Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or anything associated with it, I do own Nisarsai and everything related to her.
Author's Note: The last chapter was small, so I am going to try to make up for it a bit, if I can. I am still going by the movie, still I lack book. I should have it in a week or two. If I do not get it by then… I figure out something. One way or another the Rangers of the North are coming. If I leave out anything or if Nisarsai becomes a MS, please hit me in the head. On a side note: This started out, when I first wrote it, as a Legomance, maybe Eomance, but now I am not sure. I will have to see how things progress.
The sky began to lighten and little breezes spun about on the grass of the plain. Night fled from the rising sun and a choir of birds in the distance began to sing. The four horses ate peacefully nearby while Aragorn checked on them, placing things into the packs on their backs and patting their necks. Back at the camp, nestled under an elven cloak, Nisarsai laid curled up, sound asleep against the cliff face as the others sat around the remnants of last night's fire. Legolas inspected his arrows and bow and Gimli sharpen his ax as they sat with Gandalf, still amazed at his return, while the latter smoked his pipe and waited for Aragorn to join them.
"What should we expect in Edoras?" Aragorn asked as he returned, taking a seat next to Gimli and taking out a pipe of his own. Gandalf drew his pipe away and leaned forward some, pausing in thought before he spoke.
"Do not expect welcome, we will be seen as trespassers…" Gandalf replied, pausing some more.
"I expected that," Aragorn nodded. "Yesterday we came upon Éomer and his men; they had been banished by the King."
"Then it is worse than I thought, we may have no allies there, but this task must be done," Gandalf said, he took a long draw from his pipe. They sat in silence, the world awakening around them with the dawn. A muffled, soft yelp came from behind them. Nisarsai turned fitfully in her sleep.
"What of her?" Gimli asked, nodding in her direction.
"I do not know," Gandalf replied, looking back at the woman. "Her role here is not clear to me, nor does she have any idea of why she is here, or how she came to be here. We will take her to Edoras with us, but beyond that I do not know if she would be a help or a hindrance."
"What is she?" Legolas asked, "How to we plan to explain her presence?"
"I am unsure of that as well; she is not from here but another world." Another yelp sounded from Nisarsai and she shot up, awake.
"Tiida dainui sorlaneru, karasetdan trisnlta!" she shouted and then shook her head while rubbing her eyes. She looked over to the others sheepishly, "Tali-tia eldarae, tesetauni."
"Eldaril, tiiavn hanyua naiul. Ceneriavn qallio," Gandalf replied to her, she nodded and began to unravel herself from the cloak. He turned back to Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn. "She had a nightmare."
"Is that what 'tye-shye-ta-uni' meant?" Aragorn asked. Gandalf nodded.
"Introduce her as Nisarsai from the North. I will try to teach her some Westron before we reach Edoras, basic phrases." Gandalf stood as she approached, using her fingers to comb her hair. "Sigarnina nisiada ge ceidar lanrinem; ociavn merole."
"Dariiav avihlly. Dhain nisiadiav iangni?" she straighten her clothes and adjusted pieces as she asked.
"Iu saliceil, 'Good day'."
"Good day," she repeated while smiling. Gandalf nodded.
"Calimeh tiina? Sur tiida 'yes' va qan tiida 'no'."
"Yes, tiiav."
"Good, tali." Gandalf took a last draw from his pipe, Nisarsai watched warily, her eyebrows furrowed some.
"Bhaser jaiceicana erikui? Ey'fyiana naboknii?"
"Kellu, narye tiida iu dreojaor ceari jeani locanem lanrinem. Ceari 'men' va 'dwarves'… Dhain tiina?"
"Iadruvra, iu Diorhco Iadruvra Dalidalta," she stated proudly, taking out a small bound book from a pocket. She opened it and showed Gandalf the print of strange green interlocking sigils on a silver square, underneath strange script spelled out Dalida: Bovjalinu, Daluívralinu, Jainalinu.
"'Du-lye-du': land of the Exiles, land of the people of 'Du-ly', land of the free. Qurao nifyln tiina?"
"Ceiavlon."
Gandalf turned to the others who were now standing and watching them, "She is a 'dhyar-ka aird-ruo-ra' from 'du-lye-du' and is ninety-three years old."
"Ninety-three!" Gimli exclaimed and shook his head, turning toward the horses. The rest followed and then mounted their respective steeds. Gandalf pointed to the horse, "Horse."
"Horse," Nisarsai repeated. "Thra tiida ge siuit?"
"Nuval, bhaser?" he looked at her questioningly, a bit put off by her question.
"Ge eruino lasin kenlioda tan jinka siadaor."
"What did she ask?"
"Where the sea was… just in case." They started again toward Edoras. Along the way, Gandalf pointed out objects to Nisarsai and translated. He told here how to ask for things and words of politeness, which took her more time than anything else did. Gandalf explaind to the others that politeness was inflected in tone and endings for words and not in words themselves where she was from. In the other aspects she learned fast but was really only repeating and memorizing the phrases and not understanding the words behind them. By midday, Edoras appeared and they slowed in their approach. As they entered the village, Nisarsai pulled up the hood of the cloak, shifting uncomfortably on the horse from the grieved atmosphere. They dismounted at the foot of the stairs leading up to Meduseld, Gandalf addressed them.
"Follow my lead, keep a sharp eye open," he turned to Nisarsai, "Salarheme, ama tiida iu iaoinor acinorém va kanil vaoithida. Tiina onsimolelv?"
"No, I not am… onsimolelv," she replied softly, looking around. They started up the stairs, Gandalf first with Legolas and Aragorn on either side while Gimli and Nisarsai walked close behind. Before they reached the main door a group of guards stood before it, one stepped towards them.
"I cannot allow you before Théoden-king so armed, Gandalf Grayhame... By order of - Grima Wormtongue," the guard said with some regret. Gandalf nodded to the others and they began to relinquish there weapons.
"And him in the back," the guard gestured toward Nisarsai.
"She is unarmed," Gandalf replied.
"Pardon me, milady," the guard looked to Gandalf, "Your staff."
Gandalf glanced at his staff questioningly then gave an innocent look to Hama the guard, "Mm. Oh. You would not part an old man from his… walking stick."
Hama hesitated, then finally nodding and turning to lead them into the building. Gandalf cast a glance back at the four and winked. He bent over some and Legolas went to his side, helping him. Inside Nisarsai watched the people, particularly the group of guards that watched them like prey and then focused her sight onto the aged king and dark haired man next to him. Grima narrowed his eyes at the party and leaned toward the king.
"My Lord. Gandalf the Grey is coming. He is a herald of woe," he whispered persuasively.
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden-King," Gandalf called out.
In a raspy and weak voice the king answered, "Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?"
Grima stood after speaking in the king's ear and approached the group, "Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest." He spoke loudly, more to the other people in the room than Gandalf himself.
Gandalf's countenance grew harsh, "Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!" He raised his staff threateningly toward Grima, whose eyes grew wide with shock as he spoke impatiently.
"Your staff…I told you to take the wizard's staff!" The guards rushed forward, trying to grab at the members of the group. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli quickly subdue them. As Legolas turned to help Nisarsai, one of the guards grabbed her from behind but before Legolas could reach her, she quickly tossed him over her shoulder keeping his arm in an awkward position. She looked down at the guard.
"Stay!" she commanded. Gandalf moved toward the king as Gimli pinned down Grima.
"Théoden, Son of Thengel. Too long have you sat in the shadows," Gandalf said sympathetically, he then extended his hand out speaking directly to Théoden, "Hearken to me! I release you from the spell."
A soft chuckle came from the king, Nisarsai shivered. Théoden spoke, this time with a stronger and clearer voice, "You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey."
Suddenly Gandalf threw back the outer robe of grey he wore and stood before all shining with power in white robes, "I shall draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound." He positioned his staff, focusing on the king. From the side a woman tried to run out to the king but Aragorn stops her.
"If I go, Théoden dies," said the king, but not in Théoden's voice.
"You will not kill me, you will not kill him."
"Rohan is mine!" the king said angrily in other voice.
"Be gone!" Gandalf raised his staff, Théoden was pushed into the back of his throne, and then he slumped over. The woman pried away from Aragorn and knelt at the feet of the king, taking him by the shoulders. The people in the room watched in amazement as the years and weariness shed off the king. Nisarsai stepped forward to Gandalf, watching intently.
"I know your face," Théoden said to the woman, his eyes searching her face, "Éowyn... Éowyn." She smiled and comforted Théoden who then looked up to Gandalf.
"Breathe the free air again, my friend," Gandalf said.
"Dark have been my dreams of late."
"Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your sword," Gandalf replied as Hama came forward. Théoden drew out the sword and breathed deeply. His eyes looked about the room and settled on Grima. Hama followed his stare and the guards grabbed Grima and began dragging him toward the doors of the hall. Théoden and the others followed as Grima protested loudly. The guards threw him on the stairs where he rolled a bit down them. Nisarsai grabbed onto Gandalf's shoulder, whispering furiously.
"Dhain ama tiida?"
Gandalf looked to her, the hood pulled off her head and her eyes glittering. "Arranana Nisarsai."
She took a deep breath and ran her hands through her hair impatiently. When she looked up, she saw Grima running away through the crowd, grabbing a horse as he went. The guard shouted and the people of the village bowed. Théoden then looked about confused and then turned to his guards and Gandalf.
"Where is Théodred? Where is my son?"