Back to Civilization
Gandalf reacquainted himself with the remnants of the Company. He told them how he survived his fall in Moria and killed the Balrog by himself and was later transported Lothlorien to recover a bit and to deliver messages from Lady Galadriel to the Company. When the Gandalf was about to say the Lady's message to the three men, Captain John Mactavish said,
"It is best to say her message clearly to us Mr. Gandalf. Just go straight to the point. She really speaks gorgeously but a bit complicated I might say…"
"Well she just said that three of you were the most unusual men she had met… The men who would risk their lives to help their comrades and She told me that your presence was a great aid to the cause of the Company but you were the only men to nearly fight an elf in Lorien even if there is another elf in your company… "
Mactavish raised his brow and sighed as Gandalf continued,
"…She forgave the three of you and had a reminder to take care for your lives are often put in peril."
Captain John Price then said,
"We already know that."
The Company now walked out of the forest and found out that their missing horses were with Gandalf's horse, Shadowfax. The three men once again embarked on the single horse that was given to them. Gandalf smiled at the three and said,
"So the three men ride a single horse?"
Mactavish replied,
"Yes, but the horse could handle it, surprisingly… We don't even know its name."
"Well then you should keep up, we need to reach Edoras quickly."
"Yes sir. Will do, you have a nice horse by the way."
With that they rode to Edoras. During the ride the three men had were hardly keeping up with the steeds of their companions. Nikolai said,
"We should have asked lady Galadriel for a UH 60 Blackhawk or a Mi 24 Hind, it could help us travel a lot faster."
"Yeah Nikolai… Keep on dreaming"
And the three of them grinned.
The Company later reached the gates of Edoras and proceeded to the hall of its king who is named Theoden. Before they were admitted, they have to deposit their weapons to the guard. Their companions didn't want to deposit their weapons first and had to cajole each other into surrendering their arms and when it was the turn of the three men the guard named Hama gave a strange look then Price carefully instructed him before he handed his M4A1 to the guard,
"Here's what you will do to our weapons; handle them carefully, do not point the barrel of the weapon to anyone but an orc, never place your trigger finger on the trigger, and when you leave it, make it stand on its butt…"
The Captain demonstrated it to the curious guard and drew his M1911 and said
"And the same goes for this pistol make it lie near the rifle… And here…"
The guard widened his eyes when he saw Price hand his grenades to the guard. He asked,
"What are these? Are these also weapons?"
"Those are called grenades. You press the lever, pull the safety pin and throw it to your foes. Be very careful with that… They are used in taking out groups of enemies. If you just pull the pin… You may kill yourself and those near you."
The guard then said,
"I have no knowledge of your weapons. They are strange and very fell on your account. Just leave them there. I assure you that no one else will lay a hand on your weapons…"
Price then handed over his combat knife and then followed Mactavish and Nikolai.
Mactavish then said to Price at a low voice,
"Are you sure that they will not mess up our guns?"
"No Soap, they would not."
Replied Price as he glanced on the guards who were grouped near their guns staring at their strange weapons.
The three men followed Gandalf as they entered the hall and proceeded until they came to the throne of the king. Nikolai remarked to his companions about the king's appearance,
"So that is the King of Rohan… He looks like a hundred years old to me."
"Shut up Nikolai. Gandalf that king and that creepy man are talking…"
Said Soap but Nikolai said,
"There's a chick over there! Behind the chair…"
"Must be his wife…"
"No Captain, she is too young, maybe she's his daughter?"
"Your right Nikolai… Hey, the creepy man is talking and he speaks like a creep and old Gandalf doesn't seem to like him."
The two men stopped their talk when Captain Price said,
"It's too bloody dark!"
And Nikolai and Mactavish looked at the place where Gandalf stood and he was glowing white and continued to talk. Mactavish remarked,
"Gandalf often glows he could qualify as a beacon."
Then Nikolai slightly tugged Mactavish's sleeve and said,
"Look the old King is standing!"
"What? I thought he was lame."
The men watched King Theoden walk to the doors of the hall while being assisted by the woman and by Gandalf. The woman was now dismissed and Nikolai and Mactavish saw the woman stop for a moment as she looked at Aragorn before she went back inside. The three men remained at the entrance standing at quite a distance behind Gandalf and King Theoden who were discussing with each other.
"This is quiet boring you know Captain…"
Nikolai remarked as he reached for a chocolate bar in his pocket. The pilot then unwrapped the chocolate bar and shared it with Mactavish who gladly accepted it. The three men continued to stand at their place and looked around taking no notice of what the Wizard and the King was talking about and then saw that the king of Rohan had rallied his men and a sword was being presented to him by the Hama who guarded the gates earlier and Eomer the Marshall. The three men also saw that the "creep" had returned and then just knew that he was Grima the Wormtongue.
The King now spoke to Grima and Nikolai and Mactavish watched and listened to the pleas and excuses to the king and his scolding by Gandalf which revealed he was a working for Saruman. Afterwards Grima walked out and spat at the stairs which made a guard to clean it.
The remnants of the Company were accommodated to the house again and they had lunch and they were given weapons armor and the three men took a sword and chain mail shirts for them to use. When Eomer asked them why they need swords and armor even if they had their strange guns, Price answered him,
"From where we come from, It was a long time since we used weapons and armor from your fashion. Our armor is made to stop bullets, not arrows or bladed or shafted weapons. We don't use swords there anymore so if we still have time… Maybe you could teach us three on how to use these well."
Eomer just answered before leaving,
"We have no time Captain, but you will learn soon enough… there will be battle soon."
Captain Price then asked a final question,
"Are there any other horses for the three of us?"
"Nay Captain and I beg your pardon about it. Every horse that could be used in war is now mounted by our men. But your sturdy steed, Theod could bear you and your two friends for many leagues yet."
With that the Marshall left and the three men began to equip themselves their new gear. They wore their mail shirts under their combat jackets and Nikolai wore his beneath his flight suit and their swords were on the left of their golden belts. Afterwards they went back outside to rejoin their companions and retake their rifles, pistols, grenades and knives at the gate and they prepared to mount their horse again. Then their host began move and the three men were one of the last to leave and they looked back to the Golden hall and they gave a salute to lady Eowyn who took charge of those who were left on Edoras.
"We're back in action then…"
John Mactavish muttered as he chambered a .45 round in his USP.
