Disclaimer: I have re-written some parts of this story, because I was not
liking how the romance played out. So I have just been re-writing the old
stuff, but now it fits even better with the ending so I'll post that soon.
All these characters belong to Tolkien, except for Aralyn. This story is
better now, please go back and read, then you can enjoy the ending better.
Read and review please!
Eowyn and I melted into the background, wanting to observe what was happening, and not to be seen. The door behind us opened and in stepped Gandalf, relying heavily on his walking stick and was being helped along by a male elf. A dwarf was beside the elf, and on the other side of Gandalf was a human male.
Tension filled the air and I could feel the intake of breath from Eowyn as she beheld the human male. I turned my eyes towards her with a slight smile, then noticed men creeping along behind the visitors, looking murderous. I glared at them and my fingers itched for my long knives, but I knew it would not be wise to attack them now.
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Theoden son of Thengel." Gandalf said cheekily, with a hint of laughter to his voice.
"Why should I welcome you, Gandalf the Gray?" the King shot back, eyeing Gandalf wearily. Gandalf responded by lifting his staff towards the king. Wormtounge's eyes filled with fear as he jumped up.
"Hama!" he shouted at the doorward. "I told you to take his staff!"
At this moment the men that were creeping up on the visitors attacked, but to my relief, it was in vain. Obviously these four companions were aware of everything that was going on around them, and the lack of weapons didn't slow them down or hinder them in anyway. I watched as the elf gracefully placed a kick squarely in one man's chest then spun around to right hook another man.
Wormtounge tried to get out of the fray when the dwarf pushed him over and planted a foot right on his chest.
"I wouldn't go anywhere if I were you." He hissed in Grima's face, making him wince. I wanted to hug that dwarf right then and there.
The men backed off of the human and the elf as Gandalf started arguing with the King.
"I order you to leave Theoden alone immediately!" Gandalf yelled.
Laughter emitted from King Theoden, which sent shivers down my back. This was not his laughter. It was deep and booming, with so much evil consuming it that it was frightening.
"You have no power here, Gandalf the Gray!" The King laughed, not talking in his own voice.
Eowyn started to inch forward, very protective of her Uncle. I followed in close pursuit, but since everyone was focused on the King no one noticed us.
At that very second Gandalf ripped off his gray cloak to reveal his white clothing, and his brightness filled the room. King Theoden leaped back in his throne like he had been burned.
"Now I will draw you out, Saruman, like drawing poison from a wound." Gandalf hissed, pointing his white staff at him again, more aggressively.
At this point Theoden started to writhe in his chair, emitting sounds of pain. This was too much for Eowyn as she leapt forward to help her Uncle and was too quick for me. The human male caught her though, and whispered a single word in her ear. "Wait." And she went still. I joined her, putting a soothing hand on her shoulder. Calmness surrounded me and I concentrated that calmness unto my lady, feeling her pulse rate slow down and her breathing return to normal. I felt a pair of eyes on me and my gaze flew left, and slammed right into the elf's gaze. It was intense.
His blue eyes pierced my green ones with questioning, and I didn't change my facial expression at all. I just pushed my hair behind my ear, revealing the pointed tip. His eyes filled with surprise as a slight grin escaped my lips as I put my hair back in place and turned my attention back to my king.
King Theoden slammed back into the throne heavily, and slumped forward. The human male let Eowyn go as she ran forward to catch her Uncle before he fell to the floor. She sat him up in his throne as he shakily composed himself. I followed slowly behind her, and stood at the foot of the throne out of respect towards him and my lady.
Theoden looked around in disbelief at the familiar faces around him. "I know that face." he whispered as he beheld his niece's face. "Eowyn?"
She smiled and nodded with tears in her eyes, and leaned over and hugged him tightly. I smiled and bowed my head slightly, showing reverence.
He smiled a welcoming smile to me. "Aralyn, my faithful servant." He held out his hand, and I took it and squeezed it slightly. I let go of his hand and bowed low before him, then sat on the stairs of the dais the throne was planted on.
"Breathe the free air again, my friend." Gandalf said giddily, looking like he did a job well done. I smiled thanks to him, and he gave me a warm smile back.
Then hatred filled Theoden's eyes as they swept the room. "Grima?" He demanded, and just at the sound of the man's voice Grima trembled.
Gimli allowed him to get up and Grima coward on the ground in front of Theoden. "Please my lord, do not send me from your side!" Was his only plea, and a pathetic one at that.
Theoden stood up, a new strength emitting from him. "You would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" He cried, his arm reaching for his sword. Grima winced at the sight of the sword being unsheathed, and coward before his King. Theoden pulled up to strike Grima dead, and I watched, almost happily that Grima was going to be gone.
At the last second the human male reached Theoden and caught his arm. "Please, my lord. Enough blood was spilled on his account."
I wanted to scream and kill Grima myself, but the human male demanded too much respect from everyone in the room. He acted as if he was of the son of Kings. He knew what he was doing. I hope. I started to shake with anger as I watched Wormtounge leave the palace of Endoras, hopefully never to return.
King Theoden returned to his throne and sat down, surveying the room again. A shadow fell over his eyes when he realized someone wasn't there. "Eowyn?" He asked softly. "Where is Theodred? Where is my son?"
Eowyn glanced sadly at me as tears streamed down her face. She attempted to talk, but she instead buried her face into her Uncle's robes.
"Aralyn, what is it?" He turned to me, asking fearfully.
"He's dead, my lord." I said in a downcast voice. "He was raided by orcs. Orcs carrying the white hand of Saruman." I said bitterly. I turned away from Theoden, the pain so great. I couldn't cry in front of him though, not anybody. Crying showed weakness, and I am not weak. My gaze fell on the elf again, and to my surprise he was watching me sympathetically. I shot him an indignant look, trying not to let the pain show through. I had to appear strong or I wouldn't be respected.
But something in his eyes made me think he could see right through me and I longed for his consoling. Strange, I have never felt that way about anyone before.
"Dead?" King Theoden asked again.
"Yes, my lord." I softly whispered. Eowyn had composed herself and now had sat up to face King Theoden.
"I will take you to the grave, my lord." She offered, but Gandalf stepped in.
"Lady Eowyn, our companions are tired. They would highly appreciate it if you offered them food and water." he said softly.
"Of course. Forgive me." She bowed to the guests. "Please, follow me."
Eowyn walked out the door, closely followed by the guests. I slowly followed them, and heard Gandalf offer to go with Theoden to his son's grave.
A single tear fell down my cheek. [pic]
Eowyn and I melted into the background, wanting to observe what was happening, and not to be seen. The door behind us opened and in stepped Gandalf, relying heavily on his walking stick and was being helped along by a male elf. A dwarf was beside the elf, and on the other side of Gandalf was a human male.
Tension filled the air and I could feel the intake of breath from Eowyn as she beheld the human male. I turned my eyes towards her with a slight smile, then noticed men creeping along behind the visitors, looking murderous. I glared at them and my fingers itched for my long knives, but I knew it would not be wise to attack them now.
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Theoden son of Thengel." Gandalf said cheekily, with a hint of laughter to his voice.
"Why should I welcome you, Gandalf the Gray?" the King shot back, eyeing Gandalf wearily. Gandalf responded by lifting his staff towards the king. Wormtounge's eyes filled with fear as he jumped up.
"Hama!" he shouted at the doorward. "I told you to take his staff!"
At this moment the men that were creeping up on the visitors attacked, but to my relief, it was in vain. Obviously these four companions were aware of everything that was going on around them, and the lack of weapons didn't slow them down or hinder them in anyway. I watched as the elf gracefully placed a kick squarely in one man's chest then spun around to right hook another man.
Wormtounge tried to get out of the fray when the dwarf pushed him over and planted a foot right on his chest.
"I wouldn't go anywhere if I were you." He hissed in Grima's face, making him wince. I wanted to hug that dwarf right then and there.
The men backed off of the human and the elf as Gandalf started arguing with the King.
"I order you to leave Theoden alone immediately!" Gandalf yelled.
Laughter emitted from King Theoden, which sent shivers down my back. This was not his laughter. It was deep and booming, with so much evil consuming it that it was frightening.
"You have no power here, Gandalf the Gray!" The King laughed, not talking in his own voice.
Eowyn started to inch forward, very protective of her Uncle. I followed in close pursuit, but since everyone was focused on the King no one noticed us.
At that very second Gandalf ripped off his gray cloak to reveal his white clothing, and his brightness filled the room. King Theoden leaped back in his throne like he had been burned.
"Now I will draw you out, Saruman, like drawing poison from a wound." Gandalf hissed, pointing his white staff at him again, more aggressively.
At this point Theoden started to writhe in his chair, emitting sounds of pain. This was too much for Eowyn as she leapt forward to help her Uncle and was too quick for me. The human male caught her though, and whispered a single word in her ear. "Wait." And she went still. I joined her, putting a soothing hand on her shoulder. Calmness surrounded me and I concentrated that calmness unto my lady, feeling her pulse rate slow down and her breathing return to normal. I felt a pair of eyes on me and my gaze flew left, and slammed right into the elf's gaze. It was intense.
His blue eyes pierced my green ones with questioning, and I didn't change my facial expression at all. I just pushed my hair behind my ear, revealing the pointed tip. His eyes filled with surprise as a slight grin escaped my lips as I put my hair back in place and turned my attention back to my king.
King Theoden slammed back into the throne heavily, and slumped forward. The human male let Eowyn go as she ran forward to catch her Uncle before he fell to the floor. She sat him up in his throne as he shakily composed himself. I followed slowly behind her, and stood at the foot of the throne out of respect towards him and my lady.
Theoden looked around in disbelief at the familiar faces around him. "I know that face." he whispered as he beheld his niece's face. "Eowyn?"
She smiled and nodded with tears in her eyes, and leaned over and hugged him tightly. I smiled and bowed my head slightly, showing reverence.
He smiled a welcoming smile to me. "Aralyn, my faithful servant." He held out his hand, and I took it and squeezed it slightly. I let go of his hand and bowed low before him, then sat on the stairs of the dais the throne was planted on.
"Breathe the free air again, my friend." Gandalf said giddily, looking like he did a job well done. I smiled thanks to him, and he gave me a warm smile back.
Then hatred filled Theoden's eyes as they swept the room. "Grima?" He demanded, and just at the sound of the man's voice Grima trembled.
Gimli allowed him to get up and Grima coward on the ground in front of Theoden. "Please my lord, do not send me from your side!" Was his only plea, and a pathetic one at that.
Theoden stood up, a new strength emitting from him. "You would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" He cried, his arm reaching for his sword. Grima winced at the sight of the sword being unsheathed, and coward before his King. Theoden pulled up to strike Grima dead, and I watched, almost happily that Grima was going to be gone.
At the last second the human male reached Theoden and caught his arm. "Please, my lord. Enough blood was spilled on his account."
I wanted to scream and kill Grima myself, but the human male demanded too much respect from everyone in the room. He acted as if he was of the son of Kings. He knew what he was doing. I hope. I started to shake with anger as I watched Wormtounge leave the palace of Endoras, hopefully never to return.
King Theoden returned to his throne and sat down, surveying the room again. A shadow fell over his eyes when he realized someone wasn't there. "Eowyn?" He asked softly. "Where is Theodred? Where is my son?"
Eowyn glanced sadly at me as tears streamed down her face. She attempted to talk, but she instead buried her face into her Uncle's robes.
"Aralyn, what is it?" He turned to me, asking fearfully.
"He's dead, my lord." I said in a downcast voice. "He was raided by orcs. Orcs carrying the white hand of Saruman." I said bitterly. I turned away from Theoden, the pain so great. I couldn't cry in front of him though, not anybody. Crying showed weakness, and I am not weak. My gaze fell on the elf again, and to my surprise he was watching me sympathetically. I shot him an indignant look, trying not to let the pain show through. I had to appear strong or I wouldn't be respected.
But something in his eyes made me think he could see right through me and I longed for his consoling. Strange, I have never felt that way about anyone before.
"Dead?" King Theoden asked again.
"Yes, my lord." I softly whispered. Eowyn had composed herself and now had sat up to face King Theoden.
"I will take you to the grave, my lord." She offered, but Gandalf stepped in.
"Lady Eowyn, our companions are tired. They would highly appreciate it if you offered them food and water." he said softly.
"Of course. Forgive me." She bowed to the guests. "Please, follow me."
Eowyn walked out the door, closely followed by the guests. I slowly followed them, and heard Gandalf offer to go with Theoden to his son's grave.
A single tear fell down my cheek. [pic]