:22:00
But now, under siege,
the sparkling gem of Gondor...
:22:04
...had become dull and flawed
with the hell of war.
:22:10
The once-lush fields of Pelennor,
now a wasted battleground...
:22:14
...upon which Sauron's forces of evil
celebrated their victories.
:22:27
Far superior in number
to the battle-ravaged Gondor forces...
:22:31
...they mounted their monster oliphaunts...
:22:33
...to ride in the rocking, armored towers,
to their almost certain victory.
:22:40
And in the heavens,
where no living thing dare now venture...
:22:44
...Sauron's phantom lieutenants,
the Nazgul, astride their devil steeds...
:22:50
...scream battle cries
of vile encouragement.
:23:10
High in the White Tower, Lord Denethor,
Chief Steward of Gondor...
:23:15
...his mind broken
as his city crumbled about him...
:23:18
...had succumbed
to an eerie fire of the brain...
:23:21
...and, in his madness,
ordered his own execution.
:23:27
-You must stop him!
-His word is law!
:23:30
I'll find Gandalf!
:23:33
The Hobbit, Pippin, who had proved
a most valuable assistant for me...
:23:37
...rushed to the battlement.
:23:40
Where l, Gandalf...
:23:42
...and the Gondor generals searched
the distance in vain...
:23:46
...for a sign of our rescuers.
:23:48
For we awaited Theoden...
:23:50
...a valuable ally,
lord of the friendly nation of Rohan...
:23:54
...for whom we had dispatched
Pippin's Hobbit friend, little Merry...
:23:59
...to inform him of our perilous condition
and to beseech his aid.