***A word from the wise***

"Take back your sword, Éomer, sister-son." Théoden said, handing the sword back to Éomer. "Háma, go and retrieve my sword from the filthy clutches of Gríma. Bring him with you. Now what council do you advise Gandalf?"

"You have taken my advice. You trust now Éomer, no longer a twisted mind. You cast aside your fear and regret to realise what must be done." Gandalf said smiling at what the king of Rohan had overcome. "That was the advice I was to give at first. Now, send as many men as possible to the threat of Saruman. We must succeed to face our next task. If we fail, then our world will fall. Let those who cannot fight take refuge in the mountains. Do not let them delay. Let the take all needed, but not burdens of treasures. Lives are at great risk."

Théoden pondered for a moment then spoke. "Your council is great Gandalf. My folk will do as you say so hither. Now guests, you have ridden through night and are weary. Rest. Eat. The services of my hall are yours."

"Nay lord." Aragorn said. "We must all set forth today. My promise to Éomer stands. We cannot yet rest." Rhia groaned in despair and Aragorn shot her a silencing look.

"Now we shall have victory! This is a great hope." Said Éomer.

"There is hope, but Isengard is strong. We cannot delay." Gandalf said.

Théoden's men in the hall shouted. "Forth Eorlingas! Let us ride!" clashing their weapons, making a great sound. You couldn't help but smile at their courage. To face danger and yet do so singing.

"But your people! They cannot go forth both weapon less and Shepard less. Who shall guide them?" said Gandalf.

At that moment Háma entered and behind him, two men bringing forth Wormtongue, who was even more pale than before. Háma knelt before Théoden, handing over the king's sword.

"My lord, your sword Herugrim I present to thee, found in the chest of Gríma, but it is not all that was stolen." He said.

"Lies! All lies!" Wormtongue shouted. "I had it for safe keeping, lord, so that none may claim it."

"I require it now. Does this displease you?" Théoden asked.

"My lord! Of course not. I care for you and yours at best I may. You will weary yourself. Let others who may deal with these troubling guests. Your meal is about to be made, please, will you go to it?" Wormtongue said.

"I shall, and my guests will join me. Send heralds forth! The host rides today. Summon all who dwell here. Every man and strong lad able to bear arms, all who have horses, let them be ready in the saddle two hours after noon." Théoden declared.

"My lord! The wizard has bewitched you! I feared as much. None will be left to guard your hall and treasure, nor even yourself." Wormtongue exclaimed.

'This guy is a joke. Any fool could see right through the façade.' Demi thought, trying not to laugh at his feeble attempts to clear his foul name. It wasn't working at all.

"You suck you loser, who the hell would fall for that rubbish." Sneered Rhia.

"Silence you wrench! Though your speech is somewhat foreign, I do not feign my care for my lord." Wormtongue said.

"Do not call this lady a wrench!" Gimli said. "She is braver than the likes of you!"

"Silence my friends." Gandalf said and they all fell silent, then Théoden spoke.

"If this is bewitchment, I feel more alive than when you whispered in my ear. Now, will you ride with me to war and prove your faith?"

Wormtongue went even paler if that was possible. He looked to everyone, as though searching for backup. His attempts were futile. Nothing he could say nor plead would excuse him from this. He begged to be left as a steward and watch over the realm. Éomer laughed at him.

"If that plea does not excuse you from war, than what office of less honour would you accept?" he said smoothly.

"Nay, Éomer, you do not understand Master Wormtongue, for he is bold and cunning. He is playing a game with peril and wins a throw." Gandalf said, then he turned to Wormtongue and looked down on him. "How long is it since Saruman bought you? And how much was the price? When all the men are dead you will take your share of the treasure and any lady you desire? Too long have you haunted the steps of Lady Éowyn."

Éomer at this grew angry and grasped his sword, ready to strike if needed. "This I already knew, and would have slain him, forgetting our law. There are also other reasons this scum deserves to die."

'Wow! You can feel the tension!' Rhia thought, rather amused by it.

"Éowyn is now safe now, but you Wormtongue are not. You have done what you could for your master Saruman and will receive quite a reward, yet he is apt to overlook his bargains. I would advise you to leave swiftly." Gandalf intervened.

"You lie." Was all the creep, Wormtongue could answer.

"You seem to be well acquainted with that word. But I do not lie. Here is a snake, do you see it now Théoden? With safety you cannot take it with you, nor can it be left behind. To slay it would be just, but let him choose. You will be his judge." Gandalf replied.

"Now do you hear me Wormtongue, for here is your choice. Ride with me to war and prove your worth? Or will you go? I will not harm you this time, but next we meet, I will not be so kind." The king said.

Wormtongue looked at each of them and drew himself up. He bared his teeth and in one swift movement, took hold of Rhia around the throat, a knife poised to harm her if any intervene.

"Give me a horse or the wrench will get what she deserves." He spat.

"Like bloody hell you will!" yelled Demi and in one swift action, she threw the knife hidden up her sleeve, the blade penetrating deep into his arm. He pulled the blade from his arm and let it fall to the floor. Rhia then sliced the poor excuse for a man side and he dropped her, and then took off like a shot.

"After him! See that he harms no more and give him a horse if one will bear him." The king shouted and a few guards ran after Wormtongue. One guarded then washed the stones where Wormtongue had trod. Demi picked up her blade and wiped it on her tunic, then held it her hand. She really missed the brothers.

Théoden snapped Demi from her thoughts. "Come! My guests come and dine with me as haste allows."

They followed the king, Gandalf beside him, Aragorn, Boromir; Legolas, Gimli; Rhia and Háma; and finally Demi and Éomer.

"It was a brave thing you did my lady, protecting your friend like that, and what a clean shot." The third marshal of the Mark said. Demi blushed.

"Nay lord, it was what any would do, and she in turn for myself. But the shot, so to speak, did not fare well. I aimed for his head." She said bashfully.

Éomer laughed as they were brought back into the house and to a long wooden table; there they took up their place as such:

Théoden at the head of the table, Gandalf to his left and Éomer to his right. Beside Gandalf sat Aragorn, Boromir and Legolas. By Éomer sat Demi, Rhia (who was trying to get a few good glances at Éomer), and finally Gimli. They spoke quietly about Wormtongue, though the talk was between the king and the wizard.

Demi was trying hard not to laugh as Rhia started to chat up Éomer, who was bemused by it. Obviously this didn't happen to him every day, but Rhia couldn't guess why.

"So, what are you doing later?" she asked, would-be-seductively.

"Rhia! Leave the poor guy alone!" Demi said, amazed what lengths her friend was going to.

"What? I'm just asking." Rhia said and fell silent, that is until Gimli started giving her weird looks. "Gimli, cut it out." She spat and the dwarf looked no more her way, but rather started talking with Legolas.

"So milady, what brings you on such a quest?" Éomer asked.

"No reason." She lied. She didn't know if she should tell him of her power yet. She wanted Gandalf's approval first.

"Surely there must be." He pushed, "For seldom do maidens embark on such a quest without a true reason, or with a man they love."

"I love no man. My companions are my family, so to speak. I will follow them to whatever end and if I fail, still my spirit shall guide them. My reasons are my own and I apologise for being so vague." Demi said, she really didn't want to reveal anything, as friendly as he may be.

"Then I shall ask no more milady." He said, but the conversation went no further. Men came into the hall and the girl's friends were given mail, save Gimli, of which they could find none to fit. Rather he was given a shield with a white running horse upon a green backing. The emblem of the house of Eorl.

"May this keep you well, for it was mine when I was a boy, wrought for me in my father's day." Théoden said kindly to Gimli.

"Thank you my lord, and I am honoured to bear the arms you once did." Gimli said.

Demi then piped up in question why her friend and herself were not given any armour. "My lord, what do you give myself and Aurenessa here to defend ourselves?" she asked.

"My lady, it is not custom in our country to allow women to fight." Théoden said, "And under my ruling, you shall not fight."

"But we do not serve you, nor any other, and therefore it is our choice, not yours my lord." Demi said, rather boldly. Théoden heaved a sigh.

"My lord, these ladies are well accomplished in the art of battle. They would be an asset, not a burden." Gandalf said.

"That may be well and true, but their lives will not be forfeit whilst I still rule. They will not fight for me." Théoden argued.

''Yet you would risk the lives of your people! Of the young and old!" Demi shouted, maybe a little too loud and caught all in the hall by surprise. "My lord, I have a gift it would not be wise to give up."

Théoden stopped for a moment, then slowly he turned to Demi. "a gift? What is your gift?"

"If you let Aure and I fight, you shall soon know." She answered. She wasn't about to reveal anything. Gandalf smirked.

At last, Théoden answered her. "Very well, you may fight. But you are to stay with me, and not go into the fierceness of the battle. I still stand by the law of my fore fathers, but I am not your king and cannot dictate your place."

Éomer's jaw had dropped. Never before had he met a women or elf for that matter who would go so far to fight in a battle, not even his little sister, Éowyn.

Two guards who had brought in mail for the fellowship left to search for the ancient, but well kept mail that was used by the battle maidens of old. They returned a short while later, with two identical sets of mail, each bearing the white horse of Rohan. And a shield alike to the one Gimli was given, though the edges were lined with gold. They were though light, as was the mail and would not be too great a burden. That is until they were tried on, but still they did not measure to the weight of the mail their friends wore.

Éowyn then entered with a cup of wine. And said "Ferthu Théoden hál! Drink in this happy hour. May health be with thee." She gave the cup to all who drank, then came to Aragorn and looked upon him. Rhia nudged Demi. Demi looked on with interest as to what was going on. Something was unmistakably written on Éowyn's face. Somebody had a crush!

"Hail Aragorn son of Arathorn!" she said as he took the cup. Their hands met for only a brief moment and Éowyn beamed with delight, but Aragorn was troubled.

"Hail lady of Rohan." He said politely, but he did not smile.

They had drunk from the cup now and left to the main hall where Théoden stopped.

"Behold!" he cried. "Now I go forth, childless to what seems my death. My son has been slain, so now, Éomer my sister-son will be my heir. If neither return, than choose a new lord as you will. But who will stay and rule in my stead?"

No one spoke.

"To whom do my people trust? Are there none you will name?"

"Only those who belong to the house of Eorl." Háma said.

"Yet Éomer cannot be sparred and he is the last of the house." Théoden said.

"Nay lord, for there is the Lady Éowyn, daughter of Éomund and Éomer's sister. Let her act as lord whilst we are gone." Háma said.

"Than let it be so! Let he heralds tell all that Lady Éowyn will lead them!" Théoden cried and he led them outside, Gandalf by his side.

"Excuse me, may I have that?" Demi asked a lady in waiting for the small flask she carried.

"Of course my lady." The maiden said, handing Demi a small pewter flask.

"Thank you. I think I may need this." Demi said and followed her friends from the hall.

***

Thank you all and special thanks to my beta-reader Elessar Evenstar whom this chapter could not be possible about. Stay tuned!

Ok, so there were no reviews from the last chapter which is kinda disappointing, even tho I really need to get my act together and update sooner. I really appreciate any reviews I get (hint hint) so thanks to those who do read OL.