The Two Towers

Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli approach Edoras and the king’s hall Meduseld. The city is on a hill amidst the plains and streams of Rohan and the great hall appears to be thatched with gold in the sunlight. When the travelers arrive, the guards are suspicious, telling them that King Théoden has forbidden strangers from entering the country. Gandalf and Aragorn persuade the guards to let them in, explaining that they are returning horses given to them by Théoden and Éomer and have previously been friendly to Rohan.

Before they are allowed to see the king in his hall, the doorkeeper Háma takes their weapons away. Aragorn is reluctant to part with his sword Andúril because it was the ancient broken sword that once helped to defeat Sauron, an heirloom of his family, but he is eventually persuaded to leave it after Háma swears it will not be touched. Gandalf asks to keep his staff because he is an old man and needs it to lean on when he walks. Háma permits this, deciding that the group appears to be honorable and friendly.

Théoden greets Gandalf coldly, telling him that he is glad that Shadowfax is returned, but not happy that Gandalf is alive. He complains that Gandalf only ever brings bad news. Théoden’s advisor Grima, also called Wormtongue, accuses Gandalf of being an unwelcome presence in Rohan, annoying them with his talk of troubles. Théoden’s niece, Éowyn, also stands beside the king and she seems fascinated by Aragorn.

Gandalf calls Wormtongue disloyal and duplicitous and then uses his staff to make a ray of sunlight shine through the roof into the hall. Gandalf’s words seem to rouse Théoden and he suddenly looks much younger and stronger as Gandalf promises him that there is still hope and that Rohan and Gondor do not stand alone against Sauron. Théoden goes outside into the light and fresh air and seems to find greater resolve to fight back against Saruman, calling for his sword. He summons Éomer and begins to plan to fight Saruman and send the women and children to shelter in the mountains.

Wormtongue begs to be allowed to stay and protect Edoras in the king’s absence, but Gandalf reveals that Wormtongue is probably a traitor working for Saruman, who has promised him money and Éowyn’s hand in marriage. He recommends that the king give Wormtongue a choice: If he rides to accompany them in battle, he can prove his loyalty, whereas if he rides away to Saruman, it will confirm his treachery.

Wormtongue spits at the king’s feet and rides away. Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli go to eat with Théoden and make a plan for battle. While Théoden names his nephew Éomer as his heir, he appoints Éowyn as the temporary ruler of Edoras while he and the other men ride out to battle Saruman.

Théoden’s army rides to the border of Isengard to see how his men have done in battle with Saruman’s troops. They discover that the battle has gone badly and that the commander, Erkenbrand, gathered the scattered survivors and is retreating to Helm’s Deep. Gandalf recommends that Théoden do the same, rather than risking a direct attack on Isengard with inferior numbers. After this, Gandalf rides away on Shadowfax on a mission of his own.

Théoden, accompanied by Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas, arrives at the fortress of Helm’s Deep, but finds no sign of Erkenbrand or his troops. They prepare for a siege, procuring supplies from the caves in the mountains behind the fortress. The army of Rohan is small and many of the men are too old or young to fight. Nevertheless, they prepare for a battle. An enormous army marches toward the fortress—comprised of Orcs, Uruk-hai, and men from Dunland who hate the Rohirrim due to a land dispute. Isengard’s army fills the entire valley in front of Helm’s Deep, and then the attack begins during a thunderstorm.

Saruman’s army first attacks with arrows, then they manage to break through a portion of the outer wall. Aragorn and Éomer manage to drive the Orcs away from the broken wall and give the others time to refortify it. However, the Orcs eventually break through, sneaking explosive powder through a water channel. Throughout the battle, Legolas and Gimli engage in a contest to see who can kill the most Orcs. As the Orcs break through another wall, Gimli and Éomer are separated from the group and go missing. Only the innermost fortress remains and the Orcs are about to break in and force the Rohirrim to trap themselves in the caves. Théoden decides to charge out on horseback at dawn, in a last effort to drive back Saruman’s army.

As dawn breaks, Gandalf arrives with Erkenbrand’s remaining army as reinforcements. Saruman’s army flees from Théoden’s charge and Erkenbrand’s new soldiers, running into a dark forest that has suddenly appeared behind them and vanishing forever.