Summary:

The Quest failed. Sam killed Gollum before the Ring was destroyed and now darkness rules the lands of Middle-earth. A small group from the resistance battles both hunger and mistrust, to keep hope alive. But will the sacrifices outweigh the gain?

Prologue and Appendix added

Rated: T
Categories: Fourth Age - Post LOTR
Characters: Aragorn, Eomer, Eowyn, Faramir, Gandalf, Glorfindel, Merry, Nazgūl, Original Character, Sauron Genres: Adventure, Angst, Drama, General, Hurt/Comfort
Language: English
Warnings: AU, Character Death
Language: English Genres: Adventure, Angst, Drama, General, Hurt/Comfort
Language: English
Warnings: AU, Character Death
Complete: Yes Series: Where the Grass Grows Green
Word count: 140416 Read: 80892
Published: 06/12/11 Updated: 06/12/12


Notes:


Middle-earth Fanfiction Awards 2011. Incomplete: General. 3rd Place. Image: The banner of Rohan: white horse on green 

The premises for the AU is the question: what would happen if Sam had not shown Gollum pity on Mount Doom?

My answer is at places quite dark, as I believe that the Quest would have failed and Sauron would have regained the Ring, but my main inspiration is this quote from a conversation between Pippin and Beregond in Minas Tirith:

"We may stand, if only on one leg, or at least be left still upon our knees.'

'Rightly said!' cried Beregond, rising and striding to and fro. 'Nay, though all things must come utterly to an end in time, Gondor shall not perish yet. Not though the walls be taken by a reckless foe that will build a hill of carrion before them. There are still other fastnesses, and secret ways of escape into the mountains. Hope and memory shall live still in some hidden valley where the grass is green.'" RotK, Minas Tirith

The first parts of this story has been posted on ff.net under my penname there, but I have made some small edits since I posted the first chapter there.

Warnings: canon characters will be dead as I do not believe they could all survive. There will be some scenes of violence in the course of the story, and since it is an AU about Sauron winning, it will be many dark places.

DisclaimerAll characters and places are the property of the Tolkien estate. This is written purely for entertainment and at no monetary gain.

 

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