Fanmix for themiddleearth
Infinite Legend
A Return of the King Fanmix
Description/Explanation: My first theme of choice was "Epic" as I thought it suited the Lord of the Rings movies very well. But as the making of this fanmix progressed, I realized that "Legend" is a far more suiting theme. Most of the songs I've chosen are instrumentals as I think the music speaks for itself. In addition to links to them, I have included parts of the transcript of "Return of the King" to explain better how the songs relate to the movie.
1. Knight's March
[Some distance away, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli ride through Fangorn forest. We see their position in the forest from above, and not too far away is Isengard. Merry and Pippin sit on the walls, eating and smoking pipe weed.]
Pippin:
I feel like I'm back at the Green Dragon after a hard day's work.
Merry:
Only, you've never done a hard day's work.
2. The Great Eatlon
[It is night-time, and Frodo and Sam are asleep.]
Gollum:
Too risky, too risky... Thieves!
[With increasing anger:] They stole It from us: kill them, kill them, kill them both!
[With a scream, he comes to his senses.]
Gollum:
Shhh! Quiet! Musn't wake them! Musn't ruin it now!
[Gollum crawls down from where he was sleeping and makes his way to a little pool of water.]
Smeagol:
But they knows! They knows! They suspects us!
[Smeagol sits on the edge of the pool, and sees Gollum look back at him from the gently ripping water.]
Gollum:
What's it saying, my precious, my love? Is Smeagol losing his nerve?
Smeagol:
No! Not! Never!
Smeagol:
[In protest:] Smeagol hates nasty hobbitses! Smeagol wants to see them - dead!
Gollum:
And we will. Smeagol did it once; he can do it again.
[A flashback of Smeagol strangling Deagol at the river-bank.]
3. Heroic Assault
[Pippin stares at Merry, as though confused, as Gandalf gets up to sit behind him. Merry takes a few steps back, and speaks softly, his voice breaking.]
Merry:
I don't know what's going to happen...
[Gandalf makes to leave.]
Pippin:
Merry!
Gandalf:
Run, Shadowfax. Show us the meaning of haste.
Pippin:
Merry!!!
[Shadowfax gallops out of the stables and Merry runs after them. He climbs up to the watchtower, Aragorn running after him.]
Aragorn:
Merry!
[High up on the watchtower, Merry commands a magnificent view of all the lands around, but is blind to all but a single figure of white and silver, galloping swiftly away, vanishing into the distance.]
4. Infinite Legend
Arwen:
[Whispering:] This was my choice.
[Elrond's eyes moisten as Arwen continues.]
Arwen:
Ada, whether by your will or not, there is no ship now that can bear me hence.
[In the twilight, Elrond walks in Rivendell. He watches as sparks flicker in the distance, where two Elves take it in turn to beat the Shards of Narsil into a single blade.]
5. O Verona
[We go to the River Anduin, where boats filled with Orcs approach the city of Osgiliath.]
Orc leader:
Quiet.
[In the city, Faramir and his men prepare for an attack]
Faramir:
To the river! Quick!
Orc leader:
Faster!
[The Orcs quicken their pace, and we see the river filled with the huge army of Mordor. Inside the city, the men run to their posts.]
Orc leader:
Draw swords!
[The Orcs arrive upon the shores of Osgiliath, and begin to run out from their boats. Hidden in the shadows, Faramir and his men watch as the Orcs run past him, and into the city. At last, Faramir runs out from the shadows, and the battle begins. Men hurry to defend the shores, as more Orcs sail in from the river.]
6. Protector Of The Earth
[Back on the fields, Merry gets up from the ground slowly. As he picks up his sword, he sees Eowyn, facing the Witch-king alone. She lies alone, her back against Theoden's horse, and fear is in her eyes as the Lord of the Nazgul twines his iron fingers around her neck, lifting her up from the ground.]
Witch-king:
Fool... No man can kill me... die now...
[As Eowyn hangs in the Nazgul's death-grip, Merry comes forth from behind. He slashes with his sword, hitting the Witch-king in his knee. The Nazgul lets out a scream, falls to his knees and drops eowyn to the ground. Merry cries out in pain and holds his hand.]
[Eowyn gets up to her feet and stands before the Witch-king. She removes her helmet, her long golden hair flowing in the air, finally revealing his true identity.]
Eowyn:
I am no man!
[With a cry, she thrusts her sword into the helmet of the Nazgul. Eowyn lets go of the sword in pain, but it remains in the helmet of the Nazgul for a moment, before being thrown out of it. The Nazgul begins to writhe, smoke coming from the armour, which, at last falls to the ground, empty.]
7. A Wing And A Prayer
Gandalf:
It is time, Frodo.
[All the other hobbits turn to look at Frodo, as though half-understanding.]
Sam:
What does he mean??
Frodo:
We set out to save the Shire, Sam... and it has been saved. But not for me.
Sam:
You don't mean that!
[Tears form in Sam's eyes as he continues.]
Sam:
You can't leave!
[Frodo hands Sam the Red Book.]
Frodo:
The last pages are for you, Sam.
[Sam looks at Frodo miserably, his face wet with tears. Frodo turns to his other two friends, who both weep silently. Last of all, Frodo turns to Sam, and holds tightly on to his weeping friend. Frodo pulls back, and kisses Sam's forehead, and their eyes meet and linger one last time, before Frodo turns to board the ship; Frodo takes Gandalf's outstreched hand, and together, they walk onto the ship, as their three friends stand weeping on the shores of Middle-Earth. The sails are drawn up, and as the ship begins to move off, Frodo turns, peace at last upon his face as he smiles, looking fondly upon his friends. Amid their tears, the three hobbits smile weakly. Inclining his head slightly, Frodo turns to face the West. As the ship sails slowly from Grey Havens, Merry and Pippin turn to leave; but Sam remains for a few moments, and watches the ship disappear into the burning sunset.]
Bonus track:
O Fortuna