Chapter 6 and a half: Saruman prepares for war
By Brian Carmody
Wormtongue crept out of the Golden Hall. On silent feet he treaded to Theoden King's stables. He slowly unlocked the gate of his horse, Dantor, and slowly walked to the gate. "So!" Said a voice behind him, making him jump and turn around. It was Hama, the Doorman of Theoden. "Where do you venture now, Grima Wormtongue?" Wormtongue scowled and took the reins of his horse. It was a small, swift, black horse that looked as if it had the blood of the Mordor beasts in its veins. Perhaps it was one of Isengard's breeding projects to imitate that of Mordor's. "Well?" shrieked Wormtongue, "What is it! Has Gandalf Stormcrow sent to kill me? Or perhaps what he wants is information about Saruman's attack? Well he'll get no such pleasure from me!" At that he clumsily started to mount Dantor. But worms are not riders, better suited for slithering, so it took him several moments. He was about to go when Hama laughed. "There is nothing new you can tell us, Grima Wormtongue! But heed my word! It is Saruman your master who's in danger, and don't you forget it when you crawl back to him." Wormtongue sneered, mounted Dantor and rode out the front gates. "Go!" Shouted Hama. "Go crawl on your belly to your master." He sighed and turned back to his castle. "Would that I could put that worm out of its misery, but Alas! Theoden King has forbidden it. And with all usurpers and treacherous consuls gone, it is truly the house of Theoden once more. His word is law!" Wormtongue quickly rode Dantor across strange country. He could waste no time. Presently Wormtongue reached the gates of Isengard. A gatekeeper who recognized him let him in. A few minutes passed before he reached the front door of the towering Orthanc. The doors magically opened to usher him in. Wormtongue tied Dantor to pole and entered. Wormtongue climbed the curving flight of stairs to the room of Saruman. There, seated on an iron throne, was Saruman himself, flowing gray beard resting on his white robes. "What bids you here so soon?" Saruman asked in his voice. When Wormtongue explained, Saruman scowled and said, "So Gandalf has come back. This perturbs me. I wonder if it means." For an instant, the color drained from the proud face of Saruman and a pale, frightened look temporarily replaced the terrible scowl. A moment passed and Saruman shook his head and the fright was gone. "No." He declared, "It is not possible. If its war Gandalf and Theoden want, it is war that they shall receive. I shall gather the Uruk-hai from all over Middle Earth. I shall attack with my orcs the fortress of Helm's Deep. And if they should come to the Orthanc then I will have brewed up a new devilry for them to face." Saruman grinned wickedly, "Now, be off, so I may consult my sources." "Yes my lord." Said Wormtongue, and he withdrew.
By Brian Carmody
Wormtongue crept out of the Golden Hall. On silent feet he treaded to Theoden King's stables. He slowly unlocked the gate of his horse, Dantor, and slowly walked to the gate. "So!" Said a voice behind him, making him jump and turn around. It was Hama, the Doorman of Theoden. "Where do you venture now, Grima Wormtongue?" Wormtongue scowled and took the reins of his horse. It was a small, swift, black horse that looked as if it had the blood of the Mordor beasts in its veins. Perhaps it was one of Isengard's breeding projects to imitate that of Mordor's. "Well?" shrieked Wormtongue, "What is it! Has Gandalf Stormcrow sent to kill me? Or perhaps what he wants is information about Saruman's attack? Well he'll get no such pleasure from me!" At that he clumsily started to mount Dantor. But worms are not riders, better suited for slithering, so it took him several moments. He was about to go when Hama laughed. "There is nothing new you can tell us, Grima Wormtongue! But heed my word! It is Saruman your master who's in danger, and don't you forget it when you crawl back to him." Wormtongue sneered, mounted Dantor and rode out the front gates. "Go!" Shouted Hama. "Go crawl on your belly to your master." He sighed and turned back to his castle. "Would that I could put that worm out of its misery, but Alas! Theoden King has forbidden it. And with all usurpers and treacherous consuls gone, it is truly the house of Theoden once more. His word is law!" Wormtongue quickly rode Dantor across strange country. He could waste no time. Presently Wormtongue reached the gates of Isengard. A gatekeeper who recognized him let him in. A few minutes passed before he reached the front door of the towering Orthanc. The doors magically opened to usher him in. Wormtongue tied Dantor to pole and entered. Wormtongue climbed the curving flight of stairs to the room of Saruman. There, seated on an iron throne, was Saruman himself, flowing gray beard resting on his white robes. "What bids you here so soon?" Saruman asked in his voice. When Wormtongue explained, Saruman scowled and said, "So Gandalf has come back. This perturbs me. I wonder if it means." For an instant, the color drained from the proud face of Saruman and a pale, frightened look temporarily replaced the terrible scowl. A moment passed and Saruman shook his head and the fright was gone. "No." He declared, "It is not possible. If its war Gandalf and Theoden want, it is war that they shall receive. I shall gather the Uruk-hai from all over Middle Earth. I shall attack with my orcs the fortress of Helm's Deep. And if they should come to the Orthanc then I will have brewed up a new devilry for them to face." Saruman grinned wickedly, "Now, be off, so I may consult my sources." "Yes my lord." Said Wormtongue, and he withdrew.