 | |
| Scene from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers | |
| The Riders of Rohan | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Scene | 9 (theatrical edition) 11 (extended edition) |
| Events | Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli encounter the Riders of Rohan led by Éomer |
| Characters | Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Éomer |
| Previous | Night Camp at Fangorn |
| Next | The Fate of Merry and Pippin |
The Riders of Rohan is the ninth scene of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and the eleventh scene of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (extended edition).
Synopsis
Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli are running over the plains of Rohan searching for Merry and Pippin. Hearing horses approaching, and fearing assault by Orcs, they hide behind a group of stones. However, seeing that it is an éored(a group of riders of Rohan), Aragorn hails them, saying:"Riders of Rohan! What news from the Mark?" Headed by Éomer, the éored turns skillfully about and quickly surrounds the three hunters in a ring of spears. Éomer asks: "What business does an Elf, a Man and a Dwarf have in the Riddermark? Speak quickly!"
Gimli says, "Tell me your name, horse-master, and I shall give you mine". Éomer gets off his horse and insults Gimli, saying, "I would cut off your head, Dwarf...if it stood but a little higher from the ground." Legolas, angered at this threat to his friend, swiftly nocks an arrow and aims it at Éomer, saying, "You would die before your stroke fell." The horsemen point their spears at Legolas and things almost get out of hand, but Aragorn diffuses the situation by telling Éomer they are tracking two of their friends, hobbits, who were taken captive by the Uruk-hai. Éomer softens towards them then, telling them that the Rohirrim slaughtered the Uruk-hai in the night and left none alive. They also learn from him that Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and thus has control over the land. His company have been banished for being loyal to the king.
He gives them two riderless horses, Hasufel and Arod, in recompense for the supposed loss of Merry and Pippin and bids them farewell, saying "Do not trust to hope. It has forsaken these lands".