The Return of the King

How it opens

Gandalf carries Pippin on Shadowfax to Minas Tirith, where Pippin offers his sword to Denethor, the father of Boromir, and swears service to Gondor. Outside the gate with the boy Bergil, Pippin watches companies from the outlying lands march in to defend the city, far fewer than hoped, as the sky turns ashen-grey. In Rohan, Merry offers his sword and service to Théoden King and becomes his esquire, while Aragorn is joined by his kinsman Halbarad, thirty Rangers from the North and the sons of Elrond. After looking into the Stone of Orthanc, Aragorn leads this Grey Company, with Legolas and Gimli, by the Paths of the Dead to the Stone of Erech, and the Dead follow them.

Who you meet early

• Peregrin TookPeregrin Took, called Pippin, looked into the Stone of Orthanc, and Gandalf carries him off on Shadowfax to Minas Tirith. On the way in he tells Ingold and his men that Boromir died defending him. In the city he offers his sword to Denethor in payment of his debt and swears service to Gondor.
• Denethor IIDenethor son of Ecthelion is the Lord and Steward of Minas Tirith, and the father of Boromir and Faramir. He grieves for Boromir and takes Pippin into his service.
• BeregondBeregond son of Baranor is a man of arms of the Third Company of the Citadel in Minas Tirith. He is sent to teach Pippin the pass-words of the city, and his son Bergil shows Pippin around.
• Aragorn IIAragorn son of Arathorn has fought beside Théoden at Helm's Deep, and Gandalf gave the Stone of Orthanc into his keeping. After looking into it, he chooses the Paths of the Dead, which he calls the only way through the mountains that can bring him to the coastlands in time.
• Meriadoc BrandybuckMeriadoc Brandybuck, called Merry, was taken by orcs with Pippin and met his friends again at the gates of Isengard. With Pippin gone to Minas Tirith, Merry rides with Théoden King, offers him his sword and service, and becomes an esquire of Rohan.
• ThéodenThéoden King of Rohan led the charge of his knights at Helm's Deep. Now he rides by mountain paths to Dunharrow and the muster of Rohan at Edoras, with Merry as his esquire.
• ÉowynÉowyn, the sister of Éomer and sister-daughter of Théoden, leads the people of Rohan at Dunharrow while the king rides to war. She begs Aragorn to let her ride with him, and he tells her to stay.