Messengers seeking counsel sought Denethor who remained by Faramir's side. They were looking for orders since not all would follow Mithrandir. "'Why? Why do the fools fly?' said Denethor. "Better to burn sooner than late, for burn we must. Go back to your bonfire! And I? I will go now to my pyre. To my prye! No tomb for Denethor and Faramir. No tomb!'" (p. 98, The Return of the King). The men fled and Denethor asked Pippin to bring his servants and then he would be released from service. Pippin said he did not wish to be released; just relieved, so he could find Gandalf, and brought the servants to Denethor. Pippin followed them (for the servants bore Faramir's bed) to the tombs of Minis Tirith. Denethor gave orders for them to bring wood and oil to burn he and his son together. Frightened, Pippin fled to find Gandalf and ran into Beregond. Pippin filled him in on the events which grieved Beregond. Pippin begged his friend to stop Denethor from any desperate acts but Beregond was wary for he would be breaking the orders of the City to leave his post. "'Well, you must choose between orders and the life of Faramir,' said Pippin. 'And as for orders, I think you have a madman to deal with, not a lord. I must run. I will return if I can'" (p. 101, The Return of the King).
On rode the Rohirrim with Merry wondering why he had come. He saw why Theoden did not wish him to--for what good would he be in a great battle? Theoden was in the lead with Elfhelm's eored next in line. Merry noticed that Dernhelm had left Elfhelm's men and moved constantly closer to the King. Scouts came back and reported that the fields were filled with foes but none watched the roads. All were busy with the advance on Minis Tirith. One of the scouts, Widfara, said that he felt the wind changing and this brought hope to Theoden who turned to his men: "'Now is the hour come, Riders of the Mark, sons of Eorl! Foes and fire are before you, your homes far behind. Yet, though you fight upon an alien field, the glory that you reap there shall be your own for ever. Oaths ye have taken: now fulfill them all, to lord and land and league of friendship!'" (p. 110, The Return of the King). Theoden gave command of the first eored to Eomer (whom he called his son) riding behind his banner, Elfhelm and Grimbold took the flanks with the simple orders to strike wherever the enemy gathered.
Quietly they rode forth and it was as the scouts said. They encountered and destroyed a few random foes but nearly all were focused on breeching the City walls. Pouring into the Pelannor Elfhelm and Grimbold led their riders to their respective positions; now Dernhelm clearly stayed near Theoden. Nearer to the City they came. "But the mind and will of the Black Captain were bent wholly on the falling city, and as yet no tidings came to him warning that his designs held any flaw" (p. 111, The Return of the King). Merry could now see Theoden and as the King laid eyes on the destruction and malice unleashed on Minis Tirith he seemed to shrink in his saddle. Merry half-wondered if the King would call for a retreat.
As the Rohirrim came upon the battle the siege of the enemy had continued through the night. A huge battering ram had been brought forth to smote the city gates. "Grond they named it, in memory of the Hammer of the Underworld of old" (p. 102, The Return of the King). Though the knights of Dol Amroth stood above the gates but they could not slow Grond. It swung but the doors held. "The the Black Captain rose in his stirrups and cried aloud in a dreadful voice, speaking some forgotten tongue words of power and terror to rend both heart and stone" (p. 102, The Return of the King). Pippin had made his way to the first level of the city and all was eerily quiet. Though he did hear a shriek that stopped him cold followed by a large boom; he forced himself on despite his dread. "He had found Gandalf; but he shrank back, cowering in a shadow" (p. 101, The Return of the King). As the gates shattered the Lord of the Nazgul was the first to enter the City. All fled save Gandalf. The Wizard called for the Wraith to go into the abyss long prepared for him and not enter the City. The Black Rider removed his cloak to reveal a crown on his invisible head: "'Old fool!' he said. This is my hour. Do you not know Death when you see it? Die now and curse in vain!' And with that he lifted high his sword and flames ran down the blade" (p. 103, The Return of the King). At that moment the horns of Rohan could be heard.
As Merry pondered whether or not Theoden would attack he felt it. The wind was changing, light of a new day was beginning, and not the dawnless days they had known for so long. At that same moment a flash like lightening was beheld and a strong boom echoed through the fields. This seemed to awaken Theoden who now called out in a voice louder than any mortal before had achieved: "'Arise, arise Riders of Theoden! Fell deads awake: fire and slaughter! spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!'" (p. 112, The Return of the King). He let fly a note on his horn which was answered by other horns of Rohan. Quick as a wink, on his horse Snowmane, Theoden charged into battle. Eomer followed behind but neither he nor any of them men could over take Theoden. "Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, eve as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young" (p. 112-113, The Return of the King). The onlsaught by the charge of the Rohirrim was so great the Riders began to sing as they attacked. This charge of the Rohirrim makes the hairs on my neck stand-up, it's powerful, it's the one scene in the movie that brings me to tears every single time. Against such terrible malice and odds Theoden won't turn back. It's heroic and noble and awe-inspiring.
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019, March 14th-15th
Today's reading comes from: The Return of the King, pages 108-109; 98-101; 109-111; 101-103; 111-113
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