Ch. 13: Schemes Revealed
Gandalf whistled, and their three horses
came following another one, one of the most beautiful creatures any of
them had ever seen. Gandalf told them this was Shadowfax, the lord
of horses. It was he who had called the other horses away the night
before. Because time was pressing, Gandalf took Gimli with him on
Shadowfax. The horse was like none other; his ability surpassed the
other horses like a grown man surpasses a small child at swordplay.
They rode all day and stopped for
only a few hours rest. All were weary, but the next day they came
to Edoras, home of Théoden, King of the Mark of Rohan. They
hoped for a warm place to rest, but the reception they received was anything
but warm. They were challenged in the rolling tongue of Rohan.
Gandalf replied in their own language; what he said the others could not
understand. Using the common tongue, the guards challenged the party
about their horses. Aragorn bristled at the implication that they
were thieves, and said, "Seldom does the thief ride home to the stable.
Here are the horses that Éomer lent to us, only two days ago.
We bring them back, as promised."
The guard was still skeptical, and
Worf spoke up, "We are not honorless thieves, man! No thief would
return to the scene of his crime. We return the horses we were lent!"
The guard replied, "It is but two
nights ago that Wormtongue told us that by the will of Théoden no
stranger should pass these gates."
It was obvious from Gandalf's reaction
that he held no love for the one called Wormtongue. Gandalf demanded
to speak to the Lord of the Mark, and the guard asked for names.
Gandalf would have spoken, but Worf jumped in, taking the place of a herald.
"The one to whom you speak is Gandalf, who has returned, and brings Shadowfax
the great. At his side is Aragorn son of Arathorn, the heir of Kings.
Their companions are Legolas the Elf and Gimli the Dwarf. I am Worf,
son of Mogh." The guard seemed a little dazed at this, but he went
inside and reported to his lord.
Eventually they were allowed through
the gates and brought to the King's hall, where they were asked to lay
aside their weapons. Legolas did so readily, but Aragorn took offense.
He said, "I would do as the master of the house bade me, were this only
a woodman's cot, if I bore now any sword but Andúril." ¹
It occurred to Worf that this sword had no less value than the sword of
Kah'less. It was only when Gandalf stepped in and left his sword,
Glamdring, that Aragorn relented. Aragorn reluctantly laid down the
sword, with a very stern warning to the guard, and Gimli and Worf, too,
laid down their weapons. The matter then came to Gandalf's staff,
which he flatly refused to leave, calling it discourtesy to take from an
old man his means of support. The guard eventually let it drop and
allowed them to pass.
After walking the length of the hall,
the five approached a withered old man on a dais. A slender woman
stood behind him, and another old man sat on the steps below him.
Gandalf greeted Théoden respectfully, but the king's response was
cold. "I greet you, but your welcome is doubtful here. You
have ever been a herald of woe. I do not miss your presence.
Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?"²
The man sitting on the steps encouraged
the old king's tirade. Worf was not the only one to take an instant
dislike to the man. Gandalf spoke to him. "You are held wise,
my friend Wormtongue, but a bringer of evil tidings may be the cause of
it, or he may come to bring aid because of the need. They parried
words a few minutes more. The last straw came when Wormtongue asked
if they were in league with "the Sorceress of the Golden Wood."³
Gandalf threw off his cloak and drew
himself up to his full height. He raised his staff and the hall suddenly
darkened. Gandalf, clothed in white, was the only thing visible.
"The wise speak only of what they know, Gríma son of Gálmód.
A witless worm you have become. Be silent; I have not passed through
fire and death to waste words on you. Wormtongue cried foul at the
guard for allowing the wizard to keep his staff, then fell flat on his
face.4
After a moment, the unnatural darkness
cleared, and with encouragement from Gandalf, Théoden stood and
slowly made his way out of the dim hall. Looking out on his kingdom,
the king stood straight for the first time in years. He called for
Éomer, who had been imprisoned at Wormtongue's prompting, for giving
horses to the hunters. Gandalf spoke quietly to him, and years
seemed to have fallen off the man in the span of the few minutes since
they had first seen him. Éomer was restored, and the King
took up his sword again, found hidden in Wormtongue's chest, along with
quite a few other possessions not rightly his.
Wormtongue was, unfortunately, still
breathing, and was brought before the king. When he saw the sword,
he begged, "Do not weary yourself or overtax your strength, lord.
Would you leave your hall unguarded? The wizard has bewitched you!"
He did everything he could to convince
the king he was incapable of fighting, but the king replied, "All shall
ride with me, even you, Gríma."
"Appoint me as your steward.
Let your counselor Gríma keep all things until you return."
Womtongue looked desperate.
Gandalf spoke up at this. "Down
snake! How long have you spied for Saruman? What did he promise
you? Your pick of the treasure? The woman you desire?" 5
Apparently, this was no revelation
to any of the Rohirrim, save Théoden. Wormtongue had long
watched Éowyn, niece of the king, and lusted after her. They
sent him away to go to Saruman, then ate quickly while Théoden's
forces were readied. Théoden gave them their run of his armory.
Worf abandoned his Klingon clothing in favor of the chain mail and helms
these people wore. He took a strong bow and a quiver of arrows, but
no shield, only hard leather arm guards, keeping both hands free for his
bat'leth. The weight of the chain mail was not enough to slow him,
and it was better protection; it was also a severing of another link to
his past.
Éowyn offered a cup of wine,
first to Théoden, then to the guests. She seemed unduly affected
by Aragorn, but the moment passed. Éowyn was left to protect
Éorlingas, herself no less a warrior than any of the men, and the
rest of Théoden's warriors prepared to depart. Éomer,
who now reserved judgement on the Lady of the Wood, made peace with Gimli,
and took the dwarf with him on his horse. Behind the King of the
Mark and the White Rider, a battle host rode off.
After riding late into the night,
the host stopped for a short rest, then rode the all the next day; a messenger
brought news of battle in Isengard and a stand by Erkenbrand, master of
Helm's Deep. Gandalf left them on an errand of his own, Shadowfax bearing
him off at incredible speed. Riding late into the night, the host
came to Helm's Deep, also called Westfold Vale. There was a gate
before the valley, an extension of the cliffs that bounded a narrow, deep
valley. A tower, called Hornburg, supported the gates. The
wall was well tended and strong, but its defenders were few.
Scouts reported that a large force
from Isengard was even then advancing on Helm's Deep. The host passed through
Helm's Dike, a strong wall, but too long to be defended by so few; the
enemy followed close behind. They were greeted by an old man named
Gamling. There were there perhaps a thousand footmen, but like Gamling,
many were old, or very young. The host established itself on the
Deeping Wall. Gimli and Legolas spent the time waiting talking to
each other and resting. Worf rested a little, but he was restless.
He spent some time with Éomer. The man was a warrior and told
him much of battle in this world; as he had with Gimli, he had overcome
his skepticism about the alien warrior. Worf admired his courage;
he had faced his king's anger for helping them, and now restored, he was
ready to lead his men into battle. Worf looked forward to fighting
at his side. He would have opportunity aplenty.
¹ p. 136, The Two Towers
² p. 138, The Two Towers
³ p. 139, The Two Towers
4 p. 140, The Two Towers
5 pp. 146-147, The Two Towers