Just got back from seeing the Two Towers and was thinking how it was different from the book. After seeing the movie I am confused of how the sequence of the book went (I finished reading it last week) and have some questions.

1. Why is Gandalf taking Pippin to Gondor?
2. What is Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Merry and Theoden doing while Gandalf is taking Pippin to Gondor?

Thanks! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Oof! A tricky one this..

At the close of Two Towers, the 'party' have visited Isengard and Gandalf has removed Saruman as the head of the Order of Wizards. Riding back and making camp, a sudden fear grips all present, and Gandalf realises a Nazgul has flown overhead, destnation Isengard. This means Sauron will be aware of the fall of Isengard a lot sooner than anyone had hoped.

Gandalf decides to set out to Gondor immediately, for as soon as Sauron finds out Rohan still has life in it and will be riding to the defence of Gondor he is going to attack Minas Tirith asap. He takes Pippin with him, ostensibly to keep Pip away from the Palantir of Orthanc (given to Aragorn) but possibly to guarantee an audience with Denethor, Stweard of Gondor. Pippin was, after all, present during Denethor's son Boromir's last moments.

Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Theoden and Merry ride back to Edoras, capital of Rohan. Aragorn decides to look into the Palantir of Orthanc, and challenges Sauron for mastery of it - and barely, barely wins. Through the seeing stone, Aragorn sees a vast army from Umbar (south territory) preparing to take ship to Gondor and reinforce Sauron's army. Realising he needs to stop it, he - and Legolas and Gimli - decide to travel by a tunnel through the mountains, named the Paths of the Dead - by far the quickest route to Umbar, but cursed by unquiet spirits of dead men and supposely fatal to any living that journey through it.

Theoden oversees the muster of Rohan, calling forth for all Riders of Rohan to join his army, ready to ride to Gondor's aid. Merry wants to go with them, but Theoden turns him down - a Hobbit on a pony will be at serious risk to life and limb in a cavalry charge. Merry, however, manages to come along; travelling with a mysterious, helmed Rider named Dernhelm, who is willing to bear Merry to Gondor.

And there we go - Return of the King begins!

Tancred

Yep, Pippin looked into the Palantír and Sauron saw him so Gandalf decided to keep him away from it to confuse Sauron.

Otherwise Great answer Tancred.... [img]smile.gif[/img]

Small error

The Path of the Dead does not lead to Umbar (which is located futher to the south (on the coast of Near Harad))

IIRC it leads to the southern part of Gondor (where they hope to gather reinforcements for the upcomming battle(s))

<font color="#ffccff">Good answer tanc [img]smile.gif[/img] and I think you are right and Aragorn ending up in Umbar. If you follow the map closely while he and gimili and the Dunadain gather the army of the dead..they end up taking over the ships that were to come north from Umbar.

Edit: Note that Aragorn and Co. end up in Gondor via sailing north up the err shoot, river....can't remember the name right off.... </font>

[ 12-30-2002, 03:29 PM: Message edited by: MagiK ]

True. Mind you, travelling via the Paths is a heck of a lot quicker than going round the mountains...
I believe it's at the coastal city of Pelargir that Aragorn deals with this Corsair army. The people of that area were afraid to send the majority of their armies north to defend Minas Tirith, fearing raids by Corsairs; but, with the Corsairs destroyed, they decide to follow Aragorn north to relieve the besieged Tower Guard.

Using the ships of the Corsairs to travel up the Anduin river is a stroke of brilliance on Aragorn's part, as is later to be revealed...

Tanc again

[ 12-30-2002, 07:24 PM: Message edited by: Tancred ]

Remember also that the dead in the paths are the spirits of a people who swore an oath to Aragorn's ancestor Isildur. They are doomed to haunt the tunnels until they fulfill their oath to one of Isildur's decendants.

I don't remember Aragorn, Gimli etc. riding back to Edoras in the Two Towers (book) What chapter?

Thanks a lot Tancred! [img]smile.gif[/img]

"I don't remember Aragorn, Gimli etc. riding back to Edoras in the Two Towers (book) What chapter?"

It's in Return of the King, Chapter 2 "The Passing of the Grey Company".

Thanks Billy. I thought that didn't happen in TTT! Tancred confused me [img]tongue.gif[/img]