The Two Towers - J. R. R. Tolkien [1]
This second part, The Two Towers, now tells how each of the members of the Fellowship of the Ring fared, after the breaking of their fellowship, until the coming of the great Darkness and the outbreak of the War of the Ring, which is to be recounted in the third and last part.
Contents
COVER PAGE
TITLE PAGE
SYNOPSIS
BOOK THREE
CHAPTER 1: THE DEPARTURE OF BOROMIR
CHAPTER 2: THE RIDERS OF ROHAN
CHAPTER 3: THE URUK-HAI
CHAPTER 4: TREEBEARD
CHAPTER 5: THE WHITE RIDER
CHAPTER 6: THE KING OF THE GOLDEN HALL
CHAPTER 7: HELM’S DEEP
CHAPTER 8: THE ROAD TO ISENGARD
CHAPTER 9: FLOTSAM AND JETSAM
CHAPTER 10: THE VOICE OF SARUMAN
CHAPTER 11: THE PALANTÍR
BOOK FOUR
CHAPTER 1: THE TAMING OF SMÉAGOL
CHAPTER 2: THE PASSAGE OF THE MARSHES
CHAPTER 3: THE BLACK GATE IS CLOSED
CHAPTER 4: OF HERBS AND STEWED RABBIT
CHAPTER 5: THE WINDOW ON THE WEST
CHAPTER 6: THE FORBIDDEN POOL
CHAPTER 7: JOURNEY TO THE CROSS-ROADS
CHAPTER 8: THE STAIRS OF CIRITH UNGOL
CHAPTER 9: SHELOB’S LAIR
CHAPTER 10: THE CHOICES OF MASTER SAMWISE
MAPS
WORKS BY J.R.R. TOLKIEN
COPYRIGHT
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
BOOK THREE
Chapter 1
THE DEPARTURE OF BOROMIR
Aragorn sped on up the hill. Every now and again he bent to the ground. Hobbits go light, and their footprints are not easy even for a Ranger to read, but not far from the top a spring crossed the path, and in the wet earth he saw what he was seeking.
‘I read the signs aright,’ he said to himself. ‘Frodo ran to the hill-top. I wonder what he saw there? But he returned by the same way, and went down the hill again.’
Aragorn hesitated. He desired to go to the high seat himself, hoping to see there something that would guide him in his perplexities; but time was pressing. Suddenly he leaped forward, and ran to the summit, across the great flag-stones, and up the steps. Then sitting in the high seat he looked out. But the sun seemed darkened, and the world dim and remote. He turned from the North back again to North, and saw nothing save the distant hills, unless it were that far away he could see again a great bird like an eagle high in the air, descending slowly in wide circles down towards the earth.
Even as he gazed his quick ears caught sounds in the woodlands below, on the west side of the River. He stiffened. There were cries, and among them, to his horror, he could distinguish the harsh voices of Orcs. Then suddenly with a deep-throated call a great horn blew, and the blasts of it smote the hills and echoed in the hollows, rising in a mighty shout above the roaring of the falls.
‘The horn of Boromir!’ he cried. ‘He is in need!’ He sprang down the steps and away, leaping down the path. ‘Alas! An ill fate is on me this day, and all that I do goes amiss. Where is Sam?’
As he ran the cries came louder, but fainter now and desperately the horn was blowing. Fierce and shrill rose the yells of the Orcs, and suddenly the horn-calls ceased. Aragorn raced down the last slope, but before he could reach the hill’s foot, the sounds died away; and as he turned to the left and ran towards them they retreated, until at last he could hear them no more. Drawing his bright sword and crying Elendil! Elendil! he crashed through the trees.
A mile, maybe, from Parth Galen in a little glade not far from the lake he found Boromir. He was sitting with his back to a great tree, as if he was resting. But Aragorn saw that he was pierced with many black-feathered arrows; his sword was still in his hand, but it was broken near the hilt; his horn cloven in two was at his side. Many Orcs lay slain, piled all about him and at his feet.
Aragorn knelt beside him. Boromir opened his eyes and strove to speak. At last slow words came. ‘I tried to take the Ring