Rammas Echor

• Gandalf holds back the Easterlings with white fire.
• The Witch-King drives Gandalf back. Faramir and his men cover Gandalf. He tells Gandalf to return to Minas Tirith.
• Faramir fights against an Easterling chieftain. He is wounded.

Stone of Erech

• Aragorn passes through small settlements of Gondor. The townsfolk hide in terror, naming him ‘King of the Dead’.
• The company come to the Stone of Erech. Aragorn addresses the Oathbreakers, who swear allegiance.

• Aragorn leads them onwards to Pelargir with great speed, the Dead follow.

Minas Tirith

• Gandalf speaks with Denethor. They come down to the battlements.
• Beregond and Pippin watch the burning houses in the east.
• Faramir retreats from the outer wall. Denethor orders Imrahil to lead a sortie to cover them.
• Gandalf and Imrahil ride out. Faramir is hit by a Southron arrow. Imrahil picks him up and carries him on his horse back to the city.

• Imrahil takes Faramir to Denethor. A bed in the Tower is made up for Faramir.
• Denethor looks into the Palantir. He sees the entire force of the enemy. His will snaps and he goes to sit unspeaking by his son.

Anorien

• Scouts report to Theoden that the enemy blocks the road. Theoden and Eomer decide to ride through Druadan Forest.
• Elfhelm talks to Merry about the wild men of the forest.
• Eomer brings a wild man, Ghan-Buri-Ghan, to talk with Theoden. Ghan offers to take them through the woods.
• Dernhelm eats in private, taking care not to show her face.

Druadan Forest

• Ghan leads the host through the forest.
• At the edge of the wood, Eomer comes across two men. One is Hirgon, who has been beheaded.
• Theoden resumes the ride, leading all calvary at great haste.

Pelargir

• Corsairs overrun the port.
• Gondorian reinforcements arrive, led by Aragorn. The small force defeats the corsairs in the streets.

• The Oathbreakers drive the corsairs back to the ships. The corsairs, terrified, jump overboard.
• Aragorn rounds up the defenders of Pelargir. He asks them to accompany him to Minas Tirith. Many thousands volunteer.

• Legolas sees the sea for the first time.
• Aragorn releases the Oathbreakers.

Minas Tirith

• Great trenches filled with fire surround the city. Catapults fire upon the walls. Siege towers move forward.
• Ingold reports to Denethor that there has been no news from Rohan. Denethor refuses to leave Faramir, telling his men to follow whom they will.
• Gandalf and Imrahil take over the defence of the city.
• The heads of the dead are catapulted into the city. The Nazgul attack from above.

• Mumakil tow towers to the walls. The men keep them at bay.
• The Witch-King calls for Grond. With his cries the ram strikes the gate. On the third strike the gate breaks.

• Denethor releases Pippin from his service. He summons his servants to take Faramir to the tombs. Pippin runs to find Gandalf.
• The Witch-King rides through the gate. All flee but Gandalf. As they prepare to fight, horns blow to the north.

First Appearances – Gothmog (II), Ghan-Buri-Ghan, Angbor, the King of the Dead

Deaths – Damrod, Anborn, Hirgon

Adapted from chapters ‘The Siege of Gondor’, ‘The Ride of the Rohirrim’ and ‘The Last Debate’ of The Lord of the Rings.

Pictures

• The Siege of Minas Tirith – John Howe
• Battle of Osgiliath – Shockbolt
• Oathbreakers, Why Have Ye Come – Abe Papakhian
• Last of All He Came – Anke Eissmann
• Denethor Grieves For His Son – Anke Eissmann
• The Aid of the Wild Men – Ted Nasmith
• Angbor of Lamedon – Jan Pospisil
• Legolas Comes to the Sea – Jef Murray
• The Siege of Minas Tirith – Jesse Van Dijk
• The Siege of Minas Tirith – Stephen Hickman
• Gandalf Facing Witch-King – Angus McBride