An Unexpected Journey

Chapter 7: The Pyre of Denethor

-- The narrative returns to the perspective of Pippin. When the Black Captain disappears from the gate of Minas Tirith, Pippin runs to Gandalf and tells him of Denethor’s madness and the situation in the tower. Gandalf wishes to pursue the Nazgûl but knows he must save Faramir. As they race to the Citadel, Gandalf laments the Enemy’s ability to bring evil and discord to the inner circle of Minas Tirith. Reaching the door to the House of Stewards, the two find Denethor’s servants bearing swords and torches, standing before the lone figure of Beregond, who holds the door against them. Two servants have already fallen to Beregond’s sword. The men cower at the sight of Gandalf, whose appearance is like a burst of white light.

Denethor throws open the door, drawing his sword, but Gandalf lifts his hand and the sword flies from Denethor’s grip. The wizard decries Denethor’s madness, but the Steward says that Faramir has already burned. Rushing past, Gandalf finds Faramir still alive on the funeral pyre. To Denethor’s protests and tears, Gandalf lifts Faramir and carries him away with a strength that surprises Pippin. Denethor, the wizard says, does not have the authority to order Faramir’s death.

Denethor laughs. Standing proudly, he produces from his cloak a palantír, similar to the Stone of Orthanc. He warns that the West is doomed, as he has foreseen the black ships of the Enemy approaching. The Steward condemns Gandalf for bringing a young upstart Ranger to replace him as ruler. Denethor wishes that things would remain as they always have been in Minas Tirith. He springs for Faramir, but Beregond stops him. Grabbing a torch from a servant, Denethor lights the funeral pyre. He throws himself into the raging fire, clutching the palantír.

Gandalf and Beregond carry Faramir to the Houses of Healing. As they exit, the House of Stewards collapses in flames, and Denethor’s servants run out. Soon after, they hear a great cry from the battlefield—the sound of Éowyn and Merry’s defeat of the Lord of the Nazgûl. A sense of hope returns as the sun breaks through the Darkness. Gandalf discusses Denethor’s palantír with Pippin and Beregond. Gandalf says he had always suspected that the Steward possessed one of the seven seeing-stones. The wizard surmises that Denethor, in his growing distress, began to use the stone, and through it he fell prey to the lies of Sauron.

The Battle of the Pelennor Fields

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Suddenly, a massive black beast swoops down upon Théoden, hitting his horse with a poisoned dart. The steed rears up, and the king falls beneath his horse, crushed. The Lord of the Nazgûl looms above on the back of his flying steed. Terrified, Théoden’s guards flee in panic—all but Dernhelm. Thrown from his horse but unharmed, Dernhelm challenges the Black Captain. Merry, crawling on all fours in a daze, hears Dernhelm speak, and he recognizes the warrior’s voice. Dernhelm throws back his hood and reveals to the Nazgûl that he is in fact Éowyn, the Lady of Rohan, in disguise.

The winged steed strikes at Éowyn, but she deals it a fatal wound. The Black Captain leaps off his dead mount and shatters Éowyn’s shield with a blow from his club, breaking her arm. He raises his spiked club again, but just before he strikes, Merry sneaks up behind him and stabs the Nazgûl through the leg. Bowed over, the creature lets out a terrible shriek. Éowyn, with her final strength, slashes at his face with her sword, the blade shattering upon impact. The Black Captain’s armor falls shapeless at Éowyn’s feet, and his crown rolls away. Éowyn collapses on top of the Nazgûl’s remains.

The dying King Théoden appoints Éomer as his heir. Éomer, seeing his sister Éowyn’s fallen body, leads the Rohirrim in a furious attack. The men of Minas Tirith, led by Imrahil, Prince of Dol Amroth, emerge from the city and drive the enemy from the gate. Théoden’s body is taken to the city, along with Éowyn, but Imrahil alerts her rescuers that she is not dead.

The allies of Mordor reassemble as new soldiers of Sauron arrive from Osgiliath. The men of Rohan and Gondor dwindle. As the tide turns against Gondor again, a fleet of black ships appears on the Anduin River. The defenders of Gondor turn for the city at the sight of the enemy ships. Éomer, though he realizes he is defeated, continues to fight bravely, laughing in a mix of hope and despair.

Suddenly, the frontmost black ship unfurls a banner bearing the white tree of Gondor and the seven stars and crown of Elendil—the symbols of the ancient kingdom of Gondor. Aragorn has arrived in the black ships, along with the Rangers of the North, Legolas, Gimli, and reinforcements from the southern kingdoms. Wielding the legendary sword Andúril, reforged and burning like a star, Aragorn leads a fierce battle to save Gondor. The armies of Mordor are defeated, and Aragorn, Éomer, and Imrahil return to the city.

The Ride of the Rohirrim

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Four days into their journey to Minas Tirith, Merry remains hidden among the Riders of Rohan. He worries that he is a burden to the Rohirrim (as the Riders are sometimes called), and he feels unwanted and small. While the group rests, the Riders encounter the Woses, the Wild Men of the Woods. Troubled by Orcs, the Woses offer their services to Théoden. They are a little-known yet ancient people, stumpy and brutish. The Woses’ leader informs Théoden that all roads to Minas Tirith are blocked, save the secret ways the Woses know. The Wild Men promise to show the Riders through these paths, though they will not fight alongside Rohan.

The Riders emerge from the forest just north of Minas Tirith, and the Woses bid them farewell and vanish. To Théoden’s dismay, the Riders discover two dead bodies, one of them the earlier messenger from Gondor, still clutching the red arrow. Apparently, Minas Tirith does not know the Riders are coming to its aid. Dernhelm, still carrying Merry, breaks rank and draws closer to Théoden as the Riders reach the out-walls of Gondor.

Théoden looks sadly upon the destruction of Minas Tirith. Suddenly, a great flash of light springs from the city with a booming sound. Reinvigorated, Théoden commands his Riders into battle with a great cry “more clear than any there had ever heard a mortal man achieve.” The shouting Rohirrim rout the Orcs and armies of Mordor. The Darkness dissipates with a fresh wind from the sea.

At the arrival of the Rohirrim, the Black Captain senses the Darkness fading and the tide of battle turning. He vanishes from the city gate to enter the fray. Meanwhile, Théoden rides in fury ahead of the Rohirrim. The chieftain of the Southrons—allies of Mordor—leads his men against Théoden. Though outnumbered, Théoden and Éomer charge through the line of enemy scimitars handily, striking down the Southrons’ chieftain.

The Siege of Gondor

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Back in Minas Tirith, Pippin receives his new uniform and gear as a member of the Tower Guard. He spends a long day serving Lord Denethor, Gandalf, and the Captains of the West. Pippin chats with Beregond at the outer wall of the Citadel amid heavy darkness and a stagnant air. Suddenly, they hear the terrifying shriek of a Black Rider. Beyond the outermost gate, they can see five dark Nazgûl swooping over a small, rapidly approaching group of Men on horseback. The leader of the horsemen sounds his horn; Beregond recognizes the trumpet call of Faramir, Denethor’s son.

The men, thrown from their terrified horses, run for the city gate on foot. Just as a Nazgûl descends on Faramir, Pippin sees what appears to be a brilliant white star in the north—it is Gandalf on his horse, Shadowfax. Gandalf raises his hand and sends a shaft of light shooting upward into one of the Nazgûl. The Nazgûl cries and circles away, the other Ringwraiths following. Gandalf returns to the city with Faramir slumped in the saddle.

Faramir is escorted into Denethor’s chambers, where he is shocked to see Pippin (Faramir has already had a strange encounter with two other hobbits—Frodo and Sam—in The Two Towers). Gandalf erupts when he learns from Faramir that Frodo and Sam are heading to Mordor by way of Cirith Ungol. Faramir notes that he bid farewell to the hobbits only two days ago; they could not have reached Cirith Ungol yet. The men surmise that Sauron’s new movement on Gondor is not related to Frodo’s approach to Mordor.

Denethor upbraids Faramir for showing cowardice in defending the outposts. The Steward bitterly remarks that Boromir, his other son, would have brought him a “mighty gift”—meaning the Ring. Gandalf points out that Boromir would have kept the “gift” for himself. The two men argue, and Pippin again senses the strain between them. Denethor opposes sending the Ring with a Hobbit into the hands of Sauron, believing that he himself should have been given the Ring for safekeeping. The gathering disperses. Pippin asks Gandalf why, as Faramir has indicated, Frodo and Sam are traveling with Gollum. Gandalf fears Gollum’s treachery, but notes that perhaps some good may yet come of Gollum’s actions.

The Muster of Rohan - Théoden, Merry, Éomer, and the Riders of Rohan ride quickly. When they find out that Aragorn has gone by the Paths of the Dead, they do not have much hope he will survive. A messenger from Gondor arrives and gives Théoden a red arrow—the sign from Gondor that their need is very great. Théoden promises to bring soldiers who will arrive in about a week. The messenger thinks this may be too late to be any help, but Théoden's forces can't travel any faster.

The following morning, Merry awakes to darkness and prepares to leave with Théoden. But Théoden instructs him to stay in Rohan and help Éowyn run things while he is away. Neither Éowyn nor Merry are happy with this arrangement, but later, a young soldier named Dernhelm offers to let Merry ride with him on his horse. Despite the fact he was ordered to stay behind, he takes Dernhelm up on this offer.

The Passing of the Grey Company - Back in Isengard, Théoden prepares to return to Edoras to gather soldiers, then march to Gondor to join in the fight against Sauron. As they ride, another group of riders overtakes them. They turn out to be other Rangers—Aragorn's people from the north—as well as Elladan and Elrohir, the sons of Elrond. Elrohir bears a message from Elrond to Aragorn: "The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the Paths of the Dead," and Halbarad, one of the Rangers, brings Aragorn a staff wound around with cloth—a present from Arwen. For the time being, Aragon does not unwind it.

Merry becomes an esquire of Rohan and plans to travel to Gondor with the king. But Aragorn decides to part company with the king of Rohan and take the Paths of the Dead instead. This route will be faster, but more dangerous. The Rangers, the sons of Elrond, and Legolas and Gimli travel with Aragorn, hoping to reach Gondor in time to make a difference in the battle. To add to the urgency, Aragorn, as rightful owner of the palantír, uses the stone to assess Sauron's forces and reveal himself to Sauron, hoping to cause Sauron to strike in haste, unprepared.

Aragorn and his Company enter the Paths of the Dead, and the dead gather around. Long ago, they broke their oath to fight Sauron with Isildur, and he cursed them. To break the curse and find peace, Aragorn tells them they must fulfill their oath to Isildur's heir—Aragorn himself. The dead follow Aragorn.

Minas Tirith - Gandalf and Pippin have ridden to Gondor and can now see the beacons of Gondor (large fires lit at intervals across the land signaling Gondor's need for help from its allies) are lit. The two travelers enter the walls of the city of Minas Tirith and go to see Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, to give him news—including news of his son Boromir's death. Because the stewards only govern the kingdom in the king's absence, Gandalf warns Pippin to keep news of Aragorn quiet for now, because Denethor might not appreciate being told he may lose power.

Gandalf and Pippin enter the throne room where Denethor is seated—not on the throne, but on a chair near it. He is in a bad mood because he has already received news of Boromir's death. He questions Pippin about Boromir's death, and Pippin, in return for Boromir's sacrifice on his behalf, swears loyalty to Denethor. After talking with Denethor, Pippin goes off to acquaint himself with the city, and Gandalf leaves to take care of other business.

Pippin meets another soldier of Gondor, Beregond, who helps him find his way. Everywhere Pippin looks, preparations are being made for war. When Beregond must attend to other matters, he sends his son Bergil to take over as Pippin's guide. That night, Pippin is asleep when Gandalf finally returns.

The Choices of Master Samwise - Sam, seeing Shelob has Frodo, attacks her. Shelob is fierce, but Sam holds up the phial of Galadriel and cries out the words in Elvish. This finally chases Shelob off, but when Sam checks to see how Frodo is, Frodo is cold and lifeless. Convinced Frodo is dead, Sam takes the Ring and vows to finish Frodo's quest on his own.

As Sam goes off alone, he hears Orc voices, and not knowing what else to do, puts on the Ring in order to become invisible. Sam hears the Orcs carrying Frodo's body away. He also learns, by eavesdropping on the Orcs, that Gollum is a known accomplice of Shelob's and often lures others to her lair for her to eat.

Worst of all, he learns Frodo is not actually dead, but simply paralyzed and in a death-like state due to Shelob's poison. As these terrible truths sink in, the Orcs enter their tower and shut the door, taking Frodo with them and locking Sam out.

Shelob's Lair - Gollum leads Frodo and Sam deeper into the maze of tunnels of Cirith Ungol. It is dark, and on either side of the tunnel Frodo and Sam can sense openings, as if there are passageways branching off the main tunnel. From one, a terrible smell emanates, as well as a tangible sense of malevolence.

They suddenly realize that Gollum has disappeared again. And when they hear a "long venomous hiss," they realize Gollum has led them into a trap. Holding aloft the phial of Galadriel, Frodo can see its light reflected in the many eyes of a giant spider. He and Sam try to escape, slashing through thick cobwebs blocking the tunnel with Sting, but the spider—Shelob, an ancient monster—cuts in front of them via another tunnel and emerges to try to capture Frodo. Just as Sam tries to shout a warning to Frodo, Gollum comes up behind and attacks, covering Sam's mouth with his hands. As Sam and Gollum fight, Shelob pounces on Frodo. Gollum breaks free and runs away.

The Stairs of Cirith Ungol - Gollum urges Frodo and Sam on toward Cirith Ungol, and soon they can see Minas Morgul glowing with an eerie light. Frodo feels the Ring has become very heavy and it pulls on the chain around his neck. Suddenly, the gates of Minas Morgul open and out of them issues an army led by the leader of the Nazgûl, the same one who stabbed Frodo on Weathertop. Frodo feels pain in the old wound and has a strong desire to put on the Ring. By holding on to the phial given to him by Galadriel, he is able to resist this urge, and the army passes by without noticing them.

Cirith Ungol, Gollum tells them, is made up of two stairways—one straight and steep, and one winding but less steep. They climb the steep stair, then rest for a moment before going on to the longer one. After a while, they take a break from walking to have some food. During this time, as the hobbits talk together, Gollum disappears. When he comes back, Sam and Frodo are sleeping, with Frodo resting on Sam. Gollum seems to recall, however distantly, what it was like to have friends or family, and he reaches out for Frodo's hand as if to hold it. But Sam, waking up suddenly, thinks Gollum is attempting to do harm, and speaks harshly to him. When Frodo wakes up, he tells Gollum he has now done what was agreed, and may go free. But Gollum wants to continue as their guide.