With Fréaláf taking Helm’s place as the new King of Rohan and his line eventually leading down to Théoden and Éowyn later in the Lord of the Rings timeline, it leaves a question mark as to the remainder of Héra’s story. Given her prominence in the film and the respect she achieved among her people, it’d make sense if she continued to live a life as a hero in Middle-earth. However, as the movie explains, she’s not documented in Middle-earth’s history.
Héra’s Lord Of The Rings History Was Never Established By J.R.R. Tolkien
Héra Was Essentially Invented For War Of The Rohirrim
At least in terms of being a named character, Héra isn’t really in J.R.R. Tolkien’s lore. The story of War of the Rohirrim is drawn from the appendices of The Return of the King, under the section “The House of Eorl” in Appendix A. The conflict between Helm Hammerhand and Freca is detailed after Freca “asked the hand of Helm’s daughter for his son Wulf.” However, that’s the only mention of Helm’s daughter, who becomes Héra in the movie. In the text, the siege at the Hornburg happens as in the film, but it’s Fréaláf who wins the day for the Rohirrim.
With War of the Rohirrim, director Kenji Kamiyama poses the question of what that conflict might have looked like from Helm’s daughter’s point of view. The war essentially starts over the right to marry her, and as she says in the movie, they’re talking about her as if she’s not in the room. The film also establishes Héra as a warrior in her own right, defeating Wulf and saving her people with honor and bravery. However, Héra’s story after the movie is unknown, as her life was never written about to begin with.
War Of The Rohirrim References That Héra’s Future Is Unknown
War Of The Rohirrim Explores The Idea That Héra
War of the Rohirrim’s ending makes a clear point in noting that Héra isn’t the type of person who will have a noble legacy like her father, brothers, and cousin. Despite her great deeds, Kamiyama suggests that Middle-earth’s history books (as a meta-reference to Tolkien’s text) forgot to write about her because she was a woman who defied the status quo of her role in society. War of the Rohirrim looks to embellish this crucial event in Rohan’s history by factoring in an unsung hero character.
Importantly, War of the Rohirrim is narrated by Miranda Otto in character as Éowyn, whose story in The Lord of the Rings mirrors Héra. The purpose of having Éowyn tell the story is more than just featuring a cameo appearance from a beloved character; it’s about demonstrating that, though Héra’s story might have been forgotten by a significant population of Middle-earth, Éowyn remembers what she did. In Kamiyama’s interpretation of Tolkien’s writing, perhaps Éowyn, one of the great heroes of the Third Age, was inspired by Héra, offering the story beautiful meaning.
How War Of The Rohirrim Sets Up Héra’s Lord Of The Rings Future
Though Héra’s life isn’t documented in Tolkien’s text, War of the Rohirrim’s final moments hint at more exciting adventures to come for her character. That’s not to say there will be a sequel, as none has been announced, but the film shows that her valor during the long winter has caught the attention of a wizard, Gandalf. She ends the movie heading off on a new adventure with Gandalf, and it can be speculated what she’ll spend the remainder of her days doing with him.
Gandalf and the other Wizards of Middle-earth were sent to help combat the return of Sauron in the Third Age. As shown in War of the Rohirrim, orcs have begun scouring Middle-earth, looking for rings, and it’s clear that they’re searching for the One Ring. Gandalf, taking the threat of Sauron seriously, is likely partaking in his own search for the ring. Similar to how he tasks Aragorn with quests in and before The Fellowship of the Ring, Héra might be one of his allies and future friends following War of the Rohirrim.
