Wk3, Bk5, Ch3: The Red Arrow

[Stormrider]

From: Stormridr (Original Message) Sent: 3/30/2003 5:57 PM

The Red Arrow
Copyright Darryl Elliot. All Rights Reserved.

An rider arrives from Gondor brearing a single red arrow. He presents it to Théoden on bended knee. "Hail, Lord of the Rohirrim, friend of Gondor! Hirgon I am, errand-rider of Denethor, who bring you this token of war. Gondor is in great need. Often the Rohirrim have aided us, but now the Lord Denethor asks for all your strength and all your speed, lest Gondor fall at last."

Théoden was expecting this summons yet trembled as he excepted it. "The Red Arrow has not been seen in the Mark in all my years! Has it indeed come to that?"

This seems to be an old custom for requesting aid yet it appears that it is not a frequently used one. Seeing the Red Arrow seems to have shaken Théoden.

When did this custom originate?

How often do you think it had been used in the past?

How many errand riders came with Hirgon to deliver the Red Arrow to Théoden?

[Stormrider]

From: DaleAnn Sent: 4/9/2003 9:26 AM
Stormy, you are tricksy. There is very little information about the Red Arrow. Appendix A section iii, The Stewards: 7th paragraph speaks of the Oath of Eorl in which Eorl of the Rohirrim "swore to Cirion [Steward of Gondor] the Oath of Eorl of friendship at need or at call to the Lords of Gondor." Cirion gave Eorl the land which became Rohan for his help in defeating the Balchoth, enemies of Gondor. I would think that the Red Arrow is a symbol of that Oath, but I couldn't find anything to confirm that.

The "Oath of Eorl" was a very powerful oath and Eorl laid a curse on any of his heirs that did not respond to Gondor's need. (The Oath itself may be found in Unfinished Tales in the "Cirion and Eorl" chapter.) No wonder Theoden was shaken by receiving it.
Appendix A, in the 4th paragraph after the one I mentioned above was the only reference I found to the oath being invoked prior to Theoden. King Folcwine fulfilled his obligation to Gondor when the Haradrim were attacking during the reign of Turin II. Folcwine's sons were slain in 2885TA (Appendix A Kings of the Mark, 2nd line #14. --DA

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From: Merlin the mad Sent: 4/9/2003 2:31 PM
Three riders altogether; if these are the errand riders who passed Gandalf, Pip and Shadowfax earlier. But Hirgon is alone when he presents the red arrow to king Theoden. Later, a second errand rider is seen talking with Hirgon. And later still (after the Rohirrim have set out and are drawing near to Minas Tirith) the headless bodies of two errand riders are found, one clasping still the red arrow: it is assumed that Hirgon and his companion were not able to arrive at Minas Tirith - because of orcs already in possession of the Pelennor wall - and that they were slain trying to turn back. But true to Tolkien's penchant for realism, he does not spell everything out; and these two errand riders could have been a second pair of red arrow bearers (in case the first - Hirgon et al - did not win through to Edoras(?)). As to the fate or expediency which took the third errand rider out of the picture, anybody can guess.

MtM