Obtainment of the Palantir of Orthanc
Gandalf obtained the Orthanc Stone, the Palantir of Orthanc which Saruman used to communicate with Sauron.
Gandalf immediately knew that the Orthanc Stone defiled Saruman’s mind and quickly hid the Palantir because Gandalf feared that Sauron could connect with any of the members of the Fellowship of the Ring.
In the movie, Pippin, Peregrin Took became extremely curious of the Palantir, the magic stone as Gandalf hid it immediately upon discovery.
Pippin and the Palantir of Orthanc
In the novel, Pippin accidentally touches the Palantri of Orthanc that Gandalf kept while in the movie, Pippin couldn’t resist his curiosity and he sneaked into Gandalf’s room and touched the Palantir.
Pippin and Sauron’s communication by the Palantir of Orthanc
Sauron was able to access Pippin’s mind by the Palantir of Minas Morgul and Sauron would interrogate Pippin. Pippin revealed the defeat of Saruman and the forces of Isengard and eventually Sauron even saw Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli at Rohan.
However, Pippin eventually resisted Sauron’s interrogation of the One Ring and didn’t tell of Frodo and Sam’s journey to Mordor nor the existence of the One Ring.
Pippin was able to take a peak of Sauron’s mind and his plan to attack Minas Tirith. Pippin even saw the dead White Tree of Minas Tirith. Gandalf was able to snatch the Palantir from Pippin and scolds Pippin for his reckless actions.
Gandalf describes this situation lucky and Pippin wasn’t corrupted by Sauron’s power and even survived communicating with Sauron while extracting intel as well.
However, Gandalf realizes that Sauron and Mordor now plans to annihilate middle earth by starting with Gondor.
Distraction and Confusion caused by Pippin on Sauron of the One Ring – Frodo
Pippin communicating with Sauron by the Palantir caused a great diversion on Sauron because Sauron thought Pippin was the Ring Bearer of the One Ring.
Overall, Pippin simply didn’t state the information of Frodo Baggins the ring bearer of the One Ring and his journey but Sauron was deceived that Pippin didn’t speak because Pippin was the Ring Bearer of the One Ring.
Sauron had information that a hobbit from the Shire has the One Ring, but Sauron never knew that there were four hobbits in the Fellowship of the Ring.
Saruman and Sauron formed a shaky alliance by the Two Towers Alliance and as Saruman always planned to betray Sauron, they never shared important intel especially of the One Ring.
As a result, Sauron thought Pippin was the Ring Bearer. Gandalf and Aragorn were both relieved and believed this was a great opportunity for Frodo Baggins’s journey to Mordor to destroy the One Ring.
However in other words, Pippin was put into great danger as Pippin became the top priority of Sauron and the nine nazguls that serve Sauron. Gandalf decides to ride to Minas Tirith while protecting Pippin, Peregrin Took himself.
Return of Arwen – Life as a Mortal
In the novel, Arwen decided to chooses her fate as a mortal and gives up eternity as an elf for her love with Aragorn. In the movie, Arwen was on her journey to set sail to Valinior, however she sees the prophetic dreams of her father Elrond.
Arwen realizes that there is still hope and future left on middle earth as she could see her son with Aragorn in this prophetic dream.
Arwen returns to Rivendell and realizes Elrond only told her the despair of middle earth left without telling the little hope that lasted. Arwen tells Elrond that she has made up her mind to stay on middle earth while she bet her life on the small hope that remained on middle earth.
Breath of the Eldar – Arwen
As Arwen chose to stay on middle earth, Arwen grows weak as she technically gave up on the eternal life of an elf and became a mortal. The movie describes this that as Arwen decided to reside on middle earth, the evil of Sauron started to affect her.
Elrond describes Arwen’s weakening as the breath of eldar left Arwen. “Eldar” means “firstborn” or the “people of the stars” in Sindarin elf language and Eldar refers to the elves. This meant that Arwen chose her life as a mortal.
Arwen insists on Elrond to help save middle earth as she finally decided to reside on middle earth. For Elrond, as he was also destined to set to Valinor, Arwen remaining on middle earth meant she won’t be able to see his daughter for an eternity.
Elrond’s final gift for Arwen was to help save middle earth from Sauron so Arwen wouldn’t have to suffer pain and despair.
In the novel, Anduril was already forged from the shards of Narsil and it was given to Aragorn before the Fellowship of the Ring departed.
In the movie, Elrond now takes the shards of the blade of Elendil, Narsil that once cut off Sauron’s finger to forge the blade Anduril, the Flame of the West for Aragorn. Elrond forging Anduril symbolized that he has approved Aragorn and Arwen’s marriage, however Aragorn would have to defeat Sauron.
Pippin and Gandalf’s departure to Minas Tirith
As Pippin became the top priority target of Sauron, Gandalf had to protect him while put an eye on him as well from making more trouble. Gandalf decides to head to Minas Tirith to warn Gondor of Sauron’s plan and bring Pippin along.
Gandalf informs Aragorn that he must take a different route to Minas Tirith and makes a prophecy to beware of the corsairs, the pirates.
Gandalf could have taken a direct route to Minas Tirith, however he had to now avoid the nazguls patrolling from the sky on their fellbeasts. Pippin and Gandalf now ride to Minas Tirith on the Shadowfax.
Theoden’s doubts on the alliance of Gondor and Rohan
Theoden still blamed himself for the crisis of Rohan and the threats of Saruman and Isengard. Theoden thought he contributed nothing to the victory at the hornburg castle of Helm’s Deep and thanked Gandalf and Aragorn for their actions and encouragement.
However, Theoden still had doubts on the old alliance of Gondor and Rohan that was sworn by the Oath of Cirion and the Oath of Eorl.
Theoden questioned Gondor for not relieving Rohan when Rohan was threatened by Isengard. However, Theoden also had self-doubts of himself on whether if he could assemble and muster the Rohirrim to aid Gondor.
King Theoden of Rohan was aided by Aragorn and Gandalf at Helm’s Deep but to aid Gondor, king Theoden had to assure and redeem himself first.
