Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Lady and the Stones. The rest is the work of Master Tolkien... I wish I could claim to have created such genius, but I can't...

Author's notes: Hi everyone! Now, why am I updating before the promised 23rd Sept date? Because FairOphelia replied my email and gave me the green light to post! Yay! Thank her and give her cookies, everyone! :) Chapter 5 and 6 will go up today, and then I go to study for my business paper tomorrow. You should all be really grateful she responded at last - cause it turns out that on Sept 23rd I have something on, so likely I wouldn't have been able to update as promised... yeah. Yay for FairOphelia!

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Chapter 5

Once the great wooden doors had closed, I could hear and see no more of my friends – the thick wood blocked all sounds from inside, and the most my wolf hearing could catch were muffled noises and voices speaking within. After a while, I stopped trying and resigned myself to waiting patiently, twiddling my thumbs (well, I would have if I'd had any) and yawning every few moments.

The guards were mostly ignoring me now, except to throw a wary glance my way every few minutes. I gave them the courtesy of ignoring them in return, turning my attention instead to the small crowd who had gathered at the foot of the steps to stare curiously at me. Snatches of conversation floated up to me, and it was through the rather garbled mutterings I could hear that I learned the thoughts of the humans of this city. Although the people of Edoras rarely, if ever, encountered wolves on their sun-dappled plains, they knew – or thought they knew – enough to say that I had to be more "evil and vicious than Sauron himself". And if I hadn't been wearing my collar, they'd have killed me or driven me out by now. Apparently the collar showed that I was "tamed", important to someone, whoever it was that "owned" me – though what manner of strange folk would want to keep a tame wolf around, they didn't know… and were curious to find out. I wasn't sure what to make of all this – I was used to being hated and stared at with suspicion, and worse thoughts had been thrown my way before, but the fact that they apparently thought of me as some sort of 'pet' really rankled my fur. Oh well. They hadn't attacked yet, or tried to chase me away with pitchforks and torches – that had to be a good sign.

As the mutterings died down into suspicious stares, I was able to take a blessedly dream-free nap, though it was more like dozing since I was more-or-less in between wakefulness and sleep. Then, as the sun left its noon-time position above us, there was a great crash from inside the hall, and I leapt to my feet, instantly alert – a little groggy, maybe, but still alert. The guards shifted nervously, seeming uncertain about whether to leave their posts and rush inside to see what had happened, or whether to just wait for orders.

Me, I'd just gotten antsy enough to start tugging at the rope in an attempt to loosen it, when suddenly the great wooden doors were flung open with a resounding bang, and a pale, terrified man who smelt like worm was thrown out of the hall on his rear. He didn't stop there though, tumbling headlong down the first flight of stairs to land on the small landing below, where the second flight led down towards the right. Low whines issued from his throat, and he was followed by a furious, golden-haired man wearing royal robes and a crown, lots of guards, and my friends. Legolas moved to untie me when he saw me straining at the rope, which did not reach far enough for me to see what was happening down on that second landing.

"Peace, Lady!" he whispered to me, swiftly but unsuccessfully trying to undo the Ranger's knots from my collar. "That is King Théoden, who was under the control of Saruman, and the miserable creature whom he has just thrown out of his hall is Gríma Wormtongue, Saruman's puppet, who undoubtedly had a hand in the King's enslavement. But Gandalf has revealed himself to Saruman and all of Rohan, he has freed the King and overthrown Saruman from Théoden-King's mind; so all will be well now."

"Here, Legolas," rumbled Gimli, who had noticed his friend's increasingly frustrated attempts to undo my bonds. It would seem that part of being a Ranger included having the ability to create knots that could not be easily undone by even nimble Elven fingers. The Dwarf sent me a deceptively innocent grin and padded over. "Allow me to help you. You see, this problem requires delicacy, patience, and a subtle touch."

He caught up one of his axes from where they lay forgotten near the guards' post, lifted it high, and brought it down on the rope with a loud bellow of satisfaction and a crash that was certain to leave quite a mark on the floor. I'd swear the tip of his blade missed my body by mere inches. Eyes wide, it took me a moment to realize that I was free, slightly mesmerized by the smug expression on Gimli's face as he surveyed his work. I thanked him and Legolas with hasty nuzzle-licks before scooting forward to stand by Gandalf and the guards and look below at where the action was unfolding.

The black-clad snake was just rising, crawling backwards as Théoden approached, a threatening glare on his face. Hissing and groveling, he whined to the King: "I've only, ever served you, my lord!"

Sword firmly in hand, the man I now knew to be Théoden-King was having none of it. "Your leechcraft," he bellowed, "Would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!"

"Send me not from your sight!" cried Gríma, continuing his desperate, backwards slither down the steps.

Théoden's only reply was to lift his sword high above his head. I couldn't see his face, but I imagined that surely there would be rage there in his expression.

Faster than an arrow from Legolas' bow, Aragorn slipped down from the upper landing, away from the lady in white who stood by his side, and moved to catch hold of Théoden's sword arm, holding him back from bringing it down on Gríma.

"No, my lord!" He glanced down at Gríma, then back at the King. "No, my lord," he repeated. "Let him go. Enough blood has been spilt on his account."

Looking down at Gríma again, he extended his hand to help him to his feet, but the King's former advisor spat at the offered grip, staggered to his feet, and shoved his way rudely through the crowd.

I growled, furious at the snake's ungracious reaction to my friend's kindness, but Aragorn glanced up at me and shook his head slightly. "It's all right, Lady," he called up to me, his expression calm.

"Let him go!" Théoden frowned at the sight of me, but held out his hand to stop his guards from following Gríma. "Let him have whatever horse will bear him, so long as he leaves here and never returns."

His men paused, and that was when Háma cried out: "Hail, Théoden-King!" And such was the mingled joy and reverence in his voice that others took up the shout, and the crowd knelt in homage to the King of the Golden Hall. Théoden looked around silently, yet with much emotion in his gaze. Not many noticed as Gríma rode out the gates, and I suspect not many would have cared. Even Aragorn knelt, bending on one knee before the King, and so I followed my friend's example, lowering myself to the ground in a bow that I think impressed all those who saw me, although capturing the hearts of the people of Rohan was certainly not my intent. Enslaved he might have been, and nearly defeated but for Gandalf's intervention, but Théoden was still a King and he deserved the respect.

Slowly, Théoden nodded to his people, and turned. A frown made its way over his face, as though he had only just realized that something was missing. Looking at Aragorn, then at his men, he asked: "Where is Théodred? Where is my son?"

A silence greeted him, and when I looked to Gandalf and the King's men, I suddenly guessed at the true reason that the people of Edoras were all clad in black.

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A fire burned in the grate as we all settled down in the main room of Meduseld, where the King usually conferred with his men and court – at least, he had done so prior to Gríma's treachery. Introductions were made quickly, and I learned that the fair lady who was dressed in white was the Lady Éowyn, Théoden's niece. The King was initially wary of me, but when Gandalf vouched for me and told him that I was not truly a wolf, but a woman caught in a wolf's body, he relaxed, accepting the Wizard's word.

It seemed that recently, the King's son had passed on due to numerous wounds obtained in a battle at the fords of Isen, and the King had been unaware and apathetic under the control of Saruman's spell. Now ridden with guilt, Théoden had given orders for the funeral preparations to begin straightaway.

"Théodred shall be buried in the halls of my fathers this very evening," he declared, and excused himself to go and see his son's body for one final time.

"Of course, uncle," said Éowyn gently, and she stood, excusing herself as well so that she could bring her uncle to where her cousin's body lay. The King of Rohan was still slightly weakened by his long ordeal under the thumb of the other White Wizard, and he leaned on his niece as they left the room.

"I'll be back to show you to your rooms, later," Éowyn promised us, and Gandalf nodded and waved her away, saying that such arrangements could easily be taken care of later.

Almost as soon as the door was shut, the Wizard let out a long, slow, breath. He turned to us, his eyes landing on me at long last.

"One obstacle has been overcome, but Rohan has some ways to go before healing can begin," he sighed. "Lady, it would help if you could share with us the some of the Hope that you now carry around your neck, but then again I don't suppose that the Stones can be controlled by you as of yet?"

Somehow, it didn't surprise me all that much that the Wizard knew about the Stone of Hope. I looked at the Wizard and shrugged. Not that I wouldn't love to share Hope, but I did not know how, and the Stone would not glow. That inner sense that sometimes directed me to new uses of the Stones was strangely silent as well.

I should have seen it coming. I should have known. But I was tired both physically and spiritually, and I wanted to rest.

But first, we attended Théodred's funeral.

I observed the Rohirric funeral rites with interest; for it was the first time I'd experienced a funeral outside of my hometown. Théodred's body was cleansed, and set on a long wooden board that was borne outside the hall by six men, who then bore it all the way to the hills outside the city where all the Kings of Rohan were buried. Théoden-King, Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas and I followed behind, and finally the people of Edoras all turned out to follow the procession, all mourning and paying their last respects to the son of their King. Though they were truly overjoyed to have their King back, the loss of their beloved King's heir was not forgotten, and I was awed indeed by the love of the people for their monarch and his family.

No one protested my being there now. I was with the four strangers who had saved their King, and Théoden himself allowed me to walk beside him in the procession, and that was all the people needed to know, their initial suspicion and mistrust eased due to their faith in the man who led them.

Éowyn and the women of Rohan were waiting by the burial mound. Aragorn gently signaled for me to step back, and I did so, watching avidly but respectfully as Théodred's body was given to the women, who bore him into the tomb. With tears falling like rain down her cheeks, Éowyn burst into a sort of song-chant; a lament for her departed cousin, and all listened to her slightly-trembling, grief-filled voice in silence. When at last she finished, the sun was low in the sky, and the tomb's doors were shut in a finalizing gesture. It was done, and Théodred was laid to rest… a hero sent home.

Still, the crowd did not leave all at once. Most stood in respectful silence for a while longer, only leaving in small groups one after the other as the evening drew closer to night. After a while, Aragorn placed his hand on Legolas' shoulder, and nodded for me and Gimli to walk away from the tomb as well. Gandalf did not move, and I realized that he wanted to linger a while more. He and the King would be the last to leave, it seemed, and so I padded after my friends, tiredness catching up to me at long last. I'd forgotten about it, caught up in observing the Rohirric funeral.

Upon our return to the hall, Éowyn kept her promise about rooms, showing us to two in the family wing, a great honor indeed. Gimli and Legolas agreed to share one room, and it was a testament to how far we had come, really. Had this occurred a month or so ago, the two would have probably had to be housed in separate buildings, never mind separate rooms, but now the two were more than willing to sleep together in one room.

"We have no lodgings as grand as the ones in your Elven homes must be, nor any as comfortable as those in your Dwarven cities," she apologized to first Legolas, then Gimli with a regretful smile. "Still, I hope these will do for you."

"We have been sleeping on earth and grass," Legolas assured her. "As long as there are beds, this is more than adequate, my lady, and we are grateful indeed." He bowed his fair head, eliciting a slow smile from her.

"I'll share a room with Gandalf and Lady, then," Aragorn said. He glanced at me. "You do not mind, Lady?"

Mind? Considering that I could have been left to sleep outside with the dogs or something, but was instead being allowed to sleep inside with my friends... of course I didn't mind! Grinning at him, I wagged my tail and shook my head enthusiastically.

Éowyn smiled shyly at me. "I'll go and see about dinner for you all," she promised. "Would you like to take it in your rooms, or in the hall later, with the King?"

We all looked at Aragorn, who answered, "In the hall, thank you, my lady. I believe that we still have matters to discuss with the King and with Gandalf."

I pawed at his leg impatiently, and he glanced down at me in surprise, before his eyes widened and he looked at Éowyn, who had nodded and was about to leave for the kitchens. "Oh. My lady?"

She turned back to us. "Yes?"

With a perfectly serious face, he informed her: "Lady would like me to remind you that she prefers meat for dinner, preferably still raw, and she would be most obliged if you did not use wine or other alcoholic beverages as marinades, because those wreak havoc with her current digestive system. I do hope this won't be a problem."

She laughed softly, the hint of a blush on her cheeks as she grinned at Aragorn, such a faint pink that I thought I'd imagined it with my not-so-trustworthy wolf vision. "Of course not," she answered. "How does she feel about bones? We have several meat-bones for our dogs that might be to her liking…"

I nodded eagerly, and Aragorn translated: "I rather believe that she enjoys them very much indeed, my lady."

With a smile, the King's niece laughed once more, and turned again on her errand, leaving the four of us to settle down for a brief rest.

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I could not sleep, though Aragorn managed to catch a quick before-dinner nap in our room before we were summoned to the hall by a servant for the evening meal. Fear gripped me every time I closed my eyes, and in the end I just watched Aragorn as he slept, feeling my exhaustion stripping me of my good spirits, until the time came for us to walk to the hall with Gimli and Legolas. Gandalf and the King were not there yet, but Éowyn assured us that her uncle would not mind if we started first. He had told her so as he'd known that he would be staying at his son's grave for quite a while.

We waited anyway, though the Dwarf's tummy rumbled with displeasure at being so near to succulent foods, yet so far from being filled. There was quite a feast on the table, roast chicken and beef stew, along with mashed potatoes, a garden-fresh salad and good wine – malt beer for Gimli, though, in a large tankard as per the Dwarf's request. It was a simple fare, as Éowyn apologized to us, but after days with nothing but lembas bread and water, I'd say it looked a feast to my friends. For me, I was given a bowl filled with chopped up bits of raw steak and one large meat bone. Éowyn apologized, saying she would have put it on the table, but it smelled more than slightly offensive and so she had placed it underneath. I didn't mind – I was too tired to mind much of anything, really.

It was ridiculous, if I thought about it. I knew it was ridiculous. They were just dreams! Just dreams… yet each time, they filled me with near-paralyzing terror and prevented me from getting any true rest. And always, in each dream, the Great Eye watched me, waiting… and the wolf would answer each of his calls.

Shivering, I nibbled on some of the meat in my bowl. I felt cold – was the fire getting low? Pressing against the Ranger's booted leg helped, as did the hand that descended to rub along my neck, and I sighed.

Then, the doors of the hall were thrown open, and Gandalf and Théoden entered, with a few men of Rohan. The King was leading a small girl by the hand, supporting her each time she stumbled, and behind him, the Wizard bore a young boy no older than twelve summers in his arms. We all stood, stunned and surprised. It looked like dinner would have to wait.

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Review responses from Chapter 4 of Wolflight (from the author's note that was here before, in case some haven't seen their response):

MerrytheHobbit - Good to hear that you're still enjoying it! Thanks, and I hope to update soon!

Mish - No, Lady gave Sam the Stone of Reliability, but not her whole necklace. So she's really been given five Stones, but only has four with her : Courage, Kindness, Friendship, Reliability, and Hope. And yes - I can't forget that she's a wolf, though there are some parts where I look at what I wrote and feel that they don't treat her enough like a wolf... but then again, you'll see why later in Wolflight. Hope you'll stick around for it!

pixie freak - The Elven words I used earlier in Lorien for Galadriel's and Aragorn's discussion were from a website of Sindarin phrases that I've found very useful. The rest are from the movie transcript, of which I always keep a copy open when I'm writing this. The new Stone doesn't exactly allow her to see Frodo/Sam... I'll explain later in Wolflight. You'll see. ;) Thanks for reviewing!

JediMasterMiraxHorn - Thanks! I hope to have it up ASAP, but if not, then by Sept 23rd my time. Absolutely. :) Thanks for reviewing!

Rushingriver - Yup, I loved youth camp! Totally rocked. But I loved your review just as much, cause it rocked my world too! Thanks! I'll update soon!

Duvet - I'm so glad you're enjoying this. I hope to have the next part up soon. :)

Memory Bleeds - Hey, thanks. Yes, I felt that in order to stay realistic, with Lady being who she is, I had to keep her outside. The Rohirrim were going through a dark time in their lives... I doubt they'd have been so trusting of a wolf, given the creature's history in Middle-earth. Do keep reading - I missed ya!

bookworm2011 - Yes, I did keep you waiting for that, didn't I? I'm in the middle of Wolfsong now, the third part... no, more near the beginning, but it's progressing slowly. Keep an eye out!

Claire - Why, thank you. Glad you're enjoying it. I'll try hard to get you more soon. :)

Kaisaan - (grabs and hugs) Oh, you! You replied so fast - I had no idea you were even online! Sorry - the Wolflight prologue wasn't what I meant to upload! I clicked on the wrong document when I tried to put up my AN, and then I had to change it but on dial-up it was excruciatingly slow... But it shows you're still here with me, so it's all good I guess - thanks!

Regarding the review you gave for Chapter 20 - Yes, the first word is "The". LOL. I gave you all the vowels already, so... I'm glad you missed me! It may be weird but it's nice to be missed! I want chapter 5 up here for you all too! I'll try!

Maria - Yes, I wonder how different it'll be when she can talk too... If I ever finish this and write a sequel like I'm planning to, I'm going to stay by my heart and go realistic. If she changes back, then it won't be the usual Mary-Sue kind of "entire-Fellowship-falls-madly-in-love-with-her-at-first-sight". She's going to get a lot less desirable first, and weirder... and then we'll just see if she deserves to fall in love with, say, Legolas. I'm not too sure I want her to end in a Legomance... but we'll see. Thanks for your review... hope you'll stick around till Chapter 5. :)

Temeti - My brother mentioned that too... but it's in the movie, it has to be written and there's only so much I can do to change it. She's living through it - I'm not going to rewrite Tolkien's entire tale, going that far AU just doesn't sit well with me. As it is, I can only hope to bring you through this story for the umpteenth time in a way you'll enjoy, like rewatching the movies again after a long lull from the last time you watched it. So... yeah. Glad you're still here - do stick around!

gERMaNgIrL678 - LOL, thanks! Glad you like it! I will keep writing... don't worry! Got a lot planned for Lady and I intend to see her through to whatever her end will be. :) Thankies!

sparkalie - Hehe, well, Wolflight is actually done. Just waiting on my beta... thanks for reviewing, hope you bear with me!

Tintanie - Thanks! I'm glad you and so many others think it's different... I never thought much of it when I drafted it out years ago, and I lost inspiration pretty quickly. But then again, I suppose it's a good thing I didn't write it back then. My writing style when I was younger was... rather cringe-worthy, actually. I hope I continue to do this justice. :) Stick with me, please?

Yellow-Fluffy-Monster - I missed my yellow fluffy monster! I wondered why I hadn't been hearing from you! :) Sorry you had to get back to a lack of updating... hope you're still here when I post the next bit!

Black Wolf-Dog - I think I already replied to you... if not - nice try! But no, it's not the Silimon Jewels... did you mean Silmarillion? No, I never managed to finish reading that book... I'll give a hint - the vowels are all provided, and the first word is "The". And one of the letters in the second word of your guess is correct "m".

conoe - Haha, I won't stop! Thanks!

Shadow Traveler - Thanks! It's a little different from my first draft of it... but I'm glad I'm doing it well now. I want to make this fic the best it can be! I hope you're still around when I get back with chapter 5!

choirbandgeek - Thank you! Sorry, it's updated but I can't post the next chapter yet... I will though, I know it's been too long a wait. Hope nothing keeps me from posting this on the 23rd!

ladykind - May the muse be with you as well! Thank you for reviewing!

Inspired Butterfly - I was really tickled and pleased when I returned to find that I'd gone up in reviews by about 9 or 10 posts! Wow - you really like this, huh? Thanks so much! Sorry I don't have time to respond to all of them - and thanks for finding out those errors! I couldn't fix them all, but someday I'll go back and repost them, cause I noticed them too. Thanks!

Haruka Shinigami - LOL... and after Fellowship, are you going to read The Two Towers? That's the work of the master himself - I'll never match Mr Tolkien's work, but I hope I do his world justice! Thanks for reviewing - hope you continue to enjoy. :)

Yuffie Sensei - Thanks! I hope you'll bear with me! :)

OneAndOnlyLove - Yup! No wolf/dog likes to be muzzled - I see it in my own dogs all the time! Even holding their jaws shut with both hands really makes them upset and frantic and they panic - I think it's a canine thing. After all, their fangs are their only means of defense, a dog who can't bite can't protect itself. Lady would have gone mad with one on, and she knew it, which is why I had her refuse the muzzle - it would have meant more trouble than they needed while in Rohan! Glad you like - hope you stick around for more!

dansa - Thanks - I'll need all the luck I can get. I have this sinking feeling, though, that I'm going to fail - just economics and business left, and those are awful! Well... thanks for the review! Nah - it's been long enough since chapter 5. My personality is such that I believe it's wrong of me to keep you all waiting anymore, since I myself hate writers that write a fic halfway then leave people hanging. I'll get chapter 5 up - I will! Cause I love you guys - (hugs) Thanks for the review and for sticking around so long!

Gixie - Gosh, I hope I manage to keep it interesting too! I've been having some museless moments, especially with all the studying I have to do... but I'm almost back on track, and I have lots of plans for Lady and everyone. I hope I don't mess up the quality for you.. do bear with me! :) Thanks for reviewing!

RK9.