LOTR DP: The Ride of the Rohirrim and The Battle of the Pelennor Fields

[Earniel]

I arrive overly later at the party, but I've promised myself I'd finish the chapter discussion, years after date if I must.

Originally Posted by Valandil

Why did Elfhelm allow Eowyn and Merry to travel with his company? Did he only know about Merry, and think that Eowyn was indeed ‘Dernhelm’ – perhaps a lone rider from a distant part of the land? Or did he know both about Merry and about Eowyn?

I guess we'll never quite pin down why Elfhelm let Eowyn join. The text said Merry thought there seemed to be some agreement between the two, so I can't quite imagine Elfhelm not recognizing Eowyn for who she was.

She must have said something to convince him to let her come. I doubt Eowyn would have pulled rank on him, all he then would have to do is inform Theoden or Eomer of her presence. The fact that he didn't seem to imply indeed some agreement on his part. Would he have let her come strictly on the basis of her martial skills? Perhaps out of pity, because her death-wish must have been obvious to anyone if Merry could pick it up too. Plenty of room for speculation.

Was Merry the ONLY one who didn’t realize that Dernhelm was really Eowyn?

I doubt the entire Eored knew. Perhaps of Merry, since he would be hard to miss. But Eowyn's presence may have been known only to a few. She kept to herself and she could have passed easily for a young warrior.

What do you think about the situation of Ghan-buri-Ghan’s people? They were apparently hunted down by men of Rohan and/or Gondor – but they were willing to ally with them against the forces of Mordor. Sort of a “My enemy’s enemy is my ally” pragmatism. But why would they have more hatred for a new foe than the ones who had pursued them for so long?

I suppose the opportunity of the moment also had a role to play. Here was Theoden, 'father of the horselords', right in Druadan Forest, approachable and reachable. Ghan-buri-Ghan may never have had a better opportunity to make his wishes and the plight of his people known to the 'highest authority' of Rohan.

It can also be possible that the dark years Ghan-buri-Ghan and his people remembered were far worse than the recent, possibly sporadic hunting by the rohirrim. The rohirrim would then be the lesser of two evils.

The rohirrim were also in need of help, Ghan-buri-Ghan would have had less trouble to reason with them than with the orcs and forces of Mordor that had come as an invading force.

How did those people of the Druadin Forest both survive and stay separate all those many years, so close to Gondor’s chief city?

Druadan Forest seems quite large on its own, so avoiding detection would be relatively easy, especially when it's about a people that are so attuned to forest life. And it still lies at a considerable distance from Minas Tirith, I'd be tempted to say Osgiliath even would have been closer than Minas Tirith. The people of the city obviously didn't have to go as far as Druadan Forest. The only thing of interest there would be the trade-road and the beacons, which the woses would naturally avoid. Although I suppose rumours and legends about the inhabiting wood sprites may have kept adventurers away from it as well.

Now that it has just ended, how is Gandalf’s confrontation with the Lord of the Nazgul at the Gate of Minas Tirith like/unlike his earlier confrontation with the Balrog of Moria?

In the confrontation with the Balrog, neither could back down. The Balrog couldn't back down because he was on his own turf and up to this point he had the advantage. Gandalf couldn't back down and risk the capture of the Fellowship.

In the confrontation at the gate of Minas Tirith, the idea that a confrontation is inevitable is less present. Before a first blow between the two is delivered, the Witch-King is called away by the sound of horns and Gandalf is needed at Denethor's barbecue. Neither had at that moment the time to press their point.

Any comments on Eomer’s reaction to seeing Eowyn? Why did he assume she was dead, instead of checking, like Prince Imrahil would do?

I'd cite cultural differences. The Gondoreans had retained some of the Numenorean lore and seemed more learned in matters of healing. They also had had dealings with nazgul before and may therefore have been more aware of the possible side-effects of fighting the Witch-King. Imrahil, having claim to some Elven inheritage, may also have been more perceptable to little clues of life than Eomer who had already spent quite while in battle.