The Rohirrim, led by Théoden and Éomer (with lots of help from Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli), man the Deeping Wall and the Hornburg as Saruman's assault on Helm's Deep begins. A quick flash of lightning in the darkness reveals overwhelming odds, but...
Théoden offers Wormtongue one last chance to redeem himself, but the counsellor is disinclined to acquiesce to his lord's request. Gandalf and the king catch up on the history of Saruman's treachery and the damage already done in Rohan before...
Éomer, Third Marshal of the Riddermark, demands proper identification from the Three Hunters, and Aragorn gives it to him by name-dropping a lineage going back three thousand years and unsheathing a sword even older than that. Also, word-nerdery on...