Ch 9 trouble in Rohan
Legolas fired an arrow, Gimli threw an ax, and Lin fired one of her blades. But they were all batted away, and Aragorn was forced to toss his sword aside because of the rising temperature.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two hobbits." The white wizard says.
"Where are they?!" Aragorn demands.
"They passed here two days ago. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" the white wizard asks.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragorn yells.
The bright light dims, and shows Gandalf, all dressed in white. Everyone is stunned to see him.
"It cannot be." Aragorn said.
"How'd you survive that?" Lin asked.
"Through fire and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak. I fought with the Balrog… Until at last I threw down my enemy and smote his ruins on the mountainside. Darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time… stars wheeled overhead and everyday was as long as a life-age on earth. But it was not the end. If felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done." Gandalf said.
"Gandalf!" Aragorn says, in disbelief.
"Gandalf. I am Gandalf the white. And I come back to you now, at the turn of the tide." Gandalf said.
"Turn of the tide?" Lin asks.
"To much to explain right now. We must move quickly. Oh Lin, while I was gone, I met a person named Iroh. He was very good at Pi Sho, and had a great knowledge of tea. When I told about the tea in this world, he wanted to know everything about it. I felt like I was going insane. I wanted to kill myself at that point. But I didn't because if I managed to do so, I'd be right back at square one. Man, I'm so glad to be back on my feet again and away from him." Gandalf said.
"I met him in the past. You're accurate on the tea part." Lin dryly said.
"Where are we going?" Gimli asked.
"Rohan. Trouble is brewing there. We must ride with all haste." Gandalf said.
"We heard. The king has been controlled by Saruman." Aragorn said.
"It won't be easy to break the bond. But we must move. And don't worry about your friends. They're safer then you'll be in a few hours." Gandalf said.
Emerging from the forest, Gandalf whistled and a white horse appeared running towards them.
"That is shadow fax. He's the lord of horses and he's been my friend thru many dangers." Gandalf said.
The next day, they continued riding towards Edoras. Gimli and Legolas on one horse, Aragorn and Lin on another, and Gandalf leading the way on his horse. Overlooking a hill, they saw the capital city of Rohan.
"Not much to look out." Lin said, noting the few defenses they had. Zaofu was more defended then Edoras was.
"Edoras and the golden hall of Meduseld. There lies Theoden, king of Rohan, who's mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over king Theoden is very strong." Gandalf said.
"Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here." Gandalf warned.
Riding into the city, they noticed the bleak atmosphere. Everyone was dressed in black and stared at the newcomers.
"You'll find more cheer in a graveyard." Gimli said.
Lin couldn't agree more.
The group dismounted and then walked up the steps to the entrance of the hall and were greeted by guards.
"I cannot allow you before Theoden-King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame. By order of Grima Wormtongue." The Rohirrim known as Hama says.
The group gave up their weapons at once. Gimli gave up his axe, Legolas gave his bow, arrows, and swords. Aragorn gave up his sword and knife, along with his own bow and arrow. Lin gave her sword away. She kept her blades out of sight and hid the cable spooling system inside her armor, despite the discomfort it brought.
Hama looked at Gandalf, expecting him to give up his staff.
"You wouldn't expect an old man to part with his walking stick." Gandalf said.
Hama nodded in response and let them in. Lin only smirked in response. She was an earth bender. That was still one lethal weapon that couldn't be taken away.
The group entered in and saw the King, sitting on his throne. Time was not treating him good. Another man was next to him, dark haired, and emaciated.
"The courtesy of your hall is lacking, Theoden King." Gandalf said.
"Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?" Theoden weakly asked.
"A just question my lord." Grima said.
"Late, is the hour in which this counjourer chooses to appear. Ill news is an ill guest." Grima continued.
"Shut the fuck up, and get something to eat." Gandalf said, causing everyone to raise their eyebrows.
"His staff. I told you to take the staff!" Grima said, seeing the staff. Multiple guards appeared to stop the new comers.
"Morons." Lin muttered, her seismic sense telling her the exact number of thugs approaching. Lin lunged forward and clapped her hands together. Multiple earth prisons appeared out of nowhere, trapping the guards in their own cells.
Noticing that Grima had escaped, Lin looked to her left and snapped her fingers. A screaming noise is heard and Grima is seen flying back into the hall, slamming against a pillar. Lin quickly pinned him against the pillar with metal bands and walked towards him, retractable blade in view.
"Keep struggling. Please." Lin said, putting the blade against Grima's throat. Grima quit struggling.
"Theoden, son of Thengel…. Too long have you sat in the shadows." Gandalf said, walking towards the king.
The king then laughed at Gandalf. "You have no power here, Gandalf the grey."
Gandalf took off his grey cloak, showing bright light. Theoden is pushed back into his chair.
"I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound." Gandalf said, pointing his staff at Theoden.
A young women rushes in and tries to run towards Theoden, but Aragorn stops her. "Wait."
"If I go, Theoden dies!" Theoden said, but in Saruman's voice.
"You did not kill me. You will not kill him!" Gandalf says.
"Rohan is mine!" Theoden says, then leaps forward to attack Gandalf, but Gandalf swings his staff. Theoden is flung back into his chair, and at the tower of Orthac, Saruman is lying on the floor, with a bruise on his forehead. In the hall, Theoden slumps forward and the women rushes forward to help him.
Theoden raises his head again and his appearance is taking the look of a much younger man. Clarity appears into his eyes again.
"I know your face, Eowyn." Theoden says, looking at the young women.
Eowyn only smiles and cries in relief and joy.
"Gandalf?" Theoden asks.
"Wake up and breath the free air again, my friend." Gandalf said.
Theoden stands up and looks at his withered hands.
"Your fingers will remember their strength, if they grasp your sword." Gandalf said.
Hama presents Theoden his sword, and Theoden grabs the hilt and pulls the blade from its sheath.
The hall is filled with light again and everyone watches as their king takes his rightful place. Grima only looks on with fear, as Theoden looks at him, furious.
Two guards tossed Grima down the stairs and Theoden appears with his sword.
"I've only served you, my lord." Grima said.
"Your witchcraft, would have me crawling on all four like a beast." Theoden growls.
"Send me not from your sight." Grima pleads.
Theoden raises his sword to kill Grima, but Aragorn stops it, grabbing the King.
"No my lord! No! Enough blood has been spilt on his account." Aragorn said.
Aragorn offers his hand to Grima, but Grima spits in it, and runs away from the king, eventually fleeing on horseback.
"Hail Theoden king!" Hama shouts.
As everyone bows to him, only one thing is on the king's mind.
"Where is my son?" Theoden asks.
At a small cemetery, Theoden is mourning at the loss of his son.
"Alas, that these evil days should be mine. The young perish and the old linger. That I should live to see the end of my house." Theoden says.
"Theodred's death was not of your making." Gandalf comforts.
"No parent should ever have to bury their child." Theoden said, weeping.
"He was strong in life. His spirit will find its way to the hall of your fathers." Gandalf says.
Gandalf turns around to leave Theoden to grieve in private. He spots a horse with two kids on it. One of the children falls off the horse.
Later in the great hall, the two children are eating and Eowen is with them.
"This is a taste that Saruman will unleash. All the more potent that he is driven by the fear of Sauron. Ride out and meet him head on. Draw him away from your women and children. You must fight." Gandalf says.
"Eomer is still loyal to you. He and two thousand men are riding north as we speak. They'll come back and fight for their king." Aragorn said.
"We also have the earth bender with us, Lin Beifong. She is strong and capable in a fight." Gandalf says.
"Eomer and his men will be 5000 leagues away from us by now. He cannot help us. And while Lin is strong as you claim, she's only one person. I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war." Theoden says.
"War is already upon you. Whether you risk it or not." Aragorn says.
"King, I suggest you think about what we're saying. Saruman is already getting his forces moving. Think about your people. What will keep them safe in a long and protracted war? You must fight. Go out and fight him." Lin said.
"Last I looked, Theoden, not Lin and Aragorn, was king of Rohan." Theoden reminded.
"Then what is the king's decision?" Gandalf asked.
"By the order of the king, we are to make to helms deep! Take only what you need! Leave everything else behind!" Hama ordered to the people of Edoras.
As everyone gets ready to pack, Gandalf leads his group into the stables to his horse.
"Helms deep!" Gandalf says in disbelief.
"He's only trying to protect his people. Helms deep has saved them in the past." Aragorn says.
"There is no way out of that ravine. He thinks he's leading them to safety. What he'll get is a massacre. Theoden has a strong will, but I fear for him. And his people. The defenses have to hold." Gandalf says.
"They will hold." Aragorn says.
Gandalf turns to shadowfax and strokes him "The grey pilgrim. That's what they called me. I've walked this earth in three hundred lives of men, and now I'm out of time. With luck, my search will not be in vain. Look to my coming, at the first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east." Gandalf says.
Legolas jumps back as Gandalf rides out of the stable and over the plains of Rohan.
Inside the great hall, the last essential supplies are being stored away to be taken to helms deep. Eowen opens a case and picks up a sword, taking it out of its sheath. She begins to practice it and is met by Lin who blocks it with her wrist knife.
"You have some skills with a blade." Lin says.
With a quick move, Eowen twists her sword but Lin twists around and with her free hand grabs Eowen's sword.
"That'll work here, but where I come from, that's the oldest trick in the book." Lin says.
"Women of this country learned long ago; those without swords can still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain." Eowen says, putting her sword away.
"You want to fight in this war, correct?" Lin asked, using her detective skills.
"Yes." Eowen says.
Lin steps back and unsheathes her wrist knives. Then brandishes her sword, and holds it above her head.
"Pull out your sword, and come after me." Lin says.
Eowen looks at Lin, then pulls out her sword.
Eowen slashes forward, only for Lin to block it. Lin steps to another position in the hall, giving both of them room to fight. Eowen strikes first and both of them start fighting, Lin being the better fighter.
Lin knocks Eowen's sword away and kicks her in the chest, sending her back many feet.
"Uruk-hai are much stronger than I am. As much as I enjoyed this session, pack your things. And stay out of the fight." Lin says.
"Right." Eowen bitterly says.
Lin grabs Eowen and shoves her against a pillar.
"I'm serious. War is nothing to trifle with. Every day could be your last. If I was an Uruk-hai, I and my buddies would rape you a thousand times. Don't be so eager. You won't like it." Lin growls.
Lin drops Eowen and walks out of the hall, not noticing that Aragorn was watching.
The people of Rohan leave Edoras and head to Helms deep, with Theoden leading the way.
At Isengard, Grima is talking to Saruman.
"Theoden will not stay at Edoras. It's vulnerable, he knows it. He will expect an attack on the city. They will flee to Helms Deep, the great fortress of Rohan. It is a dangerous road to take. It will be slow progress all the way. And there will be women, and children with them." Grima says.
Saruman walks thru Isengard and gives orders to Sharku, the chieftain of Saruman's warg riding Orcs.
"Send out your warg riders."
Sharku only smiles in response. In a pit behind him, ferocious growls are heard, and two shadows attack each other.
