Skirmish at Weathertop

Previous	Woodland Realm Osgiliath
Next	Battle of the Bridge of Khazad-dûm
Event as depicted in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Skirmish at Weathertop
Conflict	War of the Ring
Date	October 6, 3018
Place	Amon Sûl
Outcome	Frodo poisoned; Fellowship victory
Combatants
The hobbits and Aragorn
The hobbits and Aragorn
The Nazgûl
The Nazgûl
Casualties
Frodo poisoned
Frodo poisoned
Minor injuries
Minor injuries

War of the Ring

Prelude: Attack on the Woodland Realm – Sauron's assault on Osgiliath – Skirmish at Weathertop – Skirmish 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

A skirmish occurred on Weathertop Hill during the night of October 6, TA 3018 between five Nazgûl and Aragorn with the four hobbits. It resulted in Frodo Baggins being stabbed by a Morgul-knife, and the Nazgûl being driven off.

History

Background

After Bilbo Baggins' 111th birthday party, the One Ring was passed onto his nephew, Frodo Baggins. After Gandalf returned from Gollum's interrogation, he ordered Frodo and Samwise Gamgee to flee from the Shire and meet him at The Prancing Pony in Bree. Upon leaving, Frodo and Sam met with Merry and Pippin, who decided to join them in their quest to Bree.

Strider and path to Weathertop

The hobbits reached The Prancing Pony and Gandalf was nowhere to be seen. After Frodo accidentally placed on the One Ring, Aragorn, disguised as a man named Strider, pulled Frodo to another section of The Prancing Pony to tell him that their journey was not over and they must journey to Rivendell where the Ring will be in safer hands.

The group stopped at Weathertop Hill as night was coming. After spotting five of the Nazgûl gathering on the main road nearest to the hills, Strider cursed his carelessness for bringing them into such an openly visible place and he, Frodo and Merry returned to a small dell near the watch-tower that was previously used for camps by Rangers.

The battle

Frodo stabbed by the Witch-king's Morgul-knife

At the sight of the Nazgûl, the hobbits froze in terror, Merry and Pippin throwing themselves down, and Sam staying close to Frodo. Despite Gandalf's warning not to use the Ring, Frodo was compelled to put it on, and drew his Barrow-blade. The Witch-king bore down on Frodo and pierced his shoulder with a Morgul-knife, though Frodo struck the Witch-king's foot in the process.

Frodo fainted soon afterwards, but took off the Ring before losing consciousness completely. Aragorn was able to drive the rest of the Nazgûl off, but Frodo had sustained a wound that would haunt him in the years after.

The Nazgûl escaped but Frodo was left poisoned by the Witch-king's dagger and required healing from the Elves.

Adaptations

In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the Ringwraiths find the hobbits due to a campfire foolishly built while Strider was out, and chase them to the stone circle at the height of Weathertop Hill. Sam attempts to fight the Nazgûl, but is thrown aside along with Merry and Pippin before the Witch-king stabs Frodo.

Aragorn engaging the Nazgûl, in the film

Translations

Foreign Language	Translated name
Danish	Overfaldet på toppen af Vindhøj
German	Kampf auf dem Wetterspitze / Kampf auf dem Gipfel