~ Finally an update!
Chapter 5: The King of the Golden Hall
We continued to ride towards Rohan. Gandalf had a plan to chase the evil away from the great city, for he had an idea that Rohan will soon be in trouble with Isengard. We didn't know what exactly, but we knew Rohan needed our help.
As we approached the city, we slowed down and stopped for a moment.
"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown and Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong," Gandalf stated.
I was confident enough that we can do something about that.
Rearing up our horses, we continued forward. We entered through the gates of the city's border and trotted up the road towards the castle. Looking around, the people did not look very friendly. They all stared at us with piercing glares, as if questioning who we were and why we were here. Or maybe whether we were Saruman's servants or not.
We dismounted and walked up the steps to the castle doors, where we were stopped by four men. Rohan's soldiers.
"I cannot allow you before Théoden-king so armed, Gandalf Grayhame," the lead soldier said. "By order of Grima Wormtongue."
Grima Wormtongue. What a name. It sounded so ominous already. The connotation of his name sounded like he was a dirty man covered with grime and had a tongue like a worm.
I looked over at Gandalf to see what he would do, and he nodded and handed over his sword. We all followed suit. I gave them my bow and quiver, and my two daggers, but not without doing a fancy trick with them before. Just to spite them and show them not to mess with me.
"Your staff," the soldier said.
Gandalf looked puzzled, then said innocently, "Oh, no, you wouldn't part an old man from his walking stick."
I smiled inwardly. I knew what he had in mind, and this was going to be interesting.
Gandalf hooked his arm around mine to pretend like he was steadying himself, and all four of us walked into the castle. The castle was dark and gloomy, as if it was abandoned but not quite yet. Who would want to continue to live here?
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden-King," Gandalf said in a loud, booming voice.
"Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?" King Theoden said slowly and tiredly. If I was a man, I would reel back upon the sight of the King. He was hideous! And the wrinkles! It made my skin crawl.
"Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear," an oily man dressed in black said. I assumed him to be Grima Wormtongue. He got up from kneeling next to the king and walked towards us. "Lathspell spell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest."
"Silence!" Gandalf rebuked. "Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!" He lifted the point of his staff up and held it in front of Grima's face.
Grima's eyes widened, and he staggered back. "His staff!" he said. Looking at the guards, he said, "I thought I told you to take the wizard's staff!"
The soldier's rushed forward, and I did too. I punched one that was running towards Gandalf, then another who advanced towards me. I could hear Gandalf continuing forward and addressing Theoden, but that did not really concern me too much. Aragorn, Gimli, and I got him all covered. I elbowed one who rushed at me from behind.
Once they were all defeated, we stood by to watch the drama unfold and Gandalf's attempt to free the king from Saruman's clutches.
"I will release you from the spell," Gandalf said, holding his hand up.
Unexpectedly, Theoden started to laugh. Not just any laugh, but a laugh of mockery.
"You have no powers here Gandalf the Grey," Theoden said. He continued to laugh.
I could see how mad Gandalf became, and he threw off his outer coat. Bright light illuminated from his figure, almost blinding us. If I weren't an elf, I would be blinded along with them.
Theoden gasped and shrunk back in his throne.
"I shall draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound," Gandalf said, using his staff to extract the evil from the king of Rohan.
Gandalf's invisible push at Theoden's spirit was done three times before he was able to chase Saruman out from Theoden's body. Theoden groaned and slumped forward. He would have fallen to the ground if a blond woman did not catch him and push him back upright. In front of our very own eyes, Theoden started to change, and his appearance of an old, haggard man transformed into a tan haired wise king.
"Breathe the free air again, my friend," Gandalf said, smiling. I was smiling too. The king was finally free.
Theoden turned to glare at Grima, who was on the ground. Grima looked petrified and tried to scamper away. Theoden grabbed him and hauled him to the castle gates, where he literally threw him out. Grima rolled down the stairs and stopped at the bottom, groaning in pain. Theoden walked out the gates to confront Grima, and we followed suit. I stood next to the blond lady on top of the platform, looking down to watch the excitement.
"I've only ever served you my lord!" Grima tried to explain. I inwardly snorted. Right. He wanted to serve Theoden. That was the lamest excuse I ever heard in my years.
"Your witchcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" Theoden growled angrily.
"Send me not from your side!" Grima pleaded.
Theoden snarled and raised his sword to prepare to slice Grima in two. Aragorn rushed forward.
"No! No my lord!" Aragorn screamed, grabbing Theoden's arms and holding them back. "Let him go. Enough blood has been spilled on his account."
Grima took the opportunity to flee. "Get out of my way!" he yelled, pushing through the crowd that gathered to watch the drama. He jumped onto his horse and rode away from Rohan forever.
~ He². I love long chapters. Please review!
Chapter 5: The King of the Golden Hall
We continued to ride towards Rohan. Gandalf had a plan to chase the evil away from the great city, for he had an idea that Rohan will soon be in trouble with Isengard. We didn't know what exactly, but we knew Rohan needed our help.
As we approached the city, we slowed down and stopped for a moment.
"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown and Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong," Gandalf stated.
I was confident enough that we can do something about that.
Rearing up our horses, we continued forward. We entered through the gates of the city's border and trotted up the road towards the castle. Looking around, the people did not look very friendly. They all stared at us with piercing glares, as if questioning who we were and why we were here. Or maybe whether we were Saruman's servants or not.
We dismounted and walked up the steps to the castle doors, where we were stopped by four men. Rohan's soldiers.
"I cannot allow you before Théoden-king so armed, Gandalf Grayhame," the lead soldier said. "By order of Grima Wormtongue."
Grima Wormtongue. What a name. It sounded so ominous already. The connotation of his name sounded like he was a dirty man covered with grime and had a tongue like a worm.
I looked over at Gandalf to see what he would do, and he nodded and handed over his sword. We all followed suit. I gave them my bow and quiver, and my two daggers, but not without doing a fancy trick with them before. Just to spite them and show them not to mess with me.
"Your staff," the soldier said.
Gandalf looked puzzled, then said innocently, "Oh, no, you wouldn't part an old man from his walking stick."
I smiled inwardly. I knew what he had in mind, and this was going to be interesting.
Gandalf hooked his arm around mine to pretend like he was steadying himself, and all four of us walked into the castle. The castle was dark and gloomy, as if it was abandoned but not quite yet. Who would want to continue to live here?
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden-King," Gandalf said in a loud, booming voice.
"Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?" King Theoden said slowly and tiredly. If I was a man, I would reel back upon the sight of the King. He was hideous! And the wrinkles! It made my skin crawl.
"Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear," an oily man dressed in black said. I assumed him to be Grima Wormtongue. He got up from kneeling next to the king and walked towards us. "Lathspell spell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest."
"Silence!" Gandalf rebuked. "Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!" He lifted the point of his staff up and held it in front of Grima's face.
Grima's eyes widened, and he staggered back. "His staff!" he said. Looking at the guards, he said, "I thought I told you to take the wizard's staff!"
The soldier's rushed forward, and I did too. I punched one that was running towards Gandalf, then another who advanced towards me. I could hear Gandalf continuing forward and addressing Theoden, but that did not really concern me too much. Aragorn, Gimli, and I got him all covered. I elbowed one who rushed at me from behind.
Once they were all defeated, we stood by to watch the drama unfold and Gandalf's attempt to free the king from Saruman's clutches.
"I will release you from the spell," Gandalf said, holding his hand up.
Unexpectedly, Theoden started to laugh. Not just any laugh, but a laugh of mockery.
"You have no powers here Gandalf the Grey," Theoden said. He continued to laugh.
I could see how mad Gandalf became, and he threw off his outer coat. Bright light illuminated from his figure, almost blinding us. If I weren't an elf, I would be blinded along with them.
Theoden gasped and shrunk back in his throne.
"I shall draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound," Gandalf said, using his staff to extract the evil from the king of Rohan.
Gandalf's invisible push at Theoden's spirit was done three times before he was able to chase Saruman out from Theoden's body. Theoden groaned and slumped forward. He would have fallen to the ground if a blond woman did not catch him and push him back upright. In front of our very own eyes, Theoden started to change, and his appearance of an old, haggard man transformed into a tan haired wise king.
"Breathe the free air again, my friend," Gandalf said, smiling. I was smiling too. The king was finally free.
Theoden turned to glare at Grima, who was on the ground. Grima looked petrified and tried to scamper away. Theoden grabbed him and hauled him to the castle gates, where he literally threw him out. Grima rolled down the stairs and stopped at the bottom, groaning in pain. Theoden walked out the gates to confront Grima, and we followed suit. I stood next to the blond lady on top of the platform, looking down to watch the excitement.
"I've only ever served you my lord!" Grima tried to explain. I inwardly snorted. Right. He wanted to serve Theoden. That was the lamest excuse I ever heard in my years.
"Your witchcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" Theoden growled angrily.
"Send me not from your side!" Grima pleaded.
Theoden snarled and raised his sword to prepare to slice Grima in two. Aragorn rushed forward.
"No! No my lord!" Aragorn screamed, grabbing Theoden's arms and holding them back. "Let him go. Enough blood has been spilled on his account."
Grima took the opportunity to flee. "Get out of my way!" he yelled, pushing through the crowd that gathered to watch the drama. He jumped onto his horse and rode away from Rohan forever.
~ He². I love long chapters. Please review!