How did it happen in the movies?
First of all, we see Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas standing on shore, watching corsair ships sailing nearer. Aragorn forbids them to go further and after a warning shot of Legolas that hits its target all too well, due to Gimli’s interference, orders the army of the Dead to attack the ships.
The next scene of the corsairs shows the arrival of the ships near the battlefield. Orcs are expecting help to come from these ships, but Aragorn and his two friends appear and behind them the Dead disembark.
After the battle, Aragorn declares the oath fulfilled and releases the souls of the Dead, after which they disappear like mist that is blown away by a breeze.
How did it happen in the books?
The battle of the Dead with the corsairs is nowhere described in the books.
When the black corsair ships arrive at Pelennor, panic rises in the city and on the battlefield, since people believe that the corsairs have arrived and that Belfalas and Lebennin were overtaken.
As Eomer sees the ships his rage disappears and his head becomes clear again. Then he sings:
“Out of doubt, out of dark to the day’s rising
I came singing in the sun, sword unsheathing.
To hope’s end I rode and to heart’s breaking:
Now for wrath, now for ruin and a red nightfall!” [5.VI.]
And at that moment of uttermost despair, Aragorn unfolds the banner of the White Tree. On a black background there was he White Tree of Gondor, but above it are the Seven Stars and the High Crown, the signs of Elendil, signs that hadn’t been worn for countless years. The banner was created by Arwen of mithril, jewels and gold.
Here too the battle chances change with the arrival of the ships and the fight is won.
Bookie details
– Not a real bookie detail, but the corsair that gets shot by accident in the first scene is Peter Jackson.
Mistakes
– The sons of Elrond are also supposed to be with Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas, as well as Halbarad and a company of Dúnedain of the North.
– The dead were never at the Pelennor fields. Aragorn needed their help to capture Umbar, but after that they were released and the ships were manned with an army of men from Lamedon and Lebennin and with the Dúnedain.
