Reply #26: Just read it a while back... [View All]

The remainder of the Fellowship encounter Saruman and his henchman on their leisurely way back to the Shire. He appears as a beggar, and even fools the company into not killing him on the spot.

Saruman then races to the Shire ahead of the halflings, and gets a bunch of evil men under his command to start fucking around with the Shire, making it shitty for the Hobbits.

By the time Frodo and Co get there, they have to initiate a coup to wrest control of the Shire away from the bad men. Several hobbits die (none of the Fellowship) and Saruman is finally dispatched and disintegrates. His henchman is run through by Sam, I think. It's a whole 'nother lil' story.