The Red Book: Theoden

Showing posts with label Theoden. Show all posts

What Really Happened?

I am going to start a thing on here, where I just make tie-ins and comparisons between the book and movie. So...if there are any movie scenes that you want me to break down with a comparison to the book, or try to find the inspirations and origins of the lines, let me know. A lot of the dialogue that you can look at and not have found at that spot in the book, is actually present elsewhere. The writers used as much of Tolkien's actual writing as they could, and the franken-lines are kind of fun to track down in the books.

For starters:

I: In the movie, at Helm's Deep, Theoden says something along the lines (pun intended) of: Saruman's arm will have grown long indeed if he thinks he can reach us here.

In the book:

Referring to Sauron, not Saruman:

"'His arm has grown long indeed,' said Gimli, 'if he can draw snow down from the North to trouble us here three hundred leagues away.'"

II: You know that part where Legolas talks about the Crebain from dunland? Well in the book, in the chapter The Ring Goes South, Sam and Aragorn on on the watch, and Aragorn (not Legolas) wakes Gandalf up to tell him about the crebain.

III: In the movie, Gimli wants to go to Moria, and Gandalf REALLY doesn't. In the Book, Gandalf thought they should try Moria, and Aragorn didn't want to, so they attempted Caradhras, but were eventually driven down. So Aragorn agreed to go through Moria, as Gandalf had originally said they should, but says to Gandalf:

"And I say to you: if you pass the doors of Moria, beware!"

IV: In the movies, there is a surprise warg attack on the company fleeing from Edoras to Helm's Deep. While the book has no such attack in it, and it is quite the little twist, the fellowship is hunted by wargs in The Fellowship of the Ring, on their way from Caradhras to the Gate of Moria.

The Burial of Theoden King

August 10 3019 TA

Funeral of King Theoden

"...[H]e was laid in a house of stone with his arms and many other fair things that he had possessed, and over him was raised a great mound, covered with green turves of grass and of white evermind."

"But Merry stood at the foot of the green mound, and he wept, and when the song was ended he arose and cried: 'Theoden King, Theoden King! Farewell! As a father you were to me, for a little while. Farewell!'"

(Lest there should be any confusion or matter of rights and whatnot, all quotes in this post are from The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien, unless otherwise mentioned. There may be slight errors, misspellings, or alternate punctuation in the quotes, and if you notice such, please inform me so that I can speedily remedy them. But I think the fact that I made this blog proves that I would never intentionally change something of Tolkien's in the transcribing of it.)

July 22 3019 TA

The funeral escort of King Theoden sets out.

"Then the kings of Gondor and Rohan went to the Hallows and they came to the tombs in Rath Dinen, and they bore away King Theoden upon a golden bier, and passed through the City in silence. Then they laid the bier upon a great wain with Riders of Rohan about it and his banner borne before; and Merry being Theoden's esquire rode upon the wain and kept the arms of the king."

The Battle of Pelennor Fields

March 15 3019 TA

The Witch-king breaks the Gates of the City in the early hours

The arrival of Grond. Long quote because it's all so perfectly hideous and horrible and amazing. Really, you might as well just go and re-read the entire battle of Pelennor Fields.

"The drums rolled louder. Fires leaped up. Great engines crawled across the field; and in the midst was a huge ram, great as a forest-tree a hundred feet in length, swinging on might chains. Long had it been forging in the dark smithies of Mordor, and its hideous head, founded of black steel, was shaped in the likeness of a ravening wolf; on it spells of ruin lay. Grond they named it, in memory of the Hammer of the Underworld of old. Great beasts drew it, orcs surrounded it, and behind walked mountain trolls to wield it.
But about the Gate resistance still was stout, and there the knights of Dol Amroth and the hardiest of the garrison stood at bay. Shot and dart fell thick; siege-towers crashed or blazed suddenly like great torches. All before the walls on either side of the Gate the ground was choked with wreck and with bodies of the slain; yet still driven as by a madness more and more came up.
Grond crawled on. Upon its housing no fire would catch; and though now and again some great beast that hauled it would go mad and spread stamping ruin among the orcs innumerable that guarded it, their bodies were cast aside from its path and others took their place.
Grond crawled on. The drums rolled wildly. Over the hills of slain a hideous shape appeared: a horseman, tall, hooded, cloaked in black. Slowly, trampling the fallen, he rode forth, heeding no longer any dart. He halted and held up a long pale sword. And as he did so a great fear fell on all, defender and foe alike; and the hands of men drooped to their sides, and no bow sang. For a moment all was still.
The drums rolled and rattled. With a cast rush Grond was hurled forward by huge hands. It reached the Gate. It swung. A deep boom rumbled through the City like thunder running in the clouds. But the doors of iron and posts of steel withstood the stroke.
Then the Black Captain rose in his stirrups and cried aloud in a dreadful voice, speaking in some forgotten tongue words of power and terror to rend both heart and stone.
Thrice he cried. Thrice the great ram boomed. And suddenly upon the last stroke the Gate of Gondor broke. As if stricken by some blasting spell it burst asunder: there was a flash of searing lightning, and the doors tumbled in riven fragments to the ground.
In rode the Lord of the Nazgul. A great black shape against the fires beyond he loomed up, grown to a vast menace of despair. In rode the Lord of the Nazgul, under the archway that no enemy had ever yet passed, and all fled before his face.
All save one. There waiting, silent and still in the space before the Gate, sat Gandalf upon Shadowfax: Shadowfax who alone among the free horses of the earth endured the terror, unmoving, steadfast as a graven image in Rath Dinen.
'You cannot enter here.' said Gandalf, and the huge shadow halted. 'Go back to the abyss prepared for you! Go back! Fall into the nothingness that awaits you and your Master. Go!'
The Black Rider flung back his hood, and behold! he had a kingly crown; and yet upon no head visible was it set. The red fires shone between it and the mantled shoulders vast and dark. From a moun unseen there came a deadly laughter.
'Old fool!' he said. 'Old fool! This is my hour. Do you not know Death when you see it? Die now and curse in vain!' And with that he lifted high his sword and flames ran down the blade.
Gandalf did not move. And in that very moment, away behind in some courtyard of the City, a cock crowed. Shrill and clear he crowed, recking nothing of wizardry or war, welcoming only the morning that in the sky far above the shadows of death was coming with the dawn.
And as if in answer there came from far away another note. Horns, horns, horns. In dark Mindolluin's sides they dimly echoed. Great horns of the North wildly blowing. Rohan had come at last."

Up until the end, this kind of makes me want to go hide under a rock. It's really interesting timing too that it comes out so delayed, because it's almost Easter, and this scene is greatly symbolic of this particular time of year. Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday, are sort of all encompassed in that one page. It's not enough to just realize what a great story and world Tolkien created. That is only the tip of the iceberg.

On a less interesting note, this is ten times more epic than what they did in the movie. I mean, flying snake for ten seconds, or the Witch King of Angmar riding smugly over the bodies of the dead, through walls of flame, all fleeing at the sight of him.

The Arrival of the Rohirrim.

Another long quote, because every word is packed.

"Tall and proud he seemed again; and rising in his stirrups he cried in a loud voice, more clear than any there had ever heard a mortal man achieve before:

Arise, Arise, Riders of Theoden!
Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter!
spear shall be shaken, shield shall be splintered,
a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!
Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!
With that he seized a great horn from Guthlaf his banner-bearer, and he blew such a blast upon it that it burst asunder. And straightway all the horns in the host were lifted up in music, and the blowing of the horns of Rohan in that hour was like a storm upon the plain and a thunder in the mountains.

Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!
Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Eomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first eored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Theoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borned up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Orome the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. His golden shield was uncovered, and lo! it shone like an image of the Sun, and the grass flamed into green about the white feet of his steed. For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea; and darkness was removed, and the hosts of Mordor wailed, and terror took them, and they fled, and died, and the hoofs of wrath rode over them. And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City."

Death of Thoeden

"Then out of the blackness in his mind he thought that he heard Dernhelm speaking; yet now the voice seemed strange, recalling some other voice that he had known.
'Begone, foul dwimmerlaik, lord of carrion! Leave the dead in peace!'
A cold voice answered: 'Come not between a Nazgul and his prey! Or he will not slay thee in thy turn. He will bear thee away to the houses of lamentation, beyond all darkness, where thy flesh shall be devoured, and thy shrivelled mind be left naked to the Lidless Eye.'
A sword rang as it was drawn. 'Do what you will; but I will hinder it, if I may.'
'Hinder me? Thou fool. No living man may hinder me!'
Then Merry heard of all sounds in that hour the strangest. It seemed that Dernhelm laughed, and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. 'But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Eowyn I am,Eomund's daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.'
The winged creature screamed at her, but the Ringwraith made no answer, and was silent, as if in sudden doubt. Very amazement for the moment conquered Merry's fear. He opened his eyes and the blackness was lifted from them. There some paces from him sat the great beast, and all seemed dark about it, and above it loomed the Nazgul Lord like a shadow of despair. A little to the left facing them stood she whom he had called Dernhelm. But the helm of her secrecy had fallen from her, and her bright hair, released from its bonds, gleamed with pale gold upon her shoulders. Her eyes grey as the sea were hard and fell, and yet tears were on her cheek. A sword was in her hand, and she raised her shield against the horror of her enemy's eyes.
Eowyn it was, and Dernhelm also. For into Merry's mind flashed the memory of the face that he saw at the riding from Dunharrow: the face of one that goes seeking death, having no hope. Pity filled his heart and great wonder, and suddenly the slow-kindled courage of his race awoke. He clenched his hand. She should not die, so fair, so desperate! At least she should not die alone, unaided."

I love that Theoden dies never knowing it was Eowyn that saved him, and thinking that it was he who had slain the great beast.

"Merry could not speak, but wept anew. 'Forgive me, lord,' he said at last, 'if I broke your command, and yet have done no more in your service than to weep at our parting.'
The old king smiled. 'Grieve not! It if forgiven. Great heart will not be denied. Live now in blessedness; and when you sit in peace with your pipe, think of me! For never now shall I sit with you in Meduseld, as I promised, or listen to your herb-lore.' He closed his eyes, and Merry bowed beside him. Presently he spoke again. 'Where is Eomer? For my eyes darken, and I would see him ere I go. He must be king after me. And I would send word to Eowyn. She, she would not have me leave her, and now I shall not see her again, dearer than daughter.'"

Eomer is made king.

"Slowly Theoden opened his eyes. Seeing the banner he made a sign that it should be given to Eomer.
'Hail, King of the Mark!' he said. 'Ride now to victory! Bid Eowyn farewell!' And so he died, and knew not that Eowyn lay near him. And those who stood by wept, crying: 'Theoden King! Theoden King!'"

Eomer sees Eowyn.

"Then suddenly he beheld his sister Eowyn as she lay, and he knew her. He stood a moment as a man who is pierced in the midst of a cry by an arrow through the heart; and then his face went deathly white, and a cold fury rose in him, so that all speech failed him for a while. A fey mood took him.
'Eowyn, Eowyn!' he cried at last. 'Eowyn, how come you here? What madness or devilry is this? Death, death, death! Death take us all!'
Then without taking counsel or waiting for the approach of the men of the City, he spurred headlong back to the front of the great host, and blew a horn, and cried aloud for the onset. Over the field rang his clear voice called:' Death! Ride, ride to ruin and the world's ending!'"

Aragorn arrives

"[U]pon the foremost ship a great standard broke, an the wind displayed it as she turned towards the Harlond. There flowered a White Tree, and that was for Gondor; but the Seven Stars were about it, and a high crown above it, the signs of Elendil that no lord had borne for years beyond count. And the stars flame in the sunlight, for they were wrought of gems by Arwen daughter of Elrond; and the crown was bright in the morning, for it was wrought of mithril and gold."

"For now men leaped from the ships to the quays of the Harlond and swept north like a storm. There came Legolas, and Gimli wielding his axe, and Halbarad with the standard, and Elladan and Elrohir with stars upon their brow, and the dour-handed Dunedain, Rangers of the North, leading a great valour of the folk of Lebennin and Lamedon and the fiefs of the South. But before all went Aragorn with the Flame of the West, Anduril like a new fire kindled, Narsil re-forged as deadly as of old; and upon his brow was the Star of Elendil."

Denethor burns himself on a pyre.

Frodo and Sam begin their journey north along the Morgai.

Thranduil repels the forces of Dol Guldor in Mirkwood.

The second assault on Lorien.

The Dunedain

March 6 3019 TA

Aragorn is overtaken by the Dunedain. Which brings me into Book Five of the Lord of the Rings.

"'I bring word to you from my father: The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the Paths of the Dead.'"

And he does. And as Eomer, Theoden, and Merry ride away.

"'There go three that I love, and the smallest not the least,' [Aragorn] said. 'He knows not to what end he rides; yet if he knew, he still would go on.'"

And away they all go. Theoden and Co. to the muster at Dunharrow. Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and the Rangers, accompanied by the sons of Elrond, to the Paths of the Dead

The Voice of Saruman

March 5, 3019 TA

Theoden and Co. arrive at Isengard.

"Now Gandalf rode to the great pillar of the Hand, and passed it; and as he did so the Riders saw to their wonder that the Hand appeared no longer white. It was stained as with dried blood; and looking closer they perceived that its nails were red."

They are welcomed by Merry, since Pippin couldn't be bothered to stay awake.

"'Welcome, my lords, to Isengard!' he said. 'We are the doorwardens. Meriadoc, son of Saradoc is my name; and my companion, who, alas! is overcome with weariness' - here he gave the other a dig with his foot - 'is Peregrin, son of Paladin, of the house of Took. Far in the North is our home. The Lord Saruman is within; but at the moment he is closeted with one Wormtongue, or doubtless he would be here to welcome such honorable guests.'"

I love Merry. He and Gandalf continue their mock formality for a moment, and then Gimli intercedes.

"'And what about your companions? What about Legolas and me?' cried Gimli, unable to contain himself longer. 'You rascals, you woolly-footed and wool-pated traunts! A fine hunt you have led us! Two hundred leagues through fen and forest, battle and death, to rescue you! And here we find you feasting and idling - and smoking! Smoking! Where did you come by the weed, you villains? Hammer and tongs! I am so torn between rage and joy, that if I do not burst, it will be a marvel.'"

Etc. Etc. Etc. They finally meet Saruman and the Voice Of.

"The Riders stirred at first, murmuring with approval of the words of Saruman; and then they too were silent, as men spell-bound. It seemed to them that Gandalf had never spoken so fair and fittingly to their lord. Rough and proud now seemed all his dealings with Theoden. And over their hearts crept a shadow, the fear of a great danger: the end of the Mark in a darkness to which Gandalf was driving them, while Saruman stood beside a door of escape, holding it half open so that a ray of light came through."

And a lovely line from Theoden, which the movie captured quite beautifully I think. One of my personal favorites, both in book and film.

"Theoden held up his hand. 'Yes, we will have peace,' he said, now in a clear voice, 'we will have peace, when you and all your works have perished - and the works of your dark master to whom you would deliver us. You are a liar, Saruman, and a corrupter of men's hearts. You hold out your hand to me, and I perceive only a finger of the claw of Mordor. Cruel and old! Even if your war on me was just - as it was not, for were you ten times as wise you would have no right to rule me and mine for your own profit as you desired even so, what will you say of your torches in Westfold and the children that lie dead there? And they hewed Hama's body before the gates of the Hornburg, after he was dead. When you hang from a gibbet at your window for the sport of your own crows, I will have peace with you and Orthanc. So much for the House of Eorl. A lesser son of great sires am I, but I do not need to lick your fingers. Turn elsewhither. But I fear your voice has lost its charm.'"

Pippin looks into the Palantir that night.

"'I saw a dark sky, and tall battlements,' he said. 'And tiny stars. It seemed very far away and long ago, yet hard and clear. Then the stars went in and out - they were cut off by things with wings. Very big, I think, really; but in the glass they looked like bats wheeling round the tower. I thought there were nine of them. One of them began to fly straight towards me, getting bigger and bigger...."

And that same night, Gandalf and Peregrin set out for Minas Tirith.

The Arrival of Erkenbrand

March 4, 3019 TA

The battle of the Hornburg is won

"And then, sudden and terrible, from the tower above, the sound of the great horn of Helm rang out. All that heard that sound trembled. Many of the Orcs cast themselves on their faces and covered their ears with their claws. Back from the Deep the echoes came, blast upon blast, as if on every cliff and hill a mighty herald stood. But on the walls men looked up, listening with wonder; for the echoes did not die. Ever the hornblasts wound on among the hills; nearer now and louder they answered one to another, blowing fierce and free."

And Theoden and Co. set out for Isengard.

"'Great injury indeed has Saruman done to me and all this land,' [Theoden] said; 'and I will remember it, when we meet."

And Frodo reaches the Morannon.

"Across the mouth of the pass, from cliff to cliff, the Dark Lord had built a rampart of stone. In it there was a single gate of iron, and upon its battlement sentinels paced unceasingly. Beneath the hills on either side the rock was bored into a hundred caves and maggot-holes; there a host of orcs lurked, ready at a signal to issue forth like black ants going to war. None could pass the Teeth of Mordor and not feel their bite, unless they were summoned by Sauron, or knew the secret passwords that would open the Morannon, the black gate of his land."

The King of the Golden Hall

March 2, 3019 TA

Frodo, Sam, and Gollum come to end of the Dead Marshes.

"The marshes and the desert were behind them. Before them, darkling against a pallid sky, the great mountains reared their threatening heads."

Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli arrive at Edoras and Gandalf heals Theoden.

"Where now the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing?
Where is the helm and the hauberk, and the bright hair flowing?
Where is the hand on the harpstring, and the red fire glowing?
Where is the spring and the harvest and the tall corn growing?
They have passed like rain on the mountain, like a wind in the meadow;
The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow.
Who shall gather the smoke of the dead wood burning,
Or behold the flowing years from the Sea returning?"

Also, Eowyn!

"Thus Aragorn for the first time in the full light of day beheld Eowyn, Lady of Rohan, and thought her fair, fair and cold, like a morning of pale spring that is not yet come to womanhood."

The Rohirrim ride west against Saruman

"Arise now, arise, Riders of Teoden!
Dire deeds awake, dark is it eastward.
Let horse be bridled, horn be sounded!
Forth Eorlingas!"

And away they all go, Eomer, Theoden, Legolas and Gimli, Aragorn, and the White Rider, leaving Eowyn in charge.

"For over the plain Eowyn saw the glitter of their spears, as she stood still, alone before the doors of the silent house."

Entmoot FINALLY ends in the afternoon and the Ents march to Isengard. They reach it around nightfall and begin the destruction of Isengard.

"To Isengard! Though Isengard be ringed and barred with doors of stone;
Though Isengard be strong and hard, as cold as stone and bare as bone,
We go, we go, we go to war, to hew the stone and break the door;
For bole and bough are burning now, the furnace roars - we go to war!
To land of gloom with tramp of doom, with roll of drum, we come, we come;
To Isengard with doom we come!
With doom we come, with doom we come!"

And a few other quotes from The King of the Golden Hall that I didn't want to miss.

Gandalf to Grima

"'...A witless worm have you become. Therefore be silent, and keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a serving-man till the lightning fails.'"

Gandalf to Theoden

"'...Too long have you sat in shadows and trust to twisted tales and crook promptings.'"

Theoden to Grima

"'...Your leechcraft ere long would have had me walking on all fours like a beast.'"

Gandalf to Grima

"'...How long is it since Saruman bought you? What was the promised price? When all the men were dead, you were to pick your share of the treasure, and take the woman you desire? Too long have you watched her under your eyelids and haunted her steps.'"

Aragorn realizing that Eowyn was falling in love with him, and disliking it.

"As she stood before Aragorn she paused suddenly and looked upon him, and her eyes were shining. And he looked down upon her fair face and smiled; but as he took the cup, his hand met hers, and he knew that she trembled at the touch. 'Hail Aragorn son of Arathorn! she said. 'Hail Lady of Rohan!' he answered, but his face now was troubled and he did not smile."

The Falls of Rauros

THE DAY

February 25, 3019 TA

Now then, after the Argonath, they arrive at the falls of Rauros and Tol Brandir.

“At the far southern end rose three peaks. The midmost stood somewhat forward from the others and sundered from them, an island in the waters, about which the flowing River flung pale shimmering arms. Distant but deep there campe up on the wind a roaring sound like the roll of thunder heard far away. ‘Behold Tol Brandir!’ said Aragorn…”

To the right of Tol Brandir is Amon Hen, and the lawn of Parth Galen is at the feet of Amon Hen.

“Aragorn led them to the right arm of the River. Here upon its western side under the shadow of Tol Brandir a green lawn ran down to the water from the feet of Amon Hen.”

They spend the night here, and of course one must not forget that Gollum has been tracking them since Moria. I have noticed that a lot of Aragorn’s lines in the book were given to Legolas in the movie. This does not particularly bother me, because to me it is more important that things get said at all, then who ends up saying them. But it’s interesting to point out that Aragorn and Legolas were switched up a little in the movies. In the books, it tended to be Aragorn who explained where they were and told the hobbits what they were seeing. Legolas was quieter and more reserved and mysterious. In the movies, Aragorn is the broody one, and Legolas the explainer. One of Legolas’ lines at Parth Galen in the movie is “a shadow and a threat has been growing in my mind” or something to that effect. In the book:

“’Why are you waking?’ asked Frodo. ‘It is not your watch.’‘I do not know,’ answered Aragorn; ‘but a shadow and a threat has been growing in my sleep. It would be well to draw your sword.’”

Another thing that occurred on this day was the first battle of the Fords of Isen. Today is the day that Theodred, son of Theoden King, was killed. Quite tragic that.

THE YEAR

3007

Appendix B, The Tale of Years 3007 “Brand son of Bain becomes King in Dale. Death of Gilraen.”

Bain being Bard’s son from The Hobbit. Gilraen being Aragorn’s mother.

Hello Moria

THE DAY

On January 13th 3019, in the early hours of the day, the company is attacked by wolves. And by nightfall, they have reached the gates of Moria. At this point, Gollum begins to follow them.

THE YEAR

In the year 2991, Eomer of Rohan was born. And we all love Eomer. His helmet is AWESOME by the way.
For those of you who don't know, Eomer married Lothiriel, Daughter of Imrahil of Dol Amroth.

Appendix A>>Annals of the Kings and Rulers>> II. The House of Eorl>>The Kings of the Mark>>Third Line>>Eomer Eadig

"Eomer became a great king, and being young when he succeeded Theoden he reigned for sixty-five years, longer than all the kings before him save Aldor the Old. In the War of the Ring he made the friendship of King Elessar, and of Imrahil of Dol Amroth; and he rode often to Gondor. In the last year of the Third Age he wedded Lothiriel, daughter of Imrahil. Their son Elfwine the Fair ruled after him."

Three things that saved the world.

THE YEAR

Many things happened in the year 2980 TA. But there are three main events which affected the War of the Ring.

Gollum finally made his way to Mordor and became acquainted with Shelob. This is of course pivotal, because it was this acquaintance that ultimately got Frodo and Sam into Mordor, against Gollum’s wishes of course.

2.
A small, but important event: Theoden became king of Rohan.

And of course, one of the most important events ever, the birth of Samwise Gamgee. As everyone knows, Frodo would have died before he even reached the Dead Marshes if it hadn't been for Sam. And of course, if Frodo had died and Gollum had taken the Ring, where would the rest of Middle Earth be? Without Sam, all of the free folk would have become dead or slaves of Sauron. Three cheers for Samwise!!

Also, in the year 2980 TA was Aragorn’s second meeting with Arwen Undómiel in Lórien. It was on the hill of Cerin Amroth that Aragorn gave Arwen the ring of Barahir and they “plighted their troth” as it were. This is interesting, because in the movie, a big deal is made about Aragorn and the ring of Barahir, when Worm-tongue sees it. But Aragorn wouldn't have had the ring then, because he had given it to Arwen Undómiel long ago.

THE DAY

October 6th, 3018 TA, Frodo was stabbed on Weathertop by the Witch King. The only note on that is that Frodo, while seemingly healed by Elrond, still feels pain in his shoulder every October 6th.

THE MOST POWERFUL THING IN HELM'S DEEP

There are many powerful moments in the Movie rendition of The Battle of the Hornburg. Many symbolic and beautiful moments

First, the elves come. Help out of the blue, completely unexpected and unlooked for. A last alliance of elves and men. Heroic, yes. Wonderful, yes. But that is not what made the battle what it was.

There is something in that whole battle sequence that links it all together and makes it beautiful, heroic, brave, powerful, meaningful.

It could be the love between Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. It could be the moment when Haldir dies in Aragorn's arms. Perhaps it is when Aragorn and Theoden gather the rest of the Rohirrim and ride out to die in glory and fight the hopeless fight. It could be the love and loyalty of Eomer when he returns to save the man who banished him from his home. It could be the hope and light of Gandalf returning. The bravery of the men behind the walls.

But even when you put all that together, you really just have a lot of fighting and death and no hope. Because there is still a big question.

Why?

Why are the men behind the walls so brave?

Why did Aragorn and Theoden ride out?

Why did Eomer return?

Why were the men prepared to fight until they all died?

There could be many reasons. And there are many reasons. But the one that unites them all. That makes the battle more than a bunch of men and orcs killing each other. One thing that explains it all.

And that is the women and children hiding in the caves.

These men are fighting for their wives, children, sisters, brothers, mothers, grandmothers. They are fighting for the people. Willing to die to defend the people. Brave for the people they are protecting.

Peter Jackson captured this perfectly, but frequently cutting from the battle, to the women and children. Terrified, weeping, hiding in the caves and listening to their loved ones die.

2948 TA

In the year 2948 of the Third Age in the Land of Rohan, Theoden son of Thengel, King of Rohan was born.

Theoden became king of Rohan in the year 3980 and reigned until he was killed by the Witch King of Angmar on March 15^th 3019 TA. He was 71 years old at the time of his death. The story of his death and the battle for Minas Tirith is told in "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields" being chapter 6 of Book Five in The Lord of the Rings.

Theoden earned great renown in the Battle of The Hornburg on March 3rd and 4th 3018 TA when he and Aragorn son of Arathorn rode out into the midst of the enemy, with a small company of horsemen.

There also it is told how Eowyn and Meriadoc killed the Witch King and how Minas Tirith was saved.

After Theoden died, his nephew, Eomer son of Eomund becomes King of Rohan.