Aragorn and Sauron’s faceoff by the Palantir
In the original novel, after Pippin confronted Sauron by mistake by touching the Palantir, Aragorn would use the Palantir at this time point and confront Sauron claiming his heir as the king of Gondor and showing him Andruil, the blade forged form Narsil.
Aragorn did this to distract Sauron from searching the One Ring and from possibly discovering Frodo and Sam’s journey to Mordor.
Already, Sauron was by coincidence believed that Pippin had the One Ring and now Sauron had to worry of Aragorn’s reign as the king of Gondor.
Sauron and the nazguls long believed that the bloodlines of Elendil and Isiludr were cut off a long time ago as the Witch King of Angmar took down Arnor and the last direct bloodline of Anarion, the royal bloodline of Gondor.
Sauron feared that Aragorn could reunite the humans and bring up the old alliance with the dwarves and elves as well. Sauron surely took the bait and hastily assembles his allies and armies to launch an attack on Gondor before Aragorn became king.
Aragorn’s plan worked as it put Sauron into a rush and distracted Sauron from the One Ring. In the movie, this Aragorn and Sauron's confrontation was adapted to occur after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
Frodo, Sam and Gollum’s witness of Minas Morgul’s forces
Frodo, Sam and Gollum witnessed the launch of Sauron’s elite forces of Minas Morgul. As the power of the One Ring grew stronger and stronger, Frodo was almost lured by the calls of the nazguls, the ringwraiths that were searching the One Ring but stopped by Gollum and Sam.
Led by the Witch King of Angmar, the forces of Minas Morgul marched for their invasion of Gondor. The orcs of Minas Morgul became the main forces to attack Gondor.
Pippin, Peregrin Took, Guard of the Citadel of Gondor – service of Denethor 2nd
While Denethor 2nd distrusted Gandalf, he was greatly amused of Pippin for his honesty of the death of Boromir. While Pippin offered his service in compensation for Boromir’s death, Denethor 2nd appoints Pippin as a Guard of the Citadel.
As the guard of the Citadel, Pippin befriends Faramir and he earns intel from the other guards of Gondor.
Warning Beacons of Gondor
The Warning Beacons of Gondor were beacons across the White Mountains from Minas Tirith to Rohan. By the alliance of Gondor and Rohan sworn by the Oath of Cirion and Eorl, the warning beacons of Gondor and a red arrow delivered by a messenger became a distress signal and a call for aid.
The warning beacons of Gondor were placed in Amon Din, Eilenach, Nardol, Erelas, Min-Rimmon, Calenhad and Halifrien(Amon Anwar) along the ridge of the White Mountains.
In the novel, the warning beacons of Gondor were already lit as Gondor faced a massive attack by Sauron while the movie adaptions make Gandalf and Pippin light the beacon of Amon Din.
In the novel, already Gondor sent a messenger with a red arrow to Rohan, lit the beacons and sent messengers to each lords of Gondor for reinforcements.
However, the messenger sent to Rohan was slayed and all the regions of Gondor were attacked simultaneously by orcs, pirates, corsairs of Umbar, Hardrim and easterlings.
Pippin’s lighting of the beacon of Amon Din
(This is a movie adaption) While Pippin earned the trust of Denethor 2nd, Denethor 2nd in the movie constantly refuses to ask for aid to Rohan. Gandalf would entrust Pippin to light up the beacons of Amon Din.
Pippin who was a hobbit that could sneak in to places very quietly, infiltrated the beacons of Amon Din undetected and lit up the beacon. In the movie Lord of the Rings, Return of the King, the lighting of Amon Din symbolized the hope and the revival of an old alliance and trust among the humans.
Theoden’s Decision – Gondor calls for Aid and Rohan will Answer
In the novel, the beacons of Gondor were already lit and the messenger carrying a red arrow was slayed that Rohan sent to Gondor so Gondor didn’t know the Rohan answered the call for aid.
In the movie, by Pippin’s bravery the warning beacons of Gondor were lit despite Denethor 2nd’s sabotage. Aragorn after discovering the beacons of Gondor rushed to king Theoden of Rohan crying Gondor calls for aid.
Everyone at Edoras held their breath as they knew that Theoden’s decision to answer Gondor’s call would decide the fate of Middle Earth.
Theoden answers that Rohan shall answer Gondor and ordered to muster the Rohirrim to ride to Minas Tirith.
Aragorn: The Beacons of Minas Tirith! The Beacons are lit! Gondor calls for aid!
Theoden: And Rohan will answer. Muster the Rohirrim
- Aragorn and Theoden, Rohan answers Gondor’s call for aid -
Cair Andros – Fortress of Gondor’s northern part of the Anduin River
Cair Andros was an island located north of Osgiliath that was heavily fortified to defend the northern part of the Anduin River that could access Minas Tirith.
In the original novel, Faramir and his Ithilien Rangers have camped in Cair Andros, however after witnessing the shadows made by Sauron’s magic, Faramir quickly relocated to Osgiliath as he sensed a massive attack.
Cair Andros was also overrun by the easterlings and orcs that attacked from the north that passed through the Black Gates of Morannon.
Osgiliath – Old Capital of Gondor
Osgiliath was the first capital of Gondor as it was a symbol of Gondor by connecting Minas Ithil(now, Minas Morgul), the city of Isildur and Minas Anor(now, Minas Tirith) the city of Anarion, the brothers and founders of Gondor.
Osgiliath also held a Palantir once, however the civil war of Gondor, the Kin Strife and the Black Plague as well as the fall of Minas Ithil(Minas Morgul) forced Gondor to relocate its capital to Minas Tirith.
Osgiliath was an important strategic point as it was the major bridgehead of the Anduin River that could lead to Minas Tirith.
Battle of Osgiliath and the Fall of Osgiliath
Already the eastern side of Osgiliath fell into the hands of Sauron and Denethor 2nd ordered Faramir to defend Osgiliath. Faramir would leave some of his Ithilien rangers at Cair Andros while he led the garrison of Osgiliath with his Ithilien rangers.
However, reinforced by the Harad Haradrim, the orcs vastly outnumbered the defenses of Osgiliath.
The orcs swam and rode boats to cross the Anduin River and attacked the west bank of Osgiliath. Madril, the lieutenant of Faramir and second in command of the Ithilien Rangers was killed in action by the orcs of Minas Morugl.(movie character) Faramir and the remaining survivors were forced to retreat to Minas Tirith.
