Set 183 years prior to the famed events of the War of the Ring, the tale unfolds under the haunting narration of Éowyn, who recounts the tragic story of Héra, a brave and would-be shieldmaiden from Rohan, who also happens to be the daughter of the king. This narrative reveals a truth that her name may fade from the annals of history, as glorious tales and songs often overlook her contributions and struggles.

The conflict ignites when Freca, a lord of the Dunlendings, arrives at the hall of King Helm, accompanied by his ambitious son, Wulf. Freca displays open disdain toward Héra’s forthcoming marriage to a lord from Gondor, seeking instead to solidify his own power by marrying Wulf to Héra, who is fiercely uninterested in the notion of wedlock. Tension escalates into violence as Helm and Freca engage in a fierce fistfight outside the hall, resulting in Helm accidentally delivering a fatal blow to Freca, earning him the notorious nickname ‘Hammerhand’. This act infuriates Wulf, compelling him to swear vengeance against Helm.

Years of silence follow Wulf’s departure, during which Héra is captured by General Targg, a ruthless commander serving under Freca. She is taken to Wulf’s stronghold at Isengard, where she discovers that Wulf has risen to become the High Lord of the Dunlendings, rallying a rebellious faction from the hill tribes. Desperate to avert bloodshed, Héra offers to marry Wulf in exchange for peace, but her intentions are thwarted as she is rescued, triggering Wulf to attack Rohan.

As the storm of war brews, Helm regards his nephew, Fréaláf, with disdain, considering him cowardly for opting to evacuate the city of Edoras to seek refuge in a nearby fortress. Emboldened by his honor, Helm prepares his forces for the impending battle. As the fighting ensues, Héra recognizes her father’s imminent betrayal and commands the evacuation of Edoras to the Hornburg. Tragically, Helm’s sons, Hama and Haleth, fall at the hands of Wulf, who lays siege to the Hornburg throughout the unforgiving winter, erecting an enormous siege tower.

In a desperate bid to reclaim his legacy, a wounded and grief-stricken Helm embarks on nighttime missions to take down Wulf’s forces, ultimately meeting his end outside the gates of the Hornburg, his body left upright in the frozen ground, symbolizing both honor and sacrifice. During one fateful raid, Héra encounters two orcs from Mordor scavenging rings from dead bodies, pursuant to their master’s orders.

In a noble act of desperation, Héra dispatches an eagle carrying Helm’s armor to Fréaláf, pleading for his aid. Dressed as a bride, she bravely rides onto the lowered siege-tower bridge, which Wulf intends to cross, and challenges him to a duel. This courageous tactic serves to divert Wulf and his warriors, allowing the Rohirrim to escape through a concealed passage, one that Helm had once utilized during his assaults against Wulf’s men. In a stunning display of resolve, Héra defeats Wulf, reminding him that he gave his word to surrender.

As the tide turns, Fréaláf and his cavalry appear in the nick of time. Utilizing Helm’s iconic horn and armor, they refrain the Dunlendings into believing that the specter of Helm has returned to avenge his own, prompting them to flee in terror. In a dire struggle, Wulf inflicts a wound on Héra, but she manages to choke him to death with a shield, effectively ending the war.

In the aftermath, Helm is immortalized as the namesake for the valley of the Hornburg, and its stronghold, simply known as Helm’s Deep. However, the power dynamics shift as Saruman the White takes up the mantle as the new keeper of Isengard, extending his hand of friendship to the newly crowned king, Fréaláf. Choosing adventure over rulership, Héra embarks on her next journey, one that will bring her face-to-face with Gandalf, who seeks to uncover the mystery behind the orcs she witnessed in pursuit of rings, while Fréaláf dedicates his efforts towards the restoration of Edoras and the building of a new hall, Meduseld.