Middle-Earth Tours

Tour 2: The Places of Middle-Earth

Parth Galen

image from a Decipher
trading card via theonering.net		 Aragorn led them to the right arm of the River. Here upon a western side under the shadow of Tol Brandir a green lawn ran down to the water from the feet of Amon Hen. Behind it rose the first gentle slopes of the hill clad with trees, and trees marched away westward along the curving shores of the lake. A little spring fell tumbling down and fed the grass.
    'Here we will rest tonight,' said Aragorn. 'This is the lawn of Parth Galen: a fair place in the summer days of old. Let us hope that no evil has yet come here. --FotR, 'The Breaking of the Fellowship"
It's a little difficult to separate Parth Galen and Amon Hen on this tour because a) Parth Galen is at the foot of Amon Hen, b) some of the Fellowship walk up the hill and come back, and c) I'm trying to keep this tour in chronological order. So bear with me as we skip ahead to the battle, then move on to the Amon Hen page to see Frodo's encounter with Boromir and the view from the Seat of Seeing.
image from a Decipher trading card

From the January 26, 2001 edition
of Entertainment Weekly

 Even as [Aragorn] gazed his quick ears caught sounds in the woodlands below, on the west side of the River. He stiffened. There were cries, and among them, to his horror, he could distinguish the harsh voices of Orcs. Then suddenly with a a deep-throated call a great horn blew, and the blasts of it smote the hills and echoed in the hollows, rising in a mighty shout above the roaring of the falls.
    'The horn of Boromir!' he cried. 'He is in need!' He sprang down the steps and away, leaping down the path.--TTT, "The Departure of Boromir"

Unfortunately, Aragorn arrives too late for the fight in Tolkien's FotR, but he's a bit quicker in the movie.

Parth Galen, by Catherine
Karina Chmiel		 Then Boromir had come leaping through the trees. He had made them fight. He slew many of them and the rest fled. But they had not gone far on the way back when they were attacked again, by a hundred Orcs at least, some of them very large, and they shot a rain of arrows: always at Boromir. --TTT, "The Uruk-Hai"

image from the official movie site
image from the first trailer on
the official movie site

image from a Decipher trading card		 But I am going to Mordor.'
    'I know that well enough, Mr. Frodo. Of course you are. And I'm coming with you.'
    'Now, Sam,' said Frodo, 'don't hinder me!...I must go at once. It's the only way.'
    'Of course it is,' answered Sam. 'But not alone. I'm coming too, or neither of us is going. I'll knock holes in all the boats first.'
    Frodo actually laughed.... 'Leave one,' he said. 'We'll need it.' --FOtr, "The Breaking of the Fellowship"
A mile, maybe, from Parth Galen in a little glade far from the lake he found Boromir. He was sitting with his back to a great tree, as if he was resting. But Aragorn saw that he was pierced with many black-feathered arrows; his sword was still in his hand, but it was broken near the hilts; his horn cloven in two was at his side. Many Orcs lay slain, piled all about him and at his feet.
     Aragorn knelt beside him. Boromir opened his eyes and strove to speak. At last slow words came. 'I am sorry. I have paid.' His glance strayed to his fallen enemies; twenty at least lay there. 'They have gone: the Halflings: the Orcs have taken them. I think they are not dead. Orcs bound them.' He paused and his eyes closed wearily. After a moment he spoke again.
      'Farewell, Aragorn! Go to Minas Tirith and save my people! I have failed.'
      'No!' said Aragorn, taking his hand and kissing his brow. 'You have conquored. Few have gained such a victory. Be at peace! Minas Tirith shall not fall!'
     Boromir smiled.
      'Which way did they go? Was Frodo there?' said Aragorn.
     But Boromir did not speak again. --TTT, "The Departure of Boromir"
The Last Words of Boromir,
by Ted Nasmith

detail from a New Line Oscar campaign poster
Boromir's Death, by
Anke-Katrin Eiszmann
Death of Boromir, by Inger Edelfeldt

The Falls of Rauros,
by Ted Nasmith		 Now they laid Boromir in the middle of the boat that was to bear him away. The grey hood and elven-cloak they folded and placed beneath his head. They combed his long dark hair and arrayed it upon his shoulders. The golden belt of Lórien gleamed about his waist. His helm they set beside him, and across his lap they laid the cloven horn and the hilts and shards of his sword; beneath his feet they put the swords of his enemies. Then fastening the prow to the stern of the other boat, they drew him out into the water. They rowed sadly along the shore, and turning into the swift-running channel they passed the green sward of Parth Galen. The steep sides of Tol Brandir were glowing: it was now mid-afternoon. As they went south the fume of Rauros roared and shimmered before them, a haze of gold. --TTT, "The Departure of Boromir"
Full-size versions of these pictures are on display at Rolozo Tolkien and the official LotR movie site.