Chapter Thirty-seven: Ride to Edoras

The next morning they galloped to Edoras.

"Are we there yet?" Veronica asked.

"Not on your life," Legolas said. He was slightly annoyed with her by now.

Lisa shrugged and said, "Don't say we didn't warn you that she was annoying and a little brat."

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that," Veronica said. She rubbed her shoulder. She was tired of holding the reins. She had to slow gallop Danny. Danny didn't seem to mind.

Donald said, "If she says 'Are we there yet?' one more time, I'm so going to hit her with my staff."

Gandalf said, "Now it's just over this hill."

Veronica cried, "That's what you said at the last hill! Liar!"

"YOU!!" Gandalf boomed. "Silence, foolish little girl!"

Veronica trembled, and tired to protest, but found her mouth didn't work.

Jessica laughed her head off. "Now who's feeling even?"

Veronica again tried to talk, but all that came from her mouth were mumbles.

Stevie said, "I think it actually worked! Gandalf is going to have to teach us that spell."

Veronica glared at her, then broke down crying.

As they rode closer, they began to see big wooden buildings. They walked to the giant wooden gates.

Gandalf warned, "Be careful what you say. Do not look for a welcome here."

They stepped into a quiet town.

Gimli said, "You find more cheer in a graveyard."

When they reached the big steps, they dismounted and ascended the stairs.

A guard said, "We cannot let you in so armed, Gandalf the Gray."

"You would deny an old man his staff?"

"Very well."

Veronica said, "I'd better put on some lip gloss. I want to look my best when I see his Royal Highness."

They walked in and saw Grima Wormtongue. He spoke as though he thought they couldn't hear him. "My Lord, Gandalf the Gray is coming. Do not trust him. He only wants to hurt you. And his friends, too. They intend to harm you." Grima Wormtongue said, "Late is the hour that you have come here."

Gandalf said, "Be still. Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I do not take orders from a worm of evil."

Jessica stuck out her tongue and gave him a loud raspberry. "Yeah, you stupid leech."

Legolas warned, "You should let Gandalf handle this. You don't want to get yourself in trouble."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

Gandalf pulled out his staff.

Grima told the guards, "I told you to take the wizard's staff."

The guards started to charge forward, but then one of the guards started to hold the other back.

A woman with golden hair showed up. Her eyes settled on Aragorn.

Jessica said, "Hi. Who are you?"

"I am Eowyn."

Kairi saw Grima Wormtongue and knocked him down, kicking him in the shins. Then she held him down with her foot on his chest. "I would stay still if I were you."

Gandalf held his staff up before Theoden. "I command you, Saruman, to leave King Theoden alone!"

"If I go, King Theoden dies," a strange voice said.

"Not on my life," Sora said, as he pulled out his keyblade and held it up with Gandalf's staff.

Gandalf said, "You will not kill him."

The room was filled with white-hot light for an instant before it subsided and left the King, younger-looking, and in his right mind.

The new king turned to his niece. "I know your face."

Eowyn burst into tears, hugging her uncle, whom she thought she had lost.

"Aw, I love happy endings," Veronica said.

King Theoden looked up and said, "Gandalf?"

Gandalf stepped forward and the old friends embraced. Then he said, "You would feel your fingers better if they held your old sword."

Riku marched up respectfully with the sword in both hands. Theoden drew the sword, and his eyes fell on Grima.

"I want you out!"

Sora, Donald, and Goofy grabbed Grima Wormtongue and threw him outside. He fell down ten steps.

Jessica yelled, "And stay out!"

Wormtongue said, "I only wished to serve you, my lord."

"Your leechcraft would have me crawling on all fours like a beast."

Grima begged for mercy. "Send me not from you sight."

King Theoden started to bring his sword down on Grima, but Aragorn held him back. "That's enough bloodshed. He has a role to play later, I'm sure."

Aragorn tried to help him to his feet, but Grima spat on him.

Grima fled for his life.

"That's the last we'll see of him."

"Get out of my way," they heard in the distance. He tried to take Phoenix, but Phoenix attacked him, leaving him to run on foot.

"Yeah, that's right. Run away, you horse thief."

"Phoenix, drive him away," Jessica told him.

Phoenix chased him.

"That's one smart horse you got there," a guard said.

"That's my horse!" Jessica said proudly.

"Where is my son?" asked Theoden.