Théoden's Black Staff

Théoden's Black Staff, a short ebony rod topped with a white bone handle, serves as both a literal walking aid and a potent symbol of the Rohirrim king's enfeebled state under Saruman's corrupting influence in The Two Towers. It underscores Théoden's physical frailty and diminished authority prior to his dramatic revival by Gandalf, after which the staff is discarded, marking his restoration to vigor and kingship. Though its role is confined to this pivotal moment, the staff encapsulates the theme of liberation from domination central to the series.