Hey everybody, I'm back! Vacation was amazing, minus getting sand in my eye the last day and having to go to the eye doctor. Is it weird to say I have a new fear of sand? Anyway, thank you all for reading, reviewing, following and favoriting! I know you are wondering why the heck Dûrhilwen went back to Isengard so I will stop talking and start now.
Disclaimer: The only time I will own Lord of the Rings is in my dreams.
"Aragorn, have you seen Dûrhilwen?" Legolas asked, starting to get worried. He had looked everywhere and could not find her. Aragorn shook his head and Legolas sighed. He only had so much time before Théodred's funeral. He sat down on the steps and looked down. She would never return to Isengard, not after what he had heard. She must have gone back to Mordor. He was confused about how he felt about her leaving; he would miss having another elf around. He was also disappointed that he never got to change her. He seemed so close to breaking that wall and getting to the good in her. He looked up and saw the funeral was starting, and he stood up and walked next to Aragorn. They carried him to the tomb, and Èowyn started singing in a shaky voice. Legolas looked towards the king and saw the shock and grief in his eyes. They closed the tomb and slowly everyone left. Legolas followed Aragorn and Gimli into Meduseld. Aragorn and Gimli took a seat at a table and Legolas stood nearby. Gimli started eating a big plate of food and Aragorn lit his pipe. All was quiet until Èowyn ran in with two children and ordered for some soup. Gandalf and Théoden also hurried in to hear the children's story.
"They had no warning. They were unarmed. Now the Wildmen are moving through westfold, burning as they go, every rick, cot and tree," Èowyn said to her uncle.
"Where is mama?" the little girl asked. Èowyn hushed her and she went back to her soup.
"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash. All the more potent for he is driven mad by the fear of Sauron," Gandalf explained, "Ride out and meet him head on. Draw him away from your women and children. You must fight."
"You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak. Èomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king," Aragorn said. Théoden stood up and walked around a bit in frustration.
"They will be three hundred leagues from here by now! Èomer cannot help us," he turned back to Gandalf, "I know what is that you want of me. But I would not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war."
"Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not," Aragorn said with his voice raised. Théoden turned and walked up to Aragorn.
"When I last looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan," he sternly replied. Legolas looked at Aragorn and Théoden, feeling the tension between the two. He smiled a little when Gimli broke the tension with a belch. Gandalf walked behind the king and Théoden turned to him.
"Then what is the King's decision?" he asked. Legolas was slightly shocked at the king's response.
Dûrhilwen rode up to the Orthanc and dismounted. She had no idea why she came back here, but she did. She walked inside and found Saruman in his study. He looked up and smiled. "You wonder why you have decided to come back. I know why you came back. If you went back to Mordor, you would be questioned right away. Then you would have to explain how you were a prisoner to a man, an elf, and a dwarf. He would think you have grown soft and weak and you would be useless to him," he said. She looked down to the ground, not wanting to show him he was right. Saruman smiled, knowing anyway, and motioned her to the hall. "Now go change into one of your dresses, you have been in that armor too long. And make sure it is a nice dress, we will be having one more for dinner tonight," he ordered. Dûrhilwen glared at him and walked to her room. She grabbed a dress and put it on. She glanced on her bed and saw that Saruman had the dress she destroyed was mended. She felt the rage build up in her as she looked at it. She stormed out and saw the dark man Gríma that was in Rohan walk in. He quickly went inside and mentioned something about Gandalf. She walked in the room just as Saruman started to speak. "Gandalf the White. Gandalf the fool! Does he seek to humble me with his newfound piety?"
"There were three who followed the wizard. An elf, a dwarf, and a man," Gríma said to the wizard. Saruman sniffs the air around him and shudders.
"You stink of horse. The man, was he from Gondor?" he asked. Gríma shook his head.
"No, from the North. One of the Dúnedain Rangers I thought he was. His cloth was spoor. And yet he bore a strange ring. Two serpents with emerald eyes. One devouring, the other crowned with golden flowers," Gríma described. Saruman grabbed a book and flipped through the pages until he found an illustration of the ring.
"The Ring of Barahir. So Gandalf Greyhame thinks he has found Isildur's heir, the lost King of Gondor. He is a fool. The line was broken years ago," he said as he slammed the book shut. "It matters not. The world of men shall fall. It will begin at Edoras," he smiled. Gríma turned and noticed Dûrhilwen in the room.
"Who is this lovely creature?" he smiled as he eyed her in the tight, revealing dress. She made a disgusted face as he closed in on her.
"That is Dûrhilwen, the daughter of Sauron," Saruman said as he started looking through books again. Gríma got closer until his face was an inch from hers.
"You are quite stunning, my lady," he whispered as he brought his lips to hers. She grabbed his throat, turned around and pushed him against the wall. She slowly lifted him so he could not touch the ground with his feet.
"I should kill you," she threatened. Saruman turned around and saw what was happening.
"Put him down Dûrhilwen!" he ordered. She glared at the shaking man in her grip and let go of his neck. He fell to the ground and looked up at her, shocked. He slowly stood up and walked over to Saruman. Saruman turned to Gríma and asked, "What will Théoden do?"
"Théoden will not stay at Edoras. It is vulnerable, he knows this. He will expect an attack on the city. They will flee to Helm's Deep, the great fortress of Rohan. It is a dangerous road, take through the mountains. It will be slow. The will have women and children with them," Gríma explained. Saruman raised an eyebrow, interested. He walked out of the room and Dûrhilwen followed, not wanting to be alone with Gríma. He walked down to his home for the Uruks and Orcs. Dûrhilwen was glad to see her orcs being used for more than just slaves. Saruman went to the Orc captain and smiled.
"Send out your Warg riders," he commanded. The captain smiled and Dûrhilwen heard the Wargs behind him.