Chapter 14, The Palantiri Summary

Elendil and his heirs are entitled to use the "Palantiri", seven Seeing Stones that allow them to see what is happening in separate places and to communicate across great distances with others who also have a stone. Two of the stones (Annuminas and Amon Sul) are lost in a shipwreck. A third, the Ithil-stone, is lost, and its whereabouts are supposedly unknown, but Sauron ends up having it. One of the stones, the Orthanc-stone, is kept in a tower. This comes under possession of Saruman. Sauron uses the Ithil-stone to overcome Saruman's resistance when Saruman uses the Orthanc-stone for seeing, thus winning a strong (if reluctant) ally. The Steward of Gondor, Denethor II, uses the stone available to him (the Anor-stone) for seeing; but he, too, has to overcome Sauron's power during its use, and this weakens him and...