The Two Towers: Book 3
Gimli, Aragorn, and Legolas respond to Boromir's horn call but arrive just in time to hear Boromir confess his attempt to seize the Ring and plead with Aragorn to save his people. The trio then embarks on a chase to track down the Orcs. Along the way, they encounter a group of horsemen, the Riders of Rohan, led by Eomer, the king's nephew. Eomer informs them that he and his men had intercepted a band of Orcs at the edge of Fangorn Forest and killed them. He lends them horses on the condition that they visit his uncle's court afterward to explain their mission. Meanwhile, the hobbits have escaped and encountered Treebeard the Ent, the guardian of the forest. After hearing their tale, Treebeard decides it is time to act against Saruman, who has started to mimic Sauron by destroying or enslaving everything in his path. Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas reach the forest and meet Gandalf, who has returned from death to complete his mission. Gandalf assures them that the hobbits are safe and have allied with the Ents. They proceed to the court of Theoden, the king of Rohan. Gandalf frees Theoden from the despair caused by Grima, Saruman's agent and the king's counselor. With the help of the Ents, they aid Rohan in repelling Saruman's invasion. Subsequently, they join Theoden to confront Saruman, who is now besieged by the Ents. There, they reunite with Merry and Pippin. Saruman refuses to relinquish his quest for power, prompting Gandalf to break his staff. In a fit of rage, Grima throws a palantír, one of the last three seeing stones from Númenor, at Gandalf. Pippin, driven by curiosity, gazes into the stone and is seen by Sauron, who mistakenly believes Pippin is the Ringbearer. Gandalf entrusts the palantír to Aragorn, the heir of Númenor's kings, and departs with Pippin to Minas Tirith in Gondor. Merry becomes King Theoden's squire.