GOOD GOD...
that is not only a series of 3 books, there is the hobbit, the silmarillion and a few more ive read.
a Synopsis of LOTR would be a book in and of itself...
ill try...
The Lord of the Rings tells an epic tale of good against evil, spanning three volumes - The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King. The story begins at Bag End in the Shire, at the home of Frodo Baggins. Frodo is a Hobbit - a small creature with hairy feet and a large appetite, not normally prone to adventuring. Frodo has a gold Ring given to him by his Uncle Bilbo, who had 'found it' after its loss by a creature called Gollum, in the course of a previous long journey recounted by JRR Tolkien in The Hobbit.
The Fellowship of the Ring
Book One
Chapter 1: A Long-expected Party
Sixty years have passed since Bilbo Baggins, the hero of The Hobbit, had returned from his journey. He is well-known by many, both for his legendary wealth as well as for the fact that age does not seem to affect him. He announces a great celebration in honour of his 111th birthday and the 33rd birthday of his nephew Frodo, whom he had adopted as an heir some years ago and brought to live with him at Bag End. The party is splendid, and a great number of hobbits are invited. But Bilbo has felt strange lately, and has decided that he needs a 'holiday' and would leave the Shire; so after giving an after-dinner speech in front of 144 of his and Frodo's closest friends and relatives he puts on his magic ring and disappears, causing great surprise. He talks with Gandalf once more before leaving, and almost changes his original intention of leaving the ring to Frodo; but Gandalf persuades him to keep to his idea, and Bilbo leaves, much relieved and happier than ever. Gandalf warns Frodo not to use the ring. The following day Frodo is busy as Bilbo had left farewell-presents for many hobbits, and there is now a crowd of people at Bag End, many of them digging around and searching for Bilbo's imaginary treasures. Gandalf leaves, and does not return for a long time.
Chapter 2: The Shadow of the Past
Gandalf visits Frodo only a few times in the years that follow. Frodo gets used to being the master of Bag End, and makes friends with some of the younger hobbits (for example with Peregrin Took and Merry Brandybuck) while most consider him queer, much like Bilbo before him. Rumours of strange events outside the Shire arise, such as of the rising of the Dark Power in the Land of Mordor, although most hobbits do not believe them yet. In Frodo's fiftieth year Gandalf visits him again and they have a long talk concerning the ring that Frodo had inherited from Bilbo. Gandalf tells Frodo about the nature and the history of the ring, which is actually the greatest of the Rings of Power, and was made long ago by Sauron, the Dark Lord of Mordor. Sauron is now eagerly searching for it, as by finding it his power would grow immensely; the ring should be destroyed lest Sauron should find it, but it could only be destroyed in Orodruin, the Mount Doom in Mordor. It seems that Sauron had already heard about Bilbo and the Shire from Gollum, so the Shire is probably no longer a safe place for Frodo. He decides he would leave, accompanied by the young Sam Gamgee, his gardener, who (unlike most hobbits) believes in the old tales and would greatly like to see the Elves.
Chapter 3: Three is Company
To avoid his leaving the Shire from being widely known, Frodo sells Bag End to the Sackville-Bagginses and purchases a house in Buckland, east of the Shire, where he had spent his youth. On his fiftieth birthday he leaves Bag End and sets out with his friend Pippin (Peregrin Took) and Sam Gamgee; Gandalf has left him for a short time to gather news from the world outside, but has not returned yet, which greatly concerns Frodo. The next day the three hobbits notice that they are being followed by the mysterious Black Riders, yet they do not know exactly who they are, and being careful Frodo decides not to let the Riders see them. They meet a wandering group of High Elves lead by Gildor Inglorion in the evening; Frodo talks with Gildor for a long time, and Gildor advises him to try to reach Rivendell in spite of Gandalf's absence, and tells him that the Black Riders are dangerous servants of the Enemy.
Chapter 4: A Short Cut to Mushrooms
The following day Frodo decides to take a short cut to the Brandywine river, where Merry was supposed to meet them that day; this was done partially to arrive there sooner, and partially to avoid being seen by the Black Riders again. Indeed they notice one on the road just after they leave it. After a long and unpleasant passage through the woods they reach the estate of Farmer Maggot, who is known for setting his dogs on any trespassers who come to pick his mushrooms (as Frodo himself had experienced in his youth). Yet he is quite friendly, especially as he knows Pippin quite well; he tells them that a strange and frightening black rider was asking him questions about a Baggins earlier that day. To help Frodo reach the Brandywine Ferry more safely and quickly, Maggot drives the three hobbits there with his waggon, and they find Merry there, anxiously awaiting them.
Chapter 5: A Conspiracy Unmasked
Just as they cross the River, they notice a black figure standing on the bank they had come from. They go to Frodo's new house at Crickhollow, and talk about their adventures on the journey. Frodo intends to finally tell his friends that he is going to leave as soon as possible, when they, to his complete amazement, tell him that they already know about the Ring, and the purpose of his journey, and that they intend to accompany him and help him. After the initial shock, Frodo gladly accepts their help, and they decide that they would depart early the following day through the Old Forest, a place known as queer and dangerous, in order to avoid the roads which are likely to be watched by the Riders.
Chapter 6: The Old Forest
The hobbits enter the Old Forest and soon begin to feel its queerness, as if the trees are watching them and hate them. They reach the Bonfire Glade, where hobbits burned a great many trees a long time ago. From there they follow a path which leads them to a hill rising out of the Forest, and from there, as they eventually notice, towards the Withywindle River, the central and strangest part of the forest. They want to avoid it and leave the path, but find that the terrain is always the most difficult in the direction they would like to go to. Eventually they descend into a fold which is too steep to be climbed out of again, and following the fold they come to the Withywindle and find a path running along it. This path brings them to an old willow-tree where they suddenly begin to feel sleepy. Frodo, Merry and Pippin fall asleep, and the tree throws Frodo into the water and 'captures' Merry and Pippin under its roots. Sam and Frodo cannot rescue them, and run down the path, crying for help. They meet Tom Bombadil, a strange man singing nonsensical songs. Tom sings the right tune, and the willow-tree lets Merry and Pippin go; then Tom invites the hobbits to his house, where he lives with Goldberry the River-daughter.
Chapter 7: In the House of Tom Bombadil
They have a magnificent dinner and then go to sleep, and each of them has different and strange dreams. The following day is Goldberry's 'washing day', which means it is raining, and the hobbits talk with Tom Bombadil for the entire day. Tom tells them a lot about the Forest, the ways of trees and animals, the Old Man Willow, the Barrow-downs, and the ancient history; for he is the Eldest, the Master, who was already there in the Elder Days, in the Spring of Arda, before the Elves had awakened or Melkor had come to Middle-earth. Then they talk about the Shire, and the quest of the four hobbits, and to their astonishment the Ring has no power over him. He gives them advice for the following day, and teaches them a rhyme with which to call him if they should need his help.
Chapter 8: Fog on the Barrow-downs
The hobbits leave Tom's house the next day, intending to cross the Barrow-downs; the Barrow-downs are a hilly area full of ancient barrows, about which dreadful legends are known. They make good progress in the morning, and around noon they stop to rest at a large, strangely cold stone standing on the flat top of a hill. They all fall asleep and wake at sundown surrounded by fog. They immediately head in the direction they believe to be the most direct towards the Road; some time later Frodo, who is in the front, passes between two standing stones and notices that the others are gone. He hears them crying for help and follows them, and is captured by a Barrow-wight. He awakes again within a barrow, and notices that the others are lying unconscious next to him and a hand is creeping towards them. Frodo sings the rhyme that Tom Bombadil had taught them the day before, and indeed Tom comes very soon, and daylight breaks into the barrow. Tom awakes the other three hobbits, and gives each of the four a sword from among the treasures that lay within the barrow. He also brings them their ponies, which have fled in the night; and he accompanies them for a while, to the borders of his land. The hobbits go on, and reach the village of Bree in the evening.
Chapter 9: At the Sign of the Prancing Pony
The hobbits enter The Prancing Pony, a large inn in Bree. A diverse company of guests is already gathered there: local hobbits and men, travelling dwarves, strange men from the South, and a mysterious Ranger known as Strider. After supper Frodo, Sam and Pippin decide to join the company; Pippin attracts the attention by telling a story about the Mayor of Shire, and encouraged by that he begins to tell about Bilbo's farewell party. Frodo does not want Bilbo's disappearance to be mentioned, and to interrupt Pippin he jumps on a table and starts to sing and dance. He jumps and falls off the table, and while falling the Ring slips on his finger and he disappears. This causes much anxiety and despite his later explanations of having crawled under the table into the corner most of the guests leave the common room. Strider seems to know his real name and the true cause of his disappearing and asks him to have a talk with him later. Butterbur, the innkeeper, also remembers something and asks Frodo for a private conversation.
Chapter 10: Strider
Strider comes to talk with Frodo, Sam and Pippin. He offers to be their guide, and seems to know a lot about Frodo already; however, because of his appearance the hobbits do not trust him. Then Butterbur comes and explains that Gandalf has several months ago left a letter for a certain Frodo Baggins, which Butterbur forgot to send to the Shire. Frodo and his company seem to match the description Gandalf gave to Butterbur, so he gives the letter to Frodo. Among other things, this letter contains Gandalf's advice to accept the help of a friend of his, a man called Strider (with the true name Aragorn), should they meet him. Thus Frodo decides to accept his help as a guide to Rivendell. Merry, who has earlier gone out to get some fresh air, now returns and tells he has seen the Black Riders, and it seems that they have spies in Bree. They decide not to go to the rooms appointed for them, and sleep in the parlour, after they have barred the window and the door.
Chapter 11: A Knife in the Dark
On that very evening, the Black Riders break into Frodo's house at Crickhollow and, discovering that Frodo is not there, ride towards Bree with great haste. They break into the inn, or more specifically into the room where hobbit-guests usually sleep. Thus the hobbits are not discovered, but all the horses and ponies stabled at the inn escape in terror. The following day they buy a pony and supplies of food (much of which they would have to carry on their backs); they head towards Rivendell, and Strider leads them through the wilderness to a hill called Weathertop, which offers a view over a large surrounding area. It seems that Gandalf had been there three days before them. That evening they are attacked by five of the Riders in a dell below Weathertop; Frodo cannot resist the desire to put on the Ring, and immediately after doing so he realizes that he can see the Riders very clearly in spite of the darkness, yet they can also see him very well. The captain of the Riders attacks Frodo, who strikes him a blow on the feet, but being also hit by the Rider he swoons immediately afterwards.
Chapter 12: Flight to the Ford
Strider does his best to heal Frodo, but he could only receive proper treatment in Rivendell, which they should reach as soon as possible. They cross the river Hoarwell, or Mitheithel, and to avoid the road they walk through the wilderness and even reach the troll-country where Bilbo had experienced his first adventure so many years ago. They have to cross a line of hills to get closer to the Road again, since their only hope of reaching Rivendell in time is by following the Road which crosses the river Loudwater, or Bruinen, at the Ford of Bruinen. On the Road they meet Glorfindel, and Elf-lord who has been sent from Rivendell to find them and help them. Near the Ford of Bruinen they are ambushed by the Black Riders, five of which pursue them from behind, and the remaining four are waiting at the Ford. Frodo manages to escape them and cross the river on Glorfindel's horse. Then a great flood comes down the river which washes the Riders away.
Book Two
Chapter 1: Many Meetings
Frodo awakes in Rivendell, where he has been tended for three days by Elrond himself, and his arm is now almost completely cured. Gandalf is also there and briefly explains Frodo what has happened. A great feast is held that evening in celebration of the victory at the Ford of Bruinen, and the four hobbits are guests of honour there. Frodo sees many new faces: Elrond, his daughter Arwen, and Glóin, one of the twelve dwarves who had accompanied Bilbo on his great journey. And to his greatest delight, he also meets Bilbo, who has lived in Rivendell ever since he had left the Shire. Bilbo recites a song about Eärendil, which he has just written, to a company of Elves. Then while the Elves sing and listen to tales, he and Frodo talk about their adventures for a long time.
Chapter 2: The Council of Elrond
A great council is held in Rivendell, which should determine what to do in the present situation to prevent Sauron from dominating over the world. On this Council there are Elrond, Gandalf, Frodo, Bilbo, Glóin, Glorfindel, Aragorn, many Elves from Rivendell, as well as strangers from abroad, such as Legolas, son of Thranduil the King of the Elves of Mirkwood, and Boromir, son of Denethor the Steward of Gondor. Glóin tells that messengers from Mordor have come to the Dwarves, seeking information about Bilbo and his Ring. Then the entire history of the Ring is told, from its forging to the adventures of Bilbo and Frodo. Gandalf gives an account of his doings in the summer, when he was held captive by Saruman the White, a mighty wizard that has become a traitor. The Council concludes that since the Ring cannot be used by anyone save Sauron, nor can it be kept beyond Sauron's reach forever, it should be destroyed in Orodruin. In the end Frodo says he would accept this task (and is amazed at his own words), and Elrond approves of it.
Chapter 3: The Ring Goes South
Many scouts are sent out of Rivendell in all directions to search for news of any servants of the Enemy, and return about two months later without having discovered any important news. Elrond chooses companions for Frodo; and the Company of the Ring consists of Frodo, Sam, Gandalf, Strider, Legolas, Gimli, Boromir, Merry and Pippin. Bilbo gives his sword, Sting, and his shirt of dwarf-mail, to Frodo. The Company sets out southwards, and travels west of the Misty Mountains for many days, mostly under the cover of the night. They notice many crows and hawks flying over them, and are worried that the birds might be spies of the Enemy. The Company attempts to cross the Misty Mountains over the Pass of Caradhras, but it seems that the mountain hates them: a great storm and huge amounts of snow stop them and they are forced to turn back, lest they should freeze to death in the snow.
Chapter 4: A Journey in the Dark
The only remaining way for the Company to reach the other side of the Mountains now leads through the mines of Moria, or Khazad-dum, which was of old a splendid realm of the Dwarves, but is now desolate and known as a dreadful place. The Company is attacked by Wargs, great wolves of Sauron, and although they succeed to beat off the first attack, it seems that going through Moria is the only way now to avoid being slain by the wolves some night or another. They find the Doors of Moria and Gandalf discovers the password that opens them. Just as they are about to enter, tentacles belonging to an unknown yet undoubtedly evil creature creep out of the pool in front of the Doors, and almost succeed in dragging Frodo into the water. The Company escape inside, and quickly discover that the Doors have been barred from outside. They travel through the darkness of the Mines for two days, and Frodo frequently believes he hears distant footsteps following them. On the morning of the third day they reach Balin's tomb and find a book of chronicles there.
Chapter 5: The Bridge of Khazad-dum
Gandalf reads the chronicles for a while, and learns among other things also about the location of the tomb within Moria, which should make it easier to find the way out. However, just as they intend to set off again, they are attacked by a large number of Orcs accompanied by Trolls. They defend themselves valiantly in the chamber of the tomb, and as the attack stops for a while they escape through the other door out of the tomb. Gandalf tries to lock the door with a spell; he is opposed by a counter-spell of an unknown but apparently very strong opponent, and under their pressure the door breaks and the entire chamber collapses. This blocks the passage and frees the Company from the pursuit for a while. They keep on descending and reach the level below the Gates. Here the Orcs have prepared a trap of fire for them, but since the Company did not come down the main road and the Orcs did, this cuts the Company from the pursuers. The way out leads over a narrow bridge over a chasm, which was made as a defence by the Dwarves of old. The Trolls bring stone slabs to cross their barrier of fire, and before the Company manages to cross the bridge, a Balrog appears: a great man-like creature wielding a sword and a fiery whip. Gandalf fights with it on the bridge; the bridge breaks and both the wizard and the Balrog fall into the chasm. The rest of the Company safely escapes out of Moria.
Chapter 6: Lothlórien
Gimli and Frodo visit the Mirrormere. Then the Company continue their way, and Aragorn tends Frodo's and Sam's wounds. They enter the forest of Lórien, and cross the river Nimrodel. They are stopped by three guards, Elves of Lothlórien, who allow them to sleep in their tree-platforms. This proves good as a host of Orcs passes beneath the trees that night, and Gollum is also seen spying around. Since Elrond's messages have already reached Lórien, the Company are permitted to pass into Lórien, but with their eyes blindfold and accompanied by two guards. They meet more Elves the following day, who bring a message from the Lord and Lady of the Galadhrim giving permission to the Company to walk with their eyes free. Lórien is a strange, wonderful land, where many ancient and fair things still live on as they did in the Elder Days. They reach Cerin Amroth, the Mound of Amroth, of which Aragorn seems to have very pleasant memories.
Chapter 7: The Mirror of Galadriel
The Company spend several days in the capital city of Lothlórien; they meet Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel there, and talk with them about their Quest and about Gandalf. One evening Galadriel takes Frodo and Sam to a garden enclosed with a hedge; she fills a silver basin with water from a stream, which creates a magic Mirror. She permits them to look into the mirror, but warns them that it may show the past or the future, and it can be treacherous to shape one's actions according to the visions in the mirror. Sam looks in the mirror first, and sees trees being cut down all over the Shire. Then Frodo looks in the mirror, and sees many things: Gandalf in a white robe; Bilbo, walking about his room; the Sea; the Eye of Sauron. Frodo sees upon Galadriel's finger Nenya, one of the Three Rings, and offers her the One Ring, but she rejects it.
Chapter 8: Farewell to Lórien
The Company is about to leave Lórien, and the Elves give them three light boats to ease their journey down the Anduin; they also give the Company grey elven-cloaks, several good ropes, and some lembas, a special kind of bread, very little of which can give one enough strength for an entire day. As they sail down the river for a while, they meet a ship whose shape resembles a swan. Aboard it there are Celeborn and Galadriel, and the Company are invited aboard for a farewell feast. Galadriel gives a gift to each member of the Company, most notably a crystal phial to Frodo, a box of soil from Lórien to Sam, and a silver brooch with a green gem to Aragorn. Then the Company finally leave Lórien and continue their voyage; leaving that fair land is a great grief to all of them. Note: several passages giving important information concerning the Elves appear in this chapter, as well as in the previous two.
Chapter 9: The Great River
The Company travel southwards down the Anduin, the Great River, on the elven-boats for several days. Gollum is following them on a log of wood, which is potentially dangerous not only because of Gollum himself but also because he could attract the attention of Orcs holding the lands east of the river. They also notice an eagle far up in the sky, and decide to travel by night to minimise the chances of being spotted. One night they come very close to the Rapids of Sarn Gebir, and are there attacked by Orcs from the east-bank. A strange dark shape flies over them, and Legolas shoots it down with his bow; this dismays the enemies, the attack stops and the Company retreat into a bay a short way up the river. Here they notice that they had spent almost a month in Lórien. They carry their boats and baggage along an old path past the Rapids, and continue the voyage past the Argonath, the Pillars of the Kings, great statues of Isildur and Anárion built long ago by the Númenóreans. They come near the Falls of Rauros, where their final course should be decided: to go east to Mordor, or to turn south towards Minas Tirith.
Chapter 10: The Breaking of the Fellowship
The Company spend the night on the western bank of the River. The blade of Sting, Frodo's sword, is gleaming, indicating that Orcs are not far. The next day they must decide their future course; the choice lies on Frodo, since the Ringbearer's course can only be decided by the Ringbearer himself. Frodo feels he could make the decision more easily if he was alone, and the others give him an hour to make up his mind. He walks away and unsuccessfully tries to make a clear decision. Meanwhile, Boromir leaves.
THE TWO TOWERS
Chapter 1: The Departure of Boromir
Aragorn follows Frodo's trail to the summit of Amon Hen; there he hears the sound of Boromir's horn amid the cries of many Orcs, and he runs down to help Boromir. He comes too late, however: Boromir is already dying, and in his last words he tells Aragorn about his attack on Frodo and about the attack of the Orcs, which have taken the Hobbits as prisoners. Gimli and Legolas return soon afterwards, and together they carry Boromir's body into a boat and let it float down the River. They also notice that a boat and Sam's baggage are missing, and conclude that Frodo and Sam must have crossed the River and headed towards Mordor while everybody else was looking for Frodo. Thus it seems unlikely that the remaining three companions could still find them, and Aragorn decides that they will pursuit the Orcs and attempt to rescue Merry and Pippin. They start the chase at once and with greatest speed, for the Orcs have already gained an advantage of several hours.
Chapter 2: The Riders of Rohan
Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas continue their chase for three days, running with remarkable speed through the land of Rohan, but to their dismay it seems that Orcs are hardly resting at all, and their advantage is ever increasing. On the fourth day they meet a company of the Rohirrim, the Men of Rohan, led by Éomer, the Third Marshal of Rohan and the nephew of Théoden the King of Rohan. Aragorn explains them the purpose of their hunt after the Orcs, and Éomer tells that the Rohirrim have attacked and destroyed that band of Orcs two days ago, yet found no hobbits among them. They exchange some news, and Éomer is impressed with Aragorn and the quick journey that he and his two companions have made in the past few days. He gives them leave to travel through Rohan, and gives them spare horses. Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas continue along the trail and reach the site of the battle near the eaves of the great forest of Fangorn that evening. They find no traces of the hobbits. That night an old man appears (and disappears quickly) near their camp, and all their horses flee; they suspect the man to be the evil wizard Saruman.
Chapter 3: The Uruk-hai
Meanwhile Pippin and Merry suffer greatly as captives of the Orcs. The Orcs are under orders not to kill neither search the captives; for a while, the Orcs carry them, but then they are forced to run on their own, and the Orcs give them a strange liquor that strengthens them for a while. The orc-band consists of different kinds of Orcs: small ones from the Misty Mountains, some Orcs from Mordor (led by one Grishnákh) and the large Uruk-hai from Isengard, led by a captain called Uglúk. Quarrels arise about where the prisoners should be taken, and Uglúk's will prevails and they turn towards Isengard. Near the Fangorn forest they are surrounded by a group of the Riders of Rohan in the evening. The Riders light fires and await the dawn before the final attack. In the night Grishnákh comes to the hobbits and hopes to find the Ring himself; he takes them and tries to escape, but is detected and killed by the Riders. The hobbits crawl into the forest, unnoticed in the darkness. At dawn the Riders attack the orc-camp and all the Orcs are slain in the battle.
Chapter 4: Treebeard
Merry and Pippin continue their way into the forest, and soon meet Treebeard the Ent. Ents are strange, tall, very old creatures whose appearance resembles that of the trees. They talk about a great many things: the hobbits tell Treebeard about their journey, and he tells them about the Ents, their history, and the Forest of Fangorn. The Ents are threatened by Saruman, whose orcs are destroying the forest and felling trees. Treebeard feels it is high time that something be done about it, and he assembles an Entmoot, a gathering of the Ents, where they debate this issue. Since Ents are never hasty, the assembly lasts for two days and two nights, but in the end they decide to attack Isengard (the ring of rocks in the middle of which the Tower of Orthanc, the dwelling of Saruman, is set). Treebeard takes the hobbits along on his march, and a great many Ents join it on the way.
Chapter 5: The White Rider
Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli search the site of the battle the following morning, and find a leaf of mallorn and some crumbs of lembas. With this evidence of the hobbits' presence they continue their search into the forest of Fangorn and reach the hill where the hobbits had met Treebeard. Then they meet an old beggar-man whom they believe to be Saruman at first, but then he turns out to be Gandalf, who has defeated the Balrog and has now returned stronger than ever, and is now wearing a white robe. Gandalf tells them some news, particularly that the hobbits met Treebeard and that the Ents are heading towards Isengard; he advises them to go to Rohan and help in the war that is preparing there. He calls his horse, Shadowfax, and with him come also Aragorn's and Legolas' horses, who have met him the previous night after having fled in panic. Gandalf and the three companions ride to Edoras, the court of Théoden the King of Rohan.
Chapter 6: The King of the Golden Hall
They go to Meduseld, the hall of king Théoden. They are not very welcome there at first, and are even required to leave their weapons outside before seeing the king. Théoden is under influence of his counsellor Gríma (also called Wormtongue) who has convinced him that Gandalf is always a sign of nearing trouble, and should not be welcome. Gandalf silences Wormtongue with a bolt of lightning, and takes the king outside, into the fresh air and the light of the day. Here Théoden realises that listening to Gríma's whispers he felt much older and weaker than he really was, and now he opens his heart to Gandalf's advice and issues orders that the Rohirrim should prepare to move westwards towards Isengard at once, while those not able to join the army should retreat into the refuges in the mountains. Wormtongue objects this, but Gandalf reveals him as Saruman's spy; Théoden gives him the choice of joining the war or leaving for ever, and Gríma rides away. Then the king gives gifts to the companions: he lets Gandalf have Shadowfax, and gives excellent armour to Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. Finally the host rides off, and Éowyn, Éomer's sister, is left to govern the remainder of the people of Rohan in the king's absence.
Chapter 7: Helm's Deep
Gandalf turns towards Isengard with greatest speed, while the rest of the host ride towards Helm's Deep, a stronghold in the mountains; there, in the tower of Hornburg, the dwelling of Erkenbrand, the master of Westfold, a number of the Rohirrim of that region had already sought refuge. The host enters Helm's Deep and prepares for defence; they are attacked by a large army of orcs and the wild men of Dunland, and despite all their valour the defenders must retreat into Hornburg and into the caves in the Deep. On the dawn of the following day, however, the host of the Rohirrim breaks out of the fastness and the dismayed orcs flee before it. At the same time Gandalf appears, as well as Erkenbrand and his army; the orcs are surrounded and driven into a newly-grown forest, which is actually a host of Huorns (Ents that had become tree-ish), and none come alive out of it.
Chapter 8: The Road to Isengard
Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Théoden, Éomer, and a part of the host of the Rohirrim ride towards Isengard. Gimli tells Legolas about the beauty of the Caverns of Helm's Deep, and they decide that some day they will go together and see both the Forest of Fangorn and the Caverns. The company travels through the forest of the Ents, then pass a great mound where the Rohirrim who fell in the nearby battles were buried. In the night they see a great shadow flying towards Isengard. Finally they reach the Ring of Isengard, where Saruman had long dwelt and turned it into a great fortress; but now it was defeated and ruined by the Ents. At the gates they find Merry and Pippin, enjoying all the comforts of food, wine and pipe-weed, and they direct Gandalf and Théoden towards the north wall, where they might find Treebeard.
Chapter 9: Flotsam and Jetsam
Meanwhile Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli stay with the two hobbits, who tell them about their adventures since the breaking of the Fellowship of the Ring: the journey with the Orcs; the meeting with Treebeard; the attack of the Ents upon Isengard. The Ents are not much afflicted by arrows or axes, and they have broken down the gates and walls of Isengard; they could not harm the tower of Orthanc, though, and Saruman was trapped therein. The Huorns have formed a 'forest' all around Isengard, where all Orcs fleeing from Isengard have perished. The Ents have built dams and dug trenches, and directed the water from the Isen river towards Isengard, where is has flooded the underground caves and suffocated Saruman's fires. Gandalf has come and asked for help (hence the newly-grown forest after the battle of Helm's Deep); and later Wormtongue came, pretending to be a messenger from Théoden. Treebeard, however, whom Gandalf had warned against Gríma, gave him a choice of entering Orthanc or waiting for the coming of Théoden, and Wormtongue waded through the flood and entered the tower.
Chapter 10: The Voice of Saruman
Gandalf, Théoden, Éomer, Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas go to the stairs of Orthanc to talk with Saruman, while the others wait a little farther away. Saruman has a sweet, hypnotic voice that can easily bring many under his influence. He addresses Théoden first, proposing peace and alliance between Isengard and Rohan and promising great benefits that could come of that. His voice charms the Riders, and it seems that it convinced Théoden too, but then he refuses and clearly states that there will never be such peace. Then Saruman talks to Gandalf and tries to convince him into uniting and using their power and wisdom to govern others. Gandalf laughs at this and then gives Saruman one last chance to come down and help them in their cause, or remain locked up in Orthanc. Saruman rejects this offer, and Gandalf causes his staff to break and casts him from the order of the wizards. A strange crystal globe, apparently thrown by Wormtongue, falls from a window; Gandalf takes it, hinting that it might be an object of great importance. The company says farewell to Treebeard (who promises that the Ents would guard Orthanc and prevent Saruman from escaping) and prepares to leave.
Chapter 11: The Palantír
The company intends to ride to Edoras and starts in the direction of Helm's Deep. Pippin is very curious about the glass ball which he had picked up, and in the night when everybody is asleep he takes it from under Gandalf's arm. He cannot resist looking into it, and then drawing his eyes away from it, and a little later he falls back with a cry. Gandalf asks him what he has seen and done: in the stone he has seen the Dark Tower, and was questioned by Sauron. Sauron believed that the stone was still in Orthanc, and that the hobbit was Saruman's prisoner, and he only ordered Pippin to tell Saruman to hand out the prisoner to him, without setting further questions. The stone thus turns out to be a palantír, one of the seven stones used by the kings of old to communicate between distant places, and it was with this stone that Saruman could talk with the Dark Lord. A shadow passes over the camp: it is one of the Ringwraiths who are now riding upon horrible winged creatures, and it seems to be headed towards Isengard. Gandalf bids the others to ride on immediately with greatest haste, and he takes Pippin with him and rides with Shadowfax towards Minas Tirith as fast as possible.
Book Four
Chapter 1: The Taming of Sméagol
Meanwhile Frodo and Sam are making their way across the bare hills of Emyn Muil, and the sheer walls of the ridge prevent them from descending into the plains. At last they find a place where a descent might be possible, and Frodo attempts to climb down; a terrible cry pierces the sky at that time (probably made by the winged steed of one of the Nazgul), and Frodo falls but fortunately lands on a shelf not deep below. Sam remembers the rope that the Elves of Lórien gave him and rescues Frodo with it; then they both climb down the rope and, to their surprise, manage to pull it down easily afterwards, as if it had not been fastened to anything at all. They plan to spend the night under the cliff not far from there. Then they notice Gollum, who had been following them all the time; he climbs easily, almost like a spider, but falls down in the final part of the climb. Sam attacks him, and with Frodo's help they force Gollum to promise that he would lead them to Mordor. Soon afterwards Gollum tries to escape, but they catch him and find that the elven-rope with which they wanted to tie him hurts him greatly. He swears by the Ring that he would obey them, and they untie him. A little later, when the moon has also set, they head downwards again.
Chapter 2: The Passage of the Marshes
The two hobbits, led by Gollum, are slowly making their way towards the Black Gates of Mordor. Since going through the open land full of orc-highways would be far too dangerous, Gollum leads them along less-known paths through the marshy lands. They cross the Dead Marshes, where many fallen warriors were buried during the war between the Last Alliance and the Dark Lord at the end of the Second age; now strange lights flicker there, and horrible dead faces can be seen under the mud. Ringwraiths often fly above them, apparently searching for the Ring and somehow sensing its presence; and the burden of the Ring seems ever greater to Frodo as they near Mordor. Within Gollum two 'personalities' are struggling for domination: the good Sméagol, and the wicked Gollum; and pressed by the mad desire for the Ring the Gollum in him seems to be winning again. Finally they reach the desolate and barren lands before Mordor, and only at Frodo's strict command is Gollum willing to guide them further.
Chapter 3: The Black Gate is Closed
The companions reach the Black Gate of Mordor. The Gate is guarded by the Teeth of Mordor, two tall towers erected long ago by the Men of Gondor but were later abandoned and then occupied by Sauron's forces. There are also many other battlements and huge numbers of orcs; several roads are leading to the gate, and numerous armies from the East and the South are coming into Mordor. Entering Mordor there seems absolutely impossible. At this point Gollum suggests another way: to go southwards to the ghost-city of Minas Ithil, and then up to the pass of Cirith Ungol. There the chances of not being noticed are somewhat greater, for in that direction Sauron has conquered land as far as the Anduin, and feels safer, so the place is not likely to be watched so thoroughly. Gollum claims he had escaped from Mordor along that very path, though it seems likely that this 'escape' was known and approved by the Dark Lord. Nonetheless Frodo, after some hesitation, decides to accept this plan.
Chapter 4: Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit
Journeying south, the company reaches Ithilien, a fair country of mild climate and lush vegetation that has only been conquered by the Dark Lord recently and has not yet been desolated and defiled. Sam is becoming more and more concerned about food: their only food is lembas, which will hardly last until they reach Orodruin, and certainly not any longer. So one day as they rest in a forest, he asks Gollum to catch something edible. Gollum catches a pair of young rabbits and Sam prepares a stew. However, soon after they finish their meal, the fire starts to smoke and the two hobbits are surrounded by four soldiers of Gondor, one of them being Faramir, the Captain. Frodo explains something about his errand, and Faramir seems greatly interested in that; but at present he leaves two men to guard them, and goes away to prepare for battle: the men of Minas Tirith have come to Ithilien to attack a host of the Southrons travelling towards Mordor to join Sauron's forces. Sam sees a most amazing thing during this battle: an 'Oliphaunt', one of the great grey animals that are in Shire only known through old rhymes.
Chapter 5: The Window on the West
After the battle Faramir (who turns out to be Boromir's brother) returns and questions Frodo for a while; he is somewhat suspicious at first, and tells that he had seen the boat with Boromir's body float down the Anduin. At last he decides that Frodo and Sam should come with him and the host to a hidden refuge, a cave hidden behind a waterfall. Unlike Boromir, who always sought to win glory with his valour in the wars, Faramir is not so warlike and has a greater reverence for old lore and traditions (and the Elves). He talks with the two hobbits for a long time, and tells a lot about Minas Tirith and her wars, the history of Gondor, its alliance with the Rohirrim; Frodo describes the journey of the Nine Walkers, carefully avoiding the matter of the Ring. Eventually the conversation turns to the Elves and Lórien, and Sam accidentally mentions the Ring. Here Faramir proves that he is indeed true to his words, and does not attempt to take or even see the Ring.
Chapter 6: The Forbidden Pool
Later that night, Gollum appears at the pool near the cave, catching fish without knowing about the hidden place. The laws of Gondor would require anyone who comes near the cave to be killed; but Faramir wakes Frodo and asks him about his opinion. Frodo explains that the creature they have seen was Gollum, and that he has guided them, and that he should not be killed. Faramir will not let Gollum wander about the area freely, and Frodo goes down and convinces Gollum to follow him. Two of the guards then catch him and take him, blindfolded and tied, to the cave. Faramir questions Gollum, and Gollum swears that he will never return to the hidden cave. Then Faramir gives Frodo permission to move through Gondor freely, and warns him, saying that Minas Morgul is an evil and dangerous place.
Chapter 7: Journey to the Cross-roads
Faramir gives each of the hobbits a staff, as well as some provisions, and then the hobbits and Gollum depart. They travel southwards for two days and come near the road from the ruins of Osgiliath to Minas Ithil. Gollum keeps urging them to make haste, stressing the danger they are in. They turn eastwards towards the Cross-roads, the crossing of the road from Osgiliath and the north-south road. The next day the darkness starts issuing from Mordor; a great cloud covers the entire sky, and the day is as dark as a night. They reach the Cross-roads; a great stone statue of a king is standing there. Its head was apparently cut down by the servants of Sauron, and is lying on the ground near the statue; yet just before setting the sun reaches the end of the dark cloud and one of its last rays shines on the head like a crown, giving Frodo new hope.
Chapter 8: The Stairs of Cirith Ungol
The travellers pass the city of Minas Morgul, and Frodo feels that the Ring is drawing him towards it. They see a great army issue from the city, apparently heading towards Gondor, led by the Captain of the Ringwraiths himself. Then the hobbits and Gollum ascend a long and steep stairway, followed by another, longer but not as steep. Far above they see the pass they are heading for, and it seems to be guarded by a watchtower. They decide to rest for a while, and while Frodo and Sam are talking Gollum goes away; then they both fall asleep, and Sam wakes to see Gollum bending over Frodo. Although it seems he had no evil intentions at that moment, Sam is full of distrust. He then wakes Frodo, who offers Gollum to go freely where he will, as the hobbits could continue the way by themselves. But Gollum says they can't reach the top of the pass on their own, and all three prepare to go on.
Chapter 9: Shelob's Lair
A short time later, they reach a great mountain-wall, where the path continues through a tunnel. A terribly foul stench is coming from the it. The tunnel is very long, going ever upwards, with side passages here and there. The hobbits, walking a few steps behind Gollum, notice that the stench is becoming worse and worse, until they reach a side passage where the reek seems to be coming from. They pass it by, and the air starts to improve; but soon they come to a fork of the main tunnel. Gollum seems to have abandoned them, and they try one of the passages and find that it is blocked. At that moment they notice the eyes of some terrible creature behind them. Frodo approaches it with the Phial of Galadriel in one hand and Sting in the other, and the eyes retreat from the light. The hobbits continue quickly up the tunnel, but find the exit blocked by a barrier which turns out to be a giant spider's web. Frodo cuts the threads with his sword, and starts running towards the pass which is only a few steps away. Sam comes after him, yet so does the creature they've seen in the tunnel: Shelob, a huge spider. Shelob appears out of a side entrance into the tunnel and starts running towards Frodo. Before Sam can help him he is himself attacked by Gollum; after a desperate fight Gollum runs away.
Chapter 10: The Choices of Master Samwise
Sam runs back to the path and finds Shelob bending over Frodo's body. This drives Sam mad with rage, and he attacks the giant spider; he could hardly have harmed her, but just when he is standing below her the monster throws herself to the ground so as to crush him. Sam holds his sword up, and it gives Shelob a deep wound; she retreats into a hole, defeated. Sam turns back to Frodo, who shows no signs of life. Sam despairs and can't decide what to do; at last, knowing that everything will perish otherwise, he decides to continue the Quest, and takes Frodo's sword, the Phial of Galadriel, and the Ring. After making the first few steps, however, he hears voices of Orcs coming near, and puts on the Ring. He finds that he can understand Orcs when he is wearing the Ring: it seems that there are two companies, one from the watch-tower on the pass and one from Minas Morgul. They take Frodo's body and carry it into a tunnel; Sam follows them, and listening to the Orc-captains he finds that Frodo is probably still alive, and will be imprisoned, not slain. The company of Orcs then passes through large double doors, which close before Sam could go through as well.
THE RETURN O DUH KING
Chapter 1: Minas Tirith
After a long and swift ride Gandalf and Pippin arrive to the great city of Minas Tirith in the early hours of the morning and have an audience with Denethor, the Lord and Steward of Gondor, the father of Boromir and Faramir. Denethor is a man of great power and lineage, who can guess much that is hidden behind one's words. Pippin tells about their journey, and about Boromir, and swears an oath of fealty to Gondor. After the audience Gandalf goes about his business, and Pippin goes out to explore the City. He meets Beregond, a soldier of the city guard, who has been sent to keep him company for a while. They talk about Gondor and its customs, and about Pippin's journey and the distant lands he had seen, and the war that is drawing near and in which Gondor seems to have no hope. Later, when Beregond has to attend to his duties, Pippin looks up his son, Bergil, and together they go to the city gates to watch the armies of Gondor coming to strengthen the defence of the City. In the evening Pippin returns to his lodgings, and in the night Gandalf returns as well, seeming worried and concerned.
Chapter 2: The Passing of the Grey Company
Soon after Gandalf's departure the company of king Théoden is joined by a group of Rangers of the North, Aragorn's kin, accompanied by Elladan and Elrohir, the sons of Elrond. They ride together to Helm's Deep, where Aragorn looks into the palantír and wrenches it from the control of Sauron's mind. He decides to go as quickly as possible to Gondor, taking the dreaded Paths of the Dead, accompanied by Legolas, Gimli, the sons of Elrond and the Dúnedain. It will take Théoden (with whom Merry remains as an esquire) several days to muster the host of Rohan; meanwhile Aragorn and his company ride towards Edoras and Dunharrow in a straight course. There Éowyn wants to join them, but Aragorn does not permit her, saying that only Théoden could release her from her duty. The next morning the company pass through the Paths of the Dead: a kind of tunnel leading to the other side of the mountains south of Rohan. The 'Dead' are the shadows of a people of old who broke their oath to Isildur, and Isildur cursed them not to find peace until the oath be fulfilled. Now Aragorn, being Isildur's heir, summons them to help him in the war, thus fulfilling their oath. The company, followed by a great host of the shadows of the Dead, head eastwards towards Pelargir.
Chapter 3: The Muster of Rohan
Meanwhile Théoden and his host ride to Dunharrow, where the army of Rohan is gathering. Éowyn awaits them there and tells them that Aragorn has gone to the Paths of the Dead; little is known of them to the Rohirrim, only a few frightening legends, and they are sure that Aragorn will never be seen again. An errand-rider of Gondor comes, bringing word from Denethor about the peril of Minas Tirith, and asking the Rohirrim (who have been allies of Gondor for centuries) for help in the war. Théoden prepares to set out on the following day, intending now to go openly across the plain, for the great cloud from Mordor has covered the entire sky with darkness. He decides that Merry should remain behind in Edoras, where Éowyn will lead the people until the king's return. Yet a young rider called Dernhelm secretly offers Merry to bear him on his horse to Gondor, and Merry gladly accepts the offer.
Chapter 4: The Siege of Gondor
The following morning, when the Darkness has already covered the sky, Gandalf takes Pippin to Denethor, and Pippin receives a uniform of the Tower. Later he meets Beregond and talks to him for a while on the city walls. That very evening Faramir returns into Minas Tirith, barely escaping the winged Nazgul who were chasing him and his few companions. Pippin accompanies Gandalf and Faramir to a meeting with Denethor; Faramir reports about the events on the border, and about his meeting with Frodo. Denethor is displeased with his actions, and would prefer to have the Ring brought to his keeping. The next day Faramir leaves the City again to help in the defence of the passages across the Anduin. The defenders cannot withstand the well-prepared attack, however, and a day later survivors retreat back into the city, chased by the enemies; Faramir is brought in last, wounded by a poisoned dart. Huge numbers of enemies, led by the Captain of the Ringwraiths himself, encircle Minas Tirith and start a siege, digging trenches of fire and preparing great engines of war. Denethor is broken to see Faramir mortally wounded, and he gives up all hope and the defence of the city and retreats into the houses of the dead, intending to burn himself and Faramir. He releases Pippin of his service, and Pippin runs looking for Gandalf who might still prevent Denethor from committing some madness. Meanwhile the enemies attack the city gate with a huge ram, and break it open after several attempts. The Lord of the Nazgul rides in and is confronted by Gandalf alone; in that very moment, though, the horns of Rohan ring in the distance.
Chapter 5: The Ride of the Rohirrim
The host of Rohan rides quickly towards Gondor for four days. One night Merry listens to Théoden and Éomer talking to Ghân-buri-Ghân, a chieftain of the Wild Men of the nearby woods. Orcs seem to have waylaid the road towards Minas Tirith, and Ghân offers to show them a long-abandoned and unknown path through the forest. Thus they come unchallenged to the field of Gondor, for all the enemies are busy assailing the city walls. Just when the armies of Mordor are attacking the gates with their great ram, Théoden blows a signal with his horn and the Rohirrim charge into attack.
Chapter 6: The Battle of the Pelennor Fields
In the first onset, Théoden slays a chieftain of the Southrons. Then the Captain of the Ringwraiths, riding upon his terrible winged creature, descends near Théoden; his horse, driven mad with fear, falls on his side and buries the king underneath him. Only Éowyn, who was disguised as Dernhelm, stands beside him in this moment; Merry's courage finally awakens and he attacks the Ringwraith from behind, and Éowyn with her last strength slays the Wraith-king. Before dying Théoden says farewell to Merry, and greets Éomer as the new king. The remaining defenders of Minas Tirith issue from the City to help the Rohirrim; the Prince Imrahil meets the men carrying Théoden and Éowyn, and notices that she is still alive, and sends for the healers. The forces of Rohan and Gondor are slowly losing the battle with the huge armies of the Enemy. But then a fleet of ships of Umbar sails up the Anduin, at to the surprise of both the attackers and the defenders it is not bearing the Corsairs, enemies of Gondor, but Aragorn and his company, as well as the hosts of southern Gondor. Now the battle turns to the favour of the West, and by the end of the day no enemies remain alive on the field.
Chapter 7: The Pyre of Denethor
Pippin finds Gandalf and brings him to the Houses of the Dead to prevent Denethor from burning himself and Faramir alive. There they find Beregond (whom Pippin had warned of Denethor's madness) fighting Denethor's servants. Gandalf tries to convince Denethor that the hour and way of one's death are not one's own to choose, and that his duty is to lead the defence of the City; but Denethor firmly believes that the might of Mordor is too great now and everything is hopeless. Beregond prevents him from slaying Faramir; then Denethor grabs a torch and throws it into the pile of wood prepared there, and throws himself upon it, and burns. It seems that a palantír, kept secretly in the White Tower, was the origin of his dismay, for he had looked in it often and seen nothing but the gathering of the great armies of Mordor. Then they take Faramir to the Houses of Healing, though it is uncertain whether he will ever awake again.
Chapter 8: The Houses of Healing
Merry, who has, totally exhausted, followed the bearers of Théoden's body but went astray, is finally found by Pippin and taken to the Houses of Healing. There Gandalf hears an old woman mention a legend that the hands of a king are the hands of a healer; and he goes looking for Aragorn, who might still have that skill. Aragorn decides not to claim his kingship until the war with Mordor is over, but he does come to help the wounded. First he tends Faramir, Éowyn and Merry. Faramir was struck by a poisoned arrow, but most of all he was affected by the "black breath" of the Nazgul; and Éowyn and Merry were falling into darkness after confronting the Ringwraith. Aragorn heals them with a herb called athelas, and they wake up, though they will still have to rest for several days. He and the sons of Elrond labour in the Houses of Healing until the morning hours.
Chapter 9: The Last Debate
The next morning Legolas and Gimli enter the City and meet with the Prince Imrahil; then they visit Merry and Pippin in the Houses of Healing. They talk about the passing of the Paths of the Dead: how they rode for several days, and Aragorn called upon the shades of the Dead to fight for him, how they captured the fleet of Umbar in Pelargir, and how they sailed up the Anduin to join the battle of the Pelennor fields. Meanwhile there is a meeting of the captains: Gandalf, Aragorn, Imrahil, Éomer, and the sons of Elrond. Gandalf presents his plan to ride towards the Black Gate of Mordor, as if to challenge battle with Sauron, such that he would empty Mordor and turn all his attention towards them; this would increase Frodo's chances to reach Orodruin and destroy the Ring. For so long as the Ring still exists, Sauron's strength is too great to be conquered in war. The plan is accepted, and a host of seven thousand men is to depart in two days' time.
Chapter 10: The Black Gate Opens
The host of the West marches towards the Gates of Mordor, and several times every day the heralds proclaim the coming of the King and challenge the forces of Mordor. Some men are left as guard at the Cross-roads, and later on some grow afraid and turn back. Nobody answers the challenges, though, except for a small host of Orcs and Easterlings that they defeat easily. At length the army comes before the Black Gate of Mordor, and again challenge Sauron to come out and make amends for his evil deeds. An embassy issues out then, led by the Mouth of Sauron, an evil man who had entered the service of Sauron and become the Lieutenant of the Dark Tower and a mighty sorcerer. The Mouth declares that a halfling-spy was captured (and shows Frodo's gear) and demands that the Captains of the West should yield to Sauron's territorial demands or the spy will be brutally tortured. Gandalf refuses the terms, but takes Frodo's items; then the embassy, in rage and fear, turns back towards the gate. Finally Sauron releases his trap: the gates swing wide open and an army pours out, several times outnumbering the host of the West. In this last, desperate defence, Pippin slays a great hill-troll, but then falls unconscious himself.
Book Six
Chapter 1: The Tower of Cirith Ungol
Sam is firmly decided to rescue Frodo, and therefore he must find a way to get into the watch-tower on the pass, where Frodo has been taken. He hears sounds of fighting from the tower, two orcs are shot with arrows in an attempt to run away; apparently the two orc-companies are fighting over Frodo's belongings. The main entrance to the Tower is guarded by the Two Watchers, horrible creatures like statues filled with great malice, that do not move yet seem to be aware of things around them. Sam holds up the Phial of Galadriel, and succeeds to run through the gate. Almost all the orcs were killed in the fighting; a small orc meets Sam on a stairway, but runs away in fear. Sam follows him, and listens to a conversation between the orc and Shagrat, who (though wounded) seems to have also survived the fight. The two orcs start to quarrel, and Snaga, the small orc, escapes; Shagrat runs out to get some help. Sam searches for Frodo and starts to sing; he hears a reply to his song, followed by Snaga's voice. Frodo was kept in the topmost chamber, accessible only by a ladder through a trap-door. Sam goes up and attacks Snaga, who falls down the ladder and breaks his neck. Then Sam and Frodo prepare to depart; Sam brings some orc-gear for Frodo (whom the orcs stripped of everything). Using the Phial, they pass the Watchers again, but the creatures utter a horrible cry, replied by a Nazgul from the darkness above.
Chapter 2: The Land of Shadow
Sam and Frodo barely avoid being discovered and travel to the north for a few days. They are troubled by the lack of food and water, and the Ring is becoming an ever greater burden to Frodo. The plain below them is full of Sauron's armies, and Frodo intends attempting to cross it where it is narrower. Hidden behind a bush, they hear a conversation between two orcs and discover that Gollum is still following them; one night Sam sees him nosing about, as well. The plain is still packed with orcs, and the hobbits have no choice but to follow the road along the sheer ridge of the Morgai. There they are caught up by a group of small orcs, being driven by two large ones towards Udun where Sauron's armies are gathering. The slave-drivers believe them to be deserters, and force them to join the company. Luckily, however, when the host nears the narrow entrance to Udun, confusion and quarrelling break out among different orc-companies, and the hobbits succeed to slip away unnoticed.
Chapter 3: Mount Doom
The hobbits follow an orc-road for several days, travelling towards Mount Doom. Thus they can make much faster progress than straight across the barren country, filled with rocks and crevices; and there are a few water-tanks along the road. But at last they have to leave the road and turn directly towards the Mountain. To ease the journey, they leave behind all gear that they are not likely to need any more. They reach Orodruin in two more days, and they almost run out of food and water. The next day they should ascend the Mountain, but Sam has to carry Frodo, who (tormented by the growing burden of the Ring) is completely exhausted. Near the summit they are attacked by Gollum, yet he is also weakened by hunger and Frodo escapes towards the Sammath Naur, the Chambers of Fire. Gollum begs Sam (who is still armed with Sting) for mercy, and Sam bids him be off. In the Chambers, however, Frodo is finally overcome by the power of the Ring and claims it for his own. Gollum creeps in and attacks him again, and bites off his ring-finger; then, in joy over regaining his Precious, he falls into the pit. Frodo, now delivered of his pain, and Sam come out and see that realm of Sauron is collapsing.
Chapter 4: The Field of Cormallen
The battle of the Captains of the West and the hosts of Mordor is joined by the Eagles, led by Gwaihir their lord. In that very moment the Ring falls into the fire of Orodruin: the Black Gate collapses, the spirit of Sauron is destroyed, and the forces of Mordor, bereft of the Power that controlled them, dismay and many run away or beg for mercy. Gwaihir, accompanied by two other eagles, bears Gandalf towards Mount Doom, where they rescue Frodo and Sam. The two hobbits awake several days later and are greatly honoured by the host of the West on the field of Cormallen in Ithilien. They stay in Ithilien for many happy days, exchanging tales of their adventures with their friends, until at last the entire host boards ships and sails to Gondor.
Chapter 5: The Steward and the King
Meanwhile Éowyn and Faramir are still in the Houses of Healing, recovering from their hurts. Éowyn is unhappy because she must spend her time in idleness, and desires a glorious death in battle (she also desired the love of Aragorn, but received from him nothing but pity and understanding). She meets Faramir (who, despite also being strong and valorous, is patiently waiting to be healed). The Eagles bring news of victory. Faramir and Éowyn spend a lot of time together, and eventually fall in love, and thus Éowyn is healed. The host of the West returns to the City and Aragorn is crowned as the King Elessar. He declares that Faramir will be given Ithilien as a princedom, and he and his heir will remain Stewards. The companions spend many days in Minas Tirith, and it seems that Aragorn is still waiting for some kind of signal. One day he and Gandalf ascend a mountain-path and there, in an old hallow of the kings, find a sapling of the White Tree, which is planted in the court of the king. A few days later, a great company of Elves arrives from the North, including Galadriel, Elrond, and Arwen. Elrond gives to Aragorn the Sceptre of Annúminas, and Aragorn weds Arwen on the day of Midsummer.
Chapter 6: Many Partings
Arwen gives Frodo permission to go to the Grey Havens instead of her, for by marrying Aragorn she chose to be mortal. Éomer and Gimli settle their argument over the beauty of Galadriel. At last a great company departs from Minas Tirith, bearing the body of King Théoden to Rohan. After the burial Éomer announces the wedding of Faramir and Éowyn. Then they go to Isengard, and there meet with Treebeard. Gimli and Legolas visit the Glittering Caves of Helm's Deep and the forest of Fangorn, and part from the company, turning towards their homes in the North. A little later Aragorn leaves them as well, going back towards Minas Tirith. The rest of the company travel on and overtake Saruman (who is now wandering around as a beggar, accompanied by Gríma). The folk of Lórien leave the company in Eregion, near the gates of Moria. Now the travellers turn towards Rivendell, and there the hobbits meet Bilbo and spend many days with him. Finally they decide to return home to the Shire, and to their joy Gandalf also decides to go with them, at least as far as Bree.
Chapter 7: Homeward Bound
Frodo feels pain again in his shoulder, for it is a year since he was wounded. Yet it quickly passes, and after a few more days they reach Bree. They are warmly accepted by old Butterbur, and talk with him for a long time, telling about their doings and adventures. Barliman mentions that business has been bad, with many strangers and evil creatures lurking about; and he is glad to hear the news that the King has been restored. Bill the pony had also returned to Bree, and is now returned to Sam. The company stays in the inn for two nights, and then leave towards the Shire. Gandalf leaves the hobbits, for he intends to visit Tom Bombadil; and to the hobbits he advises to hurry, hinting that things might be amiss in the Shire.
Chapter 8: The Scouring of the Shire
The four hobbits come to the Shire, and find that much indeed has changed: the Brandywine Bridge is guarded by several Shirriffs, who deny them the entrance. It seems that Lotho Baggins has taken over in the Shire, calling himself "the Chief" and enforcing a long number of unfair Rules. The Shire is full of ruffians (there's Bill Ferny at the Bridge), many of them being squint-eyed Isengarders; and there has been much burning and senseless destruction. The travellers break in (against the Rules) and spend a night in the Shirriff-house; next day they encounter a group of Shirriffs in Frogmorton and a group of ruffians in Hobbiton, but both fail to arrest them, being surprised and frightened to meet four fearless and well-armed hobbits. The hobbits, with the help of Farmer Cotton, start an uprising against the oppressors; first a small group of ruffians attempts to calm down the rebellion, but outnumbered by the hobbits they give themselves in. Pippin brings a large number of Tooks and together they deal with the next attack of the majority of the ruffians. Then a group of hobbits, led by Frodo and his friends, go to Bag End to find Lotho. Instead they find Saruman, who has been the organiser behind all the trouble; they tell him to leave, and Wormtongue (who seems to have murdered Lotho at Saruman's command) in wrath and despair stabs him and is then shot by three hobbit-bowmen. This also marks the end of the War of the Ring.
Chapter 9: The Gray Havens
These turbulent events are followed by a splendid, prosperous and happy year. The whole Shire is busy repairing the harms done by Saruman's ruffians. Sam remembers Galadriel's gift and discovers that the box contains a strange dust and a single silver seed. He uses the dust to plant trees all over the Shire where they had been hewn down by the ruffians, and he plants the silver nut in the Party Field in Hobbiton; and out of it grows a beautiful mallorn. Sam marries Rose Cotton; Frodo moves back to Bag End, and Sam and Rose come to live there as well. The next year their first daughter, Elanor, is born. On the anniversaries of the events at Weathertop and Cirith Ungol Frodo's old wounds hurt him again. In September, as Bilbo's birthday is approaching, Frodo and Sam set out again (towards Rivendell, as Sam thinks; though he does not intend to go all the way). Yet in the woods of the Shire they meet a large number of Elves, including Elrond and Galadriel; Bilbo is among them as well. Finally Sam realizes that Frodo intends to go to the Grey Havens, to pass over the Sea with the Elves and Bilbo. In the Havens Círdan the Shipwright and Gandalf await them; Gandalf, too, will board the ship. He has brought Pippin and Merry along as well, such that Sam will not be alone on the way home. Thus the elven-ship leaves Middle-earth; and the three hobbits return to the Shire, whereupon the tale reaches its end.
there ya go.. if thats not 10 pts.....
IM GRABBING GLAMDRING AND ITS ABOUT TO BE ON...
,' )
have a good one and good luck with the skit