Book 3, Chapter 8 Summary

Gimli and Éomer exit the caves safely, much to everyone's relief. To add to the good news for Gimli, he has won his orc-killing game with Legolas 42 to 41. Out on the fields in from the Helm's Deep, Théoden, Éomer, Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn meet Gandalf. They ask him how the woods have grown there overnight but Gandalf tells them that they must ride to Isengard to find out. In fact, he himself will be riding there to speak with Saruman.

As the mopping up continues, the men of Dunland who joined in the assault on Helm's Deep are spared, but the orcs are all killed. However, as punishment for taking up arms against Rohan, the Dunlendings are enlisted to build mounds for the dead and stack the bodies of the orcs.

The next day, Gandalf, Théoden, Aragorn, Éomer, Gimli...