They find the gate locked and a new ugly guardhouse built on the far side, and Merry and Pippin scale the gate to get in. A man comes out to quell the ruckus, but he runs away rather than deal with armed and determined resistance. The travelers soon learn that Lotho Sackville-Baggins has brought evil men into the Shire to intimidate the hobbits, ruling by a combination of force and fear. Many trees have been cut down and hobbits have been turned out of their homes, while factories have been built that pollute the environment. The four friends lead a rebellion, then find Saruman, still accompanied by Wormtongue, living in Bag End. The fallen wizard has masterminded this destruction of the Shire in the months they have lingered along the road. Frodo spares his life, but Wormtongue kills his master and is then killed himself by the hobbits.
The devastation of the Shire is terrible for the hobbits. As Sam exclaims, "This is worse than Mordor!" After Saruman and his henchmen are killed or driven out, the hobbits set to repairing the damage. The new factories and buildings are torn down, many of the destroyed homes are restored, and Sam uses the gift of earth from Galadriel's garden to restore the land. She also gave him a mallorn seed, and he plants it where the great tree had stood for Bilbo's birthday party. The next year proves the most bountiful in anyone's memory.
Merry and Pippin live together at Crickhollow, becoming the most glamorous hobbits in the Shire. Sam marries Rose Cotton and moves into Bag End with Frodo. But Frodo remains haunted by the memories of his ordeal, falling ill on the anniversary of the Ring's destruction and again on the anniversary of Weathertop. When Frodo finishes his book, he gives it to Sam and asks his friend to join him on one last journey. They go to meet Galadriel and Elrond, with Bilbo himself, and journey to the Gray Havens. There they find Gandalf waiting for them. Frodo has decided to leave Middle-earth with the elves. Merry and Pippin arrive to say goodbye and ride home with Sam. Sam returns home to his wife and daughter, settles in, and says simply, "Well, I'm back."
