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The Lord of the Rings

Captured by the Uruk-hai

Merry and Pippin

Carried west as prisoners, the two hobbits escape into Fangorn and wake the Ents against Isengard

Distance
780 miles · 1,255 km
days
19
Places
6
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Captured by the Uruk-hai on the map of Middle-earth

Merry and Pippin were carried about 130 miles in under four days from Amon Hen to the eaves of Fangorn, and their whole arc runs about 19 days from February 26 to the Pelennor on March 15, TA 3019.

This is the shortest of the main journeys in distance and the most consequential for its length. On February 26, TA 3019 Uruk-hai under Ugluk take Merry and Pippin at Parth Galen, believing they have the Ring-bearers, and run west and north across the Wold toward Isengard. The hobbits are carried, fed orc-draught and argued over by three different orc factions, which is why they survive.

On the evening of February 28 the eored of Eomer surrounds the band on the eaves of Fangorn. Pippin has already cut his bonds and dropped his Lorien brooch on the trail, and in the confusion of the battle the two of them crawl into the trees while Grishnakh is killed trying to carry them off.

Inside Fangorn they meet Treebeard, the oldest living thing that walks. He carries them to Wellinghall, gives them ent-draught, and listens. What the hobbits tell him about Saruman's felled trees does what no argument from Gandalf ever managed. The Entmoot lasts three days and then the Ents march.

On March 3 they break Isengard's ring-wall and turn the Isen into it, drowning the pits while Saruman shuts himself in Orthanc. The hobbits are sitting among the wreckage smoking pipe-weed when Gandalf, Aragorn, Theoden and the rest ride up on March 5. That evening Pippin steals a look into the palantir of Orthanc, speaks to Sauron, and is carried off to Minas Tirith on Shadowfax before dawn.

Merry stays with the Rohirrim, is made an esquire of Theoden at Helm's Deep, and is eventually carried to the war by Dernhelm, who is Eowyn in disguise. The two hobbits meet again on the Pelennor Fields, having each helped decide the war from opposite ends of it: Merry's Barrow-blade breaks the spell on the Witch-king, and Pippin brings Gandalf in time to save Faramir from his father's pyre.

Frequently asked questions

Where were Merry and Pippin taken by the orcs?

West and north across the Wold of Rohan toward Isengard, roughly 130 miles from Parth Galen below Amon Hen to the eaves of Fangorn Forest, where Eomer's riders destroyed the band.

How did the hobbits cause the fall of Isengard?

They told Treebeard what Saruman's orcs were doing to the trees around Isengard. Treebeard called the Entmoot, and on March 3, TA 3019 the Ents broke the wall and flooded the valley.

Did Merry and Pippin stay together?

No. They separated on the night of March 5, TA 3019, after Pippin looked into the palantir at Dol Baran. Pippin rode to Minas Tirith with Gandalf and Merry went with Theoden to Helm's Deep and Dunharrow, and they met again on the Pelennor Fields.

Route, stop by stop

  1. 01 · TA 3019, February 26

    Amon Hen

    Uruk-hai of Isengard overrun the camp at Parth Galen. Boromir is killed defending the hobbits, and Merry and Pippin are bound and carried off in mistake for the Ring-bearers.

  2. 02 · TA 3019, February 28 to 29

    Eaves of Fangorn

    After three days of forced march the orcs are surrounded and destroyed by Eomer's riders. Pippin drops his brooch as a sign, Grishnakh is shot while trying to steal them away, and the hobbits crawl free into the trees.

  3. 03 · TA 3019, February 29 to March 2

    Wellinghall

    Treebeard finds them on a hill in the forest and carries them to his ent-house under the spring. Their account of Saruman's ruined trees convinces him, and he calls the Entmoot at Derndingle, which sits for three days.

  4. 04 · TA 3019, March 3 to 5

    Isengard

    The Ents march that night, break the ring-wall and flood the valley. The hobbits keep the gate while Saruman is shut in Orthanc, and greet Gandalf's riders on March 5. That night Pippin looks into the palantir and is taken away to Gondor.

  5. 05 · TA 3019, March 6 to 10

    Dunharrow

    At the Hornburg on March 6 Merry offers his sword to Theoden and is made an esquire of Rohan, then rides with the king to Dunharrow. When the muster sets out on March 10 he is told to stay behind, and Dernhelm quietly takes him up onto the saddle instead.

  6. 06 · TA 3019, March 9 to 15

    Minas Tirith

    Pippin reaches the city on Shadowfax on March 9 and swears service to Denethor, later running to fetch Gandalf so that he and Beregond can save Faramir from the pyre. Merry arrives with the Rohirrim at dawn on March 15 and stabs the Witch-king behind the knee so Eowyn can strike.