Henneth Annun Reseach Center

Character Bios

Gamling the Old

Location(s): The Westfold of Rohan

Race/Species: Man

Type/Kind: Rohirrim

Dates: 3019 III

Children: at least one unnamed son, at least one unnamed grandson

Description:
'Maybe, we have a thousand fit to fight on foot,' said Gamling, an old man, the leader of those that watched the Dike. 'But most of them have seen too many winters, as I have, or too few, as my son's son here.

The Two Towers, LoTR Book 3, Ch 7, Helm's Deep

'But these creatures of Isengard, these half-orcs and goblin-men that the foul craft of Saruman has bred, they will not quail at the sun,' said Gamling. 'And neither will the wild men of the hills. Do you not hear their voices?'

'I hear them,' said Éomer; 'but they are only the scream of birds and the bellowing of beasts to my ears.'

'Yet there are many that cry in the Dunland tongue,' said Gamling. 'I know that tongue. It is an ancient speech of men, and once was spoken in many western valleys of the Mark. Hark! They hate us, and they are glad; for our doom seems certain to them. 'The king the king!' they cry. 'We will take their king. Death to the Forgoil! Death to the Strawheads! Death to the robbers of the North!' Such names they have for us. Not in half a thousand years have they forgotten their grievance that the lords of Gondor gave the Mark to Eorl the Young and made alliance with him. That old hatred Saruman has inflamed. They are fierce folk when roused. They will not give way now for dusk or dawn, until Théoden is taken, or they themselves are slain.'

The Two Towers, LoTR Book 3, Ch 7, Helm's Deep

Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 18Dec05

Related Library Entries

Characters Search

      

View all Bios

Character Bios

No related characters

Go to Character Bios

Places

No related places

Go to Places

Things

No related things

Go to Things

Full Text Search