A/N: Ok, guys, here we are again :) So, the battle of Helms Deep is over and the big question is: Who is the winner of the competition "Who killed the most enemies?" The Dwarf, the Elf or the she-elf? Also, we are now entering the storyline of 'The Return of the King', where we FINALLY get rid of Saruman!
Gotta Dance 88- Yeah, I was crying as well, especially when Haldir died, I liked him a lot. Well, let's see if your bet will be the right one ;)
SmellofRoses- Thank you so much, I'm happy you liked it. I was afraid it would get confusing and I'm really glad you said it was alright :D
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own 'Lord of the Rings', I only own Sunglee.
The defeated Uruk-hai were running to where a forest of trees had suddenly appeared. Eomer was riding out in front of his uncle, Aragorn, Gandalf and Legolas.
'Stay out of the forest!' he warned them, looking cautiously around. 'Keep away from the trees!'
They stood and watched as the Uruks fled into the woods. The trees began to move and screams were heard from the Uruk-hai as the trees were catching them in their branches and killing them. The five men returned to Helms Deep, which seemed safe again, now that the battle was over. When Aragorn found Eowyn, happy that everything had gone well, hugged her tightly. In the meantime, Legolas had spotted Sunglee walking among the corpses. When she saw him, she ran and threw herself into his arms with tears of relief running down her beautiful face.
'You are so brave, melda' Legolas whispered. 'You fought like a lion!'
'For a moment I had thought we would not survive' the she-elf admitted. 'But we are all here, safe and alive'
'And we are ready to face everything that is about to come' Legolas added looking at her tenderly. Then his eyes caught Gimli, sitting on a dead Uruk and smoking his pipe. A sly smile appeared on his face.
'Come, let us go to Master Dwarf' he said to her. Sunglee, remembering their competition, chuckled and followed him. They approached Gimli, who looked with curiosity at them.
'Final count' Legolas announced, stroking his bow and making a dramatic pause '42'
'42?' Gimli repeated, pretending to be impressed. 'Oh! That is not bad for a pointy-eared Elvish princeling. I myself am sitting pretty on 43!'
For a few moments Legolas did not answer, but suddenly he drew swiftly an arrow and shot it at the Uruk the Dwarf was sitting on.
'43' he said satisfied. Sunglee covered her mouth in order not to laugh. Whatever they were doing, it had no sense, for she had killed 48 Uruk-hai.
'He was already dead!' Gimli told Legolas, slightly angry.
'He was twitching' the prince disagreed, looking so innocent that he looked as if he was a young elfling again.
'He was twitching' now Gimli was sounding very angry 'because he has got my axe embedded in his nervous system!'
At this comment, Sunglee could not hold on anymore. She started laughing so hysterically, that Legolas and Gimli turned startled towards her.
'What is so funny, my lady?' Legolas asked.
'The funny thing is, my lords' the Rivendell princess replied 'that none of you won'
The two men exchanged surprised looks, not expecting such an answer. Gimli, thinking that Sunglee was only trying to defend Legolas, became even more furious.
'What do you mean? He killed 42 Uruk-hai and I killed 43!'
'My dear Gimli' Sunglee spoke again 'have you forgotten that I was fighting as well? And I was counting'
Gimli frowned at this announcement, but it did not bother him, for he did not think that a woman would ever beat him. Legolas, instead, knowing how good she was, looked at her with respect.
'And what is your final count?' he wanted to know.
'My final count is…48'
Legolas gasped in awe and patted her on the back as a sign he was proud of her. Not only did she deserve the victory, but the difference could also not be underestimated. Gimli, on the other hand, could not believe it.
'Not only was I beaten by an Elf' he growled 'but by a she-elf as well. Oh, I suppose that the moment of my triumph has to wait'
'Do you not remember what Sunglee had said to a guard when we arrived at Edoras?' Legolas reminded him. 'You should never underestimate a woman, for it is a very dangerous thing to do'
Later, Gandalf rode to the top of the hill at the side of Helms Deep with Eomer, Theoden, Legolas, Gimli, Sunglee, Aragorn and Gamling. Although the battle of Helms Deep was victorious for them, the war was not over yet.
'Saruman's wrath will be terrible, his retribution swift' the wizard told them.
They looked to the other side of the hill, at the direction of Mordor. The sky was much darker at the horizon, turning red at some spots, while thunder and lightning was erupting. The two Elves felt a cold chill running down their spine.
'The battle of Helms Deep is over' Gandalf went on. 'The battle for Middle Earth is about to begin. All our hopes now lie with two little Hobbits'
Sunglee remembered something Galadriel had told her when she was a little girl. She had said that everybody were considering her something very important, something she was not feeling.
'The important is how you think about yourself, Sunglee Anorwen. But never forget that even the smallest can change the future'
This thought helped the young she-elf to have courage and she regained her faith on Frodo's and Sam's mission. Gandalf was right, the battle of Middle Earth would come. And they would be there to fight.
Later that day, the king of Rohan and his companions were riding through the forest looking very warily, afraid of the power and the magic that was clear in the atmosphere. Their destination was Saruman's workshop, Isengard, where Merry and Pippin were, hoping they would find them alive. Some hours later they arrived. Legolas and Sunglee, with their elven ears, could hear distant laughter and singing voices. They looked at each other, not knowing what to think, and pressed their legs on the side of their horses to make them go faster.
What they saw increased their surprise. They expected Isengard to be full with Orcs working, Saruman giving them orders and the two Hobbits being captured. But what had remained was only ruins, on the top of which Merry and Pippin were sitting, drinking, smoking and laughing. When they saw the horses, they stood up and Pippin saluted them with his mug.
'My lords and my lady, welcome to Isengard!' Merry greeted them joyfully.
The riders did not answer. They were staring at their lost friends as if they were seeing them for the first time. They were in agony for so long and they had found them celebrating. Gimli could not keep his temper and burst out.
'You young rascals!' he yelled. 'A merry hunt you have led us on and now we find you feasting and smoking!'
'We are sitting on a field of victory enjoying a few well earned comforts' said Pippin while eating a sandwich. 'The salted pork is particularly good'
'Salted pork?' the Dwarf repeated, having lost his previous impetuosity and Sunglee laughed.
'Hobbits' Gandalf sighed shaking his head.
'We are under orders from Treebeard, who has taken over management of Isengard' Merry started to explain.
Management? Does he mean that Saruman has no longer power over this place? But this is another victory against him! Sunglee thought happily and remembered what Gandalf had told them about the awakening of the Ents.
After Pippin sat behind Gamling and Merry behind Eomer, they approached the high tower of Orthanc, which was made of black stone. Suddenly, a tree came towards them and everybody gasped at its sight. The legends they had heard about the Ents were becoming reality in front of their eyes.
'Hoooom, young Master Gandalf' he told the wizard 'I am happy you have come. Wood and water, stock and stone I can master, but there is a wizard to manage here locked in this tower'
All of them looked at the top of Orthanc, feeling both afraid and determined. Since Saruman had gone with Sauron's side, he had lethal powers.
'Show yourself' whispered Aragorn.
'Be careful. Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous' Gandalf warned him.
'Well then, let us just have his head and be done with it' Gimli suggested eagerly.
'No' Gandalf disagreed. 'We need him alive'
At that moment, Saruman made his appearance. Sunglee's breath became heavier when she saw him, for his evil nature could not be overlooked, especially his dark eyes. He seemed to have this influence on her and Legolas, for they were Elves, as it was happening with the dark speech of Mordor.
'You have fought many wars and slain many men, Theoden King' Saruman said '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?'
I would prefer to jump into Mount Doom than having peace with you, you traitor, the Rivendell princess thought.
'We shall have peace' Theoden replied, making everyone look at him. 'We shall have peace' he continued 'when you answer for the burning of Westfold and the children that lie dead there! We shall have peace when the lives of the soldiers whose bodies were hewn as they lay against the gates of the Hornburg are avenged! We shall have peace when you hang from a gibbet for the sport of your own crows!'
'Gibbets and crows!' Saruman's voice was filled with despise. 'Dotard! What do you want, Gandalf Grahame? Let me guess…the key of Orthanc? Or perhaps the key of Barad-dur itself? Along with the crowns of the seven kings and the rods of the five wizards?'
'Your treachery has already cost many lives' was Gandalf's response. 'Thousands more are now at risk. But you could save them, Saruman. You were deep in the enemy's counsel'
'So you have come here for information' the evil White Wizard concluded and pulled out a black orb. 'I have some for you. Something feasters 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 come soon. You are all going to die! But you know this, do you not, Gandalf? You can not think that this Ranger will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor! This exile crept from the shadows will never be crowned king!'
Aragorn looked at him, not with hate, but as if he was giving him right. There were times where he doubted if he would be a good king. Saruman noticed this and went on satisfied.
'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'
'You are right, Saruman, but it will not lead to his death, but to yours and Sauron's!' Sunglee hissed. Legolas looked worried at her, afraid that Saruman would hurt her. The wizard turned towards her, smiling evilly.
'I do not know you, woman' he told her 'but it is not difficult for me to guess who you are, for you look very much like someone who used to be my friend. You come from Rivendell and your father is Elrond Halfelven'
The she-elf did not speak, but only returned his gaze with her light grey eyes sparkling with anger. Saruman, though, interpreted her silence as agreement.
'Your father disappointed me, princess. When the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins and the 13 Dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield arrived in Imladris, he asked for my counsel and I gave him my advise willingly. But now, instead of following the path of logic and offer his services to Sauron, who will dominate Middle Earth, he agrees to send the Halfling to Mount Doom. And this will lead him to his ruin'
'He will see your ruin before you see his!' Sunglee yelled. Unable to control herself anymore, she grabbed an arrow from her quiver and notched it into her bow.
'No!' Gandalf stopped her intensively. 'Come down, Saruman, and your life will be spared!'
'Save your pity and your mercy! I have no use for it!'
In a sudden, Grima Wormtongue appeared behind Saruman, pale and frowned as always.
'Grima!' Theoden exclaimed in an attempt to bring his old servant on their side. 'You need not to follow him! You were not always as you are now! You were once a man of Rohan! Come down!'
Everybody looked at him with disbelief, having experienced only Wormtongue's evil side. So they were all surprised when they saw him seeming as if he would come down.
'A man of Rohan?' Saruman interfered. '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 great sires!'
'Grima, come down!' Theoden insisted. 'Be free of him!'
'Free? He will never be free!' shouted Saruman.
'No' Wormtongue said suddenly. He was looking at Saruman with anger and hate and everybody started to hope that maybe there was still a chance. Saruman turn to him and slapped him to the ground.
'Get down, cur!'
'Saruman!' Gandalf spoke again. '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!' said Saruman.
In a sudden and before anyone could realize what was happening, Wormtongue attacked Saruman with a knife, stabbing him many times in the back. Legolas aimed an arrow at Wormtongue and shot him right in the heart. Saruman fell from Orthanc and was impaled on a wheel below. Pippin put his hand on his mouth from the shock and all of them were feeling numb, not daring to believe that Sauron's most dangerous servant was dead.
'Send word to all our allies and to every corner of Middle Earth that still stands free' Gandalf ordered, breaking the silence. 'The enemy moves against us. We need to know where he will strike'
The water wheel turned and Saruman disappeared beneath the water. Everybody sighed, feeling they were rid of a heavy burden.
'The filth of Saruman is washing away' said Treebeard. 'Trees will come back to live here. Young trees. Wild trees'
Pippin saw something in the water, dismounted and went to look better. He picked up the orb Saruman was holding previously and looked at it with astonishment. It was the Palantir, which was allowing the wizard to see everything that was happening and it could torment someone to death.
'Bless my bark!' Treebeard exclaimed.
'Peregrin Took!' Gandalf was sounding scared. 'I will take that, my lad. Quickly now!'
The Hobbit handed the Palantir to him and Gandalf wrapped it up. There was silence again, for the companions did not know what to do.
'Come' said Theoden. 'We ride back to Edoras'
Elvish words/phrases used:
Melda- My beloved
A/N: Ok, folks, that's it for now, hope you liked the chapter :) Tomorrow evening you'll have the next one xx
