Book 3, Chapter 2 Summary

Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli set out to follow the orcs. Unfortunately, their chase is futile and they get no closer to the orcs that took Pippin and Merry. With all this bad news piling up, Aragorn is having a crisis of doubt in himself, but continues to follow the trail anyway. Fortunately, Aragorn finds a brooch that was dropped on the ground as a signal and he realizes that Pippin and Merry must still be alive.

The three cross into Rohan on the trail of the orcs and, as they do, they spy a troop of men on horseback approaching. They hail the riders as they are about to pass and the riders quickly wheel around to surround the three with spears at the ready. In the circle, each side threatens the other, but Aragorn calms everyone down and speaks with...