Why bring the women and children?

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

So Movie Theoden, thinks Edoras is going to be attacked, so he evacuates the whole city and takes them to Helm's Deep, not inticipating an attack.

It is also easier to defend ...

... as long as your enemy doesn't have 10,000 Orcs and gunpowder.

Both Helm's Deep and Dunharrow were traditional refuges for the people of Rohan in times of war.