Gamling

A Rohirrim that was often called by his byname; the Old. He was the captain that commanded the Rohirrim army in the absence of Erkenberg. He helped King Thoden of Rohan survive at helm deep and stood by him as counsel and royal attendant in times of distress.

Gamling could understand Dunland's language and might have lived in Westfold for some time in his youth. Erkenbrand stationed him at Helm's Dike to guard it with about 1000 men. On the 3rd of March 3019, the support from Edoras arrived with King Theoden, and Gamling recalled his forces from Helm's Dike into the fort of Hornburg as Isengard's forces arrived. Gimli warned the forces about the Orcs that hid in a trough below the walls, and Gamling was the one that heard and charged with his army of Westfold to force the Orc's retreat. Gamling requested Gimli's support in using stones and rocks to block faults of the Deeping wall. Saruman's forces broke through the wall with explosives (which may be devised from Saruman's magical powers). Gamling and Gimli then pulled back to the Deep. Together they both defended the path to the doorway of the Glittering Caves till help came from Theodren's nephew and heir, Eomer, accompanied by Gandalf the Grey.

Peter Jackson portrayed the character with New Zealand's Bruce Hopkins in 2002 release. Gamling exhibited the merger of the different traits of Hama, Elfheim, and Guthlaf. The character first appeared as a close companion of Hama, the captain of Rohan King's guards. He attempted to get in between the clash of Aragorn's company with Grima Wormtongue's underlings before Hama prevented him, Hama's did so because of his supposed insight into Gandalf's aim. Gamling and Hama on the lookout for the Edoras refugees' column. Hama sensed something was not right before a Warg riding Orcs ambushed them and killed Hama. Gamling was furious and filled with the sorrow of his companions' death, launched an attack on the orc, and they fought but Gamling was losing the fight until Legolas fired from his bow, killing the Orc and it's Warg. Gamling also fought the chief Ward Rider and survived.

He served as the king's guard, and related orders to not take the dead. He seemed to also develop a relationship with King Theoden as seen when the King asked him the question, "Who am I?" King Theoden of Lohan was worried as his army prepared for war. He asked his main bodyguard and royal attendant, Gamling, who he was, and he gave the king counsel. Gamling assured that The King that his subjects would stand by his side by side regardless of his fate in the war, and the king felt some ease. Gambling was not heavily involved in the fighting at Deeping Wall and Glittering Caves, he had instead stayed by the side of King Theoden, announcing his orders to the fighting Rohirrim.

He later fought at the gate by King Theoden's side and rescued the King after he got injured with a pike. In the final attempt to repel the doorway to the cave, Gamling helped his disheartened king with his pike wounds. He informed Aragorn about the mountain pass entrance and Aragorn told him to ensure the safety of the women and all children by barricading the entrance from inside. Aragorn and the King of Rohan then rode to face the Uruk hai as their last sacrifice for the Kingdom. Gamling followed them with the King's banner. Gandalf saved Gamling when he joined the War with Eomer and the reinforcements, causing the Uruk hai to run away. Gambling was also shown at Edoras's feast and sat beside Aragorn drinking to their victory.

Gamling and the rest of Rohirrim admired Aragorn's courage and strength in war. Theoden, while thinking aloud, mentioned to Eowyn hearing that he wasn't the one that led the Rohirrim to victory at Helm's deep. When Gondor requested support from King Theoden, he sent Gamling with a message to Dunharrow for their men. Gamling ate with Eomer while they all made fun of Meriadoc Brandybuck desiring to get himself involved at Pelennor Fields.

He complained as Aragorn and his companions left to seek aid from the restless army of UnDead-men of the Mountain for fear of Rohirrim's fate in battle. Theoden reprimanded him, and he assured him of his confidence in their success even without aid. Gamling fought in the war of Pelennor Fields. He served as a commander in the army of Rohan. He led a part of his army to stand behind the King's banner, he then blew into the King's horn to charge the armies into war. Gamling later fought an Oliphaunt and brought it down with the help of Eomer, who plunged a spear into its beastly body. Gamling then fired an arrow at its eyes to Eomer and Theoden's command.

Gamling appeared in the radio broadcast of the LOTR in The early 1980s. He was voiced by the artist, Patrick Barrin.

In LOTRO, [1] Gamling's role was based on the book. He received Theoden and his army in Helm's Deep. Gamling also fought in Helm's Deep, Helm's Dike, and on Hornburg's wall. He retreated to the Glittering Caves with Gimli and Eomer after the wall was destroyed. Gamling later rode with King Theoden of Rohan to Minas Tirith. He fought and survived in the Battle of Pelennor Fields. Gamling also appears in LEGO's LOTR Video Game. [2] He is a playable character that can be bought with Grishnakh at Fangorn Forest. There was a slight variance in his presentation. Gamling had a while hair even though his other representations established that he had blond hair.

The name appears to have been derived from the Old English word “gamol” which means aged or old and has the original form, Gameling, which has been modernized to Gamling. Gamling also has a particular meaning of “the Old'' for speakers of the Icelandic, Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish.

1. ^The Lord of the Rings Online™.
2. ^LEGO® The Lord of the Rings™.