Chapter Two: Standoff
When the five of them had arrived at the doors of the Golden Hall of Edoras, they were barred from entering by the guards.
"We are here to see King Theoden of Rohan. May we enter?" Aragorn asked, patiently.
"You may, but you must leave your weapons outside." One guard said. Reluctantly, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Herendil handed over their weapons. This left only Gandalf with his staff.
"Your staff, sir." One guard said. This got a feigned look of hurt from Gandalf.
"Surely you will not part a man from his walking stick?" Gandalf asked, as Legolas and Herendil chuckled and shook their heads. Gandalf also had a mischievous glint in his eyes, that of which brightened slightly as they all entered the fabled Golden Hall. But the halls did not shine as they had of old, instead, many shadows hung low in the great place.
"What a darkness I feel…….." Herendil murmured, as he looked up and around at the gloomy hall. At the end of it sat an ancient looking man.
"Yes……………It seems that the hospitality of your hall has waned of late, Theoden King." Gandalf said, as he stood before the man on the throne. Herendil watched as the man beside the throne whispered something into the king's ear, and watched as the man's eyes took on a strange light.
"Why………….should I……………….welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?" Theoden replied, in a voice that sent chills down Herendil's spine. For a few moments the two faced one another, then Gandalf looked directly at the corpse-like man that stood beside the throne. While low threats were exchanged between Gandalf and the other man (who went by the name of Wormtongue), Herendil looked away from them and at the only woman in the hall. She was fair, almost Elvish in her beauty, but Herendil sensed a great sadness in her.
"Such sad eyes……………….." Herendil thought, then jumped when Gandalf suddenly shouted at Wormtongue.
"I free you, Theoden, from this darkness." Gandalf said, after essentially telling Wormtongue to shut up. This was answered by eerie laughter from the man on the throne.
"You have no power, Gandalf the Grey!" Theoden cackled, from his seat.
"Gandalf the Grey…………………….I've heard that name before! This is Mithrandir! And I didn't even recognize him!" Herendil thought, with shock, but then turned to defend himself against some advancing guards. He turned to look at the throne again, just as Gandalf threw off his tattered grey cloak to reveal his new white robes, much to the distress of the man on the throne.
"Leave him, Saruman!" Gandalf demanded.
"If I leave him, Theoden will die!" Theoden/Saruman hissed, malevolently.
"Don't you dare hurt him, Saruman! Leave him and do no more harm!" Gandalf shouted, as he thrust his staff towards him and, with a brilliant flash of light, the shadows and eerie light in Theoden's eyes left, like so many shadows do when confronted with light.
"King Theoden?" the woman asked, as she kneeled before him.
"I know this face…………..Eowyn?" Theoden asked, his voice soft, yet very much his own. The woman nodded, with happy tears flowing freely down her face.
"Dark have my dreams been of late." Theoden murmured, as he gazed around him at the people assembled there. With grim pleasure, Herendil watched as Wormtongue was thrown down the stone stairs by Theoden himself and rushed over to help stop him from killing the pathetic traitor.
"Don't sully your halls with blood, your Highness!" Herendil shouted, as he and Aragorn held him back. They watched as Wormtongue shoved through the crowd that had gathered and as he disappeared out of the gates.
"Where is Theodred? Where is my son?" Theoden asked, his anger now gone. Herendil watched as the king was told of his son's death, and he was led off to visit his son's grave.
"A parent should never have to bury his child. Such a cruel awakening from a life that until now has been ruled by nightmares." Herendil murmured, as he stood alongside Legolas and Gimli.
"Aye. But the times are about to get crueler still, Herendil. Do you still want to travel alongside us?" Gimli asked.
"I have to. So much has happened since I last traveled. Much time has passed………" Herendil said, his voice soft.
"Herendil, there is something you have not yet told us. What is it?" Legolas asked.
"Legolas, I don't think I could tell you without going into uncomfortable and unbelievable details." Herendil replied, already looking somewhat uncomfortable.
"What? That you came back to life in the Dead Marshes?" Gandalf's voice asked, from behind them.
"H-how did……………..? How did you know that that had happened?" Herendil asked, all the color draining from his fair face.
"I could tell by your story, and also by your armor. Elves haven't worn armor like that in almost a thousand years!" Gandalf said, as Herendil sat down on the steps.
"What else do you know, Gandalf?" Herendil asked, almost afraid of what he would say next.
"There was another prophecy that has just come true through you; that one from the Battle of Dagorlad should return from death to life again when he senses the Ruling Ring's power. This has apparently happened, since you are, once again, amongst the living." Gandalf said, dropping the proverbial bombshell onto the hapless elf.
"And I never realized. It seems that my part in this has only just begun." Herendil murmured.
"Indeed it has. You are now a part of the War of the Ring, and you will see something that your peers will never see." Gandalf said, as he turned and walked off.
"Always so full of mystery, Mithrandir…………….." Herendil said, as he looked at the horizon, wondering what the future held in store for him.