13. Flight to the Ford

[Back at Isengard, giant caverns have been opened up and a forge is seen at the base, where hundreds of Orcs are working. Sounds of metal clinking rise up into the air.]

[High above, Gandalf is still imprisoned on the pinnacle of the tower. A tiny white moth struggles against the breeze and reaches the top of the tower. It flutters to Gandalf, who captures it in his fingers.]

[It appears to sit still in his hand and listen to his words as though spoken in moth language.]

Gandalf: [whispering a final command] "Gwaihir. Go, Gwaihir."

[The moth flies away.]

[Down in the Caverns of Isengard the forging of weapons and armor is well underway. Hundreds of helmets and swords are piling up. Saruman observes all the activity with pride.]

[Deep in the pits, Orcs are tending strange moving formations in the mud. Groans issue from within the mounds. Something appears to be struggling to get out. A giant creature emerges, killing the Orc who has been helping it to be born.]


[The creature is massive, towering above the smaller Orcs, with huge teeth, and covered in slime. Saruman gazes at his creation in rapt admiration.]





[Back in the forest, the Hobbits and Strider rest beneath a gathering of huge stone trolls.]Sam: "Look, Mister Frodo! It's Mister Bilbo's trolls!"

[Sam feels Frodo's forehead.]Sam: "Mister Frodo?" [to Strider] "He's going cold!"



Pippin: "Is he going to die?"

Strider: "He's passing into the shadow world. He will soon become a wraith like them."

[Frodo gasps. The Nazgûl cry is heard from a distance. Frodo cries out as if in answer to them.]

Merry: "They're close."Strider: "Sam, do you know Athelas plant?"

Sam: "Athelas?"Strider: "Kingsfoil?"
Sam: "Kingsfoil — aye, it's a weed."

Strider: "It may help to slow the poison. Hurry!"[They search for the plant in the nearby undergrowth.]



[Strider finds a small patch and proceeds to collect it. A sword appears at his throat.]

Arwen: "What's this? A ranger caught off his guard?"
[Frodo, lying on the ground, sees a white light. He turns towards it and sees a beautiful Elf-lady approaching on a white horse. She dismounts and walks to him.]


Arwen: "Frodo…. Im Arwen. Telin le thaed" (I am Arwen. I have come to help you.)

Arwen: "Lasto beth nîn. Tolo dan na ngalad" (Hear my voice. Come back to the light.)

[Strider mounts Frodo onto Arwen's horse.]
Strider: "Dartho guin perian. Rych le ad tolthathon." (Stay with the Hobbits. I will send horses back for you.)

Arwen: "Hon mabathon. Rochon ellint im." (I'm the faster rider. I'll take him.)
Strider: "Andelu i ven." (The road is too dangerous.)
Pippin: "What are they saying?"

Arwen: "Frodo fîr. Ae athradon i hir, tur gwaith nin beriatha hon." (Frodo's dying. If I can get across the river, the power of my people will protect him.)
Arwen: "I do not fear them."

Strider: "Be iest lîn." (As you wish.)


[Their hands clasp tenderly. Arwen mounts her horse, with Frodo seated in front of her.]
Strider: "Arwen, ride hard. Don't look back!"

Arwen: "Noro lim, Asfaloth, noro lim!" (Ride fast, Asfaloth, ride fast!)

[Asfaloth gallops away.]
Sam (to Strider): "What are you doing?! Those wraiths are still out there!"

[Strider stares after Arwen.]



[Arwen rides on as the Nazgûl give chase. Night gives way to day as they pursue her, from forest to open plain, sometimes closing, sometimes falling behind.]



[One of the Wraiths closes on Frodo, reaching out as if to snatch the Ring from him. Arwen spurs Asfaloth on to an even greater effort.]



Arwen: "Noro lim, Asfaloth!" (Ride faster, Asfaloth!)




[Arwen reaches a river, and splashes across a ford. She pauses and looks back. The Nazgûl have stopped at the edge of the water. Their mounts rear up, screaming, terrified of entering the river.]
Nazgûl: "Give up the halfling, she-Elf!"


Arwen: [draws her sword in challenge] "If you want him, come and claim him!"


[The Nazgûl draw their swords and urge their reluctant horses across the ford. Arwen begins to chant to the river.]



Arwen:
"Nin o Chithaeglir, lasto beth daer,
Rimmo nin Bruinen, dan in Ulair!
Nin o Chithaeglir, lasto beth daer,
Rimmo nin Bruinen, dan in Ulair!"
(Waters of the Misty Mountains, listen to the great word,
flow waters of Loudwater, against the Ringwraiths!)



[The water level rises. A great flood comes around the bend, with crests shaped like white horses. The Nazgûl are cast from their mounts and washed away down the river as Arwen watches.]




[Frodo starts to slip from the horse. Arwen lays him on the ground.]

Arwen: "No! Frodo… No! Frodo, don't give in! Not now!"

[Arwen cries and embraces Frodo.]
Arwen (voiceover): "What grace is given me, let it pass to him, let him be spared — save him."