Hey guys! Here's One Ring Part 13!!! I hope you enjoy this chapter!!!

One Ring-Chapter 13

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            Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli watched as the Riders of Rohan grew smaller and smaller until they were but specks in the distance. Turning to Aragorn, Legolas began to speak rapidly.

            "Usagi will be safe with the Rohirrim. Now, we must look to finding Merry and Pippin, who had the great misfortune to stumble into Fangorn. We must also keep Usagi's belongings safe until she can reclaim them. Come, let us go quickly." Legolas spurred Arod into a slow gallop.

            When they reached the site of the burning, Aragorn dismounted, and began to look for signs of Merry and Pippin. After several moments of careful contemplation, he turned back to Legolas.

            "We should wait for sunrise. It will be safer to go into Fangorn then. Come! Let us rest here for a short while!"

Nodding, Legolas and Gimli dismounted. Several hours later, a man wearing a pointed hat walked near the fire. Offering the man the warmth of a fire, the man refused. Legolas, feeling and evil presence, sent an arrow through the man's hat. But before Aragorn or Gimli could attack, the man was gone.

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            Eothain had arrived with Usagi late in the afternoon. Riding up the streets of Edoras, the whispers of the people reached his ears.

            "Who is that in front of Lord Eothain?"

"Where is Eomer-lord? Will he not come back to Theoden King's hall ever again?"

Ignoring them, Eothain and the others quickly reached the stables and dismounted. Turning, he carefully carried Usagi and walked up the stairs of Meduseld. As soon as he reached the hall, he knew that something was terribly wrong. There was a feeling of great sadness over the hall and its inhabitants.

"Where now is the Lady Eowyn?" Eothain spoke quietly.

"She is busy." Wormtongue spoke with venom in his voice. "Tending to the now dead Theodred Prince."

"Theodred is dead?" Eothain nearly dropped Usagi in shock.

"Yes!" Wormtongue snapped. "Now get this child out of the hall! I do not care where you take her, just get her out of here!"

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Usagi has begun seeing flashes of her surroundings long before Eothain had carried her into this small room. The first thing she remembered was a horse's mane. And next, the grass of the plain. Too weak to move, she slowly opened her eyes.

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As soon as Eothain had placed Usagi on the bed, he'd left rapidly to find and console Eowyn. Striding through the halls, he couldn't help but wonder how Usagi came to be with a hundred uruk-hai, but more presently, he worried about how Theodred, son of the king could've died. Turning down yet another hall, he entered Theodred's chamber.

Eowyn lay crying on the side of the bed. Eothain could feel his heart breaking at this sight. Stepping forward, he whispered, "My lady?"

As Eowyn turned in surprise, she attempted to wipe her tears away. "Eothain Lord! Where is my brother?"

"He is on the plain. I came with twenty men and a young hostage we rescued. I know that the death of Theodred has greatly wounded you, but can you please help me with this young lady?"

Wiping her eyes once more, Eowyn nodded. "Show her to me."

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When Eothain and Eowyn arrived back in the room where Usagi was left, she was drifting back to sleep. Gasping quietly, Eowyn took in the bad condition Usagi was in. Moving forward, she began to inspect Usagi's wounds. Turning to Eothain, she began to give quiet orders.

"Get me soft bandages and warm water. Quickly."

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Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli had begun searching for Merry and Pippin at first light. Finding tracks leading into Fangorn, Aragorn turned and followed the tracks leading to a stream. After several minutes in silence, Aragorn stopped for a brief rest.

"Tell me, Aragorn, why they would have cut those ropes we found if they weren't bound, and if they were bound, how they got into Fangorn in the first place." Gimli spoke with quiet anger.

"They were carried into the eaves of the forest, Gimli." Aragorn explained. "There were no hobbit footprints leading into the forest, but there were hobbit footprints after the last of the Orc prints disappeared."

"Shall we continue, or do you need to rest longer?" Aragorn was bent over once again, looking at the footprints.

"Let's go." Aragorn led the way and gradually, the land began to rise once more. They began to walk more quickly, but suddenly, Aragorn stopped. "The tracks, they've left off, and there are some odd tracks here!"

Legolas let out a quiet cry. "There is a man moving along the rocks down below!"

Tensing, Gimli and Aragorn drew their weapons of choice: an axe and a sword. Watching as the man showed great agility and began to sprint up the side of the steep hill, Aragorn muttered,

"Do not let him speak, for he will cast a spell on us!"

Muttering in agreement, Legolas knocked a bow. As the man reached the summit, Aragorn and Gimli were the first to attack, but his magic was too strong. Suddenly finding themselves weaponless, they looked to Legolas for help. Instead of firing the arrow at the man, he fired it into the air. It became nothing but a flash of light. Legolas cried,

"Mithrandir! Mithrandir!"

"Well met, Legolas." The man, now revealed to be Gandalf smiled.

"But how?" Aragorn looked on with shock and disbelief. "You fell…"

"Through fire and water. But that is a tale for another time." Gandalf replied, becoming serious. "I have learned of troubling news, and I placed Merry and Pippin alive and well into Treebeard, an Ents' hands-actually, I would guess it's Treebeard's limbs…Merry and Pippin were greatly concerned about Usagi's health. Have you seen or heard from her?"

Exchanging a troubled glance with Aragorn, Legolas spoke quietly. "The Uruk-hai were slaughtered, and Usagi was found among them. She has been taken to Edoras to receive attention. According to Eomer, Third Marshal of the Mark, she took a great many wounds."

Sighing, Gandalf began nodding. "That fits with what I've found so far. For a reason I do not yet understand, Saruman wanted Usagi kidnapped and taken to him. I think it may have to do with something she's never told us, but I am unsure. He could have done it just to spite me. Now come, enough talk. We must make haste to Edoras."

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Two days had passed since Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli were reunited with Gandalf. As they waited impatiently at the lower east gate of Edoras, Gandalf and Aragorn began to speak quietly. Eventually, Legolas joined in.

"When will they let us up? Surely Eomer has returned by now and will allow us to enter the city!" Legolas was vexed.

"Be patient!" Aragorn replied. "It is possible that Eomer was placed in prison for lending us Hasufel and Arod! No place on Middle-Earth is trusting of strangers!"

Snorting, Gandalf put in his two cents. "Except maybe in the shire."

Their conversation was cut short as one of the guards came up to Gandalf and said they could go into the city. Thanking the man, he turned and spurred Shadowfax into a canter. After a short climb, they reached the steps leading to the golden hall. Dismounting the horses, they began to walk up the stairs. Before they could get to the door, they were stopped by the doorwarden, Hama.

"Under the orders of Grima Wormtongue, I must ask you to leave your weapons outside of Meduseld."

Sighing, Gandalf nodded to Aragorn, who began lecturing on the importance of his sword not being moved or touched by another. Placing it down near the door, it was soon joined by Legolas' bow, arrows, various knives, and Gimli's axes. Just as they were about to continue, Hama spoke once more.

"Your staff, Gandalf."

"Oh! You would not part an old man with his walking stick?" He pleaded.

Sighing, Hama nodded and indicated the doors were to open. Nobody noticed as Gandalf winked discretely at Aragorn. Entering the hall, with Legolas 'supporting' him, he began to speak.

"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Theoden King."

Instead of Theoden replying, Grima stood. "How dare you disturb the thoughts of an already disturbed mind! And after all we have done for that young girl that was found on the border of Fangorn! I think you should show a little more respect!"

Glaring, Gandalf approached him menacingly. "I have not come to bandy crooked words with a snake, so put your forked tongue behind your teeth!"

Abashed, Grima growled, "I guess I'll tell you the truth then. That girl is just someone who shall be used for personal entertainment! Y-"

Before he could finish, a furious fist connected with his face. Looking up through a forming black eye, Grima saw Aragorn and Gandalf attempting to hold back Legolas. "Don't you EVER say anything like that again, you bastard….you, you SNAKE!!!"

Not one person moved to help Grima. They were either afraid of Legolas, or they just thought Grima was getting what he deserved. Suddenly, Grima was on his feet and pointing at Gandalf.

"I TOLD you to take the wizard's staff!" He shrieked, backing away.

Gandalf walked forward as well, and began to battle with the hold Saruman held over Theoden. The Hall of Meduseld was a cacophony of blows and curses. Legolas, who'd been released, was taking out his anger by punching anyone getting too close to Gandalf. Gimli and Aragorn were on the attack, flipping people over and other pain causing activities. As a bright light came from Gandalf's staff and Theoden slumped downwards, they instinctively knew this battle was over.

A gasp from one of the doors leading into the rest of the castle showed a beautiful young woman. Dodging around the men of Rohan and Aragorn, she rushed to Theoden's throne.

"Uncle!" She cried, watching as the years seemed to melt away from Theoden.

Slowly, Theoden's eyes became more alert. Looking down, he noticed the young woman holding his hands and looking at him with tears in her eyes. "I know that face…Eowyn!"

Nodding, she prepared to say something else, when another gasp, and a hollow voice from the same door drew everyone's attention.

"Gandalf!" It was Usagi. She was barely on her feet, and she was wearing an overlarge shirt with loose pants. "But how? I WATCHED you fall!"

Smiling sadly, Gandalf walked towards her. "You watched me fall down a chasm, you did not watch me plunge to my death, my lady. I am now Gandalf the White."

Nodding, she attempted a smile and failed miserably. Noticing her distress, Gandalf gently engulfed her in a hug. The tears began to fall as soon as she felt the warmth of his arms. Clinging to him like a lifeline, she attempted to calm down. Hiccuping slightly, tears still falling, she whispered,

"Where are Merry and Pippin?"

"They're doing well." Was Gandalf's immediate reply. "They were more concerned with your safety than their own. Now come, you should not be standing on that ankle of yours."

Nodding, she allowed herself to be led to Legolas. As soon as Gandalf had turned back to Theoden, the confused king began to speak. "Who is this young lady? Where is my son? Where is Eomer?"

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I thought this wasn't a bad place to end it. This will be updated again by Friday, June 13th! I hope you all enjoy this, and I'm sorry it took so long!