Aight I’ve had a few people ask me for this in response to this post so:
Many times in Tolkien’s works, armies, leaders, heroes, etcetera, launch an attack on The Dread Fortress. This is a very Campbellian behavior, obviously, and usually ends with the hero either dying, or surviving but at a horrible price. Some examples:
Fingolfin: Goes after Morgoth (enemy), manages to wound him, but dies, not only losing his life but forcing a leadership change among the Noldor that arguably contributed to the fall of Beleriand.
Beren: went after the Silmaril (object); though it was for the cause of love, he was still going after an object, a prize, and he failed to achieve his goal (lost the Silmaril, and lost his hand).
Gwindor: Went to Angband for revenge for his brother, wound up captured, tortured, and maimed.
Frodo: Went to Mount Doom to throw the ring into the flame, lost his reason (temporarily) and his finger (permanently) and fortunately, the ring (accidentally).
Finrod Felagund: Went to the Tol-in-Gauroth to fulfill his oath (NO OATHS!), lost his life and a rap battle.
Notably, all of these are presented as ostensibly good, right, or at the very least understandable and morally neutral choices and behaviors. None of these are villains. These are protagonists, heroes, rightful kings, or tragic figures.
If you go into the Dread Fortress specifically seeking a PERSON you love, things go differently.
Sam: Goes into the tower of Cirith Ungol seeking Frodo. Sings a song. Emerges with Frodo. Loses nothing. Later, escapes another dread fortress with the Eagles.
Lúthien: Goes into Angband seeking Beren. Sings a song. Emerges with Beren. Loses nothing. (You can argue that she loses something when she emerges from Mandos with Beren, but it’s still freely traded, and frankly, Mandos is not a Dread Fortress.) Escapes the Dread Fortress with the Eagles.
Fingon: Goes to the Thangorodrim. Sings a song. Emerges with Maedhros. Loses nothing. Escapes the Dread Fortress with the Eagles.
In conclusion, if your boyfriend is held prisoner in the Dread Fortress, don’t get mad. Get your harp, and Get Him Back. You’ll probably even get a cool ride home.
