Update. Once again PLEASE try to ignore the terrible spelling, i don't have spell check on my computer and lil bro stole my dictionary. Another time jump so please don't be cross. Hope you enjoy this next chapter
Disclaimer: I do not own LotRs, on my character Deorwynn.
Edoras
If I had any doubts about the evil that surrounded us as we entered the capital, they were quickly replaced. I had this forboding sense that something was going to happen, soon. Gandald told of the impending war Rohan was facing and that he could somehow cure of the king of whatever spell he was under.
As we got closer to the Hall of Meduseld I noticed the people of Edoras just stared at us blankly, some with scowls on their faces.
"You'd find more cheer in a graveyard," Gimli grumbled from behind Legolas, and I had to agree with him. There was no joy here, even the young children and the dogs stood silently watching us. At the foot of the steps, we dissmounted our horses and began the climb. Once again I was getting odd looks, not only from the men but the women. To make matters worse, when we got to the top, we were met with several armed gaurds.
Gandalf looked relitivly calm about the situation, I was most certainly not.
"I can not allow you before Theoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame. By order of ... Grima Wormtongue." The captian said to the wizard, and judging by the way he said Wormtongue, he was not a well liked man. If Gandalf had not been wearing an old dirty cloak over his white robes, the gaurd would not have dared to order suck a thing. But I guess he was hiding his new identity for a good reason, one of which I will never know.
Gandalf nodded to us to hand over our weapons. I did not wish to relinquish Boromir's sword, but with one stern look from Aragorn, I passed my sword, bow and arrows and my small dagger to one of the gaurds.
"Since when do young lads have such fine blades?" I heard one of the gaurds mutter to another. Do all the men in Rohan think like that arrogent horsemaster and assume I am a boy? Or was I really that plain looking and lacked all feminine charm?
"Your staff," the captain looked at the white staff, to which Gandalf gave a disheartened gasp. "Oh, you would part an old man from his walking stick?" He siad, leaning onto it and looking very innocent.
The captian of course believed him and moved so we could pass. To add to the act, Legolas held out his arm for the wizard to lean on. A bit over the top in my opinion, but I kept my lips in a firm line and played along.
We entered what I had thought to be the Golden Hall, but there was so much darkness lingering around each corner, I thought we were in the wrong place. At the end of the hall, an ancient man dressed in layers of fur sat on the wooden throne, adorned with a silver and gold band around his wiry hair, or what was left of it. His face was dry and blank, like he was asleep, or even dead.
To his right, a weasel of a man dressed all in black clung to the side of the throne. As he watched us approched, he whispered something into the king's ear. A group of men also followed us from he shadows, and something told me they were this weasel's lackys. Without any of my weapons, I was feeling vunrerable to a surprise attack from those men.
"The curtisy of your hall has somewhat lessened of late, Theoden King." Gandalf announced, stepping away from Legolas. We stood in a line behind him, and I could tell I wasn't the only one feeling tense.
The man in black lent over again, only this time I heard what his said. "He's not welcome." That sounded like an order, and sure enough, the king finally stirred. "Why ... should I welcome you ... Gandalf Stormcrow?" He looked back at the man, whom I could only guess this was Grima Wormtongue.
"A just question my liege." He said. It made me sick to watch him pretend like he had nothing to do with it. He stood up and acted all high and mighty, as the king's self elected spokesperson. I glanced over at Gandalf.
"Late is hour in which this conjourer chooses to appear. "Lathspell" I name him. Ill news is and ill guest."
"Be silent!" Gandalf ordered as Wormtongue approched us, "Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth." The man was stunned into silence. "I have not passed though fire and Death to bandy crooked word with a wittless worm."
Gandalf pointed his staff at him, and he reeled back in terror. "His staff. I told you to take the wizard's staff!" He yelled at the guards and his lackies jumped into action, running out of the shadows and at us.
I wasn't much of a hand to hand fighter, but I did know how to bring down a man. The first one that went for me grabbed my shoulder and I responded by kneeing him in his most vunerable spot. He doubled over in agony and I puched him in the face. My fist throbbed in pain but another one came, he got a kick in the face.
Looked like rough housing with my brothers was good practice for real fights.
Gandalf continued to walk towards Theoden, as though nothing was happening around him. The man I kicked in the face tried to run at the wizard, but Aragorn caught him and flung him to the ground.
"Theoden, son of Thengal. To long have you sat in the shadows." He called to the king, who was shrinking back into his chair.
A hairy arm wrapped around my neck and squeezed. "You're a tough little wentch, aren't ya?" The man grunted into my ear and trailed his other hand over my hip and chest. With a swift elbow to the stomach, his hold loosened and I managed to pull away, save for my arm which he twisted.
"You'll pay for that." He hissed, but Legolas was once again my knight in shinning armor and knocked the brute out and pulled me away from him.
All the lackies had been taken care of, even Gimli had subdued Wormtongue as he tried to sneak away from the conflict.
"Harken to me!"
All were still as Gandalf stood before the king, stretching out his hand.
I felt the air around us grow heavy with Gandalf's magic, "I release you from this spell."
We waited for the spell to be cast, but Theoden started to laugh, no ... he cackled. Gandalf broke his consntration and stared at the king.
"You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey." Theoden said in a mocking tone. That's when Gandalf decided to show his true power. I braced myself for it, unlike the king. Gandalf shed his old grey robe, bathing the hall in a white brilliance of light. Theoden clutched his throne and cried out. The full extent of Gandalf's power had be unleashed.
"I will draw you Saruman as poison is drawn from a wound."
Theoden writhed in pain and Gandalf drew nearer to him, and an evil aura filled the room, like the light was forcing the evil out of the king. I found myself trying to keep calm as the power grew stronger and subconsciously I reached for Legolas' hand, still holding my arm.
I saw out of the corner of my eye only one person move to help the king. It was a young woman, a few years my senior, with golden hair and a white gown. She tried to push passed the crowd but Aragorn caught her and held her back.
"If I go ..." A seething and strange voice spoke. I blinked and realized that the voice came from the king, " ... Theoden dies!"
It was Saruman's voice. I squeeze Legolas' hand tighter as Gandalf thrusted his staff forward even more.
"Be gone!" He commanded.
With one final cry, Theoden lunged at the wizard, but there was a flash of light and he fell back into his throne groaning in pain. The woman Aragorn had stopped finally ran forward to the king's side as something incredible unfolded before my eyes.
The ancient man upon the throne began to change, his hair became gold and smooth, his sagging skin reduces and his clouded eyes grew clearer. He looked around him like a blind man seeing the light for the first time.
A younger looking king now sat there now sat there, and the hall slowly became brighter, as if all the evil had been driven away from it.
Theoden spoke softly to the young woman, and by the relieved and happy expression on there faces, they were at best guess related. She helped the king stand and he looked about him, his people gathering to see their king.
"Beathe the free air again my friend." Gandalf panted, the signs of his stuggle with Saruman's spell were aparent.
"Dark have been my dreams of late," Theoden said while looking down at his shaking hands, "Your fingers would remember their old strength better, if they grasped your sword." Gandalf offered.
The same captian as before come forward and offered the king the blade in question. Slowly, and with much hesitation, Theoden pulled his sword from it's sheath, raising it high in front of him. I could see strength and confidence flood his body as he stood there, free and alive.
I also noted the sudden anger and hate he had as he looked over at Wormtongue, cowering on the ground and trying to escape from Gimli's clutches.
Things were about to get very ugly, very quickly.
"Throw him out!" The king commanded, his voice echoed all around the hall and two gaurds plucked the little man up off the floor and dragged him to the door. It was at that point that I remembered that I was still holding Legolas' hand, which had released my arm and had dropped to his side. First he was getting clingy in Fangorn, now it was me. What was with me? Flustered, I pulled away and followed Aragorn out the door, but he motioned for me to stay back.
Wormtongue had been thrown, liturally, from the top of the steps and left to roll the rest of the way down, Theoden slowly persued the traitor still clutching his sword.
"I have only ever served you my lord." Wormtongue pleaded, but to no avail.
"Your leechcraft would of had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" The king growled.
"Send me not from your sight!"
Theoden lifted his sword up and was about to strike him down, but Aragorn stopped him from doing so. I was too far back to hear what he said to calm the king, but the weasel ran through the crowd, pushing and shouting to get away.
No one stopped him.
"Hail Theoden King." Aragorn called and the people knelt in respect, even Aragorn. It was surprising, as I saw Aragorn as someone who bows to no one.
"Such drama." Gimli grunted.
"Aye, but it can't be helped." I mumbled. I watched Theoden's mood change from rage to unsure.
"Where is my son?" He called out, yet none responded, or seemed willing to. The same golden haired woman from before pushed her way through the crowd and came up to his side, speaking in a hushed tone and began to walk him back to the hall.
I gently tapped an older woman on the shoulder, looking for some answers of my own.
"Where is the king's son?" I asked, but the woman's face said it all.
"Lord Theodred died five day ago."
My mouth dropped open. How did it happen? I had never met Theodred but I knew he was no older than Faramir, if not younger. That is too young for any natural cause of death. Unless ...
"Wounded in an orc attack." The woman went on.
This must have been one of the ill turn of events Gandalf had told us about, and I could see the whole picture falling into place.
Saruman took over the king's mind, having his spy weave lies in his ear and keep him weak while arrange to have his heir be killed, hence ending the line of Rohan. In Rohan's weakness, Saruman would slowly take the land, one village at a time.
As evil this plan was, I had to admit it was ingenius.
My ponderings on Saruman's plan were interupted when Theoden passed me. I guess someone finally told him of his son's fate, since he walked like none of us exsisted, that the hall, the whole city, nothing was there. He was lost, no emotion was clear nor did he make any sound. This was disbelief, he couldn't process the fact his son was dead.
A sudden realization hit me and I froze.
What will father do when he finds out about Boromir? Does he already know? Will he break down? Close up?
My mind spun with the possibilities, so much so I lent against what I though was the wall, but it turned out to be Legolas' chest.
I pretended that I had stepped back by accident and stepped further away from him.
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