LOTR: The Two Towers

Pierre La Monica

English 3 Honors

Mr. Horner

4/18/16

LOTR: The Two Towers

As Frodo and Sam leave, orcs capture Merry and Pippin and kill Boromir. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli decide to let Frodo go and rescue Merry and Pippin. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli follow the orcs as they run across Rohan toward Saruman's fortress. They find evidence the orcs of Sauron and Saruman have fought and that either one hobbit is still alive, but they begin to lose hope as they fall farther and farther behind. After three days of running, they meet a troop of the riders of Rohan. The horsemen's leader, tells them that that the orcs were killed on the edge of Fangorn forest, with no survivors. He gives them horses to follow them, but there is little hope of finding

They meet a white-robed wizard who they believe to be Saruman but it is actually Gandalf. When he fell in Moria he continued to fight the Balrog and eventually overcame him. The fight changed him and he came back as the head of the wizard council. Gandalf takes them to Edoras, to counter the evil influence of Saruman. King Théoden has listened to Wormtongue, Saruman's spy, and falls under his spell. Gandalf frees him from it and reveals Wormtongue's treachery. Théoden then gathers his army and leads them to the fortress of Helm's Deep. The Rohirrim defeat Saruman's army. The trees kill any of the orcs who try to

Where they had expected to find a stronghold, they find ruins. Merry and Pippin explain that the trees destroyed Isengard, although Saruman hides in Orthanc. Gandalf speaks to the fallen wizard, offering him a chance to repent. When Saruman refuses, Gandalf breaks his staff. Wormtongue, perhaps trying to hit Saruman, throws a crystal ball out the window. Later that night, Pippin sneaks a look into the stone and encounters Sauron himself. Fortunately, Gandalf breaks the contact before the hobbit has a chance to reveal Frodo's quest to destroy the Ring.

Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam have become lost among the pathless hills of the Emyn Muil. They realize that Gollum is following them and manage to capture the corrupt creature. Despite Sam's misgivings, Frodo bargains with Gollum for guidance to the Black Gate of Mordor. Gollum agrees and leads them out of the hills and through the Dead Marshes, a haunted swamp. When they reach the Black Gate, Frodo and Sam despair of passing the constant guard but resolve to make the attempt. Gollum, however, begs them to take another way — a secret passage that only he knows. Desperate, Frodo agrees, and they turn aside from the