Gandalf lay at the bottom of Khazad Dum, defeated by Shadow and Flame.

Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck were mauled by Ents, mistaken for orcs.

Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Eowynn and Theoden were among the corpses that scattered the battleground at Helm’s Deep.

Eomer and the rohirrim were massacred by a band of fighting Uruk-Hai.

Boromir’s corpse lay at Amon Hen, no proper burial.

Denethor and Faramir died at Minas Tirith, not knowing the fate of their brother and son.

Frodo and Sam were killed at Cirith Ungol, only just inside Mordor.

Elrond and Arwen departed on boats from the Grey Havens with Bilbo Baggins, Celeborn, Galadriel and Hadrim.

With the resistance shattered, no one could oppose Sauron’s return.

But what if it had all worked out? What if everyone was still alive? When it boils down to the cold hard facts, one thing is certain.

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.

What if they’d done something different with the time given to them?