refresh my memory re: aragorn

[chess]

a little memory refresher, please, for someone who read the books a long time ago and remembers things a little differently than they were portrayed in the film.

it seemed odd to me...or at least a little disjointed...that aragorn just showed up and was universally accepted as the king of gondor. in the book, wasn't there a bit of political intrigue after he showed up? in the film, he arrives in one scene and is leading the entire army in the next.

also, the actual way he showed up didn't seem right to me. again, it's been a while since i read the book, but it seems like i recall him sailing in under the symbol of the white tree to some degree of fanfare. i suppose that in my head, i pictured a proper entrance, as opposed to a trojan horse, which served as both a tactical and a political purpose.

finally, i must've completely missed the boat on the "army of the dead". i'm pretty sure that i remember them simply being descendents of the old deserters...mountain men as opposed to ghosts. i remember him taking the route through the haunted mountain, but don't remember a ghost army.

loved the film, but this portion of it seemed like it was really missing something. maybe they could have cut 5 minutes of the ending and properly fleshed this out...which i'm sure they will in the EE. come to think of it, most of that ending should have been in the EE, as the joe publics in my screening were getting restless.

[Jason]

In the book, and presumably the EE of ROTK, Aragorn enters Gondor before becoming the king because his skills are needed at the House of Healing. "The hands of the king are the hands of a healer", and he brings Pippin and Eowyn back from near death.

By doing this, he proves he is the heir to the throne of Gondor.

[Giantrobo]

finally, i must've completely missed the boat on the "army of the dead". i'm pretty sure that i remember them simply being descendents of the old deserters...mountain men as opposed to ghosts. i remember him taking the route through the haunted mountain, but don't remember a ghost army.


IIRC, there were ghosts AND mountian men or wild men that joined in the war against Sauron.


Also, Denethor's line was only "Temp Leaders" until the rightful King returned right? Of Course he had other ideas....

[wlmowery]

BOOK SPOILERS BELOW!!!

In the books, Aragorn does call the Army of the Dead to fullfill their broken oaths. It is a ghost army of men from the time of Isildur. The Army of the Dead is gathered and they fight with the Corsairs of Umbar in the battle at the harbor at the mouth of the Anduin river (The Pelargir). After this battle, Aragorn takes the ships of the Corsairs and sails upriver to the battle on the Pelannor Fields. As the ships approach, he unfurls the banner of the house of Elendil (white tree with stars) and joins battle as the combined armies of Gondor and Rohan, with Aragorn and his rangers defeat the army of Sauron at the gates of Minas Tirith. In the books, the army of the dead does not battle at the Pelannor Fields having already been released by Aragorn after the battle with the Corsairs.

After the victory on the Pelannor Fields, Aragorn refuses a triumphal entry to Minas Tirith, instead pitching his tents on the field of victory. The rule of Gondor is held by the Prince of Dol Amroth in stead of the Steward (as Denethor had killed himself and Faramir lay under the Black Breath). He is later called into the city to treat the injuries of Merry, Eowyn and Faramir using Athelas (or Kingsfoil). During this process, the nurse Ioreth proclaims "The hands of the King are the hands of a healer." Aragorn takes command of the army, without proclamation as King, as they prepare to march on the Black Gates. Only upon the return does Aragorn official take up the mantle of Kingship and enter the city triumphant from his tents in front of the walls.

[chess]

Originally posted by wlmowery
BOOK SPOILERS BELOW!!!

In the books, Aragorn does call the Army of the Dead to fullfill their broken oaths. It is a ghost army of men from the time of Isildur. The Army of the Dead is gathered and they fight with the Corsairs of Umbar in the battle at the harbor at the mouth of the Anduin river (The Pelargir). After this battle, Aragorn takes the ships of the Corsairs and sails upriver to the battle on the Pelannor Fields. As the ships approach, he unfurls the banner of the house of Elendil (white tree with stars) and joins battle as the combined armies of Gondor and Rohan, with Aragorn and his rangers defeat the army of Sauron at the gates of Minas Tirith. In the books, the army of the dead does not battle at the Pelannor Fields having already been released by Aragorn after the battle with the Corsairs.

After the victory on the Pelannor Fields, Aragorn refuses a triumphal entry to Minas Tirith, instead pitching his tents on the field of victory. The rule of Gondor is held by the Prince of Dol Amroth in stead of the Steward (as Denethor had killed himself and Faramir lay under the Black Breath). He is later called into the city to treat the injuries of Merry, Eowyn and Faramir using Athelas (or Kingsfoil). During this process, the nurse Ioreth proclaims "The hands of the King are the hands of a healer." Aragorn takes command of the army, without proclamation as King, as they prepare to march on the Black Gates. Only upon the return does Aragorn official take up the mantle of Kingship and enter the city triumphant from his tents in front of the walls.

Great post, and exactly what I wanted to know. I see that PJ put these events together in such a way as to most efficiently use screen time. It was the way he showed up in the boat that threw me off...not that he showed up in a boat, but the WAY he did. It seemed like a really epic moment in the book.

I guess I was picturing boats coming in through the mist with some sense of forboding, and then making out the kings banner. It just seems that the way it was handled betrayed the moment when the tide turned. instead of an epic "return of the king", he sneaked in without really letting anyone know who he was.

i'm trying not to overthink it, and suspect some of my misgivings will be better fleshed out in the EE.