Bernard Hill: Theoden

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Theoden

Theoden: [pick up a white flower] Simbelmyne. Ever has it grown on the tombs of my forebears. Now it shall cover the grave of my son. Alas, that these evil days should be mine. The young perish and the old linger. That I should live to see that last days of my house.
Gandalf: Theodred's death was not of your making.
Theoden: No parent should have to bury their child.
[Theoden drops to his knees and starts sobbing]
Gandalf: He was strong in life. His spirit will find the way to the halls of your fathers.

Theoden: Let this be the hour when we draw swords together. Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath, now for ruin, and the red dawn. Forth, Eorlingas!

Theoden: Where is the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? They have passed like rain on the mountain, like wind in the meadow. The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow. How did it come to this?

Theoden: Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?
Wormtongue: A just question, my liege. Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. "Lathspell" I name him. Ill news is an ill guest.

Theoden: A great host, you say?
Aragorn: All Isengard is emptied.
Theoden: How many?
Aragorn: Ten thousand strong at least.
Theoden: [astonished] Ten thousand?
Aragorn: It is an army bred for a single purpose: to destroy the world of men. They will be here by nightfall.
Theoden: Let them come.

Gamling: Every villager able to wield a sword has been sent to the armory... my lord?
Theoden: Who am I, Gamling?
Gamling: You are our king, sire.
Theoden: And do you trust your king?
Gamling: Your men, my Lord, will follow you to whatever end.
Theoden: To whatever end...

Theoden: Crops can be re-sown, homes re-built. Within these walls... we will outlast them.
Aragorn: They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people. Down to the last child.
Theoden: What will you have me do? Look at my men. Their courage hangs by a thread.

Theoden: [to Grima] Your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!

Theoden: [upon being exorcised] Gandalf...
Gandalf: Breathe the free air again, my friend.
Theoden: [stands up from the throne] Dark have been my dreams of late.
[looks at his hands]
Gandalf: Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your sword.

Theoden: Look at my men. Their courage hangs by a thread. If this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end, as to be worthy of remembrance.

Gandalf the White: You *must* fight!
Aragorn: You have 2,000 good men riding north as we speak. Éomer is loyal to you. His men will return to fight for their king.
Théoden: [rises off the throne and paces] They will be 300 leagues from here by now! Éomer cannot help us. I know what it is you want of me, but I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war.
Aragorn: Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not.
Théoden: [marches over to the table] When last I looked, *Théoden*, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan.
[Gimli gulps down his beer, burps and wipes his mouth with his beard]
Gandalf the White: Then what is the king's decision?