Gríma was behind his master, and watched the scene. The king of Rohan notice him behind Saruman, and he spoke aloud.

"Gríma, you need not follow him. You were not always as you are now. You were once a man of Rohan! Come down." Théoden spoke up to the man, who looks at the king and bows to Théoden. But Saruman glanced at him, and snapped with a fury.

"A man of Rohan? What is the house of Rohan but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the reek and rats roll on the floor with the dogs? Victory at helms deep does not belong to you, Théoden, horsemaster! You are a lesser son of greater sires." He spoke with irritation, Gírma froze at his words.

But Théoden didn't have the heart to let him stay here. "Gríma, come down. Be free of him."

Saruman looked down on the king of Rohan. "Free? He will never be free." Gírma "No." as Saruman walks to him, "Get down, cur!" He barked, as he slaps Gríma and sends him falling down to the grpund of the tower. "Saruman, you were deep in the enemy's council. Tell us what you know." Gandalf spoke to him, Gríma stod up and draws a dagger out.

Saruman looks down at the company, not seeing what Gírma was about to do. "You withdraw your guard, and I will tell you where you doom will be decided." Gríma had lunges towards Saruman, with the gagger in his hand.

"I will not be held prisoner here." Saruman was cut off by Gríma, who stabs Saruman in the back, twice.

Legolas took out his bow and arrow, everyone in shock, and the elf shoots and hits Gríma, who falls down from the tower. Dead. And after come Saruman, who falls off the tower and is impaled by the spoke of a large wheel.

"Send word to all our allies, and to every corner of Middle-Earth that still stands free. The enemy moves against us. We need to know where he will strike." Gandalf said, they all watched with horror at the dead bodies. The wheel turns, sliding Saruman's body under the water. The Palantír drops into the shallows.

Treebeard returns to the scene, "The filth of Saruman is washing away. Trees will come back to live here. Young trees, wild trees." Pippin sees a glowing orb in the water. He dismounts Aragorn's horse for a closer look. The hobbit picks up the orb from the water, it's one of the Palantír.

"Peregrin Took, I'll take that, my lad. Quickly now!" Gandalf said and walked up to the hobbit. Pippin reluctantly hands Gandalf the orb. Gandalf covers it up, and with a sidelong glance at Pippin, turns away.

The group leaves the tower and begun their journey back to Edoras.

At Edoras, in the Golden Hall of Meduseld people and the company was gathered for feast. His niece, Éowyn brings him a cup. Théoden raises it and prepares to addresses a quiet crowd. Aragorn leads the men in standing, "Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country. Hail the victorious dead!" The King spoke aloud and everyone answered. "Hail!"

Aragorn hesitates, then drinks from his mug, the Rohirrim party in the great hall. Éomer instructs a group, including Gimli, Legolas, Rash and Valerie.

Èomer walks up to them, "No pauses, no spills." he smirked. Legolas, Gimli, Rash and Valerie are all given mugs of ale.

Gimli chuckled holding his mug. "And no regurgitation." The dwarf said. Legolas rose his brow at his friends. "So it's a drinking game?" He asked, Gimli nods his head, looking up at the elf. "Aye, Last one standing wins." Valerie chuckled, and the company begun to laugh.

"What'll we drink to? Let's drink to victory!" A man from the crew asked out loud. "To victory!" A men from Rohan said. As their men begun to cheer and drink the ale.

Legolas small smiled and takes a small sip from his drink. Gimli chugs his drink, not taking a break.

Éowyn approaches Aragorn who was sitting alone, "Be-thou Aragorn well." She said, and Aragorn takes a goblet from Éowyn, who watches him, smiling as Aragorn returns the cup and walks away. Théoden joins Éowyn, watching Aragorn. "I am happy for you. He is an honorable man."

Éowyn looks at him, then at Théoden. "You are both honorable men." She smiled from looking at Aragorn.

"It was not Théoden of Rohan who led our people to victory." Théoden shrugs his shoulders as he spoke anew. "Ah, don't listen to me. You are young and tonight is for you." He caressed her cheek.

Gimli and Legolas continue their drinking contest. Valerie and Rash watching them. Gimli grabs for another drink.

"Here, here. It's the dwarves that go swimming with little hairy women." The dwarf said, Legolas examines his fingers, looking very worried.

"What is it?" Valerie asked him, who saw the elf was still sober. Legolas looked at Valerie unknown what the feeling he got truly was.

"I feel something... A slight tingling in my fingers. I think it's affecting me." The elf said, he had clearly never had ale before. Now Valerie giggles, and caressed Legolas shoulder. "Don't worry, you're still sober my friend." She smiled to him, and the elf nods smiling back to her.

"What did I say? He can't hold his liquor!" Gimli laughed from his cup. Then the dwarf passes out, leaving Legolas, Valerie and Rash all three laughing. "Game over." The elf said and put his cup down, smirking.

Merry and Pippin was dancing on a tabletop to the amusement of onlookers, the men of rohan enjoyed the happy spirits coming from the halflings. The elf, the assassin, and knight watched the two hobbits dance, Gimli had taken a nap, with his head in the cup, which was still full.

Valerie come to think about the conversation Saruman had with Rash before. She looked up at him, then back to the hobbits, who sang about the Green dragon. But it was easier to talk about this after all those years, which she had spend with him. He knew after all who she had loved, but lost them both. She had no clue who he had once loved, but he knew everything about her.

Curious yes, she was. So she lift her head up and met his loving gaze. "You know, Lilian." She begun and sipped her drink. She didn't want him to feel uncomfortable in any way, it was just a curious side for her to know more about him.

"The two of you, was close as I remeber it." She said and placed her cup to the table. Looking up at him, with a sly smile. "Why I ask is because i am just curious.." Valerie nibbled her buttom lip, which still teasted from the ale.

She didn' know if Rash had loved the elf, he haven't told her why he brought Lilian with him back in the days to the journey. The assassin remeber Lilian herself saying, that she had asked for permission to go with him. But, she knew there was more behind the reason why the elf left her home and wanted to join the company. To of course be close with the knight, who she had fallen madly in love with, from the day she met him back in Rivendell.

Lilian did have strong feelings for Rash.. But, as when Valerie lost the two she loved, did Rash give up on Lilian, for the feeling which he had lingered in his heart for the assassin?

When Valerie lost Thorin and Kili, she had grown more distance than before, afraid to learn how to love someone again. However, she never left the knight side, who also never left hers. She hated to be alone, and did never want him to leave her, even in situations where she wanted to be by herself, she couldn't watch him go. And the two of them begun their new journey's together. Valerie had never letting go of the flame she had for the knight. So she let her feelings for him grew within her, and learn to love again. It took her time, it did. But eventually she opend her heart again.

"I kinda miss her, to be honest." Most of Valerie's time she got frustrated and annoyed by the elf. But also there was times, she didn't feel so alone in the company, as Lilian was there.

It made Valerie wonder how things was with the elven maid.

Rash was curious at Valerie's sudden exchange of words. The two of them hadn't really had time to digest all of the things that had transpired the last few days. Even after sixty years of staying close to eachother, none of them had really brought up the issue of their personal history. From what Valerie had gathered & what she really only cared about, was that Rash once was only a Maiar, a formless spirit that loved Akandir in harmony. After Akandir had to be sealed inside his own sword, Valerie had always assumed that he had wandered alone, only ever staying in contact with his fellow Maiar.

But he hadn't, ofcourse - If one would believe what Saruman said was true. Rash cleared his throat & looked into the liquid that was stirring in his mug. "Lilian is a beautiful elf. For a normal man, her eyes might actually be dangerous because of their unique beauty." He said shortly, but gave no indication of longing for her when he spoke of her.

"Even still, there's a difference between you and her. I shouldn't have to tell you what that is." Rash said silently, then turned his face on the side to look at Valerie. She blushed for a small moment as her eyes fell from his & she looked into her cup again, again nibbling her lower lip.

"It is true, however." He started again. Valerie instantly shot up her eyes, feeling a strange feeling of discomfort in her stomach. "During my existence on Middle-Earth, after Akandir only could accompany me by appearing as a voice speaking from my sword or visit me in my dreams, i tried to live as a man." He continued. Valerie breathed out, as it appeared that he didn't think about the fact that Lilian might have fallen in love with him.

"Many beautiful women i tried to love & bed, but in the end, i could not bring myself to abandon my eternal love for Akandir." He said, seemingly depressed. Then he raised his eyes from his mug & smiled a little as he looked at Valerie.

"Until i met you. During our journey to Erebor, i realized i had no need to abandon Akandir. But i could love her still, and love you at the same time. A connection exists between you, me & Akandir. A connection that is not only physical but spiritual. You know of what i speak." Rash had put his hand next to Valerie's cheek & stroked her gently.

Aragorn & Gandalf stood just a few feet from the table that Merry & Pippin were dancing on. The men & women all cheered on as they sang & danced with their ale held high.

"No news of Frodo?" Aragorn asked the wizard, curious to know how far they had come on their journey. "No word, nothing." Gandalf responded, observing the dancing hobbits. Aragorn looked at the wizard & realized that Gandalf was very worried. He was doubting himself & his mission. "We have time. Every day Frodo moves closer to Mordor." Aragorn said in a comforting manner to his friend.

Gandalf turned to Aragorn silently. "Do we know that?" He asked with a serious expression. "What does your heart tell you?" Aragorn then asked him with a soft look. Gandalf thought about it for a moment, then a small smirk started creeping up his lips. "That Frodo is alive. Yes, yes he's alive." He answered, now smiling at Aragorn. He turned his head again to look at Pippin.

Pippin paused for a moment in his singing as his eyes met Gandalf's. He saw his smile, and he smiled back. Then he returned to his dancing & singing with Merry.

And yes, Valerie knew well what Rash meant to say, with the feeling to love someone from the realms of spirits. To the once who had passed away.

The assassin have herself a connection and a eternal love. Her dream when Thorin had guided her, to not let go by the thin thread of her life. When he told her by his own words, that she have a willing heart and he could not ask more from her.

That's when she understood, that she have a eternal love for him. The same love that Rash have for Akandir. And he would never abandon her. As Valerie would never abandon Thorin.

Valerie rest her hand upon his, where he caressed her cheek. "And you are not alone feeling so." She smiled, while resting her forhead upon his.

The night comes to Edoras, the Fellowship had gotten a communal room, for all to sleep in. Gandalf laid on his bed, his eyes open as he was sleeping. Rash and Valerie shared one, as she laid with her head upon his chest. The two asleep. Gimli snores loudly in his sleep. Merry and Pippin laid on mattresses on the floor. But Pippin was wide awake.

Aragorn leaves the room while he carrying his pipe with him. The man pauses to stoke a fire near a sleeping Éowyn, who laid alone sleeping. Aragorn covers her with an warm blanket, and she awakes. "What time is it?" Éowyn asked, as she is still half sleeping. "Not yet dawn." He said to her.

Éowyn grabbs him by his hand. "I dreamed I saw a great wave, climbing over green lands and above the hills. I stood upon the brink. It was uppterly dark in the abyss before my feet. A light shone behind me but I could not turn. I could only stand there, waiting." She said, her voice was only whispers. "Night changes many thoguhts. Sleep, Éowyn." Aragorn said to her, "Sleep... While you can." Aragorn sits down next to her and waits until she closes her eyes and fall back to sleep. He then rest her hand next to her, and he walks out from the Golden Hall and approaches Legolas, who was awake.

The two look toward Mordor. "The stars are veiled. Something stirs in the East. A sleepless malice. The Eye of the enemy is moving." Legolas said, and Aragorn nods.

Indoors the hobbit, Pippin wakes up and approaches a sleeping Gandalf. Everyone was asleep and didn't hear as the hobbit approaches the wizard.

But Merry do and he wakes up, looking at Pippin. "What are you doing? Pippin! Pippin?" Gandalf is asleep, although his eyes are open. Pippin waves a hand over Gandalf's face to make sure he is not faking it. Then the hobbit takes the Palantír from Gandalf, replacing the space in Gandalf's hands with a chamberpot.

Merry's eyes wide as he watched his friend take the Palantír from the wizard. "Pippin! Are you mad?" He asked with annoyed tone heard in his voice, this was very risky done by the hobbit. "I just want to look at it! Just one more time." Pippin said and looked back at his childhood friend, who laid in bed. "Put it back!" Merry ordered, but Pippin was fast enough and unwraps the globe. "Pippin. No! Pippin!" Merry now yelled to his friend.

Pippin becomes affixed to the now glowing stone. Outside, Legolas turns to Aragorn. "He is here!" The eld said, as Pippin heard Sauron speaking to him in his mind. "I see you!"

"Pippin! Help! Gandalf! Help him! Someone help him!" Merry yelled, Gandalf eyes shot open and everyone awakes with shock. In coming was Aragorn and Legolas, who both enters the room. Pippin laid on the ground and was stuck to the burning orb, writhes in pain.

Aragorn takes the Palantír from the hobbit's hands, but as he did he falls to his knees. The Palantír falls out from Aragorn's hands and it rolls across the floor. Gandalf throws a cloth over it and stops it from doing more harm.

"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf barked as he tends to Pippin. Who was lifeless, he rest a hand on the hobbit forhead and spoke someting in another tounge. As he did, Pippin starts to breath again.

"Look at me." The wizard said to the hobbit, who starts to sob. "Gandalf! Forgive me!" Pippin looks away, "Look at me. What did you see?" The wizard asked, "A tree - There was a white tree in a courtyard of stone. It was dead. The city was burning."

The courtyard of Minas Tirith was the place Pippin had seen in the vision. Gandalf looked at him, "Minas Tirith? Is that what you saw?" He asked, Pippin breathed with fear.

"I saw - I saw - Him! I could hear His voice in my head!" Pippin spoke, and tried to calm down but couldn't. "And what did you tell Him? Speak!" Gandalf said, worried that Pippin had mention where the ring is and who wield it. "He asked me my name. I didn't answer. He hurt me!" Pippin was clearly terrified, of Saron. What he had seen and heard.

"What did you tell Him about Frodo and the Ring?" Gandalf asked in a serious tone. Everyone was now silent, and feared the worse to have happend.

Sam & Frodo are both sleeping on a small outcrop of rocks, close to the edge of the cliff that they were climbing.

"Too risky. Too risky. Thieves. They stole it from us. Kill them, kill them, kill them both!" Gollum told himself, as he spoke to the open air in front of him. He had distanced himself just to not wake the Hobbits. "No!" He shouted silently to himself, doubting his intentions. "Shh! We must'nt wake them, must'nt ruin it now." He growled to himself.

His eyes looked hopeless as he looked around, unfocused. "But they knows! They knows! They suspects us!" He whispered to himself in a desperate voice. He then saw himself in a puddle of water just below him. His reflection stared back at him. "What is it saying, my love? Is Smeagol losing his nerve?" The reflection said. "No! No! Never! Smeagol hates nasty Hobbitses. Smeagol wants to see them dead!" He told the reflection with a hushed voice.

The reflection smiled grimly. "And we will! Smeagol did it once, he can do it again!" He grinned. "We must get the precious! We must get it back!" He told his reflection, still sounding desperate. "Patience! Patience my love! First we must lead them to her!" The reflection replied.

Smeagol looked confused at first, but then realized something. "We lead them to the winding stair." Smeagol started. "Yes, the stairs and then?" The refleciton asked curiously. "Up, up, up the stairs we go until we come to the tunnel." Smeagol continued. "And when they go in, there's no coming out. She's always hungry. She always needs to feed. She must eat. All she gets is filthy Orcses." The mirroring reflection spoke to him. "And they doesn't taste very nice, does they Precious?" Smeagol told himself. "No, not very nice at all, my love. She hungers for sweeter meats." The reflection said, again very grimly so. "Hobbit meat. And when she throws away the bones and the empty clothes, then we will find it." Smeagol told himself.

"And take it for me!" He almost jumped with excitement. "For us." The reflection answered. "Yes, we meant for us! Gollum, gollum. The precious will be ours once the Hobbitses are dead!" Smeagol nodded happily & threw a small pebble at the puddle. As the ripples went out, Sam's reflection was now in place of Gollum's.

"You treacherous little toad!" Sam shouted furiously, punching Gollum across his face & grabbing his throat in order to choke him. Gollum screams in fear, waking Frodo from his deep slumber.

He sees Frodo waking up & shouts for him. "No, no! Master!"

"Sam! Leave him alone!" Frodo shouts as he jumps on Sam & pulls him off Gollum. "I heard it from his own mouth. He means to murder us." Sam was so angry he kept yelling in Frodo's face. "Never! Smeagol wouldn't hurt a fly!" Gollum pleads to Frodo. He touches his head & sees blood on his fingers. "Argh! He is a horrid, fat Hobbit who hates Smeagol and who makes up nasty lies!" Gollum shouted angrily at Sam. "You miserable little maggot! I'll stove your head in!" Sam screamed as he made his way to grab Gollum again. Gollum yelped in fear & ran off behind Frodo as Frodo stopped Sam again.

"Sam!" Frodo shouted as he held Sam at a distance. "You call me a liar? You're a liar!" Sam shouted at Gollum. "If you scare him off then we are lost!" Frodo pleaded with his friend. "I don't care! I can't do it Mr Frodo! I won't wait around for him to kill us!" Sam said to Frodo as his voice almost broke. "I'm not sending him away." Frodo answered as a final answer to Sam.

Sam looked at Frodo, dumbfounded. "You don't see it do you? He's a villain." He tried again. "We can't do this by ourselves Sam. Not without a guide. I need you on my side." He said calmly to Sam, calming him down. "I'm on your side Mr. Frodo." Sam replied with a sad expression. "I know Sam, I know. Trust me. Come Smeagol." He said to Sam, then turned to Gollum & stretched out a hand. The two of them walked in front of Sam. Gollum turns his head to look at Sam for a moment, and a small smirk draws up his tattered lips as he does. Sam glares back in anger.

Gandalf talks to Théoden in the Golden Hall. The company and the hobbits, are also present.

"There was no lie in Pippin's eyes. A fool... But an honest fool he remains. He told Sauron nothing of Frodo and the Ring." The Wizard said with a small smile as he was talking to Théoden. "We've been strangely fortunate. Pippin saw in the Palantír a glimpse of the enemy's plan. Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith." Gandalf said, and his eyes drift to the hobbits, then to the king again, as he spoke anew.

"His defeat at Helm's Deep showed our enemy one thing. He knows the heir of Elendil has come forth. Men are not as weak as he supposed. There is courage still, strength enough perhaps to challenge him. Sauron fears this. He will not risk the peoples of Middle-Earth uniting under one banner." Gandalf said. "He will raze Minas Tirith to the ground before he sees a King return to the throne of men. If the Beacons of Gondor are lit, Rohan must be ready for war."

Théoden now spoke out, "Tell me, why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours? What do we owe Gondor?" He asked, as Aragorn walked up from the fellowship. "I will go." He said, but Gandalf turns to him and shouted.

"No!" He looked at Aragorn, who's eyes lend on his old friend. "They must be warned!" He said, and he was right. "They will be. You must come to Minas Tirith by another road. Follow the river and look to the black ships. Understand this: things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith." Gandalf looks at the hobbits, "And I won't be going alone."

Outside was Gandalf,followed by the two hobbits, swiftly makes his way to the stables of Edoras. "Of all the inquisitive hobbits, Peregrin Took, you are the worst! Hurry! Hurry!" Gandalf told Pippin, who walked by his side. "Where are we going?" He asked a bit worried. "Why did you look? Why do you always have to look!" Merry was angry and grabbed Pippins arm. "I don't know. I can't help it!" Pippin regretted it, he did. "You never can." Merry said and Pippin knew he was angry. "I'm sorry, all right! I won't do it again."

Meryr know snapped at his friend. "Don't you understand? The enemy thinks you have the Ring! He's going to be looking for you, Pip. They have to get you out of here." Merry's words was concernd and worried about his freind and what kind of danger he is in. "And y-you're coming with me?" Pippin asked, but Merry walks away. Pippin: "Merry?" Inside the stables, Gandalf lifts Pippin up on Shadowfax's back. "How far is Minas Tirith?" Pippin asked, and looked up at Gandalf. "Three day's ride, as the Nazgûl flies. And we better hope we don't have one of those on our tail." The wizard said,

Merry handing Pippin a pouch, "Here. Something for the road." He said and Pippin know understood the two would be seperated, they had never been before. "But we'll see each other soon, won't we?"

Merry glances at Gandalf, backing away. "I don't know. I don't know what's going to happen." Now Merry starts to cry. "Run, Shadowfax. Show us the meaning of haste." Gandalf said. "Merry!" Pippin yelled, while Shadowfax gallops out of the stables.

Merry runs after them. He climbs up to a watchtower. Aragorn follows Merry. Aragorn followed behind the hobbit. "Merry!" From the tower, Merry watches Shadowfax run towards Gondor. "He's always followed me. Everywhere I went, since before we were were tweens. I would get him into the worst sort of trouble. But I was always there to get him out. And now he's gone." Aragorn puts his hand on Merry's shoullder, tried to consol him from his worries.

"Just like Frodo, and Sam." Merry said, reminded of his other friends who also are in danger. "One thing I've learned about hobbits, they are most hardy folk. Foolhardy maybe. He's a Took." The two starts to laugh.

Along group of elves, rides their horse down a wooded path. Arwen's fathers voice repeted in her mind. "Take her by the safest road. A ship lays anchored in the Grey Havens. It waits to carry her across the Sea… The last journey of Arwen Undómiel."

Arwen sees a small boy in a white shirt, running past the elves. A vision of a gray-haired Aragorn appears. He runs to the boy. Aragorn takes him in his arms and spins him around, laughing. The boy stares at Arwen, somberly. The boy is shown wearing Arwen's Evenstar pendant, and Arwen let a tear ran down her eye.

"There is nothing for you here, only death." Her fathers voice reminded her to leave to the undying lands. Arwen had just stopped, and she are approached by one of the elves. "Lady Arwen, we cannot delay." The elf said to her, but she turns Asfaloth around and rides to Rivendell. "My lady!"

At Rivendell, Arwen approaches her father. "Tell me what you have seen!" She asked him, her voice still calm, her father suprised but also angry he had seen her return. "Arwen!"

"You have the gift of foresight, what did you see?" She asked him, Elrond shiged. "I looked into your future and I saw death." She shock her head, as she had seen life. "But there was also life. You saw there was a child. You saw my son." As she said that, her father, turns away.

"But that future is almost gone." He sighed and saw no hope in it anymore."But it is not lost!" Arwen said to him, he turned around to face his daughter. "Nothing is certain." Arwen kneels before Elrond, taking his hands in hers. "Some things are certain! If I leave him now, I will regret it forever. It is time." Arwen examines the shards of Narsil.

"Reforge this Sword, Ada." Arwen sits on her bed, and the book she held in her hands fell to the ground. Elrond kneels before Arwen and feels her hands. "Your hands are cold. The life of the Eldar is leaving you." He said and looked at her. "This was my choice. Adar, whether by your will or not, there is no ship now that can bear me hence." Two elves work at a forge, repairing the shards, as Elrond looks on.

Gandalf and Pippin gallop across plains and through forest. They splash through a river.

"We have just passed into the realm of Gondor." Gandalf said calmly with Pippin sitting safely in front of him. Shadowfax climbs up a tall hill overlooking a giant stretch of open land. On the far side of the country, one can see a giant white citadel with a spire that stretched up into the mountain top that it was built upon.

"Minas Tirith. City of Kings." The wizard uttered & gave away a small smirk. Pippin was astounded by the view & almost had a grin growing on his face out of pure awe.

They ride cross country, and even when Shadowfax galloped as quickly as he could, it still took more than an hour to reach the grand citadel. At last, they reach the gates and the watchmen on the walls signal for the giant doors to be opened for the white Wizard & his hobbit companion.

They gallop through the city until they reach the topmost level. They stop in front of a huge white hall. As they walk towards the door, they pass a dead white tree. Pippin spots it as they make their way up the stairs, as he recognizes it clearly from his vision from the palantir. "It's the tree, Gandalf!" He shouts to the wizard that is hurrying in front of him. "Yes the white tree of Gondor. The tree of the King. Lord Denethor however, is not the King. He is a steward only, a caretaker of the throne." He grumpily said as he motioned for Pippin to stay close. He stops suddenly at the door, Pippin dazzled by his sudden hesitation.

"Now listen carefully. Lord Denethor is Boromir's father. To give him news of his beloved son's death would be most unwise. And do not mention Frodo or the Ring. And say nothing of Aragorn either." He explained to Pippin hastily. He then thought for a moment, looking into the empty air, then he looked at Pippin again.

"In fact, its better if you don't speak at all Peregrin Took." He finished, as the doors to the great hall creaked open. They walk through the massive hall, approaching the throne where a man sits in a seat at the base of the steps to the throne. Gandalf stops just a few meters from the throne stairs.

"Hail Denethor son of Ecthelion, Lord and Steward of Gondor." Denethor sat on a smaller throne at the base of the king's throne. He held a broken horn in his hand, and looked broken himself, staring into the polished floor. "I come with tidings in this dark hour and with counsel." Gandalf uttered as he tried smiling at Denethor.

Denethor raised his head slowly, and with a grim face he stared at Gandalf. "Perhaps you come to explain this." He said, as he stretched out his arm to show the horn. The same horn that Boromir had with him when he defended Merry & Pippin. "Perhaps you have come to tell me why my son is dead." He said with a voice full of despair.

Rash sat on a hill overlooking the Rohan countryside. It was morning, and the sun was slowly rising, bringing about a new dawn that was beautiful to look at. Aragorn was also on the lookout, moving from one end of the village to another. Rash laid his eyes on him, pondering upon the great destiny & enormous responsibility that rested on the shoulders of this heir of Isildur.

He remembered the great battles that were fought during the campaign against Sauron. While he himself was preoccupied with helping the villages in the north, defending them from the countless monsters of the Dark Lord, he had still heard of how Isildur betrayed his own allies & singlehandedly both saved & doomed humanity, the day that Sauron's physical form was destroyed.

After Isildur had kept the ring for himself, Elrond had gathered several of the remaining forces of good in Middle-Earth. They had a meeting in Rivendell, where they discussed how to proceed after the events of the great war. It was decided upon that trying to take the ring from Isildur would only cause another war, and to guard humanity of need be so that the ring would never be obtained by the dark forces that lingered in the corners of the world.

By letting the humans develop as they pleased, the Elves & magical forces of the world were allowed to exist in harmony, since the ring of Power hadn't been destroyed. While the ring still existed, the elves were powered by their own rings - letting their immortality stay unfading.

Rash never agreed wholly with the concept, but could do naught but nod in compliance. He never needed a ring since he was himself a being such as Sauron himself, making it hard for him to relate to the elves need for a conduit to their immortality. So he had watched over men, elves & dwarves alike, defending them when the need arose.

He picked a flower that growed out of a mound next to him, meditating on things to come. At that moment, he saw to his left how Valerie approached him. He noticed how she was dressed in white, in something that resembled traditional elven garbs. The wind blew gently against her, and he instantly noticed the dress forming around her shapely body. Strands of hair covered her eyes, and with a small adjustment with her delicate fingers, she moved the strands of hair behind one of her ears.

With her eyes unhindered by her long hair, she caught the gaze of Rash & smiled at him. He raised his eyebrows for a bit & gave off a small innocent smile.

Pippin gets the terror by the flashback when Boromir sacrifeced himself for Pippin and Merry. He felt cold sweat ran down his spine as he walks in front of Gandalf, in silnce. To face Denethor who looked at the hobbit with a frown upon his face.

"Boromir died to save us, my kinsmen and me. He fell defending us from many foes." Pippin showed sadness and as he kneels down, on one leg.

"Pippin!" Gandalf said out loud, but Pippin showed respect and honor to Boromir. Who had saved his and Merry's life back then.

"I offer you my service, such as it is, in payment of this debt." The hobbit offered, Gandalf sighed and looked at Denethor, who didn't look pleased at all.

"This is my first command to you." The man growled, at the young halfling. "How did you escape and my son did not? So mighty a man as he was." Denethor asked with a anger.

"The mightiest man may be slain by one arrow, and Boromir was pierced by many." Pippin answered, not looking eye to eye now head hang low.

Gandalf now knocks Pippin aside, with his staff. "Get up!" The hobbit stand behind the wizard, as Gandalf spoke anew.

"My lord, there will be a time to grieve for Boromir, but it is not now. War is coming. The enemy is on your doorstep! As Steward, you're charged with the defense of this city. Where are Gondor's armies?" Gandalf asked, "You still have friends. You're not alone in this fight. Send word to Théoden of Rohan. Light the beacons."

Denethor looked at the old wizard with a frown of selfishness. "You think you are wise, Mithrandir, yet for all your subtleties you have not wisdom. Do you think the eyes of the White Towers are blind? I have seen more than you know." His anger clear and seen.

"With your left hand you would use me as a shield against Mordor. And, with your right, you seek to supplant me!" He barked from his chair. "I know who rides with Théoden of Rohan. Oh, yes. Words have reached my ears of this Aragorn, son of Arathorn and I tell you now. I will not bow to this Ranger from the north. Last of a ragged house long bereft of Lordship!" He yelled at the two.

"Authority is not given to you to deny the return of the King, Steward!" Gandalf spoke as he narrowed his eyes with anger. Then Denethor rises from his chair. "The whole rule of Gondor is mine! And no other's!"

Gandalf looked down to Pippin, resting a hand on his back, "Come!" The wizard and hobbit walks out from the throne room, leaving Denethor.

"All has turned to vain ambition! He would even use his grief as a cloak." Gandalf said as the door creaks open to reveal the courtyard, its tree, and in the distance, Mordor. "A thousand years this city has stood. Now, at the whim of a madman it will fall. The White Tree, the tree of the king, will never bloom again." Gandalf spoke and looked at Pippin. "Why are they still guarding it?"

"They guard it because they have hope. A faint and fading hope that one day it will flower. A King will come, and this city will be as it once was, before it fell into decay." Gandalf told him. "The old wisdom bourne out of the west was forsaken. Kings made made tombs more splendid than the houses of the living, and counted the old names of their descent dearer than the names of their sons. Childless lords sat in aged halls musing on herladry, or in high cold towers asking questions of the stars. And so the people of gondor fell into run. The line of kings failed. The white tree whithered. The rule of Gondor was given over to lesser men."

Pippin and Gandalf looks into Mordor, "Mordor." The wizard nods. "Yes, there it lies. This city has dwelt ever in the sight of its shadow." He sighed. "A storm is coming." Pippin said and spot it from the far distance.

"This is not the weather of the world. This is the device of of Sauron's making. A broil of fumes he sends ahead of his host. The Orcs of Mordor have no love of daylight. So he covers the face of the sun to ease their passage along the road to war. When the shadow of Mordor reaches this city, it will begin."

"Well... Minas Tirith. Very impressive. So where are we off to next?" Pippin asked, and looked up at Gandalf. "Oh it's too late for that, Peregrin. There's no leaving this city. Help must come to us." Gandalf said, and he was fearing the worst.

Gollum leads Sam and Frodo through the wilderness to a crossroads. "It must be getting near teatime. Leastways, it would be in decent places where there is still teatime." Sam said, following behind with Frodo. "We're not in decent places." Gollum said, then Frodo stops walking. Sam turns back to him. "Frodo? What is it?" He asked his friend, "It's just a feeling. I don't think I'll be coming back." Frodo was afriad he would not be able to go back home. "Yes you will, of course you will. That's just morbid thinking." Sam spoke aloud, resting a hand on his friends shoulder, smiling. "We're goin there and back again, just like Mister Bilbo. You'll see."

They approach a statue. It has been vandalized by Orcs. Its head has been replaced by a metal-plated stone. "I think these lands were once part of the kingdom of Gondor. Long ago, when there was a king." Frodo said. The sun peeks through the clouds. The hobbits spot the statue's original head, lying on the ground. The sun strikes it they see that flowers have grown around its crown.

"Mister Frodo, look. The king has got a crown again." Sam said and the clouds cover the sun again, darkening the area. Gollum looked at the two, "Come on, Hobbits! Mustn't stop now. This way."

It is night time, and Gandalf stands on a high balcony overlooking Minas Tirith. He smokes his pipe & stares at the distant mountain range of Mordor. Dark clouds loom above it, and a large mass of cloud grows bigger & bigger, making it's way toward Minas Tirith, albeit very slowly. Pippin walks slowly up behind Gandalf. The wizard coughs for a moment from getting a dose of concentrated smoke stuck in his throat.

"So I imagine this is just a ceremonial position." Pippin picks up a sword and pulls it out of its scabbard. He looks at it then sheathes it again, then putting it down. "I mean, they don't actually expect me to do any fighting, do they?" He continued, looking at Gandalf from behind. "You're in the service of the steward now. You'll have to do as you are told, Peregrin Took." Gandalf utters & coughs some more.

Pippin starts pouring a goblet of water next to a small table. "Ridiculous Hobbit! Guard of the Citadel!" Gandalf barks with an old man's irritation. His coughing gets worse. Pippin turns up next to Gandalf & hands him the goblet of water, smiling as he reaches out to Gandalf. "Thank you." Gandalf says with appreciation, changing his tone very suddenly. He pats Pippin on the shoulder & drinks the cup as he keeps looking at the mountainrange.

Pippin looks up at the night sky, noticing the unusually dark night sky. "There's no more stars! Is it time?" He asked as he turned his eyes to Gandalf, his face full of worry. "Yes." Gandalf utters while nodding very slightly. Pippin leans on the parapet in front of Gandalf. "It's so quiet." The young hobbit said with a small voice.

Gandalf is now the one eyeing Pippin's back. "It's the deep breath before the plunge." The wizard says with somber words. Pippin turns to face Gandalf. "I don't want to be in a battle. But waiting on the edge of one I can't escape is even worse. Is there any hope Gandalf, for Frodo and Sam?" He said worryingly.

Gandalf takes a step to lean on the parapet next to Pippin. "There never was much hope. Just a fool's hope." He smiles at Pippin and looks back to Mordor. "Our enemy is ready. His full strength's gathered. Not only orcs, but men as well. Legions of Haradrim from the South, mercenaries from the coast. All will answer Mordor's call."

Pippin is not sure of how to react. His face is still, just listening carefully to Gandalf. "This will be the end of Gondor as we know it. Here the hammer stroke will fall hardest. If the river is taken, if the garrison at Osgiliath falls, the last defence of this city will be gone." He continued, as he eyed Pippin from time to time.

"But we have the white wizard. That's got to count for something." Pippin answered, and gave away a small smile. Gandalf however, did not. His expression was full of thoughtfulness & worry. "Gandalf?" Pippin asked, losing his smile. The wizard now looked over to Mordor again, his right cheek flexing, making his lip pull upwards. "Sauron has yet to show his deadliest servant." Gandalf sighed. "The one who will lead Mordor's army in war. The one they say no living man can kill." He said. "The Witch King of Angmar. You've met him before." Pippin looks at Gandalf in surprise.

"He stabbed Frodo on Weathertop." Pippin thinks back & remember one of the wraiths that stood out, that was always at the forefront. "He is the lord of the Nazgûl. The greatest of the nine." He uttered with words that almost trembled.

It is early in the next morning. Gandalf walks with Pippin, towards the top of Minas Tirith.

"Peregrin Took, my lad, there is a task now to be done. Another opportunity for one of the Shire-folk to prove their great worth. You must not fail me." Gandalf told the young hobbit.

Faramir surveys his soldiers at Osgiliath, Madril by his side. "It's been very quiet across the river. The Orcs are lying low. The garrison may have moved out. We've sent scouts to Cair Andros. If the Orcs attack from the north, we'll have some warning."

Boats filled with armed orcs row towards Osgiliath. One of their oars makes a muffled splash. A bulky orc with a deformed face commands the sailors. From an upper wall, a Gondorian soldier sees them approach. "Kill him!" An orc ordered, as the one of them shoots an arrow, which pierces the soldier's armor. The soldier falls down to the ground, dead, but within sight of Farmir.

"They're not coming from the north." Faramir rallies his men for the attack. "To the river! Quick, quick! Come on!" Men gather behind pillars at the riverbank. As the Orcs arrive on shore, Faramir's men attack.

"Fight! Fight!" Soldiers yelled out as men and orcs starts a battle.

Pippin climbs to the top of the beacon at Minas Tirith, evading the guards and he reaches for a lamp hanging over it. A rope snaps, spilling oil on the wood. The hobbit tosses the lit lamp onto the wood, which quickly catches fire, to Pippin's surprise. He climbs down.

As Gandalf watches, the beacon burns, as soon does another one on a nearby mountainside. "Amon Dîn." Guards on watch take notice. "The beacon! The beacon of Amon Dîn is lit!" The guard yelled to the other of his men. Denethor looks out of a window but only frowns.

"Hope is rekindled." Gandalf said, and a signal beacons light in succession across several peaks. At Edoras, Aragorn sees the last beacon lit, and runs into the Golden Hall. "The Beacons of Minas Tirith! The Beacons are lit! Gondor calls for aid!" He said and Théoden who are in council with his men, pauses and takes stock of this news.

"And Rohan will answer." The king replied. "Muster the Rohirrim!" One of his soldiers rings a alarm bell. Théoden exits Meduseld, speaking with Éomer.

"Assemble the army at Dunharrow, as many men as can be found. You have two days." Éomer nods and turns. Théoden grabs his shoulder. "On the third, we ride for Gondor. And war." Éomer nods and leaves.

Théoden looked at Gamling, "Lord." He slighty bowed to his king. "Make haste across the Riddermark. Summon every able-bodied man to Dunharrow." Gamling nods and departs. Théoden watches the Riders flow from Edoras.

Aragorn and Éowyn exit the stables together. "You ride with us?" He asked her. "Just to the encampment. It's tradition for the women of the court to farewell the men." Aragorn uncovers a sword, hidden in Éowyn's saddle. And she covers it with a blanket.

"The men have found their captain, they will follow you into battle, even to death. You have given us hope." She said to him and cought his eyes.

Merry, holding his sword, approaches Théoden. "Excuse me. I have a sword. Please accept it." The hobbit kneels. "I offer you my service, Theoden King." Theoden helps Merry up to his feet again, smiling. "And gladly I accept it. You shall be Meriadoc, esquire of Rohan." Merry grins and runs off.

Rash, Valerie, Legolas and Gimli prepare to depart. "Horsemen, hmph! I wish I could muster a legion of Dwarves, fully armed and filthy." The dwarf said, Legolas looked at him, "Your kinsmen may have no need to ride to war. I fear war already marches on their own lands."

Merry tries to get his stubborn pony to move, but the pony ignores his kicks. Théoden takes one last look at his kingdom's banner. "So it is before the walls of Minas Tirith, the doom of our time will be decided." The king thought back on what he had said.

"Now is the hour, Riders of Rohan, oaths you have taken! Now, fulfill them all! To Lord and Land!" Éomer had said. The Rohirrim, and fellowship all ride to Dunharrow.

From every direction, the orcs stream into Osgiliath. Countless men are slaughtered white bravely fighting against the nigh-unstoppable horde. "We can't hold them, the city is lost!" One of Faramir's men shouts to his captain. "Tell the men to break for cover, we ride for Minas Tirith!" He shouts back whilst parrying an orc blade. Even more men die around Faramir, and the situation is most dire.

A sudden high-pitched screech is heard from above. A Nazgûl atop his fel beast flies over Osgiliath, several men hold their ears as not to be deafened by the terrible sound. "Take cover! Fall back to Minas Tirith!" Faramir yells out loud to the soldiers around him. Men abandon their positions & runs for their horses, not hesitating to follow their captain's orders. "Fall back! Run for your lives!" He keeps yelling, desperate to save as many of his men as possible. One of Faramir's men, Madril, falls face first into the ground from being injured by a slash at his heels.

As the other men run & Faramir goes with them, the man lies on the ground & turns around to lie on his back. His eyes meet the sneering face of Gothmog, the orc general that was leading the orc army inside Osgiliath. "The age of men is over. The time of the orc has arrived." The heavily mutated orc says with a voice that sounds like gravel. He pulls a spear from a dead soldier lying just a few feet from Madril.

He then proceeds to impale Madril through his heart with the spear. Madril groans in pain and the light from his eyes fade quickly.

The remaining men ride their horses back to Minas Tirith, desperately galloping with great speed. Faramir follows them & does his best at protecting them as they ride in front of him. The Nazgûl keeps harassing them from above, at times swooping down & grabbing several horses in their black talons & throwing them in the air, having some of the men getting crushed by their horses as they crashed against the ground.

Several other fel beasts swoop in, and soon it seemed that none of the men would make it back alive to the white city. But then, a figure came riding out of the white city, galloping at full speed towards the fleeing men. The figure raised a white staff high, and a blinding light shone out from the head of the staff. The light projected against the shadowy fel beasts, and they had to abandon their hunt for the remaining men. Gandalf quickly met up with the survivors & escorted them back to Minas Tirith.

"Mithrandir!" Faramir exclaimed as he climbed off his horse, inside the gates of Minas Tirith. "They broke through our defences. They've taken the bridge and the West bank. Battalions of Orcs are crossing the river." He continued without hesitation as he stared at Gandalf.

"It is as the Lord Denethor predicted! Long has he foreseen this doom!" One of the men under Faramir's command shouted. Gandalf looked over to the soldier with an irritated expression. "Foreseen and done nothing." He said with finality. Faramir then looks at Pippin & his face turns neutral as he stares at the small Hobbit. Gandalf sees this & reacts instantly. "This is not the first time you've seen a halfling, is it?" He asks Faramir. Faramir shakes his head. "No." He says & breathes slowly.

Pippin looks up at Faramir with wide eyes. "You've seen Frodo & Sam?" He asks with hopeful eyes. Faramir nods. "Where? When?" Gandalf asked with a certain desperation in his voice.

Faramir looks back at Gandalf. "In Ithilien, not two days ago. Gandalf, they're taking the road of the Morgul vale." He says with a grim expression. Gandalf looks horrified & down into the ground, thinking. "And then the pass of Cirith Ungol." He said silently. It was not a question. Faramir nodded. "What does that mean? What's wrong?" Pippin asks & looks at Gandalf.

Gandalf looks at the captain of Gondor again. "Faramir, tell me everything. Tell me all you know."

After when Faramir had told Gandalf everything, he walked in the citadel. Where he stands before his father who sits upon his chair.

"This is how you would serve your city? You would risk it's utter ruin?" Denethor said to his son, not showing any kind of happiness to see him alive or unhurt.

"I did what I judged to be right." Farmir spoke, but his father only had a sharp look upon his face, while he glared at his son.

"What you judged to be right? You sent the Ring of Power into Mordor in the hands of a witless halfling. It should have been brought back to the Citadel to be kept safe. Hidden. Dark and deep in the vaults, not to be used. Unless at the uttermost. End of need." He said.

"I would not use the Ring. Not if Minas Tirith were falling in ruin and I alone could save her." Faramir spoke up, and his father then smirked.

"Ever you desire to appear lordly and gracious as a king of old. Boromir would have remembered his father's need. He would have brought me a kingly gift." Denethor was now getting angry.

"Boromir would not have brought the Ring. He would have stretched out his hand to this thing and taken it. He would've fallen." Faramir told the truth, but his father would not have it, as Denethor angrily jumps to his feet and yelled. "You know nothing of this matter!"

"He would have kept it for his own! And when he returned, you would not have known your son." Faramir now rose his voice to be heard, but Denethor did not listen.

"Boromir was loyal to me! Not some wizard's pupil!" Denethor cries and falls, but Faramir approaches him. "Father?" He asked, as Denethor looks over Faramir's shoulder and smiles.

"My son!" Only in his mind, Boromir appears behind Faramir. Boromir smiles and then the image fades. Denethor is left looking at Faramir.

His mood shifts back to anger. "Leave me!" Faramir hesitates, and departs from the hall.

The Witch-King of Angmar lauds over the Orcs at Osgiliath. "Send forth all legions. Do not stop the attack until the city is taken. Slay them all." The Witch-King spoke with a dark voice coming from the helm, "What of the wizard?" Gothmog asked. "I will break him."

At the walls of Minas Tirith, Gandalf and the soldiers look towards Osgiliath. "Where are Théoden's riders?" An soldier asked, "Will Rohan's army come? Mithrandir?" "Courage is the best defense that you have now." gandalf said,

Pippin, in his Gondorian armour, sits outside of the Hall of Kings. "What were you thinking, Peregrin Took? What service can a Hobbit offer such a great lord of Men?" Pippin asked, Faramir walks to him. "It was well done."

Pippin stands up as Faramir approaches, and smiled. "A generous deed should not be checked with cold counsel. You are to join the tower guard." Faramir said to the hobbit.

"I didn't think they would find any livery that would fit me." The hobbit looked down at his clothes which he was wearing. "Once belonged to a young boy of the city. A very foolish one, who wasted many hours slaying dragons instead of attending to his studies." Faramir told him, with a small smile.

"This was yours?" Pippin asked, Faramir nods, "Yes, it was mine. My father had it made for me." Faramir said. "Well… I'm taller than you were then. Though I'm not likely to grow anymore, except sideways." Pippin smiled, and the two of them, both laughed.

"Never fitted me either. Boromir was always the soldier. They were so alike, he and my father. Proud. Stubborn even. But strong." Faramir chuckled. "I think you have strength of a different kind. And one day your father will see it." Pippin smiled. Inside Gondor's throne room, Pippin kneels before Denethor. Faramir observes.

"Here do I swear fealty and service to Gondor. In peace or war. In living or dying. Fr... from... from.. from this hour henceforth, until my lord release me, or death... take me." Denethor rises, smiling and he said.

"And I shall not forget it. Nor fail to reward that which is given." Denethor holds out his ringed hand to Pippin, who kisses it reluctantly. "Fealty with love. Valor with honor." To Faramir. "Disloyalty with vengeance." Then Denethor sits down to eat.

"I do not think we should so lightly abandon the outer defenses. Defenses that your brother long held intact." Faramir looked at his father and asked. "What would you have me do?" Denethor took his wine and glanzed at his son. "I will not yield the river and Pelennor unfought. Osgiliath must be retaken." He said sharply.

"My lord, Osgiliath is overrun." Faramir told him, "Much must be risked in war. Is there a Captain here who still has the courage to do his lord's will?" He asked, Faramir now looked like his soul was torn, "You wish now that our places had been exchanged. That I had died and Boromir had lived." He breathed in.

Denethor, nod hsi head from holding his mug of wine. "Yes. I wish that."

"Since you are robbed of Boromir, I will do what I can in his stead." Faramir walks away. He turns back. "If I should return, think better of me, father." He said before he left, looking the last time at his father.

"That will depend on the manner of your return." Faramir looks at his father as he then walks away from him.

During their journey to Dunharrow, Theoden led the cavalry. Behind him were the remaining fellowship, Valerie rode on the side of Aragorn. Just outside of the mass of horses, Rash was jogging to keep up. His pace was slow & controlled, as not to spook the horses that were running closest to him.

Aragorn turned to Valerie during the ride & spoke in a hushed voice. "Continue directly to Minas Tirith. Do not stop, i suspect that they will need help sooner than we can arrive." Valerie listened & nodded. Aragorn turned his eyes to Rash that were jogging at a distance from them. Valerie understood his signal. She turned her horse away from the cavalry & left the mass of men & horses that were following Theoden King.

Her horse strutted up to Rash. He looked at Valerie, awaiting her words. "We must get to Minas Tirith quickly. The White city cannot wait for help." She said silently as she rode on her horse. Rash nodded, pulled Valerie off the horse during the gallop & placed her on his shoulder. He clapped the horse on it's buttocks so that it rejoined the cavalry.

The wolf knight then veered off from the cavalry, taking a different direction. He sped up his jogging into a sprint that was wild but controlled. The ground thumped beneath his giant boots, and the thousands of men in the cavalry looked on in confusion as Rash ran away with Valerie on his shoulder.

Theoden followed Rash with his eyes & slowed down so he galloped next to Aragorn. "He's a grand weapon, that one. The girl even more so. A pity they are leaving." Theoden said, not questioning why they had left the cavalry. Nonetheless, a great worry started to swirl in his chest. "They aren't leaving. They're taking a shortcut." Aragorn said, raising his eyebrows & looking at Theoden. Theoden realized his point, and slowly nodded his head while smiling.

Frodo and Gollum are asleep while Sam is lying trying to not fall asleep He finally loses the battle and drops off in a deep slumber. Gollum opens his eyes, instantly awake. He sneaks over to Sam and opens the back pack. He carefully reaches in and takes out all the lembas wrappings. "Ech." Gollum groans from being disgusted. He hated the elvish bread. He crumbled the lembas in his hands into tiny pieces, and sprinkled them over Sam as he slept, while throwing most of it off the cliff next to Sam. Sam wakes, suddenly aware of Gollum behind him.

"What are you up to? Sneaking off are we?" Sam said in an irritable manner. "Sneaking? Sneaking? Fat Hobbit is always so polite. Smeagol shows them secret ways that nobody else could find and they say sneak! Sneak? Very nice friend, oh yes my precious very nice , very nice!" Gollum said in a sarcastic manner, understanding how rude Sam was being towards him. "Alright! Alright! You just startled me is all. What were you doing?" Sam turns to ask. "Sneaking." Gollum whispered in a sinister manner.

Sam was the only one knowing that Gollum held something untold. "Fine. Have it you own way." He waked Frodo up, as they would start to move. "I'm sorry to wake you, Frodo. We have to be moving on."

Frodo wakes up and looks at the sky, as it's still dark which it had been a long time for them.

"It's dark still." Sam let out a sigh, nodding. "It's always dark here." He checks his pack, as he didn't find the elven bread.

"It's gone!" He starts to feel the panic. "The elven bread, it's gone!" Sam's eyes was wide, as he held the back pack in his hands. "What? That's all we have left!" Frodo said, now Sam turned his gaze over at Gollum.

"He took it! He must have!" Sam yelled out in anger. Gollum's eyes went wide and he shook his head, as he played his role to be innocent.

"Sméagol? No, no, no poor Sméagol. Sméagol hates nasty Elf bread." He said, but Sam shook his head, as he had enough of his lies.

"You lying rat! What did you do with it!" Sam yelled, but Frodo stood up on Gollum's side, knowing Gollum would not eat it.

"He doesn't eat it. He can't have taken it!" Frodo said.

Gollum now was feigning surprised. "Look, what's this?" He wipes the Lembas crumbs off from Sam's shoulder. "Crumbs on his jacketses. He took it. He took it!" Gollum looked at Frodo agan, who saw the crumbs.

"I've seen him. He is always stuffing his face when Master is not looking." Gollum smirked darkly.

Sam now rised his voice and stood up. "That's a filthy lie! You stinking filth face!" He yelled at Gollum, but Frodo stood between the two. Protecthing Gollum.

"Sam! Stop it! No, Sam!" He cried. "I'll kill him!" Sam yelled, but Frodo intervenes. "Sam! No!" Frodo collapses. Sam halts his attack and tends to an exhausted Frodo.

Sam now stood in shock, of his outbrust. "Oh my! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it to go so far. I was just so, so angry. Here. You just… just rest a bit." He said and calmed down, Gollum walked slowly away from the two. "I'm all right." Sam shook his head, looking down.

"No, no you're not all right. You're exhausted. It's that Gollum. It's this place. It's that thing around your neck." Frodo gives Sam a worried look, "I could help a bit. I could carry it for a while for you."

Sam's voice echoes in Frodo's head. "Carry it for a while... I could carry it... Carry it, share the load... The load." Frodo jerks away from his friend yelling out. "Get away!"

"I don't want to keep it! I just want to help!" Sam said, now gollum saw his chance and walked up to Frodo's side. "See? See! He wants it for himself."

Sam narrowed his eyes at the pale figure, "Shut up! Go away! Get out of here!" He yelled, but again Frodo stood up for Gollum. "No Sam. It's you. I'm sorry, Sam."

Sam sits down and cries, "But, he's a liar! He's poisoned you against me!"

Frodo looked at his friend with cold eyes. "You can't help me anymore." "You don't mean that." Sam cried, Frodo slighty nods. "Go home." He left Sam who collapses, still crying and Frodo and Gollum continue up the stairs.

Faramir leads a group of cavalry slowly out of Minas Tirith. Citizens watch on, looking sad. Some throw flowers in the men's path and Gandalf pushes through the crowd.

"Faramir, Faramir! Your father's will is turned to madness. Do not throw away your life so rashly." The wizard spoke aloud and walked up to Faramir. "Where does my allegiance lie if not here?" Faramir continues on his way. "This is the city of the Men of Númenor. I will gladly give my life to defend her beauty, her memory, her wisdom."

"Your father loves you, Faramir. He will remember it before the end." Gandalf said to him as the cavalry forms a line and heads towards Osgiliath. At Osgiliath, orcs rise to meet the charge.

Inside, Denethor eats. Pippin stands nearby. "Can you sing, Master Hobbit?"

Pippin looks at him, "Well, yes. At least, well enough for my own people. But, we have no songs for great halls and evil times." The hobbit replied. "And why should your songs be unfit for my halls? Come, sing me a song."

As Pippin sings, Faramir's men gallop toward Osgiliath, and Denethor eats messily.

"Home is behind, the world ahead and there are many paths to tread.

Through shadow to the edge of night until the stars are all alight.

Mist and shadow cloud and shade all shall fade, all shall fade."

Gandalf sits atop the tower of Minas Tirith, looking out into the vast horizon stretching beyond Osgiliath. He doesn't speak, he doesn't move. He only thinks, silently pondering upon what had just transpired. He had witnessed how the cavalry approached Osgiliath, and from the top of Minas Tirith, he saw how the men were slaughtered. The orc forces were overwhelming & brutally executed every man with a cloud of arrows.

The armies of Mordor were preparing to approach Minas Tirith, and to end the age of men once and for all. Gandalf could only witness how doom approached, and there was naught he could do but wait.

"Make way for the king! The king is here!" A soldier shouted, and several other soldiers lined up to salute Theoden. The encampment that had been prepared at Dunharrow was filled with tents, horses & battle-ready men. The army was large, but smaller than Theoden had expected. "My lord!" A soldier exclaimed & bowed. Theoden waved at him to rise. "Grimbold, how many have you brought?" He asked the soldier.

Grimbold straightened his back. "I bring five-hundred from the Westfold, my lord." He answered. "We have 300 more from Fenmarch, Theoden King." Another soldier joined in. Theoden looked on over the army with his lips tightened. "Where are the riders from Snowbourn?" He asked the soldier. "None have come my lord." The soldier answered.

Aragorn and Theoden looked down on the armies from their high encampment. "Six thousand spears, less than half of what I had hoped for." Theoden stated, disappointed. "Six thousand will not be enough to break the lines of Mordor." Aragorn agreed, his expression not filled with any more hope than Theoden's. "More will come." Theoden stated in the end, and walked away towards his tent. Aragorn followed closely. "Every hour lost hastens Gondor's defeat. We have until dawn, then we must ride." He said to Theoden.

Theoden nods his head in agreement. A neighing horse attracts his attention. They both turn and notice how much difficulty the men have in calming down the horses that seem to be nervous of something. They look toward a small cleft that separates the mountainrange. Ominous sounds seem to verberate from it.

Legolas and Gimli walk amongst Aragorn & Theoden. They meet Eomer who is saddling his horse. "The horses are restless and the men are quiet." Legolas stated calmly. "They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain." Eomer replied, as he rose from his crouching. Gimli looked on to the cleft with a worried expression. "That road there, where does that lead?" He asked. Legolas looked down on his friend. "It is the road to the Dimholt, the door under the mountain." He said to Gimli. Gimli looked up questioningly.

"None who venture there ever return. That mountain is evil." Eomer said, and turned around to walk toward his tent. A man struggles to calm down a frightened horse. Aragorn stares at the pathway looking worried. Then, there appears some sort of mist. And in it, an apparition. It seems to beckon him to continue into the cleft.

"Aragorn!" Gimli shouts from behind. Aragorn is startled and jumps around. "Let's find some food." He says, motioning for Aragorn to follow. Aragorn looks around to observe the cleft again. There is nothing there. He turns to follow Gimli.

The night soon fall and inside a tent, Éowyn helps Merry dress for battle.

"There. A true esquire of Rohan." The woman said to the hobbit, "I'm ready!" Merry draws his sword. Éowyn leans back, startled but amused. "Sorry. It isn't all that dangerous. It's not even sharp." The hobbit said and looked at the sword.

"Well that's no good. You won't kill many orcs with a blunt blade. Come on! To the smithy, go!" Éowyn said to him, and Merry exits the tent, taking practice swings. Éowyn follows, giggles. Éomer and Gamling sit nearby, eating.

"You should not encourage him. You should not doubt him." Éowyn said to Éomer, "I do not doubt his heart, just the reach of his arm." Gamling chuckles.

"Why should Merry be left behind? He has as much cause go to war as you! Why can he not fight for those he loves?" The blonde spoke anew, Éomer stands to face his sister.

"You know as little of war as that Hobbit. When the fear takes him, and the blood and the screams and the horror of battle take hold, do you think he would stand and fight?" He asked her. "He would flee, and he would be right to do so. War is the province of men, Éowyn."

A cloaked rider approaches the upper encampment at Dunharrow. Inside Aragorn's tent, he was dreams of. Dreaming of Arwen as he heard her voice in his mind. "I choose a mortal life. I wish I could have seen him, one last time." The Evenstar pendant falls to the floor and shatters.

Then Aragorn wakes with a cold sweat dripping down his nose and forhead. With drawing his knife. A soldier stands in the tent doorway.

Soldier looked at him, worried. "Sir? King Théoden awaits you, my Lord." Aragorn didn't answer the soilder, as he walks to the king's tent. Aragorn enters Théoden's tent. Théoden stands next to a seated, cloaked figure. "I take my leave." The king spoke, and exits. The cloaked figure stands and approaches Aragorn, lifting his hood.

Aragorn bows at the elf. "My Lord, Elrond." Elrond looked at him with a serious look. "I come on behalf of one whom I love." He said, Aragorn looked up on the elven king, suprise in his eyes.

"Arwen is dying. She will not long survive the evil that now spreads from Mordor. The light of the Evenstar is failing. As Sauron's power grows, her strength wanes. Arwen's life is now tied to the fate of the Ring. The shadow is upon us, Aragorn. The end has come." The king said. "It will not be our end, but His." Aragorn spoke aloud.

"You ride to war but not to victory. Sauron's armies march on Minas Tirith, as you know, but in secret He sends another force, which will attack from the river. A fleet of Corsair ships sails from the South. They'll be in the city in two days." Ships are shown gliding through the water, past burning buildings. "You're outnumbered, Aragorn. You need more men."

"There are none." Aragorn told him, "There are those who... Dwell in the mountain." Elrond said, as a flash is shows of a ghost. "Murderers! Traitors! You would call upon them to fight? They believe in nothing! They answer to no one."

"They will answer to the King of Gondor!" Elrond reveals a sword. "Andúril. Flame of the West. Forged from the shards of Narsil." Aragorn's eyes went wide, as he saw the sword. "Sauron will not have forgotten the Sword of Elendil." Aragorn draws the sword. "The blade that was broken shall return to Minas Tirith."

"The man who can wield the power of this sword can summon to him an army more deadly than any that walks this earth. Put aside the ranger. Become who you were born to be. Take the Dimholt road." Elrond spoke, and Aragorn looks uncertain. "I gave Hope to the Dúnedain." The elven king said. "I have kept no hope for myself." Aragorn readies his horse to depart. Éowyn approaches.

"Why are you doing this? The war lies to the East. You cannot leave on the eve of battle!" Éowyn asked, she was clearly struggling for words. "You can't abandon the men." She said and walks by his side. Aragorn stops and looks at the blonde girl. "Éowyn..."

"We need you here." She said, and grabbed his arm, "Why have you come?" Aragorn asked her, she frowned. "Do you not know?" Éowyn asked him. "It is but a shadow and a thought that you love. I can't give you what you seek." Aragorn paused and looked down to the gorund slightly. "I have you wished you joy since first I saw you." He then touches her face and turns away, Éowyn is shocked by his words, and she is sorrow and also pain in shown in her eyes.

Aragorn approaches the Dimholt road alone. "Just where do you think you're off to?" Gimli asked and looked up to him, "Not this time. This time you must stay, Gimli." Aragorn replied and Legolas appears with his horse.

"Have you learned nothing of the stubbornness of dwarves?" The elf smiled, "Might as well accept it. We're going with you, laddie." Gimli said to him.

The three start off on the Dimholt road.

"What's happening, where is he going? I don't understand." A soldier ran up to Theoden, asking. "Lord Aragorn! Why does he leave on the eve of battle?" The soldier kept going.

"He leaves because there is no hope." Gamling responded, who walked up next to Theoden. "He leaves because he must." Theoden looked on and answered them both. Gamling looked at Theoden with hopeless eyes. "To few have come. We cannot defeat the armies of Mordor." He said with heavy words. Theoden placed a hand on Gamling's shoulder & shook his head. "No, we can't. But we will face them in battle nonetheless." He then turned and walked back to the camp, towards Eowyn.

Eowyn stands by herself, on the cliff that overlooks the entire amassed human army. She holds herself in a small hug. "I have left instruction." Theoden walks past her also looking out into the distance. "The people are to follow your rule in my stead." He turns around and looks at her. "Take up my seat in the Golden Hall. Long may you defend Edoras, if the battle goes ill." He says while looking at her with a father's loving eyes. "What other duty would you have me do my lord?" She asked her uncle.

Theoden eyed her with disbelief. "Duty?" He shakes his head and moves towards her "No." He takes her hands and looks at her. "I would have you smile again, not grieve for those whose time has come. You shall live to see these days renewed" He holds her head and puts his forehead on hers. "And no more despair" He finishes.

Rash had not lost his pace, and kept his stride going strong, his stamina not failing him. "Not far now. I'm starting to see the top of Minas Tirith!" Valerie said aloud, as she sat atop his shoulder. But she was also able to see something else. In the far distance, opposite the mountain that the white city was built upon, Osgiliath was overrun with blackness & orcs. War engines rolled from the ruins of the defensive port city, and enormous trolls could be seen even from their distance.

"It doesn't look good. They are so many." She said with a voice filled with awe. Rash ran up a cliffside so that he could get a better look. He saw how the plains were extremely far & wide, and that little vegetation grew there. The armies of Mordor would soon cover the entirity "If they're anything like the army we fought at Erebor, this will turn out in our favor. You see how they're clumped up?" He said while pointing in the distance. "Just like at Helm's Deep, you can use his power here." He looked at her sword that glimmered with orange heat inside her sheath. Valerie nodded as Rash looked at her. They took off again, hurrying to the defense of Minas Tirith.

Gimli looks around at the old ruins inside the mountain cleft. They had wandered far, and were located just next to an ancient entrance. Their horses seemed unnerved, and moved erratically. "What kind of army would linger in such a place?" Gimli asked, a bit fearful. "One that is cursed. Long ago the men of the mountains swore an oath to the last King of Gondor. To come to his aid, to fight. But when the time came, when Gondor's need was dire, they fled vanishing into the darkness of the mountain. And so Isildur cursed them, never to rest until they had fulfilled their pledge. Who shall call them from the grey twilight, the forgotten people? The heir of him to whom the oath they swore. From the North shall he come, need shall drive him. He shall pass the door to the Paths of the Dead." Legolas told Gimli, informing him over the history of the place they were in.

"The very warmth of my blood seems stolen away." Gimli said as they were approaching the entrance. Legolas reads the inscription above the door. "The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead and the dead keep it. The way is shut." He read aloud. Something comes out of the door towards them at a rush. It spooks the horses, which pull on the reins and run away from the three members of the fellowship. "Brego!" Aragorn shouts after his horse. It was to no avail, he had already disappeared out of the cleft. "I do not fear death." Aragorn said, raising his sword & walked straight through the entrance. Legolas followed without a word.

"Well this is a thing unheard of. An elf will go underground, where a dwarf dare not. Oh. Oh, I'd never hear the end of it." Gimli says as he runs after them.

Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli continues moving inside the Paths of the Dead, past piles of skulls. "What is it? What do you see?" Gimli asked from behind the elf and human. "I see shapes of men and of horses." Legolas said, Gimli looked around himself. "Where?" He asked, holdingh is axe high.

"Pale banners like shreds of cloud. Spears rise like winter-thickets through a shroud of mist. The dead are following. They have been summoned." Legolas spoke, "The Dead? Summoned? I knew that. Very good. Very good. Legolas!" Gimli runs to catch up. Shapes of arms are surround Legolas and Aragorn, who brush them aside. Gimli puffs at the ghosts around him.

"Do not look down." Aragorn said to them, as Gimli stops at a snapping sound under his feet. He looks down and sees hundreds of skulls. Every step he takes lets a crackling out. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli run into a great underground hall with a large doorway.

The King of the Dead: "Who enters my domain?" A ghost appears, "One who will have your allegiance." The King of the Dead looked at Aragorn. "The dead do not suffer the living to pass." It spoke.

"You will suffer me!" Aragorn yelled, the ghost King now laughs. A dead city appears. Dead soldiers walk out of the city and encircle the living. "The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead. And the dead keep it." It said, "The way is shut. Now you must die." The King approaches Aragorn. Legolas shoots at King, but the arrow passes right through the ghost's head.

"I summon you to fulfill your oath." Aragorn said, "None but the King of Gondor may command me!" The dead King replied, but Aragorn draws the sword of the King. The ghosts swings at Aragorn. Aragorn parries the blow with the Sword of Elendil, much to the ghost's surprise. "That bind was broken!"

"It has been remade." Aragorn shoves back the ghost. "Fight for us, and regain your honor. What say you?" Aragorn surveys the dead soldiers. "What say you?"

Gimli, looked up at Aragorn, now fear was seen in the dwarf "You waste your time, Aragorn! They had no honor in life, they have none now in death." "I am Isildur's heir. Fight for me and I will hold your oaths fulfilled! What say you!" The King of the Dead smirks. The Dead King laughs as his army begins to fade.

"You have my word! Fight, and I will release you from this living death! What say you?" Aragorn yelled, "Stand, you traitors!" The ground shakes. Skulls roll on the floor. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli turn to the breaking doorway to see thousands of skulls flowing out of it. "Out!" Aragorn yelled to his friends, and they run but are nearly swept away by the skulls.

The party fights their way through the sea of skulls and escapes to the outdoors. Emerging from the doorway in the mountainside, Aragorn sees the black ships and the cities they have sacked. Aragorn falls to his knees in despair. He then hears a sound behind him and turns around. The King of the Dead appears before the heir to the Gondorian throne.

"We fight!" The King of the Dead was speaking out with his army of dead kings and soilders.

The armies of Mordor were approaching quickly. Masses of panicked citizens ran for cover around the city, as they heard the trembling footsteps of the innumberable armies outside the city walls. Gandalf watched from atop Minas Tirith how the mass of black armor approached. Trolls, orcs, uruk-hai & warmachines - they were all great tools of destruction wielded by Sauron.

A horse was running from the approaching army, dragging someone behind it. The person had fallen off his saddle, yet was still stuck to the horse's harness.

"Open the gates! Quickly" A soldier shouted to his fellow brethren bellow the watchtower. The gates creaked open, and the horse galloped inside. The body was that of Faramir's, heavily bruised & scarred. The soldiers pulled him up on a stretcher & carried him up towards the great stairs of the white city, until they reached the top - next to the white tree of Gondor.

Denethor rushes toward the soldiers with a look of despair on his face. "Faramir! Say not that he has fallen!" He cries as he runs to his son on the stretcher. "They were outnumbered. None survived." The soldier spoke to the steward of Gondor, breathing heavily from carrying Faramir.

Outside the walls of the white city, the armies of Sauron had stopped at a distance. "Fear. The city is rank with it! Ha ha ha ha. Let us ease their pain. Release the prisoners!" The general of the army, Gothmog, yelled & spat at the ground. The cranking of catapults were heard, and when they were fully sprung - they heaved hundreds of projectiles over the walls of Minas Tirith.

Heads. Decapitated heads of Gondor's soldiers were raining down on the streets of Minas Tirith. Women, children & even the guards were screaming in sheer terror at what they were witnessing.

Gothmog laughed grimly & ordered for the catapults to get ready again.

"My sons are spent!" Denethor exclaimed as he witnessed the horror that was unfolding down below the spire.

Pippin kneeled next to Faramir & observed him carefully. He saw a faint breath taken by Faramir, as his chest slightly lifted. "He's alive!" Pippin yelled as he turned around to Denethor. It was too late, however. Despair had taken the steward. "The house of stewards has failed." He said to himself.

"He needs medicine, my lord!" Pippin shouted to Denethor that was walking away. "My line has ended!" Denethor screamed in despair. He looks at the orc army outside the walls & sees how they're readying their warmachines to raze the walls of Minas Tirith. "Rohan has abandoned us." He says silently, but loud enough for the surrounding guards to hear. The catapults let loose and the city begins to crumble. Chaos ensues with people trying to run away from the falling rubble. "Theoden's betrayed me! ABANDON YOUR POSTS!" Denethor yelled, trying to reach every person in the city.

The guards are stunned from their steward's orders. They do not know what to do.

"FLEE! FLEE FOR YOUR LIVES!" He screamed and spat. He's struck from behind. The steward faints.

"Prepare for battle!" Gandalf booms with a commanding voice, and surrounding guards nod & start to take their positions. Then, he sees something approaching from outside the walls. Coming from the west, a large individual charges against the bulk of the giant army. Gandalf smiles, realizing that hope was not lost.

Akandir pulled from his great back, the wolf knight raises his greatsword into the sky - letting it bask in the still remaining rays of sunlight that were not yet covered by the dark clouds of Mordor. The horde recoils as hundreds of orcs realize the attack coming from their side. Several orcs raise their halbers & spears to shield themselves, but to no avail. With a great swing of Akandir, Rash completely obliterates them in a bloody mess. The surrounding orcs are terrified & back away while circling around the great knight. A troll notices the knight and turns to charge him with it's great club.

It's steps are slow, and as it lumbers towards the knight, it doesn't notice the small individual climbing upon it's back. With a gentle push, Valerie let's her fiery sword pierce through the neck of the troll. It reacts by drunkedly losing it's footing, falling over onto it's face, crashing upon several orcs below it - crushing them.

Valerie draws a slow, controlled breath, then exhales. As she does, the sword embedded in the troll's neck starts glowing bright. The entirety of the troll's body sets aflame - burning it to a husk instantly. The girl steps down & pulls her sword from the ashes. Every orc nearby are stunned, unable to move because of shock. Valerie stretches her neck, making a small cracking sound. She then looks to the gates as they're being assaulted by catapults & trolls. "Rash!" She shouts. The wolf knight pauses his slaughter & turns to look at her. He then observes the gates, and nods to Valerie. He strides toward the gates while slashing & crushing orcs along the way. Valerie joins him.

Gollum and Frodo crest the stairs. Gollum motions Frodo to enter a tunnel. "There." Gollum said, Frodo looked around himself, he did not know where Gollum had lead him to. "What is this place?" Gollum was getting impatiently by the hobbit. "It's the only way! Go in or go back." Gollum said to him, "I can't go back." Frodo and Gollum enter the dark and long tunnel. The smell of orcs was in the air, "What's that smell?" Frodo asked, "Orcses filth. Orcses come in here sometimes." Gollum scurries ahead, "Hurry!" Frodo loses track of his guide and was all alone. "Sméagol?" Then his voice was heard again. "Over here!" But Frodo continues the hall. He reached out his hand and it lands in a web. "Ahh! It's sticky! What is it?" Frodo paniced asked, and heard Gollum snickering. "You will see. Oh yes, you will see." His voice echoed. "Sméagol? Sméagol!" Frodo yelled as he was left alone.

Frodo steps on a skeleton, and sees other dead animals hanging, wrapped in webs. He begins to run. Sam jogs down the stair, he slips and falls down the final steps. On the ground, he looks up and sees the Lembas. He grabs the bread and crushes it angrily. He turns and looks up the stairs, then begins climbing. Frodo runs and falls into a clump of webs and bones. He remeber what Galadriel had gived him. "I give you the Light of Eärendil, our most beloved star. May it be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out." Frodo fumbles in his pockets. He pulls out the phial of Galadriel, he holds up the phial. "Hail Eärendil brightest of the Stars!" He said and turns to see something large moving behind him. It is a giant spider. Frodo holds up the light to the spider, who is taken aback by its glow.

The hobbit runs, and is chased after the spider, ready for it's pray. Frodo holds off the spider with the phial. He becomes tangled in a spiderweb and can't move out from it as it sticks to his feet, arms and clothes. The web holds him spread-eagle off, the ground. He then looks back at the dead bodies ensnared in the webs not far away from him, and the fear grew in him. Gollum emerges from behind a rock, watching Frodo with glee. "Naughty little fly, why does it cry? Caught in a web! Soon you'll be eaten." Shelob, the spider approaches. Frodo cuts his way out of the web with his sword. Gollum shrieks and runs. Frodo frees himself, but drops Sting on his way. He runs out of the lair (by way of a hole too small for Shelob to enter) and falls down, exhausted.

"Got away, did it? Precious! Not this time! Not this time!" Gollum pounces on Frodo. Frodo and Gollum fight, while Gollum tries to take the Ring from Frodo. The young hobbit now enraged, starts to choke Gollum. "It wasn't us! It wasn't us! Sméagol wouldn't hurt Master! We promised!" Frodo's anger dissipates. He stops choking Gollum. "You must believe us. It was the Precious! The Precious made us do it!" Frodo releases Gollum and stands, looking weary. "I have to destroy It, Sméagol. I have to destroy It for both our sakes."

But Gollum grows angry at him and attacks Frodo in a fury. Frodo flips Gollum over and watches as he falls over a cliff. Frodo stands up on his feet, exhausted and alone. "I'm so sorry, Sam. So sorry." He said as the hobbit collapses to the ground again. Galadriel's voice was yet again heard in his head. "This task was appointed to you, Frodo of the Shire. If you do not find a way, no one will." Galadriel pulls Frodo up to his feet. He rises and sets back on the path to Cirith Ungol.

Frodo comes within sight of the Tower of Cirith Ungol, Shelob however are silently and crawls across the rocks overhead. Frodo didn't know she was there. He turns around at the sign of falling rocks, but sees nothing. As he turns back towards the tower, Shelob stabs Frodo with her stinger. He groans, froths at the mouth, and passes out. Shelob grabs the limp hobbit and wraps him into a cocoon.

Sam approaches the great spider. He holds Sting in one hand and the Phial of Galadriel in the other. "Let him go, you filth!" Sam yelled, clearly angry. "Let him go! You will not touch him again! Come on and finish it!" Shelob hisses and attacks Sam. They fight over the rocky terrain, Sam loses the phial and the fight continues. Sam swipes at the spider, but loses his own sword. He retrieves Sting and stabs Shelob with it.

Shelob writhes in pain, possibly fatally struck. He picks up the Phial and uses it to drive Shelob back to her lair. "Back!" Sam yelled, and after Shelob retreats. Sam runs to Frodo, still wrapped in the cocoon. "Frodo!" Sam tears the spider web from Frodo's face. Frodo is pale and does not move or breathe. "Oh, no! Wake up! Frodo! Don't leave me here alone! Don't go where I can't follow." Sam holds Frodo and the hobbit start crying.

The war and fighting, against men and orcs, continues at Minas Tirith. The battering ram Grond pulls up to the outer city gates. Trolls pull back the ram and let it slam into the gate. "Grond! Grond!" Orcs yells out and exchange volleys with archers above the gate. Gandalf, again mounted on Shadowfax, rallies the soldiers to the gate.

"Back to the gate! Hurry!" Gandalf hurried and the army did as told. The wizard saw the the knight and assassin, who ahd come to help. They both killed orcs from left to right. Rash hurried to their way to the gate, smaching away orcs who stood in his way. Valerie took care of the orcs who would come closer to the gate. "Unleash me from the sword." The voice was heard in her head, as she glanzed at her sword, Smaug who was in the blade faced her. Valerie held the hilt with her hands, and nods. She knew that the only chance of winning so many orcs, she had to listen to the fire drake, as Valerie knew she had to set his spirit form to the real demention to fight the armies and future to come. But how, she didn't know.

Grond pounds the city gates. Gandalf and a group of soldiers wait inside. "Steady! Steady!" Gandalf said, the grond breaks through the top of the gate. The soldiers murmur in despair. "You are soldiers of Gondor! No matter what comes through that gate, you will stand your ground!" The gate breaks and crumbles. Heavily armed and armored trolls jog through the gates. "Volley! Fire!" A few trolls are brought down, but several soldiers are killed. The Gondorians are pushed back.

During the siege of Minas Tirith, Rash & Valerie cut down hundreds of orcs & several trolls. Despite this, even more orcs took their place, marching ever forward. Enormous siege towers were rolling up to the walls, and Rash tried to fight his way through the dark, twisted monstrosities in his path. He knew he had to bring those towers down, otherwise, everyone in the city would fall victim to the bloodthirsty orcs.

Gandalf held the gate with the remaining soldiers for a while, but realized that they had to spare the men & not waste their lives. "Back, back into the city!" He shouted to the soldiers, having them pull back towards the streets of Minas Tirith.

Pippin looks from the high parapet over the flaming city. He turns back to see Denethor leading a procession holding a flaming brand. Faramir is being borne on a stretcher. "I am steward of the house of Anrion. Thus have I walked, and thus now I will sleep." Pippin runs towards them. He watches the procession pass him in astonishment. "Gondor is lost. There is no hope for men." The steward says as he passes the white tree, which had grown a leaf. "Why do the fools fly? Better to die sooner than late. For die we must." He continued as he lead the procession into the kingly catacombs. "No tomb for Denethor and Faramir. No long slow sleep of death embalmed. We shall burn like the heathen Kings of old. Bring wood and oil." He spoke to his soldiers. They turned & ran for the supplies.

Pippin stares from behind a pillar, observing what was happening before him. "The house of his spirit crumbles. He's already burning." Denethor said as he felt Faramir's forehead. Pippin runs over in panic. "He's not dead! HE'S NOT DEAD!" He screams and shouts as he pulls sticks away from the pyre that was not yet lit. Denethor pulls Pippin on his jacket & drags him through the corridor. "Farewell, Pippin. Son of Paladin." Denethor said, as he threw Pippin out the gates of the catacombs. "No! NO!" Pippin shouted as he tried to get up before Denethor closed the doors. "I release you from my service. Go now and die and what way seems best to you." He said, as the doors slammed shut. Pippin looked desperate & looked around, running down a long series of steps.

"Pour on oil." Denethor said to his soldiers. And so they did.

Soldiers around Pippin are scrambling to get to a better position. Pippin struggles to find Gandalf among the crowd of metal & swords. "Gandalf!" He shouts. "Where is Gandalf!?" He shouts again, but the soldiers ignore him.

"Retreat! The city is breached. Fall back to the second level. Get the women and children out. Get them out. Retreat." Gandalf shouts as he keeps running by several soldiers, loosing their arrows on the orc army bellow the walls. The soldiers follow, but are soon followed by a sea of orcs that stream into the city, hunting the remaining soldiers. Men are butchered, and women run away screaming for their lives.

"Fight! Fight to the last man. Fight for your lives." Gandalf shouts as he backs up, fighting with the men & keeping the orcs from advancing further.

"Gandalf!" Pippin shouts behind Gandalf, standing among the fighting. "Gandalf! Denethor has lost his mind. He's burning Faramir alive!" Gandalf turns to Pippin, runs over & grabs him by the arm. "Up! Quickly!" He tells the hobbit, as Shadowfax gallops up to them. He throws Pippin up on the horse, and they ride upwards the upper levels of Minas Tirith. As they arrive at the level below the top spire, a fel beast flaps it's wings above. A piercing scream is heard. Pippin has to hold his ears to keep the sound from reaching him.

Gandalf holds his staff high, pointing it at the rider of the fel beast. "Go back to the abyss! Fall into the nothingness that awaits you and your master!" He shouts to the rider. "Do you not know death when you see it, old man?" The witch king of Angmar hisses loudly. Pippin screams in agony of the sound. "This is my hour!" The witchking says & holds his own sword high, setting it ablaze with dark magic. Gandalf's staff explodes, and with it, most of his power is taken from him. Gandalf & Pippin are pushed off the back of Shadowfax from the shockwave of the staff exploding.

"Gandalf!" Pippin screams, as he turns to look at Gandalf, who now is looking dazed & hopeless on the ground. Pippin steps up, pulls his sword and charges agains the fel beast. The monster roars at him, and he stops dead in his tracks from the fear that paralyzes him. "You have failed! The world of men will fall." The witchking hisses again, raising his sword in readyness to cut the wizard down, once and for all.

But then, a horn is sounded. The witchking looks away into the distance, looks back at Gandalf, then flies off on his fel beast without saying a word.