The Lord of the Rings: The Road to Isengard (Part One)

 

The Tale

Theoden and Gandalf meet again on the green grass along the Deeping stream. Aragorn, Legolas, Erkenbrand, and the lords of the Golden House are with them. Suddenly there is a shout, and out of the caves come streaming the warriors from inside, including Eomer, Gamling, and Gimli, whose head is bound with a bloody linen band.

‘Forty-two Master Legolas!’ he cried. ‘Alas! My axe is notched: the forty-second had an iron collar on his neck. How is it with you?’

‘You have passed my score by one,’ answered Legolas. ‘But I do not grudge you the game, so glad am I to see you on your legs!’

Theoden greets Eomer happily, and Eomer hails Gandalf, saying that he is mighty in wizardry, looking at the strange forest that has sprung up in the valley and that has swallowed the fleeing Orcs. Gandalf says that maybe he is, but he’s done nothing to show it yet. The victory is owed far more to the valor of the men who fought there and who marched through the night.

Those there look doubtfully at the trees as if perhaps they are seeing things, but Gandalf assures them that they are indeed there, just not of his doing. It is a better thing, beyond the counsel of the wise. Theoden asks if there is yet a mightier sage behind it.

‘It is not wizardry, but a power far older … a power that walked the earth, ere elf sang or hammer rang … ere ring was made, or wrought was woe, It walked the forests long ago.’ If Theoden wants to know the answer to this riddle, he needs to ride with Gandalf to Isengard.

Isengard? Theoden says that if all the warriors in Rohan were gathered together and healed of wounds and weariness, they couldn’t take that fortress.  But he will doubt Gandalf no longer and go with him. Gandalf says they are not going for battle, but a parley. They will just need a small party. Meanwhile everyone should rest. They’ll leave in the shadow of evening.

Theoden sends messengers to all the land, proclaiming their victory and sending a summons to all men, young and old, to gather at Edoras in three days. He chooses Eomer and twenty Riders to go with him to Isengard. Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli will go with them. Even though wounded, the dwarf will ride. Aragorn tends his hurt.

While the king rests, those who are unwounded work to clear the battlefield. No Orcs remain alive, but their corpses lie innumerable. There are many wild men who have surrendered, and the Rohirrim set them to work to clean up the destruction. Then they will take an oath not to cross the Isen or attack Rohan. After that they can return home. The Dunlendings are amazed; Saruman had told them that Rohan burned their captives alive.

Two mounds are raised before the Hornburg, one with the fallen men of the East Dales, and the other with the men of the Westfold. ‘In a grave alone under the shadow of the Hornburg lay Hama, captain of the King’s guard. He fell before the Gate.’ Theoden throws the first earth on his grave. The Men of Dunland are set apart in their own mound by the Dike.

The Orcs are piled in great heaps, far from the graves of men, but close to the mysterious forest. None dare touch the wood to burn the foes in a pyre, but Gandalf advises that they let them lie. The morning may bring new counsel.

In the evening the King’s company prepares to depart. Men, women, and children gather behind them sing a song of victory, then fall silent for fear of the strange trees. The Riders enter the woods, though the horses are reluctant to pass within. Gandalf leads them through an arch opening into the trees.

A grey shadow lies like a mist about the forest, which is full of gnarled roots and sweeping moss. But the road they take is open to the sun and runs by the Deeping Stream. But under the darkling trees on either side comes ‘the creaking and groaning of boughs, and far cries, and a rumor of wordless voices, murmuring angrily.’  There is no sign of any Orc, living or dead.

Legolas and Gimli are riding together, and sticking close to Gandalf, because Gimli is afraid of the wood. Legolas feels a great wrath around them. He wonders what has happened to the Orcs.

‘That, I think, no one will ever know,’ said Gandalf.

Bits and Bobs

Just a short reminder that it was Hama that let Gandalf in with his staff and restored Eomer’s sword unasked when he let him out of prison. Theoden jested with him grimly about his disobedience but knew that he owed his renewal to his guard’s decisions. The King will refer to his fall in battle as one of Saruman’s more grievous crimes.