The Return of the King - J. R. R. Tolkien [0]
OF THE KING
BEING THE THIRD PART OF
THE LORD OF THE RINGS
BY
J.R.R. TOLKIEN
Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
CONTENTS
COVER PAGE
TITLE PAGE
SYNOPSIS
BOOK FIVE
Chapter 1: MINAS TIRITH
Chapter 2: THE PASSING OF THE GREY COMPANY
Chapter 3: THE MUSTER OF ROHAN
Chapter 4: THE SIEGE OF GONDOR
Chapter 5: THE RIDE OF THE ROHIRRIM
Chapter 6: THE BATTLE OF THE PELENNOR FIELDS
Chapter 7: THE PYRE OF DENETHOR
Chapter 8: THE HOUSES OF HEALING
Chapter 9: THE LAST DEBATE
Chapter 10: THE BLACK GATE OPENS
BOOK SIX
Chapter 1: THE TOWER OF CIRITH UNGOL
Chapter 2: THE LAND OF SHADOW
Chapter 3: MOUNT DOOM
Chapter 4: THE FIELD OF CORMALLEN
Chapter 5: THE STEWARD AND THE KING
Chapter 6: MANY PARTINGS
Chapter 7: HOMEWARD BOUND
Chapter 8: THE SCOURING OF THE SHIRE
Chapter 9: THE GREY HAVENS
APPENDIX A: ANNALS OF THE KINGS AND RULERS
APPENDIX B: THE TALE OF YEARS
APPENDIX C: FAMILY TREES
APPENDIX D: SHIRE CALENDAR FOR USE IN ALL YEARS
APPENDIX E: Writing and Spelling
APPENDIX F
INDEX
MAPS
WORKS BY J.R.R. TOLKIEN
COPYRIGHT
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
SYNOPSIS
This is the third part of The Lord of the Rings.
The first part, The Fellowship of the Ring, told how Gandalf the Grey discovered that the ring possessed by Frodo the Hobbit was in fact the One Ring, ruler of all the Rings of Power. It recounted the flight of Frodo and his companions from the quiet Shire of their home, pursued by the terror of the Black Riders of Mordor, until at last, with the aid of Aragorn the Ranger of Eriador, they came through desperate perils to the house of Elrond in Rivendell.
There was held the great Council of Elrond, at which it was decided to attempt the destruction of the Ring, and Frodo was appointed the Ring-bearer. The Companions of the Ring were then chosen, who were to aid him in his quest: to come if he could to the Mountain of Fire in Mordor, the land of the Enemy himself, where alone the Ring could be unmade. In this fellowship were Aragorn, and Boromir son of the Lord of Gondor, representing Men; Legolas son of the Elven-king of Mirkwood, for the Elves; Gimli son of Glóin of the Lonely Mountain, for the Dwarves; Frodo with his servant Samwise, and his two young kinsmen Meriadoc and Peregrin, for the Hobbits; and Gandalf the Grey.
The Companions journeyed in secret far from Rivendell in the North, until baffled in their attempt to cross the high pass of Caradhras in winter, they were led by Gandalf through the hidden gate and entered the vast Mines of Moria, seeking a way beneath the mountains. There Gandalf, in battle with a dreadful spirit of the underworld, fell into a dark abyss. But Aragorn, now revealed as the hidden heir of the ancient Kings of the West, led the Company on from the East Gate of Moria, through the Elvish land of Lórien, and down the great River Anduin, until they came to the Falls of Rauros. Already they had become aware that their journey was watched by spies, and that the creature Gollum, who once had possessed the Ring and still lusted for it, was following their trail.
It now became necessary for them to decide whether they should turn east to Mordor; or go on with Boromir to the aid of Minas Tirith, chief city of Gondor, in the coming war; or should divide. When it became clear that the Ring-bearer was resolved to continue his hopeless journey to the land of the Enemy, Boromir attempted to seize the Ring by force. The first part ended with the fall of Boromir to the lure of the Ring; with the escape and disappearance of Frodo and his servant Samwise; and the scattering of the remainder of the Fellowship by a sudden attack of orc-soldiers, some in the service of the Dark Lord of Mordor, some of the traitor Saruman of