Hello Everyone, and a happy new year, I hope you enjoyed your Christmas break and the holidays, a new year and there for a new chapter to my story, here it is and just to be kind, I'll be putting up two, this will be a small arc concerning the other main characters in the story and getting them off to a good start, I've focused on Mairne a bit and decided to focus on everyone else for a change.

Also I would like to thank those who sent me OC for my story United Against the Legion of Flame, I will do my best to put them in the story where they fit and also I would like to ask you to travel to my Profile to vote on which arc the story should take place in.

Ultima-owner – The hammer is but a physical object, the names are what are important, they need not be etched in stone or written down on paper, and if one remembers them in their heart they can truly never be forgotten. Remember that, no matter if they walked this world or the next as long as you remember the time you spent with them and the happiness you had you will never be alone.

Bondo steelmetal – Well I'm glad you like it, the orc guy (Varro) well he will be turning up very soon, very, very soon, and the druid (Rosaria Wildmane) same thing, very, very soon. Yeah well even though Sefri has a staff and not a sword there will be so much face smashing.

Hmmmmm, I thinks Luna, reason why, that is my own

Hoof? No idea.

Leapinglemur – Thank you for the review and the blessing on my Christmas, Wanzika and Hanaka, all of which I celebrate, meaning I am now filthy rich, LOL, well enjoy the next chapter, and for the United Against the Legion of Flames, vote on which arc I should place it in and I'll start writing the next chapter.

Guest – Thank you for the vote

Knolden – thank you and I hope to hear from you in later chapters, and thank you for the vote.

On with the story, hope you like.

Chapter 12: The Five Meetings (Part 01: The King's Snake)

Rohan, Edoras

Joana rode across the green plain of Rohan towards the city of Edoras, in her opinion it was more of a large fort than a capital of a nation, she could see it situated on a large hill where at the top sat a large stone fort, she had to ride for the city she remembers speaking with the villagers yesterday. The ones who were kind enough to take her in and keep her safe as she healed, she had spoken to them at lengths as to where she was and why she was there, although since they were common folk she decided not to tell them about her arrival in this land or how she was brought here. After all they didn't seem the type to come in contact with magic very often, a fact that they expressed when they asked what that light was, and the occasional words such as 'sorceress' and 'Istari', luckily she was able to downplay it.

One day ago

"Tell me, where am I?" asked Joana, her question directed to the elderly man before her, after she had killed the Wildmen and then restrained the last surviving two she had been taken to a more secluded homestead where she could get her questions answered.

"You are in Westemnet, of the Kingdom of Rohan" said the elderly man, he sat at the table along with several other villager who had their eyes all on the woman in white before them, most were looking at her in awe of her beauty and other at the fact she defeated the men not a few minutes ago.

"I am not familiar with the Kingdom of Rohan" Joana stated plainly, she looked to each of the men before her and saw that they were likely only here to ogle her, she sighed as she asked another question "If it would be possible, could you give me a horse and directions to this nation's capital."

"You're leaving?" he asked

"Yes, I need to know where I am and if possible figure out if I can return home from here, this countries' ruler may have resources that I can use to return home, but if the horse is a problem I can travel on foot." She stated plainly, she knew that from some of the architecture and designs in the house that horses were a valued or highly regard commodity in this place, so it was likely that she would likely have to pay a large sum of money to buy one or start walking.

"No, that is not the problem, it's just that, even if you go to Edoras it will still be difficult to meet with the king, after all, he rules all of Rohan and doesn't have time for us common folk." Said the old man, to which her eyes narrowed slightly, he became a little unnerved by her reaction and tried to clear it up. "I didn't mean to offend you, you are far from common."

"It is not that" she replied, her voice low as she spoke "A king is meant to rule his people, but he must also rule for them rather than just over them, if he ignores his subjects he is nothing but a man underserving of the power bestowed upon him."

Some of the people were shocked at the way she had spoken of their lord, true over the last few months he had neglected his rule over the land and much turmoil had spread across it but they never spoke ill of him, his riders still kept the peace as best they could and his son led them. But they knew that there was more to this than they thought, there were dark whispers of something more sinister happening in the city of Edoras, things that were said to be the beginning of the end of the kingdom of Rohan. Joana rose from her chair and went to the cupboard that contained her armour and shield, which she quickly gathered up and went to another room, as she did the owner of the house Morwen followed behind, as she entered she saw Joana discarding her dress. Leaving a naked woman before her, she was slightly embarrassed and turned away on the spot. Joana looked at the woman and shrugged to herself when she turned away, she didn't understand why she came in or turned away from her while she changed, if it was a man she would only show him her fist and the her boot as she kicked him out the door. Joana first put on a pair of new undergarments and then began putting her armour on, she started with her breastplate and then her leggings before moving on to her arms and feet, ten minutes later she was finished suiting up and Morwen was able to take her in all her glory.

Her armour was a mix between gold and silver metal, thick steel plating covered every inch of her body and offering the most supreme of protection, silver plates lined with gold trimmings, further increasing the outstanding quality of her armour. Her chest piece was a solid plate of metal with a golden lion her emblazed over her chest and below it was a glowing crystal of azure, around her neck was a blue cloth that ran down her back. Her arms and legs were covered with form fitting metal plates which were further added upon with elbow and knee length Gauntlets and Boots, on her waist were two metal plates that hung by her belt, the belt in question was metal segmented girdle with gold trimming and an azure crystal as the buckle. But it was her shoulder guards that drew her attention, the large semicircular silver metal that had gold trimming with blue cloth which was only meant to connect her armour to the pauldrons, what attached to it was another piece of armour. A large bronze shell connected to her pauldrons and offered her protection on either side of her head; it was connected by a partially seen triangular metal that had a large sapphire crystal placed on the corner, they sat neatly on her shoulders and showed no signs of discomfort on having them there.

Joana clamped her shield onto her back and then sheathed her sword under it; she looked like a knight from a legendary tale in Morwen's eyes, before she moved past the mother of two and back into the room, receiving some very surprised and awe struck glances from the people within. She turned to them and saw their shocked stairs, and likely some flustered ones as they looked at the form fitting armour around her legs and arms, sometimes she hated the fact that Alliance armour was designed to offer adequate protection and high degrees of mobility, it just wasn't worth the gawking she got from the opposite sex sometimes.

Present

When she had spoken with them she was able to acquire a horse and also provided the expenses with some gold that she had on her person, when she presented it to them however they were shocked even further by her charity it would seem, she didn't know why though it was just loose change she had on her. She thanks the villagers and was given a hug from a very happy young girl who called her an angel, although she didn't know what she was talking about she thanks her for the kind words and took off, riding through the rest of the day and much of the night towards Edoras, and to meet this King Théoden.

Edoras, Main Gate

As Joana came to a halt at the main gate she was confronted by two guards, they were dressed in chain mail and green tunics, and with wooden spears with steel tips, they didn't appeared to be that highly trained or steadfast in their duty as guards, must be either new recruits or just lazy. And from how the length of their beards, it was likely the latter, this was one things she did not like about these soldiers, they were undisciplined men who didn't take anything seriously, what if there was an attack or there was a problem at the gate what would they do point their sticks at it and hope it went away. As they approached her side they looked up at her and when they saw her in armour they seemed to be supressing a laugh, another thing that she didn't like about these men, they took one look at one another before they asked her.

"What is your business in Edoras, my lady" he asked, his amusement clearly present in his words as they were badly kept at bay, she narrowed her eyes at him and her golden orbs burning into his own. If he could see her irises glowing with anger he would have taken a step back, sadly either his sight was very poor or he was just completely oblivious to her piercing gaze, she took in a calming breath before replying.

"I am here to see your king" she stated, her mirth for the man before clearly shown as she spoke, earning a shocked expression from the man, from either what she said or how she said, that was not known.

"What business do you have with our king?" asked the other guard, as he gazed up at her, his eyes looming over her suspiciously, but also with a hint of lechery, and again she narrowed her eyes as she spoke.

"My business is my own, as is yours now let me pass" she replied, her words becoming more heated as their eyes kept travelling over her form, she didn't have to deal with this back in Stormwind, those people knew how to act, instead of being a pack of lewd animals.

"We cannot let you pass" he stated, getting in front of her horse and grabbing the horse's reins.

"Why" she demanded, her voice low and dangerous to all who heard it, she may be a warrior of peace and light, but she was one who brought retribution upon those of evil and chaos, and while these people were neither they still were grinding on her nerves.

"Because we cannot allow an unknown 'woman' carrying arms into the city without knowing what her intentions are." He stated, Joana looked at him for a moment, he was right in a sense if she was a guard and there was just some random man who wanted to see the king personally she would be suspicious, man or woman, she would want to know who they were and why they were here. Sighing in exasperation she decided to tell the truth as to why she is here, she couldn't really lie to them, if she did it would go against her code and her honour, but if she skimmed it she would have fewer questions arise than she needed.

"I am not from this land, I require aid from your king in discovering where I am and why I am here, and also if it is possible for me to be sent back home. Does that sound reasonable enough?"

The two guards looked at one another before turning back to her and asking a simple question.

"Where are you from them?"

"My home is Stormwind in Elwynn Forest" she said, seeing two confused looks from the men before her she elaborated a little "In the Eastern Kingdoms"

Then both of them looked like they had some form of epiphany, they grips on their weapons seemed to tighten as they now stared up at her eye very hostile eyes, she could see that whatever was likely to happen next may involve a fight, a fight she didn't want any part in. She noticed that their legs were spaced apart and their free hand was clenching and unclenching, likely to grab the spear in a two handed grip and then thrust it towards her, she was confident she could defend herself, but one can never be to certain.

"So you're from the east them" asked the second guard, his words low and dangerous, as if wanting to confirm her words before striking, Joana observed their positions and readied herself should they try anything, he left hand leaving the horses reins and freeing itself so she can move for her sword.

"You could say that, but it is just its name in relation to the land it is situated alongside." Her tone even and showing no emotion as to fuel the tense situation any further.

"And what land is that?" said the first guard

"Kalimdor" there was a moment when the two lost their seriousness and their grips loosened, they obviously had never heard of the two lands before, but she already knew it was unlikely they have heard, after all she doubted she was still on Azeroth, they composed themselves before speaking up.

"How do we know you are telling the truth?" one asked, reforming his previous stance and the grip on his spear tightening.

"I am a Paladin, we are forbidden from telling lies" she replied nonchalantly, as if it was the most commonly known bit of information that should have been known.

"So you can't lie huh" said the first guard incredulously, she turned her gaze onto his, her sharp eyes focusing on his subtle movements and stance.

"We can only lie if it is required to save someone from harm or danger, but never without good intention" she illiterate, the two guards looked at one another for a moment, before turning back to Joana and backing off and then together to have a private discussion with one another, she couldn't make out what they were saying. She looked at them argue about what the course of action they should take, eventually she saw them both nod to one another and turn to her, they both moved up to her side and the one on her right spoke first.

"Alright, we can let you in, but you have to disarm yourself and wait for the king to allow you to see him" the first guard said, even though he believed that a woman wouldn't be much of a threat with a sword he could allow anyone into the Great Hall while armed.

"That is acceptable" Joana said with little worry, true she would be unarmed; she could still defeat anyone who tried to attack her and with some effort escape without being wounded or captured, but it was reclaiming her sword that would cause some problems.

The guards moved aside and called for the gate to be opened, she allowed her horse to trot forward, she could hear the guard on the others side groan and complain as they pulled the wooden gate open, and she waited patiently on the threshold for it to open. When the gate stopped with a load thud she moved on, as Joana did she passed an elderly man who was sitting on a stone just outside the gate, she looked at him and saw his ragged appearance and condition, it looked like he had been beaten. His face had several bruises and was slightly bloody, and from the way he was hunched over on the stone she could tell that more than his face was bruises, and from the dampness of his grey robes she could see that he has also been out here likely all night. He had a long grey beard and equally lengthy hair to match, he looked like he was in his mid-sixties, she could not understand why the man before her had not been let inside so he could receive medical attention, and she rounded on the two guards to discover why.

"Why is this man not inside being treated for his wounds?" her words were icy, while her glare was smouldering, the guards looked at her and them the old man uneasily.

"We have been commanded to bar him from entering" he said, but the way it was said showed he didn't like the orders, possibly because it went against what he believed was right, letting an old man suffer.

"By whom?" she enquired her tone still frigid.

"Grima Wormtongue, advisor to the King" said the guard, but with a hint of distain in his voice for the man, so her assumption was wrong, it wasn't the orders that earned his contempt it was the man who gave it.

Joana dismounted and then walked over to the old man and offered him a hand, she could not in good conscious pass as a man suffered while she could help, he looked up at her with his bright blue eyes and studied her, for a few moment Joana was startled, when she looked into his orbs she didn't see an old man, but a very powerful being. She could feel something almost radiating off him, ancient, powerful, divine, those were the words that came to mind when she looked at him, but that moment past as he took her hand and she lifted him up. She looked upon him once more and saw only a frail old man before her; she shook her head passing off the strange feeling as nothing more than her own imagination, as she took him by the arm and led him through the gate.

"Wait! He cannot enter!" shouted one of the guards, Joana stopped and turned to them, her glare alone stopped halted any argument they were planning on rousing. They turned away and allowed them to pass all the while casting cautious glances to one another as she continued, afraid of whose wrath they feared more , Grima's or that woman's.

As Joana walked through the city she looked upon the tiled roof and wooden houses before her with little interest, she was more preoccupied with getting the man currently using her left arm as a crutch to walk than about the city she was visiting, she could see a small cut along the ridge of his forehead. Whatever happened to this man it was definitely serious, and from how old some of the wounds appear he had not just taken one beating but several, from what she could see he was not in serious harm of dying but any internal injuries that are unseen can prove her otherwise. Looking around she could see that there was not much to differentiate this place from the village she awoke in yesterday, albeit these ones were much better constructed and maintained than those in the village, which were tacky and crude, as she travelled further she could see that her presence was drawing some attention. She could see the surprised and awestruck looks of the villagers before her, many coming from men who were surprised to see a woman in armour, but she paid them no heed and walked on with an emotionless masked of impassiveness. As she moved further she found what appeared to be a village square, which had a stable, walking over the stable hand she gave the boy the horse reins, who accepted it rather dumbly from the woman before him, she then decided to take the old man to a secluded spot where she could see who he was and maybe heal him.

She found a small wooden bench, which was a tree log that had been cut in half, she set the old man down onto the hard wooden bench and then stood before him; he looked up at her and that same feeling pass over her as she looked into his eyes. The feeling as if the person before her was more than meets the eyes, he was powerful and long lived being, she had never felt power like this before, but she had seen it before in the eyes of others, mainly great warriors and champions of the Light, but also in others such as an old Shaman her master regarded very highly.

"Who are you?" Joana asked; she could see that he was trying to gauge her, as she was him, now that she knew that the feeling she felt at the main gate was not a fluke she decided to press and see if she could discover what this man really was.

"My name is Gandalf" said the old man, his voice tired and strained, she looked at him for a moment, then she remembered his injuries he was in condition to be questioned by her, any of her questions about what he is could wait for the moment, he was hurt and needed medical attention.

"Who did this to you?" she asked, kneeling before him to check out the cut on his forehead and to see if he was bleeding anywhere else, she could not see any tears or laceration on his form or robes other than the one on his brow so it seemed he was in good condition considering.

"An old friend" he said, his tone showed that this 'old friend' of his was no longer anything of the sort, she looked into his eyes to see shame in his deep blue eyes, for what she did not know.

"Is he still someone along those lines?" Joana inquired, returning to her inspection to see how severe his wounds were.

"Sadly, no" he replied, he then went silent for a moment as she was looking over his form, he didn't understand what she was doing, why was she examining him like this "What are you doing?"

"Checking to see if your seriously wounded, you seem to be in a great deal of pain" she replied, casting a quick glance up at him before returning, when she was satisfied she lifted herself up and stood before him. "If you wish I can heal you, but only if you stay calm and don't overreact"

Gandalf looked at her oddly, if she was going to help him how were her actions going to cause him to overreact, but none-the-less nodded to her request, she moved forward and kneeled before the aged wizard and place her hand over his chest. She closed her eyes and began to murmur under her breath, he could pick up on the faintest of words that left her mouth, but he didn't understand what context they were mean to be used under, then he felt a strange sensation move through his body. Looking down he saw her hand was glowing in a golden, he could feel his chest warm and his pain subsided as it went from his chest to throughout his entire body, he felt his pain leave him and his mind become clear and blissful, he let out a relieved sigh before he smiled as the feeling continued to swell within his heart and mind. He felt at peace and without worry; even though he knew he should be, Frodo and the others were in danger, yet he felt the stress and worry that was weighing down on him depart and be replaced with happiness and relief, and then it began to slowly fade away.

Though he could still feel the comfort of the magic that was used to heal him within his body, it felt less than what it was a moment ago, he looked to the woman before him and couldn't find the words to speak, his mind may have been made clear but he had lost that clarity when he tried futilely to think of words to express his gratitude. He resigned in on himself and simply smiled down to her, it may not carry as much affirmation as words, but it was enough to show that he was grateful to her, she saw this and replied with her own, though small it was still there. She raised herself up and then pulled something out of her purse, she handed it to him, he was slightly surprised to see a gold coin now in his hand, and he had not expected her to part with something that so valuable, gold was a very valued commodity especially considering its worth.

"Take it and get yourself some food and rest, you're going to need it, and maybe even a few nights in an Inn." She said, though it sounded like an order coming from a commanding officer than from a kind hearted woman who had just healed him.

"I cannot accept this, it is simply too much" Said Gandalf trying to return the gold coin to the woman before him, with this alone he could possibly buy a house from one of the villagers, but she shook her head and waved her hand at his own.

"That is not necessary, I have enough to sustain myself, and you are in more need than I, so keep it and take care of yourself" she reassured the old man before her, he did so but hesitantly, she looked up from him and to the great hall a near the top of the large hill that this city resided on.

"You wish to meet with the king?" asked Gandalf

"Yes, I need to discuss things with him, mainly about where I am" she replied, her gaze not lifting off the large stone hall that rested at the hilltop, she turned back to Gandalf to see him looking up at her with a smile on his face.

"I would seem that we both require an audience with the good king" he replied a kind smile.

"You wish to speak with him?" she asked

"Yes, I require a horse to travel from here to meet an acquaintance of mine; you may accompany me if you wish"

"I mean no offence, but how exactly are you going to meet with the king? Do you know him personally?" she inquired, to which he chuckled before standing up, she could see he had a mischievous glint in his eye; she raises an eyebrow as he moved past her and slowly walks towards the keep.

She followed closely behind him as she made his way up the slight incline, wondering along the way as to how he was going to just be granted an audience with the king, as they marched up to the hall she noticed that apart from the glances the guard were giving her, many were moving towards the old man. From what she could tell they knew him or know of him in some regards, but in what capacity she did not know, when they stood before the two large wooden doors she saw nine guards standing vigil over it, Gandalf came to a stop and they moved towards him. The man leading the guard was a middle aged man with shoulder length orange hair and a beard to match, covered in more decorative armour and clothing, he was likely the more senior and elite of this cities guard than the lot she found down at the gate, she could see he had a pained expression on his features as if he was not happy about what he was going to say.

"I'm sorry Gandalf, but I cannot allow you to enter, you aren't even supposed to be within the city" said the man

"And what harm can an old man do you?" asked Gandalf, his voice becoming frail and weak, Joana glanced at him disbelievingly; he was playing as a frail old man? That was his plan to meet the king.

"I am sorry; under orders from Grima Wormtongue you cannot enter the hall" his words were heated as he mentioned that name; likely all the guards carried the same sentiment about this Advisor to the King.

"Where those his exact words" asked Joana, the guards attention turned to her and he lost his sympathetic expression with one of confusion, he looked at the woman before him up and down and had no idea what he was really looking at.

"Who are you?" he asked his curiosity very evident in the way he spoke.

"Joana Lightlance, I am here to speak with your King" she stated plainly, some of the guards were taking a good long look at her before the orange haired man replied.

"What business does our king have with you?" he inquired, as he studied her appearance more thoroughly than before, while she had to hold back a groan as he did so along with many of the other guards that had just noticed her.

"I simply need to know where I am in relation to where I am from" she stated, before she changed topic back onto its course "Now answer my question: did this Wormtongue say Gandalf could not enter the hall."

Hama was silent for a moment as he thought over the words; she could see that even though he was a man that followed order without question he carried a certain amount of loathing for the man who gave them, enough for him to find the loophole in the orders to spite him if need be. He then looked up at Gandalf and with a sigh he answered.

"No, he said you could not enter the city, he spoke nothing of you entering the hall"

"Ah, good, now then may we enter" said Gandalf gesturing to Joana

"Not while armed, you may be a woman, but I cannot allow you to carry it into the hall" said Hama, Joana narrowed her eyes not at the fact he was disarming her, but he had to add the fact that she was a woman and therefore not a threat, she didn't think any of it at the gate as they didn't mention it, she was starting to dislike this place with a passion, any more remarks such as that and there will be punishment for the insults.

She reached for her back and drew her sword, the metal hissing as it flat side of Abaddon moved against her armour and shield, the guard were shocked at the weapon, it appeared to be made of gold and steel, but in truth they were half right. Titansteel was blue in colour and could be alloyed with almost any other metal or mineral to either increase its strength or change the colour without lessoning the strength of the metal as a whole, that allowed blacksmiths to make fine works of art in their weapons and armour, but this weapon was created by being much more extravagant than any normal blacksmith. This weapon was ancient, older than even the humans of her world, this weapon was one made by Titans, the bringers of order, and because of that she wouldn't allow these men to take hold of it and sully it.

She spun the blade in her hand until it was in a reverse grip, then she tightened her hold, and drove the sword into the stone block beneath her, the stone cracked and groaned as the sword pierced through, leaving the blade several inches embedded into the stone and many shocked faces around. She turned to them and with a neutral expression said.

"I leave my sword here, do not bother trying to take it, you are not strong enough to remove it" she walked past the guards with Gandalf in toe, several guards approached the sword and saws that it had been thoroughly embedded into the stone, they took at one another and then one went to try and remove it from its place, how foolish they were.

As Joana walked into the Golden Hall of Edoras she was brought into a dimly lit room, there were long alcoves on either side of the room that ran perpendicular to the main lengths of the hall, which were separated by several cylindrical pillars. Several figures spoke to one another in the alcoves, some were finely dressed men and woman while others were what appeared to be well dressed soldiers, but their attentions were drawn away from their idle chatting to the two new occupants in the room. Some turned their gazes to the aged wizard before them, but their gazes soon found their way onto the other accompanying him, several people were gawking at the woman who was walking beside the Istari and the air of authority she carried with every step made the soldiers wonder who this woman was. While some in the room scoffed at the woman who dressed like a man, how unaware they were that her skill and ability alone made her one of the most deadly warriors currently in the room, soon both Wizard and Paladin came to a stop before a throne in which sat the King of Rohan.

Joana was surprised to see the man who ruled these lands, he was haggard, his skin was pale and his long grey hair and beard was unkempt, and his eyes appeared glassed over as if he were blind, his gaze would veer around the room and appear that his mind was as disordered as his appearance. At his side sat a man cloaked in black, his skin was pasty and his hair was greasy black, he looks made him appear to be a mischievous and unscrupulous character, and the way he spoke into the Kings ear all the while supported it so. The man rose from his stool and walked down the steps all the while glaring at the old man beside her and sneering in her general direction, she scowled at the greasy creature before her, he was like all the others, but this one was on a whole other level.

"You were forbidden from entering this city" he spat, venom in every word he spoke, he was a like a snake, but she could tell he was only a pathetic coward who hid behind his position, a Worm indeed she though. "And you disgrace this hall by entering it, sorcerer"

That caught Joana by surprise, Gandalf was a sorcerer, that must have been the feeling she felt when she looked into his eyes, he was a magi, and what she sense must have been his power, and from what she could tell it was a great power. Gandalf did not take the words as they were, he smiled and with his hands clasped in front of him he remained calm and collected as he spoke, he knew that he couldn't speak out of turn here, there was too much at stake.

"I don't recall you baring me from this hall, after all what reason would you have to fear me entering this place" Asked Gandalf innocently enough, although the man, Grima, snarled at this, 'pathetic' Joana thought 'he thinks that his position give him power, nothing but a fool'.

"You are not welcome here, leave at once and do not return" he spat at the Wizard, had his words carried actual venom, the old man may have died before he reached the end of his sentence.

"He requires a horse, if you wish him to leave so badly then give him one and he can be on his way" said Joana, earning herself the worm's attention and everyone else in the room, she stared at him impassively as he looked her up and down with arrogant contempt.

"Who are you, to speak to me, woman?" he cried out in outrage, she looked at him with no expression other than annoyance from the way she furrowed her brow.

"Joana Lightlance, Paladin of the Knights of the Silver Hand" This got the reaction she expected from them, sneers and hollowed laughter.

"A Knight? You? Don't make us laugh!" snorted a man from the crowd, but Joana paid them no heed, her attention focused on the now laughing man before her.

"Tell me do you think yourself a man?" Grima asked, her collar rising by the second, much as she wanted to bark at the man before her, and show him his place as nothing more than a snivelling little fool, she held her tongue, she was a guest in this hall and before a royalty, she could only do so much.

"No" she gritted out through clenched teeth.

"Then you have no right to act as one or speak in the presence of your betters" he retorted, there were some snickers around the hall, Joana was fuming at the moment, her scowl deepened and she was having some difficulty keeping herself composed.

"You leave this place! Take any horse you wish and be Gone!" he said to Gandalf before turning away and walking over to his stool next to the kind and taking his place at Théoden's side, and with a few words whispered in the Kings ear, Théoden played like a puppet under the worms string.

"Leave Gandalf Greybeard" said the King, his words weak and far apart from one another as he spoke, from what Joana could see he looked as if he could barely make out the words let alone speak them, this Kingdom had no king, only a figurehead ruled by a puppet master.

Gandalf bowed to the king and then turned to leave, but not before putting a comforting hand on her shoulder and then giving her a look, as if saying 'do not put too much hope in them', sadly she already knew as much, she expected this from these people, but she had to try. These Rohirran thought woman were nothing more than breeding stock and homemakers, it infuriated her that they looked down on her like this and even though her code prevented her from harming the innocent her pride would soon overshadow it and take it out on those around her.

"What do you want, lady Knight" sneered the Worm on his stool, some snickers and chuckles were heard from those around the room, there were few in the room he took pity on her plight, most were the woman and some were the men, but it was likely they thought her a fool who was acting the part and should stop it before she embarrassed herself further.

"I am here to ask for aid from the king" she said, her voice hard and her tone dangerously low, although it was missed by many there were a few who caught on to it, it was as if she was warning them not to cross the line, but even for those who caught on passed it off as nothing more than a subtle threat.

"What aid do you require, other than out of that heavy armour and into something more appropriate" said a man from the side, earning more laughter from those around, Joana's hands clenched into fists, she was thinking of striking the bastard but held back the urge to beat him into a bloody pulp.

"I am far from my home and wish to know where I am" she stated plainly, but it was a very straining effort to keep her warring emotion from spilling out, she looked up to the king to see his gaze was focused on anything that caught his interest around the room rather than the woman trying to speak with him.

"Your home? Tell me does your home have no real men and it is forced to use only its woman" asked a man from the side, he then received a piercing stare from Joana; that put him in his place before leaving an indignant scowl on his face.

"My home is far from here, how far I do not know, I only wish to return there"

"Home to your precious Knights I suppose" said Grima

"You would do well not to insult them, though we do not harm the innocent we do not take kindly to those who insult our ideals and honour." she said in a dangerous tone

"Do no lecture us woman!" said Grima "Here you are nothing; you are a frail and weak little girl who need to know her place! Now leave, I will not aid some child who wishes she was not born the way she was."

Joana fist trembled as she tried to control herself, her anger was so intense she was trying to control her power from manifesting and harming those around her, she didn't speak a word and turned around and walked to the door, all the while people were murmuring to one another. Speaking of the woman who thought herself a man, or how she must be some confused girl who was raised by a foolish father, some even thought she was a native of the Eastern Lands, but their words were not heard by her, her focus was on keeping her anger in check.

When she reached the doors she saw two men standing by either side of it and looking at her with a cruel smirk on their faces, she could see that they held little opinion of her and that made her anger rise even further.

"Does the woman need help opening the door" one of them asked.

She snapped, her hands no longer trembled, she face no longer carrying a dark scowl, her eyes… burning with unadulterated anger, she needed to vent her frustration, and there was only one thing in her path that allowed it, she took a step forward and when she was at the door she brought up her foot and kicked it open. The bars that locked it in place wore broken off the wooden frame, the wood splintered where it was struck, and the door flew open and smashed into the stone alcove, breaking both the door and the stone work for equal measure. She stepped out, leaving a room full of shocked and terrified soldiers and nobles, she walked towards her sword and grasped it with a firm hand and ripped it free from the stone, a gasp went up amongst the soldiers outside, who had been trying to remove it for the past few minutes and had been unable to do so. She slowly turned to look over her shoulder and her fiery gaze landing on the snake who whispered into the ear of the decrepit king, she could see him sweating and trembling at the display he had just witnessed.

"Pray that I do not return, or your will answer to my judgement" her words cold as any mountain top, where her eyes were as scorching as any burning forge, they knew now that the woman they had just insulted could likely overpower them and kill them with little to no effort. They were lucky that the being that came into that hall had not been of questionable morals, lest they feel the brunt of her wrath, but even they knew that this would not be the last time she visits this city.

Joana turned and walked at a brisk pace down the steps and back towards the stables, she could see that even more people were giving her odd looks as she paced towards the stable to claim her mount and leave the accursed city, as she did she saw Gandalf pulling out a very unruly white horse. She didn't give him any mind as she passed and got her horse, she pulled out a silver coin and flipped it to the stable hand and then departed without a word, she went full gallop through the city towards the gate which were hastily opened to allow her to leave. Her anger still present she moved across the planes in full stride and to some place where she could cool her nerves and not be insulted about her gender and occupation as one, she doubted she would find a place such as that, but she could only hope that not all these people were bigots and fools.

There it is, chapter 12, and to let you all know, there is another chapter, isn't that great.