Attack at Amon Hen
Prelude: Attack on the Woodland Realm – Sauron's assault on Osgiliath – Skirmish at Weathertop – Battle at Amon Hen – War commences: – First Battle of the Fords of Isen – Ambush of the Rohirrim – Second Battle of the Fords of Isen – Battle of the Hornburg – Last march of the Ents – Battle of Ithilien – Battle of Osgiliath – Siege of Gondor – Battle of the Pelennor Fields – Battle of Dale – Battles of Lórien and invasion of eastern Rohan – Battle under the trees – Quarrel – Ambush in Ithilien – Battle of the Morannon – Destruction of Dol Guldur – Battle of Bywater
At Amon Hen, the Fellowship of the Ring was broken by a "sudden attack of orc-soldiers" in the year TA 3019. It resulted in the death of Boromir and the capture of Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took.
History
Prelude
Frodo was given an hour alone to decide how the Fellowship would proceed in their quest. However, after an hour had long past, Frodo had still not returned. Boromir, who had earlier abandoned the remaining members of the Fellowship without their knowing, then returned. He recounted that he had seen Frodo an hour before, that he had tried to convince Frodo to bring the Ring to Minas Tirith, and that they then had an argument, resulting in Frodo putting on the Ring and vanishing. This story roused the suspicions of Aragorn II, who guessed correctly that Boromir had not told the entire truth. At the conclusion of Boromir's story, Merry and Pippin immediately ran off to locate Frodo while Legolas and Gimli searched for the Ring-bearer in a different direction.
Fearing that the Fellowship would be scattered and lost, Aragorn commanded Boromir to follow Merry and Pippin. Aragorn then instructed Sam to follow him to the Seat of Seeing, but Sam was unable to keep up with him. Thinking on his feet, Sam returned to camp and saw a boat seemingly push itself into Nen Hithoel. Realizing that an invisible Frodo was pushing the boat, Sam caught up to Frodo, and convinced him to let him accompany him to Mordor.
The battle
Meanwhile, Aragorn, who had reached the Seat of Seeing, heard the sounds of Orcs and of Boromir blowing his Great Horn. He ran to Boromir's aid, but arrived too late, as did the battle-worn Legolas and Gimli shortly thereafter. Boromir fought valiantly, redeeming himself for trying to steal the Ring from Frodo, but fell to many arrows allowing Merry and Pippin to be captured. With Frodo and Sam heading off to Mordor on their own, Aragorn decided that the fate of the Ring was no longer in their hands, so he, Legolas, and Gimli set out to rescue Merry and Pippin.
In adaptations
In Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), the attacking forces are comprised entirely of Isengard Uruk-hai led by Lurtz. Whilst in the book Aragorn does not engage in any combat, he fights in the film alongside Legolas and Gimli, and they slay many Uruk-hai. Once they head Boromir's horn, they fight their way to his vicinity.
In contrast to the books, Merry and Pippin encounter Frodo hiding, with Uruks nearby, and are aware of his intention to leave the Fellowship. They willingly create a diversion to allow Frodo to escape—they are eventually forced to stand and fight with Boromir, who protects them valiantly before Lurtz arrives and mortally wounds Boromir with three arrows. Merry and Pippin are then taken, as the Uruk host depart together for Isengard. Before Lurtz, who has stayed behind, can finish Boromir off, Aragorn intervenes and knocks Lurtz aside. He brutally duels the Uruk chief before decapitating him. He sees Boromir among the fallen Orcs, and rushes to him, but finds that he is beyond saving. As in the book, Boromir admits that he had tried to take the One Ring by force, and begs forgiveness, lamenting that the strength of Men will fail and that Sauron may succeed. Aragorn swears that Minas Tirith "will not fall, nor will the strength of Men fail." Boromir accepts Aragorn as his king, before succumbing to his wounds and passing away.
Translations
References
Location: Amon Hen