Chapter 10: Edoras

HLF: Yaaay! Guess what? I reached the chapter 10 milestoneee ahah so happy those that have reviewed and stuck by me have been here to witness such an awesome event

Dark: I don't think they really care HLF...

HLF: Well whatever. It's an UPDATE meaning an update on me as well as this story so shush ahah

Note! Ladies out there who don't know what archery does for the body... trust me! My friend does archery and he feels like a rock... Now imagine a rock hard Legolas ;)

Kagome took a moment to collect herself as she ran her slender fingers through Legolas' fine blonde strands. The notion was soothing to her as Legolas rubbed gentle circles on her back.

She inhaled deeply.

"You okay?" asked Legolas as he pulled away to look at her red face.

Kagome nodded silently. Legolas sighed for a moment and then lifted up her chin. His lips met hers for the second time in moments in another one of his delicious kisses.

Kagome deepened it and gripped his jaw and attempted to pull him closer. She moaned lightly into his mouth as her earlier anger and sadness seemed to melt away.

It was clear now. This man was the only person that could lift her up when she was feeling down. Just his kisses could make her body feel like it was on fire.

Legolas managed to pull himself away from her tight hold and smirked. "Well I guess you are feeling much better now, aren't you?"

"Mhmm..." she murmured, in a daze.

Legolas managed to chuckle as he took in her dazed expression. He then proceeded to lift them both off the ground. He dusted them both off and managed to graze her behind lightly.

He blushed lightly while Kagome grinned viciously at him.

They turned and made their way towards Gimli, Dark, Aragorn and the horses.

"We got to go check out that camp of theirs" stated Kagome with authority as she adjusted her weapons.

The group seemed to agree readily as they nodded and mounted the horses.

"Hop on, Kagome" said Legolas, giving her a half-smile and an outstretched arm.

Kagome scrunched up her face in disgust.

"No offense, babe. As much as I want to ride with you and all I am not getting on that."

Legolas seemed confused as Kagome pointed at the brown horse that he had mounted on.

"What's wrong with it?" he questioned curiously.

"Well, for one it was given to us by that murderer whose guts I would gladly rip out right about now" she paused at this as a look of irritation appeared on her face. "And two, it'd be best for the group if I patrolled the skies. You know... like a lookout or something."

Legolas half-smiled again as he adjusted himself on his horse and urged the horse to a slow gallop. The gallop began to increase in speed as Kagome watched him head off with a dreamy expression on her face.

The whinnying of another horse brought her out of her daze as she noticed Gimli and Aragorn take off after Legolas.

She felt the air move behind her as Dark transformed. Kagome then turned around and mounted him.

'Ready?' Dark's voice penetrated through her mind, smooth and clear.

She petted his large, fuzzy head in response. In truth, she was a little bit nervous but she thought that she'd overcome her fear soon enough.

The wind seemed to rush by her at miles per second as they surged into the air. Her eyes were drying fast as she couldn't help but keep them wide open for fear of missing something in this once in a lifetime experience.

Her heart seemed to jump into her throat as the air continued to rush by. Her clothes rustled violently in the wind and her hair flailed about wildly. Her mind finally registered where exactly she was and the thought was absolutely mind-blowing.

She was in the sky!

That wide expanse of blue that had always been above them the entire time! She was up there!

Kagome couldn't help but let out a breath that she hadn't known she'd been holding.

"Well, this isn't so bad!" she exclaimed. All she had to remember was not to look down and she wouldn't get the crap scared out of her.

At that thought she clenched her teeth tightly. She couldn't resist the urge after all and her head tilted downwards as she looked at the ground below.

Her stomach was queasy and she resisted the urge to throw up. Everything as so far away from up here! She could see that horses from here... They were so tiny!

At this thought, she also noticed that it was a long drop down.

She gulped visibly as Dark seemed to lower at her thoughts.

Her mind seemed to focus as Dark glided to the left. They cut through the air like a knife through butter as Kagome took in the scene below. She saw the smoke still rising and noticed the remains of fires, ashes and charred remains... In short, it was chaos.

"Must've been some fight..." she wondered aloud.

Dark flew lower to get a closer look as Kagome noticed the rest of the gang catch up to her.

Dark's huge feet made a thumping noise as they touched down onto the gound.

Kagome saw Gimli run over the a pile of charred items. He swiftly reached in and pulled out a belt.

"Look! It's one of their belts!" he said, as his eyes widened in recognition.

Kagome walked to Legolas and held his muscled forearm. He seemed to be concentrating with his eyes closed.

"Hiro hyn hîdh ab wanath" he whispered, as Kagome rubbed his cheek lovingly. (May they find peace in death.)

The sound of metal scraping the floor caught her attention as she turn to see Aragorn kick a helmet. Aragorn then let out a cry of anguish and fell to his knees with his palms on his head.

"We failed them."

Kagome frowned at this. She didn't want to believe that this was over. She didn't want to believe it. She couldn't believe it was over with.

A mark in the sand crossed her vision as she pulled away from Legolas to inspect it.

"Aragorn..." she murmured as she knelt down to observe.

Aragorn pulled himself together and walked near her. His eyes sparked with hope and Kagome hoped his eyes wouldn't lose that feeling.

"A Hobbit lay here..." he mumbled as he lay his fingertips on the markings. "And the other"

Aragorn moved quickly as he noticed more marks in the sand. "They crawled" he murmured louder. "But their hands were bound"

"Their bonds were cut" he said as he observed the remnants of what seemed to be broken rope.

Aragorn jumped to his feet and jogged farther into the distance. "They ran over here…" he said smiling but then paused. "And were followed."

The Fellowship, or what was left of it, observed the remainder of the tracks.

"The tracks lead away from the battle!" exclaimed Kagome with enthusiasm.

"Into… Fangorn Forest" whispered Legolas with an incredulous look on his face.

"Fangorn! What madness drove them in there?" shouted Gimli as his face turned red.

Kagome's face scrunched up. What was so bad about Fangorn Forest?

"Fangorn Forest is said to be a dangerous, evil forest" said Legolas pulling her near. "It is said that the trees that inhabit are... different. And that there are many evil creatures that tear apart those who enter"

Kagome gripped his forearms again and couldn't help but release a pathetic whimper.

The group was silent. No one moved. No one spoke.

Kagome pulled herself away from Legolas and stepped to the edge of the forest. She peered at the mass of trees and noticed the aura that emanated from it.

She turned swiftly and took a step towards the group. "Well?"

The other three looked at her in question.

"We are going after them arn't we?" she questioned with exaggerated movements.

No one replied.

"Or are we just going to fail them? Leave them to survive on their own?"

Aragorn nodded solemnly as the group ventured into the forest.

Gimli observed a particular leaf and then proceeded to taste it. He spit it out in distaste, "Orc blood!"

Kagome rolled her eyes at his antics but was curious as to why orc blood was in the forest in the first place.

"These are strange tracks" mumbled Aragorn as he observed the markings in the dirt once again.

"The air is so close here" whispered Kagome as she drew herself closer to Legolas. The atmosphere seemed so tight and contained. It was almost making it hard for her to breathe.

"This forest is old. Very old. Full of memory and anger" murmured Legolas into her ear as he held her by the hip.

There were whispers in the wind suddenly and on instinct Gimli raised his axe.

A smile broke out on Legolas' lips, "The trees are speaking to eachother"

Kagome was in awe at the number of whispers she had heard.

"Gimli..." she said, smirking.

The dwarf seemed caught off guard as he shook his head.

"Put the axe down"

He gave a sound of recognition and lowered his axe slowly.

"They have feelings, my friend. The Elves began waking up the trees, teaching them to speak."

Kagome's mouth opened slightly in awe until Gimli made a witty remark.

"Talking trees, huh? What do trees have to talk about except the consistency of squirrel droppings"

Kagome snorted and couldn't help from giggling.

Legolas put a hand on her stomach and pulled her behind him.

"Aragorn, nad no ennas!" Legolas yelled as Aragorn rose to his feet. (Something is out there!)

Kagome attempted to squint her eyes where he was looking but she found it hard to find anything... considering she didn't know what she was looking for.

"Man cenich?" she whispered into his ear. (What do you see?)

Legolas' eye shifted from right to left and Kagome felt a powerful aura approaching. She drew her katana.

"The White Wizard approaches."

Aragorn quickly brought the group into formation. "Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us!" he called.

The group put their hands on their respective weapons as Kagome moved herself into a territorial stance in front of Legolas.

"We have to be quick" whispered Aragorn.

They turned but were greeted by a blinding light. Kagome groaned and covered her eyes as best she could. She heard the clanking of metal as weapons were dropped. Legolas' arrows were useless from the looks of it. Her own sword hilt became too hot to hold and it clattered onto the ground.

"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits" came a voice.

"Where are they?" yelled Kagome as she attempted to step forward but was held back by Legolas.

"They passed this way, the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"

No, it hadn't. Who was this someone?

Before she could ask, Aragorn's voice broke through.

"Who are you? Show yourself!"

The light dimmed slowly and Kagome`s eyes opened to reveal Gandalf dressed in a pure white robe.

The old man smiled as both Legolas and Gimli bowed.

"It cannot be!" whispered Aragorn in disbelief.

"Forgive me, I mistook you for Saruman" confessed Legolas, sheepishly.

"I am Saruman. Or rather Saruman as he should have been."

"But you fell!" shouted Aragorn as his eyes widened drastically in fear.

"Through fire and water" responded Gandalf.

"From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought him, the Balrog of Morgoth" said Gandalf with memories pulsing throught his brain. "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. The stars wheeled overhead, and every day was as long as the life age of the earth."

"But it was not the end. I felt light in me again" he murmured with a small smile. "I've been sent back until my task is done."

"Gandalf!" Kagome exclaimed and surged forward to maul the old man. She gripped him around the neck and began to spew small kisses all over his wrinkled forehead.

"Gandalf? Oh yes. That's what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name" he mumbled while smiling gently.

"I am Gandalf the White and I come back to you now, at the turn of the tide."

Kagome's eyes widened at this statement.

Could it really be true?

The group trudged through the forest, trying to wrap their minds around the new information.

"One stage of your journey is over, another begins. War has come to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras with all speed" said Gandalf to the group.

"Edoras? That is no short distance!" called Gimli as he noticed their spooked horses.

"We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king" stated Aragorn to add his two cents worth.

"Yes, and it will not be easily cured" said Gandalf much to their disappointment.

"Then... Then we've done all this for nothing? We're going to leave the hobbits in those words?

The trees seemed to shake around her.

"Not that that is a bad thing as such... " she mumbled nervously.

"It was more than mere chance that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn. A great power has been sleeping here for many long years. The coming of Merry and Pippin will be like the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche in the mountains" stated Gandalf.

"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend" said Aragorn looking at the floor.

Gandalf looked at him for an explanation

"You still speak in riddles" he said and smirked.

The group laughed at this and it seemed to lighten their moods slightly. Kagome shifted to grab Legolas' calloused and much larger hand.

"A thing is about to happen here that has not happened since the Elder Days. The Ents are going to wake up and find that they are strong" said Gandalf smiling.

"Strong? Oh, that's good" said Gimli with sarcasm dripping from each word.

"Stop your fretting Master Dwarf. Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be" scorned Gandalf.

"This new Gandalf's more grumpy than the old one" observed Gimli and Kagome stifled a chuckle.

They reached the edge of the forest and the group seemed to relax for a few minutes.

Gandalf then proceeded to let out a loud whistle.

Kagome was curious as to why he did this until she heard a whiney in the distance. She looked up and saw a beautiful white horse.

"That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell" murmured Legolas, mesmerized by the beast.

The beautiful animal came to a stop infront of Gandalf as he smiled at it. He called out to it:

"Shadowfax"

"He's the lord of all horses, and has been my friend through many dangers" stated Gandalf.

Kagome looked in awe at the animal. It was so white, so pure.

Dark seemed to hiss angrily from her shoulder at the thought.

`But you're cute too Dark!' thought Kagome, smiling inwardly.

'I, Dark, am not cute!' huffed the neko cat.

The group mounted their horses then with Gandalf on Shadowfax, Legolas and Kagome on one horse and Gimli and Aragorn on another.

"Hold on, Kagome" murmured Legolas as he felt Kagome caress his abs through his clothes. "This is going to be a long ride"

At that his horse reared and the group took off at a gallop.

Edoras came into view after the longest ride that Kagome had ever experienced.

"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Théoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong" stated Gandalf.

Kagome nodded solemnly as they began to enter the edge of the town.

"Be careful what you say" said Gandalf as the people gave them strange looks as they approached. "Do not look for welcome here."

A piece of fabric flew from the sky and fell in Legolas' lap.

Kagome grabbed it being sure not to touch... him.

Observing the material, she realized it was a flag of some type.

What was happening here? Something seemed very wrong.

The group approached a castle-like structure as the people of Edoras gave them paranoid looks.

"You'll find more cheer in a graveyard."

Kagome couldn't help but chuckle lightly at Gimli's remark as they continued onward.

They dismounted from their horses and tied them to a post outside the castle. They then climbed the stairs but much to Kagome's irritation guards stepped forward.

She moved herself infront of Gandalf and kept her hilt on her axe. She'd kill these fools in seconds if they hurt any of her group. She swore it.

"I cannot allow you before Theoden king so armed, Gandalf Grayhame. By order of Grima Wormtongue" stated what Kagome thought was the head guard.

She looked at Gandalf in worry and he nodded at the group solemnly. Kagome growled aloud as her teammates disarmed themselves.

She reluctantly relinquished her axe, bow, arrows and katana.

If anything they still had Dark, so that was a plus.

"Kagome" warned Gandalf.

Kagome muttered under her breath as she took off her shoe and popped out her dagger.

Gandalf gave her a look and she responded with a stern look of her own to say that she would not give up her darts that were attached in a pouch at her hip.

"Your staff?" reminded the guard.

"Surely you would not part an old man from his walking stick?" responded Gandalf with a raised brow.

I couldn't imagine that Gandalf's staff was a mere walking stick. Afterall, this is Gandalf we are talking about.

Gandalf winked at Kagome and she smirked softly. He grabbed her arm and attempted to walk along with her at his side.

"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden King" stated Gandalf as he took in the figure of the snake at the king's side.

The evil snake whispered something in the King's ear that Kagome didn't pick up.

Kagome stopped and felt the guards come closer to the Fellowship as they followed them in.

"He is not welcome" hissed the man at the King's side.

Theoden's eyes remained vancant as he stared blankly forward. He wasn't looking at anyone but at the air it would seem.

"Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?" murmured Theoden, his voice rough.

"A just question my liege" hissed the man at his side.

'I suppose this guy is Grima-whatshisface'

Grima stood at this and faced the group head on for once. Kagome felt his evil aura penetrate her to the core and she couldn't help but shiver. This would end badly.

"Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill news is in ill guest" he stated as he looked Kagome up and down. Kagome shuddered under his gaze as Legolas' fists tightened.

"Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind you teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!" shouted aloud as he seemed to pull away from Kagome.

Kagome mentally cheered him on in her head and pride built up inside her.

Gandalf slowly raised his staff, much to Grima's anger.

"His staff! I told you to take the wizard's staff!" burst out Grima in anger.

The guards moved then to attack the Fellowship.

Kagome pulled away from Gandalf as the old man began to walk towards Theoden. She kicked the legs out from behind one of the guards and elbowed another in the head. The metal bit at her arm but she couldn't care less at the moment. Right now she had a job: protect the Fellowship.

"Theoden, Son of Thengel. Too long have you sat in the shadows" called out Gandalf.

Kagome turned just in time to see Gimli knock over Grima as he headed for Gandalf.

"I would stay still if I were you" smirked Gimli as he put his heavy boot down on the evil man.

"I release you from this spell!" yelled Gandalf as he held out his staff.

Theoden laughed bitterly. "You have no power here Gandalf the Grey" he responded bitterly.

He continued to laugh a rough, bitter laugh. Gandalf then threw back his old robes and the startling white penetrated the room

Theoden seemed alarmed as he shrunk back away from Gandalf.

"I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound" stated Gandalf as he again pointed his staff at Theoden.

Theoden cried out in pain and shrank further into the seat.

A woman tried to rush in but Legolas held her back. He ordered her to wait.

Kagome felt a growl rise in her throat and that sickening feeling of jealousy sink into her as she noticed the way the girl had let her arm linger on Legolas' forearm.

'That is MY forearm! Get off!' seethed Kagome much to her own surprise.

She felt Legolas' questioning gaze on her but dared not meet it.

"If I go, Theoden will die" stated a dark voice from Theoden.

Gandalf did not relent and still continued on. "You did not kill me. You will not kill him!"

"Rohan is mine!" shouted the voice as the words fell from Theoden's lips.

"Be gone!" yelled Gandalf as Theoden attempted to run towards him. Theoden was thrown back as the girl that had held on to Legolas flew to his side.

"Eowyn" croaked the man as his features seemed to change back to normal.

He looked up and noticed the group around him. "Gandalf?"

"Breathe the free air again my friend" said Gandalf as he smiled softly.

"Dark have been my dreams of late" murmured Theoden with a shake of his head.

"Your fingers would remember their old strength better if they grasped your sword" said Gandalf as he stared at his distraught friend.

A sword was brought forth as Theoden grasped it firmly in his hand. His gaze then turned to Grima and Kagome was eager to see what he would do to the snake.

HLF: Okay guys! Im going to have to end it there. Got a lot of work to do tomorrow so I'll have to continue some other time but I hoped you liked it! It was fourteen pages.

Dark: R & R as always!

HLF: if you got any suggestions and comments of course! Try not to flame.. any haters out there ahah.

Ja ne

HLF