Saruman suggests that he and Gandalf join Sauron, hoping to control him; then proposes that they themselves rule Middle-earth with the Ring; and finally demands: ‘reveal to me where the One may be found.’ Gandalf refuses. Saruman imprisons Gandalf on the pinnacle of Orthanc.

Saruman turns quickly from welcoming to openly mocking the Grey Wizard—and reveals his grievance: he knows that Gandalf is hiding the Ring from him. ‘You have come, and that was all the purpose of my message. And here you will stay, Gandalf the Grey, and rest from journeys.’

After an eleven-day ride south and east across Eriador, Gandalf reaches the circle of Isengard and is admitted. The gate closes behind him as he rides to the foot of Orthanc, meets Saruman, and follows him up to the tower’s high chamber. ‘So you have come, Gandalf.’

Now that Faramir’s elder brother Boromir has had the same dream, their father Denethor sends Boromir riding north to find ‘Imladris’—which, Denethor says, the lore of Gondor remembers as the Elven name of a valley ‘where Elrond the Halfelven dwelt, greatest of lore-masters.’

Just before Mordor’s assault on the last bridge in Ithilien two weeks ago, Faramir—son of the ruling Steward—dreamed that he heard a voice in the West. ‘Seek for the Sword that was broken: In Imladris it dwells; There shall be counsels taken Stronger than Morgul-spells…’

Having tried several times to find someone willing to carry Gandalf’s letter to the Shire, Butterbur starts to forget that he still needs to have it delivered. Frodo will not finally read the letter until he himself arrives in Bree—on September 29, with the Nazgûl on his heels.

Butterbur once again can’t find anyone to travel to the Shire to deliver Gandalf’s letter. His own folk are all busy and can’t be spared.

Butterbur can’t find anyone willing to travel to the Shire today to deliver Gandalf’s letter to Frodo.

Leaving his letter to Frodo in the care of the Prancing Pony’s landlord, Barliman Butterbur, Gandalf rides south from Bree at dawn. Though Isengard is more than a week’s ride to the south, Gandalf hopes he can reach the wizard Saruman before the Nazgûl learn the Shire’s location.

Gandalf stops for the night. ‘THE PRANCING PONY, BREE. Midyear’s Day, Shire Year, 1418. Dear Frodo, Bad news has reached me here. I must go off at once. You had better leave Bag End soon, and get out of the Shire before the end of July at latest. I will return as soon as I can.’

As Radagast turns to ride away, Gandalf makes a request: ‘Send out messages to all the beasts and birds that are your friends. Tell them to bring news of anything that bears on this matter to Saruman and Gandalf. Let messages be sent to Orthanc.’

Midyear’s Day, Shire Year 1418: On the Greenway south of Bree, Gandalf the Grey meets Radagast the Brown, who brings news: ‘The Nine are abroad again. They have crossed the River secretly and are moving westward… wherever they go the Riders ask for news of a land called Shire.’

Midyear’s Day, Shire Year 1419: Aragorn son of Arathorn—the crowned King of Gondor and sceptred King of Arnor—weds Lady Arwen Undómiel in Minas Tirith. It’s 39 years since they plighted troth in Lórien; 88 since he was born; and 2,778 years since her own birth in Rivendell.

The Elves reach the gate of Minas Tirith and alight. Elrond surrenders to Aragorn the Sceptre of Annúminas—the heirloom of the North Kingdom that Bilbo suspected ‘is now perhaps the most ancient work of Men’s hands preserved in Middle-earth’—and places Arwen’s hand in Aragorn’s.

Gazing out as the Elves draw close to Minas Tirith, Frodo sees Arwen riding on a grey palfrey in their midst. ‘At last I understand why we have waited! This is the ending. Now not day only shall be beloved, but night too shall be beautiful and blessed and all its fear pass away!’

Watchmen from Amon Dîn reach Minas Tirith: Elves are riding toward the city, and are already approaching the walls of the Pelennor. ‘At last they have come,’ replies Aragorn. ‘Let all the City be made ready!’

Arwen sets out from Edoras on the last stage of her journey to Minas Tirith with her father, brothers, and the large escort of Elves and High Elves who have ridden south with her from Rivendell and Lórien.

Elladan and Elrohir ride out from Edoras into the green fields to greet their father Elrond, their sister Arwen, and the Elves riding with them—all of whom are welcomed to Edoras for two nights of rest before continuing their journey to Minas Tirith.

The sapling planted in the Citadel courtyard a few days ago is already heavy with blossoms—assuring Aragorn that he will be fruitful and produce a line of kings. ‘The sign has been given, and the day is not far off.’ Expecting his bride, he sets watchmen on the city walls.

Having tarried in Lórien for a week, Elrond and Arwen and the Elves of their household continue their journey south towards Minas Tirith. Both the Lady Galadriel and the Lord Celeborn join their riding, along with many of the folk of Lórien.

Before dawn, Gandalf leads Aragorn up the mountain behind Minas Tirith to a high ancient hallow. The rising sun lights Gondor from Rauros to the Sea. At the edge of the snow, they find a sapling of the White Tree. Aragorn gently carries it down to plant in the Citadel courtyard.

Elrond, Arwen, and the Elves of the household of Rivendell reach Lórien after twenty days of travel.

Éomer and Éowyn ride out from Minas Tirith, leading the Rohirrim home to Rohan. Cheering crowds line the road from the city gates to the Rammas, where the Riders leave behind the fields of the Pelennor and take the road into Anórien. The sons of Elrond ride north with them.

Elrond Halfelven—who decreed 39 years ago that his daughter Arwen ‘shall not be the bride of any Man less than the King of both Gondor and Arnor’—now departs Rivendell with Arwen for the two-month journey to Minas Tirith.

The return of the King: Aragorn son of Arathorn reaches the topmost level of Minas Tirith and enters the Citadel. His banner, of a white tree and seven stars upon sable, woven by Arwen and her maidens, is raised above Minas Tirith. At 88 years old, he begins his 122-year reign.

Aragorn kneels. Gandalf places the crown on Aragorn’s head, and proclaims: ‘Now come the days of the King, and may they be blessed while the thrones of the Valar endure!’ The streets are strewn with flowers as Aragorn enters the City and begins the climb up its seven levels.

The crown of King Eärnur is brought forth—who, without any heir, rode out to challenge the Nazgûl Lord 969 years ago and was never seen again. Faramir gives the crown to Aragorn. Instead of crowning himself, Aragorn hands it to Frodo. Frodo carries the crown to Gandalf.

Aragorn hands the white rod back to Faramir: ‘That office is not ended, and it shall be thine and thy heirs’ as long as my line shall last. Do now thy office!’ Faramir: ‘Men of Gondor, hear now the Steward of this Realm! Behold! one has come to claim the kingship again at last.’

Crowds are thronging the gate of Minas Tirith as the army marches up from their pavilions and draws to a halt. Aragorn steps forward with his Dúnedain. He is met by Lord Faramir and the Warden of the Keys. Faramir: ‘The last Steward of Gondor begs leave to surrender his office.’

It’s the first of May. The bells in Minas Tirith all start tolling as the bright morning Sun rises into the clear skies that now stand above the mountains of Mordor on the eastern horizon. The argent standard of the Stewards of Gondor is raised over the Citadel for the last time.