Théoden személy
Idézetek
– Nincs már messze a vég – mondta a király. – De én nem vagyok hajlandó úgy végezni, mint a csapdába esett borz. Hósörény, Hasufel és a testőrség többi lova ott van a belső udvarban. Ha hajnalodik, megfúvatom Helm kürtjét, és kirontok innét. Velem tartasz, Arathorn fia Aragorn?? Tán sikerül utat vágnunk, vagy úgy esnünk el, hogy az hősénekre méltó – ha ugyan marad közülünk, aki megénekli.
– Veled tartok – mondta Aragorn.
'Your fingers would remember their old strength better, if they grasped a sword-hilt,' said Gandalf.
Théoden rose and put his hand to his side; but no sword hung at his belt. 'Where has Gríma stowed it?' he muttered under his breath.
'Take this, dear lord!' said a clear voice. 'It was ever at your service.' Two men had come softly up the stair and stood now a few steps from the top. Éomer was there. No helm was on his head, no mail was on his breast, but in his hand he held a drawn sword; and as he knelt he offered the hilt to his master.
'How comes this?' said Théoden sternly. He turned towards Éomer and the men looked in wonder at him, standing now proud and erect. Where was the old man whom they had left crouching in his chair or leaning on his stick?
'It is my doing, lord,' said Háma, trembling. I understood that Éomer was to be set free. Such joy was in my heart that maybe I have erred. Yet, since he was free again, and he a Marshal of the Mark,! brought him his sword as he bade me.'
'To lay at your feet, my lord,' said Éomer.
For a moment of silence Théoden stood looking down at Éomer as he knelt
still before him. Neither moved.
'Will you not take the sword?' said Gandalf.
Slowly Théoden stretched forth his hand. As his fingers took the hilt, it seemed to the watchers that firmness and strength returned to his thin arm. Suddenly he lifted the blade and swung it shimmering and whistling in the air. Then he gave a great cry. His voice rang clear as he chanted in the tongue of Rohan a call to arms.
Arise now, arise, Riders of Théoden!
Dire deeds awake, dark is it eastward.
Let horse be bridled, horn be sounded!
Forth Eorlingas!
Book Three, Chapter 6 - The king of the Golden Hall