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Chapters
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Chapters
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The Return of the King has 19 chapters.
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Chapters19 items
Minas Tirith
Pippin and Gandalf arrive at Minas Tirith, the great stone city of Gondor, after riding hard from Rohan. Pippin pledges his service to Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, partly out…
The Passing of the Grey Company
Aragorn receives word from Galadriel through the palantír and makes a decision that shocks everyone: he will take the Paths of the Dead.
The Muster of Rohan
This chapter follows Merry as Rohan prepares to ride to Gondor's aid. King Théoden musters his forces at Dunharrow, the ancient fortress above the valley.
The Siege of Gondor
The siege of Minas Tirith begins in earnest. Sauron's forces, led by the Witch-king, pour across the Pelennor Fields and batter the city's outer walls.
The Ride of the Rohirrim
The Rohirrim arrive on the Pelennor Fields at dawn and charge into Sauron's besieging army. Théoden leads the attack personally.
The Battle of the Pelennor Fields
The siege of Minas Tirith reaches its peak. The Witch-king breaks through the gate, but the arrival of the Rohirrim turns the battle.
The Pyre of Denethor
While the battle rages outside, Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, has completely broken under the influence of the palantír and the false visions Sauron fed him.
The Houses of Healing
After the battle, the wounded are brought to the Houses of Healing. Faramir, Éowyn, and Merry all suffer from the Black Shadow, a condition caused by contact with the Nazgûl.
The Last Debate
The commanders of the West meet to decide what to do next. Sauron still has vast armies, and Frodo's mission is unknown.
The Black Gate Opens
The army of the West marches to the Morannon, the Black Gate of Mordor. They are vastly outnumbered.
The Tower of Cirith Ungol
Sam rescues Frodo from the tower of Cirith Ungol after Frodo was captured by orcs. Sam used the Ring to sneak past enemies, then had to fight his way through a fortress where two…
The Land of Shadow
Frodo and Sam travel through Mordor toward Mount Doom, disguised in orc armor and trying to blend into the enemy's movements.
Mount Doom
Frodo and Sam reach the Crack of Doom. At the last moment, Frodo refuses to destroy the Ring and claims it for himself.
The Field of Cormallen
Frodo and Sam wake up in Ithilien, rescued by Gandalf and the Eagles. They are reunited with Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Merry, and Pippin.
The Steward and the King
This chapter covers the period between the victory and Aragorn's coronation, then the coronation itself. Faramir, as Steward, formally yields authority to Aragorn.
Many Partings
The War of the Ring is over, and the Fellowship begins to break apart for good. Aragorn is crowned and married, and now the companions who survived must go their separate ways.
Homeward Bound
The hobbits and Gandalf continue north toward the Shire, stopping at Rivendell to visit Bilbo one last time. Bilbo is very old now, barely holding on, and the visit is quiet and b…
The Scouring of the Shire
The hobbits return home to find the Shire occupied and ruined. Saruman has taken over, using men and machinery to strip the land and bully the hobbits into submission.
The Grey Havens
Sam helps restore the Shire using the gift Galadriel gave him, and it blooms better than before. But Frodo cannot fully heal.
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