Summary

 

          Gandalf and Pippin arrive at the capital of Gondor where they are received by Denethor, who rules the country as Stewrd of the lost King. They face the difficult task of informing Denethor that his son, Boromir, is dead. Gandalf is anxious to prevent Denethor from hearing in advance that Aragorn is coming to claim the kingship.

          The quarrel between Gondor and Mordor are about to burst out into a full scale war. Reinforcements are arriving at the capital of Gondor, but there are too few of them to resist the terrible might of Mordor. The fate of Gondor dep[ends on the help of the men of Rohan. If they don't come in time, Gondor will be faced with ruin and destruction.

           Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas are still near Orthanc where Saruman has been defeated. Presently they set out with king Théoden to rally his men, the riders of Rohan. Aragorn's Rangers, bearing his royal standard, join them in preparation for the war. When Aragorn looks into Saruman's magic crystal he sees that war is about to break out in Gondor and decides that he must hurry. He cannot wait for the men of Rohan to get ready, and together with Gimli and Legolas he rides like the wind to Gondor, taking a dangerous short-cut through the Paths of the Dead.

           In Gondor the war begins before Aragorn and his men have arrived. The paralysing magic of Sauron weakens the will of the defenders and sows division among them. Fearful onslaughts by the forces of Mordor are repulsed, but the men of Gondor suffer heavy losses and are in low spirits. Denthor, grieving over his son Faromir, who has been wounded and is on the brink of death, withdraws into himself. It is Gandalf who now commands Gondor's warriors. Mordor breaks through the flaming walls of the city, and they batter the gate with a ram. All seems lost, but then the men of Rohan arrive on the spot and mingle in the battle at last.

           The favours turn, but not for long. King Théoden of Rohan dies a valiant death, killed by one of the Nazgûl, and at the same time Merry is struck by it with the touch of death... but survives. It seems now all is lost and Mordor will carry the day after all. But at the moment the Rangers of the North under the command of Aragorn come to the rescue. The dark legions of Mordor are fought back and Gandalf enjoys another breathing spell.

           Denethor has sunk into a deep depression from which nothing can rouse him. His son Faromir, who is supposed to be dead, is laid on a funeral pyre, but at the very last moment Gandalf leaps forward and pulls the young man out of the flames. Though dangerously ill, he is still alive. His crazed father throws himself into the flames and is burnt to death.

           Gandalf finds out that Denthor had become insane through using a magic crystal just like the one Saruman kept at Orthanc. By means of the crystals Sauron had worked his evil power on Denthor's mind. Young Faromir is cured by 'the King's Touch' when Aragorn, the rightful heir th the throne of Gondor, lays his healing hand on him and treats him with healing herbs. The people now know that their king has returned to reign. They prepare for the decisive battle that is to come.

           In the mean time Sam, by wearing the Ring (thus invisible), enters the fortress of the Orcs where Frodo is held captive. Frodo and Sam escape and after an exhausting run through a barren land they at last reach Mount Doom, the Place where Sauron wrought the Ring.

           Standing on the brink of the Crack of Doom, with the infernal flames raging below him, Frodo stands paralyzed, (like Bilbo) unable to part with the Ring. Sam urges him to throw the Ring into the flames, but Frodo says in a sharp, clear voice "the Ring is mine!". He cannot resist the sinister power of the Ring.

           At that moment Gollum, who has followed Frodo and Sam, attacks Frodo and bits off the finger on which he's wearing the Ring. Dancing and shouting with happiness, Gollum steps too far and falls into the void. The One Great Ring of Power, the mainstay of Sauron's power, has been destroyed forever.

           Flames erupt from Mount Doom, thunder roars and the earth trembles. The Dark Land of Mordor is shaken to its foundations and scattered to the winds. The great war is over.

           The two hobbits are just in time saved by Gandalf on an eagle and are brought back to Gondor. Gandalf then leads them to the court of king Aragorn, where they are treated with the utmost respect by King and knights. After recovering they set out for the journey home.

          Returned to the Shire they find it changed completely. The land has fallen into the powers of Saruman. Though deprived of his magic powers, Saruman still remains a crafty, formidable adversary. Nonetheless, he's no match for Frodo, who puts him to flight. In the end Saruman is struck with a knife in the back by his servant Grima Wormtongue, who himself is later finished off by the hobbit's arrows.

           Now the hobbits face the difficult task of restoring law and order, peace and prosperity to their demoralised fellow men.It takes them a long time to complete this task, but in the end the Shire is again a green and pleasant land inhabited by happy, self-respecting beings.

           Only Frodo is not well at all. The long contact with the Ring has sappled his moral and physical strength. He's ill in body and mind and knows he cannot be cured in Middle Earth but must go to the peaceful land of the elves across the ocean. Therefor he has to travel to the Grey Havens, where the elves embark for their own country, leaving the World of Men now near the end of the Third Age.

           Gandalf too leaves Middle Earth for his task is completed. Together with Gandalf, Frodo sails forth into the High Sea, on into the West. they sail until they behold the 'white shores' of the other side.

 

By Daniel Boix Caselles