Summary
The next morning, Faramir gives Sam and Frodo provisions. The hobbits and Gollum are brought out of Henneth Annuin and start south. They walk by day for about three days, then come to a road leading east. They turn onto this road and start walking by night. In fact, the first night they all sleep in a tree, since Gollum believes the ground is unsafe. They see neither bird nor beast. A few days more and they can see the Ephel Duath again. The hobbits go to sleep at dawn, but Gollum crawls off. Sam has a dream about Bag End, wakes up in a few hours and finds it's even darker than before. They hear thunder, or drums. Frodo sleeps for a while, then Gollum comes back suddenly and insists they leave immediately. About an hour takes them to the South Road. They hear drumming, but still see no one. The actual crossroads is enclosed by trees. The road "from" Osgiliath is on their right, with the Morannon road behind them. The road "to" Osgiliath heads west. The light of the setting sun reflects on Sam's face. They now notice a huge stone statue with its head cut off, replaced by a stone. But the head is on the ground beside it, and the sun also shines on some yellow and white flowers twining around its brow like a crown. Then the sun sets and the vision is gone.
Questions
1. Who is that statue of? (Is the answer to this perhaps in the Silmarillion?)
2. The directions seem confusing. Sam is looking west? They must be coming south if the Morannon Road is at their backs and the road to Osgiliath is on their right. So the road "to" and "from" Osgiliath are the same road?
3. OK, what exactly is causing the constant darkness?