King Théoden quotes from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

King Théoden

Arise! Arise, riders of Th?oden! Spears shall be shaken, shields shall be splintered - a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now! Ride now! Ride! Ride for ruin, and the world's ending![The riders yell for battle] Forth Éorlingas!

You have fought many wars and slain many men, Th?oden King, and made peace afterwards. Can we not take counsel together as we once did? Can we not have peace?

We shall have peace. [looks up and glares at Saruman] We shall have peace - when you answer for the burning of the Westfold, and the children that lie dead there! We shall have peace - when the lives of men whose bodies were hewn even as they lay dead against the gates of the Hornburg, are avenged! When you hang from a gibbet for the sport of your own crows - we shall have peace!

Gibbets and crows...! Dotard! [calms and turns to Gandalf] And what do you want, Gandalf Greyhame? Let me guess - the key of Orthanc, or perhaps the keys of Barad-dûr itself; along with the crowns of the seven kings and the rods of the five wizards!

Gandalf

Your treachery has already cost many lives; thousands more are now at risk. But you could save them, Saruman. You are deep in the enemy's counsel.

So you have come here for information. I have some for you. [He pulls the palantir from his robes and gazes into it.] Something festers in the heart of Middle-earth, something you have failed to see. But the Great Eye has seen it. Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon. [smugly] You're all going to die. But you know this, don't you, Gandalf? You cannot think that this Ranger will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor. This exile, crept from the shadows will never be crowned king. Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those closest to him, those he professes to love. Tell me, what words of comfort did you give the Halfling, before you sent him to his doom? The path that you have set him on can only lead to death.

Gimli

I've heard enough! [to Legolas] Shoot him! Stick an arrow in his gob!

Gandalf

No. Come down, Saruman, and your life will be spared.

Save your pity and your mercy! I have no use for it! [hurls a fireball at Gandalf, who is completely unaffected]

Gandalf

Saruman, your staff is broken! [it is so]

Gríma! You need not follow him. You were not always as you are now. You were once a man of Rohan. Come down!

A man... of Rohan? What is the house of Rohan, but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the reek and their brats roll on the floor with the dogs?! The victory at Helm's Deep does not belong to you, Th?oden Horsemaster. You are a lesser son of greater sires.

Gríma, come down! Be free of him!

Free? He will never be free.

No.

Get down, cur! [hits Gríma in the face and knocks him down]

Gandalf

Saruman! You were deep in the enemy's counsel. Tell us what you know.

You withdraw your guard, and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner here!

Gandalf

Send word to all our allies, and to every corner of Middle-earth that still stands free. The enemy moves against us. We need to know where he will strike.

Gandalf the White

There was no lie in Pippin's eyes. A fool, but an honest fool he remains. He told Sauron nothing of Frodo and the Ring. We've been strangely fortunate. Pippin saw in the Palantír a glimpse of the Enemy's plan. Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith. His defeat at Helm's Deep showed our Enemy one thing. He knows the Heir of Elendil has come forth. Men are not as weak as he supposed. There is courage still, strength enough perhaps to challenge him. Sauron fears this. He will not risk the Peoples of Middle Earth uniting under one banner. He will raze Minas Tirith to the ground before he sees a King return to the Throne of Men. If the Beacons of Gondor are lit, Rohan must be ready for war.

Théoden

Tell me, why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours? What do we owe Gondor?

Aragorn

I will go.

Gandalf the White

No.

Aragorn

They must be warned.

Gandalf the White

They will be. You must come by another road. Follow the River. Look to the Black Ships. Understand this. Things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith. [glances at Pippin] And I won't be going alone.

Théoden

I know your face. Éowyn, my eyes darken.

Éowyn

No, no. I'm going to save you.

Théoden

You already did. Éowyn, my body is broken. You have to let me go. I go to my fathers, in whose mighty company, I shall now not be ashamed. Éowyn. [dies]