Aragorn, seeing that Frodo had left with Sam to go to Mount Doom, decides instead to go the other way and rescue Merry and
Pippin. Legolas and Gimli go with him, and the three relentlessly chase the orcs. Along the way, they meet the
Riders of Rohan; the latter give them news that the orcs they are chasing have all been burned by the Men of the Mark. This news, while very much welcome under different circumstances, brings despair to the three.
What of the Hobbits, they ask. The Riders of Rohan say they saw none. Undaunted, the three search for Merry and Pippin, hopeful that the two have escaped. Their search lead them to the mouths of
Fangorn Forest, where even the brave dare not enter. For the love of the Hobbits, the three plunge into the Forest and there meet someone they never thought they would see again; but his presence is a balm to their despairing spirits. Gandalf has come back, this time robed in immaculate white. His counsel is that war is upon them and they must rally all good forces in Middle-Earth. Together they proceed to Rohan for a talk with King Theoden.
Meanwhile, Merry and Pippin have fared well with their being held captives. They escaped from the orcs when the Riders of Rohan ambushed the group. Into Fangorn Forest they entered, and met Fangorn himself. Now, the two Hobbits have a talk with Fangorn, guardian of all things that live in the Forest, and persuade him and his fellow Ents to go to war. Fangorn, seeing the outskirts of the forest utterly destroyed by Saruman, gather together all the Ents and march towards Isengard, the tower where Saruman dwells.
Far in the East, Frodo and Sam meet Smeagol, also known as Gollum.The enmity between Gollum and Frodo runs deep: Gollum gave away the Baggins name; hence the Black Riders are now searching for Baggins. Frodo, however, pities him and makes a pact with him: Gollum can go along with them if he shows them the way to the Black Gate. Through the shadows they walk and into the marshes, where images of dead people and orcs forever haunt passers-by, until they reach the Black Gate. But the Gate is closed, and walking into it will mean their doom and the failure of the Quest. Now Gollum, finally understanding what Frodo means to do with the Ring, has another plan in mind: to lead them to Mount Doom through other ways, into the lair of Shelob, the Spider, where Frodo and Sam will meet their end, and Gollum will have his precious, the Ring, for himself once again. So off they go to Cirith Ungol.