How did Frodo get his Mithril Coat back?

[Runes]

In Return of the King, at the end when Frodo wakes up, Gandalf hands Frodo his mithril coat back, and Sam's sword.

However, the coat was taken by Shagrat, that ork at the Tower of Cirith Ungol. There was also a quote in the book that as Sam saw the ork escaping, he didn't know how much it would cost him, or something. Anyway, how did the coat come to Gandalf from here?

When journeying through the plains of Gorgoroth to Mt. Doom, Sam suggests they dump all the extra items they were carrying so as to lessen the weight. And they throw away everything, but its noted that Sam kept Sting. So they must've thrown Sam's original sword away (and actually, the orcs must have taken the sword away at Cirith Ungol, because Sam brings Frodo an orc sword to carry through Mordor.)

So my question is: how come Gandalf finds Sam's sword and the Mithril Coat? Its been bothering me ever since I reread the book this past week.

[d4rk3lf]

Gandalf took it from the Mouth of Sauron during negotiations.
Mouth of Sauron took those stuff with intention to make them believe that he was holding Frodo as a prisoner, and he almost succeeded.
But not for Gandalf, who recognized the trick, and took it by force from him.

[Galadriel55]

d4rk3lf has it. The story does not elaborate on how the mithril coat passed from Shagrat to the Mouth of Sauron, but it's assumed that the orc handed it over to the authorities, and Sauron decided to give it to the Mouth to present before the Captains of the West. And Gandalf took it from the MoS.

[Runes]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

d4rk3lf has it. The story does not elaborate on how the mithril coat passed from Shagrat to the Mouth of Sauron, but it's assumed that the orc handed it over to the authorities, and Sauron decided to give it to the Mouth to present before the Captains of the West. And Gandalf took it from the MoS.

But what is the "Mouth of Sauron"? So does that mean Gandalf entered Mordor to negotiate? Or did this happen during the battle in front of the Morannon?

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by Runes

But what is the "Mouth of Sauron"? So does that mean Gandalf entered Mordor to negotiate? Or did this happen during the battle in front of the Morannon?

The Mouth of Sauron is what the guy who "negotiated" for Mordor called himself. He was the one who came out before the battle at Morannon to speak to Gandalf, Aragorn, Eomer, Imrahil, and others. He was supposed to toy around with the Captains by showing them Frodo's mithril coat and Sam's sword to make them despair. But Gandalf cracked that tale in time. The Mouth spoke like there was only one hobbit, but he had objects from two. Therefore Sauron did not, in fact, know and have everything. Perhaps at least one of the hobbits is still alive, and more importantly, still carrying the Ring.

So Gandalf takes the objects from the Mouth and in a few moments the battle starts.

[Runes]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

The Mouth of Sauron is what the guy who "negotiated" for Mordor called himself. He was the one who came out before the battle at Morannon to speak to Gandalf, Aragorn, Eomer, Imrahil, and others. He was supposed to toy around with the Captains by showing them Frodo's mithril coat and Sam's sword to make them despair. But Gandalf cracked that tale in time. The Mouth spoke like there was only one hobbit, but he had objects from two. Therefore Sauron did not, in fact, know and have everything. Perhaps at least one of the hobbits is still alive, and more importantly, still carrying the Ring.

So Gandalf takes the objects from the Mouth and in a few moments the battle starts.

Thanks, this is interesting! Is this all speculation, or was this info revealed somewhere? Sorry, I'm quite a Tolkien-novice. I've only read the Hobbit and LoTR once before the movies came out, and once again recently.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

d4rk3lf has it. The story does not elaborate on how the mithril coat passed from Shagrat to the Mouth of Sauron, but it's assumed that the orc handed it over to the authorities, and Sauron decided to give it to the Mouth to present before the Captains of the West. And Gandalf took it from the MoS.

According to Tolkien's unpublished synoptic chronology, Shagrat carried the mithril coat and other spoils together with news of the orc-fight and prisoners' escape to Barad-Dur, arriving (unfortunately for him) two days later, after a Nazgul had preceded him- a ****ed off Sauron killed him.

[Galadriel55]

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

According to Tolkien's unpublished synoptic chronology, Shagrat carried the mithril coat and other spoils together with news of the orc-fight and prisoners' escape to Barad-Dur, arriving (unfortunately for him) two days later, after a Nazgul had preceded him- a ****ed off Sauron killed him.

So much for being loyal, hehe.