Book 4, Chapter 5 Summary

The battle is over and Faramir interrogates Frodo about Isildur's Bane in front of his troops. However, Frodo will not say anything about it or about his mission through Ithilien. However, during the interrogation, Frodo learns that Boromir is dead; Faramir learns that Gandalf has died, and neither side is happy to hear the news that the other brings.

Deciding to keep the hobbits close, the men lead them toward their hiding place. Along the way, Faramir continues to ask about Isildur's Bane, but claims that he "would not take this thing, if it lay by the highway." (656) In fact, Faramir says that Frodo did well to not say anything in front of the entire troop of men as it might have led to too much information going out to too many people.

Finally, the company nears its hiding place and...