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Part Two: The Two Towers The story continues, with Frodo and Sam cementing their partnership. Frodo is committed to the destruction of the One Ring, worn on a chain around his neck, "so small a thing", it has already taken occasion to impress them all, and especially Frodo, with its powers. "The One Ring" seems to have a will of its own, and it is in conflict with Frodo's intent, and that of the Fellowship and the Leaders of Good Kingdoms of Middle Earth. This conflict never ceases with Frodo, and depletes him, at times, actually and physically. "His Gardener" and Aide in the Quest, the stalwart Sam, is Frodo's salvation in this respect, enlivening Frodo with his good camp food, good nature and high-integrity soul. They encounter Gollum, from whom Bilbo came upon the Ring, and tame but do not trust him. Gollum's mad passion for the Ring "Precious", motivates him to scheme for a chance to regain it, at ANY cost.

In the meantime, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, the remaining three of the Fellowship, hasten from the site of their parting, to follow the trail of the Hobbits, Pippin and Merry, kidnapped by Orcs. They do not actually find the kidnap victims but learn, from a transfigured and valiant "Gandalf" (astonishingly returned from death throes with a Monster called a Balrog), empowered to rise to needs of the day, that the kidnapped Merry and Pippin have escaped the Orcs and are safe, in the care of Treebeard, Leader of Ents, and ancient race of Treelike People, noble in stature and motive, and now helping to defeat the hordes of Saruman and Sauron, who have begun major attacks to overcome Middle Earth, destroy Mankind and obtain the One Ring.

So now the four - Gandalf, again at their head; Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli - do the same in other directions. Riding Shadowfax, Snow-white Lord of all Horses, Galdalf leads them to Edoras, capitol city of the Kingdom of Rohan, and begins by liberating the King Theoden, mentally-oppressed by Grima Wormtongue, an agent of the corrupted wizard, Saruman. Theoden, with the help of the Fellowship, recovers dazzlingly, ousts Grima, who slithers back to Orthanc and its Lord Sauman. The radiant and valiant Theoden now joins the Fellowship in developing the plan of defense against the coming major attack from The Two Towers of Saurman and his Lord, Sauron. Theoden learns that his only son Theodred, has been killed by Orcs of Saruman, and, through the insidious acts of Grima (before the spy was discovered and routed), his beloved neice Eowyn and her brother Eomer have been alienated from him. Theoden restores dynamics with the Compassionate and Lovely Lady Eowyn, Shieldmaiden, as accomplished with the sword as she is with the loom, enlisting her aid in supervising the civilians while he moves with Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, to organize some sort of Army to withstand the attack at the Rohan fortress of Helm's Deep. At first try, the plan seems doomed....Theoden's illness and relentless attacks on his forces by Orcs have depleted his Army to a miserable state, though his Generals remain Steadfast and Valiant, organizing the ragtag troops into a most-respectable show, however modest.

In the meantime, Galdalf, on the snowy Shadowfax, must ride like the wind , find the once-banished nephew of Theoden, Eomer and his Men, the Valiant cavalry, the Mighty Rohirrim, and others whose help might turn the tide in the fight at Helm's Deep. Theoden and soldiers (including Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli) lead the people of Rohan along the short, but dangerous march to the protection of Helm's Deep.

The Evil Saruman is alerted by the return of the ousted, cringing and limping Grima, and sends a company of his Orcs, riding beasts called Wargs to attack the Caravan. Theodred, Aragorn and the others send Eowyn on at the head of the civilians, to shelter at Helm's Deep, while they confront and win against the Warg-riding Orcs, but one of the Orcs, in combat, entangles Aragorn and snatches the amulet worn by him, the gift of the magical Lady Arwen, which has protected him...Aragorn mortally wounds the Orc, who falls from his mount, as the Warg dives over a cliff, with Aragorn entangled. The Fellowship grieves, but Legolas retrieves the amulet of Arwen, as the Orc dies. The Elvish cloak Aragorn wears, gift of Galadriel, Arwen's Grandmother, bears him, unconscious and injured, safely in and out of a river at the base of the cliff ...floating him to shore, he is found by his horse, Hasufel, who kneels and helps the injured and barely conscious Aragorn to mount, and ride to Helm's Deep.

Built by an ancestor king of Rohan, Helm Hammerhand, Helm's Deep is a mighty fortress, tucked against a mountain crevasse, or Deep. There he rejoins the others, jubilant at his escape from the jaws of death. He reports to King Theoden that he observed the Armies of Saruman, ten thousand and more, with "war engines" en route to attack, and battle plans must immediately be set and ready. Legolas returns the Amulet of Arwen to Aragorn solemly. At the request of Elrond, Arwen's Father, Aragorn released her from their betrothal to spare her the trials of marriage by an Elvish Lady to a Mortal, but, though compliant in consideration of the pressures of War, Arwen thinks her men errant in this matter, and the Amulet is a sign of her steadfast love and magical protection, whatever their marital destiny may be. Aragorn respects the Amulet, and its magic and motives. He meets the Lady Eowyn, who is becoming lovestruck with the handsome hero, and future King of Gondor. But she keeps to her duties and bears all well. Aragorn is too-soon parted from Arwen to return Eowyn's interest, but they are instant friends and comrades in arms, admire and respect and entrust to one another the duties as all prepare for Battle and Fortification of Helm's Deep.

Meanwhile, Frodo,Sam and Gollum continue through the Dead marshes, to the Black Gates of Moria, the main entrance to the path to Mount Doom, but it is not a safe path to Mount Doom, their destination with the purpose of destroying the ring. So Gollum leads them to the "backdoor" route...unfortunately, while observing Oliphants, an amazing part of the troops of a people called Southrons, en route to group up with the Forces of Sauron, Frodo and Sam are captured, by a band of soldiers from Gondor led by Captain Faramir, brother of the slain Fellowship member, Boromir. Faramir caught site of the escaping Gollum, and he questions Sam and Frodo about the creature, and about Boromir, without success. Blindfolded, Sam and Frodo are brought by his men to the Hidden Caves and Pools and Waterfall Window on the West, and there, drawn to the ponds for fish, Gollum is captured, unharmed, and enlightens Faramir to the Presence of the One Ring, and Faramir is now set by serious internal debate about the Ring and his options, where it is concerned. But, word of attack on some of his troops means that Faramir's company must hasten to their aid at the beseiged Osgiliath, intending to send the One Ring, and its Bearers to his Father, Denethor, Steward of Gondor. (It is important to understand that when the Kings of Gondor were destroyed by the Ring, centuries ealier, their heirs went underground, till the day of redemption arrived. Aragorn is the heir and rightful king of Gondor, if the Fellowship can win the redemption of the people of Middle Earth, destroy the Ring, and defeat Sauron, the Evil mastermind. In the meantime, the Caregivers of Gondor, or Stewards, keep things in Good order, till the return of the True King. Steward was the old word for Housekeeper. Denethor, the current Steward of Gondor, and his sons, Boromir, now dead, and Faramir, who has now arrived at Osgiliath, whose location near Gondor has protected Gondor up till now.

Back at Helm's Deep, the Valiant Theoden, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and small band of Soldiers of Rohan are doing a brave job, but they are struggling with despair at their lack of strength and numbers...against incredible odds.

And in Fangorn Forest, home to Treebeard the Leader of the Treeherds, called Ents.... the extremity of the perils and alternatives to Middle Earth, at the urging of Gandalf, and Treebeard's Guests, Merry and Pippin, compels a Gathering of the Ents...Entmoot. The Ents have the power to organize a grand army of living trees...but should they?

Again at Helm's Deep, at this point, clarion sounds, trumpets, are heard at the entry! From Rivendell and Lorien Wood, an army of Elves, in top form and numbers, with the stately Haldir at their head, has come to "fight side by side" in the Cause of Saving Middle Earth! The magical Galadriel of Lorien informed Elrond of Rivendell, Arwen's Father, of the perils and both sent this help, as in brave times past....so the ragtag army at Helm's Deep cheers wildly and takes heart. Allies through the ages!

Saruman has sent ten thousand troops to attack Helm's Deep. His spies, furthermore, learned of one vulnerable spot in the mighty walls of the fortress, Helm's Deep, and so the Army of Orcs comes equipped with bombs to bring down the wall at that point, but so far, cannot break through our Heroes' defenses, to place the bomb.

The Fangorn Entmoot finds the Ents Informed, but still determined to remain non-combatant, not "hasty". The Ent, Treebeard, now warm friends with Merry and Pippin perched high in his branches, prepares to return them to the Road back to the Shire, but plans change when, en route, the trio is horrified at the site of Saruman's destruction of Treebeard's forests as kindling wood for the massing of the Orc Army. Treebeard is profoundly grieved and enraged...and now, moved to fight, and sounds the echoing and solemn call to the others of the Ents.

The "Last march of the Ents" is a sight to behold! As the modest but amazing team at Helm's deep fight the Orc horde, the Ents use their gargantuan height and strength, powered by their sense of right, to simply crush the Fortress of the Evil Saruman, and loose the Dam to flood it "till it runs clean again"! Saruman is quickly undone, hiding in the Tower orthanc, surrounded by rushing waters that extinguish his fires of war.

The Orcs fall in droves at the hands of our heroes at Helm's Deep, but the bomb hits its mark and the Orcs penetrate the Wall, and losses are heavy. Helms deep is built with this eventuality in mind , and there are inner walls and caves for retreat, and from this point, Theoden, Aragorn, Legolas, with Gimli on the Horn of Helm Hammerhand, sound the call and charge with a ferocity that offsets their modest number...and lo! Gandalf, as promised, rides in on Shadowfax with Eomer and the Rohirrim and reinforcements enough to win the day!

Frodo, back at Osgiliath, confronts with an attacking Nazgul, is maddened by it, and nearly kills Sam in error. Faramir repels the Nazgul, and releases Frodo ,Sam and Gollum to get on to Mount Doom with the One Ring Understanding, at last , the importance of the Hobbits' Quest, Faramir stands up for its success against the advice of his Gondor advisors.

At Helm's Deep, The Victorious Armies of the Good Kingdoms of Middle Earth give the victory cheer, and continue on to Orthanc, Saruman's Tower, prepared to fight again, only to find that the Ents have already done the job! There follows a happy reunion with the exuberant Merry and Pippin , who spent the battle perched in Treebeard's branches, out of harm's way...but able to deliver a blow or two of their own. Gandalf enjoys the victory , but warns that this was but preliminary to the Battle at Gondor to Save Middle Earth in Final Confrontation with the Evil Lord, Sauron.... and all depends on Frodo's success in destroying the One Ring. Gollum darts in and out, the deceived and deceiver, and Frodo and Sam are bruised from the conflicts so far, but indomitable, persevere with their mission, and approach the heart of Mordor, the home of Sauron, and the Fires of Mount Doom.