Although small in number, the Riders of Rohan sweep across the battlefield. Then the Witchking (the most powerful Nazgûl) kills Théoden, and their charge is stopped. The rider who brought Merry to the battle reveals herself as Éowyn, and with Merry's help she slays the Enemy's greatest servant. The hopes of the city are dashed when a fleet of dark ships appears on the river, but the lead ship unfurls a banner bearing the insignia of the True King: Aragorn has arrived from the Paths of the Dead. He used his authority as the True King to call the dead themselves into battle, and they destroyed a second army that had been approaching from the river.
Inside the city, Denethor descends into madness as he watches the plight of his city and the deadly illness of Faramir. Convinced that all is lost, he orders Faramir's body carried into the mausoleum, where he plans to burn himself and his son alive. Pippin manages to find Gandalf, who saves Faramir from his father's madness, but Gandalf cannot prevent Denethor's own suicide. Faramir is taken to the Houses of Healing, as are Éowyn and Merry, and Aragorn enters the city to tend to their illness. The ability to heal is a sign of the True King, and Ioreth, one of the women in the House, recognizes Aragorn's right to the throne.
Although the battle for Minas Tirith has been won, the only true victory lies with Frodo's quest. To distract Sauron from any attempt to reach Mount Doom, Aragorn leads the remaining armies of the West to the Black Gate. When they arrive, a herald from Mordor shows them Frodo's mailshirt in an attempt to make them lose heart, but the attempt at misdirection shows them that Sauron does not yet have the Ring. An enormous army attacks, and Aragorn's armies are slowly overwhelmed.
