LoTR Discussion Project: The Two Towers--Book III, Chapter VI & VII

[Earniel]

Summary: Chapter VI: The King of the Golden Hall

The chapter starts with Gandalf and friends on their way to Edoras, city of the Rohirrim and seat of their King. The reception at the gates of Edoras is luke-warm at best, but at their request they are allowed to meet the king. Yet before doing so they have to leave their weapons, including Gandalf's staff, at the door. Legolas obeys quickly, Aragorn only after some display of stubbornness and only after Gandalf has readily given Glamdring in the care of Háma. Now that both Glamdring and Andúril are staying at the door, Gimli sees no problem to leave his axe behind as well. Gandalf insists on keeping his harmless-looking staff and succeeds therein.

The four enter the marvellous House with the Golden Roof and come before King Théoden, as well his trusted advisor and a lady in white that goes unnamed for at least a page or two. Wormtongue, the King's advisor tries to trade insults with Gandalf. But the formerly grey wizard will have none of it and talks to Théoden directly after disabling Wormtongue with a brief but interesting show of magic. Gandalf then works a different sort of magic to arouse Théoden from his passive, depressed slumber. They take the King to the outside. Éowyn is dismissed. I wonder what she would have thought of all this.

Outside, in the fresh air, Gandalf talks with the king for a while. What he speaks of goes unsaid although we have an inkling what it’s about. After that the King seems rejuvenated and ready to take on Saruman who has been troubling his lands and people for a little too long. Éomer is released from prison and entered into the favour of his uncle again. Wormtongue rejects any sort of reconciliation and the mercy Théoden shows him. So Saruman's little spy is asked to take a hike, which he does but not before showing his true colours.

Théoden gives Shadowfax to Gandalf and weapons and armour to his companions. Yet however eager Théoden is to go and give Saruman a piece of mind, he does not want to leave his people in Edoras ungouverned during his absence, only he doesn't have a suitable replacement, or so he thinks. His people, through Háma, immediately put their trust on his sister-daughter Éowyn. With the people in Edoras in good hands, Théoden and company can finally leave. Éowyn remains behind.


Summary: Chapter VII: Helm's Deep

The weather looks ominous during their ride and they receive equal ominous words from a wounded rider who tells them the Rohirrim armies have been overwhelmed and scattered. Saruman has not only sent his orcs to plague the Rohirrim but also enlisted the help of the Dunlanders. Things look rather bad. Gandalf advises Théoden to take refuge in the Hornburg, in Helm's Deep, where most of the scattered soldiers no doubt will retreat to. The wizard then leaves alone on a non-specified errand.

At night the king's men reach the keep, but with Saruman's armies and the sound of war at their heels. They find that Erkenbrand, the lord of the Hornburg has left the fortress with ample force to defend it, while three quarters of his people hide in the caves behind the keep. (On a side note, I noticed that both Edoras and the Hornburg are right next to a river, it’s nice to see that Tolkien was well aware of the fact that people will always settle somewhere where there’s water.) Erkenbrand himself has, however, not yet returned to the Hornburg and his chances of survival are deemed small. And while the night deepens, Saruman's outnumbering forces lay siege to Helm's Deep.

At midnight the enemy makes his first move. Rain and arrows rain down from the sky on both parties. Flashes of lighting set a threatening mood.

Aragorn and Éomer finally have the chance to draw their swords together and with the help of a few troops and a secret exit, they beat off the first attack on the gate. Gimli, bored with not having enough orcs to chop to pieces, follows them and saves Éomer's life by felling two orcs. The first of a long list.

When the rain is over and the sky clears again, another attack is made through the culvert of the stream and orcs have reached the Deep behind the wall and fight the guards they find there. Gimli spots them and alerts the Rohirrim to their presence by throwing himself of the wall onto the orcs while shouting battle-cries and calling for Legolas to join in the orc-slaying fest. Eager little ankle-biter, this Dwarf. He also aids the Rohirrim to fill up the hole in the wall.

The fighting on the wall intensifies and the defenders have to go deep before they can beat off the orcs and wild men. Unfortunately they're left with little time to relax as the orcs cunningly blow up Gimli's little barrier and a large part of the wall with it. The battle seem to have reached a pivotal point as the defenders are split into two groups and forced to retreat. Many of them retreat to the citadel and Aragorn bars the door as last one in. Gimli and Éomer did not make it to the Hornburg but are said to have retreated with the rest to the caves where –unlike those in the citadel- they should be able to hold almost indefinitely. Their fate remains uncertain. And Legolas regrets not being able to inform the Dwarf of his current count of thirty-nine kills.

Things are really starting to look very grim for the defenders and Théoden has enough to sit in the keep waiting until the orcs drag him out. He decides on one last, heroic sally on horseback at dawn, now that defeat seems inescapable. Aragorn agrees to accompany him on that last ride. But before that he goes to parley with the orcs before the gate. As sunlight is slowly showing itself, he gives the orcs their last warning. The enemy, now drunk with success, jeer and take no heed, in fact they try to throw a large boulder on his head. But there suddenly is a strange faint whisper in the air and as it rises it unsettles the attackers. Was that puny man on the wall right after all? Suddenly they're not so sure of themselves anymore.

They don't have much time to ponder it because on the call of Helm’s horn, the keep opens and the cavalry of the Rohirrim rides forth and strikes down all that comes within swords-reach. The orcs are caught by surprise and are pressed back from the Dike. There the riders of Rohan are met with an interesting view: a large forest appeared out of nowhere.

Caught between the two dangers the orcs mill around until another player unexpectedly joins the battle. The White Rider has found Erkenbrand and his men and the lord of the Hornburg is more than a little wroth to find orcs in his backyard. This seems just too much for Saruman's once great army and they flee into the strange forest. Yet there are more dangerous things than the swords and spears of the Rohirrim under the eaves of these trees and those that entered did not leave it again.

The first battle of the war is finally won.

Art work

The Golden Hall by Joan Wyatt

King Théoden, Éowyn and Wormtongue by the Hildebrandt Brothers

Éowyn before the gates of Meduseld by Michael Kaluta

Helm’s Deep by the Hildebrandt Brothers

The Siege of Helm’s Deep by Joan Wyatt

Legolas and Gimli at Helm’s Deep by John Howe

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