In ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’, discover the story of one of the most recognizable secondary characters in Isildur, King of the Dead.
Deep within the “Lord of the Rings” story, beyond the story of Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring, lies an almost forgotten legend shrouded in the threads of time. This is the story of the King of the Dead, a character who, despite being key in “The Return of the King,” is a thousand years old that very few know about.
Before he became the seer who helped Aragorn on the plains of Pelennor, this fairy king ruled a mountain kingdom in the Great White Mountains of Gondor. In the days when Sauron was more than feared in the shadows, this king and his people worshiped him in the second age wearing dark robes.
Curse of Isildur, King of Gondor
When Isildur, the oldest king of Gondor, founded his kingdom, the mountain king realized his time and swore his allegiance to Gondor. This oath sealed by the stone of Erech would be both his salvation and his downfall. The story takes a tragic turn as Isildur prepares for the final alliance of elves and men, summoning all loyal forces, including the Mountain King and his army.
However, the king and his people were afraid of their previous loyalty to Soron and divided in loyalty, and the king and his people refused to accept his call. Enraged and despairing of the coming conflict, Isildur cursed them. He uttered a curse so powerful that it denied them eternal rest until they fulfilled their oath to help Gondor.
Aragorn, in “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” emerges as a brave and united leader. Revealing his royal lineage, he leads the people to the final battle against Sharon, demonstrating courage and wisdom. Destiny claims the throne of Gondor and is ensuring peace.
In the end, the king and his army are gone, but their spirits are caught in the storm and condemned to wander Dunharrow as dead men. Their existence became a shadow, a whisper among the mountains, forgotten by the world, until the decisive moment came.
The arrival of Aragorn
It was during the “Return of the King” that Aragorn, heir to the throne of Gondor, called upon these lost souls to fulfill their ancient oath. Aragorn, in an act of despair and hope, summoned the dead king to the same stone of Irecha. At that crucial moment, the Spirits, led by their king, chose to honor their forgotten covenant, playing a vital role in the battle against the Korsey of Umbar.
Following their victory, Aragorn recognizes their bravery and sacrifice, freeing the King of the Dead and his army from their curse, allowing them to finally find peace. This action not only changed the course of the war, but closed a long and tragic chapter in the history of Middle-earth.
The story of the King of the Dead is a profound note hidden in Tolkien’s narrative. Although Peter Jackson’s films barely scratch the surface of this rich background, the legacy of this enigmatic character endures. His journey from Sauron-worshipping king to damned ghost and ultimately freedman is a story of loyalty, betrayal and redemption, a timeless echo of the intricate layers that make up the fabric of “The Lord of the Rings.”