The Two Towers Summary

The story begins with the dissolution of a fellowship following a battle. Merry and Pippin, two hobbits, are taken prisoner by Orcs who believe that they carry a powerful ring due to an old prophecy. Consequently, their allies Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn decide to trail the captured hobbits, carefully avoiding the Orcs. They cross paths with the Riders of Rohan, led by Éomer. Simultaneously, Merry and Pippin are taken by a different Orc tribe, the Uruk-hai, who also seek the rumoured Ring. Escaping their captors, they encounter and befriend Fangorn, an Ent - a colossal tree-like creature. The Ents, upon hearing about the cruelty inflicted upon them by the Orcs under the control of the corrupted wizard Saruman, decide to wage war against them.

Elsewhere, Saruman haunts Aragorn and his group, but Gandalf, reborn as the White Rider after his previous demise, guides them to the Golden Hall of King Théoden. Gandalf exposes Théoden’s counselor Wormtongue as a spy for the wicked Saruman and helps reconcile Théoden and Éomer. The team confronts Saruman and surprisingly find Merry and Pippin at the gates of Saruman’s stronghold. The latter two inform Gandalf that the Ents are ready to lend their support in the battle against Saruman. During this confrontation, Wormtongue tries to murder Gandalf using a palantír, a stone transmitting images. Pippin looks into the palantír, alerting the Dark Lord Sauron to his location and setting in motion a hunt for him.

Simultaneously, Frodo and Sam, separated from the rest of the fellowship, are journeying to Mordor to destroy the Ring. They tame and recruit Gollum, the Ring's former owner, as a guide despite their suspicions. Their journey is fraught with challenges, from haunted marshlands to dark, menacing shapes in the sky known as Nazgûl. They encounter Faramir and his men who initially suspect the hobbits of causing Boromir’s death. Faramir supports the hobbits after learning the truth about his brother's betrayal. The journey takes a dangerous turn when they are led into tunnels inhabited by Shelob, a giant lethal spider. Frodo is paralyzed by Shelob and captured by Orc guards, who plan to search him for the Ring. Sam, believing Frodo dead, takes it upon himself to bear the Ring. Using it, he discovers he can comprehend the Orc language and follows the guards carrying Frodo, eventually realizing that his friend is still alive. The story ends with Sam, filled with agony, separated from Frodo as the gates of Mordor close on him.