The Lord Of The Ring: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Fellowship

If there was one moment that really hit home in Jackson's trilogy, it was seeing the two hobbits Merry and Pippin charge after Aragorn at the Battle of the Black Gate. It gave out little heroes the glorious moment they deserved.

Things go slightly differently in the books, however. Merry was actually unable to fight at the Black Gate, as he was recovering from injuries sustained from stabbing the Witch-king. But as Pippin was sworn in service to the City of Minas Tirith, he was obliged to join the army.

In Tolkien's version, Pippin is desperate to match Merry's former deeds in battle. He heroically saves a character named Beregond from being killed by a troll chieftain. He manages to slay the creature, but when it falls it crushes Pippin, leaving him unconscious for the rest of the battle. The last thing Pippin hears is men calling out, "The eagles are coming!"

Later it's revealed that Gimli spotted one of Pippin's hobbit feet poking out from under the huge carcass and was able to save him.