**Forked Tongue**
"What do you want?" a harsh voice spoke.
Théoden immediately recognized Wormtongue's voice. "We have no business with you, Grima Wormtongue," Théoden said harshly. "I curse the day when I first heard your lying voice."
"Send out your master," Gandalf ordered.
Miranda looked up to see the infamous Saruman as he approached the window. An elderly man with a long white beard wearing a dingy white robe stepped out onto the small balcony and looked down at the gathered company that stood demanding entry to his tower. His expression was unreadable, but Miranda could see the hatred wrapped around him like a dark cloak. He smiled graciously as he addressed Théoden like an old and dear friend, but Miranda could see right through him. Miranda was glad that Haldir was close, his strong arms were comforting. She pulled her hood down to better shield her face and watched and listened.
"Why must you disturb my rest?" Saruman said sweetly as though he were greatly wronged without provocation. His eyes fell on Théoden and Gandalf, and it was they he addressed next. "Two of you I know by name, Gandalf I know too well to hope that he seeks friendship or counsel here, but my dear Lord of Rohan, why have you not visited me sooner? Oft I have offered you the hand of friendship, and even now it is not too late for us to make an alliance. I would save you from the peril you face from listening to the advice of unwise counsel."
Saruman's voice was warm and persuasive. Its tones were soothing, and it was hard to imagine that he would speak anything but truth while you were listening to it. The riders all seemed to be moved by his benevolent words, forgetting the battles they had so recently fought.
Miranda stepped away from Haldir and stared at Saruman with the discerning eyes of a seer. Outwardly he seemed to be a wise old man, similar in appearance to Gandalf in some respects, but she could see within his eyes a fire of deceit and malice. He was no great wizard, he was a snake. Miranda was suddenly no longer afraid of him, she was angry.
"This wizard speaks out of both sides of his mouth," Gimli said harshly. "In the language of Orthanc, help means ruin, and saving means slaying, that is plain."
"Peace Dwarf!" Saruman said quickly and then managed to regain his calm composure. "Your home lies far from here and little is your concern for the troubles of this land. My words are for Théoden, my neighbor and once my friend. What say you King? Will you have peace with me and enjoy all the knowledge and wisdom my long years can bring? Shall we make council together against the coming evil days and repair our injuries together?"
"Hear me now!" Ẻomer interrupted angrily. "Have we ridden here in victory only to be swayed by the words of an old liar with honey on his forked tongue? So would the trapped fox speak to the hounds, if he could. All he wants is to escape his plight. Will you deal with this treacherous murderer? Remember our fallen at the fords and at Helm's Deep!"
"Your place is on the battlefield to take up arms against whomever your king declares his enemies!" Saruman said harshly, showing his anger. "Leave the business of politics to your king. Théoden knows that the wisdom and power of Saruman is not so easily cast aside. You have won a battle, but not the war."
Saruman reigned in his anger again, "Good King of Rohan, am I to be called a murderer because brave men have fallen in battle? Would that not make all present murderers? You also have fought many wars, and did you not also make peace with those you fought? Let us then put this conflict behind us and go forward in peace."
Miranda held her breath waiting. Saruman was influencing them with his voice, but she hoped they were able to resist. She was ready to speak up, despite Gandalf's warning, but Théoden finally spoke.
"We will have peace," he began slowly. "We will have peace when you and all of your evil works have perished. You are a liar and a corruptor of men's hearts. You hold out your hand to me and I perceive only a claw from the hand of Mordor. What can you say for yourself who sends your soldiers to slaughter women and children? When you hang from a gallows at your window for the sport of your crows, I will have peace with you and Orthanc."
Miranda stifled a laugh, but couldn't stop the smile. Good for you, Théoden, she thought, give him hell.
"You are a fool!" Saruman hissed, finally showing his true colors. "What is your pathetic House of Eorl but a thatched barn for drunks and peasants? I do not know why I have wasted my time with you."
Saruman reigned himself in again and turned his charm on Gandalf. He tried with all his power to sway Gandalf's opinion and gain his trust again, but of course, it was in vain. Saruman pleaded with Gandalf to come up to the tower and speak with him.
Gandalf laughed at him, "Saruman, Saruman, you missed your calling. You should have been a court jester." Gandalf chuckled again, wiping a tear of mirth from his eyes and then calmed himself. "I have a clearer memory of our arguments than you think, but I understand you now. When last we spoke in the tower you made me your prisoner. The one who escaped the roof will not enter again by the door. But will you not come down? Isengard has proved to be less strong than you thought. Perhaps other things you have placed your trust in may prove to be less than you thought as well. Will you not turn aside from your folly and come down?"
Saruman's face grew dark. For a moment Miranda thought he looked like he would consider it, but then he showed his hand.
"Come down?" Saruman said harshly. "I am no fool, and I do not trust you, Gandalf!"
"The treacherous are ever distrustful," Gandalf said sadly as he shook his head. "I give you the chance to leave here in freedom, without fear of harm, to go where you will. I ask only that you surrender your staff and the Key of Orthanc. They will be returned to you later if you merit them."
Saruman's face twisted with fury and he broke into an odd maniacal laughter. "Later!" he cried as he seemed to lose total control of himself. "Later, sure, no doubt after you've used them to further your own art. I will not listen to more of this nonsense. Come back when you are sober." Saruman turned on his heel and disappeared inside.
"Come back, Saruman, I did not give you leave to go," Gandalf said authoritatively. Everyone was shocked to see Saruman return to the window, seemingly against his will.
"I have not finished with you," Gandalf continued. "You have become a fool. Stay then, if that is your choosing, but you will not easily leave this place again unless Mordor aids you." Gandalf threw off his grey travel cloak and revealed his white robes, "I am not Gandalf the grey, whom you betrayed. I am Gandalf the white, who has returned from death. You have no color now, and I cast you from the order and from the Council."
Gandalf stretched out his hand and spoke in a clear and determined voice, "Saruman, your staff is broken."
Miranda heard the loud crack, and her eyes grew huge at the display of authority and power Gandalf had shown. Saruman's staff split in his hand, and the head of it fell down at Gandalf's feet.
"Go!" Gandalf commanded, and Saruman shrieked, fell and crawled back into his tower. It was then that a shiny black sphere came hurtling down at the stairs from one of the upper windows. It struck the stairs between Gandalf and Théoden, shattered the step it hit, and then rolled harmlessly down the steps.
"The murderous rogue!" Ẻomer exclaimed.
"No, that was a parting gift from master Wormtongue," Gandalf said.
"An ill aimed one," Théoden said with a chuckle.
"Perhaps he couldn't decide who he hated more, Gandalf or Saruman," Gimli said with a chuckle.
Miranda stared at the stone globe. It looked like a custom bowling ball, black with grey marbled through it. It had depth, and drew in the sunlight. She watched as it slowly rolled over to where Merry and Pippin were standing, and she knew there was something strange about it. The black stone came to rest at Pippin's feet, and he naturally bent down to take it. As he reached for it, Miranda suddenly felt a piercing pain in her head, and when he touched it, Miranda collapsed. Haldir caught her and gently laid her on the ground.
"I'll take that," Gandalf said quickly as he took the stone from Pippin and tucked it inside of his cloak. "I did not ask you to touch it."
"Gandalf," Haldir said with a hint of alarm in his voice.
Everyone turned to see what could cause such concern in the Elf. Haldir was kneeling beside Miranda's pale form with a look of utter panic on his face. Ẻomer closed the distance form the stairs to Miranda quickly and gave the elf a suspicious look.
"You were supposed to keep her safe," Ẻomer said to Haldir.
"None present are to blame," Gandalf said as he leaned over Miranda. He sighed and spoke softly, but with authority. "Miranda, come back to us, it is not your time to leave."
Miranda moaned softly and opened her eyes. She blinked a couple of times and then suddenly sat up and said, "Don't touch the stone!"
Pippin was overcome with a look of guilt.
Gandalf just tried to calm her, "The stone is in my care, Miranda. It will not harm you again."
"The stone did that?" Haldir asked. "What is it? How?"
Gandalf waved off the Elf's questions and the other unspoken questions that hung in the air. "Our business with Orthanc is concluded," he said. "Let's go." He glanced back at Miranda and sighed heavily. This turn of events was unexpected. Miranda had not gone near the stone and yet it affected her. He would question her about it later to see how much harm may have been done, but for now, they needed to put some distance between themselves and Isengard.
Ẻomer brushed past Haldir to help Miranda onto her horse. He mounted his own and waited beside her for everyone else to mount up. Haldir gave Ẻomer a smug look, but said nothing as he mounted his own horse and took up guard on Miranda's other side.
Gimli watched the obvious maneuvers with a smile, though it faded when he looked at Miranda. She was pale, distant, and her eyes seemed to stare blankly. Something had definitely happened to her.
As Gimli took his seat on the horse behind Legolas, he whispered to his friend, "Miranda is not well."
"That is plain, but there is little we can do about it now," Legolas said. "Gandalf will look after her. He's the only one who can."
The company rode away from the black tower toward the gates where they paused while Gandalf discussed the management of Isengard with Treebeard. The old Ent agreed to keep a close watch on Saruman and Wormtongue.
Miranda was only dimly aware of her surroundings. She was lost in a strange dream, and saw more shadows than colors. She watched Gandalf speaking to Treebeard, but could barely understand them. In her head she could hear the screeching of those horrible Nazgul ringing in her head. She closed her eyes and shook her head, hoping to shake the fog from her mind.
"My lady, are you all right?" Ẻomer asked.
"Of course she isn't all right," Haldir said from the other side of Miranda.
Miranda raised her head and opened her eyes. Ẻomer and Haldir just waited for her to speak.
"I am well," she said weakly, and managed a small smile.
Treebeard said his farewells to the company, and especially Merry and Pippin, and then Gandalf mounted Shadowfax, and the company was off.
*****
It was twilight when they finally halted to make camp. Miranda practically fell from her horse, but managed to stay on her feet. This time it was Legolas and Gimli who came to her aid.
"Come Miranda and sit with your friends," Gimli said as he took her hand and led her to the campfire.
"It has been a long time since so many of our company sat around the fire together," Legolas said with a smile.
Miranda smiled and followed them, leaving Haldir and Ẻomer behind without a second thought. Haldir sighed and looked over at Ẻomer.
"The lady does not seem to notice either of us," Haldir said.
"I have marked it," Ẻomer agreed. "I have yet to figure the lady out."
Haldir just smiled and said, "I have figured her out, but I won't stop trying anyway."
"She is in love with one of the others?" Ẻomer asked in surprise. "She does not seem to favor anyone."
"No," Haldir said.
"Then what have you figured out?" Ẻomer asked, now more confused than ever.
Haldir's expression grew stern, almost angry, "She loved Boromir, and has not gotten over his death."
Gandalf broke into their conversation as he walked up behind them, "No, Haldir, that is not why you can't gain her affections," Gandalf sighed. "Her life has not been an easy one, and the weight of her gift hangs heavily on her. She does not expect to live through this conflict."
"Has she seen…?" Haldir started to ask, but Gandalf interrupted.
"Miranda keeps her sight to herself unless she feels it can be of help," Gandalf said. "Do not question her in this matter or you will spoil whatever chances you have to gain her affections."
Haldir and Ẻomer stared at Gandalf as he headed toward the campfire leaving them speculating about that final warning. Finally, Ẻomer frowned and led the horses away to graze with the others.
Haldir looked over at Miranda who sat near the fire with her companions. She smiled at Gimli's story and Haldir wondered what it was about her that he was so drawn to. Perhaps it was her innocent courage. Despite her fears, she boldly faced the battle at Helm's Deep like a seasoned warrior. She suffered through frightening dreams nightly without complaint or council, and still had smiles for her friends in the morning. She did not pretend to be anything but a simple girl out of her element, yet she was obviously more. Haldir smiled to himself and walked over to the fire.
"So, Miranda," Théoden began, "How did you come to join this company?"
"That is a long story, good King," Miranda said. "One day I went to a meeting with all these important leaders, and the next morning I was traveling the countryside with this bunch," Miranda said with a smirk. "But if you'll all excuse me, I'm exhausted. I think I'll turn in."
When Miranda stood and picked up her travel bag, Théoden, Ẻomer, and Haldir stood as well. Aragorn followed suit, quickly joined by Legolas and Gimli, and Merry and Pippin. Gandalf just sat and poked at the fire with a smile. Miranda turned to look at them, all standing around the campfire, with a cocked eyebrow and a questioning look.
"It is custom to stand out of respect for a lady…" Théoden began, but his words trailed off when he saw Miranda looking at her companions with a smile on her face and laughter in her eyes.
"Goodnight, gentlemen," Miranda said, barely able to keep from laughing. She gave a mock courtsey and left. She found a quiet spot and went right to sleep.
Gimli roared with laughter as he and the rest of them went to get some sleep too.