The Witch King's Hour
| The Witch King's Hour | |
|---|---|
| Scene from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King |
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| Scene number | 45 (extended edition) |
| Event | Encounter between Gandalf the White and the Witch-king. |
| Characters | Witch-king, Gandalf, Pippin |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: Denethor's Madness |
Next: The Ride of the Rohirrim |
The Witch King's Hour is the forty-fifth scene of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (extended edition). This scene was not featured in the theatrical release of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Synopsis[edit | edit source]
Gandalf and Pippin ride to stop the burning of Faramir at the hands of Denethor, but are waylaid by the Witch-king riding atop a fell beast. The wizard commands that he go back to the abyss, however, the Nazgûl mocks him and says to him "This is my hour". Pippin draws his sword but screams at the shriek of the Ringwraith, and Gandalf is thrown off Shadowfax as his staff is broken; the wizard appears doubtful and defeated as the Witch-king tells him "You have failed. The world of Men will fall". As the black captain raises his sword at Gandalf, the horns of Rohan sound loudly in the distance. Rohan had come. He pauses, before flying away upon the fell beast.
Differences[edit | edit source]
The encounter between Gandalf and the Witch-king in the books occurs immediately after Grond is used to break the Gate of Gondor.[1] The dialogue between the two characters follows the books closely, however the two do not engage in any conflict (for example, the breaking of Gandalf's staff does not occur), and Gandalf shows no fear of the Lord of the Nazgûl.[1] Furthermore, Pippin was not with Gandalf during the encounter.[2]
