Gandalf no longer had Shadowfax as a riding partner as he had been gone for nearly five years, so Aragorn leant him his wife's horse, Voronwer, which meant 'loyal one' in elven. Legolas was given Astalder, a spare stable horse, and Gimli rode behind Legolas. The trip took about three days. On the third day, they arrived in Edoras. A man walked out of the Golden Hall and stopped them in their tracks.
'You are not aloud in the Golden Hall armed in anyway under orders by Grima Wormtongue. If you give my men your weapons, you may proceed.'
This was no quick task. Gimli had his battle-ax, five throwing axes, a hunting knife and his shield was considered a weapon also. Legolas had is bow, a quiver of a hundred and fifty arrows, two knives on his back, and another knife hidden in his boot. Gandalf had a shield and his sword. By the time they were done passing over the weapons, the men who were receiving the items were weighed down so much they found it hard to walk. The man in charge wanted to take Gandalf's staff but Gandalf insisted it was a mere walking stick, not a staff. The man, whose name was Hama, finally agreed to let them in.
As they entered the hall, they felt the feeling of despair wash over them. Everyone in the hall was either depressed or hateful. At the end of the hall, in a golden throne, sat an old wizened man who looked like he was about a hundred and close to the end of his life. Beside him, in a smaller, less grand chair there sat a man with long, greasy black hair and cold, pale blue eyes. He did not look at all happy with the visitors.
'You do not seem to welcome your visitors very well anymore, Theoden King', mused Gandalf.
The wizened man just sat in his chair and blinked slowly. He didn't seem to have heard Gandalf. But the blue eyed man had heard him quite well.
'Late is the hour of your coming, Gandalf the White.'
He spat out the last word like it was a bite of food that tasted disgusting.
'Keep your foul tongue behind your teeth, Wormtongue', said Gandalf coldly. 'I have come here to speak with the King, not with you.'
'The King has decided that I should be with him at all times', said Wormtongue smugly. 'Even during meetings I shouldn't really be at.'
'He decided... Or did you?'
'You have no power over me, Gandalf', Wormtongue hissed.
'Don't I?'
He brought his staff out from behind his robe and pointed it at Wormtongue. Wormtongue began to back away.
'A staff... Why didn't you take the wizards staff?'
Gandalf walked passed him towards Theoden. Whereever he stepped, the floor began to become clean, as if it were new. The cleanness began to spread out along the floor and up the walls. The dust faded and years of dirt disappeared in the wink of an eye. Wormtongue began to panic.
'Stop him!' Wormtongue screamed. 'He's going to put a spell on the King!'
Hama's men didn't move but there were some men on Wormtongue's side and they attacked Legolas and Gimli. They made sure the men never reached Gandalf. Gandalf just kept walking, as if nothing was happening around him and it was only him and Theoden in the Hall. He stopped at the steps leading to Theoden's throne and pointed his staff at him.'
'Theoden, a curse has been placed on you, and a curse I will remove. I release you from the spell.'
By this time, every man that had attacked Legolas and Gimli had either fled, or had been knocked down. Gimli had Wormtongue's cloak in his hands so he couldn't escape. It was because of the silence in the Hall, that everyone heard Theoden laugh.
'You may have become Gandalf the White, but you have no power here', the old man wheezed. 'This is Saruman's servant, and you shall not harm him, nor release him.'
Realization dawned on Gandalf as Theoden laughed and spoke. He wasn't talking to Theoden, King of Rohan. He was talking to someone more powerful and terrible, and he had to get rid of him before he killed Theoden. Gandalf threw a spell at 'Theoden' and began to battle the dark one.
'I will draw you out Saruman like poison is drawn from a wound.'
'Theoden' was thrown back into his thrown and began to shudder.
'Rohan is mine', he hissed. 'If I go, Theoden will die. Give up, old man. You've lost.'
'Be gone, Saruman', Gandalf spat. 'Leave this place and never return.'
'Theoden' stared at Gandalf for a moment then lunged at Gandalf. Gandalf threw one last spell at him and broke into Theoden's mind and threw Saruman out. In Isengard, Saruman was thrown backwards into a wall an knocked unconscious for several hours.' (A/N: Haha.)
Slowly, Theoden regained control of his mind and body. As that happened, his appearance changed. His hair turned from thin and grey to thick and golden hair. His pale eyes became sky blue and his wrinkled, old skin turned back into smooth, fair skin. Slowly he stood up and he was once again Theoden King.
He grabbed his sword from the table and wrapped the belt around his waist. He drew the sword from its sheath and marched over to Wormtongue. He grabbed Grima's cloak from Gimli with out a word and dragged him out of the door. Everyone followed. Outside, Theoden threw Wormtongue down the stairs and slowly followed him, his sword still unsheathed in his hand.
'My Lord', whimpered Wormtongue. 'Please, have mercy. I beg you...'
'You would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast', Theoden roared. 'You would have handed over Rohan to Saruman without turning a hair. You seem to care not about my people. I have no reason to give you mercy.'
He stepped closer. Wormtongue felt his way backwards, slipped and fell on his back.
'Send me not from your side', he begged. 'He tricked me! He put a spell on me so I would betray Rohan's people!'
Theoden looked unmoved.
'My Lord, please...'
Theoden brought has sword up and was just about to bring it down on Wormtongue when Legolas came running over and stop his sword a foot away from Wormtongue's neck.
'My Lord, do not do this', he muttered. 'People make mistakes, as have I. Do not kill this man. Enough blood will be spilt soon. His blood should not mingle with theirs.'
Theoden looked at Legolas and then re-sheathed his sword. Legolas held out his hand for Grima.
'What do you say my friend?' he asked with a smile.
Wormtongue grabbed Legolas's hand and was pulled up. As soon as he was balanced, he pushed Legolas and ran down the rest of the steps. He grabbed the nearest horse he found and rode out of Rohan, no doubt to his true master.
'Why do you always try to befriend these vile people?' Gimli asked.
'Because I'm a nice elf, and that's what nice elves do.'
'Right', Gimli growled, 'and look where it got you.'
'Yeah, I'm stuck with you.'
Legolas grinned at his friend and Gimli grinned back. They were back in the Golden Hall and Gandalf paced in front of them, an angry look on his face. Theoden was on his throne, realizing just how much trouble they were now all in.
'Truly Legolas, you're worse than a hobbit. They cause enough trouble, but you may have just handed Saruman the tool he needs to win this war.'
'How?' asked Theoden. 'Wormtongue was nothing more than a coward.'
'True, but he has been in meetings Saruman has no knowledge of yet. And if he heard a crucial piece of information, Saruman may be able to use that against us.'
Legolas rubbed the back of his head.
'This is what I get for trying to be nice...'
'I do not blame you for being nice', Gandalf said to him. 'But you should know the difference between a friend and an enemy.'
Legolas bowed his head. Gandalf sighed.
'This can be mended and the world of men saved if we act quickly. Theoden, King Elessar asks for your help in fighting Isengard and it's foul beasts. If we destroy Saruman and keep a Dark Lord from returning, all will be well for you.'
'Then let's get marching.'
He got up and instantly ordered his men to be ready for battle on Isengard. They were to ride there with the swiftest horses. Gimli and Legolas hunted down their weapons and Legolas began to sort every ones things into individual piles. While he did this Gandalf came over to talk to him.
'Legolas', he muttered. 'Do not let what happen a few days ago blind your judgment.'
Legolas looked at him. How did he know?
'I know what happened between you and Paige is a hard thing for you. It's something that never should have happened, especially with someone from another world. But you must put it behind you. If you wish to resolve this issue, wait until we have won this battle.'
Legolas nodded and continued to sort through the pile. He need to concentrate, to win this battle and stay alive. For himself, for the world of men,
And for Paige.
