Must...Obey...Gremlin!

[Essex]

Ok, let's say that these men are part of Grima's force, not rohirrim, but men in the service of SARUMAN. What's to stop them dressing in rohan armour? The term mercenaries comes to mind.

Theoden's guards who tried to intervene against legolas/aragorn/gimli were only doing what they thought was their duty, like it or not. They were not present when Eomer was 'whacked'.

PS regarding Denethor being 'mugged' by Gandalf. Look at the book. You will see a line where Gandalf DOES 'attack' Denethor. You just need to look closely at the text, and you usually find clues to (most) of Jackson's changes. Not that I agree with Denethor being hit by gandalf's wand of course........

But Gandalf sprang up the steps, and the men fell back from him and covered their eyes; for his coming was like the incoming of a white light into a dark place, and he came with great anger. He lifted up his hand, and in the very stroke, the sword of Denethor flew up and left his grasp and fell behind him in the shadows of the house; and Denethor stepped backward before Gandalf as one amazed.

do we see denethor's soldiers defend gandalf? no, we do not.......