The funeral escort of King Théoden reaches Edoras after fifteen days of travel from Minas Tirith. Arriving with him are Aragorn and Arwen; Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin; Legolas and Gimli; Gandalf; and the High-elves who were in Minas Tirith for the Midsummer wedding of Aragorn and Arwen and who are now returning to their lands in the north — Elrond and his sons, and Galadriel and Celeborn.
The men of the Mark begin three days of preparation for the great funeral feast and ceremony for their late king.
The people of the Mark bury King Théoden in an eighth and final barrow they have heaped on the east side of the Barrowfield at the foot of the city. After the funeral the new King Éomer gives his sister, the Lady Éowyn, as wife to Faramir the Steward of Gondor.
The four Hobbits and the Elves who arrived in Edoras a week ago for the funeral of King Théoden bid farewell to King Éomer and ride north from the city. Arwen stays behind at Edoras while Aragorn her husband leaves to ride with them as far as Isengard; thus she is parted for the last time from her father Elrond 2,778 years after being born to him and his wife Celebrían.
Aragorn continues to ride north toward Isengard with the Hobbits and Elves who are now returning to the North following their involvement in the War of the Ring or, in the case of many of the Elves, their long ride to the south to see his wedding to Arwen. They come to Helm's Deep, where Gimli is finally able to show Legolas the beauties of the Glittering Caves that lie behind the Deeping Coomb, of which he became enamored when forced to flee there during the Battle of Helm's Deep more than five months ago.
Aragorn and the Hobbits and Elves riding north come finally to Isengard. From Treebeard they learn that the wizard Saruman is no longer imprisoned in Orthanc. The Hobbits make their farewell to Treebeard, as do Celeborn and Galadriel whom he has not seen since more ancient times.
Legolas and Gimli bid the other riders farewell, and accept the invitation of Treebeard to ride north through Fangorn forest as they ride toward their homes in the northern Mirkwood (now named the Wood of Greenleaves following the victories of the Elves against Dol Guldur, as they will learn upon their return) — Legolas toward the city of the Wood-elves where the father reigns, and Gimli toward the great caves under the Lonely Mountain where he will find the old King Dáin Ironfoot has fallen in battle and his distant cousin Thorin III Stonehelm now reigning.
At sunset they approach the Gap of Rohan, the westernmost border of ancient Gondor, where Aragorn bids them farewell so that he may ride back to his Queen who waits in Edoras for both of them to return to Minas Tirith and being in earnest their reign. Aragorn and his knights do not turn immediately, but sit awhile upon their horses to watch the travellers disappear into the sunset, who in return see behind them the sunlight gleaming upon the harnesses and a final flash of green from the Elfstone.
The Hobbits and Elves who ride north with Gandalf toward their homes come upon the wizard Saruman, who is also passing north. After a vicious exchange of words on the part of the ruined wizard, they continue north while he moves off to the northwest.