The voyage had begun, and had begun happily with a soft blue sky, and a calm sea.
They followed her on to the deck. All the smoke and the houses had disappeared, and the ship was out in a wide space of sea very fresh and clear though pale in the early light. They had left London sitting on its mud. A very thin line of shadow tapered on the horizon, scarcely thick enough to stand the burden of Paris, which nevertheless rested upon it. They were free of roads, free of mankind, and the same exhilaration at their freedom ran through them all.
The ship was making her way steadily through small waves which slapped her and then fizzled like effervescing water, leaving a little border of bubbles and foam on either side. The colourless October sky above was thinly clouded as if by the trail of wood-fire smoke, and the air was wonderfully salt and brisk. Indeed it was too cold to stand still. Mrs. Ambrose drew her arm within her husband’s, and as they moved off it could be seen from the way in which her sloping cheek turned up to his that she had something private to communicate.
In the Second Age, lords of Elves, Dwarves, and Men each receive Rings of Power. Sauron secretly forges the One Ring, giving it power over the other Rings. Men and Elves battle Sauron. Isildur cuts the Ring from Sauron’s finger, ending the Second Age. The Ring corrupts Isildur, who is killed by Orcs. The Ring is lost for 2,500 years until Gollum finds it. Centuries later, the Ring is found by the hobbit Bilbo Baggins.
Sixty years later, Bilbo passes on the Ring to Frodo. The Wizard Gandalf discovers it is the One Ring, and warns Frodo to leave. Frodo sets out with Sam, pursued by Sauron’s nine Nazgûl servants. They meet Merry and Pippin and evade the Nazgûl, reaching Bree, but Gandalf is not there, captured by the evil Wizard Saruman. A Ranger named Strider guides them to Rivendell, but they are ambushed on Weathertop by the Nazgûl. Their leader stabs Frodo with a Morgul blade. Arwen, Strider’s beloved Elf, rescues Frodo. Gandalf escapes from Saruman’s tower. Arwen’s father Elrond holds a council. It decides the Ring must be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom. Frodo volunteers to take the Ring, accompanied by eight others. Bilbo gives Frodo his sword Sting, and a mithril mail-shirt.
Chapter 2
Frodo and Sam get lost in hills near Mordor, tracked by Gollum. Capturing Gollum, Frodo gets him to guide them.
Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli enter the kingdom of Rohan. The Orcs are killed by Éomer‘s riders of Rohan; Merry and Pippin escape into Fangorn Forest. Éomer gives Aragorn horses. In Fangorn, Aragorn’s group meets a resurrected Gandalf. Gandalf leads them to Rohan’s capital, Edoras; Gandalf frees Théoden from Saruman’s control. Théoden travels to Helm’s Deep to defend against Saruman’s army. In Fangorn, Merry and Pippin meet the Ent Treebeard. He takes them toward Isengard, where they see how Saruman has destroyed the forest. Enraged, the Ents storm Isengard, trapping Saruman in his tower. Aragorn arrives at Helm’s Deep. They fight off a night attack; at dawn, the Orc army is destroyed by the trees of Fangorn Forest.
Gollum leads Frodo and Sam to the well-defended Black Gate, and recommends another route. Frodo and Sam are captured by Faramir‘s Rangers. Frodo helps Faramir catch Gollum. Learning of the One Ring, Faramir takes them to Gondor to bring it to his father, Denethor, but lets them go. Feeling betrayed, Gollum decides he will reclaim the Ring by leading them to the giant spider Shelob.
Elrond gives Aragorn Andúril, reforged from the shards of Elendil‘s sword Narsil, and urges him to claim Elendil’s throne in Gondor. Aragorn travels the Paths of the Dead, and pledges to release the ghosts there from their curse should they come to Gondor’s aid.
Gollum leads Frodo into Shelob’s lair. Shelob paralyses and binds Frodo. Sam wounds Shelob. Mourning Frodo’s apparent death, Sam takes the Ring to complete the quest, but realizes his mistake when Orcs take Frodo captive. He rescues Frodo, and the two continue towards Mount Doom.
Théoden leads his army against the Orcs. In the ensuing battle, they are opposed by Oliphaunt-riding Haradrim, and the Nazgûl leader mortally wounds Théoden; his niece Éowyn and Merry kill the Nazgûl. Aragorn’s Army of the Dead overcome Sauron’s forces; Aragorn releases the Dead from their curse.
Aragorn marches on Mordor to distract Sauron from Frodo and Sam’s quest, drawing the enemy to confront him. Gollum attacks. Frodo succumbs to the Ring’s power and puts it on. Gollum bites off his finger, reclaims the Ring, and falls into the lava; the Ring, Sauron, Mordor, and the Orcs are destroyed. Frodo and Sam are rescued by Eagles.
Miramax wanted a recognisable name for Gandalf and suggested Max von Sydow or Paul Scofield and, wanting an American star, mentioned Morgan Freeman.[2][7] When New Line took over, they suggested Christopher Plummer or Sean Connery for the part (both declined).[8] When von Sydow inquired for the part later, his agent told him they were looking for an English actor.[9]