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Today Gandalf comes to Edoras and heals Theoden who has long been held as thrall to Saruman through the whispered and muttered advice of Grima Wormtongue. The power of Gandalf is revealed in the throne room at Edoras when he breaks the spell of Saruman and leads Theoden out to sunshine to survey the bright world that still lives but cries for leaders. Saruman is credited with having a voice that could seduce and befuddle the minds of men and I think that Gandalf has the gift of clearing the cobwebs from befuddled minds with the truth.

The healing of Theoden is one of the most magnificent stories that Tolkien presents in this tale full of compelling stories. Throughout this chapter you see the admiration and love that the people hold for Theoden. Indeed, the love of the men for the whole house of Theoden is demonstrated with the joy at the release of Eomer and when they select Eowyn to lead the people in the absence of Theoden and Eomer.

Grima is released to follow Theoden or run to Saruman at his own will. The choice that he makes will affect the course of the future in ways that no-one could predict.

After a brief meal that must double as both welcome and preparation Theoden leads his men, with Eomer at his right, to head west to do battle with the forces of Sarumen. Aragorn and Eomer are soon to draw swords together.
As Theoden heads out in another part of Rohan, Erkenbrand of the Westfold is overrun by Sarumen's orcs at the Fords of Isen. Unable to hold them he attempts to lead such of his men that have escaped to safety at Helm's Deep.







In contrast to the joy and glory of Theoden's healing, Frodo and Sam, led by Gollum have been traversing the Dead Marshes. It has been a long and tedious trip. We are beginning to see the effect of the ring. Sam observes that his master is frequently falling behind. The marshes are full of lights and and in the depths you can see the faces of those who died in battle here long ago. The lights entrance Frodo. He is drawn to them and to the faces. They crawl along and late that night the trio finally reaches higher, firmer ground.

Also today, the Ents, in a particularly hasty way, conclude Entmoot with the decision to march on Isengard. No longer do they remain separate from the affairs of the world. All of the peoples of Middle Earth are rising to do what they see needs to be done. The Ents, with Merry and Pippin riding along, leave by day and arrive at Isengard this night

As we read, these tales are told to us as isolated events, in the way that they would no doubt appear to their participants. To each, there is a distinct feeling, a separate mood, as we see through the eyes of those characters who are living the events. The contrast between the jubilant (if only for a day) return of Theoden to himself and his men is measured against the smelly trek of Sam and Frodo and Gollum across that long forgotten battle plain. Each event seems as though it were happening in separate times even though it is the same day in Middle Earth.

Tolkien's method of interlacing is masterful in the events of this day, for if Isengard had not been nearly emptied of its inhabitants, the Ents would not have found it so easy to destroy.

But our author's most stunning achievement today is the creation of a place so real in our imaginations that we, with Gimli, can feel the solidity of its stone beneath our feet: Helm's Deep. Tolkien has described the gorge and the cliffs into which it was built, Helm's Gate, the tower of the Hornburg, the great Deeping Wall, and the causeway in such detail that artists have replicated it easily.

Although Tolkien's account of the Battle of the Hornburg is accomplished in only ten or twelve pages, it is crammed full of vivid descriptions and action. But perhaps the most memorable is a moment of calm. Aragorn stands above Helm's Gates and gives the signal for a parley, which even the orcs respect. And he warns them:

"'No enemy has yet taken the Hornburg. Depart, or not one of you will be spared. Not one will be left alive to take back tidings to the South. You do not know your peril.'

"So great a power and royalty was revealed in Aragorn, as he stood there alone above the ruined gates before the host of his enemies, that many of the wild men paused, and looked back over their shoulders to the valley, and some looked up doubtfully at the sky."

But the orcs had come to slaughter, and slaughter they did, until Gandalf and Erkenbrand arrive to make Aragorn's words prescient.

Theoden decides to accompany Gandalf to Isengard for a last parley with Saruman; the wizard has done him great harm and he wishes to see how Gandalf will treat with him in the aftermath of Helm's Deep. Theoden chooses Eomer and 20 men to go with him, and Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli go with Gandalf The ride offers a short respite from battle, and a chance to mourn the dead. Among these is Hama, Theoden's Captain of the Guard, and the King pauses to cast the first earth on his grave. On the way the travelers actually ride through the forest of the Huorns, which fascinates Legolas. He and Gimli engage in an animated discussion of the merits of Fangorn Forest as compared with the Caves of Aglarond under Helm's Deep, and make their famous bargain to travel together after the Ring War to visit these places. As they leave the wood behind, the riders see their first Ents, a foretaste of what they will find at Isengard. At this point, only Gandalf understands what has happened there.

All along the rest of the road to Isengard, the party sees the unrelieved desolation that Saruman has made of a place once beautiful--all that was green and good has fallen to the creation of his battle engines. But during the night hours, Nature begins to take her own back. Theoden's camp beside the ruin of the Isen River lies on the path the Huorns will take back to Fangorn, and their moving shadows and whispered voices pass on either side of the riders in the darkness. The fear that Tolkien's moving wood engenders makes its counterpart in Shakespeare's Macbeth seem quite tame indeed.

Frodo, Sam, and Gollum finally reach the end of the wearying, frightening march across the Dead Marshes, and enter the edges of Sauron's lands. Tolkien describes them with devastating clarity:

So does the reader. Into this hell go two little hobbits, tasked with averting the victory of Sauron, which they know will make all of Middle Earth look like this.

Gandalf and Théoden and Aragorn and Company arrive at the ruined Isengard and marvel at the destruction there. The company delights at the reunion with Merry and Pippin as well as the meeting with Treebeard who is particularly glad to see Gandalf for... "Wood and water, stock and stone, I can master; but there is a Wizard to manage here."

Indeed, a fearful and whining Wormtongue leads them to Saruman who remains defiant even in defeat. At first Saruman's voice and words are pleasant to the ear, but all too quickly his mocking and menacing tone returns. But Saruman's staff is broken and apparently he is unaware that his precious palantir is also lost to him and picked by Pippin and given to Gandalf as the Company leaves Saruman and Isengard behind to travel south to Edoras.

A remarkable night ensues as the Company camps at Dol Baran. Pippin succumbs to the power of the palantir. He is rescued from it's grip before he can reveal anything to the Enemy about the nature of the Quest. In fact the incident proved to give the Company the advantage in that Sauron, who still believes that the palantir is in Saruman's possession at Orthanc, now believes the Ring could very well be there as well. A well timed diversion. To everyone's astonishment Gandalf presents the palantir to it's rightful owner, Aragorn... "Receive it Lord, in earnest of other things that shall be given back."

The words are no sooner spoken than danger comes swiftly in the form of a dark shadow across the moon. Winged Nazgûl flying north. Gandalf seizes a still dazed Pippin and flies swiftly to the south, carried by Shadowfax, and leaving the rest of the Company to deeds of there own. From this one precipitous night springs forth the separate stories the will lead Tolkien to the climax of his tale, for also on this night, far to the East, Frodo and Sam and Gollum are gripped by fear from above.

How did Tolkien keep all of this straight?

I think this must be a night of high tension. Pippin has a go at the Palantir while he thinks everyone is sleeping and causes quite a stir. Everyone is roused and there is an urgency to get as far from Isengard as possible as fast as possible. Gandalf takes off with Pippin immediately. Aragorn, Theoden, and the rest of the company head for Helm's Deep not long after them. Poor Merry, feeling small and in the way and at a loss without the unfailing cheerfulness of Pippin is left to ride with Aragorn. You can feel how forlorn Merry is.

The company had not gone far when they are overtaken by riders coming upon them at high speed. All the company stops and prepares to fight. Even Merry, who is set on the ground by Aragorn so that he can be free to do battle as needed, draws his sword and prepares to do battle as best he can standing next to Theoden. I can imagine how small he must have felt, standing on the ground amongst all the stamping, restless horses. The sound of Halbarad's voice calling out for Aragorn son of Arathorn must have been as beautiful a sound as the song of the elves to Aragorn's ears.

Halbarad tells Aragorn that he came at Aragorn's summons and we learn that Aragorn sent no summons other than his heart felt wish in his thoughts that his fellow Dunedain were with him. Here, like a gift are 30, strong rangers. Among the Dunedain are the twin sons of Elrond, Elladan and Ellohir. Ellohir brings a cryptic message from his father:

"The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the Paths of the Dead."
"Always my days have seemed to me to be too short to achieve my desire," answered Aragorn. "But great indeed will be my haste ere I take that road."

In addition to the message from Elrond, they bring a gift from the lady Arwen and they bring their strength in arms and in companionship. Tolkien makes it clear that Aragorn is overjoyed to see them. The company heads off to Helm's Deep and arrives at first light.

Many are able to take some rest but there is not rest for Aragorn who retreats with Halbarad to take council. In addition, he spends a little time with a certain Palantir wresting it, by pure force of will, from Sauron and claiming it as his own. What he learns from the Palantir tells him that he does indded have need of great haste. Gondor is at risk. Aragorn must move faster than Theoden can muster and leave Rohan. After consulting with Theoden and against his advice, Aragorn decides he must follow a separate path. Sending Merry with Theoden to the Muster at Harrowdale, and after a brief rest for food and further council, Aragorn takes his company and heads for The Paths of the Dead.