A/N: Here it is, the next chapter! This one is longer than the other chapter, and it has a little bit of interaction between our two favorite preoccupied lovebirds. Thanks everyone who has supported this story through their thoughts and reading. Love you guys!

Disclaimer: Still don't own it.

The next day everyone woke up and set off without a fuss. The landscape around them was less rocky and seemed to dip and rise instead of just a lot of hills everywhere. Ranelen was watching the hills for when Edoras would appear. It had been the only home she could remember as a child and held many fond memories.

Growing up there had been hard at first. People were not kind to a strange girl with no father to claim her. She had had many cruelties inflicted upon her at first, before the king's niece took interest in her. The girl had at first ignored Ranelen as too young to be of any interest but had fiercely taken her under her wing after catching some of the others at court being cruel. It was she who had first taught the younger girl the rudimentary skills of sword-fighting and the bow, though quickly the student became the teacher in that case. The older girl was too impatient for much use of a bow.

Ranelen smiled as they went over a hill. Memories were wonderful, but the real sight was far better. Edoras rose high on the hill before them, with Meduseld at its peak. Flags and banners waved in the breeze, but over all an air of sadness hung.

The group stopped and Gandalf announced, "Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Theoden, King of Rohan whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Theoden is now very strong."

Hasufel followed behind Arod and Shadowfax, making their way to the gate. As they rode into the city one of the banners came loose from its pole outside of Meduseld and floated down to where it lay on the ground like the last hope of a defeated people.

Aragorn looked at it, but no one except for Ranelen noticed. She knew why he was troubled, for he had been to Rohan before. He had fought for Rohan, and loved the land like it was his own. She said softly so as only he could hear, "Fear not, Aragorn. This land is not so far gone yet. We shall bring them hope."

The man looked back at her in surprise, having forgotten that she was extremely perceptive. As he turned back around, he realized she was right, though not exactly in the way she thought. They were bringing hope, but their own symbol of hope was a young woman, who had blazed a path through all of their hearts.

They passed the gate, noticing very few people outside. There were no animals running around, nor children playing. As they rode through the houses below Meduseld Gimli murmured, "You'll find more cheer in a graveyard."

Ranelen sighed for it was painfully clear. All of the people were dressed in black and stared at them with distrust in their eyes. Even though they were strangers, this was far worse than any of the travelers Edoras had had before were treated. Saruman's influence on these lands was far worse than had been assumed.

The group dismounted in front of the steps of Meduseld and allowed their horses to be escorted to the stables, by curious but distrustful stable boys who stared openly at the strangers. Gandalf led the way up the steps to the entrance of the Golden Hall. There they were met by armed guards.

The one in charge said, "I cannot allow you before Theoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame. By order of, Grima Wormtongue." He didn't seem too happy about his orders, but by the looks of him, he would not be moved.

Gandalf nodded like he had expected this. Aragorn passed over his bow and quiver of arrows while Legolas handed over his knives and Gimli gave up his ax. Ranelen silently handed over her own arrows and sword, uncomfortably noticing that all of the guards had realized she was a woman and then proceeded to stare at her unashamedly.

Legolas stepped closer to her, sending all of the men a cold glare. Ranelen smiled gratefully at him then watched as the rest of their party surrendered their weapons. Aragorn hesitantly gave up his sword and knife, which was understandable for as a Ranger he would have trained to never give up his weapons easily, while Legolas grudgingly gave the Men his own bow and quiver of arrows. After everyone was done Gandalf was about to walk inside when the leader of the guards said, "Your staff."

Gandalf smiled peacefully as if he were none other than an old grandfather come to see the king. "You would not part an old man from his walking stick."

The man stared at him suspiciously but stepped aside. Legolas fleetingly touched Ranelen's arm then stepped back to his original position. Gandalf led the way inside with Legolas and Gimli on his left and Aragorn and Ranelen on his right. All five walked in with varying emotions, all uncertain.

The first thing Ranelen saw was a small, pale man whispering in an old man's ear. He was dressed darkly, and there was something repugnant in her feeling of him. His words were carried to her ear and she heard him say, "My lord, Gandalf the Grey is coming."

As he spoke the doors behind the group shut, sealing them inside. He continued, "He's a herald of woe."

Gandalf called out to the King as he walked along, "The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Theoden King."

The group diverged around a cooking hearth in the middle of the hall and Grima said, "He's not welcome."

A second later the aged man in the chair spoke and made Ranelen realize that it was the King who had aged. It almost made her stop, to see the man who had taken her into his house in the prime of his life to sit before her, seemingly older than the Valar. "Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?"

"A just question, my liege," Grima placated the king. The worm stood up and began to walk closer all the while speaking. "Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear."

At that moment Ranelen was distracted she realized that they were being followed by a group of ragged-looking men with hatred on their faces. Carefully she met Aragorn's eye and tilted her head in the direction of their followers. He nodded once to show acknowledgement, then turned back to scanning the room. She listened once more to Grima as he said, "Ill news is an ill guest."

Gandalf said with the rage evident in his voice, "Be silent. Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!"

Gandalf brought forth his staff, and Grima backed away with fear clear on his face. If it had been possible, it would seem as if his skin had become even paler. "His staff. I told you to take the Wizard's staff!"

Immediately those men who had been following them ran out and attacked. However, they had misjudged the group. Easily the men were to be met with fists and sharp jabs. As they fought Gandalf spoke, seeming to take no notice of the skirmish going on around him. "Theoden, son of Thengel, too long have you sat in the Shadows."

Ranelen was the first to be attacked as she was closest. A man swung his fist at her, but her arm shot up and blocked it. Quickly she hit the man hard in the stomach twice, causing him to crumple to the ground. He was followed by another man who tried to grab her bodily. She elbowed him and kicked him in his shin hearing a painful crack as he crouched down to hold his injured leg.

After two more men attacked her and were dispatched efficiently, though not quite as quickly, Ranelen saw Gandalf stop a few steps from the King and say, "Hearken to me!"

The King turned his face away and tried to pull himself as far away from Gandalf as possible as Gandalf said, "I release you from the spell."

The old wizard closed his eyes and seemed to concentrate for a second, but the King laughed a horrid, depressing sound.

"You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey!" the King said in an evil voice not his own. The possession of Saruman over the king was strong indeed.

Suddenly Gandalf drew himself up and cast off his grey cloak, revealing himself and his power. Immediately the King cried out and pushed himself to the corner of his throne.

"I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound," Gandalf growled as he pushed his staff forward and the old King was thrown back in his chair.

Suddenly a golden-haired woman in a white gown ran out. She paused to see what was going on then made to run forward. Swiftly Aragorn grabbed her arm and commanded, "Wait." Then both turned back to see what was happening.

The voice from the King said, "If I go, Theoden dies."

Gandalf thrust out his staff again and said strongly, "You did not kill me, you will not kill him."

"Rohan is mine!"

"Be gone."

Unpredictably the King made as if to jump out of his throne. Just as fast Gandalf put out his staff and pushed the King back. It seemed to Ranelen as if she could hear the foul voice cry out in pain as he fell from the man. The foul voice scratched at her ears and she shook her head to dislodge the voice.

Immediately the woman in white rushed away from Aragorn to the King. She crouched beside him and looked over as if she were making sure he was alright. A second later the King looked around, and it was like the years fell off him. He looked around the room in shock then his eyes locked on Eowyn.

"I know your face," he said in shock. Eowyn smiled and tears began to run down her face. "Eowyn. Eowyn." Theoden glanced up and saw the old Wizard. "Gandalf?" he asked confusedly.

Gandalf smiled at Theoden and said, "Breathe the free air again, my friend."

The King stood up and Gandalf backed away. Ranelen smiled at the King. It was as if he were seeing the world for the first time, both the shock and the wonder of it. He said quietly, "Dark have been my dreams of late." The King looked down at his hand as if he didn't recognize it.

Gandalf said assuring, "Your fingers would remember their old strength better if they grasped your sword."

A second later a guard came up and presented the sword to the King. King Theoden took it and held it up. It was single-handed and about three feet in length. The fullered blade was undecorated, while the guard and pommel were very ornate. The guard was crafted in the likeness of two horses' heads touching and was made of bronze, as was the large pommel.

As the King held up his sword Grima tried to crawl away. Ranelen shot a glare at him, but Gimli just yanked his cloak back, landing him on the floor. Then both turned back to watching the King.

The King gave a quick order in Rohhiric saying, "Get him out!" The guards rushed over and grabbed the Wormtongue. They hauled him outside and threw him down the steps. The King went outside with everyone following, for they had waited for a long time for this moment; Grima Wormtongue's downfall was at hand. He started walking slowly down the steps while Grima pleaded, "I've only ever served you, my lord."

The King cried angrily and growing louder, "Your leech craft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!"

"Send me not from your sight," the leech begged.

The King lifted his sword and it seemed that he was about to cut down Grima for what he had done. Like lightning Ranelen ran down the steps and grasped the King's arms. "No, my lord! No, my lord. Let him go. Enough blood has been spilled on his account."

The King looked at her and it was as if he couldn't truly see her face. He pulled back just as Ranelen reached out a hand to help Grima up. The evil man made as if to accept her hand, but spit on it instead. Then he stood up and ran off yelling, "Get out of my way!"

Aragorn came forward and clasped Ranelen on the back. He looked at the people and said loudly, "Hail, Theoden King!"

Immediately all of the people below bowed. The King stared around him as if he were looking for someone and wasn't sure what to do since that person was lost. Sadly, Ranelen knew who he was looking for, for she had felt their absence in her own heart. Aragorn and she bowed, but the King didn't notice. He asked, "Where is Theodred? Where is my son?"

Eowyn stepped forward and walked to her uncle. The king looked around as if his son would come forward, but Eowyn took the King's hands and said, "Your son is dead, my lord. He died within the night."

Tears began to fall from her eyes, but the King's grief was worse. He leaned forward and Eowyn embraced her uncle. For a moment no one spoke. It seemed as if the world would perish with grief.

Then the King stepped back and drew himself up. He went back up the steps and inside. Everyone followed behind. Theoden spoke softly to Eowyn, "When was he buried?"

Eowyn said, "He hasn't yet, my lord. I felt it best to wait and see if you would, or could, see him."

Theoden smiled sadly and gratefully at Eowyn. He said, "Very well. We must do it today so that his soul my find its way to the Great Halls."His niece nodded and stepped back. She walked back to the hallway she had come from earlier, and Theoden walked out of the Hall.

Ranelen sighed and walked back outside, leaving behind the group. She made her way over to the top of the stairs and sat down to think. Theodred had been very dear to her as a child. While Eomer teased and joked with her, Theodred had taken the time to talk to her about important things, at least, the things that were important to a child. He had been there to comfort her when the other girls were cruel and there to applaud her when she did well.

Now he was dead. Even though she had not seen or spoken to him since before her enslaving, his death still ached within her. He was meant to be the king. It was something he had longed for, ever since he was a boy. Theodred had told her his dreams of his rule being the Golden Age of Rohan. He had had such grand plans to make peace with the Wild Men, reestablish the alliance with Gondor, and perhaps one day meet the mysterious Elves.

"Ranelen, what troubles you?"

Legolas POV

Legolas had followed Ranelen out of the Hall, intending to make sure she was alright. However, it was obvious by her stiff position and far away gaze that she was anything but alright. Softly, so as not to startle her, he asked, "Ranelen, what troubles you?"

The young woman gave him a sad smile and said, "I am fine, Legolas."

This wasn't the truth, and Legolas was determined. He sat beside her and wiped away a tear that had begun to fall. Gently he said, "Something has brought tears to your eyes. What is it?"

Ranelen looked at him a second before looking away. She said bleakly, "It shouldn't really matter. I hadn't seen him in years. He was probably a completely different person from who I knew." She paused for a second but quickly continued, though it were as if her words were being drawn from her not by her will.

"He was kind to me, as a child. The others were cruel to a young girl that had a strange name and no father. I was called every name they could think of, and picked on because I was strange. But he comforted me. He would speak to me as if I were just like him, as if I were a person too. He invested in me, in a way no one else had. It isn't fair that he had to die."

Suddenly her shoulders were wracked by quiet sobs. Legolas instantly reached out and pulled her to him. The young woman buried her head in his chest as her grief shook her. Gently, Legolas stroked her hair and murmured soft words of comfort.

For so long he had desired to hold her in his arms again. Though it wasn't exactly the circumstances he had been hoping for, he was grateful that Ranelen would take comfort from him. If he were to have his way, nothing would ever harm her again. Yet there were so many old wounds that haunted her. She acted as if she was fine, but she wasn't. Sometimes a tear would be wiped away before it could escape, or her eyes would be drawn away, not to the land but to a memory that made her go pale.

Ranelen was strong, but there were some things you couldn't face alone. She needed someone, but getting her to realize that, and that that who was him, was going to be difficult.

Slowly, the occupant of his thoughts pulled back, her eyes cast down. She said quietly, "I am sorry, Legolas. I did not mean…"

Gently Legolas grasped her chin and lifted her head up so her eyes would meet his. There were so many wounds in her soul, it was painful. Legolas vowed to himself he would never cause her pain like that. With a smile he said, "Do not apologize, Ranelen. You are strong and brave, but even the bravest seek comfort. I am glad I could give it."

Legolas leaned forward and kissed her forehead. No matter how much he wished to kiss her as he had in Lorien, he would never take advantage of her grief. She was far too precious to him. Hesitantly Ranelen allowed herself to relax, settling back against him. Legolas wrapped his arms around her, and the two sat, content in their small corner of the war-torn world.

A/N: Wow, that was way longer than the original chapter, but someone wanted more, so I added the piece at the end. Please, tell me what you think!