[loopydate]

(I forgot something earlier. Saruman sent a pack of wild men into a Rohanian city to pillage and burn. A couple of children are sent off by horse by their mother to Edoras to sound the alarm.)

In another part of the forest, the walking tree (who isn't a tree at all, he's an Ent {a "tree-herder"}) named Treebeard is taking Merry and Pippin with him. Gandalf entrusted their safety to Treebeard, and he's going to take care of him. They discuss Saruman. Treebeard mentions that Saruman used to walk in his woods, but he only cares for machines now.

The Fellowship and Gandalf arrive in Edoras for a council with Theoden. They are not welcome, because Theoden has been possessed by Saruman and we all remember how good of friends Gandalf and Saruman are. Gandalf performs what amounts to an exorcism while Grima, Eowyn, and a handful of guards (including trusty sidekicks Hama and Gamling) look on. Suddenly, Saruman is expelled, and Theoden is back to his middle-aged-handsome self. He asks where his son is. After being ejected from Rohan, Grima returns to his master at Isengard.

In the night, Gollum and Smeagol go to war over control of their collective mind. Gollum says "If it weren't for me, we wouldn't be alive." Smeagol responds "Master takes care of us now. We don't need you anymore. Leave now and never come back!" And Gollum does. Smeagol is free!

The next morning, a jubilant Smeagol brings coneys (rabbits) to the hobbits to eat. He starts to eat one raw, but Sam snatches it away from him. Frodo thinks he's just being mean until...he makes a stew from the rabbits. Sam and Smeagol have a hilarious conversation about fish and "taters." Sam still does not trust Smeagol, but Frodo seems to think he can help him. Suddenly, the horrible screech of a Ringwraith is heard. The trio duck for cover as one of the Nine ride overhead on a winged fellbeast.

Theoden is crushed by the news that his son is dead. Gandalf tries to console him, and sees the two children ride up on their horse. They're taken inside. Eowyn explains about how their city was overrun. Gandalf says they must fight. Theoden does not want to go to war, but Aragorn explains that war is upon him whether he would chance it or not. Theoden decides to evacuate the city and take all of his people to the great fortress at Helm's Deep. Gandalf tells Aragorn that Theoden is behaving foolishly. He heads off on other business, but tells Aragorn to "look to my coming on the third day. At dawn, look to the east."

Treebeard takes Merry and Pippin into a clearing in the forest, where a meeting of the Ents converges. They discuss whether they will play a part in the coming war.

Frodo, Sam, and Smeagol hear a chanting in the distance. It turns out to be a pack of wicked men, heading to their master at Mordor. However, they're quickly ambushed by cloaked men. Frodo and Sam turn to run away, but plow headlong into the leader of the men, Faramir. Faramir and his men take Frodo and Sam into custody.

On the way to Helm's Deep, the Rohanian refugees and the Fellowship are attacked by Orcs on Wargs (wolf-like mounts). Theoden tells Eowyn to get the women and children to safety. Eowyn insists she can fight, but Theoden won't budge. In the heat of battle, Aragorn gets his wrist tangled in a warg stirrup and is dragged over the side of a cliff.

Faramir takes the hobbits to a cave hideout. He asks the hobbits' identities and, when he finds out who they are, reveals that he is Boromir's brother. He's going to succeed in his father's (the Steward of Gondor) eyes by taking the Ring to Gondor. Sam berates Faramir, saying that Boromir died because he tried to take the Ring.

After surviving his fall and riding a released Rohanian horse named Brego, Aragorn arrives at Helm's Deep, much to Eowyn's delight. However, when Legolas returns to Aragorn a jewel he received from Arwen, her heart sinks again.

Faramir takes the Hobbits to the besieged city of Osgiliath. The city is soon attacked by the Ringwraiths. Upon seeing what could happen should Frodo's journey fail, he decides to let the hobbits go. A lieutenant explains that, due to his father's law, Faramir's life is now forfeit. His response? "Then it is forfeit."

On a rainy night, the haphazard army of men assemble at Helm's Deep. Off in the distance, they hear a horn. It is a troop of Elves, sent by Elrond to renew an alliance that once existed between Men and Elves. Their leader is an Elf named Haldir, who is an old friend of Aragorn's. The army of Uruk-Hai arrive at the walls of Helm's Deep, and the battle begins.

The Ents have decided not to go to war. Treebeard begins to take Merry and Pippin to the edge of the wood to set them on their way home. Along the way, Pippin decides that they should go south. That way, they can slip past Isengard unnoticed. "The closer we are to danger, the farther we are from harm." Treebeard doesn't understand, but obliges.

Gollum is back, tempting Smeagol once more after Smeagol was captured and abused by Faramir's men under "Master"'s nose. Nonetheless, he/they lead the hobbits to the Black Gate of Mordor. Sam goes to get a closer look at a line of wicked men marching to the Gate, but the rock he's on gives way, he takes a long fall, and gets stuck in deep gravel. Frodo goes down to help him and obscures the both of them under a magical Elvish cloak. Once the men are safely inside the Gate, the hobbits get up to enter the gate, but Smeagol pulls them back. There is another way into Mordor.

Things are not going well at Helm's Deep. The main wall has been breached and the Fellowship are fighting their asses off, trying to protect the keep within. They are ordered to fall back. In the process, Haldir is killed by an Uruk.

Treebeard gets the hobbits to the edge of the forest, only to discover...it's been cut down! Saruman's orcs have been harvesting the trees for their Uruk factories. This enrages Treebeard, and the Ents go to war after all!

Meanwhile, back at Helm's Deep, the Fellowship and Theoden prepare to make their last stand. But...it's the third day! Aragorn looks to the east. "Ride out with me." The Fellowship and Theoden charge out on their horses, fighting off several Uruks when a brilliant light appears on the horizon. It's Gandalf and...the Rohirrim! The cavalry has arrived!

The Ents storm Isengard, crushing orcs beneath their feet and demolishing others with large boulders. A couple of Ents break down the dam which has been holding back the Isen River, which soon floods the entire land. Saruman has been beaten.

The Rohirrim, Gandalf, the Fellowship, and the Rohanians drive the Uruks out of Helm's Deep and into a mysterious forest that has shown up out of nowhere. From outside, all we can hear are screams and a grinding noise. The Uruks never stood a chance.

Amidst all the victory, Smeagol/Gollum is torn. How could Master have betrayed them? They ought to ring his filthy neck! "Or...we could let HER do it." In the distance, Sam and Frodo call out to him.

SMEAGOL: Over here, hobbitses! Hurry! No time to lose!
GOLLUM: (ominously, under his breath) Follow me.

FADE TO BLACK

*Whew* That was a lot of work, but I hope this catches you up on everything before you see the movie tomorrow. Enjoy!