Second Battle of the Fords of Isen
Prelude: Attack on the Woodland Realm – Sauron's assault on Osgiliath – Skirmish at Weathertop – Battle at Amon Hen – War commences: – First Battle of the Fords of Isen – Ambush of the Rohirrim – Second Battle of the Fords of Isen – Battle of the Hornburg – Last march of the Ents – Battle of Ithilien – Battle of Osgiliath – Siege of Gondor – Battle of the Pelennor Fields – Battle of Dale – Battles of Lórien and invasion of eastern Rohan – Battle under the trees – Quarrel – Ambush in Ithilien – Battle of the Morannon – Destruction of Dol Guldur – Battle of Bywater
The Second Battle of the Fords of Isen was the second of the Battles of the Fords of Isen. The first battle took place on February 23, 3019. The second was on March 2, 3019. The battles were between Saruman's Uruk-hai and the Rohirrim of Rohan.
History
The command of the ford was given to Erkenbrand of the Westfold. However, until he arrived from Helm's Deep, Grimbold held the position. Grimbold decided to place foot soldiers at the ford and put Elfhelm's men on the east side where he expected the attack to come from.
Saruman sent a force which was small, but which still outnumbered the defenders. The attackers forced Grimbold to retreat across the ford with heavy losses. Grimbold held the eastern side of the ford and waited for Elfhelm to come to his aid. More than half of Saruman's force was attacking Grimbold's position.
Some Wolf-riders and their followers went through the gap between the two Rohirrim forces and tried to surround Elfhelm. Although he knew Grimbold was in danger, Elfhelm retreated eastwards. Grimbold was still holding his position when he saw torches coming from the north and from Isengard - the vanguard of Saruman's reinforcements advancing towards him. Before he knew it, they had crossed the ford. He could not hold the ford so he retreated to his camp and made a shield wall around it.
Even though the Rohirrim were surrounded, still the forces of Isengard could not break through. Grimbold knew he could not hold out forever. With no sign of Elfhelm and no help from Erkenbrand, he decided to try to break out. He mounted all the riders for whom he had horses and made a gap on the east side of the wall through which the riders passed. They formed into two groups and attacked the north and south sides simultaneously. In the ensuing confusion, the remaining Rohirrim retreated on foot as quickly as they could in the dark.
In adaptations
In The Lord of the Rings Online, the Rohirrim forces in the battle are commanded by the Lords of the Westfold: Erkenbrand of the Hornburg, Grimbold of Grimslade and Gladsúnu of Marton, with Elfhelm commanding the garrison of Edoras. The advancing host of Isengard cut Erkenbrand off and pushed him south of the river Isen, Gladsúnu was killed, and Grimbold was among the last remaining defenders of the Ford, unwilling to abandon the grave of Prince Théodred. Seeing their position as lost, Elfhelm withdrew his men east of the Ford and tried to persuade Grimbold to go with them, but Grimbold refused and Elfhelm has no choice but to leave him behind. The player finds Grimbold in despair and willing to accept his death but motivates him to live and fight by telling him that King Théoden himself had rode to war. They escape the Ford and meet with Gandalf and Erkenbrand and proceed to regroup with Dúnhere before Gandalf orders them to march on Helm's Deep.
Translations
References
Location: Rohan