In the second Battle of the Fords of Isen…… “[i]The command in the field
Erkenbrand gave to Grimbold until he could come himself;but he assumed no
command over Elfhelm and his Riders, who belonged to the Muster of
Edoras. The two commanders were, however, friends and both loyal and wise
men, and there was no dissension between them; the ordering of their forces was
a compromise between their differing opinions. Elfhelm held that the
Fords were no longer important, but rather a snare to entrap men better placed
elsewhere, since Saruman could clearly send forces down either side of the Isen
as suited his purpose…….Elfhelm therefore advised that the Fords should be
abandoned…..Grimbold on the other hand was not willing to abandon the
Fords.”[/i]
-Why weren’t the Riders of the Mark all one group instead of broke up into
“Musters”? Is this due to each of their geographic locations, being that
they weren’t all in the same area? Was the King the only one with
authority to command all of the Musters? Does this resemble any kind of
military organization today that you know of?
-Whose idea do you think was better……Elfhelm’s in abandoning the Fords
and moving the calvalry eastward, or Grimbolds, who wanted to man the Fords?
Ok…thoughts :)
Lady
A.
