Disclaimer: I don't own LOTR just the OC and the plot changes.
Chapter 4: The King of the Golden Hall.
Ana
We made camp for the night. I felt Legolas's eyes on me as a laid my mat out beside Aragorn's by the fire. I tossed another log onto the fire before walking over to Gandalf and Aragorn, standing quietly on Gandalf's left hand side. "The veiling shadows that glowers in the east takes shape. Sauron will suffer no rival. From the summit of Barad-dur, his Eye watches ceaselessly. But is not so mighty yet that he is above fear. Doubt ever gnaws at him. The rumor has reach them. The heir of Numenor lives and the heir of Lorthen has appeared alongside him. Sauron you most, Aragorn. He fears what you may become so he'll hard and fast at the world of Men.
He will use his puppet Saruman to destroy Rohan. War is coming. Rohan must defined itself, and therein lies our first challenge…for Rohan is weak and ready to fall. The Kings mind is enslaved, it's an old device of Saruman's. His hold over King Théoden is now very strong. Sauron and Saruman are tightening the noose. But for all their cunning…we have one advantage. The Ring remains hidden. And that we should seek to destroy it…has not yet entered their darkest dreams. And so the weapon of the enemy is moving towards Mordor…in the hands of a Hobbit. Each day brings it closer to the fire of mount doom.
We must trust now in Frodo. Everything depends upon speed…and the secrecy of his quest. Do not regret your decision to leave him. Frodo must finish this task alone." Gandalf said. "He's not alone." Aragorn said. Gandalf looked at him with a questioning gaze. "Sam went with him." I told him. "Did he? Did he indeed? Good. Yes, very good." Gandalf said to himself. I nodded to myself and we all went to our sleep mats. In the morning we got up and packed up our camp. Got back onto our horses and rode off. We came to face a mountain that looked to have a small town on the very top of it.
"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Medasled. There dwells Théoden King of Rohan…Whose mind is over thrown." Gandalf said. I shared a look with Gimli. "Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong." Gandalf continued. We continued to ride towards it. We stopped once more. "Be careful what you say, Do not look for welcome here." He warned. We set out again. I looked up and saw a woman in white appear at the top building. Then a flag blew down from the top. It passed mine and Aragorn as we made it to the entrance. I looked towards the top building once more to find the white lady had gone.
We rode slowly into the village. Everyone was wearing black and looked less than welcoming. I tightened my hold on Aragorn, who patted my hand. "You'll find more cheer in a graveyard." Gimli said in observation. Once we got to the top of the hill. We came to a stop in front of the building we dismounted our horses and walked to the main doors. They opened and three shoulders came out. "I cannot allow you before Théoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame. By order of Grima Wormtongue." He said. Gandalf sighed and nodded to us. They saved me for last, assuming that I didn't have any weapons on me. When they came to me I saw Gimli's axes, Legolas's daggers, bow and Arrows, and Aragorn's Sword and Dagger.
"Ana relinquish your weapons." Aragorn prodded gently. I took off my bow and quiver of Arrows from my back, my daggers from around my thighs, the small knifes that held my hair up and out of my eyes, a set of three throwing knifes from the pocket at the small of my back, and then the lone axe that Gimli had given me when he had found one that was better. Once I handed it all over to them I smirked at their befuddled looks on their faces. I gave the main man a small shrug. He turned to Gandalf. "Your staff." He said. "You would not part an old man from his walking stick." He said with an added look of weakened displacement. I stifled a snicker. Gandalf shared an amused look with me as they turned away. Legolas allowed Gandalf to grip his arm to pretend to help him walk.
I was the last one to enter the hall and saw a black greasy haired man talking to the King. "My Lord, Gandalf the grey is coming." He said as the door closed behind me. Gandalf had let go of Legolas's arm. I watched the man I know is Grima Wormtongue. He looked at the group and his eyes settled onto me, his gaze made me shiver in repulsion. When I turned away I noticed that there were thugs to my left. Aragorn noticed too, he reached his hand back towards me and I took it and he pulled me more to the middle of the group of men.
"He's a herald of woe." Grima continued not taking his eyes off me. "The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late…Théoden King." Gandalf said. "He is not welcome." Grima told Théoden. I gripped my brother's arm worriedly, he patted it reassuringly as he watched the scene before us. "Why should I welcome you…Gandalf Stormcrow?" Asked the King looking up at Grima. "A just question, my liege." Grima said while standing. He walked towards us, I switched from standing next to Aragorn to stand slightly behind Gandalf.
"Late is the hour…in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Latherspell, I name him. Ill news is an ill guest." Grima sneered. I dropped back sure that Gandalf could handle this one on his own. "Be silent. Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death… to brandy crooked words with a witless worm." Gandalf said brandishing his staff at Grima. I felt arms close around me from behind me. "His staff. I told you to take the wizards staff." Grima said. The arms tighten around me. "Let me go you filthy hog!" I said as I successfully elbowed my captor. His grip lessened and I took the bandit down. I looked over to see that Gandalf had made to the King.
"Théoden…Son of Thengel…to long have you sat in the shadows." Gandalf said. I looked around and noticed that the last of the thugs were taken care of and Gimli had Grima under control. "Harken to me! I release you…from the spell." Gandalf continued bringing my attention back to him and the King. I walked over to Legolas's side, Legolas offered me his arm, I took it with my own and lend against him. The King started laughing, I looked over at Aragorn in surprise. "You have no power here…Gandalf the Grey." The King's mouth may have moved but it was the voice of Saruman that did the talking. Gandalf removed his grey cloak and revealed his white robs. Saruman gasped.
"I will draw you Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound." The woman from the front of this hall came into the room, she gasped and tried to run to the King. Aragorn stopped her "Wait." He told her. "If I go, Théoden dies." Saruman said. Gandalf pushed him back into the chair with his staff. "You did not kill me…you will not kill him." Gandalf said. "Rohan is mine." He said. "Be gone." Gandalf ordered him. I held tighter onto Legolas's hand, as I watched. I could feel Legolas's eyes on me. I only spared him a quick apologetic smile before turning to watch as Théoden struggling with his own body.
Suddenly Saruman made Théoden lunge at Gandalf. And Gandalf met the lunge with the head of his staff. Causing Théoden to lean back on his chair. Aragorn released the woman allowing the woman to go to the King. We all stood and waited. I gasped as Théoden began to age backwards. When he returned to normal he looked on the woman beside. "I know who you are, Eowyn, Eowyn." The King said. Tears feel down my cheeks, I know they were of happiness and that I was smiling. Théoden looked over at the Fellowship. "Gandalf?" he asked. "Breathe the free air again, my friend." Gandalf said smiling.
Théoden stood from his throne. "Dark have been my dreams of late." He said as he looked at his hand flexing his fingers. "Your fingers would remember their old strength better…if they grabbed your sword." Gandalf said waving over the sword holder. With his sword being held in front of him, Théoden grabbed onto the hilt somewhat hesitantly, he slid it out of its sheath. I let Legolas's hand go and walked over to Eowyn. She looked at me and smiled brightly. I offered her my hand and she took it. I turned to see that the king had turned his gaze onto Grima. I suddenly felt the room grow even colder. The guards threw Grima out onto the stone path way. Eowyn and I walked out onto the upper lip of the entrance.
"I've only served you, my lord." Grima said. "Your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" Théoden yelled angrily. "Send me not from your sight." Grima yelled. The King brought his sword up to deliver a killing blow, I moved in front of Eowyn to block her from seeing this. Suddenly Aragorn appeared and stopped the King. "No, my lord! No, my lord. Let him go. Enough blood has been spilt on his account." Aragorn told him. I watched as Grima got up from the ground and turned to the group of people. "Get out of my way!" he ordered and then he got onto a horse and rode away with his dark cloak flew behind him.
Théoden looked up at Eowyn and I as if he was looking for someone. "Where is Theodred? Where is my son?" he asked. Soon we were at the funeral I stood next to Eowyn as she sang for her cousin. Then after we walked back to the hall together. She turned to me. "I'm feel so silly, here you are comforting me and I don't even know your name." she said. "Oh, my name is Ana, Half-sister to Aragorn, and Daughter to Celeborn from Lorthen." I told her. She nodded then we stopped. "And the other two?" she asked. "Gimli, son of Gloin and Legolas of the woodland realm." I answered automatically. She nodded, then the door opened once more. Gandalf came through with two children. We took them into the diner and fed them. Soon we were joined by the King and what was left of the fellowship. "They had no warning. They were un-armed. Now the wildmen are moving through the Westfold, burning as they go." Eowyn said. "Rick, cot and tree." I added looking up, catching Legolas's gaze. My cheeks warmed and I looked away towards the king.
"Where's mama?" the girl asked. Eowyn shushed her. "This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash. All the more potent for he is driven now by fear of Sauron." Gandalf told the king. "Ride out and meet him, draw him away from your women and children. You must fight." He said. I got up from my spot and walking over to Aragorn's side, I took his mug of ale from him and tried it. It tasted sour and I wrinkled my nose at the taste. I handed it back to him and he smirked slightly at me. "You have 2000 good men riding north as we speak. Eomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their King." Aragorn informed the King.
"They will be 300 leagues from here by now. Eomer cannot help us. I know what it is you want of me…but I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war." He said. I looked over at Gimli and grabbed some bread to eat. Once more I felt Legolas's eyes on me. "Open war is upon you, weather you would risk it or not." Aragorn told him. Théoden turned to look at Aragorn, and walked towards us. "When last I looked…Théoden not Aragorn, was the King of Rohan." Théoden said while he glared at Aragorn. "Then what is the Kings decision?" Gandalf asked.