While I collect my thoughts on RotK...
...here's a filk on the matter. I wrote it some months ago (actually, part of it I wrote years ago), but it seems fitting to repost. Some of you from EI and KD may remember it, but there are a few other people I didn't know when I posted the thing who I think would appreciate it...
One Last Ride
to the tune of "One Day More," from Les Miserables
THEODEN
One last ride,
A final hope, a chance of victory,
And then my death will be no grief to me.
Once more the horn of Rohan calls,
Then go I to my fathers' halls;
One last ride...
FARAMIR
The men of Gondor make their stand --
How can we save the Tow'r of Anor?
THEODEN
One last ride...
FARAMIR
As darkness covers all the land,
We must raise up the White Tree's banner.
EOWYN: One more day to seek my doom,
FARAMIR: And the bearers of the Ring...
EOWYN: As the dark grows ever darker.
FARAMIR: Make their way through evil lands...
EOWYN: On the field or in the tomb,
FARAMIR: All our fates are in their hands.
EOWYN: I will finally be free!
EOMER: On to ruin, and on to wrath!
FARAMIR: Can I do my father's will?
EOMER: Out of doubt and out of darkness...
FARAMIR: Or avenge my brother's blood?
EOMER: When the Riders beat their path...
FARAMIR: Will the daylight ever come?
EOMER: Will you draw your sword with me?
ROHIRRIM: The time is now -- the day is here!
THEODEN
One last ride!
DENETHOR
One more day till our destruction;
We shall perish one and all.
In the smoke and in the ashes
Minas Tirith soon must fall!
THEODEN
One last ride!
MERRY and PIPPIN
See them go to war,
Leaving us behind;
We are not the Hobbits that are on their mind!
Where is Frodo now?
Has he come to grief?
What I wouldn't give now for a pipe of leaf!
GONDORIANS: Though the siege draws in around us...
ROHIRRIM: Forth ye Riders and arise!
GONDORIANS: 'Gainst the Shadow we will fight!
ROHIRRIM: 'Gainst the Shadow we will fight!
GONDORIANS: Sauron's might will not confound us...
ROHIRRIM: Sword shall shake and shield shall crack!
ALL: We shall stop the endless night!
FARAMIR
While hope remains the Tower endures!
All overlapping with one another
THEODEN
One last ride...
FARAMIR
The men of Gondor take their stand...
DENETHOR
In the East a power arises;
We may triumph for a day.
But defeat is quickly coming,
Best to burn without delay!
EOWYN
One more day to seek my doom!
FARAMIR
How can we save the Tow'r of Anor?
MERRY AND PIPPIN
Where is Frodo now?
Has he come to grief?
THEODEN
One last ride!
MERRY AND PIPPIN
See them go to war,
Leaving us behind.
We are not the Hobbits that are on their mind!
DENETHOR
One more day till our destruction;
We shall perish one and all,
In the smoke and in the ashes.
EOWYN
One more day to seek my doom!
FARAMIR
As darkness covers all the land...
THEODEN
One final time I'll lift a spear...
THEODEN and DENETHOR
The time has come to mount my bier.
ALL
The time has come to face our doom at last, whatever may betide
One last fight,
One last hope,
One last ride!
One Last Ride
to the tune of "One Day More," from Les Miserables
THEODEN
One last ride,
A final hope, a chance of victory,
And then my death will be no grief to me.
Once more the horn of Rohan calls,
Then go I to my fathers' halls;
One last ride...
FARAMIR
The men of Gondor make their stand --
How can we save the Tow'r of Anor?
THEODEN
One last ride...
FARAMIR
As darkness covers all the land,
We must raise up the White Tree's banner.
EOWYN: One more day to seek my doom,
FARAMIR: And the bearers of the Ring...
EOWYN: As the dark grows ever darker.
FARAMIR: Make their way through evil lands...
EOWYN: On the field or in the tomb,
FARAMIR: All our fates are in their hands.
EOWYN: I will finally be free!
EOMER: On to ruin, and on to wrath!
FARAMIR: Can I do my father's will?
EOMER: Out of doubt and out of darkness...
FARAMIR: Or avenge my brother's blood?
EOMER: When the Riders beat their path...
FARAMIR: Will the daylight ever come?
EOMER: Will you draw your sword with me?
ROHIRRIM: The time is now -- the day is here!
THEODEN
One last ride!
DENETHOR
One more day till our destruction;
We shall perish one and all.
In the smoke and in the ashes
Minas Tirith soon must fall!
THEODEN
One last ride!
MERRY and PIPPIN
See them go to war,
Leaving us behind;
We are not the Hobbits that are on their mind!
Where is Frodo now?
Has he come to grief?
What I wouldn't give now for a pipe of leaf!
GONDORIANS: Though the siege draws in around us...
ROHIRRIM: Forth ye Riders and arise!
GONDORIANS: 'Gainst the Shadow we will fight!
ROHIRRIM: 'Gainst the Shadow we will fight!
GONDORIANS: Sauron's might will not confound us...
ROHIRRIM: Sword shall shake and shield shall crack!
ALL: We shall stop the endless night!
FARAMIR
While hope remains the Tower endures!
All overlapping with one another
THEODEN
One last ride...
FARAMIR
The men of Gondor take their stand...
DENETHOR
In the East a power arises;
We may triumph for a day.
But defeat is quickly coming,
Best to burn without delay!
EOWYN
One more day to seek my doom!
FARAMIR
How can we save the Tow'r of Anor?
MERRY AND PIPPIN
Where is Frodo now?
Has he come to grief?
THEODEN
One last ride!
MERRY AND PIPPIN
See them go to war,
Leaving us behind.
We are not the Hobbits that are on their mind!
DENETHOR
One more day till our destruction;
We shall perish one and all,
In the smoke and in the ashes.
EOWYN
One more day to seek my doom!
FARAMIR
As darkness covers all the land...
THEODEN
One final time I'll lift a spear...
THEODEN and DENETHOR
The time has come to mount my bier.
ALL
The time has come to face our doom at last, whatever may betide
One last fight,
One last hope,
One last ride!