Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli follow hobbit tracks into Fangorn. They find the hill on which the hobbits met Treebeard, where they encounter an old man. Fearing he is Saruman, they attack him but he foils their attempts. It is not Saruman, however, but Gandalf returned and robed in white. He reassures them that Merry and Pippin are safe, and informs them that the four of them must go to Edoras, the capital of Rohan. He briefly recounts his struggle with the Balrog, which nearly killed him before he destroyed it. He has returned to lead the fight against Mordor. Summoning his own horse, Shadowfax, as well as their lost mounts, Gandalf leads them over the plains toward Edoras.
The guards of Edoras receive them suspiciously, having been warned by King Théoden's counselor, Wormtongue. At the doors of the king's hall, the wardens insist on taking their weapons. Théoden is an old man, attended by his beautiful niece Éowyn and Wormtongue, and he dislikes Gandalf. Undeterred, Gandalf reveals himself as Gandalf the White, and urges the king to throw off his weariness and take up his sword again. Éomer, who had been imprisoned, is released, and Wormtongue is sent back to his true master, Saruman. Realizing he has allowed events to pass him by, Théoden summons his army and rides to war, leaving Éowyn to rule.
