<Merry and Pippin are travelling through the forest, carried by Treebeard.>
Pippin: Look! There’s smoke to the south!
Treebeard: There is always smoke rising from Isengard these days.
Merry: Isengard?
<The two hobbits climb higher up onto Treebeard for a better view.>
Treebeard: There was a time when Saruman would walk in my woods. But now he has a mind of metal and wheels. He no longer cares for growing things.
<Pippin and Merry are now on top of Treebeard and they see a massive army moving across the land>
Pippin: What is it?
Merry: It’s Saruman’s army! The war has started.
<Aragorn is floating in the river, unconscious. He is washed ashore and dreams of Arwen.>
Arwen: <Kissing him on the lips> May the grace of the Valar protect you.
<A horse arrives and nudges Aragorn, turning him over and nuzzling him.>
Aragorn: <Mumbles> Brego… <He grabs hold of Brego’s mane, pulls himself onto the horse and rides slowly to Helms Deep.>
<Arwen is lying on her bed, deep in thought.>
Elrond: <Coming into her room> Arwen.
<Arwen hears him and sits up.>
Elrond: Tollen i lû. I chair gwannar na Valannor. Si bado, no círar. (Arwen, it is time. The ships are leaving for Valinor. Go now... before it is too late.)
Arwen: I have made my choice.
Elrond: He is not coming back. Why do you linger here when there is no hope?
Arwen: There is still hope.
Elrond: <Walks towards window and looks out> If Aragorn survives this war, you will still be parted. If Sauron is defeated, and Aragorn made king and all that you hope for comes true, you will still have to taste the bitterness of mortality. Whether by the sword or the slow decay of time, Aragorn will die.
<Arwen sees a vision of her future as Elrond speaks. She is dressed as a queen in mourning garb and looking down upon Aragorn, a crown on his brow, Andúril in his hand, and dead. Mourners are walking around the altar, paying their final respects. Arwen is weeping.>
Elrond: And there will be no comfort for you. No comfort to ease the pain of his passing. He will come to death, an image of the splendor of the kings of men in glory undimmed before the breaking of the world.
<The body of Aragorn is now cast as a monument in stone. Arwen stands before the monument, veiled and in black.>
Elrond: But you, my daughter, you will linger on in darkness and in doubt. As nightfall in winter that comes without a star. Here you will dwell, bound to your grief, under the fading trees, until all the world is changed and the long years of your life are utterly spent.
<Still veiled in black, Arwen is walking alone through the deserted woods of Lothlórien.>
Elrond: <Tuning to Arwen> Arwen... there is nothing for you here, only death.
<The vision ends and Arwen weeps with sadness and fear. Elrond comes to sit beside his daughter and raises a hand to her cheek.>
Elrond: A im, ú-'erin veleth lîn? (Do I not also have your love?)
Arwen: <Crying and moving into her father’s embrace> Gerich meleth nîn, ada. (You have my love, father)
<Elves, cloaked and carrying a lantern each, are setting off from Rivendell on their journey to the West. Elrond looks on as Arwen leaves with them. Arwen turns back to look at her father one last time before she departs. Elrond continues to stare after her with an expression of resigned sadness.>
<Elrond is standing by a window. He hears Galadriel speaking.>
Galadriel: I amar prestar aen... han mathon ne nen, han mathon ne chae a han nostan ned gwilith. (The world has changed... I feel it in the water, I feel it in the earth, I smell it in the air.) The power of the enemy is growing. <Saruman is communicating with Sauron via the Palantír.> Sauron will use his puppet Saruman to destroy the people of Rohan. Isengard has been unleashed. <View of Saruman's marching army> The eye of Sauron now turns to Gondor, the last free kingdom of men. <View of Osgiliath> His war on this country will come swiftly. He senses the Ring is close. The strength of the Ringbearer is failing. In his heart, Frodo begins to understand. <Close-up of Galadriel> The quest will claim his life. You know this. You have foreseen it. It is the risk we all took.
<Close-up of the Ring spinning in slow motion>
Galadriel (V.O.): In the gathering dark, the will of the Ring grows strong. It works hard now to find its way back into the hands of men.
<We see Faramir and Gondorian rangers with the captured Frodo and Sam.>
Galadriel (V.O.): Men, who are so easily seduced by its power. The young captain of Gondor has but to extend his hands, take the Ring for his own and the world will fall. It is close now, so close to achieving its goal.
<Faramir and company have reached Henneth Annûn. Frodo and Sam and being carries, blinded-folded into the cave.>
Galadriel (V.O.): For Sauron will have dominion of all life on this Earth, even unto the ending of the world. The time of the Elves is over.
<Close-up of Galadriel's luminous eyes with their deep pools of wisdom. We then see Elrond in his library, looking at the painting of Isildur facing down Sauron with the broken blade of Narsil.>
Galadriel (V.O.): Do we leave Middle-earth to its fate? Do we let them stand alone?
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