Pippin looks behind and sees the whole forest moving. The trees have awakened and are marching towards Nan Curunir, the valley of Saruman.
The White Rider.
The story now returns to the three travelers hunting for their lost companions. They find a leaf from Lorien and crumbs of food in the grass, as well as pieces of cut cord. They also find an Orc knife. They follow the Hobbit prints up to Treebeard's rock wall and when they climb up to the top they once more see the old man who had appeared earlier. .
The old man comes to them and reveals himself to be Gandalf. He tells them that the old man they had seen earlier was not him but Saruman. He also tells them that their missing Hobbit friends have gone with the ents to Isengard, to fight Saruman. He tells Aragorn that he must go to their aid. .
He tells them what happened when he fell into the abyss with Balrog. Gandalf held on to the enemy's heel and the Balrog took him up to the highest peak from where Gandalf flung the .
Balrog to its death. Gwaihir, who had been sent by Lady Galadriel, found Gandalf there. He was taken to Lothlorien, where he was clad in white and healed. Lady Galadriel's messages of caution are given to the three and they set off. .
The White Rider (Gandalf) then summons Shadowfax, his horse, which he took from Theoden along with two others. Gandalf sets Gimli on his own horse and they ride off toward the halls of Theoden, Eomer's king.
The King of the Golden Hall.
Now that Gandalf has returned from the dead, he serves as the captain of the hunters. He leads them to Theoden's halls, and tells the guards that they have come back to return the horses that Eomer had lent them. .
The four companions enter the hall after leaving their weapons behind, but they do not get a warm welcome. Theoden is reluctant to show gratitude; he says this is because Gandalf almost always heralds bad news and asks for help. In truth, it's because Saruman has a secret veil of evil over him so he won't see the truth.
