The Muster of Rohan

The Muster of Rohan, also called the Weapontake, was the great assembly of the Rohirrim ordered by King Théoden after his return from the victory at Helm's Deep. The king commanded all men able to bear arms to gather at Edoras on the third day after the full moon, but the coming of the winged Nazgûl and the deepening shadow from Mordor forced a change of plan. Gandalf, who had ridden ahead with Shadowfax, sent word that the Riders should muster not in the open fields but in the hidden valley of Harrowdale under the White Mountains, and that no lights or fires should be kindled beyond bare need. The host therefore assembled at Dunharrow, the ancient refuge at the feet of the Starkhorn, where the Firienfeld lay under the shadow of the Dwimorberg.

The Gathering at Dunharrow

Théoden rode into Harrowdale at dusk, weary from the long journey through the hills, and found the valley already filled with ordered rows of tents and booths, lines of picketed horses, and piled spears bristling like thickets. Watchmen heavily cloaked paced to and fro in the gloom, for no lanterns glowed and no fires were lit. The king's party climbed the winding road to the Hold, passing the ancient Púkel-men, the carved stone figures that sat at the turnings of the way, their dark eyeholes staring sadly at the riders. At the top, on the Firienfeld, the Lady Éowyn met them, clad in a helm and girt with a sword, and reported that Aragorn had already passed through and taken the Paths of the Dead. The king's heart was heavy, but he would not lean on a staff again; he declared that if the war was lost, hiding in the hills would do no good, and if it was won, even death in battle would be no grief.

The Red Arrow and the Decision to Ride

That night, as Théoden sat at supper with Éomer, Éowyn, and Dúnhere, an errand-rider of Gondor named Hirgon arrived, bearing the Red Arrow—a black-feathered arrow with a steel barb and a red-painted point, the ancient token of war that had not been seen in the Mark for many years. Hirgon delivered Denethor's summons: Gondor was in great need, and the Lord of Minas Tirith asked for all the strength and speed of the Rohirrim, lest the City fall. Théoden received the arrow with a trembling hand, knowing that the hour he had long expected had come at last. He declared that he would come, though he could not leave his strongholds unguarded; six thousand spears at the least would ride behind him, and the King of the Mark himself would go down to Gondor, even if he should not ride back. Hirgon warned that a week might find only ruined walls, but Théoden answered that at the least they would disturb the Orcs and Swarthy Men from their feasting in the White Tower.

The March into the Shadow

The next morning dawned without sun, for the great cloud from Mordor had spread over all the land, and the very air seemed brown and heavy. The king ordered the muster to begin at once, and the Riders marshalled in companies on the flats beside the noisy Snowbourn. Well nigh five and fifty hundreds of Riders fully armed, and many hundreds of other men with spare horses lightly burdened, stood ready. Théoden sat upon Snowmane, proud and tall, his white hair flowing beneath his high helm, and many marvelled to see him unbent and unafraid. He gave farewell to Éowyn, who was to govern the folk in his stead, and then raised his hand. Silently the host began to move, passing down the grey road beside the river, through the hamlets of Underharrow and Upbourn, where sad faces of women looked out from dark doors. Without horn or harp or music of men's voices, the great ride into the East began—a ride that the songs of Rohan would busy for many long lives of men thereafter.

The Guidance of the Wild Men

As the host advanced through the deepening gloom, they were met by Ghân-buri-Ghân, the chieftain of the Wild Men of Drúadan Forest, who offered to guide them by a forgotten road through the Stonewain Valley, avoiding the enemy encamped on the main way. The Wild Men, remnants of an older time, knew all the paths and had long ears and long eyes. Ghân-buri-Ghân warned that the Stone-city was shut and that fires burned there, and that many foes sat on the horse-road. Théoden accepted the offer, and the Wild Men led the Riders through the hidden valley, past the grey thickets of Amon Dîn, until they emerged at last behind the enemy lines. There, on the eve of the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, the Rohirrim prepared to strike, and the horns of Rohan would soon ring out in the dawn.