Our journey continues with Gollum remembering the day he found the Ring of Power and how he murdered a fellow Hobbit in the process of claiming the prize for himself. Gollum went into hiding after the murder and eventually turned into a creature that is not recognizable from his true self. The Ring of Power nearly drove Gollum mad and he would do anything to keep it and anything to get it back.
After the remembrance of his former self as Smeagol, Gollum hurried Frodo and Sam to start their continued quest to Mount Doom and to the eventual destruction of the One Ring. Meanwhile, fresh off their victory over the Orc armies of Saruman at Helms Deep, Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Eomer and King Theoden traveled to Isengard to pay a visit to Saruman and vanquish what armies he may have on reserve.
As the weary warriors approached Isengard, they were greeted by a few familiar voices. Merry and Pippin were now the new gate keepers of Isengard thanks to the army of Ents lead by Tree beard who vanquished the remnants of Saruman's forces and who had washed Saruman's filth from Isengard and Fangorn Forest. As the companions reunited they talked of victory, food and Pipe-weed. Pippin discovered an object glowing in the waters of Isengard. Gandalf quickly assumed responsibility over the object for it was a PalantIri also known as a Seeing Stone. Gandalf kept close guard over the PalantIri. For Gandalf knew of its dangers and the risk involved in keeping it at Rohan.
Pippin could not resist the temptation of getting to look at the stone. As the rest of his companions slept, Pippin moved silently over to where the PalantIri was being guarded and gently pulled it free from Gandalf as he was sleeping. Pippin looked deep into the stone and saw Sauron. Sauron questioned Pippin about who he was and when Pippin did not replay, Sauron unleashed an assault on Pippin.
Aragorn and Legolas were standing outside when Legolas felt the Dark Lords presence and quickly ran to the aid of Pippin. Aragorn wrestled the stone away from Pippin only to feel the effects of the assault. Gandalf broke up the mealy and revived Pippin. Gandalf questioned Pippin to see if he had disclosed any secrets to Sauron.
Gandalf was satisfied of Pippins honesty. However, Pippin told Gandalf that while being attacked by Sauron, he saw a white tree in a white city burning. Gandalf immediately knew the city was Minis Thirtieth, the capital of Gondor. Gandalf quickly gathered Pippin and went to Gondor to warn Dethroner the Steward of Gondor about the pending attack.
Sam, Gollum and Frodo decided to rest for a while before continuing their journey to Mount Doom. As Sam was sleeping Gollum started talking to himself and hashing out his plans to destroy Frodo and Sam and become the Lord of the Rings. Sam heard Gollum's plan and viciously attacked Gollum. If it were not for the intervention of Frodo, Sam would have seriously injured Gollum or killed the creature. Frodo told Sam that no matter what he had heard Gollum say was irrelevant at that moment for they still needed a guide to get them through Mordor and to Mount Doom.
Gandalf rode Shadow Fax hard and swiftly, making it to Minis Thirtieth very quickly. There upon meeting Dethroner, Gandalf told Pippin not to disclose Boromirs death to his father, Dethroner, for it would be unwise to upset him at such an urgent time. However, Dethroner already knew of Boromirs death and so questioned Gandalf and Pippin about his demise. Pippin quickly explained that Boromir died a noble death by saving him and members of the Fellowship and so pledged his service to Dethroner as payment for Boromirs death.
Dethroner accepted Pippins pledge and Pippin was now in the service of the Steward of Gondor. Gandalf was not happy with the events and Dethroner denounced that he needed assistance from King Theoden of Rohan if there was an attack by Sauron's forces upon the gates of Minis Thirtieth and the realm of Gondor. Gandalf decided to take matters into his own hands and had Pippin to secretly light the Beacons of Light in Gondor requesting aid from its ally Rohan.
Aragorn begged King Theoden to aid Gondor when he saw the last beacon flaming. King Theoden agreed to aid Gondor and assembled as many a man as could be spared. Meanwhile back at Gondor, Pippin and Gandalf discussed their fate and the fate of Middle-earth. Pippin was very concerned about the pending attack and felt defenseless and wondered if they would survive the ordeal. Gandalf assured Pippin that he must enjoy every moment given to him for no one knows what fate lies before the inhabitants of Middle-earth.
Then suddenly, they saw the signal of their fate, for the dead city also sent a beacon of light into the heavens signaling their readiness for an inevitable attack on the realm of Gondor and all its inhabitants. Frodo, Sam and Gollum were venturing deep into Mordor and were on their way to find Gollum's secret path when they suddenly found themselves face to face with the City of the Dead where the Nazgul reside.
Frodo became suddenly ill for he was beckoned by the Witch King himself. Frodo stumbled aimlessly and powerlessly toward the city for its grip was over whelming on his soul. Sam and Gollum struggle mightily to stop Frodo and eventfully threw Frodo down behind a wall of rocks leading to the secret stairs. At that precise moment the City of the Dead spoke and the Witch King emerged with all his dark glory bathing in the dead of night, glowing like a creature that had just been awaken from his lair leading a powerful army of Orcs to Minis Thirtieth. Continued... The Return of the King Part II
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