#ford of isen

[theworldsoftolkein]

The Horn of King Helm Sounded by Breath Art The forces of Saruman, common Orcs and Uruk-hai, along with some orc-human hybrids (called "half-orcs and goblin-men" — which may have referred to or included the Uruk-hai themselves) and human Dunlendings, arrived at the valley of Helm's Deep in the middle of the night during a storm. Meanwhile, Legolas the Elf and Gimli the Dwarf agreed to compete, to see which one could kill the most orcs. The attackers quickly scaled over the first defence, Helm's Dike, forcing the defenders there to fall back to the fortress. When the Orcs were close, the defenders drove them back with arrows and stones, but they managed to get close to the wall after multiple charges. They attempted to break down the gate with a battering ram, but a sortie led by Aragorn and Éomer scattered the forces. The Orcs and Dunlendings then raised hundreds of ladders to scale the wall. Aragorn and Éomer repeatedly motivated the tired defenders to repel the Orcs coming up the ladders. However, some Orcs had crept in through a culvert which let a stream out of Helm's Deep, and while the defenders were busy with the assault on the wall, they were suddenly attacked from behind. This was repulsed and the culvert was blocked up under Gimli's supervision. However, the enemies re-entered the culvert and blasted a wide hole in the wall using an ambiguous explosive device invented by Saruman, a "blasting-fire". The defenders then retreated to the Glittering Caves, Éomer and Gimli among them. Soon Saruman's forces broke through the gate and gained entrance to the fortress. At this moment, however, the horn of King Helm was sounded, and a cavalry charge led by Théoden and Aragorn rode forth, followed by all the Rohirrim left inside. They cut their way through the Orcs and drove them back from the fortress walls. Both armies then noticed that strange forest had suddenly sprung up (actually the arrival of many Huorns) which blocked the escape route for the Orcs. Then Gandalf arrived on Shadowfax, with Erkenbrand and a thousand infantry — the remaining strength of the Rohirrim that had been routed at the Fords of Isen. They charged into the fray. The Dunlendings were so terrified of Gandalf that most of them dropped their weapons. The surviving Orcs fled into the "forest" of Huorns, where they were completely annihilated. After the battle, those Dunlendings who surrendered 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. Among the Rohirrim dead was Háma, captain of Théoden's personal guard and doorward of his hall (he plays a significant role in the previous chapter, "The King of the Golden Hall"). Háma had fallen defending the gate and the Orcs had hewed his body after he died, an atrocity that Théoden did not forget during the upcoming parley with Saruman. Gimli was wounded, but had killed 42 to Legolas' 41. The "forest" of Huorns had disappeared the next morning, and the Orcs had been buried in an earthen-works hill known as "Death's Down".#rohan#riders of rohan

#Aragorn #Orcs #urukhai #Rohirrim #Riders of Rohan #gandalf #gandalf the white #Theoden #theoden king of rohan #theoden king #dunlend #shadowfax #ford of isen #huorns #ents #éomer

[oxbridge-scribbles]

25 February: First Battle of the Fords of Isen; Théodred son of Théoden slain.

As he looked eastward, dismayed by the sounds of battle and the hideous Orc-cries of victory, he saw the axe-men driving Théodred's men from the shores of the eyot towards the low knoll in its centre, and he heard Théodred's great voice crying To me, Eorlingas! At once Grimbold, taking a few men that stood near him, ran back to the eyot. So fierce was his onset from the rear of the attackers that Grimbold, a man of great strength and stature, clove his way through, till with two others he reached Théodred standing at bay on the knoll. Too late. - "The Battles of the Fords of Isen," Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth

#lotr #lotro #tolkien #theodred #the fords of isen #rohan #picture-scribbles #the smudging was an obvious artistic choice

[tenth-sentence]

Forty leagues and more it was, as a bird flies, from Edoras to the fords of the Isen, where they hoped to find the king's men that held back the hosts of Saruman.

"The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" - J.R.R. Tolkien

#book quote #lotr #lord of the rings #jrr tolkien #ttt #the two towers #edoras #fords #isen #isengard #saruman #war #battle

[from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras]

I’m (maybe?) almost done with a Théodred story I’ve been working on for a long time and, in looking back over some of my notes about his canon life, I couldn’t help clocking the many similarities between his experiences and those of LOTR’s other first son of a kingdom of men, Boromir. It’s not super relevant to my story, but I ended up with this running list and I’m just sticking it here because why not. None of this is groundbreaking stuff (and there are probably more) but so far I have that Théodred and Boromir both:

1. Were heirs to the leadership of their respective realms and held their land’s senior military positions (Second Marshal for Théodred—there being no First Marshal at the time—and Captain of the White Tower for Boromir).

2. Lost their mothers early (Théodred at birth and Boromir at age 10) and grew up in households run entirely by powerful fathers who never remarried.

3. Ended up taking on dangerous challenges at least in part because those fathers were both having their reason and good judgment manipulated by opponents (Théoden through the treachery of Gríma/Saruman and Denethor by the selective truths shown to him by Sauron in the palantír).

4. Got killed in a battle where their opponents were targeting them to the exclusion of others around them (Saruman’s forces at the Isen were told to kill Théodred at all costs even while “disregarding” others, and the orcs at Parth Galen fire their arrows “always at Boromir” while leaving Merry and Pip untouched).

5. Were trying to summon aid at the time they were struck down (Théodred is shouting “To me, Eorlingas!” to summon reinforcements when he’s fatally wounded. Boromir blows his great horn to alert the rest of the fellowship before he’s brought down).

6. Took massive injuries but lived long enough afterward to pass on last words in which they invoke the names of the men who will come to replace them as leaders and express the hope that those next leaders will achieve victory (Elfhelm and Grimbold believe Théodred is dead before they discover he’s still breathing just enough to say, “Let me lie here to keep the fords til Éomer comes.” Boromir, as we all know, lays there with those arrows in his chest long enough to be found by Aragorn, at which point he says, “Farewell, Aragorn. Go to Minas Tirith and save my people.”).

7. Died within hours of each other (Théodred on the night on February 25 and Boromir around midday on the 26) at the same age of 41 because, oh yeah, they were also born within months of each other.

8. Didn’t get a burial/funeral in keeping with their status and the traditions of their people because they died in awful circumstances far from home (Théodred dies and is buried by Elfhelm and Grimbold’s companies at the fords rather than in the barrows outside of Edoras with his ancestors. Boromir is sent over the falls by the three hunters instead of laying in Rath Dínen with the other kings and stewards of Gondor).

9. Mentored and protected little brother-type figures (Faramir as Boromir’s actual little brother and Éomer as Théodred’s cousin/adopted little bro) who would go on to achieve what they were unable to do themselves while alive.

10. Died unmarried and childless despite being extremely marriageable, in the primes of their lives and presumably expected to produce another heir. (There’s an explanation given for Boromir—he’s not into women and prefers fighting and arms—though there is none for Théodred.) (Like many other people, I have my own personal HC for Théodred’s romantic life, but that’s for another day.)

I’m not sure what to make of all that, but I find it interesting. We hear so often about contrasts between Gondor and Rohan—the different histories and heritages, the personality of cold, hard Denethor against kindly, grandfatherly Théoden, the magisterial stone and marble of Minas Tirith versus the rustic wood and thatch of Edoras, Gondor’s vast libraries and the Rohirrim’s oral traditions—but they’re so deeply linked as kingdoms and as individuals. By fate and by choice, they’re inextricably tied together, and I love the amount of detail that went into creating and including the subtle parallels between the first sons of each land as just one more way to see those ties play out.

#lord of the rings #lotr #boromir #theodred #théodred #rohan #gondor #oath of eorl #first sons #shared histories

[tolkienosaurus]

#tolkien #lord of the rings #lotr #silmarillion #the silmarillion #first age #second age #third age #unfinished tales

[sparksandspears]

So I don't normally do this, but since my latest Lord of the Rings rewatch I've had this bouncing around my head, and finally am getting it out. So, poetry! This one is for Théodred, and I did my best to get the skaldic alliteration of Tolkien's Rohirric verse.

Simbelmynë

Forever they grow there, the fathers' graves watching; white flowers covering, warding the dead. Théodred lofty, Thengel's fair grandson, alas they await him at his road's end. Master of horses, the Mark's second Marshal, prince of the people, proudly he stood. At Isen's fords, with iron he fought there with Saruman's forces, and slain there he fell. Last of his line, Lord Théoden's only, Dead in the river. So death we dealt then, avenging the fallen, answering insult. War we woke, the Westfold arising; at Helm's Gate we harried the foe to the end. The White Hand we withered, the wizard defying; by spear and by sword we slew the dark host. Still Simbelmynë, silent and silver, his tomb it protects now til years have an end. With Fréa he lies, Folca and Fréalaf; In the ranks of his fathers he rests evermore.

#vela writes #poetry #lord of the rings #lotr #theodred #skaldic alliteration

[warrioreowynofrohan]

#tolkien #unfinished tales #the lord of the rings #the hobbit #the quest of erebor #frodo #gandalf #saruman #ringwraiths #bilbo #thorin #druedain #palantiri #gondor #rohan #theodred

[thiswaycomessomethingwicked]

I spent most of today scrolling through AITA posts on Reddit. Which made me wonder - if Reddit had existed in Grima's time, what kind of AITA posts would he make?

I (44m) murdered my boss's (71m) son (41m) so I could sell the whole company out to a rival organization. The new boss (10,192m) said I could have the old boss's daughter (26f) as my reward. Her brother (29m) suspects me, but I forged some documents and got rid of him as well. AITA?

hahahahah he's so messy

Reddit would have SO many opinions and he'd ignore every single one of them.

That said I feel like he'd frame it so he was the sad meow meow of the situation. Like this is Grima, positioning and optics are premium importance so he'd skew the matter a bit to emphasize certain things and leave out other details:

I (44[?]m) have been experiencing a great amount of existential dread over the inevitable end of the world and feel that my king (71m) is not in a position to keep me safe. (oh, and our people, of course.) I have also been working for my king for many years and feel that I have not been appreciated for my efforts nor adequately rewarded. I spend all day supporting him in all he does and I'm still treated like a servant.

Recently, I was approached with a proposition by the neighbouring political power (10,192m) to betray my king BUT it would allow me to ensure that we become a vassal state to the aforementioned existential threat to our existence (??m?) which would reduce the chance of my being horrifically murdered by his henchmen (also our people safe blahblahblah). In addition, the neighbouring political power promised to reward me properly for my efforts and loyalty including, but not limited to, money, power, safety, and the current king's niece (24f).

The catch is that I would have to destabilize my country, poison/witchcraft my king, possibly aide and abet the murder of his son (41m), and exile and/or execute his nephew (28m). Considering the broader political ramifications if I don't take this path (annihilation/abject subjugation at the hands of the aforementioned existential threat), AITA for (possibly) accepting this offer?

replies:

horselordaldburg3: YTA obviously. How is this a question? How is this even something you think you need to ask?? Also, you didn't mention that you're one of the most powerful people in the country with wealth and status given to you by the king! Nor have you mentioned that we have allies and friends to help us in our fight against the Existential Evil. I feel like there are some details that are pertinent to people's review of this and you should include them. Snake.

DernhelmShieldofRohan: fuck you, YTA. Also, ew. I'm repulsed. I hope you choke on hay and die. Sit on a shiv and rotate.

MinasTirith: ESH, I think. Since I suspect you're not wrong on some fronts (if power and wealth are solely dependent on the king and would vanish with his death, that's not really a true repayment for services rendered because it keeps you dependent), however you could grow a spine and develop a sense of moral fortitude and overall decency.

That said, how much is the neighbouring power offering you? In terms of money, lmk and I'll see if I can't beat his price. Niece is not on offer because what the fuck? (see: your need to develop a sense of overall decency).

HornofGondor: Father! You can't buy people's loyalty like that.

MinasTirith: I'm speaking to OP in the language OP understands.

KingoftheMark: slfnsf dfsldkjf sddm

HeirofEorl: dad, get off your tablet. OP - YTA and we're going to have a wee little chat soon.

OP: Can it wait? There are some orcs coming in near the Fords of Isen that you need to see off.

&c &c

#Grima with the internet would be a HORROR STORY #on so many fronts #he'd figure out to hack into people's networks and would fuck around in the back end of things #lotr #lord of the rings #grima wormtongue #rohan #lotr shitpost #ask #reply #anon

[dalleyan]

Elfwine Chronicles (new LoTR stories, Fate posted, 3-30-24)

Eomer and Lothiriel ponder how things might have been different  (Angst, Family)

[This story follows on to “Guilt” (https://archiveofourown.org/works/41467341/chapters/104622678.  It is best to read that first as this one assumes you are familiar with the circumstances there.]

(very early August, 3020 III)

“My lord!” Erkenbrand exclaimed, hurrying toward Eomer as he dismounted and moved to help his wife do the same.  “We were not expecting you.”

With Lothiriel safely on her feet, the king turned and smiled at his longtime friend.  “We were not anticipating a visit, but I went to the Fords of Isen, and since we were so close it seemed appropriate to come by and see how things are progressing.”  He turned to draw his wife forward with a wave of his arm, which he then placed around her shoulders.  “You remember Lothiriel, do you not?”

“But of course,” Erkenbrand smiled, taking her offered hand and kissing it.  “It is a pleasure to see you again.  You look well.”

Smiling, Lothiriel nodded.  “I am, and I am pleased to meet you again also.  But, please, do not go to a great deal of trouble for us.  Think of us only as friends dropping by.”

He grinned in response and answered, “I see you still fit well with the Eorlingas, my lady!  But, then, I could not imagine Eomer marrying a dull, formal woman!” 

The three of them chuckled as Eomer offered his arm to his wife and they followed Erkenbrand inside.  The conversation quickly turned to the continuing work on repairs to the fortress, and the state of affairs in the West-mark.  When Erkenbrand’s wife appeared, Lothiriel took the opportunity to slip away with her to the room they were to be given during their stay. 

continue reading on AO3:

               (https://archiveofourown.org/works/54834652/chapters/138992203)

#eomer #lothiriel #elfwine chronicles #lord of the rings #lotr #erkenbrand

[thegreatstrongbow]

The party were being watched.

They had just crossed the fords of Isen, vulnerable in the open plains of the Gap of Rohan. Of course they came this way; there were three noble she-elves among the party, the orc captain noted, instead of the one they had been expecting. Which did the Master want, a junior orc asked, and they captain rolled his eyes.

“You have much to learn, Yargol. When in doubt, go above and beyond the master’s command.”

And they descended on the party.

The elves were unprepared, these lands under the protection of the White Wizard, and therefore supposed to be safe. Their mistake.

“Take the she-elves. Kill the rest.”

@silvercrowned @cuilpantielthesleepyscribe

#silvercrowned #cuilpantielthesleepyscribe #kidnap au

[aurore-parle-de-ses-idees]

Est, 52?

52- faked death/presumed dead

hello :) i bring more crimes. part of 5 of almost definitely 6 now bc this would be a mean place to end it

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Lothrandir is knee-deep in the dark waters of the Isen, blade to blade with something that looks more troll than orc. Cadda is shouting orders to his riders on the far side of the Fords, but Lothrandir is altogether preoccupied. He ducks inside the maybe-orc’s guard and grabs them around the middle and throws. They are far heavier than he expects; something in back protests sharply as water drenches him. In the distance, thunder rumbles. Isn’t that just what we needed today, he thinks sourly.

Lothrandir is pushed back with the Prince’s riders towards the middle of the Fords and towards the second force of orcs come down the other bank. They are coming from both sides, an endless tide flowing out of the valley. He can hardly see Cadda for the smoke and the foes that have come between them. What a dream returning to Isengard in search of a friend sounds, now.

There is a moment’s lull in the endless foes, and as he catches his breath lightning flashes again, and he thinks unbidden that’s familiar. He knows the timbre of this thunder- it should be a comforting sound.

No, he thinks. No, it can’t be- Saruman said he killed her- Dagoras had said as much when he returned from the gates with Ordwaer. Lothrandir had hardly believed it, not her, not when the Wizard seemed to have so much use for her, but she cannot be here. Surely that cannot be her lightning throwing men and horses aside- not orcs or goblins or wargs but the soldiers of Rohan. She wouldn’t… But it may be that she must.

Lothrandir runs, through the churning waters and across the eyot, past the place where Théodred’s quickly dwindling guard surrounds him.

“Ranger, what are you-” one of them calls, but he ignores it. There! A robed sorcerer like the ones who came at time to take other prisoners from the cells and only rarely returned them, dark cloth and deep hood and the great sigil of the White Hand. Her shape is familiar even beneath the robes, though, and they have fought often enough side by side for him to know the way she moves in battle. Her power is not turned against them, but even the orcs with her give her a wide berth, and he barrels between them to grab her shoulder.

“Esterín-”

And then he’s on his back in the mud, and he can’t catch his breath, and everything is tingling. He can feel his heart beat in strange rhythm in his chest.

“Lothrandir-” It’s a harsh and broken whisper, but he hears it. She splashes into the mud beside him, clutching at her own chest, the heavy hood of the robes hiding her face. “No- No, I’m sorry- Please-” Silence, and harsh breathing. His arms won’t heed him. “Now?” Esterín demands of the air. “This is finally enough?” And Lothrandir doesn’t think he’s ever heard such bitterness in his friend, and he tries to say something, maybe crack a joke worthy of Radanir, because she always seems to find them terribly amusing, but his lips won’t cooperate any more than the rest of him.

Esterín tears herself away, lunging to her feet with a terrible cry, and lightning rains down on the Fords of the Isen from a clear sky, popping on the river and throwing up great spouts of water, blackening the drier dirt of the eyot, shattering the larger stones. Most of it does not fall on living things, man or orc. Only most. Lothrandir bends all his will to lifting himself to his elbow, though his arms wobble dangerously and all his skin pulls uncomfortably.

“Esterín,” he tries to call, but his voice is weak, and it is lost entirely beneath a great thunder of hooves from the east, and before he can cry out for them to leave Esterín, Elfhelm’s riders are upon them.

---

The long tents set up as infirmaries are not so far from the place the few prisoners are being kept. It’s quite easy to hear Esterín, shouting like he’s never heard from her before.

“Let me go,” she howls. “Let me go. I can help him-”

“There is nothing more you can do for him.” Grimbold’s voice, cold and hard. 

“No…”

“Guard her,” Grimbold orders. “The rest of you get to your own business.” Esterín sobs, and Lothrandir stands, means to go to her, to clear up the situation perhaps, to see if she still looks so wracked and hollow-eyed as she had in the flashes of her lightning, but he is in the infirmary tent for good reason, and would fall flat on his face were it not so crowded with every trained healer and their hastily recruited assistants.

“Lie down, or you will be held down,” one exasperated man says, depositing him not-quite-gently on a hard cot. “You only slow everyone’s release like this.” And Lothrandir protests, but he finds he can hardly bring himself to rise again, even when he hears Esterín cry out again, and against his will his eyes grow heavier and heavier until they shut.

#ask games #my stories #est #lothrandir #:lilcry: #est full of concentrated caffeine and no sleep: AAAAAAAAAAAAAA #lothrandir who only kinda thought she was still alive and very electrocuted: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA #she can have hug after lothrandir wakes up and goes Hey Grimbold. That's My Friend :) #grimbold didn't really mean it That way but est fully thinks she killed lothrandir

[eomerofrohan]

“The chief obstacles to a conquest of Rohan by Saruman were Théodred and Éomer.”

- “the Battles of the Fords of Isen,” Unfinished Tales

#lord of the rings #Theodred #Eomer #memes #Rohan #my posts

[moviesandmania]

5LBS OF PRESSURE

‘Some cycles are never broken’ 5lbs of Pressure is a 2024 crime thriller about a former hitman seeking redemption in his old neighbourhood. Meanwhile, the brother of the man he killed seeks revenge. Written and directed by Phil Allocco (Truth About Lies). Produced by Zac Adams, Crawford Anderson-Dillon, Dominic Burns, Ford Corbett, Marc Danon, Roy Scott MacFarland, Isen Robbins and Aimee…

View On WordPress

#5lbs of Pressure #crime thriller #Luke Evans #movie film #Phil Allocco #preview #Rory Culkin #Rudy Pankow #Savannah Steyn #Stephanie Leonidas #trailer #Zac Adams

[from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras]

Today is February 25, the canonical date of poor Théodred's death. I’m scheduling this post in advance because if anyone needs me, I'll be marking the occasion in my usual fashion: by re-reading the Battles of the Fords of Isen chapter of Unfinished Tales and ugly crying while Théodred uses his final breath to call for Éomer and then Grimbold and Elfhelm fight orcs for possession of Théodred's body.

For anyone looking for Théodred content on this, the saddest of days, there’s a whole section for him in my pinned post. I also thoroughly recommend the ongoing, multi-chapter Borodred epic that @brigwife is writing, as well as this short and sweet teenage Borodred one-shot by @katajainen (There is not a lot of Théodred content out there, folks! Feel free to send me more! And I will keep writing it myself, too, of course!)

In the meantime, eternal rest to the first son of Rohan and the big brother of my dreams. I’m certain he made it to the halls of his fathers, where he was welcomed with love and pride. Forth Eorlingas. 🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎

#tolkien #lotr #lord of the rings #théodred #theodred #Rohan #forth eorlingas #sob #let me lie here...until eomer comes #the red stain that spreads in the water in this gif will haunt me for the rest of the day

[glitteringaglarond]

'Help now to repair the evil in which you have joined,' said Erkenbrand; 'and afterwards you shall take an oath never again to pass the Fords of Isen in arms, nor to march with the enemies of Men; and then you shall go free back to your land. For you have been deluded by Saruman. Many of you have got death as the reward of your trust in him; but had you conquered, little better would your wages have been.'

The men of Dunland were amazed; for Saruman had told them that the men of Rohan were cruel and burned their captives alive.

It’s truly so sad, because other than the orcs most of the people who our heroes have to fight are people who have been tricked, lied to, and taught to fear our heroes through those lies and trickery.

Evil really is at its most powerful, and most terrifying, when it can twist good folk into doing evil deeds.

#i would have liked it if the men of Dunland then explicitly joined them after learning the truth #but this is still great #and stuff like that is what headcanons are for #lotr newsletter #my op #newsletter march 4

[thesconesyard]

Dang. Just got decimated by hubs. We’ve been reading The Lord of the Rings to little each night and when we finish a book we watch the movie with her. We did this a couple years ago, but now she’s bigger and will remember more.

So, onto disc one of The Two Towers tonight, and here comes the Fords of Isen and the Rohan crew looking for Theodred and Eomer comes on screen, and well:

Hubs: There’s your boy.

Me (open mouthed in surprise): Uh, Faramir’s my boy. Unless you’re talking actors.

Hubs: Yup.

Me (open mouth, head shake, still in surprise at being called out): uhh…

#slice of life