Helm’s Deep

by Pulkit

Helm’s Deep was a narrow ravine in the White Mountains, at the foot of the tall peaks of Thrihyrne. High cliffs rose on the northern and the southern sides, blocking sunlight. The ravine went deeper and narrower and ended in the entrance to the Glittering Caves, from where issued the Deeping-stream. Outside, the narrow gorge opened to a wide green coomb, called the Deeping Coomb.

Upon a rock that jutted from the northern cliff, the Hornrock, stood a great fortress that was called the Hornburg since horns blown echoed in the Deep causing fear and dismay to the enemies. The Hornburg had a wide outer court surrounded by walls, and a great tower in the middle. The Helm’s Gate was reached by a causeway running over the Deeping-stream. It was said that no enemy could ever defeat the Hornburg if it was defended.

From the Hornburg the great Deeping Wall ran, spanning the width of the Deep, and ending in the southern cliff. It barred the entrance to the ravine, and from beneath it passed the Deeping-stream through a wide culvert. In front of the Deeping Wall across the Deeping Coomb stretched a trench and a rampart called the Helm’s Dike. The Deeping Wall was twenty feet high, and wide enough for four men to walk abreast. The parapet was tall, with clefts for archers. A stair from the battlement led to a door to the Hornburg, and another led down to the Deep behind.

The Deeping Wall and the Hornburg were built by the Men of Gondor during the reign of the Ship-kings. Along with Isengard in the North, Helm’s Deep guarded the Gap of Rohan from the western people. In 2510, the stronghold was awarded to Eorl as a part of the land of Rohan. In 2758, Rohan was invaded by the Men of Dunland, and King Helm Hammerhand took refuge in Helm’s Deep. In the following Long Winter, Helm’s Deep was besieged, and the cold weather dwindled the population. King Helm, after whom Helm’s Deep took its name, lost his son Háma, and was himself frozen to death in search for food.

During the War of the Ring, Erkenbrand, master of the Westfold dwelled in the Hornburg. When Isengard attacked Rohan in the First Battle of the Fords of Isen, work on repair and strengthening of the stronghold began. On March 3, King Théoden arrived in Helm’s Deep to confront Saruman’s army of Uruks and Men of Dunland that were marching to wage war. The Battle of Helm’s Deep took place during the night, and the Uruks and the wildmen besieged the stronghold. Orcs rammed tree trunks against the Helm’s Gate, while the Deeping Wall was scaled with ladders and ropes. Amidst the siege, a craft of Saruman was used to blow a hole in the Deeping Wall, and the Orcs gained entry into Helm’s Deep. The battle lasted till dawn.

When the sun rose, though the gate of the Hornburg was broken, Gandalf arrived with Erkenbrand and his host. Huorns came from the Fangorn forest and blocked the Deeping Coomb, while the remaining Rohirrim charged from the Hornburg thus trapping the enemy and forcing them to the Huorn forest, where the last of them were destroyed.

After the downfall of Sauron’s realm, Gimli returned with Legolas to visit the Glittering Caves, where he established a new Dwarven kingdom.

References

J.R.R. Tolkien – Lord of the Rings