Recaps

Gandalf brought Éowlos and an elite Rohirrim Éored to the Brown Lands after the battle, where they joined Allen and the recovering reinforcements. Allen accepted Aragorn’s service and agreed to visit Éowlos at Aldburg before continuing toward Gondor.

• Gandalf persuaded Lady Morwen to seek Éowlos’s help, and Fengel approved the Third Marshal’s offer to lead his Éored north.
• Gandalf and the Riders of Rohan reached the Brown Lands, found the Half-orcs had fled, and saw the devastation left by the battle.
• Allen sent Baren, the Knight Apprentices, and fallen soldiers back to Wilderness Town, while Aragorn volunteered to carry the royal banner and serve Allen.
• Allen accepted Aragorn’s service on the condition that he return to Rivendell after the campaign in Gondor.
• Legolas brought Gandalf to Allen, and Gandalf introduced him to Éowlos.
• After hearing Allen describe the battle, Éowlos invited him to Aldburg, and Allen accepted.

Allen’s company crossed from Rohan into Gondor after forging an alliance with Rohan’s royal family and reuniting with Jeremus. In Anórien, they encountered refugees suffering from the war, and Thengel and Alger arrived to meet the reinforcements.

• Allen’s company crossed the Anduin and Entwash, reached Edoras, and received permission from Morwen of Gondor to travel freely through Rohan under Allen’s Royal Banner.
• Allen and Thengel formally concluded an alliance, and Fengel reluctantly allowed Jeremus to leave with Allen.
• After resting at Aldburg, Allen’s company crossed the Mering Stream into Anórien and saw refugees struggling with hunger and displacement.
• At Jeremus’s urging, Allen left rations for the refugees, who responded with gratitude.
• Thengel and Alger arrived with their troops to meet the reinforcements.

Allen and Círdan’s reinforcements reached Minas Tirith, giving Gondor renewed hope as the city faced threats on several fronts. After Allen rejected an assault on the heavily defended Cair Andros, Sauron shifted his plans toward Pelargir and sent scouts to assess the new arrivals.

• Éowlos sent messengers to Thengel to report the reinforcements’ arrival, and Turgon welcomed the news by arranging a banquet and reassuring Minas Tirith’s residents.
• Allen inspected Cair Andros and refused Alger’s request to attack, judging that the fortress and the enemy camp across the Anduin would make an assault too costly.
• Thengel supported Allen’s decision, and Allen and Círdan’s armies left Anórien for Minas Tirith to learn more about the battlefield.
• Sauron punished the Mouth of Sauron for the failed interception, ordered Angmar to help the corsairs attack Pelargir, and sent Uvatha to scout the reinforcements.
• Uvatha withdrew after assessing Allen and Círdan’s forces, but rumors exaggerated the scouts’ retreat into a great victory as the armies arrived at Minas Tirith.

Allen and Círdan’s reinforcements arrived in Minas Tirith and received a warm welcome before Allen’s party went to meet Gondor’s leaders. On the way, Allen advised Aragorn about Gondor and its people, while Aragorn quietly resolved to wait and grow before pursuing the throne.

• Gondor’s residents celebrated Allen and Círdan’s arrival, and Galdor arranged quarters, food, and hot water for the troops in the First Circle.
• Allen, Aragorn, and their companions rode through Minas Tirith toward the Great Hall of Feasts, while Allen explained the city’s history and the Men of the White Mountains.
• Allen considered using the King of the Dead to help Gondor, unaware that Andúril had already been reforged and was hidden on Lindir’s back.
• Allen urged Aragorn to learn how Gondor worked before ruling, and Aragorn took his advice as a sign that he should wait before trying to reclaim the throne.
• Galdor led the party to the Great Hall of Feasts, where two older men and a young man waited at the doors.

Allen and the northern reinforcements met Steward Turgon in Minas Tirith, then joined a council on Gondor’s worsening war with Mordor and its allies. Allen and Círdan concluded that their limited forces could not remain on the Anduin defensive line and needed to seize the initiative.

• Turgon welcomed Círdan, Lindir, Allen, Fili, Legolas, and Aragorn, whom Allen introduced as his kinsman and student Estel.
• Allen asked Gandalf about confronting Saruman over their conflict in Lothlórien, and Gandalf urged him to wait until the war was over.
• Jeremus examined Turgon and judged him too frail for treatment, disappointing Denethor, who watched the consultation.
• After the banquet, Turgon, Denethor, Galdor, Allen, Círdan, Gandalf, and the others discussed Gondor’s forces and the fighting across the southern territories, Osgiliath, and Cair Andros.
• Allen and Círdan agreed that their troops could not simply join the Anduin defensive line and that they had to take the initiative.

Allen proposed crossing the Anduin at Harlond to attack the Haradrim at Osgiliath from behind, and Círdan urged him to wait for his fleet from the Grey Havens. The Elves Fleet arrived near the Bay of Belfalas, destroyed three pirate ships, and sailed toward the burning coast near Pelargir.

• Allen warned the council that Sauron likely possessed the Ithil Stone and proposed a swift attack on the Haradrim at Osgiliath from the eastern bank.
• Gandalf agreed to join the dangerous crossing, and Turgon offered ships at Harlond and small boats from Osgiliath to support the attack.
• Círdan revealed that he had sent word to Mithlond with an Eagle King and asked Allen to wait for the Elves Fleet.
• The Elves Fleet sailed south from the Grey Havens and destroyed several small pirate fleets harassing Gondor's coast.
• The Elves Fleet surrounded three pirate ships, killed or captured their crews, and continued toward the Bay of Belfalas as fires reddened the sky near Pelargir.

The Witch-king of Angmar launched a surprise attack on Pelargir with an army of Half-orcs, forcing the defenders to fight their way back into the city. Angalimir fell after wounding the Witch-king’s Fell Beast, while Adrahil escaped north to seek reinforcements and Angmar prepared to besiege Pelargir.

• The Witch-king of Angmar led Half-orcs in a night attack on the human camp outside Pelargir and destroyed boats carrying pleas for aid.
• Adrahil led the Swan Knights through the Half-orc ranks while Angalimir rallied the defenders and led a fighting retreat toward the northern gate.
• Angalimir’s horse was killed by the Fell Beast, but he continued to rally his soldiers as Adrahil rode north toward Minas Tirith to seek reinforcements.
• Pelargir’s light cavalry pursued the Warg Riders chasing Adrahil, while infantry sallied out to rescue Angalimir’s surrounded force.
• Angalimir wounded the Fell Beast with his spear, but the Witch-king struck him down; Pelargir’s troops joined the remaining defenders and escorted them back inside the city.
• The Half-orcs occupied the abandoned camp and began building siege engines as the Witch-king prepared to attack Pelargir the following night.

Allen and Círdan hurried their army toward Pelargir after learning from Uinen that the city was besieged and the surrounding people were being enslaved. They rescued Adrahil and four other riders, and the chapter ended with Allen speeding up the march after hearing more about the enemy.

• Allen and Círdan rested their troops by the River Erui while planning to march toward Pelargir and drive out the pirates.
• Legolas spotted five exhausted riders fleeing Wargs, and Aragorn, Legolas, and their escorts rode to help them.
• Aragorn and the others killed the Wargs and rescued the riders, who warned that Pelargir was in danger.
• Aragorn revealed that the unconscious young rider was Adrahil, Angalimir's son and the heir of Dol Amroth.
• Adrahil regained consciousness, told Allen more about the enemy, and Allen consulted Círdan before urging the army to march faster.

The Witch-king launched a brutal assault on Pelargir, using fire, severed heads, siege engines, and Half-orcs to overwhelm the defenders. As Uruks and Trolls reached the walls, Antonis the Fearless arrived with an army from Lamedon, leaving the battle’s outcome uncertain.

• The Witch-king began the siege as Berelach commanded Pelargir’s defense while the wounded Angalimir lay unconscious.
• The Witch-king’s trebuchets set fires in the city and hurled severed heads marked with the Evil Eye, spreading fear among the residents.
• Snaga and Uruks advanced through trenches and across improvised bridges under heavy fire, while Berelach rallied residents to help repel them from the walls.
• Uruks reached the battlements and mountain Trolls charged toward Pelargir’s southern gate as Berelach ordered the ballistae to fire.
• Antonis the Fearless arrived from the west with cavalry charging the Trolls and infantry rushing the Uruks beneath the walls.

Antonis, Drake, and Dude led Gondorian reinforcements to Pelargir, where their forces initially drove back the Uruk besieging the city. Angmar’s supernatural scream turned the battle, but a new cavalry force arrived and its silver-armored knight charged directly toward him.

• Antonis led cavalry against the Trolls while Drake’s infantry and Dude’s archers attacked the Uruk beneath Pelargir’s walls.
• Drake’s troops, Dude’s archers, and Berelach’s elite soldiers surrounded the Uruk, while Antonis’s cavalry drew many Trolls away.
• Angmar ordered his army to charge and unleashed a terrifying scream that stunned the humans, allowing the Uruk to seize Pelargir’s gate and enter the city.
• Angmar sensed two approaching forces as a cavalry force in gleaming armor charged from the west, led by a silver-armored knight coming straight for him.

Allen and Círdan’s reinforcements broke the siege of Pelargir, routing the Half-orcs and saving the city while Allen pursued the fleeing Witch-king of Angmar. After the battle, Adrahil learned that his father, Angelimir, had been wounded and hurried to see him.

• Allen ordered Aragorn to sound the charge and led the Gryphon Cavalry toward Angmar, who fled when he recognized Allen.
• Círdan’s elven cavalry struck the Half-orcs from behind as Allen’s Shock Cavalry attacked from the front, forcing the enemy into retreat.
• Fili’s Durin Dwarves and the Mettenheim Death Swordfighters helped defeat the Uruk beneath Pelargir’s walls, while Lindir and Grim rescued Antonis and the Swan Knights from Trolls.
• Pelargir’s soldiers retook the gates and killed the Half-orcs trapped inside, while Berelach began organizing the aftermath.
• Adrahil asked Berelach about his father and learned that Angelimir had been wounded and was being treated in the inner city.
• Malherb suggested that he and Aragorn go with Adrahil to see Angelimir.

Allen pursued the Witch-king to the Anduin, drove him off, and destroyed the Half-orc force at the Minas Morgul camp before returning to Pelargir. He learned that Adrahil was waiting for him to treat his gravely wounded father, Angalimir.

• Allen fought the Witch-king on horseback, deflecting his flail and exhausting his Noldor Rune Arrows against the Nazgûl’s magic.
• Allen blasted the Witch-king’s armor and horse with lightning, then froze the Fell Beast with his last arrow as it flew over the Anduin; the Witch-king escaped across the river and threatened revenge.
• Allen led the twenty Gryphon Knights against the Snaga at the camp, killed the Half-orcs, and rescued the human captives.
• Allen reached Pelargir, where Adrahil had been waiting for him to return and treat Angalimir.
• Malherb told Allen how the allied forces had cleared the battlefield and explained that his praise of Allen’s healing abilities had raised Adrahil’s hopes for his father.

Allen attended Pelargir’s postwar council after rescuing Angalimir, where the leaders arranged defenses and thanked him and Círdan for their aid. Círdan ended the meeting by proposing that Pelargir’s fleet sail once its ships were repaired.

• Allen considered crossing the Anduin and attacking Osgiliath, but decided he needed intelligence and an Ithilien Assault Force before risking the journey.
• Adrahil invited Allen to the postwar council, and Allen joined him and Aragorn after stopping to buy breakfast.
• Angalimir proposed that forces from Ringló Vale and the Blackroot River Valley remain to help defend Pelargir, and the council agreed they would await Turgon’s official appointment while repairing the captured camp.
• Angalimir thanked Allen and Círdan, offered them gifts, and asked Allen to treat soldiers suffering from black shadow sickness.
• Berelach approved Allen’s request for his soldiers to rest in Pelargir, and Círdan proposed that the fleet sail after the ships were repaired.

Círdan and Berelach prepared Gondor’s navy and the Elves Fleet to strike the weakened Umbar Corsairs, while Allen treated Pelargir’s afflicted soldiers and planned a cavalry attack on Osgiliath. The reinforcements organized their march, with Fili, Legolas, and Lindir’s archers assigned to hold the Crossroads leading to Morgul.

• Círdan told Berelach that the Elves Fleet had weakened the Corsairs enough for a decisive battle at the mouth of the Anduin, and they planned the naval engagement.
• Allen treated soldiers suffering from the Black Shadow Sickness and told Aragorn that Athelas, or king’s leaf, might ward off evil, though he did not know how to use it.
• Allen’s reinforcements rested in Pelargir, where their disciplined conduct pleased the residents while Gondor’s sailors repaired ships and prepared for battle.
• Círdan left Pelargir to command the Elves Fleet at sea, leaving Lindir in command of the elven force.
• Beleg briefed Allen on the terrain and Osgiliath’s ruined defenses, and Allen assigned Fili, Legolas, and Lindir’s archers to hold the Crossroads leading to Morgul while the cavalry attacked Osgiliath.

The Mouth of Sauron ambushed Allen’s cavalry on the road to Osgiliath, but Lindir and Legolas’s hidden elven forces struck the Uruks from behind. Allen defeated the trolls and drove the Mouth of Sauron into retreat, unaware that the flight was bait leading toward a larger enemy force.

• The Mouth of Sauron positioned nearly ten thousand Uruks and Olog-hai trolls in ambush for Allen’s approaching cavalry.
• Lindir and Legolas led elven forces through the forest and attacked the Uruks from behind, before a Half-orc’s cry exposed them.
• Allen arrived with his cavalry, defeated the trolls with Chain Lightning and his Personal Guards, and helped rout the Uruks on Legolas’s side of the battlefield.
• Allen charged the Mouth of Sauron, whose black smoke was troubling Lindir’s elves and the Durin Dwarves, and drove the frightened commander to flee toward Osgiliath.
• The Mouth of Sauron led his remaining troops toward a crossroads where a large Haradrim and Half-orc force lay in wait for Allen.

Allen recognized Sauron’s ambush near Emyn Arnen, halted Legolas’s pursuit, and joined the Gondorian fleet as it advanced toward Osgiliath. With Gondor’s counterattack underway, Ecthelion’s forces retook the Eastern City, while Gandalf and Rohan tightened the siege of Cair Andros; Sauron faced growing pressure and began gathering forces for another offensive.

• Allen stopped Legolas from pursuing the fleeing Mouth of Sauron and explained that he meant to fight Sauron openly with Gondor’s full strength.
• After Círdan’s fleet destroyed the Corsairs’ ships, Gondor’s western reinforcements marched toward Minas Tirith, and Allen led cavalry into Ithilien to prepare for the fleet’s arrival.
• Gandalf helped Gondor and Rohan surround the Variags at Cair Andros, while Thengel’s Riders of Rohan routed the Half-orcs sent to relieve them.
• Sauron gathered Snagas and Easterlings near the Black Gate and sent Gothmog to support a second ambush against Allen, but Allen’s forces joined the fleet near Emyn Arnen and foiled the plan.
• Ecthelion sent Gondorian troops into Osgiliath’s Eastern City and led the Royal City Imperial Guard across the bridge, retaking the city from the Haradrim.

After Allen’s allies retook Osgiliath and drove the Haradrim into the Morgul Valley, he met Ecthelion at the Crossroads and proposed taking the allied army north to test Sauron’s remaining strength. Ecthelion and Gondor’s lords weighed the danger of an offensive as Allen’s proposal left them uncertain.

• Sauron ordered the Witch-king of Angmar to retreat, and Allen burned the bridge into the Morgul Valley rather than assault Minas Morgul.
• Ecthelion arrived at the Crossroads after clearing Osgiliath, where he and Allen discussed Círdan’s departure and learned that Saruman had returned to Minas Tirith.
• Allen and Ecthelion reviewed the war’s progress, and Allen proposed leaving a strong force to contain the Haradrim while the rest marched north to aid Gandalf and Thengel, retake Cair Andros, and approach the Black Gate.
• Ecthelion warned that Gondor could not safely attack Mordor, but Allen argued that confronting Sauron while his forces were weakened was necessary to win peace.
• Ecthelion remained unsure whether to accept Allen’s plan, while Gondor’s lords and the young Aragorn considered the proposal.

Allen, Ecthelion, and Gandalf planned an advance on the Black Gate, leaving a defensive force at the Crossroads while gathering Gondorian, Rohirric, and elven troops. The allied army grew to more than twenty-five thousand and set out toward Mordor with Saruman among them.

• Gandalf arrived at the Crossroads, endorsed Allen’s proposal, and Ecthelion agreed to march on the Black Gate.
• Ecthelion left about three thousand soldiers at the Crossroads, while Allen assigned Fili, Legolas, and their forces to help defend the Morgul Vale; Aragorn persuaded Allen to let him join the march.
• Allen’s army traveled north, joined forces near Cair Andros, and prepared to capture the fortress on Ship Island.
• The Variag garrison surrendered Cair Andros, and its captured weapons and armor strengthened the allied army.
• Thengel and additional Rohirrim joined Allen’s force, bringing it to more than twenty-five thousand; Saruman also arrived from Minas Tirith.
• The allied army set out again toward the Black Gate.

Allen led the allied army to the Black Gate, where he assessed Mordor’s defenses and prepared a siege while daring Sauron to respond. The forces formed battle lines on the Dagorlad Plain, and the story left the next move to Sauron.

• Ringwraiths’ presence unsettled the allied army, and Allen, Ecthelion, Gandalf, and Thengel spent the night restoring the soldiers’ morale.
• The army marched past the Dead Marshes and reached the Black Gate, where Sauron watched from Barad-dûr.
• Allen used his ability to assess Mordor’s forces, spotting mostly Snaga, a small Easterling cavalry force, and Trolls behind the gate.
• Allen shared his observations with the commanders, who organized more than twenty thousand soldiers into defensive formations and had the Durin Dwarves begin building Trebuchets.
• Allen planned to besiege the gate for half a month if Sauron refused to engage, intending to expose the limits of Mordor’s strength.

Saruman challenged Sauron before the Black Gate, weakening Mordor’s troops with his enchanted voice until Sauron answered by unleashing his armies. The allied forces prepared to meet a massive assault as Half-orcs, Trolls, and Easterling cavalry charged toward them.

• Sauron dismissed the allied army outside the Black Gate, trusting Mordor’s defenses and hidden troops to hold.
• Allen, Saruman, Ecthelion, Thengel, and their companions rode to the Black Gate after Saruman’s proposal to challenge Sauron was accepted.
• Saruman taunted Sauron, sowing doubt among Mordor’s defenders and provoking the Dark Lord’s fury.
• Sauron’s shriek dispelled Saruman’s influence, dark clouds spread over the battlefield, and the Black Gate opened as the Nazgûl took to the sky.
• Ecthelion ordered Gondor’s troops to hold formation as Half-orcs and more than a hundred Trolls charged from the gate.
• Thousands of Easterling horsemen from Rhûn charged from behind the towers as Sauron’s forces advanced on the allied army.

Gondor’s army fought off the advancing Half-orcs and Trolls with help from Allen’s Noldor Rangers, Mettenheim Death Swordfighters, and the Ithilien Assault Force. As the battle continued, Thengel led the Rohirrim against the Easterlings, whose chieftain turned to meet his charge.

• Gondor’s archers and infantry held the line against Half-orcs and Trolls advancing through the muddy ponds.
• The Noldor Rangers surprised the Trolls with enchanted arrows and killed more than half before they reached the banks.
• Ten Mettenheim Death Swordfighters engaged the remaining Trolls, and Beleg led the Ithilien Assault Force around their flank to attack.
• Gondorian troops joined the fighting, while the Royal City Imperial Guard stopped the Trolls on the left and the archers exchanged fire with the Uruk archers.
• Thengel led the Rohirrim’s charge against the Easterlings, whose chieftain unfurled a black banner and charged to meet him.

Thengel and Gandalf repelled a Nazgûl attack, but newly arrived Haradrim cavalry threatened to trap Rohan and block Allen and Lindir’s forces as Mordor gained the upper hand. Allen prepared his hidden reserve, and a strange white light appeared behind the Easterling cavalry, horrifying Sauron as an army emerged from it.

• Gandalf drove off one Nazgûl and killed another with Glamdring, allowing Rohan’s cavalry to charge the Easterlings.
• Thengel struck down the Easterling standard-bearer, rallied the Rohirrim, and prepared to charge again when the enemy’s banner rose once more.
• Haradrim cavalry emerged from the Black Gate and split into two forces, one attacking Rohan and the other blocking Allen and Lindir.
• Thengel ordered the Rohirrim to charge the Easterlings rather than turn to face the Haradrim, while Allen fought off the Witch-king and assessed the collapsing battle plan.
• Allen prepared to unleash his reserve as a strange white light flashed behind the Easterlings and an army emerged, filling Sauron with terror.

Allen’s cavalry and Thengel’s Rohirrim struck the forces besieging Gondor, routing the Easterlings and killing their leader, while the Swadia Knights and Allen’s troops fought through the Haradrim. With Gondor’s center near collapse, Thengel called for the surviving cavalry to rally and reinforce it.

• Five hundred Swadia Knights charged the Easterling cavalry from behind as Thengel and the Rohirrim advanced from the front.
• The Swadia Knights smashed through the Easterling interception force, and Thengel killed the Easterling leader and cut down his banner, sending the remaining riders fleeing.
• The Swadia Knights charged into the Haradrim while Allen attacked the black serpent banner’s leader and killed him with a blow from his Giant Lance.
• The Haradrim continued fighting after their leader fell, and Allen’s cavalry broke through their formation at a heavy cost as Lindir’s elven cavalry attacked their flanks.
• Allen’s cavalry swept around the battlefield and charged the Half-orc archers threatening Gondor’s center.
• Thengel called on his riders to rally and reinforce Gondor.

Allen and the allied forces turned the battle at the Black Gate in favor of the Free Peoples, breaking Sauron’s armies and driving them back into Mordor. The chapter ended with the battlefield cleared and the exhausted commanders returning to Ecthelion after their victory.

• Allen routed the Half-orc archers, broke through their ranks, and rejoined Adrahil’s cavalry at the Gondorian center.
• Allen shot down two Fell Beasts and struck Angmar and Saruman with Chain Lightning, easing the Nazgûl’s attack on the command post.
• Thengel’s Rohirrim charged the Half-orcs closing around Gondor, while Allen took command of the Gondorian cavalry and attacked with them.
• The Swadia Knights routed the Black Scorpion Tribe, then joined the cavalry assaults against the Half-orcs.
• The Easterlings and Haradrim fled, and the battered Half-orcs broke and were pursued back toward Mordor as the Black Gate closed.
• Allen, Thengel, Gandalf, Lindir, and the surviving commanders returned to Ecthelion after the Free Peoples won the battle.

After the victory at the Black Gate, Allen worked himself into collapse while treating the wounded, and the Free Peoples debated whether to remain before Mordor. They stayed for over a week, but the trebuchets could barely damage Morgulon, and Sauron’s forces remained silent behind the gates.

• Dude, Alger, and Abinas died in the battle, while survivors worked through the night to treat and evacuate the wounded.
• Allen exhausted himself healing critically injured soldiers, collapsed, and slept for a day and night as Aragorn and Klethi cared for him.
• At the postwar council, Gandalf praised the victory, Lindir urged the army to leave, and Ecthelion argued that Gondor needed time to recover.
• Allen persuaded Lindir to keep the allied army before the Black Gate while they watched Mordor and evacuated the wounded in groups.
• The army remained for a little over a week, then used trebuchets against Morgulon for three days, damaging its surface and destroying the Towers of Teeth without breaking the defenses.
• Sauron’s forces did not emerge, and the allies concluded that Mordor would remain withdrawn until its strength recovered.