the slow voices of the riders stirred the hearts even of those who did not know the speech of that people ; but the words of the song brought a light to the eyes of the folk of the mark as they heard again afar the thunder of the hooves of the north and the voice of eorl crying above the battle upon the field of celebrant ; and the tale of the kings rolled on , and the horn of helm was loud in the mountains , until the darkness came and king theoden arose and rode through the shadow to the fire , and died in splendour , even as the sun , returning beyond hope , gleamed upon mindolluin in the morning .