Forbidden Tales

"I am told that she yet lives". Aragorn told Gandalf. The wizard looked at him in surprise.

"And who do you refer to Aragorn? some old witch?" he asked.

Aragorn shook his head and glanced at legolas who held an amused grin.

"Isilme, Daughter of Gil-Galad, one of the ancient elf kings, who fought on the Pelennor Fields with Elrond". Aragorn continued.

"You also forget Elessar, that gil-galad also fought with Isildur". Legolas gently reminded him.

Aragorn spun around and faced the elf prince. "That is something not easily forgotten and I do not need reminding of it legolas'.

Legolas stopped walking. "If it bothers you so, then why do you dwell into the family history of another? who perhaps has the same views as you?" with that the elf prince strode away in front of them, soon he was a huge distance away.

Aragorn sighed.

Gandalf cleared his throat.

"Isilme has been busy these last few years, well if you could call it a couple, more like a couple thousand". Gandalf was in a riddle mood and it amused him on this journey to the Rohan land and most importantly to the Great Hall of Edoras.

"busy? No one has seen her; she has not been to Rivendell or Lorien". Aragorn told him.

"oh? And how would you know that future king of gondor?" Aragorn winced. He hated being reminded of the obvious, his parents had been slaughtered for it and he wanted no part of it.

"she has spent quite a lot of time in Lorien and she is a student of Haldir well more sister would be better, the two can hardly be separated, and as for legolas, he also knows her well, though, he has not seen her since she was a child, I fear things will change very quickly once we reach Edoras". Gandalf told him but he did not mention that there had been more to the relationship of Isilme and Haldir, Aragorn did not need to know that, that was the business of elves and not mortals, with that he answered no more.

Aragorn had his own thoughts to question and answer. And also, he had to make it up to legolas for biting his head off.

Everything happened fast.

They reached Edoras with gimli in tow. Gandalf with his more powerful magic was able to overthrow saruman's hold on the king of Rohan.

Just as discussions were being made. Hama, the prime guard came through bearing gifts for his king.

"My lord, we have 3 visitors for you, Gondorians". Everyone perked at hearing that.

Hama stepped aside to let the 3 through.

"Ithilian Rangers fool, not gondorians". The lead visitor said as they walked past him.

The other two smirked at that comment.

"Gondor is not welcome in my hall stranger". The king stated.

"Because we would not lend you a hand theoden king? when it was so easily refused to us?. The leader asked.

Grima worm tongue, kings adviser sauntered up to the leader.

"you would remove your hood in front of the king". He told them.

The leader looked at him. "Do you fear I am a nazgul in disguise snake?"

They all removed their hoods, to behold 2 men and the leader a woman, with raven hair, white skin and startling blue eyes.

"You would bow before my king". Grima ordered her.

Suddenly he found himself on the floor. A knife at his throat.

"I bow to no king, only my father held that priviledge". She told him, her voice filled with venom.

"I thought I told you no one is to carry weapons into the hall!" He yelled at Hama.

Hama stuttered, he had taken their weapons.

"Rangers keep hidden weapons snake, give me one more reason to remove your tongue from your head".

"Enough!" Gandalf said loudly. "Tell us maiden, you are a ranger, and what else can you tell us of yourself?" her eyes wandered to Aragorn.

"And so he returns, but not to gondor who needs him". She thought.

Her eyes traveled to legolas.

"mae goevannen legolas, son of thranduil". He stepped forward.

"We have met before?" he asked.

"We have elf prince, but I will remind you later". All the while she still had her foot on Grima, holding in on the floor so he couldn't get up.

She looked at Gandalf.

"Old man, it has been many years". He smiled in recognition.

"Only this morning were we speaking of you child". Aragorn did a double take.

This was Isilme?

"Good things I hope? I am here for your counsel, if I could have avoided Rohan all the better but - ". She shrugged. "I have sent my captain and army of rangers back to Osgiliath, to fight".

"She is in trouble?" Gandalf asked.

She looked at Aragorn before answering. "She has need of her king, but it is said that he is dead, the steward of gondor is doing his work well, but she will not hold with minas under attack as well, the nazgul have sieged them both".

She looked at legolas. 'Now do you remember me legolas?"

He smiled tenderly at her. "You have grown Isilme, I have missed you".

The shuffling beneath her feet brought her attention back to Grima.

"Hold still or I will kill you where you lie, and how would you then report back to your master?"

"My master is the king of Rohan". Came the reply of Grima.

"funny, I had thought he was your slave the way you manipulated his words to suit you, but it is not of theoden that I speak, I mean the white wizard, who totems his warriors with his white hand". They all looked at Grima And legolas was about to kick him, he would have preferred his knives but they had been taken from him.

She kneeled down.

"you smell of stale air, I think a walk through the country will clear your mind, and your pores, elves do not think highly of unhygienic races, or perhaps I should feed you to the wargs that your master holds in his pits".

"You know a lot for someone who has never gone to Isengard". Aragorn finally spoke.

"My past with isengard is of no consequence to you, I know what I know, I have not lived 3 thousand years running from my destiny, Gandalf I wish an audience with you, my captain waits for me to join him and my people need me".

Aragorn did not miss the barb of her statement, it hit his sensitive nerve well and truly and suddenly he realized, he wanted to know this woman more, if she was who she claimed, there was a lot she could tell him. More then arwen had.

"Your people?" theoden asked.

"Gil-Galad and Isildur appointed any heir of the elf king to be ruler of gondor; I think they knew the future". Gandalf explained.

"I am not the queen of gondor, I merely hold her in trust for when the king decides to come to life and take what is his I will step down, until that time, I will not abandon my people, be they elf or human".

Aragorn would of said something but at that moment grima decided to make his move and he pushed her leg away. He pulled himself up and ran.

She looked at her 2 guards.

"kill him". They were about to obey when a voice stopped them.

"who gives you leave to kill one of my people maiden?" theoden asked coming down to join them.

"he is after your niece and absolute power of the lands, would you let him go?" one of Isilme's guards asked.

"I do not understand how you came across so much information". Aragorn asked.

"we are Ithilian rangers and we spend our time in wilds, more often then not we run across parties of orcs who talk loudly and freely, good ears are needed for this". The guard answered.

Aragorn nodded.

Isilme looked at theoden. "your nephew is now riding far from here, I would suggest that you find him and retrieve him home". She advised.

Theoden raised his chin at her.

She raised her hand in surrender. "I only wish to offer aid and advice, I do not know why I bother". "why are you so mean to him?" a female voice asked.

Isilme turned to see a young woman. All in white.

"I merely state the obvious lady eowyn". She lifted her head further surprised that isilme would know her name.

"words travel fast in these lands milady, and many speak of the shieldmaiden of rohan, but also that she will come face to face with that that is fairest, which the elves hold high". Gandalf led her away with legolas trailing behind them.

"face to face with the fairest?" eowyn asked. "another who speaks in riddles". She told Aragorn.

"that which is fairest to the elves is Arwen Evenstar also known as Undomiel, all elves worship her, her grandmother is the great queen Galadriel, lady of the golden woods, also known as Lorien, it is also said that a mortal once loved her, but he did not want her to forsake her immortality for a life with his". Aragorn answered Eowyn.

"I have heard of the elf witch". Aragorn had to smile, for one who had never traveled outside her country she had the gall to usurp the elves, wisest and fairest of all beings.

"the elf witch you refer to lady, is Galadriel, lady of the golden woods, the evenstar is a gentle soul and between them both, the elves would slaughter any who would give them harm". The ranger replied.

Theoden was not calm. If what the queen said was true then rohan had little to no time for preparations. He would send them all to Helm's Deep. If any war was to come then that is where they would face the menace.

He sighed. "so much time has been spent in darkness and my son is dead, and my nephew banished by the wormtongue".

"then as Isilme said, you must retrieve him". Aragorn said.

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Gandalf sat down on the outside seat, Isilme sat next to him and legolas choose to stand beside her a few steps away.

"how are you wounds child?" he asked softly.

Isilme looked at Gandalf. "they are healed now, Haldir took care of me, that was a long time ago old man, elves heal quickly".

Gandalf sighed. "so much is happening and not enough time".

"Lorien is sending their armies here, it is the least Galadriel can offer the humans, the last of the elves are leaving for the grey havens".

"that is indeed news, and why would she not send you armies?"

"I do not question the lady's motives old man, she sees more than I, I have to return to gondor, faramir awaits me". She stood up.

"Gandalf I wish I could stay longer, there is much I would like to speak to you about".

"how is gondor without her king?" legolas asked. Isilme looked at him.

"she is surviving, but gondor was made for Aragorn, I can only keep her head above water, she needs her king".

"will you leave also Isilme?" legolas said.

"no, I am not leaving middle earth, I have bonds here I do not wish to break, and you legolas?" she asked. "after all this is over perhaps, the ocean calls to me". He answered, a faraway dream in his pale eyes.

"Isilme, I sense a fondness for a captain?" Gandalf asked.

"we have feelings for each other, but you know that now is not the time, I must go Gandalf, to much time has already been wasted, give my greetings to Haldir when he arrives, I shall see you soon, gandalf, you and your company are most welcome in gondor". Gandalf bowed his head to her in acceptance.

Legolas touched his heart with his hand, in honor and respect.

She embraced legolas. "take care my friend, I shall see you soon".

"and you mellon". His embrace to her was tighter. He had missed his kin that much was certain.

"well now is the time to start preparing legolas, time has swift wings, and we have only legs". Gandalf told him.