Editing Battle of Helm's Deep (section)

=== 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/>]]