Aragorn decided that he could not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death and that the fate of the Ring-bearer was no longer in his hands. Together with Legolas and Gimli, he set out in pursuit of the Orcs. The Three Hunters covered 45 leagues in less than four days.
The Three Hunters run across rocks and plains, with Aragorn in the lead, and Legolas and Gimli trailing behind. Aragorn suddenly bends down to pick up an Elven brooch from the ground.
Aragorn:
Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall.
Legolas:
They may yet be alive.
Aragorn:
Less than a day ahead of us, come!
Legolas:
Come Gimli! We are gaining on them.
When Eomer learned that a company of Uruk-hai had descended into Rohan from the Emyn Muil, Grima convinced Theoden to refuse permission to pursue them. But Eomer suspected an alliance between Saruman and Sauron, and he defied orders and led his eored in pursuit. Eomer and his Riders attacked and slew the Uruk-hai at the edge of Fangorn Forest on February 29. Unknown to the Riders, Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took - two Hobbits who had been prisoners of the Uruk-hai - escaped into the forest. The next day, Eomer encountered Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, who had pursued the Uruk-hai across Rohan to try to rescue the Hobbits. Eomer learned that Aragorn was the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor, and he decided to let the three strangers continue on their way though this was against orders. Eomer was imprisoned on his return to Edoras.