A/N: Thanks for reviews people. Much appreciated. Also, they are honest!
Most people just read it and say it's good not to hurt your feelings.
Honesty is good.
I.H.N - Thanks for all your questions. Nobody else has picked up on her hair being the reason she was cast out. The answers will be revealed later. I decided to add the sylph race to ME because they weren't mentioned in the books and I just thought they'd fit in. I called her a spirit of the air because that's what sylphs are described as being, I didn't make that up. Oh, and I'm working on the paragraph problem!
Note to all: I will try to make this as un-Mary Sueish as possible. I can guarantee that Ebony does not fall in love with anyone, especially not Legolas! Besides, one of my favourite characters is Wormtongue, and a pairing with him would be..um.yes, well, you get the idea.
~~~~~~~Ebony~~~~~~
Two days later, Arwen and Ebony were walking through Rivendell's many gardens, passing the elf people as they went about their business, and discussing the progress of the ringbearer, when Ebony suddenly stopped walking.
"Ebony? What is it?" Arwen said at once.
"I am uncertain, but I believe it was Éowyn. I felt a sense of urgency. I must return to Edoras."
"Of course, let me take you to Luna. Father will understand."
~~~~~~~Gríma~~~~~~~
Gríma Wormtongue stood just inside the main doors to the Golden Hall, watching Éowyn, who was pacing back and forth on the flagstones outside. Today she wore a dress of pure white with a decorative belt. The dress billowed out behind her in the breeze, and her loose, fair hair flew around her tear-streaked face. She hadn't stopped the pacing for a full half an hour. On the horizon, Gríma spotted a rider making their way towards Edoras. When they had drawn closer and passed through the gate, he could see it was Ebony. She reached the bottom of the stairs and leapt of Luna's back. She ran hurriedly up the steps and her cloak slipped off her shoulders. Gríma noticed that one of the peasants quickly picked it up and scuttled off. Ebony failed to notice and reached her cousin.
"Éowyn! I felt your distress. What is wrong?"
Éowyn turned her face, a picture of grief, towards her. "Éomer has gone, and Théodred is dying."
Ebony looked stunned. "When did they return?"
"A day after you left. Éomer took Théodred straight to his room. He has been wounded by orcs. Now Éomer is gone and Théodred's condition is worsening."
"Come, let us go to Théodred."
Gríma hurried back to his seat by the throne where King Théoden sat, as if in a trance. The two sheildmaidens entered the Hall and walked towards Théodred's room. Ebony glanced over at Théoden as she passed and a flicker of shock stung her eyes. Then the two disappeared down the corridor, leaving Gríma alone.
~~~~~~~Ebony~~~~~~
'Valar,' Ebony thought as she hurried towards Théodred's room, 'Théoden looks as death. Evil has grip on him.'
'Galadriel, am I able to help the King?' She pleaded.
'Nay, but one who is approaches.'
'Know you if it was Wormtongue who's evil words transformed Théoden this way?'
'I know. Saruman's influence holds the King, but Wormtongue's words weakened his mind.'
'Help approaches?'
'Yes.'
'What can I do?' Ebony and Éowyn entered Théodred's dimly lit chamber.
'Time is not an asset to you, Ebony.'
'I know this. I will go with Wormtongue when he returns to Isengard.'
'If your mind is set upon this, then go you must. But much care must go with you. Remember, you have only lived sixteen years.'
'Yes, of course.' As Ebony approached Théodred's limp form, fear clutched her heart. His face held no pain, only peace. The blanket that covered him was stained with blood. Éowyn took his cold hand, tears running down her cheeks. Ebony knelt and lifted the blanket. The wound was terrible. She let the blanket drop and felt for a pulse. There was none.
Ebony looked at her cousin, the heir of Rohan. Who would become that heir now? Éomer? How could that be when he was missing?
Éowyn said softly, "How tell we the King?"
"I know not. He is not himself."
"I will go now and try." She rose and walked out of the chamber.
Ebony wiped her hand across her cheek to be rid of the tears. The, upon realizing her hand was covered in blood, she brushed it on her dress.
Éowyn shortly returned in dismay, "He sits and appears to hear to nothing of what I say."
Ebony explained why, and then told her cousin her plan of going to Isengard.
"Ebony! You must not! It would be too dangerous for you! Do you not see?"
"Éowyn, I must. See you not how much I could help by watching Saruman?"
"What if you are injured?"
"Have you forgotten what I am?" Ebony said quietly, sadly.
Éowyn's eyes widened. "You could fly away?"
"Indeed," she smiled, "but we must make haste. The Lady Galadriel tells me help approaches fast."
At this Éowyn's eyes shone with hope. "Hurry," she said, "change your clothes, you have a dress through which wings may grow."
Ebony hugged her cousin, her dearest friend, and quickly fled to her chamber.
~~~~~~~~Gríma~~~~~~~~
As Gríma made his way to the young prince's room, Ebony, her clothes soaked with blood, ran towards her own room without seeing him. He entered the chamber and saw Éowyn kneeling by the bed in distress. Théodred was clearly no longer going to be King.
"Oh," he said quietly, "he must have died some time in the night."
Éowyn didn't turn.
"What a tragedy for the King to lose his only son and heir." Gríma continued, sounding as if he was not sorry at all. He sat down on the end of the bed and looked at the upset sheildmaiden. "I understand his passing is hard to accept," he paused, "especially now that your brother has deserted you."
Éowyn leapt back as if she had been stung. "Leave me alone, snake!" She spat.
"Oh but you are alone." He taunted, counting on the fact that Ebony always seemed to be away.
Éowyn stood still, tears silently moistening her cheeks.
"Who knows what you have spoken to the darkness in the bitter watches of the night when all your life seems shrink," he walked in a small, intimidating circle around her, "the walls of your bower closing in about you like a hutch to trammel some wild thing in?"
Éowyn glanced at him, trembling slightly. He placed a hand on her cheek and said quietly, "So fair, so cold. Like a morning of pale spring still clinging to winter's chill." He stared into her eyes, letting the full force of his words take effect.
She closed them and gathered her inner strength. She pushed past the layers of pain, grief and anxiety and reached peace, calm and control. She opened her eyes and sent Gríma an icy look. His expression lost confidence.
"Your words are poison." She snapped, emphasising the last part. Then she stormed out of Théodred's room leaving Gríma standing in some shock.
Not many had the will to resist enchanted words. He doubted the Éowyn knew the same magic as he. He walked over to Théodred's body and stared down at him with hate, glad that one of the Rohan royal scum was dead.
~~~~~~~~Ebony~~~~~~~
Ebony, standing outside the door, watched him, and saw the look of hatred. Éowyn had run out to the terrace, and Ebony had let her go. Having heard Gríma's words, she decided that Éowyn needed some time alone. She would have to remember to congratulate her for her strength of mind. Seeing Gríma alone, Ebony knew this was her chance to put her plan into action.
"Gríma, son of Galmod," she said, walking in, "why do you linger here? Do you mourn my cousin's death?"
~~~~~~~~Gríma~~~~~~~~
Gríma did not react well to having his trail of thought disturbed by the elf. He looked up angrily as she entered the room. Her slender figure was clothed in a white gossamer dress, and her jet hair was loose. On the other few occasions of him seeing her, she had always been clad in heavy fabrics and dark colours, seeing her in this image of light seemed strange and unnatural.
"My Lady," he began, "your cousin's death affects us all, but it grieves me much, as I had looked forward to serving him as I do your dear uncle."
Ebony came closer and spoke in a voice so soft and dangerous, that Gríma knew her words were meant for him alone. "I know your true master is Saruman the White." She said locking her onyx eyes with his icy blue. "I know you have influence over the King."
Gríma sighed, "And what else does the elf know?" He asked, stating her difference, hoping it would make her feel uncomfortable.
A mere flicker of surprise passed her eyes and she almost smiled as she said, "Much." The ghost of a smile disappeared and she became serious once more. "You are right, Gríma. I do not belong here. I have often wondered whether I would be of more assistance at Orthanc."
She let this information sink in. Gríma looked startled for a second, then regained his composure. "My Lady," he began, "how can this be when your loyalty lies with Théoden, King?"
~~~~~~~~~Ebony~~~~~~~~
Ebony took the chance she had been waiting for and took one of his hands in both of hers. She cried, "Théoden's mind is lost! What will become of me?" Focusing her unusual powers she let her influence creep subtly through his skin to his mind, 'You will forget your infatuation with Éowyn. You will not have her as your prize.' She channelled her energy, 'You may not have Éowyn.' Then she broke contact and dropped his hand.
"Lady, I know not, but I must now attend to the King." Gríma bowed awkwardly, and left the room.
Ebony smiled to herself. Her plan was working. She walked over to Théodred's body and placed his sword on his chest. The she pulled the blanket over him so that it covered his head. Calling two guards, she ordered him to be taken to the tombs.
Suddenly Éowyn ran in. "Ebony, three visitors are here! The ones you spoke of to help the King!"
"Come, quickly!" Ebony and Éowyn hurried to the throne room.
I.H.N - Thanks for all your questions. Nobody else has picked up on her hair being the reason she was cast out. The answers will be revealed later. I decided to add the sylph race to ME because they weren't mentioned in the books and I just thought they'd fit in. I called her a spirit of the air because that's what sylphs are described as being, I didn't make that up. Oh, and I'm working on the paragraph problem!
Note to all: I will try to make this as un-Mary Sueish as possible. I can guarantee that Ebony does not fall in love with anyone, especially not Legolas! Besides, one of my favourite characters is Wormtongue, and a pairing with him would be..um.yes, well, you get the idea.
~~~~~~~Ebony~~~~~~
Two days later, Arwen and Ebony were walking through Rivendell's many gardens, passing the elf people as they went about their business, and discussing the progress of the ringbearer, when Ebony suddenly stopped walking.
"Ebony? What is it?" Arwen said at once.
"I am uncertain, but I believe it was Éowyn. I felt a sense of urgency. I must return to Edoras."
"Of course, let me take you to Luna. Father will understand."
~~~~~~~Gríma~~~~~~~
Gríma Wormtongue stood just inside the main doors to the Golden Hall, watching Éowyn, who was pacing back and forth on the flagstones outside. Today she wore a dress of pure white with a decorative belt. The dress billowed out behind her in the breeze, and her loose, fair hair flew around her tear-streaked face. She hadn't stopped the pacing for a full half an hour. On the horizon, Gríma spotted a rider making their way towards Edoras. When they had drawn closer and passed through the gate, he could see it was Ebony. She reached the bottom of the stairs and leapt of Luna's back. She ran hurriedly up the steps and her cloak slipped off her shoulders. Gríma noticed that one of the peasants quickly picked it up and scuttled off. Ebony failed to notice and reached her cousin.
"Éowyn! I felt your distress. What is wrong?"
Éowyn turned her face, a picture of grief, towards her. "Éomer has gone, and Théodred is dying."
Ebony looked stunned. "When did they return?"
"A day after you left. Éomer took Théodred straight to his room. He has been wounded by orcs. Now Éomer is gone and Théodred's condition is worsening."
"Come, let us go to Théodred."
Gríma hurried back to his seat by the throne where King Théoden sat, as if in a trance. The two sheildmaidens entered the Hall and walked towards Théodred's room. Ebony glanced over at Théoden as she passed and a flicker of shock stung her eyes. Then the two disappeared down the corridor, leaving Gríma alone.
~~~~~~~Ebony~~~~~~
'Valar,' Ebony thought as she hurried towards Théodred's room, 'Théoden looks as death. Evil has grip on him.'
'Galadriel, am I able to help the King?' She pleaded.
'Nay, but one who is approaches.'
'Know you if it was Wormtongue who's evil words transformed Théoden this way?'
'I know. Saruman's influence holds the King, but Wormtongue's words weakened his mind.'
'Help approaches?'
'Yes.'
'What can I do?' Ebony and Éowyn entered Théodred's dimly lit chamber.
'Time is not an asset to you, Ebony.'
'I know this. I will go with Wormtongue when he returns to Isengard.'
'If your mind is set upon this, then go you must. But much care must go with you. Remember, you have only lived sixteen years.'
'Yes, of course.' As Ebony approached Théodred's limp form, fear clutched her heart. His face held no pain, only peace. The blanket that covered him was stained with blood. Éowyn took his cold hand, tears running down her cheeks. Ebony knelt and lifted the blanket. The wound was terrible. She let the blanket drop and felt for a pulse. There was none.
Ebony looked at her cousin, the heir of Rohan. Who would become that heir now? Éomer? How could that be when he was missing?
Éowyn said softly, "How tell we the King?"
"I know not. He is not himself."
"I will go now and try." She rose and walked out of the chamber.
Ebony wiped her hand across her cheek to be rid of the tears. The, upon realizing her hand was covered in blood, she brushed it on her dress.
Éowyn shortly returned in dismay, "He sits and appears to hear to nothing of what I say."
Ebony explained why, and then told her cousin her plan of going to Isengard.
"Ebony! You must not! It would be too dangerous for you! Do you not see?"
"Éowyn, I must. See you not how much I could help by watching Saruman?"
"What if you are injured?"
"Have you forgotten what I am?" Ebony said quietly, sadly.
Éowyn's eyes widened. "You could fly away?"
"Indeed," she smiled, "but we must make haste. The Lady Galadriel tells me help approaches fast."
At this Éowyn's eyes shone with hope. "Hurry," she said, "change your clothes, you have a dress through which wings may grow."
Ebony hugged her cousin, her dearest friend, and quickly fled to her chamber.
~~~~~~~~Gríma~~~~~~~~
As Gríma made his way to the young prince's room, Ebony, her clothes soaked with blood, ran towards her own room without seeing him. He entered the chamber and saw Éowyn kneeling by the bed in distress. Théodred was clearly no longer going to be King.
"Oh," he said quietly, "he must have died some time in the night."
Éowyn didn't turn.
"What a tragedy for the King to lose his only son and heir." Gríma continued, sounding as if he was not sorry at all. He sat down on the end of the bed and looked at the upset sheildmaiden. "I understand his passing is hard to accept," he paused, "especially now that your brother has deserted you."
Éowyn leapt back as if she had been stung. "Leave me alone, snake!" She spat.
"Oh but you are alone." He taunted, counting on the fact that Ebony always seemed to be away.
Éowyn stood still, tears silently moistening her cheeks.
"Who knows what you have spoken to the darkness in the bitter watches of the night when all your life seems shrink," he walked in a small, intimidating circle around her, "the walls of your bower closing in about you like a hutch to trammel some wild thing in?"
Éowyn glanced at him, trembling slightly. He placed a hand on her cheek and said quietly, "So fair, so cold. Like a morning of pale spring still clinging to winter's chill." He stared into her eyes, letting the full force of his words take effect.
She closed them and gathered her inner strength. She pushed past the layers of pain, grief and anxiety and reached peace, calm and control. She opened her eyes and sent Gríma an icy look. His expression lost confidence.
"Your words are poison." She snapped, emphasising the last part. Then she stormed out of Théodred's room leaving Gríma standing in some shock.
Not many had the will to resist enchanted words. He doubted the Éowyn knew the same magic as he. He walked over to Théodred's body and stared down at him with hate, glad that one of the Rohan royal scum was dead.
~~~~~~~~Ebony~~~~~~~
Ebony, standing outside the door, watched him, and saw the look of hatred. Éowyn had run out to the terrace, and Ebony had let her go. Having heard Gríma's words, she decided that Éowyn needed some time alone. She would have to remember to congratulate her for her strength of mind. Seeing Gríma alone, Ebony knew this was her chance to put her plan into action.
"Gríma, son of Galmod," she said, walking in, "why do you linger here? Do you mourn my cousin's death?"
~~~~~~~~Gríma~~~~~~~~
Gríma did not react well to having his trail of thought disturbed by the elf. He looked up angrily as she entered the room. Her slender figure was clothed in a white gossamer dress, and her jet hair was loose. On the other few occasions of him seeing her, she had always been clad in heavy fabrics and dark colours, seeing her in this image of light seemed strange and unnatural.
"My Lady," he began, "your cousin's death affects us all, but it grieves me much, as I had looked forward to serving him as I do your dear uncle."
Ebony came closer and spoke in a voice so soft and dangerous, that Gríma knew her words were meant for him alone. "I know your true master is Saruman the White." She said locking her onyx eyes with his icy blue. "I know you have influence over the King."
Gríma sighed, "And what else does the elf know?" He asked, stating her difference, hoping it would make her feel uncomfortable.
A mere flicker of surprise passed her eyes and she almost smiled as she said, "Much." The ghost of a smile disappeared and she became serious once more. "You are right, Gríma. I do not belong here. I have often wondered whether I would be of more assistance at Orthanc."
She let this information sink in. Gríma looked startled for a second, then regained his composure. "My Lady," he began, "how can this be when your loyalty lies with Théoden, King?"
~~~~~~~~~Ebony~~~~~~~~
Ebony took the chance she had been waiting for and took one of his hands in both of hers. She cried, "Théoden's mind is lost! What will become of me?" Focusing her unusual powers she let her influence creep subtly through his skin to his mind, 'You will forget your infatuation with Éowyn. You will not have her as your prize.' She channelled her energy, 'You may not have Éowyn.' Then she broke contact and dropped his hand.
"Lady, I know not, but I must now attend to the King." Gríma bowed awkwardly, and left the room.
Ebony smiled to herself. Her plan was working. She walked over to Théodred's body and placed his sword on his chest. The she pulled the blanket over him so that it covered his head. Calling two guards, she ordered him to be taken to the tombs.
Suddenly Éowyn ran in. "Ebony, three visitors are here! The ones you spoke of to help the King!"
"Come, quickly!" Ebony and Éowyn hurried to the throne room.
