Editing Battle of Helm's Deep (section)

== Description ==

=== Background ===

Théoden had been released by the Wizard [[Gandalf]] from the influence of [[Gríma|Gríma Wormtongue]], his malevolent adviser and Saruman's spy. He then sets out to the Fords of Isen, where his marshal Erkenbrand was fighting Saruman's forces. However, Théoden found out that his forces had been scattered. Gandalf advised him to take refuge in the Hornburg fortress of Helm's Deep. Gandalf then left on an unexplained errand. Théoden's army went to the area, where local people were commanded by a captain called Gamling the Old. Many of the men there were very old or young. The women and children of Théoden's capital [[Edoras]] were safe in [[Dunharrow]], led by the King's niece [[Éowyn]].<ref name= "Helm's Deep" group=T/>

The garrison of Helm's Deep consisted of some 1,000 men, but around 1,000 more defenders had arrived from across Rohan by the time of the battle.<ref>{{harvnb|Fonstad|1991|p=132}}</ref> The enemy, [[Saruman]]'s army, consisted of at least 10,000 Orcs and men, most marching from [[Isengard]] to Helm's Deep, and others heading to the Fords of Isen.<ref name="Helm's Deep" group=T/><ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1980|loc=Part 3, ch. 5 "The Battles of the Fords of Isen"<!--p. 363-->}}</ref> An additional force of [[Men (Middle-earth)|Men]] of Dunland joined the enemy.<ref name="Helm's Deep" group=T/>

=== The battle ===

The forces of Saruman, common Orcs, large Uruk-hai, "half-orcs and goblin-men", and Dunlendings (Men of Dunland), <!--book: film is discussed later--> arrived at Helm's Deep on a stormy night. They stormed the first defence, Helm's Dike, forcing the defenders to fall back to the fortress. They attempted to break down the gate with a [[battering ram]], but a sortie led by [[Aragorn]] and [[Éomer]] briefly scattered the attackers.<ref name="Helm's Deep" group=T/>

The Orcs and Dunlendings raised ladders to scale the wall, but were held back by the Men of Rohan atop the wall. Orcs crept into the culvert and made a breach in the wall using a "blasting-fire" from Orthanc, perhaps "a kind of [[gunpowder]]";{{sfn|Shippey|2005|page=194}} Saruman's army rushed in. Some defenders retreated to the Glittering Caves of Aglarond, while others retreated to the Hornburg.<ref name="Helm's Deep" group=T/>

Saruman's forces broke through the Hornburg gate just before dawn. At this moment, Helm's horn was sounded, and Théoden and Aragorn rode out, followed by all the Rohirrim left inside. They cut their way through the Orcs and drove them back from the fortress walls to Helm's Dike.<ref name="Helm's Deep" group=T/>

As day dawned, both armies saw that a forest of angry, tree-like [[Huorns]] now filled the valley, trapping Saruman's army. Above them, Gandalf appeared on [[Shadowfax (Middle-earth)|Shadowfax]], with Erkenbrand and a thousand footsoldiers who had escaped from the Fords of Isen. They charged into the fray. The Dunlendings dropped their weapons, while the Orcs fled into the Huorn forest and were destroyed.<ref name="Helm's Deep" group=T/>

[[File:Battle of Helm's Deep.svg|thumb|upright=3.3|center|Battle of Helm's Deep<ref name="Helm's Deep" group=T/>]]

=== Aftermath ===

After the battle, the Dunlendings were given amnesty by Erkenbrand and allowed to return home (much to their surprise, since Saruman had told them that the men of Rohan would burn all survivors alive). The Rohirrim required that all hostilities cease, and that the Dunlendings retreat behind the [[River Isen]] again and never recross while bearing arms. Before they were freed, though, the Dunlending captives were put to work in repairing the fortress.<ref name= "Helm's Deep" group=T/>

The bodies of the Orcs that had entered the forest of Huorns were never seen again; the Huorns had buried them in an earthen mound known as "Death's Down".<ref name="Helm's Deep" group=T/>

Among the Rohirrim dead was Háma, captain of Théoden's personal guard and doorward of [[Meduseld|his hall]]; the Orcs had hewn his corpse, an atrocity that Théoden recalled during his later parley with Saruman. Gimli had been wounded, but had killed 42 Orcs to Legolas's 41.<ref name= "Helm's Deep" group=T/>