DISCLAIMER: I do not own Lord of the Rings. I own Gwen and her new and obnoxious horse, Skeet.
* A note to my readers: some of the stuff in my story will come from the Two Towers extended version, now that I have actually seen it. So if you think, " Hey, that didn't happen," or " They didn't say that," they really did, you just need to watch the extended version =)
Gwen rode Skeet, the wind wiping through her hair, the ground rolling away beneath the horse's hooves. Her heart was light. She knew now that Merry and Pippin were safe. Better yet, the person on the beautiful white stallion next to her was Gandalf. They had gone into Fangorn Forest to find the hobbits and instead ran into Gandalf. Gwen was amazed at the change in him. He was clad all in white and seemed to have an aura of power around him. She was very glad that he was back. Towards evening, they stopped to make camp and to rest. Gwen sat around the campfire, telling Gandalf of her little mishap in Moria.
" Then, when I thought all hope had deserted me, I found a kitchen drain, dug through the side of the mountain, was chased down the mountain by orcs, and ended up in Lothlorien!" she finished triumphantly. Gandalf laughed.
" You have certainly had an interesting adventure, haven't you, my dear?" he asked jokingly. Gwen chuckled.
" Not as interesting as your's, friend," she answered. Gandalf walked off to talk with Aragorn. Gwen took a bite of her stew. Her face took on an expression of distaste and she spat it out in the fire, causing a column of blue flame to go up.
" Ugh, who made this? I think it would kill an orc!" she exclaimed.
" Mind your manners, missy! I didn't see you volunteering for cooking duty," said Gimli with indignation.
" What did you put in this, Gimli?" she asked in curiosity.
" Oh, a little of this, little of that," he answered. Seeing the frightened look on her face, he said, " Don't worry, none of it was poisonous." Gwen put her stew down and satisfied herself with a piece of lembas. Legolas looked at her, saying, " If you keel over and die, can I have your sword?" She took a swing at him, saying, " Never will you get your princely hands on my sword! But, you may have my horse," she added. Legolas recoiled in mock horror at the thought of having to ride Skeet.
" Never will I ride on that hellion of a horse!" he exclaimed. Gwen laughed. It was true; Skeet was a bit wild. He barely cooperated for her, and that was after talking a good hours worth of elvish to him. But, in a strange way, she liked him. Except when he snuck up on her and bit her shoulder, like he did just then.
" Yowch!! You foul fiend! That is the second time he has done that since we stopped! Why, may I ask, did I get stuck with the crazy horse?" she asked, looking at the others accusingly.
" Because you were standing closest to him. Now, get some sleep," said Aragorn. Gwen rolled herself up into her cloak and dropped off.
Gwen woke to see Skeet standing directly above her. He looked down at her and nudged her head. She pushed herself to her feet and leapt out of biting range. Looking warily at the pot that Gimli was warming above the fire, she went and got another piece of lembas and went to stand next to Legolas.
" Ah, a wise choice, my friend," he said, noticing her choice of breakfast. She nodded, saying, " I learned my lesson well yesterday. What does he put in those stews anyway?"
" I have no desire to know," answered Legolas.
" Personally, I don't think – OW! You blasted horse! Would you stop biting me for just one day?" she yelled at Skeet. " What, do you want a nibble of lembas? Is that it? Well, here you go!" she said, breaking a piece of and feeding it to him.
" You would think he would be content eating grass like most normal horses," she muttered. Legolas smiled to himself.
" Come, on to Edoras!' said Gandalf. Gwen walked over to Skeet to attempt to mount him. As swiftly as she could manage, she swung herself up into the saddle. Skeet stayed suprisingly still. Gwen patted his neck in approval, saying nice things to him in elvish. Gandalf kicked Shadowfax into motion and the others fell in besides him. By mid day, they were in sight of Edoras.
" Here is Edoras and the hall of Meadowseld, the realm of King Theoden, whose mind is overturned. Do not look for welcome here," Gandalf warned them. The small company rode up to and through the gates. Once inside, they continued up a road that led up to the great Hall.
" Personally, I think it was easier to breathe in Fangorn Forest than it is here," remarked Gwen.
" You find more cheer in a graveyard," voiced Gimli. Gwen looked up and saw a woman with long blonde hair standing in front of the Hall. The next time she looked, the woman was gone. The left the horses and walked up the stairs leading to the door. A man stopped them at the top.
" I cannot allow you before Theoden king so armed, Gandalf Greyhame. By order of Grima Wormtongue," he finished with a smirk. Gwen looked to Gandalf, who nodded to them. She then pulled out her sword and handed it to one of the men. Her daggers came next. The man looked at her in surprise. She arched her eyebrow, saying, " What?" with a shrug.
" Your staff," the man said to Gandalf.
" Oh, would you deprive an old man of his walking stick?" said Gandalf, feigning innocence. The man looked at Gandalf for a moment then permitted them to enter. Gandalf winked at his companions and began to walk through the doors. Gwen giggled softly.
" Here, old man, let me help you," she said with mock severity, offering Gandalf her arm, which he took. Gimli stifled a chuckle. They walked down a large, open hall.
" The hospitality of your home has somewhat lessened of late, Theoden king," said Gandalf. Gwen looked at the decrepit, shriveled lump of fur sitting on the throne. This is the king of Rohan? Boy does he need some help, she thought, revolted.
" Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?" the lump wheezed. A man who Gwen judged to be Grima Wormtongue came forward.
" Late is the hour of your arrival. Lothspell I name you. Ill news is an ill guest," he said. Ugh, he is almost as bad as the king is, Gwen thought.
" Silence! Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth! I have not passed through fire and death to bandy cheap words with a witless worm!" said Gandalf, thrusting his staff forwards.
" His staff! I told you to take the wizard's staff!" Grima said, backing away as his guards flooded the room. Gwen instantly turned and caught one of the guards with a backhand to his jaw, knocking him flat. A punch to another's mouth sent him spinning. Gandalf continued forwards, trying to release Theoden. The fighting came to a halt.
I release you from the spell," Gandalf said to Theoden. Much to Gwen's revulsion, the king began to laugh.
" You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey," he hissed. Gandalf's eyes flashed as he threw open his robes. A bright light flooded the hall. The king cowered back into his chair.
" I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound," exclaimed Gandalf, lowering his staff.
" If I go, Theoden dies!" Saruman said with a malicious snarl.
" You did not kill me and you will not kill him. Now, be gone!" yelled Gandalf. Theoden lunged forwards, but was thrown backwards. After a minute, his hair began to turn blonde and his skin lost it's decayed look. Ah, now I can see the king, Gwen thought happily. The blonde woman ran forwards.
" I know your face. Eowyn!" said the king, " Gandalf? How did you-?"
" Breathe the free air again," said Gandalf.
" Dark have been my dreams of late," continued the king.
" Your fingers would remember their old strength better if they grasped your sword," said Gandalf. Theoden's sword was brought to him. He drew it and looked at it. Then he looked down at Grima. Guards grabbed Grima and threw him out the doors. He rolled down the steps.
" Do not send me from your sight, my lord! I have only served you," he begged pitifully.
" Your leech craft would have had me crawling on the floor like a beast," Theoden said with malice, raising his sword up above his head. His stroke was curt short by Aragorn.
" No my lord! No! Enough blood has been spilt on his behalf," he said. Grima shoved through the crowd. Gwen watched him go in disgust. Someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned to see Eowyn standing there.
" I wish to thank you for helping Rohan today," Eowyn said gratefully. Gwen was somewhat taken aback. To her, it had just been another fight.
" You are welcome. I'm Gwen," she stammered.
" I am Eowyn. Come, I can get you a hot bath and some food. You look exhausted. And your back is bleeding," she said with concern.
" Oh is it now? Well, I am more interested in the food. All I have really been offered so far has been Gimli's stew," she said with an expression of disgust. Eowyn laughed at her face and the two of them headed inside.
Yes, I skipped over the Fangorn thing. It was just so boring! Well, that's it for now. Ta ta!!