Chapter 16.
Éomer woke the next morning with a groggy head. He had not realized before how cold the stone floors of his room could become during the night. He threw off the blanket he was using and quickly changed into a warmer shirt. Gandalf was still deeply asleep on the bed. The only sound was his soft snoring.
Suddenly loud pounding startled Éomer. The door shook as it continued. Éomer opened up the door slightly and met the eyes of a disgruntled officer. Three soldiers, their armor in disarray stood behind him. The early hours obviously had affected more people than just Éomer.
"Lord Éomer you are summoned to the hall. We will escort you and the vagabond you have taken into the city there," the officer said his voice dripping with self-importance.
"Vagabond? I ordered a friend of the country and the king enter and take rest because of his weariness. If that is a crime I am guilty," Éomer said looking behind him to see Gandalf rising from the bed.
"Rest assured you are guilty. Grima, advisor to the king ordered that the gates be closed to him because of his known associations with the enemy. Now either you will open the door to us willingly or we will be forced to open it without you approval."
Éomer nodded and stepped aside. Two soldiers quickly stepped in and took Gandalf's arms. The captain laid a hand on Éomer's arm and led him out of the room. It was dreary and cold in the main hall, the fire on the main hearth had not begun to burn brightly yet and the king sat slumped on his throne. Hardly any sunlight entered through the windows, and many pairs of dark eyes watched them from the shadowed corners of the hall. The soldiers guided them to the throne. As they stopped Éomer shrugged off the guard's hand and met Grima's glare.
"You are accused of treason Éomer. Of taking the liberty of ordering the gate wardens to perform tasks strictly prohibited by the king. And of harboring spies of the kingdom. Have you anything to say?"
Éomer almost spoke but Gandalf stopped him with a look, "I did not know that Rohan had a new ruler, Grima. Nor was I aware that the rightful king Théoden was not able to speak for himself. I have never been an enemy of Rohan, though the tidings I bring are ill. I come from captivity in Orthanc," the wizard said meeting Grima's eyes defiantly. Grima held the gaze for only a few minutes before being forced to look elsewhere. Gandalf continued.
"Saruman the white is no more. He has proclaimed himself Saruman of many colors and has chosen allegiance with Sauron. He is a traitor, and no doubt he is the one that has been sending forces to attack you. Of late he has performed breeding experiments in the caves of Orthanc. You may know them, they are swarthy and travel during the day as well as the night, and on their helmets they bear the white hand of Saruman.
Éomer could not help to smirk at Grima as the advisor coward under the wizard's words. The king seemed to be sitting straighter in his chair and actually listening as Gandalf spoke, "I must bring this news to others. Every hour hastens Sauron's victory. I pray good king Théoden for a horse of you; the fastest that you can spare so that I may bear this news swiftly."
Grima seemed to find his tongue and spoke in a slow, deliberate voice, "How do we know that this news you bring is true Gandalf Greyhame, oft you have come to us bearing news that seems dark and dreadful. But who is to say that you speak the truth. I have heard other repo…"
"I did not address you Grima, nor will I submit myself to your dim assumptions. Hear me now king Théoden, lend me a horse so that I may go," Gandalf said vehemently, interrupting Grima.
The court was silent for many minutes, and Grima watched in growing horror as the king stood up from his throne and in a fading voice spoke to the wizard, "Take any horse, only be gone ere tomorrow is old," he said simply and then left the throne room with Grima hurrying after.
Gandalf shrugged off the guard's grip and nodded to Éomer as he followed him to the stables. Gandalf spoke quietly as they went, "His mind will soon be overthrown Éomer. Grima has a strong grip upon it. I must hasten to Rivendell, the haven of the elves to council Elrond half-elven of my news."
"Only three days ago Boromir, son of the Steward Denethor of Gondor arrived in Rohan. He left the next morning with little explanation of his journey, but told me that he traveled to Rivendell to receive council from the wise," Éomer said holding the door to the stables open for Gandalf.
"That is news that I did not know," he paused thoughtfully, "I will not know his full purpose until I arrive there myself. Now Éomer, I do not think the king will take action against Saruman but you must protect the horse breeders along the borders of your country near the gap of Rohan. It is from there that he might attack and slaughter the innocents that stand in his way."
"I will relocate them to the Folde, my uncle rules in Aldburg, and he will listen to me," Éomer said nodding.
Gandalf stopped in front of the largest stall in the stables. Inside Shadowfax lord of the horses of Rohan looked at them curiously. Éomer looked at Gandalf with renewed amazement as he opened the gate and began to approach the horse.
"He will not let you mount him Gandalf. He is one of the Mearas and will not bear anyone but the king of Rohan."
"I believe you," Gandalf said opening the door and pulling Éomer back against the wall as Shadowfax withthunderinghooves galloped out of the city. The wizard turned to Éomer with a smile, "But I can chase him until he is worn and tamer to my touch. Now remember all that I have told you, and above else watch the worm…I must hasten, goodbye son of Éomund, until we meet again."
With that the wizard bounded out of the city with renewed strength and energy. Éomer watched him go regretfully and turned back to the hall. He would have to prepare his men and leave immediately to relocate the horse-breeders. His uncle would have many men willing to help once they reached Aldburg. He only hoped that he would be able to persuade the people to move without the king's own orders. He would not risk telling Théoden of it now that he had already been accused of treason.
Grima wrung his hands nervously as he served Théoden another glass of mead. The king seemed to be acting with renewed vigor, and without regret Wormtongue doubled the dosage of poison in his cup. Théoden now barely kept his glazed eyes open, and saliva dripped off of his chin. The king's advisor rubbed his head and flung the door to the study open. A guard employed by Grima stood outside the door.
"Quickly, find if Éomer has left the city yet, and bring news of Gandalf to me," he said in a raspy voice, beads of sweat beginning to form on his forehead.
The soldier did not leave, "My lord Éomer has left but a moment ago with his men from the Folde. And Gandalf left the city an hour ago in pursuit of Shadowfax," he replied.
"Shadowfax!" Grima screeched slamming the door shut and entering the hall, "And all plans go awry," he said to himself, "Guard the king and let no one see him unless you are pressed greatly, I must leave immediately on an errand," he finished not waiting to hear the soldier's reply.
In less than half an hour Wormtongue rode a horse out of the gates onto the plains of Rohan towards Orthanc. He kicked the beast as his mind raced. He must tell Saruman immediately of Gandalf's words. Their treachery seemed to be totally revealed. Foam quickly surfaced around the horse's lips and his flanks became glossy with exertion. They were many hours into the ride when suddenly a great terror overcame both Grima and the horse. The man found himself face down on the ground. Before him were a pair of iron tipped boots and the end of a black, ragged cloak.
Fear began to fill his body, and he could barely move. His only wish was to dig deep in the ground away from this person. He dared not to look up. A raspy, cold voice that turned his bones to ice spoke slowly, "We have a need to talk to you Grima of Edoras. Perhaps you will be of more use to us then your deceiving master Saruman. If you tell us, perhaps we will let you live. Perhaps."
Note: Hey I'm glad to be updating again, I think I will be putting the last of the chapters up this week for all of you. I know the last bit of this chapter is a little hard to understand, however if you have read Unfinished Tales by Tolkien you will find everything cleared up, though I will explain it next time. Some of you were confused about Gandalf's appearance. After his imprisonment in Orthanc he was rescued by an eagle and was brought to Rohan in order that he might get a steed and ride to Rivendell with all haste. This is all before the council of Rivendell.
I will be going back and smoothing over the rough spots in the story, but for now I'd just like to get it finished! Any editing that you would like to add would be greatly appreciated! I promise to respond to my reviewers at the end of this long haul, keep them coming, they are a real comfort. Thanks.