Book 3, Chapter 7 Summary

King Théoden leads his men toward the fords of the Isen in order to help Erkenbrand fight the forces of Isengard. However, they meet a man on horseback along the way who tells them that the fords have been lost and the army has been scattered.

Suddenly, Gandalf tells Théoden to ride to Helm's Deep with all possible speed. Then he rides off on an urgent, unspecified errand. Théoden leads his men toward the fort, including Éomer, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. However, Saruman's army follows close behind. Once they are in Helm's Deep (or the Hornburg), the men wonder about Erkenbrand, one of their marshals. However, no word has been heard of him, even though he leads the best men of Rohan.

As night falls, the orcs of Saruman attack Helm's Deep ruthlessly and fight their way through...