The Return of the King
Chapters - J. R. R. Tolkien
Book 5: Book V
Chapter 1: Minas Tirith
Pippin arrives at Minas Tirith with Gandalf and is brought before Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, who questions him about his son Boromir's death. Pippin swears fealty to Denethor and is taken into his service, then explores the city with Beregond, a soldier of the Guard, and his son Bergil, watching the arrival of the meagre reinforcements from Gondor's southern fiefs including Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth.
On page: Peregrin Took, Gandalf, Denethor, Faramir, Beregond, Bergil, Prince Imrahil, Forlong·Mentioned: Boromir, Frodo Baggins, Aragorn
Chapter 2: The Passing of the Grey Company
Aragorn parts ways with Théoden after being joined by the Dúnedain Rangers from the North, and reveals he has challenged Sauron through the Palantír of Orthanc. He resolves to take the Paths of the Dead to reach the southern coasts, while Merry rides with the king towards Dunharrow, where Éowyn pleads in vain to ride with Aragorn and is left behind to govern Rohan.
POV: Meriadoc Brandybuck·On page: Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Théoden, Éomer, Éowyn, Halbarad, Elladan, Elrohir·Mentioned: Gandalf
Chapter 3: The Muster of Rohan
Merry arrives at Dunharrow with Théoden and learns that Aragorn has already departed via the Paths of the Dead. The Red Arrow arrives from Gondor begging for aid, and Théoden musters the Rohirrim to ride to war, but releases Merry from his service, deeming the hobbit unable to keep pace. A mysterious young rider called Dernhelm secretly takes Merry up before him on his horse as the host departs into the deepening darkness.
On page: Meriadoc Brandybuck, Théoden, Éowyn, Éomer, Hirgon·Mentioned: Aragorn
Chapter 4: The Siege of Gondor
Pippin begins his service to Denethor as darkness spreads from Mordor and the siege of Minas Tirith begins. Faramir returns from Ithilien and reports his encounter with Frodo, provoking Denethor's bitter grief that Faramir did not seize the Ring. Faramir is wounded defending the retreat from Osgiliath, and Denethor, broken by despair and his use of the Palantír, descends into madness as the enemy batters down the Great Gate, only for the horns of Rohan to sound at the last moment.
On page: Peregrin Took, Gandalf, Denethor, Faramir, Beregond, Witch-king of Angmar·Mentioned: Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee
Chapter 5: The Ride of the Rohirrim
Merry rides hidden with Dernhelm as Théoden leads the Rohirrim through the Druadan Forest, where Ghan-buri-Ghan, chief of the Wild Men, offers to guide them by a secret road past the enemy blockade. The host emerges onto the Pelennor Fields at dawn as the wind changes and the darkness breaks, and Théoden sounds his great charge, leading the Rohirrim in a thunderous assault that sweeps the enemy before them.
On page: Meriadoc Brandybuck, Théoden, Éowyn, Éomer, Ghan-buri-Ghan·Mentioned: Hirgon
Chapter 6: The Battle of the Pelennor Fields
Théoden is slain when the Lord of the Nazgûl descends upon him, but Éowyn, revealed as Dernhelm, defies the Witch-king and slays his winged steed, while Merry stabs the wraith from behind, and together they destroy him. Éomer leads the Rohirrim in furious grief until Aragorn arrives with the black fleet, bearing the standard of Elendil, and together they rout the forces of Mordor.
On page: Meriadoc Brandybuck, Théoden, Éowyn, Éomer, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Gandalf, Peregrin Took, Forlong, Witch-king of Angmar·Mentioned: Halbarad
Chapter 7: The Pyre of Denethor
Pippin alerts Gandalf that Denethor has gone mad and intends to burn himself and the unconscious Faramir alive on a funeral pyre. Gandalf races to the tombs in Rath Dinen, where Beregond has fought the Steward's servants to protect Faramir, and rescues the wounded man just in time. Denethor reveals a Palantír, denounces Gandalf and Aragorn, and immolates himself on the pyre, clutching the Seeing Stone.
On page: Peregrin Took, Gandalf, Denethor, Faramir, Beregond·Mentioned: Aragorn
Chapter 8: The Houses of Healing
Pippin finds Merry wandering lost in the city, wounded and chilled by the Black Breath. Aragorn enters the Houses of Healing in secret and uses athelas to heal Faramir, Éowyn, and Merry, fulfilling Ioreth's words that the hands of the king are the hands of a healer. Aragorn refuses to enter the city as king, instead pitching his tents on the field while Prince Imrahil takes command of Gondor.
POV: Peregrin Took·On page: Aragorn, Meriadoc Brandybuck, Éowyn, Faramir, Gandalf, Éomer, Ioreth, Beregond, Bergil, Prince Imrahil, The Warden of the Houses of Healing
Chapter 9: The Last Debate
Legolas and Gimli visit Merry and Pippin in the Houses of Healing and tell the tale of their journey through the Paths of the Dead and the capture of the Corsair fleet. Gandalf counsels the captains that their only hope lies in distracting Sauron from the Ring-bearer by marching on the Black Gate as bait, and Aragorn, Éomer, and Imrahil agree to this desperate strategy.
On page: Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, Éomer, Meriadoc Brandybuck, Peregrin Took, Prince Imrahil, Elladan, Elrohir·Mentioned: Halbarad
Chapter 10: The Black Gate Opens
The army of the West marches to the Morannon, where the Mouth of Sauron rides out to taunt Gandalf and Aragorn with Frodo's mithril coat and elven cloak, claiming the Ring-bearer is captured. Gandalf rejects Sauron's terms and seizes the tokens, and the trap is sprung as vast hosts pour from the Black Gate. Pippin fights beside Beregond and slays a great troll-chief before being buried beneath it, hearing the distant cry of the Eagles as consciousness fades.
On page: Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, Meriadoc Brandybuck, Peregrin Took, Éomer, Beregond, Mablung, Prince Imrahil, The Mouth of Sauron, Elladan, Elrohir·Mentioned: Frodo Baggins, Lord of the Eagles
Book 6: Book VI
Chapter 1: The Tower of Cirith Ungol
Sam fights his way into the Tower of Cirith Ungol, finding the orc garrison has slaughtered itself in a quarrel over Frodo's mithril coat. He sings in despair at a dead end until Frodo's faint voice answers, then slays the last orc guard and rescues his master from the topmost chamber. Sam returns the Ring to Frodo, who briefly turns hostile under its influence before recovering, and they disguise themselves in orc gear to escape through the gate, using the Phial of Galadriel to break the will of the Watchers.
On page: Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Shagrat, Snaga·Mentioned: Gorbag
Chapter 2: The Land of Shadow
Frodo and Sam flee into the desolate valley of the Morgai and turn northward through Mordor, enduring thirst, exhaustion, and the ever-growing weight of the Ring. They witness the breaking of the darkness on the morning of the Battle of the Pelennor Fields and hear the distant cry of the Witch-king's destruction. Caught briefly in a marching orc column, they escape into the wastes and struggle onward toward Mount Doom, sustained only by lembas and fading hope.
On page: Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee·Mentioned: Gollum, Hamfast Gamgee, Witch-king of Angmar
Chapter 3: Mount Doom
Sam carries Frodo up the slopes of Mount Doom when his master can no longer walk, only for Gollum to attack them on Sauron's Road in a final attempt to seize the Ring. At the Crack of Doom, Frodo claims the Ring for himself, but Gollum bites the Ring from his finger and falls into the fire, destroying the Ring and bringing down Sauron's realm. The Eagles rescue Frodo and Sam from the erupting mountain.
On page: Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Gollum, Lord of the Eagles
Chapter 4: The Field of Cormallen
Sam wakes in Ithilien to find Gandalf alive and learns that Sauron has fallen. He and Frodo are honoured before the assembled host by Aragorn, who bows to them and sets them on his throne while a minstrel sings of Frodo of the Nine Fingers. They are reunited with Merry and Pippin, and all the companions feast together before the army returns to the Pelennor for the King's crowning.
On page: Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, Meriadoc Brandybuck, Peregrin Took, Éomer, Prince Imrahil, Elladan, Elrohir, The Warden of the Houses of Healing
Chapter 5: The Steward and the King
Éowyn and Faramir meet in the Houses of Healing and slowly fall in love as they wait for news of the war. After the fall of Sauron, Faramir surrenders his stewardship and crowns Aragorn as King Elessar before the assembled people. Aragorn finds a sapling of the White Tree on Mount Mindolluin, and at Midsummer he weds Arwen, who arrives with Elrond, Galadriel, and Celeborn.
On page: Aragorn, Faramir, Éowyn, Gandalf, Arwen, Elrond, Galadriel, Celeborn, Beregond, Éomer, Frodo Baggins, Ioreth, Meriadoc Brandybuck, Glorfindel, Elladan, Elrohir, The Warden of the Houses of Healing·Mentioned: Hurin
Chapter 6: Many Partings
After the coronation, the fellowship begins to scatter from Minas Tirith. Aragorn gives gifts and bids farewell to Frodo, Faramir, Eomer and Imrahil, and the company rides north to Edoras for Theoden's funeral, where Eomer hosts a wedding-feast and announces the betrothal of Faramir and Eowyn. Travelling on to Helm's Deep and Isengard, they visit Treebeard, who has freed Saruman; on the road they meet Saruman himself, broken and begging, with Wormtongue at his heel. At Rivendell, Frodo and Sam find Bilbo content among his books, and Bilbo gives Frodo the Red Book and his maps. The company splits, and the hobbits ride west with Gandalf, meeting Saruman once more on the road near Bree.
On page: Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, Peregrin Took, Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, Galadriel, Elrond, Saruman, Éomer, Éowyn, Faramir, Arwen, Celeborn, Treebeard, Quickbeam, Gríma Wormtongue, Bilbo Baggins·Mentioned: Théoden, Ghan-buri-Ghan
Chapter 7: Homeward Bound
The hobbits and Gandalf ride homeward through lands still unsettled, with Frodo suffering on the anniversary of his stabbing at Weathertop. At Bree they find Barliman Butterbur troubled by ruffians and hard times, and Sam is delighted to find his pony Bill has returned safely. Gandalf parts from them near the Shire to visit Tom Bombadil, warning the hobbits they must handle their homeland's troubles themselves.
On page: Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, Peregrin Took, Gandalf, Barliman Butterbur·Mentioned: Bill Ferny, Harry Goatleaf, Tom Bombadil, Lotho Sackville-Baggins
Chapter 8: The Scouring of the Shire
The hobbits return to Bree to find the Shire closed and unfriendly, then are arrested by shirriffs at the Brandywine Bridge, where Hob Hayward greets them shamefacedly. Reunited with old friends, they raise the Shire from the Cotton farm, where Farmer Cotton, Mrs Cotton, Young Tom and his brothers help muster hobbits alongside the shirriff Robin Smallburrow. The ruffians are routed at the Battle of Bywater, and the hobbits march on Bag End for the final showdown. There Sharkey reveals himself as Saruman; Wormtongue cuts his throat and is shot down by hobbit archers, and Saruman's grey spirit is scattered by a wind from the West. Lobelia Sackville-Baggins is freed from the Lockholes, and Frodo, in pity, gives Bag End back to her.
On page: Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, Peregrin Took, Saruman, Gríma Wormtongue, Rosie Cotton, Bill Ferny, Hamfast Gamgee, Ted Sandyman, Tolman Cotton, Mrs Cotton, Robin Smallburrow, Hob Hayward, Young Tom Cotton, Nibs Cotton·Mentioned: Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, Lotho Sackville-Baggins, Will Whitfoot