Post by Móreadhiel on Jan 16, 2007 13:20:31 GMT -5
Elfhelm Elfhelm in the New Line film
Marshal of the garrison of Edoras under King Theoden; Marshal of the East-mark under King Eomer. Elfhelm was given command of the garrison of Edoras by King Theoden in 3012 and he served in this capacity until the War of the Ring in 3019. His rank was that of Marshal. Theoden himself was the overall commander of the Muster of Edoras and Elfhelm acted on his behalf.
Around 3014, Theoden fell under the influence of his traitorous counselor Grima Wormtongue, who issued orders in the King's name to members of his household including Elfhelm. As the threat of war from Saruman became apparent, Theoden's son Theodred assumed command of Rohan's forces.
In February of 3019, Theodred sent for aid from Edoras. Elfhelm led four companies to the Fords of Isen, but when he arrived on February 25, Theodred had been mortally wounded and Grimbold was defending his body from two great axemen. Elfhelm came to Grimbold's aid and slew one of the axemen while Grimbold killed the other. The rest of Saruman's forces were driven back by Elfhelm's companies and the First Battle of the Fords of Isen ended.
Grimbold was given command of the forces of the West-mark by Erkenbrand, and Elfhelm remained in charge of the forces from Edoras. The two commanders cooperated, but they were unsure of what their next move should be. Elfhelm advised that they should abandon the Fords of Isen and arrange their forces on the eastern side of the river to prevent Saruman's army from overrunning the Westfold and driving the defenders into Helm's Deep. Grimbold did not want to abandon the Fords for he feared that Saruman's army would thus be able to cross the river behind them. It was decided that Grimbold would defend the Fords while Elfhelm would align his forces on the eastern side of the river.
Elfhelm's assessment of Saruman's intentions proved correct. During the Second Battle of the Fords of Isen on March 2, Saruman unleashed a vast army 10,000 strong that came down both sides of the river. If Elfhelm had been in command, he would have withdrawn and joined the forces of Erkenbrand to strengthen the defense of Helm's Deep. But he remained in position until after midnight, when they were attacked by silent wolf-riders in the dark. Elfhelm's companies were cut off from Grimbold's men and Elfhelm was forced to retreat eastward. Saruman's forces overran the Westfold and proceeded to Helm's Deep.
Gandalf arrived on March 3 and gathered the scattered forces of the Rohirrim. Elfhelm's men buried the dead at the Fords of Isen. Elfhelm then led many of his Riders back to Edoras to guard against a possible attack by wolf-riders and plunderers. The rest of the forces followed Gandalf and Erkenbrand to Helm's Deep, where Saruman's forces were defeated at dawn on March 4.
When the Rohirrim rode to the aid of Gondor on March 10, Elfhelm became in effect a Marshal of the Mark and he commanded the first eored of the Muster of the East-mark. Elfhelm allowed a Rider called Dernhelm to join his eored. Dernhelm was actually the King's niece Eowyn in disguise, but if Elfhelm recognized her, he said nothing about it to the King. Elfhelm also purposefully ignored the presence of Merry Brandybuck in his company until he tripped over the Hobbit and mistook him for a tree root on the morning of March 13. Elfhelm explained to Merry that the Wild Men of the Druadan Forest had offered to lead the Rohirrim through the woods to Minas Tirith.
Elfhelm had been to Minas Tirith before and he was familiar with the approach to the City. On the night of March 14, scouts reported to Elfhelm that they had found the bodies of Hirgon and his companion – the errand-riders of Gondor who had come to Rohan with a request for aid. Elfhelm concluded that the errand-riders had never made it back to Minas Tirith with news that the Rohirrim were coming.
At dawn on March 15, the Rohirrim reached the Pelennor Fields. Elfhelm led his company on the right as the Rohirrim charged onto the battlefield. They rode among the siege-engines and attacked the Enemy forces, driving them into the fire-pits. King Theoden was slain during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, but victory was achieved after the arrival of Aragorn with reinforcements.
Elfhelm was left in command of the Rohirrim who remained in Gondor when Eomer rode to the Black Gate with the Host of the West. Elfhelm led 3,000 Riders to Anorien and routed the Enemy forces who had invaded that region and blocked the Great West Road.
On May 1, Elfhelm attended the coronation of Aragorn as King of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor. Eomer had become King of Rohan, and he appointed Elfhelm as the Marshal of the East-mark.
Sources:
The Two Towers: "The Road to Isengard," p. 157
The Return of the King: "The Ride of the Rohirrim," p. 104-105, 109-11; "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," p. 114; "The Last Debate," p. 158; "The Steward and the King," p. 244
Unfinished Tales: "The Battles of the Fords of Isen," p. 356, 358-69
The History of Middle-earth, vol. VII, The Treason of Isengard: "The Great River," p. 366 note 18 (on Elfhelm/Eldakar as an early name of Aragorn's father)
Marshal of the garrison of Edoras under King Theoden; Marshal of the East-mark under King Eomer. Elfhelm was given command of the garrison of Edoras by King Theoden in 3012 and he served in this capacity until the War of the Ring in 3019. His rank was that of Marshal. Theoden himself was the overall commander of the Muster of Edoras and Elfhelm acted on his behalf.
Around 3014, Theoden fell under the influence of his traitorous counselor Grima Wormtongue, who issued orders in the King's name to members of his household including Elfhelm. As the threat of war from Saruman became apparent, Theoden's son Theodred assumed command of Rohan's forces.
In February of 3019, Theodred sent for aid from Edoras. Elfhelm led four companies to the Fords of Isen, but when he arrived on February 25, Theodred had been mortally wounded and Grimbold was defending his body from two great axemen. Elfhelm came to Grimbold's aid and slew one of the axemen while Grimbold killed the other. The rest of Saruman's forces were driven back by Elfhelm's companies and the First Battle of the Fords of Isen ended.
Grimbold was given command of the forces of the West-mark by Erkenbrand, and Elfhelm remained in charge of the forces from Edoras. The two commanders cooperated, but they were unsure of what their next move should be. Elfhelm advised that they should abandon the Fords of Isen and arrange their forces on the eastern side of the river to prevent Saruman's army from overrunning the Westfold and driving the defenders into Helm's Deep. Grimbold did not want to abandon the Fords for he feared that Saruman's army would thus be able to cross the river behind them. It was decided that Grimbold would defend the Fords while Elfhelm would align his forces on the eastern side of the river.
Elfhelm's assessment of Saruman's intentions proved correct. During the Second Battle of the Fords of Isen on March 2, Saruman unleashed a vast army 10,000 strong that came down both sides of the river. If Elfhelm had been in command, he would have withdrawn and joined the forces of Erkenbrand to strengthen the defense of Helm's Deep. But he remained in position until after midnight, when they were attacked by silent wolf-riders in the dark. Elfhelm's companies were cut off from Grimbold's men and Elfhelm was forced to retreat eastward. Saruman's forces overran the Westfold and proceeded to Helm's Deep.
Gandalf arrived on March 3 and gathered the scattered forces of the Rohirrim. Elfhelm's men buried the dead at the Fords of Isen. Elfhelm then led many of his Riders back to Edoras to guard against a possible attack by wolf-riders and plunderers. The rest of the forces followed Gandalf and Erkenbrand to Helm's Deep, where Saruman's forces were defeated at dawn on March 4.
When the Rohirrim rode to the aid of Gondor on March 10, Elfhelm became in effect a Marshal of the Mark and he commanded the first eored of the Muster of the East-mark. Elfhelm allowed a Rider called Dernhelm to join his eored. Dernhelm was actually the King's niece Eowyn in disguise, but if Elfhelm recognized her, he said nothing about it to the King. Elfhelm also purposefully ignored the presence of Merry Brandybuck in his company until he tripped over the Hobbit and mistook him for a tree root on the morning of March 13. Elfhelm explained to Merry that the Wild Men of the Druadan Forest had offered to lead the Rohirrim through the woods to Minas Tirith.
Elfhelm had been to Minas Tirith before and he was familiar with the approach to the City. On the night of March 14, scouts reported to Elfhelm that they had found the bodies of Hirgon and his companion – the errand-riders of Gondor who had come to Rohan with a request for aid. Elfhelm concluded that the errand-riders had never made it back to Minas Tirith with news that the Rohirrim were coming.
At dawn on March 15, the Rohirrim reached the Pelennor Fields. Elfhelm led his company on the right as the Rohirrim charged onto the battlefield. They rode among the siege-engines and attacked the Enemy forces, driving them into the fire-pits. King Theoden was slain during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, but victory was achieved after the arrival of Aragorn with reinforcements.
Elfhelm was left in command of the Rohirrim who remained in Gondor when Eomer rode to the Black Gate with the Host of the West. Elfhelm led 3,000 Riders to Anorien and routed the Enemy forces who had invaded that region and blocked the Great West Road.
On May 1, Elfhelm attended the coronation of Aragorn as King of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor. Eomer had become King of Rohan, and he appointed Elfhelm as the Marshal of the East-mark.
Sources:
The Two Towers: "The Road to Isengard," p. 157
The Return of the King: "The Ride of the Rohirrim," p. 104-105, 109-11; "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," p. 114; "The Last Debate," p. 158; "The Steward and the King," p. 244
Unfinished Tales: "The Battles of the Fords of Isen," p. 356, 358-69
The History of Middle-earth, vol. VII, The Treason of Isengard: "The Great River," p. 366 note 18 (on Elfhelm/Eldakar as an early name of Aragorn's father)
