The king's son who marched to war
Théodred was the only son of Théoden and heir to the throne of the kingdom of Rohan. His mother, Elfhild, died in childbirth, so the prince was never able to know her, and he was the couple's only descendant.
He held the position of Second Marshal of the Mark, one of the kingdom's primary military posts, participating from that position in the defense of the borders and leading troops in areas where danger was increasing, as the threat from Isengard made his responsibility ever greater.
Saruman was preparing an army from his fortress intended to strike at Rohan, and Théodred knew the danger, but he continued to carry out his military duties as enemy forces grew.
The Fords of Isen, a border under attack
In the year 3019 of the Third Age, Théodred was at the head of the forces sent to the Fords of Isen, at a crossing over the river that was of decisive importance for the defense of the kingdom: if the enemy managed to cross it, the route to the interior would be open.
The first clash ended with heavy losses for the defenders, but Théodred rallied his men and, together with a small group, held the position while awaiting reinforcements.
The situation worsened when a new and numerous enemy army from Isengard launched another attack, as the forces were far superior and managed to break the defenses. Then, Théodred was separated from a good part of his men and continued fighting alongside a small group of warriors, but during the struggle, he received mortal wounds caused by an orc of the enemy army.
His men found him on an island in the middle of the river and remained with him until his death, and afterwards, they buried the heir there, thrusting their spears into the ground around the grave, tips pointing upward, marking the place where their commander had fallen.
The news reached Théoden and, as the king had lost his only son, Éomer, his nephew, came to occupy the first place in the line of succession.
The sword of a warrior prince
Théodred's sword belonged to the arms-making tradition of the royal house of Rohan and had been passed down from one generation to another within the family.
It presents a medieval aesthetic, with a long, straight blade and a carefully crafted hilt, and possesses an elegant appearance suitable for a high-ranking warrior.
Its most striking detail appears on the hilt, where green enamel is combined with a leather wrap of the same color, creating a very characteristic look.
Furthermore, there is a close resemblance to the sword of his cousin Éowyn, as both pieces share practically the same design, although the details of the hilt allow them to be distinguished.
Two swords and two ways of fighting
The resemblance between both weapons, that of Théodred and that of Éowyn, is especially interesting due to the history of their owners.
Théodred officially held a military position and led troops as Second Marshal of the Mark, while Éowyn belonged to the royal family and wished to participate directly in the war, although the customs of her society reserved combat primarily for men. So, when the moment came to march toward the Pelennor Fields, she hid her identity under the name Dernhelm and went to battle disguised as a warrior, where she fought alongside the men of Rohan and ended up facing the Witch-king of Angmar.
The similarity between the two swords thus acquires a special interest within the family, as one accompanied the heir during his military campaigns and the other was with Éowyn when she decided to participate in one of the decisive battles of the war, the former being a representation of the destiny that belonged by birth to an heir to the throne who watches over his people, while the latter is the reflection of a destiny chosen by one who wants to fight for a purpose.
Between the two, Théodred's sword remains linked to the figure of a warrior prince, to the military power of the royal house, and to a family whose members had to face a war that would end up changing the destiny of the kingdom forever.
