Hi guys!
In the last chapter Aragorn and Kitty started to treat each other again noticing that both of them had misjudged each other. Not to mention that Legolas has started to 'sense' the presence of Kitty. What exactly does that mean?
But now, we'll turn our sight towards Isengard where a new plot will start.
As always, I want to thank Celridel for her help as beta and invite you to leave your reviews.
Now, let's go for chapter 24!
Chapter 24: Revealing Mysteries
Guided by the golden-haired Princess, the people of Edoras had struggled through the gates of Helm's Deep, the weak, the old, the young, still a stern people even with such a crushing weight of fear. Éowyn waited by the gates, in earnest expectancy for the return. But when she saw the King, his shoulders bent she murmured. "So few, so few you have returned!"
"Our people are safe. But we have paid for it with many lives." answered the King softly, and rode on.
It was Gimli who approached the Princess. "My Lady.." he began, but Éowyn broke in. "The Lord Aragorn? Where is he?"
"He fell."
Éowyn turned away, stricken. The one noble man in all her lecherous world….dead. Gone. Taken away from her by the cruel hand of fate that had stolen all those she loved.
"Draw all our forces behind the wall. Bar the gate and set a watch on the surrounding lands!"
"What of those who cannot fight my lord?"
"Get them into the caves. Saruman's army would have grown long indeed if he thinks he can reach us here!"
Legolas wanted to be alone. The death of Kitty had crushed him. He felt as if his Fëa was slowly tearing in half…..and yet the pain was not as utter and absolute as he would have imagined it to be. There was not a complete absence of her presence in his Elven heart. Could it be? Had she managed to pass through that river, so powerful and turbulent? And if so, where was she? Kitty did not know Middle-Earth, so ... she would be lost. Had Aragorn survived? If so, Kitty would have a chance of survival.
The Elf Prince looked up at the overcast sky, which foretold a violent storm, and sent up , a silent prayer to the Válar. He could not go and look for her, his duty was here, but perhaps the Válar would have mercy.
"Helm's Deep has but one weakness." said Gríma softly, his whining voice echoing in the cold darkness of Orthanc. "Its outer wall is solid rock for except for small culvert, little more than a drain."
Saruman listened intently. He knew Helm's Deep as a mighty fortress, and its weaknesses were few. At last he nodded, and turned away, grinding something with pestle and mortar. Gríma watched without understanding. "How can that undo stone? How may it break down a wall?"
Saruman did not answer his question, and instead said "If the wall is breached, Helm's Deep will fall."
"Even if it is breached, it would take a number beyond reckoning-thousands-to storm the keep!"
"Tens of thousands." replied Saruman quietly.
"But my lord… there is no such force!"
As response, Saruman gestured him to follow him to a balcony where they stood. The wizard looked down, to where below was gathered a mighty armor of Uruk-Hai, armed for war, stretching as far as the eye could see, bristling with spears. A great horn sounded, harsh and bellowing, and then silence fell as Saruman's voice rolled over the army, commanding. "A new power is rising. Its victory is at hand! This night, the land will be stained with the blood of Rohan! March to Helm's Deep! Leave none alive! To war!"
A deafening roar echoed back for answer, and Saruman smiled, and in a soft voice murmured. "There will be no dawn for Men."
He returned to the tower, where an Orc awaited him.
"Well? What do you wish?" the Istar asked impatiently.
"The Wildmen are prepared, my Lord." answered the Orc, cringing.
Saruman nodded slowly. "Tell them she must be taken captive, if they wish to reclaim the lands the Strawheads stole!"
The Orc bowed fawningly, and was gone.
Gríma, who had stood on the side, asked softly. "Who is she…my Lord?"
"Keep your tongue behind your teeth." snarled the wizard in a sudden fit of anger. "This is not your concern. Now leave me!"
Brego paused on a small hillock that overlooked a long, grey-green plain. The horse paused, prancing uneasily, nostrils flaring and ears laid back. Aragorn stroked his forelock, murmuring some Sindarin chant, whose soft cadence seemed to sooth the horse.
"What's wrong?" asked Kitty from behind.
The Dúnadan looked out over the fields. "An army. The army of Isengard."
Kitty leaned over the Ranger's shoulder and paled. "That's not an army. That is the legions of Hell."
"Nay. Less are they then the hellions that Hùrin, my forefather, fought. But they are enough to destroy us. Ten thousand, I guess. Noro lim, Brego!" he exclaimed, and the horse galloped forward, spurred on by the desperation of his riders.
Brego's hooves built a steady rhythm on the stones, and soon the gates of Helm's Deep opened for them. Aragorn leapt off the foaming horse and pulled Kitty after him.
The news of their return ran like wildfire, the deep voice of Gimli was heard. They greeted the Dwarf with joy, and then Aragorn spoke. "Where is the King?"
"In the tower of the Hornburg."
The dwarf had barely finished speaking when there was a rush of golden hair, and Legolas had seized Kitty in his arms, murmuring something in Sindarin that only Aragorn recognized as a prayer of thanksgiving.
Kitty, at first shocked, returned the embrace timidly at first, and then tightly, resting her head on his shoulder. At last Legolas let her go, and took her firmly by the shoulders. "Please, do not do that again." he said.
"Well, I cannot promise you that." said Kitty, her eyes teasing. "Jumping in a river was an interesting experience, was it not, Aragorn?" she added.
The Dúnadan barely smiled. He knew well that not all the anguish his Elven friend had suffered had been for Kitty's sake, but much it had been, and he also knew Kitty did not understand it.
"Please do not do it again," Legolas repeated sternly.
Kitty opened her mouth to reply in the same manner, but saw something in the blue eyes, so she sighed and nodded.
Legolas nodded in reply and turned to Aragorn. "You're late." he said "and you look terrible."
Aragorn smiled somewhat grimly, but Gimli called him. "I think this belongs to you."
Aragorn turned, to see in the dwarf's hand the Evenstar Undómiel had given him, a symbol of immortal love, and he smiled gratefully. "I thank you, Master Dwarf." He turned then, and continued up, to the Hornburg, and Kitty followed him up the steep stairs
"A great host, you say?" said the King.
"All Isengard is emptied." answered the Ranger.
"How many?"
"Ten thousand? At least." broke in Kitty, and Aragorn inclined his head in agreement. "Though fear makes a man count every foe twice, it twould be ten thousand…..at least."
Théoden groaned. "Are you certain?"
"So it is." answered Aragorn "It is an army bred for a single purpose: to destroy the world of Men. They will be here by nightfall."
"What of your kind?" asked the Horse-King, turning to Kitty.
"I don't think a mutant will come with them." said Kitty after a moment.
"You don't think?" repeated the king mockingly "I care not what you think! I must know!"
Kitty drew in a shallow, angry breath. "She won't come. Marrow won't come. She goes to Saruman!"
The king watched at her for a moment, weighing her words.
"Trust her, in this instance." broke in Aragorn.
Théoden sighed. "If this that the case… Let them come then."
The King had ordered to have the causeway and gate covered with archers from the ramparts. H was in a fell mood, and listened to none save himself. Kitty watched Aragorn confront the King on his imprudence with crossed arms. You could not save a fool from his folly.
It had been hours since Saruman's army had left Isengard, but on the black, glassy stairs of Orthanc rang a firm and determined step, as Marrow climbed the lofty tower, to the circular room at the peak.
The White Wizard turned to face her, his face and tone unreadable. "Marrow, I was wondering what had become of you." he said, "I have not heard from you."
"I sent you an orc with a message." she answered calmly
"Yes, it is true, but many days have passed since."
Marrow leveled an icy gaze at him. "And why do you count the hours till my return?"
"I wish to know what you meant."
"I'll be happy to answer your questions, but first I'd like to know where Shadowcat and the two Halflings are."
"They have fled." Saruman replied wryly.
Marrow cursed savagely.
"It was not from Isengard, but it was on the road Shadowcat is with Gandalf and his fellow fools in Rohan." he paused, his voice icy. "If you had not deserted your mission, this would not have happened, Marrow."
Marrow turned to him with a triumphant smile and a gleam in her green eyes. "Ah, but my own mission. I have learned something."
Saruman looked at her immovably.
"You see," Marrow began as she paced in front of him. "After I had broken the Fellowship and killed Boromir, I traced the two Halflings who had fled with the Ring. In fact, I got the One Ring in my hands, but you know? Something very strange happened when I touched it and it was that it hurt me like fire was burning me from inside ... but what followed was even stranger: I met Sauron in person and we had a very pleasant conversation." Marrow watched the wizard carefully, a teasing smile on her face.
Saruman returned her gaze coolly, and Marrow continued. "Do you know why that conversation was so unpleasant? Because unlike any other being of Middle-Earth, the one Ring hurt me. As well as Shadowcat. Is not this all very strange and attention-grabbing? So though a mutant may have a desire for the One Ring, after she touches it she will never wish to see it again." Marrow paused again, weighing the Istar's attitude. "This was so interesting that it even caught Sauron's attention, but he himself does not know why it happened. But he is as interested and I. We want to know the answer, as soon as possible, Saruman."
Saruman nodded slowly. Unlike Lady Galadriel, he did not know exactly what had happened, but he had a notion quite close to the truth. Though it would become dangerous to him if he told Marrow the whole truth, he could twist it in a way acceptable to the mutant. She was watched him threateningly, a menacing glow in her cat-like eyes.
"I have not told you yet because I could not afford to be wrong, but knowing the situation now, I see I am right. Once, long ago, two Istari known as Blue Wizards, accepted a mission to go to a realm called 'Earth'. Their mission lasted too long and they became other inhabitants of the realm called 'Earth', so that like all inhabitants of that realm, they married and had children. These children are the ones who gave birth to the mutants."
Marrow fingered the razor edge of one of her spikes. "Let me see if I understand this. We are the descendants of your kind?"
Saruman inclined his head.
"And when were you going to tell us?" She asked sharply.
"When it was time."
Marrow snorted. "Of course, you were afraid we would kill you. We have magic in our blood, is that not so?"
"No. You are only half wizard, you have no powers to compete with ours." He began to circle her, and Marrow followed him with her eyes. "But you are different. You have skills that make you better warriors, and better allies."
Marrow stared at him for a moment. Saruman was almost impossible to read, but she was certain that he was not telling her the truth. Or at least not the whole truth. "Interesting," Marrow finally replied. "This was surely fascinate Avalanche and Sauron." , "this will surely interest Avalanche and Sauron will no longer be told"
Saruman did not like the fact that Avalanche would know. Mutants were insightful and cunning, so, they would soon realize their abilities were enhanced more than they could dream, for Middle-Earth was a realm where there was magic.
"How did Shadowcat touch the One Ring? How do you know? " he asked.
"In Lothlórien," Marrow answered quietly, "The One Ring called her and drew her. Shadowcat fell on the spell. The difference is that she did not have speak with Sauron. As for how I know, I know because Sauron himself told me."
Of course! If Shadowcat had touched the Ring in Lothlórien, Galadriel's Elven magic would have prevented Sauron from communication with the mutant. Damn the Elven-Lady!
"And you do not know what happened next with Shadowcat?"
"Sauron tried to drown her in his Darkness, but it turns out that the blondie got her out of there."
Blondie? Rarely had the Lady Galadriel been spoke about like that. "And what happened to the One Ring?" He asked after a moment.
"Do not worry about it. " Marrow replied calmly, "It is on the right path. The path to Mordor."
"The Ring must not go that way." said Sauron, his deep voice gravely with anger.
"You really worry too much, Saruman," the mutant continued, "Do you think I'm stupid? No, I know the Halflings want to destroy it, but you forget that in Mordor is Avalanche and Avalanche is already aware He will take care of that matter." She paused. "Is not the plan good? It seemed so."
"Avalanche will not be able to touch it neither since he is of your kind." said the wizard at last.
"I am not an idiot!" replied the mutant, annoyed. "He knows that as well, all is prepared. I want Sauron to win, and that he can only do with the aid of the Ring! ? I intend to live in a world where all fear the mutants and consider them as superior, and I will do whatever it takes, even to sell my soul to the Devil!" she ended fiercely. "He will not fail. And neither can you." she added, menacingly. "By the way, I brought you a gift that may be very useful to the orcs who work so hard in the pits." she added. "It's in the hallway." And saying this, she left silently.
Saruman frowned He opened the door and, seeing what was there, stood motionless.
All along the long, wide corridor were the corpses of all the Wildmen, who had failed on their mission. All of them pierced either by deep stabs or by thick, razor-sharp thorns of the same material as Marrow's armor.
A veiled treathe from Marrow... what will she do now that she knows what are exactly the mutants?
Waiting for your reviews guys!