It really does feel like it should be the penultimate step of the quest chain rather than the end. Like a "it's always darkest right before the dawn" moment where after she gives up all hope you find a way and we have the triumphant moment of resolution. Otherwise the story doesn't come across as a bittersweet moment like a tragic ending would have, but just plain bitter.
In my opinion, I think that would be a great time for one of the Gondians to come up and present a way, or perhaps get a hail mary option that seems hard, but worth the risk.
