It's likely that Jackson interpreted Gandalf's raised staff as a "blade to pierce" the Witch-king. "The only hurt that it did to his enemy, I fear for it is unharmed, but all blades perish that pierce that dreadful King." "This was the stroke of Frodo's sword," he said.
A foot above the lower hem there was a slash. "Look!" he cried and stooping he lifted from the ground a black cloak that had lain there hidden by the darkness.
The foremost of the black horses had almost set foot upon the shore.įrom the same chapter, after the wraiths are driven off, Aragorn is examining the cloak left by the Witch-king: His sword broke and fell out of his shaking hand. He felt his tongue cleave to his mouth, and his heart labouring. Then the leader, who was now half across the Ford, stood up menacing in his stirrups, and raised up his hand. From The Fellowship of the Ring, "Flight to the Ford": The Witch-king's ability to destroy others' weapons is found in the books, however. Shrill and clear he crowed, recking nothing of wizardry or war, welcoming only the morning that in the sky far above the shadows of death was coming with the dawn.Īfter that scene, Rohan arrives, and the Witch-king flies off to handle them. And in that very moment, away behind in some courtyard of the City, a cock crowed. Do you not know Death when you see it? Die now and curse in vain!' And with that he lifted high his sword and flames ran down the blade. From a mouth unseen there came a deadly laughter. The red fires shone between it and the mantled shoulders vast and dark. Go!' The Black Rider flung back his hood, and behold! he had a kingly crown and yet upon no head visible was it set. 'Go back to the abyss prepared for you! Go back! Fall into the nothingness that awaits you and your Master.
'You cannot enter here,' said Gandalf, and the huge shadow halted. The flaming sword is seen in the scene in the book, from Return of the King, "The Siege of Gondor": While Gandalf faces the Witch-king in Minas Tirith, there is no record of Gandalf's staff being broken.