LOTR Read-Along: The Two Towers: Helm's Deep

The first army v army battle is finally presented in the story in the defending of Helm's Deep. The battle of Helm's Deep was the crux of the whole film and literally took up half the film's screen time. However, in the book it's fairly small scale and seems to do more with the building of relationships than the actual fighting itself. 

As Theoden and his men ride off to meet the host of Isengard, they take shelter in the abandoned fortress of Helm's Deep. Led by Aragorn and Eomer, with the aid of Legolas and Gimli, the Rohirram are outnumbered significantly. Yet they must fight. The host of Isengard are a collective of Orcs and Uruk-Hai, ugly, greedy, cruel and without mercy. They take great delight in knowing that the king of Rohan will be taken down so easily.

Eomer and Aragorn lead the charge and during the battle, a friendship between the two men begins to grow. War has a way of doing that. Making friends from strangers in a very short amount of time. Legolas and Gimli never let a good competition pass by and compete to see who takes the down the most of Orcs and Uruk-Hai. 

When it seems to be the defeat is their fate, Aragorn and Theoden stand tall and proud. Willing to die defending these people than surrender as a coward, Aragorn's true might as the heir of Gondor is revealed and Theoden's glory as a king is not diminished. At sunrise, they ride out together and meet the enemy, causing an unexpected victory for Rohan.

I'm so surprised at how the character of Eomer was so changed in the movie! Well, not his character in general, he's the same, but his placement in the story was written differently. In the book, he's there by his uncle's side the entire time. In the movie, he spent most of the film in banishment and appears with Gandalf at the end of the battle. That scene where everything was so wrapped in despair and they all look up and see Gandalf the White and Theoden is able to look upon his nephew and heir once again, brought such a sense of victory and...well, just watch the clip!

Heidi's Questions:

• Do you have a favorite moment in this chapter? And in need, which would come handier to you -- a sword, bow, or axe?

- Seeing the developing friendship between Eomer and Aragorn. Eventually they will become kings of their respective countries, so they may as well start a good relationship early. A sword would probably be the easiest to use, but I would love to learn how to use a bow and arrow!