Theoden reaches Isengard at noon. Parley with Saruman in Orthanc. Winged Nazgul passes over the camp at Dol Baran. Gandalf sets off with Peregrin for Minas Tirith. Frodo hides in sight of the Morannon, and leaves at dusk.

As they rested, Halbarad looked at the staff that was his responsibility to bear. He longed to unfurl it and fight under its banner but he would not. He knew what it represented, what it said, who it was for, but the choice to use it was not his.

He had not seen his kinsman for some time and although he thought they would have heard if Aragorn was dead, he had no way of knowing. Elladan and Elrohir cautioned optimism but someone had to consider the worst, and the burden that would be his if it came to pass.