Red Arrow
itemThe Red Arrow appears as a single arrow with black fletching and a steel-barbed head, the point painted red to mark it as a solemn token of war from Gondor rather than a functional battle arrow. It is received with dread as a long-expected summons, held in a trembling hand and evoking the urgent need for all available strength and speed. Its red tip is a clear diplomatic symbol, not blood or battle damage.
In J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings,' the Red Arrow emerges in 'The Return of the King' as Gondor's ancient and solemn token of war, a black-fletched arrow with a red-painted steel head that serves not as a weapon but as a dire diplomatic summons. Delivered to Rohan with trembling hands, it evokes dread and urgency, calling forth the Rohirrim's aid in the hour of greatest need against the forces of darkness. Though appearing only in the final volume, its symbolic weight underscores the escalating peril of Middle-earth's free peoples, bridging ancient oaths with the desperate battles of the War of the Ring.
Evolution
The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings
The Red Arrow appears as a single arrow with black fletching and a steel-barbed head, the point painted red to mark it as a solemn token of war from Gondor rather than a functional battle arrow. It is received with dread as a long-expected summons, held in a trembling hand and evoking the urgent need for all available strength and speed. Its red tip is a clear diplomatic symbol, not blood or battle damage.
Book Appearances
The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings
First appears Ch 3