Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter. Hope you like this one.

Let's get to it.

Guest: I can't have Jakan save Theodred, if only because he died well before the Fellowship arrived in Edoras.

Chapter 13- Freeing the King

Jakan smiles a bit as Lodreng gallops across the plains of Rohan. He's found that riding on a horse has a very calming effect, and helps him feel free in a way.

Up ahead, he sees Gandalf slowing Shadowfax to a stop, and something beginning to come into view over the ridge just ahead. As Jakan rides up, he sees a city built on a hill up ahead. Jakan definitely finds the buildings of a more shabby quality than those at Rivendell.

"Edoras, and the Golden Hall of Meduseld!" Gandalf announces to the Fellowship, "There dwells THeoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Theoden is now very strong. Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here."

Gandalf spurs Shadowfax towards the city, and the rest of them follow him. As they approach the main gate, Boromir rides up to the gate.

"I, Lord Boromir of Gondor, request entry into Edoras and an audience with King Theoden!" Boromir announces.

"You are most welcome here in Edoras, Lord Boromir!" the sentry calls as he opens the gate.

The Fellowship slowly rides into Edoras, Boromir and Gandalf leading the way.

Jakan looks around at the residents of Edoras, who are all looking at the members of the Fellowship. All of them look very grim. However, a number of them are looking at Jakan, very intrigued by his armor. Jakan glances up at the hall that Gandalf called Meduseld, and sees a young woman in a white dress standing outside it, looking down towards them.

"You'd find more cheer in a graveyard," Gimli says.

Jakan looks over at Gimli and says, "I have to agree with you there, Gimli."

Jakan then glances back up at the Meduseld, and sees the young woman has disappeared. He feels a little intrigued, wondering who she is.

They ride up to the stone stairs leading up to the Meduseld and dismount. The six of them walk up the steps slowly. As they reach the top of the stairs, the doors of the Meduseld open and six Rohan Royal Guards walk out of the hall in two lines of three. Five of them are wearing intricate helms with a plume of horse hair. The only one not wearing a helm is the one in the center of the front line. He was well built, and reddish-brown hair and a matching beard.

"Ah. A pleasure to be met by you, Captain Hama," Gandalf says.

Hama smiles awkwardly before saying, "I cannot allow you before Theoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame." When Gandalf gives him a quizzical look, Hama says, through somewhat clenched teeth, "By order of Grima Wormtongue." His opinion of Wormtongue is very clear in his tone.

Gandalf nods once to Hama, then turns and nods to the rest of the Fellowship.

"I'm a Mandalorian. Weapons are a part of my religion," Jakan says in protest.

"We don't want to upset our hosts, Jakan," Gandalf says gently. Jakan looks at him, then sighs and removes his blaster pistols and hands them off to a guard. He then hands off his vibro blade, his blaster rifle, and, very reluctantly and only when the guard points to it, the Darksaber. The guard gestures to his helmet, but Jakan says, "I only take off my helmet before people I trust. It is part of my culture. Surely you are not so suspicious that a simple helmet can be considered dangerous." The guard relents. Jakan, given his face is hidden, smirks openly under his helmet, knowing that the guards haven't fully disarmed him, as he still has his vambraces on.

The rest of the Fellowship hands over all their weapons as well. As Hama sees that Gandalf still has his staff, he gestures with his head towards it and says, "Your staff."

Gandalf looks at his staff, then back at Hama. "Oh. You would not part an old man from his walking stick?" he asks. Hama shrugs a bit and seems to relent. Jakan smirks a bit, especially as Gandalf leans a bit on Legolas' offered arm, as if to reinforce his supposed frailty.

The Fellowship walks into the hall, Jakan and Boromir bringing up the rear.

As they walk in, Jakan sees King Theoden sitting on his throne at the other end of the hall. The king seems like he's barely clinging to life, with very white hair and very old, wrinkled skin. Beside him is a very pale skinned man with greasy black hair. That must be Wormtongue, Jakan thinks to himself.

"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Theoden King," Gandalf declares.

Boromir sidles up to Jakan. "To our right and left, my friend," he whispers. Jakan glances left and right, and sees a group of five men following the Fellowship on each side of the hall.

"We can handle them," Jakan whispers back.

"Why…should I welcome you…Gandalf Stormcrow?" Theoden gets out in a very tired and strained voice.

Grima looks at the king and says, "A just question my liege." He then stands up and slowly walks towards the Fellowship, saying loudly, "Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest." He finishes as he steps up right in front of Gandalf.

"Silence! Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth! I did not pass through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm," Gandalf says, and ending by thrusting his staff right in Grima's face.

Grima's eyes widen. "His staff!" he gasps. He then steps back and says loudly in irritation, "I told you to take the wizard's staff!"

Grima's thugs rush out to engage the Fellowship. Jakan reacts instantly, raising his fists and firing a grappling cable at two of the guards. The cables wrap around their legs, and Jakan yanks them towards them, knocking them out with two blows to their heads.

Gamling begins to draw his sword, but Hama stays his hand. He had known what Gandalf's staff really was, and was hoping that Gandalf might be able to free Theoden from Saruman's hold. He also realizes, after seeing what Jakan just did, recognizes that Gamling would likely not be a match for the Mandalorian.

Grima's thugs are a little surprised at what Jakan just did. This hesitation gives Aragorn, Boromir, Legolas, and Gimli the opportunity to attack the rest of Grima's thugs.

As this is happening, Gandalf walks towards Theoden, declaring, "Theoden, son of Thengel! Too long have you sat in the shadows."

One last thug decides to try and rush Jakan. Jakan leaps up, spinning over the man's head before punching him in the head, knocking him out. He then turns to Grima and fires a grappling cable from his left vambrace, tying up Grima.

"I'd advise against struggling," Jakan says to Grima, who just lies there, staring wide-eyed at Jakan.

As this is happening, Gandalf stretches out his hand to Theoden and says, "Hearken to me!"

Everyone in the hall is not watching Gandalf. Gandalf turns his hand so his palm is facing Theoden, and he says, "I release you from this spell."

After a moment, Theoden begins to laugh, a slow menacing laugh. He laughs for several long moments before declaring, "You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey."

Gandalf looks at the king sternly before casting off his grey cloak, revealing his white robes. A light seems to shine out from Gandalf, and Theoden is thrust back against his chair.

"I will draw you Saruman as poison is drawn from a wound!" Gandalf declares firmly before thrusting his staff forward again, forcing Theoden back into his throne.

Out of the corner of his eye, Jakan sees the young woman he saw before standing outside the Meduseld rushing into the hall. Seeing Theoden struggling, she tries to hurry to his side, but Aragorn stops her.

Theoden looks right at Gandalf, and in a different voice to the one he had just been speaking with, says, "If I go, Theoden dies." Jakan realizes instantly that Saruman is speaking through the king.

Gandalf thrusts his staff forward again, forcing Theoden back as he says firmly, "You did not kill me. You will not kill me."

Through Theoden, Saruman groans and says desperately, "Rohan is mine!", feeling his control over Theoden fading.

Gandalf uses his staff to force Theoden back again. "Begone!" he orders Saruman.

For several moments, Theoden is frozen on his throne. Then, at Saruman's mental order, he lunges at Gandalf in a desperate attack. Gandalf forces him back, and in the process, finally expels Saruman from the king's mind.

Everyone watches as Theoden is frozen in his chair for a few more moments. Then, he begins to lean forward and fall out of his chair. Aragorn finally releases the young woman, who runs forward to catch him.

Everyone watches with concern as the young woman helps Theoden up into a sitting position. Then, to Jakan's utter shock, Theoden seems to de-age right before his eyes, his white hair and beard receding back to shorter lengths, and changing from white to blonde.

Theoden's eyes wander for a few moments before locking in on the young woman. He looks at her for a moment before saying in a low voice, "I know your face. Eowyn. Eowyn."

Eowyn beams at her uncle. Then, Theoden seems to notice Gandalf. He looks up at the wizard and in slight confusion says, "Gandalf?"

"Breathe the free air again, my friend," Gandalf says. Theoden slowly stands, aided by Eowyn.

Theoden stares at the ground before saying, "Dark have been my dreams of late."

Gandalf smiles just a bit as he says, "Your fingers would remember their old strength better…if they grasped your sword."

At Gandalf's words, Hama walks up to the throne, holding the king's sword, Herugrim, in his hands. Hama stops and holds out the sword to the king. Theoden looks at the sword for a few moments as if he's never seen the weapon before. Then, slowly, he reaches out and grasps the hilt. After a moment, he slowly draws Herugrim from its scabbard and holds it up. As he does he seems to straighten up a bit, and life seems to return to him a little more.

Theoden stares at the sword for a moment, almost as if in awe. Then, his face steels, and his eyes move to the side to glare at Grima, who is still tied up by Jakan's grappling cable.

"Cast him out!" Theoden commands. Jakan gladly releases Grima from the cable as Hama and Gamling walk over and seize Grima. The two guards storm towards the entrance to the hall, throw the doors open, walk over to the stairs, and send Grima flying down the stairs, pouring every olounce of hate and disdain they feel for Grima into the throw. Grima cries out in pain as he tumbles down the stairs before coming to rest on the first landing with several bruises and a split lip.

Theoden walks menacingly down the stairs, Herugrim held at his side. He is glaring furiously at his former counsellor.

"I've only ever served you, my Lord!" Grima cries desperately, trying to pull himself further down the stairs away from Theoden.

"Your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" Theoden hisses in anger at Grima.

Grima, still trying to stay out of Theoden's reach, begs, "Send me not from your sight!"

Theoden raises Herugrim with both hands, ready to bring it down on Grima in anger. But, right as he begins to bring the sword down, he hears, "No!", and finds his hands in a firm grip. Turning his head, he sees it is Jakan who has grabbed his wrist.

"No, my Lord! Do not let yourself become someone like him, King Theoden. Do not let your anger control you! Let his punishment be dictated by justice, not by anger!" the Mandalorian says to the king.

Theoden looks back into Jakan's mask, then back down at Grima, and after a moment, relaxes.

Grima, seeing he has been saved from death, stands up and rushes towards the crowd. "Get out of my way!" he yells, forcing them aside as he runs for the gate, where he finds a horse and gallops out of Edoras.

"Hail, Theoden-King!" Aragorn calls out loud enough for the entire assembled crowd to hear.

The crowd begins to get down on one knee in homage to their king. Aragorn kneels as well, as does Jakan, wanting to show the Rohirrim that he will respect their king in his own city.

Theoden looks around at his people, then begins to turn away. A thought then comes to his mind, and makes it out of his mouth, "Where is Theodred? Where is my son?"

And, I'll end there.

I hope you liked this chapter. I hoped you liked how easy the fight was, given that Jakan still had his vambraces. I also hoped you liked me using the line, "Weapons are a part of my religion."

Next chapter will be up soon. Until then, leave a review, and stay tuned.