@Lisseyelen aka Lady V : To tell you the truth, I really love your fic 'Isengard Captive'. But forgive me, I'm quite lazy to review too. So, here's what I wanted to say : WILL YOU UPDATE ALREADY?!!!! He! He! I'm glad I let it all out of my system. I swear I'll review after this!
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The four set up a good pace. No further mishaps marred their journey. On the third day of riding, the finally came to the great meadow near Edoras. Before them, stood the majestic mountains of the south. At the foot of the mountains were high slopes and drumlin hills. On top of one hill, a massive keep stood proudly facing the east.
They halted their mounts, admiring the scenery.
"Edoras, the high court of Rohan," said Gandalf. "Meduseld is the name of its golden hall, and within this hall we'll seek Theoden, the king. But I cannot assure you that our arrival will be completely welcomed. The evil of Saruman has already grown within its walls. So be on full alert."
With that, the wizard nudged Shadowfax forward, followed by the other two stallions.
When Edoras came closer into view, Legolas' heart was torn asunder. He was going to venture into the territory of men, a thing that he would never did all alone by himself. Even the notion suddenly made him hard to breathe that he felt like suffocating. The horrid memory of his past assailed him once more.
Gimli could noticeably feel the elf's back grew tense. He had clear idea of what was causing it. "Legolas? You okay?"
Legolas did not answer for quite a long moment that the dwarf nearly called out to Aragorn and Gandalf. But then, the elf spoke softly, "I hope so, Gimli."
The dwarf reached up and gripped Legolas' right arm, showing his support. Legolas responded by squeezing Gimli's hand. Gandalf and Aragorn who never missed the exchange, looked at one another knowingly.
At last they arrived at the wide wind-swept walls and the great gate of Edoras. As predicted, the guards there forbade them from entering.
"And why is that?" Gandalf calmly asked.
"We have orders from Grima Wormtongue, the counselor to King Theoden, that no stranger should pass these gates. This is the time for great unrest. We have to be more careful in accepting any unknown visitors."
"Grima from the Orthanc tower, you mean?" Gandalf's eyes drew to a slit, showing his great displeasure. "My errand is not to Grima but to Theoden. So before you simply turn your back on us, go and tell your king that I, Gandalf, demand to see him. I can always break through the gate but I'd rather do it the honorable way. So do not force me to do otherwise."
The guards looked at one another anxiously, then one of them ran inside through a small door beside the gate. After some time he returned with a higher ranked warrior with him.
"I'm Hama, Head of the guards," the warrior said, eyeing the visitors warily. "We have told our king of your…demand, Gandalf. You all shall see our king but you need to leave your weapons outside the hall."
Legolas bristled when he heard this. I will not step inside unarmed!
He instantly went for his bow and arrow in angered reaction but Aragorn quickly reached over and grabbed his hands. The ranger gave him a mixed look of warning and pleading. There was also assurance in the man's blue eyes. You're not alone, Legolas, the eyes seemed to say.
After what seemed like eternity, Legolas finally relented. He nodded his agreement to the ranger who then released his hands.
"Do we have your words that our weapons will be well taken care of?" Aragorn asked the guards, relieved that Legolas was not being too stubborn for once.
Hama had seen Legolas' reaction just now, but he didn't comment. "You have our word."
The gates were swung widely open to let the three horses in. They followed Hama at leisurely pace through the gates into Edoras wide courtyard. The people there turned and stared at the newcomers, looking over the four companions one by one. Gandalf's presence brought questions to their lips, while they only glimpsed briefly at the stout dwarf and the disheveled looking ranger. But it was Legolas that made them gawking because they rarely saw an elf, and such a magnificent looking one at that!
Legolas was incredibly uneasy with the humans' long stare. His keen ears could hear them whispering at one another about him. Shut up, you fools! You don't know me at all! Just shut up!!
Knowing that Legolas was tensing again, Gimli gripped at his shoulder from behind. Hard. "Don't let them intimidate you! You're a lot older than they are! Try imagining them as little children. Or better yet, picture them as walking corpses, because truthfully, this place is so grim and dour. You'll find more cheer in a graveyard!"
Amused, Legolas' lips twitched involuntarily. Trust Gimli to make bad jokes at a time like this!
They dismounted at the steps of the largest building where Meduseld hall and the king's royal dwelling lay ensconced within. The helps rushed forward to take care of the horses and led them away to the stable. Reluctantly, the companions relinquished their weapons to the guards. But Gandalf refused to give them his staff.
"Rude is one thing, cruel is another!" Gandalf ranted. "How can an old bent fellow like me walk straight without my staff?"
Rolling his eyes in exasperation, Hama gave his signal. The guards pushed the heavy doors inward and they stepped into the midst of the hall.
The hall was quite huge and richly furnished but, sadly, it was lacked of warmth. Even the beautiful tapestries hanging on the walls and the raging fire burning in the big hearth could not chase away the chill that permeated the air for it came from evil source, not a nature's cause.
Legolas' senses had feel it, so did Gandalf. Meanwhile, Gimli and Aragorn did not need supernatural sense or power to know that they would be dealing with a lot more than what they expected. They glanced warily at their left and right as they walked passed some of the king's men-at-arms who never stopped staring at the four of them.
At the end of the hall, there was a gilded chair in the middle of a raised dais. In the chair, sat a man with white and long unkempt hair. He was staring disinterestedly at their entrance. At his feet upon the steps, sat a wizened figure of a man with a very pale face and heavy lidded red-rimmed eyes, smirking.
Gandalf suddenly spoke, breaking the deafening silence, "The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Theoden. You abhor my visit, it would seem."
Glancing briefly at the pale man sitting upon the steps of the dais as if for approval, Theoden replied, "Are you looking for a welcome, Gandalf? Why should I give you that?"
"Well put, my liege," said the pale man known as Grima. He kept smirking at the four companions. "Come, tell us, Gandalf! What do you bring here that deserve our welcome? Not your dull boring sermon, I hope!" He laughed.
Standing only several yards from the dais now, the wizard fully glared at the pale man. "Such twisted words from an even more twisted man! You better start counting your teeth, Grima, before the number changes!" Gandalf said, raising his staff in warning.
Grima blanched when he saw the staff. He hastily got to his feet and cried out, "His staff! Damn it! Why didn't you take it off him!"
"Be silent!" Gandalf said firmly. He pushed aside his over cloak to reveal his full white attire underneath, the unknown light shone upon his form once more.
Grima gasped in astonishment and crumpled to the floor. "W…white wizard? That can't be…Saruman is…"
"No, he no longer is." Gandalf already had his full attention on Theoden. "Saruman should know by now he can overpower Rohan no more. Theoden shall be free."
Quaking in fear, Grima scooted across the floor and took flight. The others in the hall ignored him. They were more interested to know what the wizard was about to do.
Gandalf lifted high his staff and began to chant a phrase in the tongue of ancient Quenya, his voice getting louder and louder. The sky outside suddenly darkened and lightning began to strike. Theoden started to fidget in his seat, then he growled deeply in his throat, "Leave me be, Gandalf! Rohan is mine!"
"Be gone!!" Gandalf cried out. "You no longer have the power over him!"
The king trashed and twisted in his seat, growling and snarling. After one final cry, Theoden slumped in exhaustion, his eyes closed.
Hama and another man came running forward, eyeing their king in deep apprehension. "My lord?"
Theoden stirred then. As his eyes fluttered open, he looked around him in confusion. "What? What's going on?"
The people of Rohan in the hall stared in awe at the abrupt transformation of their king. Theoden's face that was so pale before began to receive new trace of color. His once shaggy white and dull hair seemed to darken and shine. Something that Gandalf had done had returned them their real king!
Theoden suddenly caught sight of the wizard that still stood tall in front of the dais. "Gandalf?" He slowly got up from his chair. "What a nice surprise to see you. But what exactly has happened? Why is every one staring at me so?"
"What do you remember, Theoden?"
The king weakly shook his head. "I'm not sure. My dreams were so dark of late. I didn't even know if they were dreams or reality. I'm a little confused."
"A breath of fresh air might restore your memories and health. Come, open the great door to your king!" Gandalf loudly said. The men immediately obeyed, pulling the door to the hall wide open.
With faltering steps, the king came down from the dais aided by Hama and walked slowly forward, gazing at every one in the hall with wonder in his eyes. It took some time but they finally reached the opened door.
"Look, Theoden! Look at your land! Surely you could not have forgotten this? Breathe the fresh air. Feel free again," said Gandalf.
The sky outside had returned to normal, so brightly blue and dotted with big white clouds. The sun still shone happily and there was a light breeze in the air. As Gandalf suggested, Theoden took a deep breath. Smiling blissfully, he turned to the wizard. "You were right, my friend. This is refreshing, even if my memory still fails to come out with anything."
Gandalf smiled sadly. "Your men should know the whole story, starting from the beginning, from the very first time Grima set foot in here."
Hama fidgeted slightly when he felt the wizard's sharp eyes upon him. "Very well. If you would let me, I will help you back to your seat in the hall, my lord."
"No, I feel strong enough to do it myself," Theoden said. He turned around and walked steadily back to the dais.
Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli had been watching all these in silence. The elf was immensely relief when he felt the chilling darkness abruptly disappeared after Gandalf's effort. Saruman's power in Rohan was completely gone now…except for that pale-faced man still roaming the keep. And Legolas was still not ready to relax and let down his guard. He could feel the humans still gawking at him.
After Theoden reclaimed his seat, Hama began to update the king of what had happened during his trance. "Hama arrived two weeks ago, my lord, with a message from Saruman. The wizard was willing to give us his protection, assuring that the Dark Lord Sauron would not harm us if we took the offer. You rejected it at first but then, somehow, you changed your mind, my lord. You took the offer and Grima became your counselor from that day forward."
Theoden looked so stricken to hear that. Hama continued, watching the king's face carefully. "Everything was not right after that, my lord. You became so distant from all of us, including your own kin. You followed through every word from Grima without consulting us. Just a day ago, when your nephew Eomer returned from the mark, you sentenced him to be jailed in the cell; by Grima's suggestion, of course."
The king's eyes widened. "I sent him to jail?"
"I'm afraid so, my lord," Hama answered. "Eomer was so angry when he found out about Grima's influence in Edoras that he retaliated. Grima did not want any of that, so he pushed you to order us to lock your nephew in. We had no other choice but to obey, my lord."
They all watched in silence as Theoden looked down and shook his head. "What madness that took control over me that I did such to my own kin?"
"It was Saruman who festered in your mind and clouded your judgment, Theoden," said Gandalf. "But he is gone now. Alas, your kingdom is no longer safe for he will definitely strikes back from without."
Legolas, who had been listening with apt interest, suddenly grew tense. A strange sound had caught his ears just now. He looked around him, but the others seemed not to notice what he just heard.
"Free Eomer and bring him to me," Theoden ordered one of his men-of-arms. The man rushed away to do his king's bidding. Theoden continued, "Now tell me, where is Theodred, my son?"
Hama went extremely pale. He exchanged looks with his fellow comrades. They all nodded their encouragement to him, urging him to tell the worst news of all.
Gulping nervously, Hama faced his king once more and started to open his mouth.
That's when Legolas turned around abruptly and shouted. "Grima!!!"
The rest of them were startled to see the elf, who was so silent before this, took off running at high speed through a door near the dais that led to the royal dwelling above. Without hesitation, Gandalf with Aragorn and Gimli also ran after the elf, followed by the king and the surprised Hama.
Something had definitely caught the elf's attention, and it had everything to do with the pale-faced servant of Saruman.
TBC…
That is a good cliffie there. Hang on everybody!!!