LotR: RotK

[Rhydderch Hael]

I thought it to be a tear of horror and remorse, to behold fully and in the flesh the very engine that would destroy Rohan.

According to what one intuits of the movie, I thought Grima's overlying intent was to see Rohan subjugated under his hand (or tongue, as it were, speaking on behalf of the king). And with it, Eowyn would be his. When Gandalf messes the whole deal up and Grima is evicted from Rohan the plan, and his prospected outlook on the future, has changed. He now knows that Saruman's intent is not to enslave the people of Rohan, but to slaughter them.

And he got to see that such an intent was very much possible.

"March to Helms' Deep. Leave none alive. To war!" so said Sauruman.

So then did Grima shed a tear. His dreams— his lusts— was about to die under the sword of the orcs at Helms' Deep.


So, you saw the tear. Did you see the expression on his face? Delight was an emotion plainly absent from that countenance. I saw horror there in its stead.