Welcome back. This chapter is marked as a high T rating for certain reasons. I am on the fence on if I should change the rating to M or not. But since I have read other stories, which are a lot more graphic than mine, I am staying with the T rating for now.
Warning: There is mentions of attempted sexual assault in this chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hobbit or LOTR.
Inside of Fangorn Forest...
Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Kelda move deeper into the forest. None of them have noticed that Tauriel and Kili are not with them.
As Aragorn comes to a stop, Legolas and Kelda stop only a few feet behind him. They watch as he tries to make sense of the tracks.
"These are strange tracks." Aragorn says as he sees tracks from an unknown source.
"The air is so close in here." Gimli says as he approaches where his fellow group members are standing.
"This forest is old." Legolas says as he tries to focus his elven senses. However, this doesn't stop him from reaching out to take hold of Kelda's right hand with his left hand. "Very old. Full of memory and anger."
Kelda hears the groaning of the trees as well and gives Legolas's hand a quick squeeze. She isn't sure why, but she feels comfort from knowing that Legolas is there with her.
The groaning gets louder and catches the attention of the others. Gimli, out of fear of an attack, lifts his axe into a battle ready hold. This causes the trees to creak and groan even louder.
"The trees are speaking to each other." Legolas says before turning towards where Gimli is standing.
"Gimli." Aragorn whispers loudly. "Lower your axe."
"Oh." Gimli says before doing as Aragorn suggests.
"They have feelings, my friend." Legolas says to Gimli as he gives Kelda's hand a squeeze. "The elves began it. Waking up the trees, teaching them to speak."
"Talking trees." Gimli replies in slight ignorance. "What do trees have to talk about, hm? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings."
However, whatever else Gimli was going to say is cut short by Kelda's observations.
"Where is naneth and adad?" Kelda asks the others.
Gimli looks around and is surprised that he hasn't noticed his missing cousin and the she-elf. "Weren't they right behind me?"
Aragorn, who at first was looking around for Tauriel and Kili, notices that Legolas has moved away from Kelda and is heading away from the group.
"Legolas?" Aragorn asks as he moves to follow the blond elf.
This captures Kelda and Gimli's attention and they too begin to follow their comrades.
Legolas heads only a few yards away to a rise in the ground with Aragorn hot on his tail. The two speak only a few sentences, in Sindarin, while the other two approach.
"Legolas?" Kelda asks as she comes to the elf's right side.
"The White Wizard approaches." Legolas whispers for everyone to hear as he takes hold of Kelda's hand again. He does not want to see her get hurt by the wizard.
"Do not let him speak." Aragorn whispers. "He will put a spell on us." He places a hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword.
Legolas slowly reaches for the bow on his back with his other hand. He refuses to let go of Kelda's hand until after the wizard appears. Looks towards her with just his eyes, Legolas can see the slight fear in Kelda's eyes. Knowing that he needs to protect Kelda, Legolas gives her hand a squeeze while looking into each other's eyes. A small movement out of the corner of his eyes catches his attention, and he isn't surprised to see Kelda's free hand take hold of one of her two short swords.
"We must be quick." Aragorn says as he watches the exchange between Kelda and Legolas.
In a flurry of movement, all four turn to face their foe. Aragorn, with his sword raised to attack. Gimli with his axe held in a battle ready hold. Kelda, who had let go of Legolas's hand, twirled away from the elf while pulling out her other short sword. Lastly, Legolas moves to stand in front of Kelda with an arrow drawn taunt in his bow.
A white light appears with a figure hidden behind it. Gimli throws his axe towards the wizard and it shatters before landing the blow. Legolas lets loose an arrow, but that too is knocked away by the wizard. Both of Kelda's short swords and Aragorns' sword become too hot for them to hold on to, and they are forced to drop their weapons.
"You were tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits." Saruman's voice says from behind the white light. But as the voice says the word, hobbits, the vocal tone changes.
"Where are they?" Aragorn shouts at the white wizard.
"What have you done to them?" Kelda yells as she moves towards the wizard. But she is stopped as Legolas wraps his arms around her to hold her back.
"They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you that I have done nothing to them?" the white wizard says to them.
"Who are you?" Aragorn asks, wondering why the wizard hasn't put them under a spell yet. "Show yourself!"
The white light recedes to reveal that the white wizard is Gandalf.
"It cannot be." Aragorn says in disbelief. He had seen Gandalf fall in Moria, yet standing before him is a man that looks like his old friend.
"Forgive me." Legolas says to Gandalf as he lets go of Kelda. He drops to the ground to kneel before Gandalf. "I mistook you for Saruman."
"I am Saruman." Gandalf say to Legolas. "Or rather, Saruman as he should have been."
"But you fell." Kelda says as she moves closer to where Gandalf is standing. "In Moria."
Gandalf gives Kelda a soft smile before speaking again. "Through fire and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought with the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last I threw down my enemy, and smote his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead, and every day was as long as a life age on Earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back, until my task is done."
"Gandalf?" Aragorn says as he approaches his friend.
"Gandalf?" the white wizards says with a confused look upon his face until something clicks in his mind. "Yes. That was what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name."
"Gandalf." Gimli chocks out through his tears of joy at seeing the wizard again.
"I am Gandalf the White." Gandalf says with a smile on his face.
Legolas had risen from the ground during Gandalf's telling of the defeat of the Balrog, and is now standing next to Kelda. He too is happy to see his friend again.
"And I come back to you now," Gandalf says to the four others. "at the turn of the tide."
The group follows Gandalf as they move through the forest. They move swiftly through the trees as Gandalf speaks to them.
"One stage of your journey is over. Another begins. We must travel to Edoras with all speed."
"Edoras?" Gimli says in shock.
"That is where Inara is, Gandalf. Are we to meet up with her?" Kelda asks from her place next to Legolas.
"Inara is not with you?" Gandalf says as he comes to a stop. He turns to look at the others with a worried look upon his face.
"She was taken by the Uruk's at the same time as Merry and Pippin. Somehow, she became separated from the Uruk's pack and managed to reach Edoras." Aragorn says to Gandalf. "One of the Riders of Rohan said that she was being looked after by his sister. Is Inara not safe there?"
"No she isn't." Gandalf says before continuing through the forest. "She is in danger from Saruman's forces as well as Sauron's forces. Both are now hunting her as both want to force a child upon her of their own making."
The rest of them hurry after Gandalf with a growing worry and fear for Inara's safety. Hearing that both Saruman and Sauron are looking for her has them all worried.
"We hear of trouble in Rohan." Aragorn says as he catches up to Gandalf. "It goes ill with the king."
"Yes and it will not be easily cured." Gandalf replies.
"Are we to leave Merry and Pippin here in this forest?" Kelda asks.
"It was more than mere chance that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn." Gandalf says as he stops to turn to look at Kelda. "A great power has been sleeping here for many long years. The coming of Merry and Pippin will be like the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche in the mountains."
"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend." Aragorn says to Gandalf. "You still speak in riddles."
Both wizard and man chuckle at this observation before the wizard begins to speak again.
"A thing is about to happen that has not happened since the Elder Days. The Ents are going to wake up and find that they are strong." Gandalf says with a knowing look upon his face.
"Strong. That is good." Gimli says as he looks about at the trees.
"Yes. So stop your fretting, Master Dwarf." Gandalf says to Gimli in a harsh voice. "Merry and Pippin are quite safe, Kelda." Gandalf begins to walk again with the others following after him yet again. "In fact, they are far safer than we are about to be."
"This new Gandalf is more grumpy than the old one." Gimli says out loud, which causes Kelda to chuckle.
The group continues towards the edge of the forest, where Kili and Tauriel are waiting for them. Tauriel is the first to greet Gandalf, and gives the wizard a quick hug. Kili rises up from the ground carefully, before walking over to give Gandalf a firm handshake.
"You came back." Kili says to Gandalf.
"I still have unfinished work to do here before I am allowed to leave Middle Earth for good." Gandalf says to Kili. "Have you received word from Thorin or Fili recently?"
"I have. Thorin and a small army of volunteers are still making their way south on the river. Thranduil was willing to allow Thorin and the small army to use the trading ships from his realm. Usually they travel only to Lothlorien, but Thranduil is allowing the ships to travel even farther than that." Kili answers.
"Good. We will be needing the extra fighters for what is about to come." Gandalf says cryptically to Kili before walking out into the open field and sunlight. He lets out a long, changing tone whistle into the air.
A white stallion is seen in a distance, heading straight to where Gandalf is standing.
Behind Gandalf, Legolas and Aragorn had brought the other two horses out and were making sure that the saddles were still tight. Yet, the sound of the approaching horse causes everyone to watch as the white horse moves closer to Gandalf.
"That is one of the Mearas," Legolas says with wonder. "Unless my eyes are cheated by some spell."
"Shadowfax." Gandalf says as he gently places a hand upon the horses' long forehead. "He is the lord of all horses, and has been my friend through many dangers."
"But we are still in need of another horse." Kili says to Gandalf. "Kelda is riding with Aragorn. Gimli with Legolas. You have Shadowfax. Yet Tauriel and I don't have a horse to ride together."
Gandalf lets out a sigh before whispering into Shadowfax's ear. The horse gives a loud neigh and pounds his front hooves onto the ground. Then in the distance, another neigh is heard echoing across the distance. This new horse is gray in color with a dark gray mane and tail.
"You and Tauriel may use Renika. She is Shadowfax's mate." Gandalf says to Kili as the gray mare wonders over to nibble at the dwarf's hair.
Kili shakes his hair free from the mare's mouth and reaches to gently pat her snout. "She'll do."
It takes only a matter of minutes till everyone is seated upon their horses before Gandalf leads them away from the forest's edge and out into the open plains of Rohan. Their destination is Edoras, home to the King of the Rohirrim, and where the Queen of Erebor is staying.
Edoras...
Several days have passed since Inara woke up in the infirmary. Since that day, Éowyn has hidden Inara as one of the many working maids in the king's halls. Though during the nights, Inara stays with Éowyn in the lady's room. But on this very morning, things are about to change.
In Éowyn's bedroom, Inara is helping Éowyn dress for the day. Inara herself is wearing a deep purple dress that hugs her body till just at the hips. Then the skirt part of her dress flares out, but not too much so. The sleeves are form fitting to her upper arms, yet flare out in a bell shape style at the elbows. The waist and square neckline of the dress are trimmed in gold lace, which is tightly woven.
Inara is brushing Éowyn's hair while watching the young lady. She can see that the blonde-haired lady's eyes have dark circles underneath them. Seeing this young woman in the shape that she is in, makes Inara wonder if there is anything that she can do for her.
"How does your cousin fare today?" Inara asks as she places the brush down on the vanity before taking hold of a ribbon.
"He died during the night." Éowyn says as she fiddles with the sleeve of her green dress that has leaf patterns of a lighter green in the fabric.
"I am sorry for your loss. He was a brave fighter." Inara says as she gently places the blonde hair into two twists at either side of Éowyn's face. Then she pulls them back and ties them into a half ponytail like style.
"Thank you, your majesty. I know that his life was not given in vain, since he saved yours. Queen of one of our allies."
Inara looks into the mirror that sits on the vanity and sees that Éowyn has been watching her closely. The Queen of Erebor gives the lady of Rohan a small, but sad smile. Gently, Inara places a hand on Éowyn's shoulder and gives it a gently squeeze.
"I shall light a candle and say a prayer for your cousin. For I would not be safe, nor alive, if he hadn't run into the Orc pack that held me captive. I owe your family a life debt for its sacrifice."
"No. You do not owe us anything. If there is a debt, it is ours. For Grima was the one who talked my lord into breaking the trade agreement. My king would never have turned away from such a powerful ally as the dwarves of Erebor."
Inara lets out a soft sigh before letting go of Éowyn's shoulder. "You should go. Tell your king of his son's death. Maybe you will be able to get through to him this time, Éowyn. For you cannot give up all hope just yet."
"I will." Éowyn replies before standing up from her seat. "Will you be alright on your own, Inara?"
"I'll be fine. Besides," Inara says with a smirk on her face. "Grima has yet to discover that I am here."
"Don't push your luck." Éowyn warns with a serious face. "Once he discovers who you are and that you are here, there will be no telling what he may have done to you."
"Don't worry about me, Éowyn. I'll stay out of trouble and out of Grima's sight."
"Alright then." Éowyn says as she heads towards her bedroom door. "I will see you later this evening."
Inara turns to see the blonde woman standing by the door, looking directly at her. "Till this evening, my lady." She watches as Éowyn exits the bedroom before letting out another sigh. Knowing that she can't stay idle for long, Inara begins to strip the bedding from the bed. The warm wool covers she folds and places on top of a chair that sits in the corner of the bedroom. Then she proceeds to pull the thick fabric sheets off of the bed and tosses them into a wicker basket that holds the dirty linens and clothes.
With the bed now unmade, Inara picks up the wicker basket full of dirty clothes and linens. She leaves the room and shuts the door before walking down the hallway. Turning the corner at the end of the hallway, Inara keeps walking till she reaches the servants exit.
Standing outside of the door, in the sunlight, is the laundry lady. Her red, curly hair is pulled back into a low ponytail with some shorter strands hanging loose. The woman is in her mid-thirties and is slightly portly in body shape.
"Ahh l was wondering where you were with the dirties." The woman says to Inara as she takes the basket of soiled fabrics from her.
"Sorry I was running late. My lady is grieving the loss of her cousin, who died this morning." Inara tells the woman before reaching down to grab the basket full of clean linens and clothes.
The woman looks at Inara with a sad look upon her face. "Tell her ladyship that the people of Rohan grieve with her."
"I will tell her that." Inara replies as she stands up with the basket in her arms. "Well, I would love to stay and chat, but I am needed inside. Good day to you."
"Good day." The woman says before walking away from the door.
Being quick, Inara steps back inside and closes the door, making sure that the door is bolted shut. Then she turns around and heads back down the hallway that she came from a few minutes ago. She makes it halfway back to Éowyns' room before something unexpected happens.
One of Grima's guards turns the corner from one of the adjacent hallways and bumps into her. The force of the hit is enough to jar Inara's arms and she drops the basket. She quickly kneels down to pick up the few items of clothes that have fallen out of the basket.
"Watch where you're going." The guard says gruffly at Inara as he just stands there, watching Inara. He has never seen this particular maiden before, and he starts to wonder where she came from or who she is. "You're new here, aren't you? What's your name?"
Inara, who is still kneeling on the ground, hesitates to stand up or even talk.
"Did you not hear me, wench." The guard says before leaning down to grab hold of Inara's arm. He pulls her up from her position on the floor and looks right into her face. "Now then. What's your name?"
"Let go of me." Inara growls out at the guard while keeping direct eye contact with the man.
"Not until you tell me your name." The guard tightens his grip on Inara's arm.
"I told you to let me go." Inara tries to yank her arm out of the guards' hand while trying to kick him in the shin. She doesn't dare do much more than that, unless she wants to break her cover.
"Damn you." The guard says as he feels the impact of Inara's foot against his shin. However, he still keeps his hold on her arm. Using his strength, the guard shoves Inara against the nearest wall and presses his body against hers to keep her still.
"Now I won't ask you again, wench. What is your name?" The guard growls out, his face only inches away from Inara's.
"Drop dead." Inara snarls out at the guard before spitting into the man's face.
This insights the guard and he smacks Inara so hard across her face that the force of the impact sends her body jarring to the left. However, her body is still being pinned against the wall.
"What is this?" A male's voice says from down the hallway.
Inara, not paying attention to the conversation taking place between the guard and someone else, can feel a stinging pain from the smack. Her jaw on the right side is throbbing in pain, and she can taste copper on her tongue. Before she can take stock of what other injuries the smack caused, someone grabs her roughly by the chin. Her face is wrenched to the right, and the grip on her chin tightens.
"Well. Well. Well. I never would have pegged you as an infiltrator, Queen Inara of Erebor." The male's voice says in a slimy tone. "Tell me. Where are your companions?"
Inara opens her eyes a bit to see just who it is that is manhandling her face. She sees a dark-haired male, who looks similar to Alfrid from Laketown. Yet, even though she is being held by this sleazy male and the guard, Inara decides not to show weakness.
"My lord?" The guard asks the man.
"We will take her to the King. He will decide her fate." The man says before releasing Inara's chin. "Let us hope that he will send you to Saruman, where you belong."
"Over my dead body, asshole." Inara growls out as the guard takes hold of both of her arms and begins to drag her. She tries to fight the guard off, but his strength is no match for her.
"You know, I was wondering who it was that kept my lady from losing hope in these past few days. And here I find the Queen of Erebor, a female from the race of men, helping her. Oh I should hope that you and Éowyn haven't become close. It would be a pity to see her loose another person." The dark-haired man says with glee as he leads the guard and Inara down the hallway.
Théoden's audience room...
Éowyn is kneeling in front of her king, as she takes his hands into hers. She isn't sure exactly how to tell him the news of his son's death, but she hopes that it will stir something in him.
"My lord, your son. He is dead." She says softly to the old looking man who sits upon the throne. "My lord? Uncle? Will you not go to him? Will you do nothing?"
She keeps looking at the face of her uncle, but doesn't see any kind of a reaction. Deep inside of her, she wonders if he will ever be the man that he once was.
The sound of a door opening pulls his attention away from Éowyn. The king looks past her and a slight smirk appears on his face.
"My lord." The dark-haired man says before giving the king a slight bow. "I have found something."
Éowyn turns to see that Grima has entered the room and not far behind him she can see a guard bringing forth a struggling person. Yet it is the persons' voice that sends chills down Éowyns' back.
"Let me go, you piece of filth!" Inara's voice echoes across the room as she is dragged forward.
Once far enough into the throne room, the guard tosses Inara to the ground before the king's throne. She lands on her left side, but was quick enough to put her hands down to keep her head from hitting the floor.
"A spy, my king." Grima says as he begins to approach the throne. "Hidden away among your servants."
The king on the throne begins to chuckle softly before a wispy voice comes forth from him.
"Inara. Queen of Erebor and Durin's folk. I wondered where you might have gotten to."
Inara takes a deep breath as she moves her legs so that she is kneeling on both knees. Looking up towards the King of Rohan, Inara lets a smirk appear on her face.
"You don't fool me. I know that you are not the real Théoden, King of Rohan." Inara snarls out to the king. Then whispers one word, which causes the king to glare at her. "Saruman."
Grima, who also heard what Inara whispered, decides to do something. "Guards!"
Several other guards enter the throne room quickly, and they take stock of the situation. Two slowly move towards Éowyn to keep her from interfering. While the other four make their way towards Grima.
"Take the woman," Grima says as he points to Inara. "to the dungeons. The king will pass judgement by this evening."
The four guards move towards Inara as the one guard from before moves towards Grima. As one of the guards tries to lift Inara, by the arm, up off of the floor he finds himself being hit in the face. Seeing one of their own taking a blow, the others swarm in to take hold of Inara. There is a struggle for a short time before Inara is being dragged away, in the arms of two of the guards. A third guard has hold of her legs, though he is having a tough time trying to hold onto them.
Grima takes hold of the original guard's elbow before leaning in to whisper silently into the guards' ear.
"Make sure that she has no fight left in her. Break her spirit. I don't care which method you use to do it. If you have to, let the others try as well." Grima looks the guard in the eyes, and is delighted to see that the guard looks rather joyful about his orders.
As the guards leave the room, Grima turns back towards Éowyn and tries to give her a smile. However, that smile disappears as she storms out of the room. The two guards who were standing near her follow her out when Grima gives them a nonverbal command.
Éowyn hurries off towards her bedroom, knowing that the guards will follow only to her door. Once inside of her room, she removes the green dress quickly and changes into a pure white dress with a golden belt. She bundles the green dress and places it on her unmade bed. She knows what will happen to Inara if she doesn't move fast enough. The guards who are loyal to Grima will follow his word, and Éowyn knows that Inara will be having to face in the dungeons.
Moving towards one of her chests on the floor, Éowyn rummages through it till she finds one of her traveling cloaks. Hurrying back over to the bed, she picks up the bundled up dress. Her plan is to sneak down to the dungeons and help Inara flee before Grima's guards can harm her. However, as she opens the door, the two guards are still waiting for her in the hallway. Knowing that if she goes down to the dungeons, Grima will find out immediately.
'Damn.' Éowyn thinks to herself. Now she can only hope that Inara can hold out till after she finds a way to sneak away from her own guards. So she heads back towards the infirmary and her dead cousin's body.
Outside of Théoden's hall...
Gandalf leads Aragorn, Kili, Tauriel, Kelda, Gimli, and Legolas up the stairs towards the entrance of the royal hall of Edoras.
"I wonder where that maiden in all white disappeared to." Kili whispers to Aragorn.
As they had been riding through the city, Kili had noticed that Aragorn was looking towards this very spot at the maiden in white. Not that he could blame the man. The woman looked very beautiful, but not enough to tempt him away from his red-haired yâsith.
As they reach the top of the stairs, the doors open to reveal five guards and their leader. The leader stop the wizard and his companions.
"I cannot allow you before Théoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame." The leader says to the group of travelers. "By order of Grima Wormtongue."
Gandalf, knowing that he won't get any closer unless they disarm, gives a nod of his head in understanding of the conditions that the leader of the guard has given them.
Aragorn, Kelda, Kili, Tauriel, Legolas, and Gimli start to hand over their weapons. However, Kili and Kelda still manage to keep a few hidden weapons on their person. It is the one trick that Fili had taught Kili after they reclaimed Erebor, and Kelda learned when Fili helped her with her sword training.
Once the travelers are disarmed, Gandalf gives a knowing smile to the leader of guard. However, the leader still looks expectantly at Gandalf.
"Your staff." The leader says to Gandalf.
"Hm? Oh." Gandalf says to the leader in fake surprise. "You would not part an old man from his walking stick."
Gandalf knows that this leader of the guard doesn't like this Grima Wormtongue much, and is hoping to play on the leader's sympathy towards the elderly. Seeing the leader give him a nod of agreement, Gandalf knows that it has worked.
As the leader leads the travelers past the other five guards, Tauriel and Legolas flank Gandalf to keep up the disguise of him being an old man in need of help. Aragorn follows behind the three with Kelda taking his arm as a rouse. Behind them is Gimli and Kili.
"If you think I am taking your arm, cousin, I would sooner die from being infected with worms." Kili whispers to Gimli while crossing his arms across his chest.
As they go through the doors, Gandalf and the others enter the audience chamber of Théoden King. The leader of the guard gives a quick bow before stepping aside to allow the group of travelers to step towards the king.
Sitting on the throne is an elderly looking Théoden, and next to him is Grima. Turning towards Théoden, Grima begins to whisper to the king.
The doors close behind the group as they continue to move forward, towards the king. Before the group can go too far in, the leader of the guard leans towards one of his loyal men, and whispers to him. The guard barely nods and slowly sneaks away and out of the throne room. Then the leader of the guard makes his way forward to lead the Gandalf and the others towards Grima and the king.
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden King." Gandalf speaks loudly so that everyone in the hall can hear.
Legolas, Kelda, and Gimli flank Gandalf on his left. While Aragorn, Tauriel, and Kili are on his right. It isn't lost on any of them on who in the hall is still loyal to their king and who is loyal to Grima. Even though they keep their eyes on the king, out of the corner of their eyes they keep watch on those loyal to Grima. Especially since they are slinking along, by the walls, and watching the newcomers.
"Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?" The elderly looking Théoden says before looking at Grima.
"A just question, my liege." Grima says to Théoden before standing up to face the Gandalf and the others. "Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest."
By this point in Grima's monologue, he has come face to face with Gandalf. The other travelers step off to the side, but not so much that it should cause any notice.
"Be silent." Gandalf strongly says to Grima. "Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm."
Gandalf brings his staff up, and this causes Grima to panic. For you see, he was not expecting Gandalf to have his staff on him.
"His staff." Grima says with some fear and some anger. "I told you to take the wizard's staff."
At this point, those who are loyal to Grima step out from where they were slinking near the wall. The guards still loyal to Rohan stand by and watch as Grima's men start to fight with the travelers. They watch as Grima's men are easily out maneuvered by the travelers, and they take notice that one of the dwarves looks very familiar.
An older guard, leans towards the one who let the travelers in and quickly whispers into his ear.
"That dark-haired dwarf is from Erebor. Why would he be here? Could he have some connection to the woman that Grima had taken to the dungeon almost an hour ago?"
They continue to watch as the wizard keeps approaching their king.
"Théoden, son of Thengel, too long have you sat in the shadows." Gandalf says as he keeps getting closer to the King of Rohan, totally oblivious to the fighting that is going on around him.
As Grima's men are defeated, Kelda and Gimli knock Grima to the ground. None to gently Gimli places a foot on Grima's chest to keep the man down.
"I would stay still if I were you." Gimli growls out at the man.
Kelda kneels down and grabs a fist full of Grima's hair before addressing him. "Where is the Queen?"
"Who?" Grima asks, trying to sound as if he doesn't know who Kelda is asking for.
"My Queen." Kili says with a growl as he too looks down at the man's face. "I would ask that you tell us now. Or do you want to face the wrath of Thorin Oakenshield, her husband."
Grima lets out an audibly gulp before answering Kili. "The dungeons."
"Kelda." Kili says as he moves away from Grima and heads straight for the guard who let them in. He gives the guard a stern look. "Take me to the dungeons where the Queen of Erebor is being held. Now!"
"This way." The older of the two guards says to Kili. He leads Kili, Kelda, and Tauriel out of the hall, towards the dungeons.
"Hearken to me." Gandalf shouts at Théoden, again the wizard is oblivious to where three of his companions have now left the room. Leaning towards Théoden, Gandalf raises a hand and speaks calmly. "I release you from this spell."
However, Théoden only laughs at Gandalf, which causes everyone to wonder what is going on with the king.
"You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey." The elderly looking Théoden says before continuing in his chuckling.
However, it is at this point that Gandalf removes the gray cloak from around himself, and reveals this white robes. This causes the elderly looking Théoden to lean back against his throne in surprise.
Gandalf opens his arms and speaks loud for all to hear.
"I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound." Gandalf then points the top part of his staff at Théoden's head and moves closer to the king.
Éowyn, at this point, has entered the hall and is shocked to see someone threatening her uncle. She charges forwards only to have Aragorn take hold of her. He tells her to wait, and she watches as Théoden speaks to Gandalf.
"If I go, Théoden dies."
This insights Gandalf, and the white wizards keep up his trying to force Saruman out of Théoden.
"You did not kill me, you will not kill him." Gandalf says firmly.
"And what of Inara? She will become mine, as Rohan is mine."
"Be gone."
"Not until I have had her. Ahhh"
That elderly looking Théoden leaps towards Gandalf, but the white wizard strikes him in the head. This hit echoes through the connection with Saruman and breaks it, releasing the real King of Rohan from the spell.
Seeing her uncle so weak, Éowyn pushes herself free from Aragorn and rushes to her uncle. She takes hold of him so that he doesn't fall face first to the floor. Then she watches in amazement as he regains his true self and body.
"I know your face." He whispers as he looks at Éowyn. "Éowyn. Éowyn."
As Théoden rises from his throne and speaks with Gandalf about the state of Rohan, no one in the throne room, but one, knows what is going on in the dungeons below.
The dungeons in the King's Halls...
It has been almost two hours since Inara was dragged down to the dungeons, and placed in this cell. However, she isn't alone in her cell. Four of the guards that brought her down here have stayed with her in the cell.
For the first hour, the guards took turns smacking her around between themselves as a sort of punishment. But it has been during this second hour that things have gotten worse. As they pushed Inara around, each male had tried to tear parts of her dress off of her. They also made lewd comments about what all they were going to do to her.
Now Inara hasn't given up fighting against them. But from the beatings she has taken and the constant movement, Inara is starting to feel dizzy and lightheaded. It is just enough to make her fighting movements sloppy.
She is shoved away again from one of the males, and Inara finds herself being grabbed at the waist with an arm, while another arm lays across her chest to keep her arms pinned. The sleeves to her dress were ripped off during the first hour. Then only a few minutes ago one of the thick straps on the left shoulder was torn. Now there is only the right strap that keeps what remains of the dress on her. This was followed by several long rips in the front of her skirt. The slight train to the dress is gone as is most of the back of the skirt. Only her under skirt, lower part of her shift, and a pair of men's shorts are all that is covering her modesty from the back.
"What do you say boys? Think the lady is ready?" The man holding Inara asks his fellow cohorts. Their response is nothing but chuckles and one lewd remark. So the man presses his face into Inara's neck and inhales.
Inara doesn't like the invasion on her personal space. So as quick as she can, she tries to head-butt the man. The backside of her head makes contact and it is enough to jar the man a bit. However, it also jars Inara as well.
"Wench!" The man shouts as he shoves Inara to the ground before checking the side of his face for any blood.
Two of the other men are quick to pounce on Inara. One of them forces Inara to her back while having to contend with her wiggling and trying to scratch at him. The second one is trying to take hold of Inara's legs, but is having a hard time trying to catch them.
"I get first dibs." The man that Inara head-butted says to the others. "Get a hold of her legs. I don't need to have the bitch ruining my fun."
"Let me go, you assholes!" Inara screams out at them. "You touch me and I will kill you! And if I can't kill you, my husband will!"
The one that Inara is trying to scratch finally pins her shoulders down onto the stone floor by holding her upper arms. He is kneeling a short distance away from her head, but is leaning over her to keep his body out of her reach.
"Stop this right now!" Inara screams at the top of her lungs as she continues to try and fight back. 'Why can't my pendant protect me from these morons?' Inara thinks as she keeps wiggling and kicking.
It doesn't take long for the main guard and the second one to capture Inara's legs. By this point Inara lets out a very high pitch scream that she hopes will reach every corner of the royal halls. But this scream is cut short as the man she had head-butted earlier forces one of his hands over her mouth. He presses down on over it, but isn't close enough for Inara to bite.
"You have a lot of fight in you. That's good. I like ladies who scream and enjoy it rough." The man covering Inara's mouth says from where he is kneeling between still cloth covered thighs. He looks back at the two men as each one holds one of Inara's legs. "Spread her good, men. I want to get in deep."
Inara begins to squirm in earnest, but with the smaller amounts of air she is able to breathe in she is having a hard time getting her body to move as fast as she wants it to. Refusing to go down without a fight, Inara keeps pushing her body to keep fighting. But feeling the movement of her clothes being pushed up to waist, Inara closes her eyes for what is about to come. Yet she still keeps squirming and wiggling in a vain attempt to keep from being violated.
"Anyone have a knife on them? The bitch has pants on underneath."
"I got one."
The only man not on Inara hands a small blade to the one that caught her in the hallway. He hopes that by giving the small blade that he will be able to be the second one to take the lady. During the past hour, he has been the one trying to rip open her bodice to see what lays beneath.
Inara feels the coolness of the blade against her inner right thigh as the man slides the blade between her thigh and the fabric. She can hear the fabric being sliced as it inches up closer to where she doesn't want. Then the coolness of the blade disappears and is replaced with fingers as the man takes grabs the fabric and tears it free.
"You're going to love this." The man between her thighs says gleefully.
Several hallways away, Kili had heard Inara's scream and is now running with Tauriel, Kelda, and the guard, Nordin, hot on his heels. Even though his old injury is protesting at how hard he is pushing himself, Kili refuses to slowdown. He needs to get to Inara before anything can happen to her. And from what Nordin had told him on the way down here, Inara had been down here for two hours.
A four way junction causes Kili to come to a stop, but he can't hear anything now. This causes him to worry about what kind of state he will find Inara in. With the others stopping as well, Kili looks at the guard.
"Which way?"
"I don't know. There are many cells down here." Nordin answers while taking deep breaths. Never before has he seen a dwarf move so fast.
"Tauriel?" Kili asks as he turns to look at her.
He watches her closely as she closes her eyes and tries to focus on hearing anything that may help them. After only a second, she picks up a muffled chuckle from her left; and she takes off in a dead run with Kili and Kelda not far behind her. She runs down the hallway for well over 50 feet before slowing down.
"There." She calls out softly to Kili as she points to a door to her right.
Kili gathers his strength once he sees Tauriel point towards a wooden door. He charges at the door and uses his whole body to slam into it. This causes the door to bang open, and Kili charges at the man who is kneeling between Inara's legs. Pulling out a hidden dagger from up his sleeves, Kili tackles the man which causes them both to land hard on the floor, off to the side of Inara.
Tauriel and Kelda are quick to attack the other men in the room so that none can aid their leader. Kelda takes the man who was holding down Inara by her shoulders. While Tauriel attacks the two who were holding Inara's legs. Nordin enters lastly and goes for the one man who was trying to escape.
Kili wrestles with the man till he is able to pin the man to the ground with his dagger pressed against the man's neck.
"Did you take her?" Kili growls out menacingly. "Answer me, filth!"
The man chuckles before replying. "You her husband then, dwarf? Yes I took her, and what fun I had doing it."
Kili's rage rises at hearing the man speak of Inara in such a way. So he takes revenge on behalf of his uncle. Kili drives the dagger into the man's neck, right into the voice box, and then twists the dagger before ripping the dagger out. Rising off of the man, Kili tosses the dagger to the side before looking over to where Inara is. He sees that she has rolled to her side with her back is facing him. Trying hard not to frighten Inara, Kili slowly walks over to her.
Being as gentle as he can be, Kili pulls Inara into his arms. Even though her eyes are closed, he knows that she is still very much awake. With one hand he guides each of her arms so that she has them wrapped around his neck. Then he lifts her up off of the ground and holds her close to him in a bridal style sort of way.
Placing a light kiss to Inara's forehead, he whispers to her, "I've got you now. You're safe." repeatedly.
As he carries Inara out of the cell, Tauriel and Kelda follow close behind. Both females are worried about Inara, and neither one wants to ask if she has been taken against her will. This is something that both females would not wish for any woman to go through.
Nordin, however, stays behind in the cell to make sure that the men are all dead. He knows that there will be a reckoning for Rohan from the Dwarves of Erebor for this.
Théoden's audience chamber/throne room...
Everyone is glad to see Théoden restored to the throne as himself and not as a puppet of Saruman. However, there is still one thing that Théoden must see to. Yet before he can even get to Gimli, who holds Grima, a door flies open and the people in the room gasp at what they see.
"I need a healer." Kili shouts as he carries Inara's damaged body into the room.
"Inara." Aragorn says in shock at the state of the woman. He rushes over to Kili and lowers himself to take a better look at woman he calls a friend.
"Kili, what happened?" Gandalf shouts at the dwarf as he too hurries over to where Kili is standing.
"She was taken against her will by several men of this country!" Kili yells, allowing his anger and rage to be seen by all. Then his eyes focus onto Théoden and Éowyn. He can see the shock in Théoden's eyes, and the worry in Éowyns'.
Éowyn, who is standing next to Théoden, looks at her uncle and speaks quickly to him about what had happened earlier that day. Hearing what happened to his ally's queen, Théoden marches over to Gimli before taking hold of Grima. As he drags Grima, Théoden shouts over his shoulder to the people in the hall.
"Find those who are responsible for this, and someone summon a healer!"
As Théoden drags Grima out of the hall, one of the guards loyal to Théoden leads Kili and Tauriel towards a guest chamber. While another loyal guard hurries off to find a female healer and a midwife. While they wait, Tauriel tries to check over Inara's injuries as Kili stays on the bed with Inara's upper body leaning against his.
Meanwhile, Théoden tosses Grima down the stairs with the help of two guards. He watches as Grima rolls down the last few steps and comes to a stop at the bottom. With his sword in hand, Théoden starts to go down the steps slowly as he listens to Grima plead his case. Yet remembering what had happened under his roof to the Queen of Erebor, Théoden is not feeling merciful.
"Your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" Théoden shouts at Grima. "You harmed the wife of an ally!"
As Théoden is about to bring his sword down on Grima, Aragorn steps out to stay his sword.
"No, my lord. No, my lord." Aragorn says as he struggles against the king's strength. "Let him go. Enough blood has been spilt on his account."
The people, who were watching as their king had thrown Grima out, now begin to show their fealty to their king. They kneel, and hail Théoden as their King.
Seeing the people kneel before him causes Théoden to turn away to see where his son was. For when he was released from the spell, he had not seen his son. Walking back towards his halls, Théoden asks for his son. As he turns to Éowyn, she approaches him with tears in her eyes and tells him about Théodred's fate. Then the two head back inside to prepare the body for burial.
Elsewhere in the halls of Edoras, Kili stays by Inara's side as she sleeps on a bed with several fur pelts lying upon her body. Tears of relief are flowing down his cheeks from the news that the healer and midwife had told him earlier. His uncle's yâsith was not taken against her will, and the wounds she received will heal with time. He had stayed in the room while Inara was being seen; even while the midwife dressed Inara into a white cotton, long sleeping shift.
A soft knock the door rouses Kili from careful watch of Inara. Looking towards the door, Kili is surprised to see Aragorn slowly, yet very quietly, enter the room. It isn't lost on Kili that Aragorn is trying hard not to look at Inara.
Moving to the second chair that is near Kili's, Aragorn moves to sit down in it.
"How is Inara doing?" He asks the dwarf.
"The healer gave her a sedative to help her rest. She has a cut lip and swelling on her face. There are scratches where her dress was ripped. Both the midwife and the healer say that there was no evidence of there being..." Kili hesitates to say the words, but can see that Aragorn understands what he is trying to say.
"You know," Kili starts to say to Aragorn. "She never caused this much trouble back in Erebor. Though on the quest to reclaim Erebor, there were a few incidences similar to this. But never to this extant or extreme."
"Inara is a fighter, Master Kili." Aragorn says in the hopes of trying to cheer up the solemn looking dwarf.
"That she is." Kili agrees. He keeps looking back and forth between Aragorn and Inara. "You know, there was this one time, on our quest, that she punched a drunken lecher. We were staying in..."
As the rest of the day passes, Kili shares stories of Inara from their quest to reclaim Erebor, and even a few from ruling Erebor itself. Then they progress into their own stories of battle well into the night. By that time, the other members of the broken Fellowship come in to stay the night. This is when Gandalf tells the others that in the morning Théoden will be burying his son, Théodred, before turning in for the night.
So there is the end of the second part of the Two Towers.
Reviews are well-loved and cherished.
Selene