The Fellowship of the Ring: Book 2
The hobbits and Aragorn reach Rivendell with the Ringwraiths closing in. There a council of men, elves, dwarves, and hobbits is held. They decide the Ring is too dangerous either to use or to hide. It must be destroyed. Frodo offers to take and destroy it in the fire where it was forged. With him go Gandalf, Aragorn, and Boromir, son of the Steward of Gondor, for mankind; Legolas, son of Mirkwood' s Elf-king, for the elves; Gimli, son of Gloin of the Lonely Mountain for the dwarves; Sam, Merry, and Pippin for the hobbits. Gandalf leads them until, thwarted in their attempt to cross the mountains, he takes them underground through the mines of Moria. There he falls in battle to an evil creature from the earth's depths. Aragorn takes over leadership of the band, guiding them to the elven kingdom of Lórien where its queen Galadriel tests their resolve and gives each a gift, then sends them down the river Anduin to the Rauros falls. There they must decide whether to turn east towards Sauron's realm or go with Boromir to the aid of Minas Tirith, capital of Gondor. Already they realize Gollum is following them. When it becomes clear Frodo will continue the apparently hopeless quest to destroy the Ring, Boromir tries to take the Ring. Frodo, horrified at the Ring's effect, leaves the others. Sam insists on coming with him. Orcs from Mordor and from the renegade wizard Saruman attack while the rest search for Frodo and Sam. Boromir dies trying to protect Merry and Pippin from the Orcs who have been told to capture hobbits.