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Things of Middle-earth

From dark Dunharrow in the grim morning

Type: Songs & Stories

Other Names:
Lament for Théoden (LoTR index only)

Description:

A song written in memory of Théoden's final departure from Rohan, when he rode to the aid of Gondor:
On down the grey road they went beside the Snowbourn rushing on its stones; through the hamlets of Underharrow and Upbourn...; and so without horn or harp or music of men's voices the great ride into the East began with which the songs of Rohan were busy for many long lives of men thereafter.

From dark Dunharrow in the dim morning
with thane and captain rode Thengel's son:
to Edoras he came, the ancient halls
of the Mark-wardens mist-enshrouded;
golden timbers were in gloom mantled.
Farewell he bade to his free people,
hearth and high-seat, and the hallowed places,
where long he had feasted ere the light faded.
Forth rode the king, fear behind him,
fate before him. Fealty kept he;
oaths he had taken, all fulfilled them.
Forth rode Théoden. Five nights and days
east and onward rode the Eorlingas
through Folde and Fenmarch and the Firienwood,
six thousand spears to Sunlending,
Mundburg the mighty under Mindolluin,
Sea-kings' city in the South-kingdom
foe-beleaguered, fire-encircled.
Doom drove them on. Darkness took them,
Horse and horseman; hoofbeats afar
sank into silence: so the songs tell us.

It was indeed in deepening gloom that the king came to Edoras.... There he halted only a short while and strengthened his host by some three score of Riders that came late to the weapontake.

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 3, The Muster of Rohan

Contributors: ~Nessime 8Jul03

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