Chapter Thirty-Four: Saruman's Palantir
Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the plot and any additional characters I add. All familiar dialogue is the property of J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson. Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.
oOoOo
Harry kept his wand out, staying on high alert while Faramir led them through the desolated streets of Osgiliath towards the sewer. All around them, the soldiers who were not injured or dead were busy at work trying to help their comrades gather all the objects and food they could which survived the battle. Faramir paused briefly to talk to one of the soldiers before moving on and leading them down some stone steps to an archway. Further on was a tunnel, but it was obscured in darkness. Faramir stopped at the entrance, turning to them. 'This is the old sewer. Runs right under the river through to the edge of the city. You'll find cover in the woods there,' he told them, gesturing towards the sewer.
Sam beamed at him. 'Captain Faramir... You've shown your quality, sir,' he said, pausing briefly. 'The very highest,' he added making Harry smile while he placed a hand on the Hobbits shoulder.
Faramir smiled down at him. 'The Shire must truly be a great realm, Master Gamgee, where gardeners are held in high honour,' he answered, ruffling the Hobbits head before turning to Frodo. 'What road will you take once you reach the woods?' he asked while Harry gathered their satchels together and leaned against a wall to rest for a moment.
Frodo watched him sadly, his heart heavy with the weight of his task. He subconsciously reached up, placing his hand over where he knew the Ring was. He noticed Gollum slinking towards them and then turned to look at Faramir. 'Gollum says there's a path near Minas Morgul which climbs up into the mountains,' he answered.
Harry frowned. 'Wait. What? Was that the way we were meant to be going?' Harry asked to which Frodo and Sam both nodded. 'Huh... I thought he said something else,' he said with a shrug.
Faramir, on the other hand, was not as calm and resigned to this knowledge like Harry was. 'Cirith Ungol?' he asked them.
Harry snapped his fingers. 'Yeah, that was it,' he answered before frowning again. 'You say it like it's a bad thing,' he added with confusion clouding his eyes.
Faramir growled before unexpectedly grabbing Gollum by the neck, pushing him against a pillar behind them. 'Is that its name?' he asked him angrily, shaking Gollum who was swiping at his hands to try and release him.
'No. No! Yes,' Gollum cried, and Faramir just thrust the creature into the wall again in anger.
Harry watched this with interest before pushing off the wall and stepping towards them. 'Why is that bad? What is there?' he asked Faramir.
Faramir turned, glancing at Harry before looking down at Frodo in concern. He still held Gollum against the wall. He turned back to Harry, answering him, 'They say a dark terror dwells in the passes above Minas Morgul. You cannot go that way.'
Gollum struggled against the wall, kicking out at Faramir. 'It is the only way. Master says we must go to Mordor, so we must try,' he argued while Faramir looked at him in disgust before turning back to look at Frodo, worry creasing his brow.
Frodo nodded. 'I must,' he said, confirming Faramir's fears.
Faramir nodded, throwing Gollum down, and giving him a look of utter loathing and disgust before turning back to the trio. 'Go Frodo. Go with the goodwill of all Men,' he told him with a smile, gently placing his hands on the small Hobbits shoulders.
Frodo smiled back. 'Thank you,' he said, readjusting his satchel and following Harry and Sam who were already walking ahead. When they entered the dark tunnel, Harry lit the tip of his wand to give them some light.
Gollum looked at Faramir warily for a moment before crawling after them, but the man grabbed his neck, pushing back against the wall again. 'We all end up dead. It's just a question of how and why. May death find you quickly if you bring them to harm,' he threatened, throwing Gollum after the trio and he was finally able to follow them into the sewer.
Sam turned back, having not noticed the commotion behind or heard the threatening words Faramir said to Gollum. 'Come on, keep up,' he said to the creature who was following them cautiously. Sam turned to him, watching Gollum throw himself up onto a rock and look about. 'Mr Frodo didn't mean for them Rangers to hurt you. You know that, don't you? He was trying to save you, see?' Sam said to him in a soft and gentle tone he never used with the creature.
Gollum frowned. 'Save me?' Gollum asked, looking towards where Harry was helping Frodo step up onto a high ledge.
Sam watched for a moment before turning back to Gollum and nodding. 'So there's no hard feelings. Forgive and forget,' Sam said in a civil tone, trying to be as nice as he could to the horrible creature.
Gollum's eyes widened, shaking his head vigorously. 'No, no, no hard feelings. Gollum, Gollum,' he answered, getting up and moving alongside Sam on the ground. 'Yes, Master. Nice Hobbits,' he said to which Sam smiled in relief.
'Very decent of you. Very decent, indeed, Gollum,' Sam answered, walking over to the ledge and letting Harry help him up.
'Everything okay?' Harry asked Sam in a hushed voice, eyeing Gollum with suspicion.
Sam nodded. 'Yup, everything's fine, Mr Harry,' he answered, giving Gollum a small smile before moving on. This was not lost on Harry, and he watched them continue along the tunnel, his eyes trained on Sam, wondering why on earth he would be smiling at Gollum.
oOoOo
Back in the realm of Rohan, Gandalf rode to the top of a slope, looking out towards the Mountain of Fire in the distance. Legolas and Aragorn pulled up on either side of him while Gimli looked out from where he was sitting behind Legolas on Arod, and Théoden pulled up next to Aragorn. Gandalf glanced at Legolas for a moment. The Elf's features were no longer serene and calm like they normally were. His bright blue eyes had darkened, and his face was shadowed by a scowl which didn't suit his personality. Gandalf could already sense Legolas' heart was darkening and until they saved Hermione, he would continue to resign himself to darkness.
Gandalf shook his head sadly, looking back towards the Mountain in the distance. 'Sauron's wrath will be terrible, his retribution swift. The battle for Helm's Deep is over. The battle for Middle-earth is about to begin. All our hopes now lie with two little Hobbits and Harry. Somewhere in the wilderness,' he whispered, and the others all looked out towards the mountain. Black smoke was swirling high above the mountain, and the way it circled Mordor made it look like there was a constant storm overhead.
'What are we to do now, Gandalf?' Aragorn asked, turning to look at his old friend.
'We are going to Isengard. I can sense Draco's magical signature from here, and I can also sense Hermione's,' Gandalf answered, and at the mention of Hermione, Legolas turned to look at him with a hopeful expression on his face, softening the scowl. Gandalf turned to look at him. 'Hermione is alive. She is in Isengard. We go now,' Gandalf said to him.
A small smile brightened Legolas' face, and he nodded. 'Let us go then,' he whispered, pulling Arod into a gallop.
oOoOo
While he walked through the woods away from Osgiliath, Harry thought about everything which led up to where he was now. He wondered how Hermione was and where she was now. Hell, he even wondered how Draco was getting on and whether he managed to catch up with Merry and Pippin all those weeks ago.
His thoughts changed to the future, knowing full well by being in the past things would have changed drastically there. From the information he overheard, from Faramir and his men, he believed he could safely assume Voldemort and his Death Eaters managed to find a way back to this time as well. Harry knew there would also be the inevitable time when he would have to face Voldemort. He was just worried about the spell he used the night of the battle of Hogwarts. So many died that night.
It was then Harry's thoughts turned to Ron. He hadn't thought about it since they were still in Rivendell, but now his dormant thoughts surfaced, and he felt the familiar stab of pain which came whenever he remembered that night. It seemed like so long ago. He wondered if he were to defeat Voldemort in this time, would it mean things would go back to being relatively normal in the future. Would everyone still be alive?
His thoughts turned to Hermione and Draco again. Would they stay in this time or would they return with him to the future? Hermione had met and fallen in love with Legolas, and she had the chance to be with him forever... would she give it up? And Draco... would he want to return to a time when his Father beat him, and his Mother pretended she didn't love him to avoid getting beaten herself? Would things still be like that if he defeated Voldemort in this time?
All these questions swirled about in his mind, and he wondered if there would be anyone who could answer them.
All he knew was, eventually, he would either go after Voldemort, or he would come for him. He remembered the cardinal rule of going after someone with an intention to kill was not to make it personal, which it almost always ended up being anyway.
It did with Harry.
But he had a valid reason. Voldemort was the reason most of his loved ones were dead; his parents, Sirius, Remus, the Weasleys', Luna, Neville... everyone he had ever known... they were all gone.
He shook himself from his thoughts, speeding up his pace so he could catch up to where Frodo and Sam were walking a little ahead. He ignored the questions gnawing away at his mind and tuned in to what Frodo and Sam were saying, trying to lighten the feeling of depression which hit him when he thought of that night.
'I wonder if we'll ever be put into songs or tales,' Sam was saying, and Harry frowned having not heard the entirety of the conversation between the two Hobbits.
'What?' Harry asked, falling into step with Sam.
Sam looked up at him before looking at Frodo. 'I wonder if people will ever say, "let's hear about Frodo and the Ring". And they'll say "yes, that's one of my favourite stories. Frodo was really courageous, wasn't he, dad". "Yes, my boy, the most famousest of Hobbits. And that's saying a lot",' he said, envisioning his children wanting to know one day. His smile faded when he thought of Rosie Cotton back in the Shire... he missed her terribly.
Sam shook his head while Frodo answered, 'Huh, you left out one of the chief characters – Samwise the Brave. I want to hear more about Sam,' Frodo smiled at him, and Harry clapped him on the shoulder. Frodo paused, turning to look at Sam seriously, but the smile was still present. 'Frodo wouldn't have got far without Sam,' he said sincerely to which Harry smiled brightly, he hadn't seen Frodo smile properly in a while.
Sam looked away from him, a little embarrassed. 'Now Mr Frodo, you shouldn't make fun. I was being serious,' Sam answered, and Frodo's smile widened.
'So was I,' Frodo answered, turning and walking once more.
Sam looked towards the sky with a dreamy expression on his face. 'Samwise the Brave,' he whispered with a smile, giving his satchel a heave and following Frodo once more.
Harry chuckled from where he was walking next to Sam. 'That's the spirit, Sam,' he said to the Hobbit, giving his hair a ruffle and Sam's smile widened.
'Ah, but we mustn't forget Harry the Valiant!' Sam said, and Frodo laughed while Harry shook his head in humour.
Frodo nodded. 'Exactly,' he said before continuing. Sam and Harry caught up to him and walking by his side. A short distance away, Gollum crouched by a tree, watching and listening to the conversation they were having with a disgusted expression plastered on his horrible face. He startled a little when Frodo turned. 'Sméagol!' he beckoned, but Gollum made no move from his crouched position where he could see them, but they could not see him.
Sam looked back and glanced around, trying to spot him. 'We're not gonna wait for you. Come on!' he shouted before turning and continuing.
Harry stopped and looked back, eyeing the area, but he couldn't spot the creature at all. Frowning, he whispered, 'What mischief is he up to this time?'
Sméagol watched them, letting out a slight gasp of fear. 'Master... Master looks after us. Master wouldn't hurt us,' he said to himself, playing with a small stick nervously, twisting it in his hands.
Gollum shook his head violently. 'Master broke his promise,' he reasoned, trying to gain Sméagol back onto his side.
'Don't ask Sméagol. Poor, poor Sméagol,' Sméagol whispered in fear, not wanting anything to do with his evil side, but the temptation and manipulation were too great.
Gollum frowned angrily. 'Master betrayed us! Wicked, tricksy, false. We ought to wring his filthy little neck,' he growled, twisting the branch of a tree to emphasise his point. 'Kill him! Kill him! Kill them both and the stupid man. And then we take the precious, and WE be the Master,' he told him, but Sméagol wasn't to be convinced easily.
Sméagol scuttled fearfully, hiding behind a tree at the mere thought of killing them. 'The fat Hobbit, he knows. Eyes always watching,' he whispered to his alter-ego in a petrified, whiny tone.
Gollum smiled gruesomely, showing his brown rotted teeth. 'Then we stabs them out. Put out his eyeses. And make HIM crawl,' he answered, punching his fist into his palm.
Sméagol smiled, biting on his finger and nodding eagerly. 'Yes! Yes! Yes!' he agreed.
Gollum smiled wickedly at this, knowing he was getting through to him. 'Kill them both. And then kill the man,' he ordered, punching the ground with an evil grin spreading across his face which would have made Voldemort proud.
Sméagol nodded. 'Yes!' he agreed before his smile vanished and he shook his head violently. 'No, no!' he shouted, backing away against a tree again. 'It's too risky, it's too risky,' he argued, looking in the direction of the Hobbits and Harry who were looking for him again.
'Where is he? Where has he gone?' Sam asked, looking around impatiently.
'Hey Gollum, where are you?' Harry shouted, looking for the creature.
'Sméagol?' Frodo shouted softly, looking around, but he couldn't spot him anywhere.
Gollum glowered angrily, looking towards Frodo. 'We could let HER do it?' he suggested softly and sinisterly.
Sméagol placed a long bony finger to his chin while he thought about it. 'Yes. She could do it,' he agreed.
Gollum's face broke out into an evil grin. 'Yes, precious she could. And then we takes it once they're dead,' he told Sméagol who nodded.
Sméagol looked up at the three companions and whispered, 'Once they're dead…' he followed a small path around a rock, popping out from hiding in front of the Hobbits and Harry. 'Come on, Hobbits and man. Long ways to go yet. Sméagol will show you the way,' he told them before walking on, followed by Frodo, Sam, and Harry who were eyeing him suspiciously.
Gollum smirked. 'Follow me,' he whispered, crawling on to a rock and looking towards the direction they needed to go in. In the distance, from the vantage point they now had, they could see over Ephel Dúath, revealing the desolation of Mordor. To the left, they could see the ever-watchful Eye of Sauron on top of Barad-dûr, whereas to the right they could see the fiery Mount Doom. Harry looked at the horrible place with disdain, noticing three Fell Beasts were circling the dark skies while lightning flashed. He got a shiver down his spine at the thought of what they would be facing once they arrived there.
oOoOo
The next morning, Harry awoke to a grey morning and around him were barren trees. He looked around the concrete culvert they went to sleep in the night before. He stretched before looking at Sam who was still snoring, lightly for once. Then he noticed Frodo sitting by the entrance to the culvert, looking into nothing with staring eyes.
Harry lay back down, pretending to sleep while he watched Frodo fiddle with the chain around his neck before he grimaced. He looked over at Sam and Harry surreptitiously watching them to make sure they wouldn't see him pull the Ring out. Harry watched Frodo admire the Ring through slitted eyes, turning it in his fingers like it was something truly spectacular. In Harry's eyes, he looked like a child who just received an early Christmas present and was told he would be getting a load more also. The thought of this disgusted him, and he was worried about the effect the Ring was having on Frodo. He wished he could take it off him so the Ring's influence would no longer be cast upon him.
Harry startled when a crumbling sound erupted from outside, and he watched Frodo quickly tuck the Ring back under his clothes. Gollum appeared from above the entrance to the culvert, hanging upside down, and looked at them with a smile on his face. 'Wake up!' he shouted, jumping down. 'Wake up!' He shouted again, prodding Sam. 'Wake up sleepies! We must go, yes, we must go at once,' he shouted, shaking Harry and scampering away, beckoning for them to follow.
Sam sat up, rubbing his tired eyes before looking at Frodo who was staring out of the entrance of the culvert. 'Haven't you had any sleep Mr Frodo?' he asked him, worry lacing his tone. Frodo sighed before turning to look at him, shaking his head in the negative. Sam's brow creased before realising how light it was outside the culvert. 'And I've gone and had too much,' he groaned, standing up and walking to the entrance of the culvert. He looked towards the sky at the sun which was high. 'It must be getting late,' he muttered.
Frodo shook his head. 'No, it isn't. It isn't midday yet,' he answered, peering around. 'The days are growing darker,' he muttered tiredly.
Harry stood and walked to the entrance, looking out at the dull sky, the sun just showing through a gap in the dark clouds. 'It must be quite late in the year. I wonder what month it is?' Harry said out loud.
Sam shrugged. 'I lost track weeks ago, Mr Harry,' he answered, and Harry nodded in agreement.
Harry grabbed the side of the culvert when the ground started shaking. 'What was that!' he asked in panic while small stones fell in front of the entrance, rolling down the sloped ground away from the culvert.
'Look!' Sam shouted, pointing towards Mordor. In the distance, a Volcano was spurting fire, and black smoke was billowing out, blackening the sky above.
Harry grimaced when the ground shook again. 'Think we'll be safe here?' he asked them.
'I don't know,' Frodo answered quietly.
Gollum appeared at the entrance again, beckoning them to follow him. 'Come on! Must go! No time!' he shouted in panic, sounding like something terrible would happen if they didn't.
'Not before Mr Frodo's had something to eat,' Sam argued.
'No time to lose silly!' Gollum retorted, but Sam ignored him, turning back into the culvert.
He walked over to his bag of food, and pulled out some Lembas wrappings, before walking over to Harry and Frodo. 'Here,' he said, handing one to Frodo, who took it eagerly, and the other to Harry.
'Thanks, Sam,' Harry said, unwrapping the Lembas and taking a bite.
Frodo looked at his own before looking at Sam. 'What about you?' he asked him, noticing he hadn't taken any out for himself.
Sam shook his head. 'Oh no, I'm not hungry, leastways not for Lembas bread,' he answered. Harry stopped eating, looking at him with a frown.
'Sam!' Frodo argued.
'Sam you have to eat something,' Harry said, breaking off some of his own and giving it to the Hobbit.
Sam sighed, taking the bit Harry offered him. 'Oh alright, but we don't have that much left. We have to be careful, or we are going to run out. You go ahead and eat that Mr Frodo. I've rationed it; there should be enough,' Sam told him.
Frodo nodded, taking a bite and swallowing. He frowned, looking back at Sam. 'For what?' Frodo asked in confusion.
Sam looked over at him. 'For the journey home,' he answered, his voice tight like he was about to cry. Harry patted him on the back and ate the Lembas.
They finished eating and gathered their provisions and satchels together before making their way out of the culvert. They followed Gollum, who was being somewhat impatient from having to wait on them, down the slope towards the trees stretching out at the bottom. Gollum turned to them, gesturing for them to hurry. 'Come Hobbitses, very close now. Very close to Mordor. No safe places here. Hurry,' he said and with a sigh from Harry and Frodo, and a slight groan from Sam, they followed the creature through the dreary landscape.
oOoOo
Gandalf rode through the forest warily like he was waiting for something to happen. Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, Théoden, and Éomer followed closely, also listening and watching their surroundings knowing there could be enemies anywhere. Gandalf motioned for them to stop when they neared the exit to the forest where they could just see the ruins of Isengard through the gaps in the branches of the trees. Legolas' ears twitched when he heard distant laughter floating through the trees. He started to pull Arod into a gallop to ride towards the sound, but Aragorn stopped him with a hand on his arm, waiting for Gandalf's signal.
A small smile alighted on Gandalf's face when Merry's voice floated to them through the trees. 'It's good. Definitely from the Shire,' he was saying, smoking his pipe. The Hobbit turned to his companion. 'Longbottom leaf eh?' he said, smiling easily at Pippin.
Pippin nodded. 'Uhh-huh,' he answered, a wide smile on his face. He took a smoke from his pipe. 'I feel like I'm back at the Green Dragon,' he said, sighing contentedly.
'The Green Dragon?' Draco asked in curiosity, taking a bite out of an apple.
'Mmmm,' Merry nodded, looking at him before taking a bite of his apple. 'Green Dragon!' he answered, and Draco just shook his head in confusion.
'What is the Green Dragon?' Hermione asked them.
Merry's eyes shined when he thought about it, but it was Pippin who answered, 'It's a pub in the Shire. We'll show you one day,' he answered before standing up. 'A mug of ale in my hand. Putting my feet up on a settle after a hard day's work,' he said dreamily, closing his eyes and imagining being back there.
'Only,' Merry refuted, looking at Pippin, his eyes glassy, 'you've never done a hard day's work.' Hermione let out a small giggle, and Draco snorted. Pippin nodded in agreement and laughed, but it was short lived when they all became alert and aware at the sounds of horses approaching their position.
They all looked towards the trees to see Gandalf riding out with his companions, and broad smiles broke out on all their faces. 'Ahaha!' Pippin laughed, saluting them with his mug.
They turned while Merry stood on the wall. 'Welcome, my Lords, to Isengard!' he shouted in greeting, bowing towards them.
Gimli growled at them in fake annoyance. 'You young rascals. A merry hunt you've led us on, and now we find you feasting and… and smoking!' he shouted, but it was almost impossible to keep the smile off his face.
'This was a battle of extraordinary magnitude!' Draco shouted out, gesturing towards his surroundings.
Pippin nodded in agreement of this statement. 'We are sitting on a field of victory enjoying a few well-earned comforts,' he slurred at Gimli before taking a bite of his sandwich. He swallowed before continuing, 'The salted pork is particularly good,' he said, taking another bite of his sandwich.
Gimli's eyes widened. 'Salted pork...' he whispered, trailing off and thinking about it.
'Oh, I almost forgot,' Draco said, smiling at Legolas before moving to his left to reveal Hermione.
A smile broke out on her face as her eyes met Legolas'. Legolas breath caught in his chest and he couldn't help the smile which came to his face when she ran towards him. He jumped off Arod, wrapping her in his arms. 'You're okay,' she whispered, looking up at him.
Legolas smiled. 'I am glad you are as well,' he whispered before leaning down and capturing her lips in a gentle kiss. He pulled away, leaning his forehead against her own. 'I thought you were dead,' he whispered truthfully.
'I thought you were too,' she answered before kissing him again.
Draco rolled his eyes at the romantic reunion, pretending to gag causing everyone to look at him strangely. He gestured towards Hermione. 'As you can see, she is not dead,' Draco said, causing them all to chuckle. 'I have said this many a time, and I will repeat it, "there's a proper way to do everything",' he said, smirking at his surroundings.
'I'm surprised you have not been killed yet,' Gimli said with a chuckle.
Draco grinned. 'I feel I have a lot to live for,' he answered.
Gimli shook his head. 'But you're so careless when fighting,' he reasoned.
Draco just smiled back at the Dwarf. 'I figure if I stay alive long enough, something good is bound to happen,' he answered, causing Gimli to laugh.
Gandalf rolled his eyes at the bantering happening around him, looking at the Hobbits who were now engaged in a drinking contest. 'Hobbits!' he bellowed towards them. They stood instantly, both raising their arms in a salute. 'Explain,' he said, and they looked at each other for a moment.
Merry smiled at him, pulling his arm down. 'We're under orders from Treebeard who's taken over management of Isengard,' he explained to him.
Gandalf nodded, looking towards where the Ents were gathering around the Orthanc Tower. 'Good. I can't imagine Tom is going to be very happy with this turn of events. I believe he may send Lucius and Bellatrix after us,' he mused, staring at the tower.
Draco face paled, and panic started to rise in him. 'He's going to come after me!' he shouted out, causing everyone to look at him in confusion.
'Yes,' Gandalf sighed, looking at the blonde Slytherin.
'He's going to try to kill me!' Draco shouted, trying to get Gandalf to take the hint his Father would try to kill him. Not to mention he was sure Voldemort would want to finish him off.
'Undoubtedly,' Gandalf answered, seemingly uninterested.
'Can you just kill me now and get it over with?' Draco asked him, giving the older man a pleading look.
Gandalf shook his head. 'No, but I think it is time we went and had a chat with our dear friend, Saruman, and gain any information we may need,' he answered, helping Merry and Pippin up onto the horse with him. Hermione got up on Legolas', and Aragorn helped Gimli up behind himself.
'I am so happy to know you are concerned for my well-being,' Draco muttered, climbing up behind Éomer.
'We were very concerned for your well-being,' Gandalf answered, shocked at the mere thought he didn't believe him. 'Yet, you have proved we do not need concern. You have handled yourself quite well up until now, Mr Malfoy,' he answered, his eyes twinkling when he looked at Draco.
Draco scoffed. 'What do you expect from someone like me? I am perfection itself,' he answered, and Hermione rolled her eyes while Gimli chuckled at his audacity.
Aragorn smiled. 'Now if we are quite done with our idle banter, let us go,' he said, and Gandalf nodded, leading them through the water towards the Orthanc Tower and the Ents who were crowding below.
They rode up to Treebeard who turned towards them. 'Hoooom, young master Gandalf, I'm glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and stone I can master, but there is a Wizard to manage here locked in his tower,' he told him, and Gandalf nodded, looking up at the tower.
Aragorn looked up as well. 'Show yourself!' he shouted up at the balcony.
Gandalf looked at him, placing a hand on his arm. 'Be careful. Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous,' he warned him, and Aragorn nodded.
Gimli scoffed. 'Well then let's just have his head and be done with it?' he suggested, brandishing his axe to emphasise his point.
Gandalf shook his head. 'No, we need him alive. We need him to talk,' he answered. 'Stay your axe, Gimli,' he ordered, and the Dwarf huffed, lowering his axe.
Saruman appeared on the balcony, looking down at Théoden with a mad gleam in his eyes. 'You have fought many wars and slain many men Théoden King and made peace afterwards. Can we not take counsel together as we once did, my old friend? Can we not have peace you and I?' he asked the King who looked back with a frown.
Théoden looked down at the flooded grounds, before looking back at Saruman with determination in his eyes. 'We shall have peace… We shall have peace when you answer for the burning of the Westfold, and the children who lie dead there! We shall have peace when the lives of the soldiers whose bodies were hewn even as they lay dead against the gates of the Hornburg… are avenged! When you hang from a gibbet for the sport of your crows… we shall have peace!' he shouted back at him, the anger flowing like a fountain at the memories of the horrors he witnessed at Saruman's hands.
Draco glanced away from the tower when he caught something moving to his left. It was Gríma running towards the tower, disappearing inside to go back up to join Saruman. 'Son of a Hippogriff. I thought he was dead,' he muttered to himself before looking back up at the tower.
'Gibbets and crows! Dotard!' he shouted back at Théoden before looking at Gandalf with loathing. 'What do you want Gandalf Grahame?' he asked, clicking his fingers, and continuing before Gandalf could answer, 'Let me guess… the key of Orthanc? Or perhaps the keys of Barad-dûr itself? Along with the crowns of the seven Kings and the rods of the Five Wizards!' he shouted down, and Gandalf growled in anger.
'Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousands more are now at risk. But you could save them Saruman. You were deep in the enemy's counsel,' Gandalf shouted back, trying to reason with him.
Saruman grinned maliciously. 'So you have come here for information. I have some for you,' he said, holding up the Palantir and looking into it. 'Something festers in the heart of Middle Earth. Something that you have failed to see. But the Great Eye has seen it! Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon,' he revealed, and Gandalf moved forward on his horse. 'You are all going to die! But you know this don't you Gandalf? You cannot think that this Ranger will ever sit upon the Throne of Gondor. This exile, crept from the shadows will never be crowned King,' he shouted down while Aragorn looked up at him with a scowl on his face. '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,' he finished, looking down at him, awaiting an answer.
Gimli growled, looking at Legolas. 'I've heard enough! Shoot him! Stick an arrow in his gob!' he said to him, and Legolas, also angry with the words spewing from Saruman's mouth, reached for an arrow.
Gandalf stopped him. 'No! Come down Saruman, and your life will be spared!' he shouted up to him.
Saruman sneered at him. 'Save your pity and your mercy. I have no use for it!' he shouted, conjuring a bolt of fire and throwing it at Gandalf who survived it with no ill effects.
Gandalf, angered by Saruman, raised his hand towards him. 'Saruman... your staff is broken!' he shouted, and Saruman's staff burst asunder.
'Look!' Hermione shouted, pointing up at a figure who appeared behind Saruman. It was Gríma Wormtongue.
Théoden looked up at him. 'Gríma! You need not follow him! You were not always as you are now. You were once a man of Rohan. Come down,' he told him, and Gríma looked from Saruman to Théoden before turning to go down to them.
He stopped when Saruman spoke, 'A man of Rohan? What is the house of Rohan but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the reek, and their brats roll on the floor with the dogs? The victory at Helms Deep does not belong to you Théoden Horse Master. You are a lesser Son of greater sires!' he shouted down to him.
Théoden ignored him and addressed Gríma again, 'Gríma… come down! Be free of him!' he shouted, and Gríma turned to go down again.
Saruman stopped him. 'Free? He will never be free!' he shouted, grasping the balcony railing, his knuckles turning white.
'No!' Gríma shouted at him.
Saruman turned towards Gríma. 'Get down cur!' he shouted, slapping him hard. He let out a shout when he fell to the ground.
Gandalf was growing tired of this and growled. 'Saruman! You were deep in the enemy's counsel. Tell us what you know!' he shouted up to him.
Saruman turned back to the balcony to face Gandalf while Gríma pulled out a knife behind his back. 'You withdraw your guard, and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner here!' he shouted down to him. Hermione gasped, covering her eyes when Gríma rose up behind Saruman and attacked him with the knife, stabbing him twice in the back. Legolas pulled out an arrow and aimed it at Gríma, letting it go, and it struck Gríma in the heart, causing him to fall back, dead. Saruman gasped, letting out a shout when he fell from the tower and was impaled on a great wheel below.
'Oooh... that has got to hurt,' Draco muttered, grimacing at what happened. He looked at Hermione who hid her face in Legolas' back. Legolas reached a hand around, taking her own.
Gandalf frowned at the scene before turning to Treebeard. 'Send word to all our allies and to every corner of Middle Earth that still stands free. The enemy moves against us. We need to know where he will strike,' he told him while the water wheel turned and Saruman disappeared beneath the water, head first. The Palantir, which was still in his hand, dropped, falling into the water, and floating away from the wheel.
Treebeard nodded. 'The filth of Saruman is washing away. Trees will come back to live here,' he answered. Pippin noticed the Palantir and dismounted from behind Gandalf, wading through the water towards it. 'Young trees. Wild trees,' Treebeard finished, receiving a nod from Gandalf.
Aragorn turned, noticing Pippin moving towards the Palantir. 'Pippin!' he shouted while Pippin looked into the Palantir and it held his gaze.
'Bless my bark!' Treebeard exclaimed in worry, looking towards the young Hobbit.
Gandalf quickly dismounted, striding towards Pippin who was still staring into the Palantir. 'Peregrin Took. I'll take that my lad! Quickly now!' he said to him. Pippin handed the Palantir to him, and Gandalf wrapped it in his cloak. Pippin looked sheepishly at Gandalf, watching him intently when he turned away.