by Galadriel, Gondor might have succumbed much earlier than the War of the Ring ever started.

Read More

2025-06-06 05:52

Previous post HYPE PREDICTION. HYPE cryptocurrency
Next post SUI PREDICTION. SUI cryptocurrency