Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Story line, characters and script belong to J. R. R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson. I only own Aerilyn

Chapter 14

We were currently riding through the forest after the win at Helm's Deep. I was on Haseful riding beside Aragorn with Brego. As we where drawing closer to Isengard we could hear laughter.

"Let me guess." I said to Aragorn with a smile. He smiled back as we drew closer. As we cleared the trees my smile grew.

"Ahaha!" Pippin says as he saluted us with his mug. Merry then stands up.

"Welcome, my lords...and lady to Isengard." He said.

"You young rascals. A merry hunt you're let us on and now we find you feasting...and smoking." Gimli said.

"We are sitting on a field of victory enjoying a few well earned comforts. The salted port is particularly good." Pippin said with a slur.

"Salted pork..." Gimli said wishfully.

"Hobbits!" Gandalf said with a shack of his head.

"We are under orders from Treebeard, who's taken over management of Isengard." Merry said.

After getting the hobbits on the horses we continued on toward the tower. Only to be greeted by the giant Ent. "Hooon, young master Gandalf, I'm glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and stone I can master, but there is a wizard to manage here locked in his tower."

Aragorn looked up at the tower. "Show yourself." He said in a whisper. "Be careful. Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous." Gandalf said.

"Well then let's just have his head and be done with it." Gimli said. "No, we need him alive. We need him to talk."

Just then we hear a voice from above. "You have fought many wars and slain many men Theoden King and made peace afterwards. Can we not take counsel together as we once did, my old friend? Can we not have peace you and I?" Saruman said as he stepped out to the edge at the very top of the tower.

"We shall have peace..., we shall have peace when you answer for the burning of the Westfold and the children that lie dead there! We shall have peace when the lives of the soldiers whose bodies were hewn even as they lat dead against the gates of the Hornburg...are avenged! When you hang from a gibbet for the sport of your own crows...we shall have peace!" Theoden said.

"Gibbets and crows! Dotard! What do you want Gandalf Grahame? Let me guess... they key of the Orthanc? Or perhaps the keys of Barad Dûr itself? Along with the crowns of the seven Kings and the rods of the Five Wizards!" Saruman says.

"Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousand more are not at risk. But you could save them Saruman. You were deep in the enemy's counsel."

"So you have come here for information. I have some for you." He held out the palantir. "Something festers in the heart of Middle Earth. Something that you have failed to see. But the great eye has seen it! Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will some soon." Gandalf moves his horse forward a few steps. "You are all going to die! But you know this don't you Gandalf? You cannot think that this Ranger will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor. This exile, crept from the shadows will never be crowned King." Aragorn moved his horse to block me from Saruman's view. "Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those who are closest to him... those he professes to love! Tell me, what words of comfort did you give the Halfling before you sent him to his doom? The path that you have set him on can only lead to death."

"I've heard enough! Shoot him! Stick an arrow in his gob!" Gimli said.

Legolas started to reach for an arrow. "No! Come down Saruman and your life will be spared!" Gandalf said. "Save you pity can your mercy. I have no use for it!" He directs a bolt of fire at Gandalf which he survives with no ill effects.

"Saruman... your staff is broken!" Saruman's staff burst asunder! We then see Grima Wormtongue appear behind Saruman.

"Grima! You need not follow him! You were not always as you are now. You were once a man of Rohan. Come down." Theoden said. Grima moved to start going down. "A man of Rohan! What is the house of Rohan but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the reek and their brats roll on the floor with the dogs? The victory at Helms Deep does not belong to you Theoden Horse Master. You are a lesser son of greater sires!"

Theoden tells Grima again to come down and to be free of him. Saruman turns and slaps Grima to the ground. "Saruman! You were deep in the enemy's counsel. Tell us what you know!"

"You withdraw your guard and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner here!" Before he could finish Grima had risen up behind him and attacked him with the knife, stabbing him twice in the back. Legolas aims an arrow at Grima who falls shot in the heart. Saruman falls from the tower and is impaled on a great wheel below. I look away not wanting to see.

"Send word to all our allies and to every corner of Middle Earth that still stand free. The enemy moves against us. We need to know where he will strike."