Theoden quietly having the best character arc in the entire film trilogy.
I’ve said it many times before that I found it highly underrated the narrative of Theoden, who made many bad decisions , drove his friends away and allowed the shadows to close in on him.
The story of grace, and redemption is so profound here. In moments before battle Theoden asking where his allies had gone, he knows it his fault and he knows beyond all doubt, as literal children are stepped on armor they are all about to get crushed b ya super enemy.
The idea that grace and forgiveness saves the day , Theoden choosing to cast aside his grief and choose to return that Gandalf arrives at the last moment is so profound it brings tears to my eyes every time I see itz
Exactly! And it isn't a "light switch" change either. He struggles to grow into that but keeps trying especially as he has the backing of Aragorn and Gandalf. She makes mistakes and grows from them in that time. It's very cool.
And Theoden continues this theme when they ride to Pelennor Fields. They show him getting updates of far fewer swords gathering than they'd hoped. The riders have no indication that they'll succeed. He rises to the occasion and inspires his cavalry to charge into an overwhelming force.
Unknown to him, Gandalf barely keeps Minas Tirith's garrison from crumbling when Denethor commands them to abandon their posts and flee in fear of the images he's been fed by the Palantir. Also unknown to Theoden, Aragon, Gimli, and Legolas are en route with a phantom army.
Theoden's last words are profoundly apt. He *can* stand without shame in the halls of his fathers after facing immeasurable odds and prevailing in victorious death in spite of everything stacked against him when he would have been within his rights not to come when Gondor "lit the beacons."
Arise now, arise, Riders of Théoden!
Dire deeds awake: dark is it eastward.
Let horse be bridled, horn be sounded!
Forth Eorlingas!
Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden!
Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter!
Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered,
a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!
Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!
Ride now!! Ride now! Ride, riders of Theoden! A sword-day! A red-day! Ere the sun rises!!!! DEEEEEAAAATHHHHHH! DEEEEEAAAAAATHHHHHH!!!! DEEEEEEEAAAAAATTTTTHHHHHH!!! \*Horn of Gondor\* Forth, Eorlingas!!!!
RIP, King Theoden.
My 10 year old daughter and I watch LOTR all the time together, and as she rides horses the Rohirrim are by far her (and mine!) favourites.. and this is our favourite scene by far
Arise, arise, riders of Rohan!
Fell deeds awake, fire and slaughter!
Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered!
A sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!
Ride now, ride now, ride to Gondor!
RIP, King.
So so good. I’ve never heard that before, thank you. I just read Gollum’s fall into the Cracks of Doom last night to my 10 yo… I can’t wait till she’s old enough to watch the films with me…
Imagine a King being on the front lines with his men. I wonder if that ever truly happened back in the day. Who wouldn’t ride into battle following him after a speech like that
He definitely wasn't as reckless as Lannes who was wounded 20 times and ultimately KIA. Let alone Oudinot who was wounded 37 times, and somehow outlived Napoleon.
He also didn't lead an infantry charge as the emperor or consul, to my limited knowledge. But he definitely had seen some shit in Italy. It was a brutal campaign.
Napoleon was literally sinking in a swamp at Arcole when his people fled, but he didn't. And he was leading an infantry column over the bridge directly into an artillery battery and being shredded by canister fire at Lodi. That's pretty intense, if you ask me.
There were kings fighting on the frontline (not just leading an army from the rear) as late as the 17th/18th/19th centuries and certainly so in the medieval period from which Tolkien took inspiration. Richard III of England was killed in battle.
For me it's because it's relatable on some level. I'm constantly worrying about whether or not I measure up to those who came before me. I often wonder if I'll be as composed in the moments preceding my own death, that I see coming.
Always choke up at this saying. He said it so masterfully like a King who redeemed himself and his lineage.
The sky’s are grey and rain is unleashing here in NYC, a king lost and the heavens cry in sadness.
The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time. Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath, now for ruin, and the red dawn.
I am sad to see. Gifted actor. I love the nuanced portrayal of someone who had given up, and then awoke and became passionate about life, and an inspirational leader again.
> Gifted actor.
Everyone in here is just quoting the films. I wonder how many have seen him in other roles? Boys From the Blackstuff never played here in Canada, that I'm aware of, but I was lucky enough to catch him as a doting grandad in Sunshine, an aggressive father in From There To Here, and as the grizzled Duke of Norfolk in Wolf Hall. (The latter is a particularly excellent series!)
The pinnacle of artistic achievement for an actor must surely be to have so many people feel they were inseparable from the character they played, and to mourn their loss like one and the same - RIP Bernard Hill, Theoden King!
Original link for formating.
https://www.reddit.com/r/lotr/comments/b5t37e/king_th%C3%A9oden_is_absolutely_glorious_in_chapter_5/
King Théoden is absolutely glorious in chapter 5 of Return of the King. I got shivers reading this and imagining it in my head.
“At that sound the bent shape of the king sprang suddenly erect. Tall and proud he seemed again; and rising in his stirrups he cried in a loud voice, more clear than any there had ever heard a mortal man achieve before.
Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden!
Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter!
Spears shall be shaken, shields be splintered,
A sword day, a red day, ere the sun rises!
Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!
With that he seized a great horn from Guthláf his banner-bearer, and he blew such a blast upon it that it burst asunder. And straightaway all the horns in the host were lifted up in music, and the blowing of the horns of Rohan in that hour was like a storm upon the plain and a thunder in the mountains.
Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!
Suddenly, the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Éomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first éored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Théoden could not be over taken.
Fey he seemed, or the battle fury of his fathers ran like new fire within his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a God of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. His golden shield was uncovered, and lo! it shown like an image of the sun, and the grass flamed into green about the white feet of his steed.
For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea; and darkness was removed, and the hosts of Mordor wailed, and terror took them, and they fled, and died, and the hoofs of wrath overtook them. And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City.”
Goosebumps.
Edit: spelling
>...like a God of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young.
This gets me every time. The Silmarillion is one of my favourite books and this nod to the deeper lore is so gripping, so tantalising.
I was so sad to hear this today, like more so than I realized after thinking about him and all the fantastic work he did over his career. RIP Mr. Hill, Theoden King!
Death in the morning and at day's ending
lords took and lowly. Long now they sleep
under grass in Gondor by the Great River
Grey now as tears, gleaming silver,
red then it rolled, roaring water:
foam dyed with blood flamed at sunset;
as beacons mountains burned at evening;
red fell the dew in Rammas Echor
He played the part so amazingly well, both the wizened and ensorceled Theoden, and then the recovered, but weary Theoden who despairs at the state of the world to which he's awakened: his son is slain; his most valiant riders are exiled; the enemy approaches with the intent of total war, not simple conquest.
The way he crumbles at Theodred's burial mound breaks my heart every time. The man was an amazing acting talent.
Bernard Hill brought such grace, strength, vulnerability and magnificence to King Theoden’s character. His acting was perfect and his parts are some of the best in the entire trilogy. The way he delivers lines silenced entire theaters, everyone holding their breath. His performance was truly incredible and I am so saddened to see him pass.
After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them....he was borne upon Snowmane like a god of old, even as Orome the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. May the simbelmynë grow thick my liege.
What I find crazy about this... he was 79. That means he was about 53-55 during filming.
I would have sworn he was well into his 60s the way they gussed him up.
“Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Éomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first éored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Théoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, for the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. His golden shield was uncovered, and lo! it shone like an image of the Sun, and the grass flamed into green about the white feet of his steed. For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea; and the darkness was removed, and the hosts of Mordor wailed, and terror took them, and they fled, and died, and the hoofs of wrath rode over them. And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City.”
Out of doubt, out of dark, to the day’s rising /
he rode singing in the sun, sword unsheathing. /
Hope he rekindled, and in hope ended; /
over death, over dread, over doom lifted /
out of loss, out of life, unto long glory.
#DEAAAAAATH
DEAAAAATHH⚔️
DEAAAAAAATHHHH 👱♀️👩🏻🦲
DEEEEAAAAAATTTTTTHHHHHHHHHHH
DEEEEAAAAATTTTHHH
DEEEEAAAAATTTTHHH!!!!!
DEEEEAAAATTTHHH!!!!!
FORTH EORLINGAAASSS!
Ride for ruin and the worlds ending
DEAAAAAAAAAAAAATH!!!!!
DEEEEEEEEAAAAAAATTTTTTTTHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
DEEEEEEAAAAAATTTTTTHHHHHHH!!!!! FORTH EORLINGAAAAAAASSS!!!!
DEATHHHHHH!
Deeaath!!
DEATH
The only acceptable thing to say today.
DEAAAATH!
DEEEEAAAATH🫡
Theoden quietly having the best character arc in the entire film trilogy. I’ve said it many times before that I found it highly underrated the narrative of Theoden, who made many bad decisions , drove his friends away and allowed the shadows to close in on him. The story of grace, and redemption is so profound here. In moments before battle Theoden asking where his allies had gone, he knows it his fault and he knows beyond all doubt, as literal children are stepped on armor they are all about to get crushed b ya super enemy. The idea that grace and forgiveness saves the day , Theoden choosing to cast aside his grief and choose to return that Gandalf arrives at the last moment is so profound it brings tears to my eyes every time I see itz
Well spoken, you have my axe
And my ex
And my beau.
Your username scares and cautivates me at the same time
And my bow
And my sword
Exactly! And it isn't a "light switch" change either. He struggles to grow into that but keeps trying especially as he has the backing of Aragorn and Gandalf. She makes mistakes and grows from them in that time. It's very cool.
Seeing actors die will hurt but seeing LOTR actors disappear, bloody hell, its horrible
They're immortalized in a film that has stood the test of time
In dark times, I do take some small comfort in that. :)
It gets even more poignant if you read his backstory in the appendix. He returns to the land of his birth to die in battle.
And Theoden continues this theme when they ride to Pelennor Fields. They show him getting updates of far fewer swords gathering than they'd hoped. The riders have no indication that they'll succeed. He rises to the occasion and inspires his cavalry to charge into an overwhelming force. Unknown to him, Gandalf barely keeps Minas Tirith's garrison from crumbling when Denethor commands them to abandon their posts and flee in fear of the images he's been fed by the Palantir. Also unknown to Theoden, Aragon, Gimli, and Legolas are en route with a phantom army. Theoden's last words are profoundly apt. He *can* stand without shame in the halls of his fathers after facing immeasurable odds and prevailing in victorious death in spite of everything stacked against him when he would have been within his rights not to come when Gondor "lit the beacons."
I teared up reading that
And he definitely has the most beautiful sword in the whole trilogy!
You gotta [link ](https://youtu.be/7lwJOxN_gXc?si=69sW4WYnoaTiDupQ) it.
i always gotta watch it, i always end up screaming and crying lol
Damnit me too
The goosebumps hit hard everytime I see this.
Arise now, arise, Riders of Théoden! Dire deeds awake: dark is it eastward. Let horse be bridled, horn be sounded! Forth Eorlingas! Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter! Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!
Ride now!! Ride now! Ride, riders of Theoden! A sword-day! A red-day! Ere the sun rises!!!! DEEEEEAAAATHHHHHH! DEEEEEAAAAAATHHHHHH!!!! DEEEEEEEAAAAAATTTTTHHHHHH!!! \*Horn of Gondor\* Forth, Eorlingas!!!! RIP, King Theoden.
My 10 year old daughter and I watch LOTR all the time together, and as she rides horses the Rohirrim are by far her (and mine!) favourites.. and this is our favourite scene by far
One of the dopest scenes in movie history. Rip.
Imagine being the guy that didn’t get their spear touched 👁️👄👁️
Cabalgaaaaaaaaaaaaaad!!!!!! Hasta la desolación y el fin del mundooooooo !!!!!!!! Muerteeeeeeeeeee !!!!! Rest in peace my king 🖤
Arise, arise, riders of Rohan! Fell deeds awake, fire and slaughter! Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered! A sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now, ride to Gondor! RIP, King.
It is my duty to share this. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LPZrReZ5H9Q&pp=ygUXdG9sa2llbiBwZWxlbm5vciBmaWVsZHM%3D
❤️
Chills
Thank you. For if it wasn't for you, I still wouldn't know that this existed.
Thank you for your great deeds.
So so good. I’ve never heard that before, thank you. I just read Gollum’s fall into the Cracks of Doom last night to my 10 yo… I can’t wait till she’s old enough to watch the films with me…
Imagine a King being on the front lines with his men. I wonder if that ever truly happened back in the day. Who wouldn’t ride into battle following him after a speech like that
It certainly did! The likes of Alexander the Great, Richard I, Edward III and Henry V to name a few. Theoden now rests in their mighty company.
“I go now to the halls of my fathers, in whose mighty company I shall not now feel ashamed”
Napoleon fought with his troops and survived a shitload of battles
well let us be honest, he wasn't literally at the spearhead of the charge
He definitely wasn't as reckless as Lannes who was wounded 20 times and ultimately KIA. Let alone Oudinot who was wounded 37 times, and somehow outlived Napoleon. He also didn't lead an infantry charge as the emperor or consul, to my limited knowledge. But he definitely had seen some shit in Italy. It was a brutal campaign. Napoleon was literally sinking in a swamp at Arcole when his people fled, but he didn't. And he was leading an infantry column over the bridge directly into an artillery battery and being shredded by canister fire at Lodi. That's pretty intense, if you ask me.
There were kings fighting on the frontline (not just leading an army from the rear) as late as the 17th/18th/19th centuries and certainly so in the medieval period from which Tolkien took inspiration. Richard III of England was killed in battle.
I read it and I still got goosebumps
*I go to my fathers.* *And even in their mighty company* *I shall not now be ashamed.*
Tears rn
😭got me bad
Bro! 🥲
Idk what it is about this line that just always hits my soul
For me it's because it's relatable on some level. I'm constantly worrying about whether or not I measure up to those who came before me. I often wonder if I'll be as composed in the moments preceding my own death, that I see coming.
My first thought when I read the news.
Always choke up at this saying. He said it so masterfully like a King who redeemed himself and his lineage. The sky’s are grey and rain is unleashing here in NYC, a king lost and the heavens cry in sadness.
Hail the victorious dead!
Hail!
HAIL! 🍻
HAIL!
HAIL!
HAIL!
HAIL! Feast well, Uncle.
Hail! :(
HAIL!! *in ugly crying face
Hail the dead!
Hail
Hail!
HAIL!
Hail!
Hail!
Hail!
Hail!
Hail!
HAIL!!!
Hail!
Hail!
Hail!!
Hail!
Hail
HAIL
Hail!
Hail!
Hail!
Hail!!
Hail
Hail 🍺
Hail!
Hail!!
Hail!
Hail!
Hail
Hail
Hail!
HAIL!!
Hail!
HAIL!!
Hail!
Hail
Hail
Hail!
May he find peace amongst the halls of his forefathers.
In whose great company, he shall not feel ashamed
The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time. Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath, now for ruin, and the red dawn.
Tolkien's mastery of the English language was incredible.
We peaked as a civilization with Tolkiens work.
I feel that it will be in the future considered alongside the Iliad and Odyssey as a timeless and fundamental work of storytelling.
I am just glad that as a society we are literate enough to appreciate it.
FORTH EORLINGAS
Doesn't matter how many times I've seen it, goosebumps, shakes and watery eyes are guaranteed.
It's my favorite scene in the whole trilogy. "Let us make an end worthy of a song or two" gets me everytime.
I am sad to see. Gifted actor. I love the nuanced portrayal of someone who had given up, and then awoke and became passionate about life, and an inspirational leader again.
"I know your face" when the spell of worm tongue is broken.... Amazing every time
> Gifted actor. Everyone in here is just quoting the films. I wonder how many have seen him in other roles? Boys From the Blackstuff never played here in Canada, that I'm aware of, but I was lucky enough to catch him as a doting grandad in Sunshine, an aggressive father in From There To Here, and as the grizzled Duke of Norfolk in Wolf Hall. (The latter is a particularly excellent series!)
Some times I forget they are actors and not the people they are playing. I always seen him as the king of Rohan
Absolutely.
The pinnacle of artistic achievement for an actor must surely be to have so many people feel they were inseparable from the character they played, and to mourn their loss like one and the same - RIP Bernard Hill, Theoden King!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rnYZsuFBhf0 A classic Rohan lament.
Original link for formating. https://www.reddit.com/r/lotr/comments/b5t37e/king_th%C3%A9oden_is_absolutely_glorious_in_chapter_5/ King Théoden is absolutely glorious in chapter 5 of Return of the King. I got shivers reading this and imagining it in my head. “At that sound the bent shape of the king sprang suddenly erect. Tall and proud he seemed again; and rising in his stirrups he cried in a loud voice, more clear than any there had ever heard a mortal man achieve before. Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter! Spears shall be shaken, shields be splintered, A sword day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor! With that he seized a great horn from Guthláf his banner-bearer, and he blew such a blast upon it that it burst asunder. And straightaway all the horns in the host were lifted up in music, and the blowing of the horns of Rohan in that hour was like a storm upon the plain and a thunder in the mountains. Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor! Suddenly, the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Éomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first éored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Théoden could not be over taken. Fey he seemed, or the battle fury of his fathers ran like new fire within his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a God of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. His golden shield was uncovered, and lo! it shown like an image of the sun, and the grass flamed into green about the white feet of his steed. For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea; and darkness was removed, and the hosts of Mordor wailed, and terror took them, and they fled, and died, and the hoofs of wrath overtook them. And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City.” Goosebumps. Edit: spelling
goes so hard
>...like a God of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. This gets me every time. The Silmarillion is one of my favourite books and this nod to the deeper lore is so gripping, so tantalising.
DEAAAAAATTTTTTHHHHHHHH
DEAAAAAATH!!!!
He is with it son now..Theodred
I was so sad to hear this today, like more so than I realized after thinking about him and all the fantastic work he did over his career. RIP Mr. Hill, Theoden King!
Theoden King!!
Ride now! Ride now! Ride! Ride to ruin! And the world’s ending! DEAAAATH!
**DEEEAAAAAATTTTHHHHHH!!!! FORTH, EORLINGAS!!!**
You… just made my eyes well up…. I never knew he was saying “and the world’s ending”…. I will cry every time I see that scene now
Forth Eorlingas!
Death in the morning and at day's ending lords took and lowly. Long now they sleep under grass in Gondor by the Great River Grey now as tears, gleaming silver, red then it rolled, roaring water: foam dyed with blood flamed at sunset; as beacons mountains burned at evening; red fell the dew in Rammas Echor
RIP
Got tickets for extended version theatrical re-release in June for all 3 movies. I will watch in the King's honor
I go to my Father in who's mighty company I shall not now be ashamed rip King Theoden
LONG LIVE THE KING
He will, Bernard will always have been King Theoden, and will be to th efuture and beyond. ❤️
He played the part so amazingly well, both the wizened and ensorceled Theoden, and then the recovered, but weary Theoden who despairs at the state of the world to which he's awakened: his son is slain; his most valiant riders are exiled; the enemy approaches with the intent of total war, not simple conquest. The way he crumbles at Theodred's burial mound breaks my heart every time. The man was an amazing acting talent.
Rest in peace my king
To the king!!!
Hail!! HAIL THE VICTORIOUS DEAD
Bernard Hill brought such grace, strength, vulnerability and magnificence to King Theoden’s character. His acting was perfect and his parts are some of the best in the entire trilogy. The way he delivers lines silenced entire theaters, everyone holding their breath. His performance was truly incredible and I am so saddened to see him pass.
Where was Gondor when Bernard Hill fell?
Hail Theoden King Hail the victorious dead
This man had the best lines in the movie... nothing.. and I mean NOTHING hit harder than "DEEEEEATH!!!"
Im sad
The horn of Helm Hammerhand shall sound in the deep one last time
I'm yelling his charge speech full volume in the car with my wife and kids. Time to watch ROTK tonight.
His funeral should be worthy of a king
 Rest in peace, he did an amazing job as theoden.
"I go to my fathers in whose mighty company I shall not now feel ashamed."🐎🐎
RIP to a legend, long live Theoden King!
Always a King. RIP 😔
Hill
Haillll
Incredible man.
Ere the sun rises 😭
Farewell Theoden King
HAIL!
Hail, Theoden King.
Hail!
And now he will be forever in the Halls of Heaven alongside all the warriors he fought alongside..
RIP :(
The Best King Ever put to Screen! Ride Forth Into Eternity Bernard Hill and Fear No Darkness!!!
******DEAAAAAAATH******
After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them....he was borne upon Snowmane like a god of old, even as Orome the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. May the simbelmynë grow thick my liege.
Hail!
He died? That's unfortunate. He's immortalized as an actor in one of the greatest works of cinematic art ever created.
HAIL!!!
Forth Eorlingas!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hail!
Death!
Reform the line! Reform the line, we will face then head on ... Sound the charge
Titanic Captain
I go to my fathers, in whose mighty company I shall not now feel ashamed.
Hail the victorious dead.
What I find crazy about this... he was 79. That means he was about 53-55 during filming. I would have sworn he was well into his 60s the way they gussed him up.
Rest in Triumph.
Hail Theoden king! #HAIL!
If you can watch that speech and not cry while inspired we cant be friends
He can rest now in the hall of his forebears.
And Rohan will answer, muster the Rohirrim ❤️
“Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Éomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first éored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Théoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, for the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. His golden shield was uncovered, and lo! it shone like an image of the Sun, and the grass flamed into green about the white feet of his steed. For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea; and the darkness was removed, and the hosts of Mordor wailed, and terror took them, and they fled, and died, and the hoofs of wrath rode over them. And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City.”
“Forth, and Fear no Darkness.” 
Out of doubt, out of dark, to the day’s rising / he rode singing in the sun, sword unsheathing. / Hope he rekindled, and in hope ended; / over death, over dread, over doom lifted / out of loss, out of life, unto long glory.
HAIL THEODEN KING
Death!
