The Return of the King: Book 5, Chapter 10 Summary & Analysis

Two days later, the army assembles. Merry is dismayed to find he won’t be going, as he still needs to rest, but Aragorn tells him not to envy Pippin’s place in the battle: Merry has already been able to prove himself with noble deeds. The trumpets sound and the army moves off. Merry is left lonely again. Everyone he cares for has gone into battle. Bergil, who has been standing beside Merry watching the army leave, tries to cheer him by suggesting that, with the strength of Gandalf and Aragorn, the army cannot fail.

The horsemen at the head of the army reach a crossroads where a statue of an old king of Gondor has been defaced. Aragorn sets trumpeters at each path of the crossroads to blow a fanfare and declare that Gondor has returned to reclaim the land, and orders that the statue be cleaned and repaired. They continue towards Mordor flanked by scouts. Though the weather has cleared, the smog of Mordor is permanent. Gandalf gives intermittent orders for a fanfare to sound, and for the men to proclaim the return of the king of Gondor, but the challenge is never met by the enemy.

At one point, the leading party, having been warned by their scouts, defeats an enemy ambush. Their victory is small and feels hollow—they know it’s just a tease. From then on, Legolas senses the Nazgûl flying high above. They bring a feeling of unshakeable dread to the whole army. The next day, some of the soldiers become so paralyzed by despair that Aragorn allows them to turn back. Six days after their departure from Minas Tirith, the army reaches the Black Gate.

The Gate is closed. Aragorn arranges the army before riding with the rest of the captains to the Gate, along with a large guard. Pippin, Gimli, and Legolas join the guard as representatives of their people. They call for Sauron to meet them and atone for his destruction. At the end of a long silence, an embassy emerges from the Gate, led not by Sauron but a towering figure on a huge, terrifying horse. He tells them he is the Mouth of Sauron—a high-ranking servant of Sauron who has served for long enough to have forgotten his own name. He asks if there is anyone with the authority to speak with him. Aragorn meets his eye, and the Mouth recoils as if he’s been stung.

The Mouth of Sauron recognizes Gandalf and tells him his plan is foolish. He says he was instructed by Sauron to show Gandalf a token. One of his party comes forward with a bundle which the Mouth of Sauron reveals to be Frodo’s clothes and Sam’s sword. Pippin cries out when he sees them, which proves to the Mouth that the items are important to this group. Gandalf asks him why he has shown them the tokens; the Mouth of Sauron says that they are proof of Gandalf’s conspiracy to send spies into Mordor.

The Mouth of Sauron offers to deliver Frodo if Gandalf agrees to Sauron’s terms. Gandalf asks for the terms: they dictate that Gondor withdraws, that Sauron claims all lands east of the Anduin River, and that all other lands are free for men to govern without weapons. Sauron would also claim Isengard and the men would rebuild it for him. Gandalf asks for proof that Frodo is alive before he agrees to the terms. The Mouth of Sauron refuses. Gandalf takes Sam and Frodo’s belongings, and he rejects the terms. The Mouth of Sauron, filled with fear and confusion, retreats back to the Gate, but at that same moment, Mordor’s battle horns sound. 

The Black Gates open wide. A huge army emerges, and Aragorn’s guard retreats quickly, but their army is surrounded by orcs and men of the enemy. Aragorn’s banner is raised. The sun is shrouded by Mordor’s plumes of smoke and appears red as if the day is ending. All hope seems to disappear. Pippin resigns himself to death. Beregond is struck down by a troll who leers down at Pippin. Pippin stabs upwards at the troll who then falls and crushes him. Darkness descends on Pippin, but in his last moments of consciousness he hears voices crying, “The Eagles are coming!”