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appendix a 1399
seeing their chance came over the Isen and down from Isengard.
It was soon known that Wulf was their leader. They were in
great force, for they were joined by enemies of Gondor that
landed in the mouths of Lefnui and Isen.
The Rohirrim were defeated and their land was overrun; and
those who were not slain or enslaved fled to the dales of the
mountains. Helm was driven back with great loss from the Crossings
of Isen and took refuge in the Hornburg and the ravine
behind (which was after known as Helm’s Deep). There he was
besieged. Wulf took Edoras and sat in Meduseld and called
himself king. There Haleth Helm’s son fell, last of all, defending
the doors.
‘Soon afterwards the Long Winter began, and Rohan lay
under snow for nearly five months (November to March, 2758–
9). Both the Rohirrim and their foes suffered grievously in the
cold, and in the dearth that lasted longer. In Helm’s Deep there
was a great hunger after Yule; and being in despair, against the
king’s counsel, Háma his younger son led men out on a sortie
and foray, but they were lost in the snow. Helm grew fierce and
gaunt for famine and grief; and the dread of him alone was worth
many men in the defence of the Burg. He would go out by
himself, clad in white, and stalk like a snow-troll into the camps
of his enemies, and slay many men with his hands. It was believed
that if he bore no weapon no weapon would bite on him. The
Dunlendings said that if he could find no food he ate men. That
tale lasted long in Dunland. Helm had a great horn, and soon it
was marked that before he sallied forth he would blow a blast
upon it that echoed in the Deep; and then so great a fear fell on
his enemies that instead of gathering to take him or kill him they
fled away down the Coomb.
‘One night men heard the horn blowing, but Helm did not
return. In the morning there came a sun-gleam, the first for long
days, and they saw a white figure standing still on the Dike,
alone, for none of the Dunlendings dared come near. There
stood Helm, dead as a stone, but his knees were unbent. Yet
men said that the horn was still heard at times in the Deep and
the wraith of Helm would walk among the foes of Rohan and
kill men with fear.
‘Soon after the winter broke. Then Fréaláf, son of Hild, Helm’s