The Two Towers // Book 3, Chapter 6 // The King of the Golden Hall

We're in Rohan!!!!!!! And this entire chapter is just wonderful. <3

There's so much going on: what with the new place, all the new characters, and then all the bandying wordplay.

Just a short summary in case anyone's confused -- Theoden (Lord of the Mark/King of Rohan) is listening to cunning, craven counsel from a henchman planted by Saruman, who has been trying to maneuver Rohan into staying out of the war and/or ultimately just giving in to despair and rolling over in easy defeat.

But then our three travelers arrive and expose all his machinations, bringing light and clarity and purpose and courage. The helped are now giving help.

And we meet Eowyn for the first time.

"The woman turned and went slowly into the house. As she passed the doors she turned and looked back. Grave and thoughtful was her glance, as she looked on the king with cool pity in her eyes. Very fair was her face, and her long hair was like a river of gold. Slender and tall she was in her white robe girt with silver; but strong she seemed and stern as steel, a daughter of kings. Thus Aragorn for the first time in the full light of day beheld Eowyn, Lady of Rohan, and thought her fair, fair and cold, like a morning of pale spring that is not yet come to womanhood. And she now was suddenly aware of him: tall heir of kings, wise with many winters, greycloaked, hiding a power that yet she felt. For a moment still as stone she stood, then turning swiftly she was gone."

And we can soon see she very quickly has feelings for Aragorn, which -- perceptive and honorable man that he is and faithful to his love, Arwen -- troubles him. I've got some more to say on that, but I think I'll save it till matters further develop. 

Growing up, I didn't exactly figure out what Wormtongue's full designs on Eowyn were and now that I have more of an idea what he could've been up to... ugh, I don't particularly want to speculate on whatever slimy manipulations and blackness he had in his devious mind. I just grinned all over this time when Theoden says that Eomer threatened death to Grima in his hall, mostly over that. I so wish we got an entire description of that episode, but you can pretty much imagine it already, can't you? Three cheers for Eomer!

Something else I noticed this time... Running all through LOTR we have the theme of small, unlikely figures being called to huge, unlikely tasks. What I noticed in this chapter (and which seems to be ongoing as it'll come out later with Faramir too), is the idea of unexpectedly taking on the weight of a position you'd never planned on or expected. Of course, Eomer (and Faramir, though not going too much there yet due to spoilers) were already great lords in their own right and raised to be leaders of men, but at the same time they were a nephew and a younger son -- neither expecting to be the heir of their house. It reminds me of King Alfred the Great, coming to the throne after the untimely death of his four older brothers. That might all seem obvious and transparent, but I just want to pay special attention to it on this read through and see if I notice any more as we go along. 

All of which.... was absolutely and entirely unintentional XD, but made a great segue into my last point. We love watching the BBC Time Team round these parts. (They're off on prehistory dates, of course, but otherwise it's a program I highly HIGHLY recommend. Amazon Prime has 18 seasons/all in order, but I think you can find most of them on Youtube as well.) Anyway, last week we watched one where they discovered evidence for the largest Saxon hall ever found in Britain. Part way through, it was brought up how very little was/is actually known about the Saxons + they mentioned the link with Tolkien/LOTR/Rohan as he was good friends with the archaeologist who originally excavated round the area they were working on. Tingly stuff. <3 Anyhow, I'll leave the link below and hope you're able to check it out. The program as a whole is fascinating and generally relaxing and at the same time sometimes gets me all fired up with my brain going a mile-a-minute. ;D

 

Quotes:

• "A king will have his way in his own hall..."
• "...behold! the storm comes, and now all friends should gather together, lest each singly be destroyed." 
• "I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a serving-man till the lightning falls."
• "Too long have you sat in shadows and trusted to twisted tales and crooked promptings."
• "A man may love you and yet not love Wormtongue or his counsels,' said Gandalf."
• "I owe much to Eomer,' said Theoden. 'Faithful heart may have forward tongue.' 'Say also,' said Gandalf, 'that to crooked eyes truth may wear a wry face."
• "Their spears were like a springing wood."
  

 

For thought:

• A couple musical settings I like: Aragorn's Lament of the Rohirrim and Gandalf's Song of Lorien. What's your favorite rendition for both of these?

  And make sure to check out that Time Team ep HERE.
  

  Finally, what are your impressions of Theoden and Eowyn so far? Are you as excited to get to Rohan as I am?