| �This task was appointed to you Frodo Baggins, if you do not succeed, no one will�and to you I give the light of Earendil, our most beloved star may it be a light in dark places when all other lights go out� Frodo, Gollum and Sam make across the crossroads alongside the Black Mountains of Mordor, on their way to Minas Morgul and later on to the path of Cirith Ungol. Gollum�s desire for the ring grows even stronger, Frodo grows weaker and Sam even more worried for his master�s sickening and Gollum�s secret plans. After the victory of Helm�s Deep, the Fellowship and the Rohirrim make way to Isengard which now lies in ruins, flooded by the Isen�s waters. There Gandalf faces Saruman who now lies prisoner of his own tower and with no power at his disposal. Gandalf breaks Saruman�s staff and takes his place as the head of the Istari Order. Wormtongue grows enraged and hurls down the Palantir Saruman had, which are ancient seeing stones that show many things which is why they were forbidden. Saruman had used his to communicate with Sauron. The Fellowship returns to Edoras, where a service is held to honor those fallen in the battle of Helm�s Deep. Later on, night falls and Pippin, known for his curiosity, could not resist a look at the Palantir. He looks in and so is revealed to Sauron, who mistakes him for having the Ring. Now Gandalf must ride to Minas Tirith, ancient city of men, in hope of distracting Sauron�s gaze. The city of Minas Tirith is a great city built in seven levels which ascend on the side of a mountain as if it was carved in the mountainside itself. Atop the seventh level, is the great White Tower of Ecthelion glimmering as a spike of pearl and silver. There we meet Denethor, father to Boromir and Faramir, the fading steward of Gondor who has been failing as a ruler for some time now. He lies in a state of shock at the news of Boromir�s death, which is why Pippin offers his services as a condolence act. Gandalf�s first act when he sees how Denethor is falling apart, is to light the fire on the watch towers that extend across a mountain chain to communicate the need of aid in battle. Hopefully, Rohan will see the signal and come to aid of Gondor. Frodo makes it to Minas Morgul, and commence on the climbing of the spiraling stairs to Cirith Ungol. Along the way, Smeagol/Gollum tricks Frodo into thinking Sam only wants the ring for himself. Frodo tells Sam to go back home and Sam weeps and grows angry at Gollum as he and Frodo make way leaving him behind. As Frodo and Gollum reach the end of the stairs, they reach a dark and smelly tunnel, and apparently Mordor lies on the other side. Frodo confronts Shelob, inside the cavern, a giant spider who hungers for cute little hobbits. Even though, Frodo makes it out of the cavern and Gollum escapes, Shelob stings Frodo with her poison. Yet, a good friend never truly leaves, and Sam battles and heavily injures Shelob. Sam mistakes Frodo for being dead, and takes the Ring thinking it is all up to him now, but as orcs make it to the place of the battle, they mention how Frodo is only asleep. Sam who lies in hiding, overhears the orcs and follows them to the Tower of Cirith Ungol. Back in Rohan, Theoden is amassing an army of Rohirrim from every area of the kingdom. Eowyn is once again denied the love of Aragorn, and the chance of proving herself in battle. She finds no choice but to disguise herself as a man and ride off to war. Aragorn, Legolas. and Gimli, however journey across a different road. They reach the Paths of the Dead, a dark place where an army of ghosts lies in waiting for the true king of Gondor to summon them to battle and free them from this living death. Minas Tirith is now under siege by the armies of Mordor and when hope seems grim, Theoden�s armies make it to the battle of the Pelennor Fields, and turn the tide to their side. The armies of darkness are led by the Witch-King of Angmar, lord of the Nazgul who flies his fell-beast into battle attacking from the sky. Eowyn rides into battle to avenge Theoden, who dies in hands of the Witch-king. She slays the Nazgul Lord and redeems the honor of men. The Fellowship trio finally make it in time to end this battle, with an army of the dead who lay waste to Sauron�s army. Frodo is rescued by Sam in Cirith Ungol and make their way into Mordor, disguised in orc armor to blend in. Aragorn decides to take the remaining soldiers and face-off Sauron in front of the Black Gate to draw out the armies and free the way for Frodo. Denethor killed himself, and left Faramir behind wounded in battle. Faramir meets Eowyn in the Houses of Healing, where they recover from the past battle. Frodo finally makes it into Mount Doom where the ring�s will is at its strongest. Frodo decides to keep the Ring in an act of insanity, but Gollum had followed them inside and attacks the hobbit. Gollum bites the Ring off Frodo�s finger but gets thrown into the fire, finally destroying the ring and Sauron forever. The armies of Mordor scatter and the Forces of Light claim victory. After this come many endings, the original fellowhip is reunited and Aragorn is crowned king of Gondor and Eomer king of Rohan. Faramir and Eowyn eventually wed, and become prince and lady of Ithilien. Aragorn and Arwen marry as well, and the hobbits are renowned as true heroes. The hobbits make it back to the Shire, where nothing ever changed nor where their adventures heard of. Samwise marries Rosie Cotton and life goes on for a few years. Later on, Gandalf returns to the Shire with Bilbo, who is given a chance to sail on the last ship into the west with the elves. The hobbits go along to see him off, only to find out that Frodo is leaving too. The hobbits engage in a warm, beautiful, and sad moment as their friend leaves to the only place he can truly heal his wounds. And so life would go on, Sam returns to his family and ends the book and the movie with the simple phrase: �Well, I�m Back� The End |
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| This page was last updated on: Friday, March 19, 2004 |
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| The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King The Journey Ends |