Gríma Wormtongue

Gríma, called Wormtongue, was the chief counsellor at the court of King Théoden of Rohan. Bought by the corrupted Wizard Saruman, Gríma became his mole in the Edoras court and worked to weaken the Rohirrim. When his treachery was exposed, Gríma fled to Isengard and ended up entrapped in Orthanc with Saruman.

Enduring Saruman's scorn, Gríma would later follow him to the Shire which was under their allies' control. Ultimately, Wormtongue backstabbed Saruman but was himself slain by the liberated Shire-folk and Bucklanders.

Little is told of Gríma before he became advisor to Théoden in Edoras. It is known that Gríma, son of Gálmód, was secretly ensnared by Sauron's puppet, Saruman, and became his agent. Wormtongue informed the corrupted Wizard of every notable development throughout the realm and also weakened the ailing King, poisoning his mind and body with his deceitful counsels and false remedies for old age. It is likely that Saruman had promised him Éowyn, the king's niece, as a reward for his services; Wormtongue is accused of "watching her under his lids and haunting her steps." It is also possible that he had Dunlending ancestry, since he was darker-haired and physically smaller than the other Rohirrim.