View source for The Lighting of the Beacons

{{scene
|name={{PAGENAME}}
|film=[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]
|image=[[File:The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King - The Lighting of the Beacons.png|320px]]
|number=14 (theatrical) <br>
        19 (extended)
|duration=
|event=[[Pippin]] lights the beacon at [[Minas Tirith]]
|characters=[[Pippin]], [[Gandalf]], [[Aragorn]]</br>[[Denethor]]
|previous=[[Osgiliath Invaded]]
|next=[[Théoden's Decision]]
}}
'''The Lighting of the Beacons''' is the fourteenth scene of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'' and the nineteenth scene of [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (extended edition)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (extended edition)]].

==Synopsis==
[[Pippin]] climbs a high peak in [[Minas Tirith]] to light the signal beacon calling for aid from [[Rohan]]. He attempts to be stealthy since [[Denethor II|Denethor]] disapproves of this. [[Gandalf]], having sent Pippin on this mission, watches and hopes for success. Pippin spills oil on the stacked wood of the beacon; he lights the oiled wood, setting it on fire, much to the surprise of the guards. Gandalf sees the beacon is lit, and utters ''"Hope is kindled"''. Denethor sees this through a citadel window and is not impressed.

The multitude of beacons existing in [[White Mountains|mountainous terrain]] between Minas Tirith and [[Edoras]] are successively lit, until [[Aragorn]] sees the signal. He rushes to the [[Golden Hall]], to [[Théoden]], shouting ''"The beacons are lit! [[Gondor]] calls for aid"''. 

==Differences==
*In the books, it was not Pippin that lit the beacons, but the men of Gondor, as Denethor did order for the lighting of the beacons for aid, though he thought aid was unlikely. Pippin and Gandalf saw the lit beacons as they were riding to Minas Tirith.<ref>{{RK|MT}}, p. 747</ref>
*Denethor also sent a rider, [[Hirgon]] to deliver the [[Red Arrow]], who delivered it to Théoden,<ref>{{RK|Muster}}, pp. 798-9</ref> which convinced the King to ride out to Gondor's aid.<ref>{{RK|Muster}}, p. 799</ref> However this does not take place in the films; it is solely the lit beacons that persuade Théoden to ride out.

{{references}}
[[Category:The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King scenes|19]]