Gandalf stepped forward, dressed in all white and somehow looked younger than before he had fallen. Hermione felt tears begin to gather in her eyes.
"But you fell!" Hermione whispered, disbelief clear in her tone.
"Through fire and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought with the Balrog of Morogoth. Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon 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 of earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again.
"I've been sent back until my task is done," he finished gravely. Hermione's tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Gandalf!" Aragon whispered in shock. Gandalf turned to him, confused.
"Gandalf? Yes…that's what they used to call me; Gandalf the Grey. That was my name," he said, smiling. "I am Gandalf the White, and I come back to you now at the turn of the tide."
Everyone broke out in smiles and laughter as Gandalf led them through the forest. They broke free into the sunshine, which seemed just a little brighter than before.
"One stage of your journey is over, another begins. War has come to Rohan; we must ride to Édoras with all speed," Gandalf said, looking at his four companions. Hermione bit her lip anxiously as Gandalf whistled loudly. Nothing happened at first, but then over the horizon, a great white horse appeared, quickly galloping towards them.
Legolas let out a breath and was clearly awed by what was racing towards them.
"That is one of the Méaras, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell," he said, shaking his head slightly. Hermione was unsure what was so great about the horse, but it looked regal as it stopped in front of them.
"Shadowfax," Gandalf said. Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione saw Gimli bow. "He's the lord of all horses and he's been my friend through many dangers."
Gandalf mounted Shadowfax while Aragorn and Gimli mounted their horse. Legolas helped Hermione mount their horse, as her thigh was beginning to burn painfully. Legolas got on behind her and took the reins.
They rode across the plains for hours, racing as fast as their horses could. Hermione's thigh was really bothering her, but she couldn't do anything about it, as she was being jostled on the horse and couldn't reach her beaded bag.
The horses stopped as a small village came into view. On the top of a hill stood a large house while smaller ones surrounded it on the sides of the hill. It didn't look as grand as the Elvish sanctuaries, but Hermione could tell it held some importance.
"Édoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Théoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown," Gandalf said, angrily. "Saruman's hold over him is now very strong."
Hermione felt shivers run down her spine, and not the good kind, as she felt a dark presence around them.
"Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here," Gandalf finished, urging Shadowfax forward. Aragorn and Legolas followed him towards Édoras. They rode quickly until they reached the gates of the village. A flag fluttered down before them, falling to the muddy ground.
The gates opened, allowing the horses inside. Silence greeted the group; Édoras had a somber air with its people dressed in dark colors, regarding Hermione and the group with wary silence.
"You'll find more cheer in a graveyard," Gimli muttered from his horse. Hermione would have laughed, if it weren't for the sinister feeling she had, building inside her.
Riding the horses until they could go no longer, Legolas stopped and helped Hermione get down. Her leg was aching and sore, making it near impossible for Hermione to walk. Legolas wrapped an arm around her waist as he draped her arm across his shoulders. He helped her walk up the seemingly endless stairs up to the great hall. They stopped when guards in front of the door met them.
"I cannot allow you before Théoden-King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame," a guard said, crossing his arms. "By order of Gríma Wormtongue," he finished. Gandalf nodded in understanding and signaled for Hermione, Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli to surrender their weapons.
Hermione took her daggers from her belt and placed them on the table along with her bow and quiver. Reluctantly, she removed the Sword of Gryffindor from its scabbard and placed it alongside her other weapons. She was about to surrender her wand, but Legolas placed a hand on her elbow. Hermione looked to him in confusion when he winked at her. She gave him a small smile and nodded. They resumed their position as before: Legolas' hand around her waist and her arm across his shoulders.
As the group was about to walk inside, the guard stopped them once again.
"Your staff," he said, indicating Gandalf's now white staff.
"Hmm? Oh," Gandalf said, "you would not part an old man from his walking stick?" he asked, innocently.
The guard hesitated for a second but then gestured them inside. Gandalf turned to Hermione and gave her a sly grin as he entered the hall, leaning on Aragorn's arm.
The hall looked like how one would look in the Viking age; furs of beasts lay on the floor and adorned the stonewalls. There was a large fire pit in the middle of the hall, though no fire was lit at the moment. On the top of a platform at the far end of the hall sat an old man on a throne.
The man looked very old, older than Gandalf and had what looked like cobwebs draped all over his frame. A small, sniveling man stood beside him, crouching down and whispering in his ear.
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened, Théoden King," Gandalf said as they approached him. A group of men started to surround them as Gandalf spoke.
The greasy haired man, whom reminded Hermione of a mixture of Snape and Wormtail, whispered in Théoden's ear again.
"Why should I…welcome you, Gandalf…Stormcrow?" the old king whispered weakly.
"A just question, my liege," the man at Théoden's side said. He started to walk towards Gandalf as he spoke again. "Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell spell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest," he spat out.
"Be silent!" Gandalf roared. "Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth, Gríma Wormtongue! I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!" Gandalf raised his staff toward Wormtongue threateningly.
"His staff!" Gríma screeched, backing away quickly from Gandalf. "I told you to take the wizards staff!" The guards surrounding the group closed in, starting fights. Hermione whipped out her wand and began stunning the guards one by one while Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli engaged them in a fistfight.
Without much mobility, Hermione single-handedly stunned over six men. Satisfied with her work, she leant against a column, worn out. She turned her attention to Gandalf, who was yelling at Théoden.
"Be gone!" he cried, his staff pointed at the king who was shoved against his chair by an invisible force. Slowly, Théoden's appearance began to change; his white hair and wrinkles disappeared, as he turned younger until he stopped at what seemed about forty years old. His hair showed no sign of gray and his eyes were clear.
A young woman with long, blond hair ran forward and knelt at his side. The king looked at her with recognition.
"I know your face," he said, "Éowyn…Éowyn."
Éowyn began weeping with joy as Théoden looked towards Gandalf.
"Gandalf?" he asked, standing up shakily.
"Breathe the free air again, my friend," Gandalf said, smiling. A bright, warm light filled the hall as Théoden regarded his guards with a victorious smile.
"Dark have been my dreams of late," Théoden said, looking down at his trembling hands.
"Your fingers would remember their old strength better…if they grasped your sword," Gandalf said.
A guard ran up to Théoden with his sword. He reached for it and grasped it with trembling hands as he drew it, holding it up to the light. Gríma whimpered from a corner and Théoden regarded him with hatred. Gríma was then thrown out of the hall onto the steps.
Legolas ran to Hermione and looked at her pale face with worry.
"Hermione, are you okay?" he asked. Hermione shook her head weakly.
"No, it's my leg," she croaked. Legolas nodded quickly and picked her up bridal style, carrying her to Éowyn.
"My lady, she needs medical attention!" he said urgently. Éowyn nodded and lead them to her chambers and let Legolas set Hermione down gently on her bed.
"What happened?" Éowyn asked, grabbing a cloth and a bowl of water from a table nearby.
"She was struck by an Orc arrow whilst in combat. The wound hasn't fully healed since," Legolas said, dabbing Hermione's forehead with the wet cloth. Éowyn nodded and disappeared for a moment only to return with a fresh bandage and some salve. Éowyn ushered Legolas out of the room and after arguing, he left, leaving her to do her work.
Carefully removing Hermione's pants, Éowyn spread the salve on the freshly opened wound until it was covered completely. She then wrapped the fresh bandage around her thigh tightly, securing it with a knot. Éowyn carefully removed Hermione's clothes and replaced them with a simple green dress and took her clothes to be washed and mended. She left Hermione to rest for a few hours.
Hermione woke peacefully, warm, and comfortable in a large bed. She sat up and stretched, noticing her new clothing. Cautiously testing out her leg, she stood up and faltered a bit. Quickly looking through her beaded bag for some medical potion, Hermione downed it and felt the strength return to her leg instantly. She found a tub filled with warm water in the corner and quickly bathed. After drying off, she braided her hair and re-dressed.
Placing her wand in the belt around her waist and attaching her bag to the belt as well, Hermione left the room only to run into Éowyn.
"How are you feeling, Lady Hermione?" she asked. Hermione gave her a smile.
"Fantastic!" she said. "Thank you, so much."
"It was my pleasure," Éowyn said, returning her smile. "Shall I lead you back into the hall?" she asked. Hermione nodded and followed her.
"What are you doing running around with a man, an Elf, and a Dwarf, if I may ask?" Éowyn asked curiously.
"Well, I volunteered myself to go with them on this journey. I felt that I needed to help fight the war, as I have already lived through one myself, and don't wish that life upon anyone," Hermione said gravely. Éowyn nodded.
"That is quite noble, my lady," she said. "I wish I could be as brave as you someday."
"And you shall, Éowyn, if you wish it so," Hermione said, encouragingly.
The two young women entered the hall and Hermione found Aragorn and Gimli sitting at a table, eating while Legolas was leaning against a column. His eyes shot to her and he relaxed slightly.
"How are you?" he asked, concerned.
"I'm fine. My leg is healed and I actually got to take a bath," she laughed lightly. Legolas smiled and helped her sit.
"Are you hungry? Here's a plate," Aragorn said, pushing his to Hermione as he got up. Hermione ate daintily, but quickly as hunger raged within her belly. She finished the plate, full and happy. Her eyes wandered the room as she noticed two children, worn and eating at another table.
"Who are they?" she whispered to Legolas.
"They just escaped a raid on their village. Their mother was left behind," he said solemnly. Hermione's heart shattered to pieces as she looked at the two children. She got up and went over to them. The little girl that sat there looked at Hermione in interest. Hermione knelt beside her. Legolas watched her, intrigued.
"Hello, what's your name?" she asked softly. The little girl tucked her hair behind her ear.
"My name's Freda, ma'am."
"My name is Hermione, it's nice to meet you, Freda. How are you?" she asked.
"I'm scared, Lady Hermione. My mama's gone," she said, starting to break down in tears. Hermione held Freda in her arms and soothed her.
"Shh… It's going to be okay, Freda," Hermione said. A brilliant idea struck her and she pulled Freda out in front of her. "Freda, are you brave? Can you be brave for me?" Hermione asked. Freda hesitated, but fear of disappointing Hermione made her nod. "Excellent. I have a task for you, but it requires you to be very brave," she said. Hermione dug in her beaded bag until she found what she was looking for.
A slightly battered teddy bear was pulled out of her bag. The bear was Hermione's from when she was a child and it comforted her when she was scared. She showed Freda the bear.
"This is Lord Tubbington," Hermione said. "Now, Lord Tubbington gets scared very easily and I can't protect him anymore. He needs someone strong and brave to look out for him. Can you do that for me?" Freda nodded eagerly as Hermione gave her the bear.
"Don't be scared, Lord Tubbington, I'll protect you!" Freda exclaimed happily, hugging the bear tightly. Hermione smiled down at Freda and went back to Legolas who was smiling at her.
"That was very kind, Hermione," he said. Hermione gave him a smile.
"I was often scared as a child and that bear helped me overcome my fears. I figured she needed it more than I," she replied, shrugging. Legolas grasped her hand in his strong ones and pulled her into his chest. His arms encircled her as he spoke.
"There's no need to be scared, Hermione," he said, resting his chin on the top of her head. Hermione sighed into his chest contently.
"I'm not anymore," she said. They heard Aragorn arguing with Théoden and turned to him, still embracing one-another.
"Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not," Aragorn said, threateningly. Théoden stepped up to him and had to look up, as Aragorn was quite tall.
"Last I looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan," he spat out.
"Then what is the king's decision?" Gandalf asked quietly.
"We will seek refuge at Helm's Deep," Théoden said with finality. Aragorn shook his head.
"This will be the end for us all!" he cried out angrily, storming out of the hall.
I would like to state that JK Rowling, JRR Tolkien, and Peter Jackson own all of this material! I only own the plot! I wish I owned more, but C'est la vie! Please review! I want to know what you think! :)