Summary

In Chapter 10: “The Black Gate Opens,” the armies of the West set out for Mordor. Merry is injured and cannot go into battle, but Pippin stands as a soldier of Gondor. As they approach Mordor, Gandalf tells the heralds to sound the trumpets and declare the coming of the King of Gondor. The response from Sauron is an eerie, watchful silence.

On the second day of the march, the army is nearly ambushed by a force of Orcs. On the fourth day, Aragorn permits the younger troops to turn back, but many decide to stay. On the sixth day, they approach Morannon, and Aragorn arranges his army on two great hills.

Gandalf and Aragorn ride toward Morannon with a small group representative of each of the races of Middle-earth standing against Sauron. The Lieutenant of the Dark Tower comes out with black-clad soldiers. The...