What did Gandalf tell Théoden?

[Armetiel]

In the Two Towers, in the chapter the King of the Golden hall on page 505 it says

(Gandalf speaking to Théoden) 'The enemy is strong beyond our reckoning, yet we have a hope at which he has not guesses.'
Quickly now Gandalf spoke. His voice was low and secret, and none save the king heard what he said. But ever as he spoke the light shone brighter in Théoden's eye, and at the last he rose from his seat to his full height, and Gandalf beside him, and together they looked out from the high place towards the East.
'Verily,' said Gandalf, now in a loud voice, keen and clear, 'that way lies our hope, where sits our greatest fear. Doom hangs still on a thread. Yet hope there is still, if we can but stand onconquered for a little while.' The others too now turned their eyes eastward. Over the sundering leagues of land, far away the gazed to the edfe of sight, and hope and fear bore their thoughts still on, beyond dark mountains to the Land of the Shadow. Where now was the ring-bearer? How thin indeed was the thread upon which doom still hung!

This to me seems to imply that Gandalf told Théoden about Frodo and the Ring, however, it is obvious that he wouldn't have done that this early on. and also on Page 510 of the same chapter it says

(Gandalf to Théoden) "If Éomer had not defied Wormtongue's voice speaking with your mouth, those Orcs would have reached Isengard by now, bearing a great prize. Not indeed that prize which Saruman desires above all else, but at the least two memvbers of my Company, sharers of a secret hope, of which even to you, lord, I cannont yet speak openly."

So yeh, that quote confirms that he did not tell Théoden about Frodo and the Ring...but if he didn't tell him about the ring WHAT did he tell them...what was the "hope" in the east that he spoke of to lighten the king's heart? Does anyone know and can explain please.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 2:35 PM January 22, 2004: Message edited by: Armetiel ]

[Legolas]

He didn't openly mention Frodo and the Ring in the first quote. He just hinted at some hidden hope he knew of. The first comment is much like the second one...looking to give Theoden hope without explaining it all.

[doug*platypus]

Interesting! I had always assumed that Gandalf told Théoden about the One Ring, rightly guessing that he was completely trustworthy and loyal to the cause. The second quote that Armetiel gave shows this isn't actually so.

I guess that Gandalf told Théoden about all the other forces resisting Sauron (since he would have known little of Rivendell or Lórien), perhaps also reminding Théoden of the fact that he had been defeated before by the Last Alliance, but without specifically mentioning the Ring.

This is a nice contrast to the visions shown in the palantír to Denethor by Sauron. Gandalf paints a picture of hope as opposed to the despair that takes Denethor. Shows what happens when you listen to the wrong people! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

[Armetiel]

^yes, he probably did speak of Lórien and Rivendell, but Théoden also seemed to have been told something about what was happening in the east...because he stood up and looked that way...although, Gondor was east of Rohan too was it not? so perhaps he spoke more of Gondor, and perhaps of Aragorn going to reclaim the kingship. Would that make sense at all?