Chapter 6
Mountains raised from the plains, place on a table topped mountain , was the outlines of a city, once great now falling a part.
Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli rode up towards the city that was
Edoras, the wind blow strongly, whipping the flags.
One of the flags ripped from its pole and landed in front of the riders.
"this is what I feared, something is not right here" Gandalf said solemnly
the others looked confused, not sure what the old human meant.
The horses carried the company into the city walls. The people of the city, looked at them, they were in all dressed in dull clothes,
this propped Gimli to say.
"there is more cheer in a grave yard"
Legolas suppressed a chuckle.
The group carried on to the steps in the front of the kings home.
"this is where Theoden, King of this city dwells" said Gandalf,
"lets hope he is here"
the company dismounted and ascended the steps of the castle,
only to be stopped by Hama the door warden,
"I must bid you to leave your weapons here, before continuing."
Reluctantly the company complied.
Gimli handed over his carrying Axe also his collection of throwing axes.
"look after these" came the grumpy command.
"They will be master dwarf"
Aragorn pulled out Anduril, handing it over to Hama,
and also the range of daggers that he owned, his request the same as the dwarves
Hama looked at Legolas. He saw a very young person.
"I am sorry but the child must stay out here" ordered Hama
"I am not a child" replied Legolas quietly, this was not him kingdom,
so he had to what was ordered. "but I shall stay here, but I am keeping
my weapons"
"No, he comes with us. Why must he stay here?" questioned Gandalf
"It is ordered by Grima Wormtongue that no children are to enter
the castle, but I can see no reason why." Confessed Hama.
Gandalf took Hama aside so no one could over hear them.
"Why are children not allowed into the castle? for
they are not dangerous." Queried Gandalf.
"I am not sure why children can not enter the hall, but I will not separate him from you"
Legolas wanted to say again that he was not a child, and
was wondering why no – one told him that he was an elf.
"Exactly! We do not want to leave him on own, please can he
come with us?" asked Gandalf, he knew the answer.
"Yes, I can see no harm in it, it is not like he could hurt anyone."
Legolas had to stop himself from saying anything, at that.
"Thank you Hama" said Gandalf, "can we now go to see Theoden"
While he handed over his own sword.
"Yes, once you have given me your staff"
"Nonsense I need this to aid me in walking. You would not take
a walking stick from an elderly man"
"no of course not. Walk this way"
Hama lead them into the Hall of Theoden.
The doors were opened to reveal the once eloquently decorated halls
of Theoden, now rotting and peeling, dieing with its king. The hall had a throne at one end that was occupied by the withered figure of a once noble king.
A group of men moving into a position as if they were going to attack.
Gandalf continued his trek to the throne.
"your welcome has decreased in warmth" said Gandalf
"Why should we greet you" gasped out Theoden.
"A just thought my king" hissed a small man. " why should we greet you Gandalf Stormcrow."
Gimli bristled at the man insulting Gandalf, but he keep quite. Aragorn held himself back. Legolas's face remained a plain canvas, but inside he was boiling.
"Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth Grima Wormtongue, I have not come to talk to a snake, but to the king" boomed Gandalf, He picked up his staff and held it high. "someone have poisoned the kings mind, and the people let them, now move out of the way"
Gandalf continued his way to the shell of the king.
"I told you to take is staff away from him" came Grimer's Whimper.
Men surrounded the group, and a fight erupted, using this as a distraction Gandalf seized the chance to get close to the King.
"Saruman get out of his mind,"
the figure started to laugh cruelly.
"you don' t have the power. Gandalf the Grey"
"I am no longer Gandalf the Grey" Gandalf said bravely. He throw back his coat to reveal the white clothes that he wore, The figure gasped, the magic that was holding him tightened its grip.
" I will take Theoden with me!"
"you will not" countered Gandalf
The fight between the wizards continued, both looking for a weakness in their attacker. Theoden writhed between the forces that were fighting, his mind the prize.
The fight in the background had stopped all stared at the war that was happening, not knowing what to do.
Eowyn going towards her uncle, not knowing if Gandalf was doing the right thing.
Theoden continued to jerk and the forces kept on battling, Gandalf put one last input of power and received a extra push from someone this was enough to send Saruman out of Theoden's mind,
The weak and frail figure started to recede to be replaced by a healthier Man, not as old as he had looked at the first glance. No one moved, staying exactly were they were.
Eowyn was the first that Theoden saw.
"I know that face, Eowyn? What has happened?" questioned the King
"Saruman held your mind Theoden, someone here was helping him" Gandalf said turning Theoden's attention towards him.
"Gandalf" a confused man asked "Saruman, but Why?"
"He has joined forces with Sauron, he is trying to take over the world of men."
Theoden then looked around him, the scene that greeted him was not happy.
His people that were in the great hall were down hearted and grim. There was a unruly group of men that looked like they had been in a fight.
"Who are these men?" demanded the King.
Gandalf answered
"Three are with me, the others are your subjects now"
"Which one's are with you Gandalf?"
"I have with me, Aragorn son of Arothorn , he is the one that is holding a piece of wood against that man throat" Gandalf was clearly amused by the situation.
"Sorry, but he did attack me with it" replied Aragorn. The man that he was holding looked terrified
"you Arothorn's heir, the future king" exclaimed the man,
Aragorn let him go after confirming the statement.
There was a sudden scuffle in the corner of the room. Gimli had drawn peoples attention. He was sitting on someone, and they had decided to move,
"That is Gimli, Son of Gloin. One of the dwarven lords" chuckled Gandalf.
Gimli stood up from the man that was beneath him.
"King Theoden, I am glad you are back with us"
Theoden looked round, struggling with something, Aragorn noticed.
"What is the matter, my liege?"
"Am I losing my mind Or did Gandalf say there was three of you?" asked the confused king.
The group looked about them.
"Where is Legolas?" worried Aragorn.
"I'm right here Aragorn" came the voice from the right of Theoden.
Everyone jumped in surprise at the voice.
"Will you stop doing that, Legolas" Gimli boomed sternly
"Sorry" mumbled Legolas.
"Now that we have found our missing person." Spoke out Gandalf changing the subject. "What are we going to do about Saruman and Sauron, they have reached here already, they are moving and soon"
"How did he have control over me? How did he stop me from attacking his forces?" asked the put out King
"Some one here was in league with him, we shall find out who soon enough, first we must think of what to do to save your kingdom, Theoden"
"Gandalf you and Wormtongue come with me, I need to be filled in on what has happened" turning to Eowyn "could you fetch my son"
Eowyn broke down. Looking sadly at Theoden, "He is dead my lord, orcs attacked them in an ambush, he was wounded to badly. He did not make the night." Eowyn whispered
"Dead! And they still roam freely among my plains, whoever has betrayed me will suffer" cried the King.
"Gandalf! Grima follow me, I need you council"
"yes my lord" hissed Grima
"I will ask for one more favour, Theoden," asked Gandalf.
"Ask away"
"Could Aragorn listen in on this meeting, he has experience with battle tactics"
"yes he may, come Aragorn, Gandalf and Grima, I ask your council now more than ever"
The four men walked out of the hall into a smaller side room, Wormtongue was the last in, he turned and gave Legolas a assessing look that made Legolas shiver.
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"Fine leave us here we will be fine!" Grumbled Gimli. "do you fancy having a look round the place, my dear Elf?"
"why not" replied Legolas, wanting very much so to get away from this hall.
The two friend walked out of the main doors and straight in to Eowyn.
Both bowed and greeted her.
"What are you up to?" asked the lady.
"We only wish to look around my lady, for we have nothing to do while
planning is going on" replied the Dwarf
"I would not advise going to far, for your companions will look for you"
advised Eowyn
"Where do you suggest we should go, fair lady?" Legolas asked quietly.
Eowyn looked at Legolas,
"it depends on what you look for? But I would say stay in this part
of the city, something is brewing and we need to look after the people here.
I would say stay in the kings court and what for you companions,
young man and master Dwarf" with that she walked off,
not hearing the laughter of the dwarf.
"I guess she has not seen an elf before,"
"no one seems to have here, the question is should I tell them.
The riders on the plain knew what I was, but these people do not" said Legolas
"will we should ask Gandalf later what to do, but I say we follow the Ladies orders and stay here, it looks as if it is a bout to rain,"
"frightened that you will rust, Gimli, with all that armour on" laughed Legolas, moving swiftly to avoid the arm that was aimed for him.
Laughing still the pair walked back into the hall to find their weapons
ready to be given to them. Hama was stood beside them looking dejected
"What is the matter Hama?" Questioned Gimli sobering up quickly.
Hama looked up surprised, "I have lost my job as the gate guard,
for I let Gandalf in with his staff." He blurted out. "Wormtongue just
told me"
"Who is the king of this place, is that Theoden's order," ask Gimli his voice holding Anger.
"Yes, he only does what the king bids. But…." Said Hama trailing off.
"Yes?" the dwarf asked.
"there is something about him, as if he has his own agenda."
Replied Hama
"please don't say anything, maybe I'm being paranoid"
"No your not" said Legolas firmly, "there is evil around his being, I don't trust him"
"that is Kind of you, young one. But your word and mine do not make much of an argument."
Legolas began to become angry at being called young, he was older that all of these men, they were children to him, but he was probably still in trouble with Aragorn, so starting a fight would be out of the question. He settled for saying.
"I am not that young," with that he walked a way once he picked up his weapons.
Legolas sat on the other side of the hall, wanting to be on his own.
* does Aragorn still love me, he hasn't spoken to me since our fight. And now I can't talk to him. *
His thoughts were so deep that he did not notice that the meeting had finished and that Wormtongue was approaching him.
"Well what have we got here, a very young man or maybe an Elf? An elf caught off guard, not often that happens. You know one as beautiful as you should keep your guard up where ever they go." Sneered Wormtongue
"He will have me at his back, Wormtongue" came the welcome gruff voice of Gimli. Grima slithered off.
"thank you Gimli, but I can look after myself" said Legolas still angry at being shuck up on.
He saw the hurt of Gimli's face. He felt guilty.
" I'm sorry Gimli, that just got to me, one things fact though, that man needs him eyes tested"
"why is that Legolas" asked Gimli, genuinely Confused.
"he called me beautiful, but I am not" replied Legolas truthfully
Gimli broke out laughing.
"I think you need your eyes tested also Legolas, you beauty can rival Galadriel's"
"now I know you jest," cried Legolas
"I do not" the dwarf said truthfully.
Their conversion was stopped when Gandalf and Aragorn approach them. They had seen Grima talking to Legolas, but could not do anything.
"Legolas, are you alright?" asked Aragorn worriedly.
"I'm perfectly fine. why?" came the aloft reply
"What did Grima want?" Gandalf said during the elves attention.
"he just said that he knew I was an elf and I better watch out for him. As if he could hurt me" Legolas said laughing.
"He said what?," Theoden had heard the end of the conversion and was struggling to grasp why Grima had threaten the young man.
"King Theoden, we think we know who we were looking for." Stated Gandalf.
"I know already Gandalf, I have know for awhile, and him threatening, this child, it has just confirmed it in my heart" he turned to his guards
"Arrest Grima Wormtongue. For treason to the kingdom of Edoras."
A group of men seized forward to carry out the kings demand only to be stopped by Gandalf commanding voice.
"Let him know what you know, but let him go, he will go to Saruman and he will know that he has lost Rohan and will find a fight coming his way."
"you are right. Grima Wormtongue you are banish from this city and from my side, when you find him tell him this and send him on his way. All orders that he made are up lifted." Commanded the king, showing that he was indeed in charge once more.
The night dew in on Edoras, the day going to bring new hope for the people a this city and Middle Earth.