Summary — Chapter 5: The White Rider
“The Dark Lord has Nine. But we have
One, mightier than they: the White Rider. He has passed through
the fire and the abyss, and they shall fear him.”
(See Important Quotations Explained)
Meanwhile, Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas suffer from freezing weather
on the trail of Merry and Pippin. They fear that the hobbits may
have perished in the fierce battle between the Riders of Rohan and
the Orcs. Gimli and Aragorn find the knife and the cut ropes that
bound the hands of Pippin, giving them hope that the two hobbits
are still alive somewhere in the forest. They find Hobbit tracks and
follow them up to the river where the hobbits bathed.
Debating what to do next, Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas
are suddenly surprised by an old man in a cloak and wide-brimmed
hat in the forest. Taking him for the evil Saruman, they are about
to shoot him when Aragorn advises them to address him first, to
be sure who he is. The stranger speaks to them familiarly, as though
he knows them all. Gimli implores the old man to tell them where
their friends are. Rather than answer, the old man jumps on a tall
rock and throws off his gray clothes, revealing white garments beneath.
Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas are stunned to recognize their former
companion Gandalf the Grey, reborn as Gandalf the White. Gandalf mysteriously
says that he has “passed through fire and deep water” since his
plunge into the chasm with the Balrog in the Mines of Moria (as
recounted in The Fellowship of the Ring).
Gandalf explains Saruman’s evil intention to seize the
Ring for his own use. Sauron, the great Enemy, had asked for Saruman’s
help, but Saruman betrayed Sauron by dividing the Isengarders against Rohan,
thereby aiding Gandalf’s forces. Gandalf notes that Sauron’s mistake
is in concentrating his forces abroad in search of the Ring-bearing
Frodo, rather than guarding the entrance to Mordor so that Frodo’s
entry might be blocked. It has apparently not occurred to Sauron
that Frodo might be trying to return the Ring to Mordor to destroy
it. Gandalf also predicts that the Ents, now fully roused to action,
will be powerful in a way no one can foresee. Aragorn is confident
that Gandalf will be a superb leader of their forces, and he hails
Gandalf as the White Rider. Gandalf mounts his horse, Shadowfax,
and they all make their way toward Isengard.
Summary — Chapter 6:
The King of the Golden Hall
The Company, led once again by Gandalf, marches toward
Isengard, camping at night. The next morning, Legolas glimpses a golden
building far in the distance, which Gandalf identifies as Edoras,
the court of Théoden, King of Rohan. Gandalf cautions them to ride
carefully, as war is afoot and the Riders of Rohan are always on the
watch.
As Gandalf and the group arrive at the court of Edoras,
guards ask them to identify themselves, addressing them in the local
language of Rohan rather than in the Common Tongue. The guards declare
that no one is welcome in Edoras in times of war, explaining that
someone named Wormtongue has issued these orders. Hearing the name
Wormtongue, Gandalf becomes angry and demands to speak to Théoden
himself. Gandalf and his companions are allowed entry, although
they are forced to leave their weapons with the doorman, Háma, despite
Aragorn’s protests. When Gandalf refuses to leave his staff at the
door, Háma is suspicious, but allows the wizard to keep the staff
with him.
Entering the royal hall, Gandalf’s group meets the aged
King Théoden, his wily counselor Gríma Wormtongue, and Theoden’s niece,
Éowyn. Wormtongue immediately issues a verbal attack on Gandalf,
accusing the wizard of always seeking favors and never offering
aid. Gandalf erupts in a rage, using his staff to bring down a powerful
thunder that sends Wormtongue to the floor. Gandalf denounces Wormtongue,
explaining to Théoden that his counselor had given advice that allowed
the Isengarders to become stronger. Gandalf calls upon Théoden to
recover his rightful strength as king and to fight off Saruman.
Gandalf asks Théoden whether the king is holding Éomer prisoner.
Théoden admits that it is so, and that he did so on the advice of
the deceitful Wormtongue. Gandalf asks Théoden to release Éomer
and to array forces against Isengard.
