As Return of the King nears its end, Frodo finds the Ring growing heavier. After several exhausting days of travel, Frodo and Sam reach Orodruin, Mount Doom. Sam carries Frodo to the top. Just as they reach the Cracks of Doom, Frodo is overcome by the Ring’s power and refuses to give it up. Gollum emerges and scuffles with Frodo, eventually biting the Ring off Frodo’s finger, but then he stumbles and falls into the Cracks of Doom. Sauron’s power breaks, and Aragorn’s forces at the Black Gate overcome the frightened servants of Mordor.Gandalf flies to Orodruin on the back of Gwaihir, the giant eagle, and rescues Frodo and Sam.The Darkness dissolves from Gondor. Aragorn is crowned King of Gondor, and he marries Arwen. Minas Tirith and the surrounding areas begin to recover and rebuild. The hobbits return to the Shire, to ravaged homes. A group of Men have entered and set up a police state. The four companions rebel and defeat the intruders, being led by Saruman, the overthrown wizard, who seeks revenge on the hobbits. Frodo spares Saruman’s life, but the wizard’s broken servant, Wormtongue, betrays and kills his cruel master. The hobbits rebuild the Shire and return to their ordinary lives. Sam marries a hobbit named Rosie Cotton, and together they have a daughter. Frodo, wounded by the burden of the Ring-quest, decides to leave the Shire. He sails away over the Great Sea with Gandalf, Bilbo, and other ringbearers to the peaceful paradise in the unknown West.