The five of us set up camp for the night. Aragorn had gotten a fire going. Gandalf was facing Mordor. Legolas was lying against a rock. I was lying on his chest. Aragorn wandered over to Gandalf. "Legolas?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you for taking care of me." The ellon began to stroke my hair which I had unbraided.
"There is no need for you to thank me. I am helping you because you needed it, and you are one of the fairest elleths I know." I blushed lightly. Did I just get called beautiful by this ellon I had just met?
The next day we began towards Edoras again. My fever was slowly getting worse. I sat on the white horse in front of Legolas again. I was holding the reins, and he had his arms wrapped around me, just in case I began to fall off the horse somehow. We went over a hill and finally saw the city.
"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld," Gandalf said. "There dwells Théoden, King of Rohan… whose mind is overthrown. Saruman now has a very strong hold over him. Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here." We began to trot to the entrance of Edoras. I leaned against Legolas' chest and let him take the reins. As we reached the gate, a banner with a horse on it floated down to the ground.
"You'll find more cheer in a graveyard." The five of us reached the staircase that led up to the Golden Hall of Meduseld. Legolas carried me as he walked up the stairs with the others. A guard walked out of the building once we reached the top.
"I cannot allow you before Théoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame- by order of Grima Wormtongue." The wizard nodded. We all began to hand over our weapons. I was put down momentarily so I could give the soldiers my bow and arrows and my swords. Once all of our weapons were taken, the guard said, "Your staff."
Innocently, Gandalf replied, "Oh, you would not part an old man from his walking stick." The guard rolled his eyes, and then he led us in. Legolas scooped me up into his arms again. As we began to walk toward the front of the hall Gandalf spoke once more. "The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late Théoden King."
"Why should I welcome you Gandalf Stormcrow?" The king spoke in a hoarse voice. Legolas went over to a table and set me down on the bench beside it. I lay my head down on the tabletop, but I paid attention to what was going on. He returned to the others' side.
"A just question, my liege," the man next to Théoden said. Grima Wormtongue stood up. "Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest."
"Be silent. Keep your forked tongue in your mouth behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm." Gandalf raised his staff.
"His staff." The man backed away from the wizard. "I told you to take the wizard's staff." The Man, Elf, and Dwarf began to fight the soldiers that headed for Gandalf.
"Théoden, son of Thengel, too long have you sat in the Shadows." Grima Wormtongue had walked over to me. He picked me up by my hair. I tried to struggle out of his grip, but he placed a blade against my neck.
"Legolas!" The ellon turned to see me trying to get away from Grima. He hit the last guard who then fell to the floor.
"Ariane," he gasped.
"Either you all leave and she lives, or you stay and she dies." Grima yanked my hair to make me look back at him. He saw that I had tears cascading down my cheeks. He smiled. "Hm, you're quite a beauty aren't you?" His nose traveled down my neck, inhaling my scent.
"Don't touch her!" Legolas started to rush forward. Grima slowly began to cut my neck. A few drops of blood oozed out of my body and onto my skin.
"And what will you do to save her?" Suddenly, Grima and I were pushed to the floor. Aragorn had snuck around the hall to be out of the sight of the snake holding onto me. Legolas rushed forward, grabbed my hands, and pulled me away from the skirmish. Gimli walked over and kicked Grima in the face. Still on the floor but several feet away, I was held against Legolas' body. Tears continued to slide down my face, but I was not sobbing. I was too tired. I was too sick to cry hard.
The fight between the Dwarf, Man, and worm ended with the Fellowship being victorious. Placing a foot on Grima who was lying on the floor, Gimli said:
"I would stay still if I were you."
"Hearken to me," Gandalf shouted. "I release you from this spell." The king let out a long cackle.
"You have no power here… Gandalf the Grey." The wizard removed his grey cloak to reveal his white garb.
"I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound." A woman with blonde hair appeared. She saw the scene taking place and began to run towards the king.
"Wait," Aragorn said to her as he grabbed her arm.
"If I go, Théoden dies," a different voice said from the king's mouth.
"You did not kill me; you will not kill him."
"Rohan is mine."
"Be gone." Théoden stood up to attack Gandalf, but he was pushed back into his throne. The dark aura surrounding him began to fade. Théoden fell forward, and the blonde-haired woman ran forward to catch him. The king's natural state began to appear.
"I know your face… Eowyn… Eowyn." Théoden turned to the wizard. "Gandalf?"
"Breathe free air again, my friend." Eowyn helped the king stand up.
"Dark have been my dreams of late." The king of Rohan looked at his hands.
"Your fingers would remember their old strength better if they grasped your sword." The guard who had led us in, presented Théoden's sword before him. Slowly, the king pulled his sword out of its scabbard. He turned to glare at Grima. The scene was taken outside.
Legolas looked down at me. My skin was much paler than before. My body was shivering from the chills I felt down to the bone. "How are you feeling?" He reached a hand up to stroke my cheek. He smiled, but I began to lose consciousness. Just before I blacked out, I said:
"Ill…"