‘Of the Kings of the Mark between Eorl and The´oden most is
said of Helm Hammerhand. He was a grim man of great
strength. There was at that time a man named Freca, who
claimed descent from King Fre´awine, though he had, men said,
much Dunlendish blood, and was dark-haired. He grew rich and
powerful, having wide lands on either side of the Adorn.1 Near
its source he made himself a stronghold and paid little heed to
the king. Helm mistrusted him, but called him to his councils;
and he came when it pleased him.
‘To one of these councils Freca rode with many men, and he
asked the hand of Helm’s daughter for his son Wulf. But Helm
said: ‘‘You have grown big since you were last here; but it is
mostly fat, I guess’’; and men laughed at that, for Freca was wide
in the belt.
‘Then Freca fell in a rage and reviled the king, and said this
at the last: ‘‘Old kings that refuse a proffered staff may fall on
their knees.’’ Helm answered: ‘‘Come! The marriage of your son
is a trifle. Let Helm and Freca deal with it later. Meanwhile the
king and his council have matters of moment to consider.’’
‘When the council was over, Helm stood up and laid his great
hand on Freca’s shoulder, saying: ‘‘The king does not permit
brawls in his house, but men are freer outside’’; and he forced
Freca to walk before him out from Edoras into the field. To
Freca’s men that came up he said: ‘‘Be off ! We need no hearers.
We are going to speak of a private matter alone. Go and talk to
my men!’’ And they looked and saw that the king’s men and his
friends far outnumbered them, and they drew back.
‘ ‘‘Now, Dunlending,’’ said the king, ‘‘you have only Helm to
deal with, alone and unarmed. But you have said much already,
and it is my turn to speak. Freca, your folly has grown with your
belly. You talk of a staff ! If Helm dislikes a crooked staff that
is thrust on him, he breaks it. So!’’ With that he smote Freca
such a blow with his fist that he fell back stunned, and died soon
after.
‘Helm then proclaimed Freca’s son and near kin the king’s
enemies; and they fled, for at once Helm sent many men riding
to the west marches.’
Four years later (2758) great troubles came to Rohan, and no
help could be sent from Gondor, for three fleets of the Corsairs
attacked it and there was war on all its coasts. At the same time
Rohan was again invaded from the East, and the Dunlendings
1 It flows into Isen from the west of Ered Nimrais.
seeing their chance came over the Isen and down from Isengard.
It was soon known that Wulf was their leader. They were in
great force, for they were joined by enemies of Gondor that
landed in the mouths of Lefnui and Isen.
The Rohirrim were defeated and their land was overrun; and
those who were not slain or enslaved fled to the dales of the
mountains. Helm was driven back with great loss from the Crossings
of Isen and took refuge in the Hornburg and the ravine
behind (which was after known as Helm’s Deep). There he was
besieged. Wulf took Edoras and sat in Meduseld and called
himself king. There Haleth Helm’s son fell, last of all, defending
the doors.
‘Soon afterwards the Long Winter began, and Rohan lay
under snow for nearly five months (November to March, 2758–
9). Both the Rohirrim and their foes suffered grievously in the
cold, and in the dearth that lasted longer. In Helm’s Deep there
was a great hunger after Yule; and being in despair, against the
king’s counsel, Ha´ma his younger son led men out on a sortie
and foray, but they were lost in the snow. Helm grew fierce and
gaunt for famine and grief; and the dread of him alone was worth
many men in the defence of the Burg. He would go out by
himself, clad in white, and stalk like a snow-troll into the camps
of his enemies, and slay many men with his hands. It was believed
that if he bore no weapon no weapon would bite on him. The
Dunlendings said that if he could find no food he ate men. That
tale lasted long in Dunland. Helm had a great horn, and soon it
was marked that before he sallied forth he would blow a blast
upon it that echoed in the Deep; and then so great a fear fell on
his enemies that instead of gathering to take him or kill him they
fled away down the Coomb.
‘One night men heard the horn blowing, but Helm did not
return. In the morning there came a sun-gleam, the first for long
days, and they saw a white figure standing still on the Dike,
alone, for none of the Dunlendings dared come near. There
stood Helm, dead as a stone, but his knees were unbent. Yet
men said that the horn was still heard at times in the Deep and
the wraith of Helm would walk among the foes of Rohan and
kill men with fear.
‘Soon after the winter broke. Then Fre´ala´f, son of Hild, Helm’s
sister, came down out of Dunharrow, to which many had fled;
and with a small company of desperate men he surprised Wulf
in Meduseld and slew him, and regained Edoras. There were
great floods after the snows, and the vale of Entwash became a
vast fen. The Eastern invaders perished or withdrew; and there
came help at last from Gondor, by the roads both east and
west of the mountains. Before the year (2759) was ended the
Dunlendings were driven out, even from Isengard; and then
Fre´ala´f became king.
‘Helm was brought from the Hornburg and laid in the ninth
mound. Ever after the white simbelmyne¨ grew there most thickly,
so that the mound seemed to be snow-clad. When Fre´ala´f died
a new line of mounds was begun.’
