Book V begins with Gandalf and Pippin, as they ride Shadowfax into the land of Gondor. They arrive to the white city of Minas Tirith, to bring counsel to the steward, Denethor. Gandalf informs Denethor, that the city is about to be attacked by the forces of Mordor. Denethor however is bitter towards his guests, especially Gandalf, whom he claims is attempting to deliver the throne to Aragorn, the heir of Isildur. Denethor is also upset over the death of his son, Boromir, who died protecting the hobbits. Pippen therefore offers his service to the steward as a repayment for Boromir's brave sacrifice.
Meanwhile, aware of the coming battle at Gondor, Theoden decides to mobilize his Rohirrim army, and bring aid to the city of Minas Tirith. He tells his niece, Eowen, to lead the people if he does not return. Aragorn decides to take the Path of the Dead, to raise an undead army in the mountains. He is joined by Legolas and Gimli. Merry also offers his service to the king of Rohan, however Theoden refuses that the hobbit fight in the battle. As Theoden, Eomer, and the Rohirrim set out for Gondor, Merry is carried by a mysterious warrior, the disguise of lady Eowen.
The battle in Gondor begins by the rivers at Osgiliath, where Faramir tries to defend it. Unable to hold the orcs back, the soldiers must retreat to Minas Tirith. They are openly picked off by flying Nazgul, until Gandalf comes to their aid. Once they enter the city, Denethor is aggravated by the defeat and declares that the city not be given up. Faramir returns on a suicide mission, to gain favor with his father. The next day the massive armies of Mordor arrive, numbering 250,000 and led by the Witch-King, they cover the Pelennor Fields. The orc army begins their siege by showering the city with the heads of the soldiers from Osgiliath. Faramir is returned, still alive, yet in dying condition. The battle of Pelennor Fields begins.
Denethor declares that the city flee for their life, yet Gandalf takes charge and orders that they defend it. After a series of catapults, the orcs use a terrible battering ram, known as Grond, and are finally able to enter the city. Gandalf however awaits them, and tells the Witch-King that he can not enter. At this moment, the reinforcements of Rohan arrive with an army of 7000 horsed warriors. Theoden leads a glorious charge into the battle fields. He is eventually killed by the Witch-King, yet Eowen and Merry come to his defense, and are both able to defeat the Witch-King.
Denethor is lost in a mad rage, and decides to burn himself and his son Faramir. Gandalf quickly comes to the rescue of Faramir, and Denethor commits suicide. Meanwhile another army of pirates known as the Corsairs of Umbar, plan to arrive at the south of the city, yet are overtaken by Aragorn's ghostly army. Both the Rohirrim and the undead army are able to defeat the siege, and win victory at Pelennor Fields. Faramir, Merry, and Eowen are taken to the House of Healing where Aragorn is able to heal them. Aragorn and Gandalf then decide that their only hope of winning the war, is to drive out Sauron's army and attack the Black Gate once and for all.
In Book VI, Frodo has been kept hostage in the tower of Cirith Ungol, yet is rescued by Samwise. Sam returns the ring to Frodo. They both dress themselves as orcs, and continue through the wastelands of Mordor. Frodo grows weaker and weaker as he gets closer to Mount Doom. At this time, the orc armies begin to clear the land, to respond to Aragorn's attack. Aragorn awaits outside the black gate with a small alliance of Rohan and Gondor. He kills the Mouth of Sauron and declares that justice be done upon the black land. The orc army then begins to surround Aragorn's small army.
As they finally arrive to Mount Doom, Sam has to practically carry Frodo up the mountain. However once they get to the Crack of Doom, they are suddenly attacked by Gollum. Sam fights off Gollum, while Frodo hurries ahead to cast the ring into the fires of Mount Doom. However Frodo is suddenly unable to part with the ring, and decides to claim it for himself. He puts it on, and disappears. At this point, Gollum has grown mad with rage, and jumps on the invisible Frodo. He bites off Frodo's finger, to obtain the ring. As Gollum has finally been reunited with his "precious" he loses his balance and falls into the fires of Mount Doom. The ring is finally destroyed.
The armies of Sauron, end their battle, and Aragorn is victorious. The alliance of Gondor and Rohan return triumphantly to the city of Minas Tirith. Aragorn is then crowned as king of Gondor. He takes the elf-princess, Arwen, daughter of Elrond, as his wife. A final celebration takes place in Gondor to honor the heroes, especially the four hobbits; Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippen. Eomer becomes the new king of Rohan, and leaves Gondor with the body of Theoden to lead his people. Eowen falls in love with Faramir, however also chooses to return to her homeland.
Gandalf accompanies the four hobbits on their journey back to the Shire. They stop at Rivendell for a few days to speak with Bilbo. Gandalf informs the four hobbits, that Saruman is still a threat, and that the Shire is not as safe as they remember. He also tells them that he will have no part in it, and that his affair was with Sauron and the ring. Gandalf departs from the hobbits to speak with Tom Bombadil, while the four hobbits must return to the Shire on their own.
Saruman has taken control of the Shire, with a group of wicked men. Frodo, Sam, Pippen, and Merry are able to raise a rebellion and overthrow the wicked men. They cast Saruman out of their homeland. Saruman is then killed by his servant Wormtounge, and Wormtounge is killed by hobbit archers. The Shire is once again safe. However Frodo is unable to find peace, and eventually must part into the Grey Havens. He is joined by Gandalf, Bilbo, and the elves, who journey into the undying lands. Sam is very sad to part with Frodo. He however marries Rosie Cotton, and becomes mayor of the Shire for many years. After many happy years, and following the death of his wife, Sam gives the Red Book of Westmarch to his daughter, and departs from Middle Earth into the Gray Havens.
Of all the three books, this one was probably my favorite. Non-stop action and incredible moments (The charge of the Rohirrim and Gandalf standing up to the Witch-King). It's quite amazing, the amount of background and history that Tolkien put into the Lord of the Rings; from songs, folk-tales, to even his own elvish language. An amazing depth of creativity. And of all the characters of Middle Earth Gandalf is without question my favorite, full of such wisdom and courage. This work of Tolkien is truly a poetic masterpiece, and I am very happy to have finally finished it all the way through.
Meanwhile, aware of the coming battle at Gondor, Theoden decides to mobilize his Rohirrim army, and bring aid to the city of Minas Tirith. He tells his niece, Eowen, to lead the people if he does not return. Aragorn decides to take the Path of the Dead, to raise an undead army in the mountains. He is joined by Legolas and Gimli. Merry also offers his service to the king of Rohan, however Theoden refuses that the hobbit fight in the battle. As Theoden, Eomer, and the Rohirrim set out for Gondor, Merry is carried by a mysterious warrior, the disguise of lady Eowen.The battle in Gondor begins by the rivers at Osgiliath, where Faramir tries to defend it. Unable to hold the orcs back, the soldiers must retreat to Minas Tirith. They are openly picked off by flying Nazgul, until Gandalf comes to their aid. Once they enter the city, Denethor is aggravated by the defeat and declares that the city not be given up. Faramir returns on a suicide mission, to gain favor with his father. The next day the massive armies of Mordor arrive, numbering 250,000 and led by the Witch-King, they cover the Pelennor Fields. The orc army begins their siege by showering the city with the heads of the soldiers from Osgiliath. Faramir is returned, still alive, yet in dying condition. The battle of Pelennor Fields begins.
Denethor declares that the city flee for their life, yet Gandalf takes charge and orders that they defend it. After a series of catapults, the orcs use a terrible battering ram, known as Grond, and are finally able to enter the city. Gandalf however awaits them, and tells the Witch-King that he can not enter. At this moment, the reinforcements of Rohan arrive with an army of 7000 horsed warriors. Theoden leads a glorious charge into the battle fields. He is eventually killed by the Witch-King, yet Eowen and Merry come to his defense, and are both able to defeat the Witch-King.
Denethor is lost in a mad rage, and decides to burn himself and his son Faramir. Gandalf quickly comes to the rescue of Faramir, and Denethor commits suicide. Meanwhile another army of pirates known as the Corsairs of Umbar, plan to arrive at the south of the city, yet are overtaken by Aragorn's ghostly army. Both the Rohirrim and the undead army are able to defeat the siege, and win victory at Pelennor Fields. Faramir, Merry, and Eowen are taken to the House of Healing where Aragorn is able to heal them. Aragorn and Gandalf then decide that their only hope of winning the war, is to drive out Sauron's army and attack the Black Gate once and for all.
In Book VI, Frodo has been kept hostage in the tower of Cirith Ungol, yet is rescued by Samwise. Sam returns the ring to Frodo. They both dress themselves as orcs, and continue through the wastelands of Mordor. Frodo grows weaker and weaker as he gets closer to Mount Doom. At this time, the orc armies begin to clear the land, to respond to Aragorn's attack. Aragorn awaits outside the black gate with a small alliance of Rohan and Gondor. He kills the Mouth of Sauron and declares that justice be done upon the black land. The orc army then begins to surround Aragorn's small army.
As they finally arrive to Mount Doom, Sam has to practically carry Frodo up the mountain. However once they get to the Crack of Doom, they are suddenly attacked by Gollum. Sam fights off Gollum, while Frodo hurries ahead to cast the ring into the fires of Mount Doom. However Frodo is suddenly unable to part with the ring, and decides to claim it for himself. He puts it on, and disappears. At this point, Gollum has grown mad with rage, and jumps on the invisible Frodo. He bites off Frodo's finger, to obtain the ring. As Gollum has finally been reunited with his "precious" he loses his balance and falls into the fires of Mount Doom. The ring is finally destroyed.
The armies of Sauron, end their battle, and Aragorn is victorious. The alliance of Gondor and Rohan return triumphantly to the city of Minas Tirith. Aragorn is then crowned as king of Gondor. He takes the elf-princess, Arwen, daughter of Elrond, as his wife. A final celebration takes place in Gondor to honor the heroes, especially the four hobbits; Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippen. Eomer becomes the new king of Rohan, and leaves Gondor with the body of Theoden to lead his people. Eowen falls in love with Faramir, however also chooses to return to her homeland.
Gandalf accompanies the four hobbits on their journey back to the Shire. They stop at Rivendell for a few days to speak with Bilbo. Gandalf informs the four hobbits, that Saruman is still a threat, and that the Shire is not as safe as they remember. He also tells them that he will have no part in it, and that his affair was with Sauron and the ring. Gandalf departs from the hobbits to speak with Tom Bombadil, while the four hobbits must return to the Shire on their own.
Saruman has taken control of the Shire, with a group of wicked men. Frodo, Sam, Pippen, and Merry are able to raise a rebellion and overthrow the wicked men. They cast Saruman out of their homeland. Saruman is then killed by his servant Wormtounge, and Wormtounge is killed by hobbit archers. The Shire is once again safe. However Frodo is unable to find peace, and eventually must part into the Grey Havens. He is joined by Gandalf, Bilbo, and the elves, who journey into the undying lands. Sam is very sad to part with Frodo. He however marries Rosie Cotton, and becomes mayor of the Shire for many years. After many happy years, and following the death of his wife, Sam gives the Red Book of Westmarch to his daughter, and departs from Middle Earth into the Gray Havens.
Of all the three books, this one was probably my favorite. Non-stop action and incredible moments (The charge of the Rohirrim and Gandalf standing up to the Witch-King). It's quite amazing, the amount of background and history that Tolkien put into the Lord of the Rings; from songs, folk-tales, to even his own elvish language. An amazing depth of creativity. And of all the characters of Middle Earth Gandalf is without question my favorite, full of such wisdom and courage. This work of Tolkien is truly a poetic masterpiece, and I am very happy to have finally finished it all the way through.
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