Scene Five

(Now we go to the Fords of Isen, where a grisly sight is laid before us. Upon the ground are the many dead bodies of both Men and Orc; the stray banners bear the mark of Edoras. Then, we hear the sound of horses approaching and see Méomer and his riders approach the scene. Méomer looks upon the sight with horror and dismay written upon his face. He is later accompanied by Rider of Rohan#8, who stares at the scene with wide eyes)

Rider of Rohan#8: (In a reassuring tone) See, Méomer! It's nothing to worry about! There's no monster or Orc around-just the grisly scene of a vicious battle!

Méomer: (Whispering in dismay) Jaredred! (Shouting to the Riders) Find the king's son!

(Immediately, the Rides begin to frantically search the scene for any sign of the king's son, pushing aside bodies of Orc and Men)

Rider of Rohan#15: (In a rather blunt voice) You'd think they would die in their own separate piles! This would be so much easier if they did just that!

Rider of Rohan#8: (In an angry tone) Mordor will pay for this!

Rider of Rohan#15: (In an incredulous voice) And how do you plan to go about that, eh? Just waltz right up to Mordor, knock on the gate, yell at that huge Eye that is Jauron that-even though this is a war where people are likely to kill one another without warning-he needs to lay off of the Rohan a bit? Please!

Méomer: (In a bitter tone) Besides-these Orcs are not from Mordor!

(With his boot, Méomer turns over an Orc-with the White Hand of Andraman plastered upon his helmet. Then, we see and hear Rider of Rohan#16 shout from the river's edge)

Rider of Rohan#16: (Desperately) Méomer!

(Méomer dashes over towards the Rider's side, where he is bent over the motionless figure of Jaredred. With a sigh of dismay, Méomer turns over the young prince to assure himself of the truth. Then, the Rider's eyes widen as they see that Jaredred is breathing very faintly)

Méomer: (In a disbelieving whisper) He's alive!

Rider of Rohan#16: (After the silence has settled over the group) Now-let us bow our heads and pray.

(All the Riders of Rohan eye Rider of Rohan#16 in a disbelieving way-they did not expect him to say such a thing. Rider of Rohan#16 looks like he is wondering what he said wrong)

Rider of Rohan#16: (Incredulously) What? This is a pretty big miracle, don't you think? A moment of thanks would be proper, eh? (When the Riders do not stop staring at him, he crosses his arms stubbornly) Fine! Excuse me for being faithful!

(We now see the group of Riders from Edoras riding towards the city. One of them is carrying someone-it is Jaredred. He looks horribly wounded, barely able to sit upon the horse and his head lolling from side to side. The riders enter the village, many of the citizens glancing at the scenes and talking amongst themselves. Then, we see Erynwyn running up the stairs to the Golden Hall, disregarding the guards next the door. Then, we see her enter the Healing Center, where she sees Jaredred being treated for his wounds, with Méomer by his side. With a gasp, Erynwyn runs over to them)

Erynwyn: (Kneeling next to the bed and speaking softly to Jaredred) Jaredred? Jaredred? Can you hear me?

(Jaredred turns towards Erynwyn, who is watching him with bright eyes. His eyes flicker slightly open)

Jaredred: (In a very monotone voice) Oucccchhhh.

(And with that, Jaredred closes his eyes again. Looking slightly bemused, Erynwyn looks at Méomer, who nods towards the piece of cloth upon the prince's stomach. Curious, Erynwyn lifts up the cloth and takes a look. We see her eyes widen, and she addresses Méomer in a whisper)

Erynwyn: (Curiously) Uh-you're not supposed to be able to see his intestines, are you?

Méomer: (After blinking at his sister, he answers in a whisper) Uh-no.

(We get a close-up of Erynwyn's face fall into deep despair. Then, we proceed to the throne room, where King Kevoden sits in his throne. Erynwyn is kneeling beside him, and Méomer is standing facing him. Erynwyn steps away next to her brother as she speaks)

Erynwyn: (In a very somber tone) Your son is badly wounded, my lord.

(We see the king sitting in his throne-and he looks horrible. He's horribly old and haggard looking-it is hard to discern exactly how old he is or even how he feels. He looks from Erynwyn to Méomer for a while, unsure of how he's supposed to feel and showing no expression upon his face. Finally, we see Méomer speak, looking quite angry with the situation at hand)

Méomer: (Frustrated) Orcs, my lord, ambushed him! Orcs!

(King Kevoden doesn't say anything-in a way, he looks rather confused)

Méomer: (In a simple tone) That's bad, sire.

(King Kevoden nods slowly, still looking like he doesn't fully understand. But that doesn't discourage Méomer from speaking)

Méomer: (Angrily) We cannot let the Orcs get away with this, sire! If we do not heighten security, the older and most gorgeous wizard shall take the city easily!

(We suddenly hear a slick voice speak from out of the throne room-it is Nrima Wormfeces)

Nrima Wormfeces: (Quite slick and slithery) That is a lie!

(Erynwyn and Méomer look towards an entryway and we see Nrima Wormfeces enter the throne room. He walks with a small shuffle, his black hair slicked back and his hands joined together-his fingers twiddling evilly-and he wears matching black robes. Méomer glares at the figure)

Méomer: (Loathing etched into his voice) Wormfeces! I should have known you'd come in here!

Nrima Wormfeces: (In a practical and drawling tone) Andraman is our friend and ally, Méomer. He would never betray us-never has, in that matter! What would make you believe he would do so now?

(Nrima Wormfeces moves next to the throne of the king, who looks up at him with a reassuring smile. We hear King Kevoden speak quietly to Nrima Wormfeces)

King Kevoden: (Quite quietly) Nrima.Nrima.Nrima.

Nrima Wormfeces: (Smiling at the king) Yes, master, that is my name. (Looks to Erynwyn and Méomer) Nice that he recognizes people, you know.

Méomer: (Keeping his anger in check as he speaks) There are Orcs running about the Rohan unchecked-killing at will! (Lifts up a helmet near his feet and speaking rather flatly) Orcs bearing the White Hand of Andraman!

(Méomer drops the helmet on the ground with a hard crash, and we see the helmet with a blazing white hand on it. Then, we catch the shifty-eyed Nrima Wormfeces, turning away from everyone and mumbling quietly to himself)

Nrima Wormfeces: (Scolding and agitated) I keep telling him, "Black! Black! Change it to black or red!" But he doesn't listen!

(We see Méomer looking rather suspicious as he surveys Nrima Wormfeces)

Méomer: (Questioning) What was that?

Nrima Wormfeces: (Spinning back to face the other as he coldly speaks) Why do you place these troubles upon your uncle, whose mind is already troubled!

(Méomer looks rather shocked as he hears this, his face going into a pure look of dislike. He knows that he is not to trust the other immediately. Besides, he doesn't like being accused of bringing trouble to others when it is not necessary. We see Nrima Wormfeces smile darkly as he realizes he has touched a nerve)

Nrima Wormfeces: (Coolly) Your uncle does not wish to be part of your war mongering.

Méomer: (Rather shocked) Mongering? (Looking rather confused, he looks to Erynwyn) Uh-help me out sis.

Erynwyn: (In a low tone) Wormfeces is saying that you're presenting a troubling issue to our uncle, and he doesn't want to hear about it.

Méomer: (Angrily) War mongering? That-That-(Sighs as he can't think of what to say and waves for his sister to help him)

Erynwyn: (In a low tone) Jerk?

Méomer: (Brightly) Jerk! Of course! That jerk!

(We suddenly see Méomer push Nrima Wormfeces against the wall, his face very close to his as he speaks. It is many hours after the meeting with the king-torches are lit to penetrate the evening darkness. They are in the throne room)

Méomer: (Quietly and angrily) What did he promise you? What did the older and most gorgeous wizard offer you for your treachery? When all men were dead you would take your share of the treasure? (When the other fails to answer right away) Answer me!

(We see Nrima Wormfeces glance over the shoulder of Méomer, who looks behind him in confusion. Then, we see Erynwyn walking by, glancing at the two men suspiciously and walking away briskly. Méomer gets a very dark look upon his face as he grasps the neck of Nrima Wormfeces' robes)

Méomer: (Practically growling) No way! No way! If you think you can just take away my sister like the snake you are-! Nrima Wormfeces: (A shocked expression coming to his face) What? No! I don't want to date your sister-that's sick!

Méomer: (Looking rather confused) Well-if it wasn't treasure and it's not the affection of my sister, then what could Andraman, the older and most gorgeous one promise you?

(We see Nrima Wormfeces look over the shoulder of Méomer again, this time with a deep expression of want upon his face. Méomer looks behind him and we see Chef of Golden Hall walk by with a humongous tray of ham-more ham than you could possibly imagine, actually. Nrima Wormfeces looks very content with this)

Nrima Wormfeces: (Nodding and speaking to himself) Oh yeah-that's nice.

(Looking a bit confused, but still angry at treason, Méomer tightens his grip on the other's robes)

Méomer: (Very threatening at the moment) All right, you listen to me you- you-(Thinks about it for a while) ham loving-freak-(Resumes threatening tone and looking very angry) I'm watching you!

Nrima Wormfeces: (Smiling darkly as he speaks coolly) Yes, but I'm also watching you, Méomer.

(Nrima Wormfeces snaps his fingers before Méomer can even comprehend this, and the next we know, Edoras Guards#1&2 are grasping Méomer and pulling him away from the other. Méomer doesn't struggle, but he doesn't fully understand what's going on)

Nrima Wormfeces: (Coolly towards Méomer) You have seen much, Méomer-too much, in fact.

(Méomer struggles, aware of what's going on, but stops as Edoras Guard#2 punches him swiftly in the stomach)

Méomer: (Coughing from the blow, talking to Edoras Guard#2) Dude-I went-to high school-with you! What-happened?

Edoras Guard#1: (Gruffly) Your orders, Master Wormfeces?

Nrima Wormfeces: (Slickly) Méomer is hereby banished from Edoras under the pain of death-kindly escort him from this city.

Méomer: (Angrily, struggling violently) You have no authority here! Your orders mean nothing!

Nrima Wormfeces: (In his slick voice) Oh, but this order does not come from me-it comes from the king! (Nrima Wormfeces pulls out a scroll-a scroll announcing the banishment of Méomer, with the king's extremely scribbled signature and seal)

Nrima Wormfeces: (In a bored tone) He signed it this morning.

Méomer: (Not willing to submit so easily) No way! That signature is nothing but scribbles-anyone could have forged it!

Nrima Wormfeces: (Glancing at the signature and looking about, shifty-eyed) Er-perhaps. But what's most important is the seal! Ha! Explain that, Méomer!

Méomer: (Logically) You could have just as easily stolen the seal from my uncle-you are tricky enough.

(There is a deadly silence throughout the room, and the guards look at Nrima Wormfeces as if unsure of what to do. Finally, Nrima Wormfeces speaks)

Nrima Wormfeces: (In an irritable voice) Just banish him from this kingdom you ninnies! And kill him if he comes back!

(Méomer starts struggling violently, but the grip of the guards is too strong as they lead him out. Nrima Wormfeces watches him go with a smile upon his face. Then, he thinks of something)

Nrima Wormfeces: (Acting as if it is more of an afterthought) Uh-and on your way back, could you guys pick me up a ham sandwich-that sounds really good right now.