📖👀 Chapter 3 (📔Book V): The Muster of Rohan

[Rivendell_librarian]

Merry is still missin' Pippin and now Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli have gone with the mysterious Grey Company of Dunedain Rangers along the even more mysterious Paths of the Dead which no one wants to talk about. The thoughts of a "quiet room by a fire" in the Shire seem attractive to him now. In all the excitement he had nearly forgotten Frodo and Sam! They hear news of Gandalf and visitations by Nazgul. There are a large number of tents housing warriors as well as the old, women and children in the protected valley of the Firienfield at the head of the Harrowdale. A remarkable place peopled by strange statues of Pukel men and leads to the dreaded Paths of the Dead. Eomer counsels Theoden not to go to Minas Tirith. Theoden calls his nephew "son" but also adds a a bit of get thee behind me Wormtongue. This seems harsh as Eomer though a subject is also a close relative. On the other hand the Rohirrim are spurred on by seeing their king.

They meet Eowyn dressed in armour and learn about Aragorn's choice of a different path. Merry is again sat at table next to Theoden in the king's pavilion. We learn more about Baldor son of Brego's rash vow and never returning from the unmentionable place. Eowyn tells a mysterious tale of a great host recently going into the mountain as if to keep a tryst. From Theoden we learn a strange tale of Brego and Baldor going to the Door and seeing a very old man once kingly who told them "the way is shut ... the Dead keep it until the time comes", Better than arguing about the price of hay from the Westfold. There's a lot of Beowulf and a bit of Grail legend here.

If that wasn't drama enough a lone errand-rider from Gondor (Hirgon) arrives bearing a black-feathered arrow tipped with red: The Red Arrow known to Theoden. A week will be too late for Minas Tirith and the southern Haradrim are on the move. Supper over it's time for a short night and an early start. Merry is to sleep in his own small tent next to the pavilion: a position of privilege. Theoden is determined Merry and Eowyn will not go to the battle and Stybba will be too slow for the journey but Merry will ride on to Edoras which he hasn't seen before. Even so Eowyn dresses Merry ready for battle

Leaving for Edoras, Merry sees a young, lithe man staring at him intentlly with grey eyes: "it was the face of one who goes in search of death" and this is clearly true of Theoden who hints at his demise many times in this chapter. This is a grim, beautiful chapter and includes one of Tolkien's best poems. The Rohirrim leave Edoras and Merry is picked up by the strange young man with grey eyes who calls himself Dernhelm or secret helmet. I wonder what the secret is!. On the journey they hear of orc incursions in the north east but decide to carry on to the coming great battle under the deepening shadow.

I was slightly surprised that Tolkien didn't mention that the non combatants sheltering in the Firienfield were to be protected by a small force of local mountain men.

 

[Eljorahir]

Dernhelm or secret helmet

Other than helmet, helm can also be "a position of control."

I like to think this could be someone who is tired of being told what to do and secretly taking control of their own destiny. (I guess we'll have to wait for the remaining chapters to see if that pans out.)

 

[TrackerOrc]

I think Merry has much the better time of it here than poor Pippin in Minas Tirith.
Theoden is a much more approachable figure than Denethor and Merry's relationship with him is a really affectionate one the way it has been written.
Perhaps this is Tolkien contrasting the two figures to show Denethor in a much steelier light.