The Two Towers

Merry and Pippin share their pipe-weed and food with Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. After they eat and rest, the hobbits tell the story of what happened to them after they went with the Ents to Isengard. They recount how after Saruman’s army marched away to Helm’s Deep, the Ents attacked and became terrifying once they were roused to anger. They destroyed the gates of Isengard and then rampaged through Saruman’s remaining defenses, breaking stone as tree roots can over a long time. However, the Ents were unable to damage the tower Orthanc, which seemed to be enchanted. Saruman used his mechanical devices to cover the Ents in liquid fire, killing one of them.

Treebeard decided to prevent his people from damaging themselves further in their anger and retreated away from the tower. However, he warned Merry and Pippin to get to higher ground. The Ents then re-channeled the river Isen to flood Isengard and the caverns beneath it. Saruman remains trapped in Orthanc, but his fortress is now ruined.

After the battle, Merry and Pippin describe how Gandalf came and spoke with Treebeard, warning him of a battle about to happen at Helm’s Deep and requesting the aid of the Huorns, the Ents who have grown sleepier and more tree-like over time. This was the mysterious forest that appeared to aid the men of Rohan. After Gandalf left, Wormtongue arrived and pretended to be a messenger. However, Treebeard knew that this was a lie and sent Wormtongue to Orthanc to be imprisoned with Saruman.

Merry and Pippin conclude the story and Aragorn expresses concern that Saruman was able to acquire pipe-weed from the Shire. He suggests that there might be a traitor similar to Wormtongue operating there as well.

Gandalf brings Théoden to speak with Saruman, although he warns him first that Saruman is known to be incredibly persuasive with his words. The hobbits as well as Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli listen to the conversation. Saruman attempts to negotiate a peace deal with Théoden and his magically beautiful voice sounds incredibly reasonable and wise. However, Gimli interrupts him, pointing out that Saruman unjustly attacked Rohan. Théoden seems to be falling under Saruman’s spell as Saruman offers to help Rohan with his wisdom. Éomer disrupts the wizard’s words once again, reminding Théoden that Saruman has no way to help them and he has been completely defeated in battle. Saruman grows angry, snapping that the men of Rohan are nothing but ignorant barbarians.

Gandalf finally speaks to Saruman, calling him a fool who is being used as a puppet by Mordor. He offers Saruman a final chance to renounce Sauron and aid the forces of good in defeating them. Saruman refuses and attempts to persuade Gandalf to join with him instead, but his words no longer have any effect upon Gandalf now that he has become Gandalf the White. Gandalf easily breaks Saruman’s staff and orders that the Ents keep him imprisoned in the tower. He mourns that a once-wise person has been corrupted.

As the conversation ends, Wormtongue throws a heavy stone from one of the balconies. It misses its target and Gandalf suggests that Wormtongue was unsure if he was aiming at Théoden or Saruman. Pippin picks up the round, crystalline stone, but Gandalf takes it from him. As they leave Saruman and Wormtongue trapped in the tower, the Ents promise to keep them confined and to flood the caverns repeatedly so that they cannot escape. Gandalf, Théoden, and the rest of the fellowship ride back in the direction of Helm’s Deep.

When the group stops to rest for the night, Pippin is restless. He tells Merry that he wants more information from Gandalf about what is going on. While Gandalf sleeps, he decides to sneak a peek at the strange stone that Wormtongue threw from Orthanc. He switches the stone for another rock and then creeps away to a hillside to look at the stone more closely. As he looks, he begins to tremble and twitch and then falls down and screams. The others wake up and rush to his side.

Slowly, Pippin returns to consciousness, appearing to be terrified. Gandalf calms him down and Pippin explains that he saw Sauron in the orb and that the Dark Lord spoke inside of his mind, asking him what he was. Pippin answered that he was a hobbit and Sauron assumed that Saruman was attempting to keep the hobbit and therefore the Ring for himself at Isengard. Gandalf is relieved that Sauron’s arrogance prevented him from questioning Pippin further and learning that the Ring is elsewhere with Frodo. He confesses that Pippin may have saved him from making an error in judgement and attempting to use the stone himself.

Gandalf gives the stone, revealed to be a device called a Palantír which was used in ancient days to allow communication across vast distances, to Aragorn. He tells Aragorn not to falter and use it immediately to speak with Sauron. Gandalf is unsure where the other stones have gone, but worries that they can now be used to communicate with Mordor.

That night, a horrible dark shadow passes over the sky. It is a winged Nazgûl, flying toward Isengard to ascertain if Saruman has taken the hobbits captive. Gandalf suspects that Saruman may attempt to lie or trap the Nazgûl to avoid being punished. He takes Pippin with him on Shadowfax, leaving the rest of the party behind and beginning to ride toward Gondor.