Loving Allegra
Chapter Elven: The Exorcism
Inside the Hall, there were benches and tables lining the sides and a great throne against the far wall in front of them. On the throne sat a withered old man, who looked as though he had seen many more sunrises than Gandalf had. He could barely hold up his own head to look at the strangers. Beside him sitting in a smaller, less impressive chair, was a man with greasy black hair that touched his shoulders. He had a thin face that reminded Allegra of a Snake. His skin was chalk white, and his eyes were watery and blue. He bent down and said into Théoden's ear,
"My lord, Gandalf the Gray approaches. He's a herald of woe." Legolas by now had let Gandalf walk on his own. Gandalf had assumed the position at the front of the group of strangers as he walked towards the throne.
"The courtesy of your Hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden-King," said Gandalf, skepticism in his voice. Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Allegra followed him at a little distance. Allegra saw the Snake lean down and speak to Théoden again. She could barely make out what was said.
"He is not welcome," he said. Théoden barely moved, but cast his eyes up to Gandalf.
"Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?" asked Théoden in voice that rattled past his thin, shriveled lips. He looked at the Snake for a moment. He got to his feet after receiving Théoden's glance.
"Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Ill news is an ill guest," he said.
"Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!" Gandalf said in a forceful voice. He raise his staff to Wormtongue, no longer leaning on it.
"His staff!" cried Wormtongue, backing away. "I thought I told you to take the wizard's staff!" The guards that had been following closely attacked the company. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli began to fight them. Gimli was at first mostly guarding Allegra from harm until Allegra joined in as well, stomping on feet and kicking shins and other places of great sensitivity. Because of her size, she was not as good as the rest at hand-to-hand combat. Gandalf still advanced upon Théoden.
"Théoden, son of Thengel. Too long have you sat in the shadows," said Gandalf. During the time in which he was speaking, Wormtongue attempted to crawl away from the scene. Gimli caught sight of him and pinned him to the floor with his foot, letting out an intimidating growl.
"I would stay still, if I were you," he said. Gandalf then held up his staff.
"Harken to me! I release you from the spell!" he said, gesturing with his hand. Suddenly, Théoden began to cackle evilly. It made Allegra's skin prickle. She could almost recognize the voice.
"You have no power here, Gandalf the Gray!" he said. Allegra now knew his voice. She had heard it atop Caradhras. It was Saruman. Gandalf threw back his grey cloak, exposing his robes which now shone with a brilliant white light that threw the possessed Théoden back against his seat. Gandalf pointed his staff directly at Théoden.
"I shall draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound," said Gandalf, advancing on the throne. The woman Allegra had seen earlier, clad in white, began to run towards Théoden, concern in her eyes. Aragorn held her back while Gandalf performed his exorcism.
"Wait," Aragorn told her. She looked on with a frightened face. Théoden spoke again in Saruman's voice.
"If I go, Théoden dies," he said. Gandalf thrust his staff forward, and Théoden was pushed back against the throne. He groaned in pain.
"You did not kill me, and you will not kill him!" Gandalf commanded. Though seeming in great pain, Saruman spoke once more.
"Rohan is mine!" he growled.
"Be gone!" shouted Gandalf. In rage, the body of Théoden began to charge Gandalf. Gandalf jabbed his staff at him a final time, throwing him back into his chair. Allegra watched as a veil of darkness was lifted from Théoden's face. He slumped forward and was about to fall onto the floor when the woman in white, who had been allowed free by Aragorn, caught him before he fell. Allegra was amazed to see a much younger looking face when he was propped back up in his chair. The wrinkles began to diminish, and his hair became thicker. The spots of age that had covered his skin before disappeared, and his eyes, which had before been clouded over, came back into focus. He looked about him, and focused on the woman that held him.
"I know your face," he said. "Éowyn?" The woman wept with joy and embraced him.
"Breathe the free air again, my friend," said Gandalf. The Hall seemed to fill with light, and all who inhabited it watched in amazement at their cured King. Théoden got to his feet that before seemed as if they had no hope of ever standing on their own.
"Dark have been my dreams of late," he announced. He looked down at his hands, which were trembling.
"Your fingers would remember their old strength better," said Gandalf, his eyes twinkling, "if they grasped your sword." The head guard from before came forward and presented Théoden with his sword. He grasped the sheath and then laid a hand on the hilt before drawing it. He gazed at his reflection in the blade with nostalgia. Wormtongue tried to get up, but was pushed back down by Gimli.
"You aren't going anywhere," he said. This attracted the attention of Théoden who glared at Wormtongue.
"Seize him!" he cried, pointing his sword at the cowering Snake. The head of the guards relieved Gimli of his duties. He picked up Womtongue and forcefully escorted him out of the Hall and down several of its stairs. Wormtongue landed at a break in the stairs painfully. He groaned as he got to his knees. Most of those who had been in the Hall before were now watching the scene unfold outside.
"I have only ever served you!" cried Wormtongue, trying to sound innocent. Théoden had begun to descend down the stairs towards Wormtongue.
"Your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" growled Théoden angrily.
"Send me not from your side!" pleaded the Snake, groveling on the ground. Aragorn stepped forward and stopped Théoden, who had raised his sword to kill Wormtongue.
"No my lord!" cried Aragorn at first. Then lowering his voice, he said, "No my lord. Enough blood has been spilt on his account." Grima scrambled to his feet and ran down the stairs. A group of towns-people had congregated in front of the Hall upon hearing the noise from inside. The Snake slithered through the crowd and out of sight.
"Hail, Théoden-King!" announced the head guard. The crowd kneeled down before Théoden. Aragorn knelt down as well. A strange look had come over Théoden's face. He turned and went back into the Hall, looking about as if he'd lost something.
"Where is Théodred? Where is my son?" he asked.
"He is dead, uncle," said Éowyn sadly, tears coming to her eyes. "He has been buried." Théoden looked shocked. He did not speak for a moment.
"Come," said Gandalf, leading him out of the Hall.
"An eventful day this has been," said Gimli with sarcasm.
"Be respectful," Allegra scolded.
"He was my cousin, you know. He was to be King one day. Théodred was my uncle's only heir," said Éowyn sadly.
"I'm sorry for your misfortune," Allegra said.
"Thank you," said Éowyn with a smile.
"Don't worry. Saruman will get what's coming to him," said Allegra, trying to make her feel better.
"Yes," nodded Éowyn. "I believe he will." Gandalf returned ten minutes or so later without Théoden, but with two children. Gandalf carried the young boy in his arms, who was too weak to walk, and helped the even younger girl into the hall by the hand. He lead them to one of the tables and sat them down on the benches.
"I must alert the cook. These children are starved," Éowyn said, retreating out of the main Hall through a corridor.
"What's happened to them?" asked Allegra.
"I don't know," said Gandalf.
"Poor little things," growled Gimli, his soft side showing. Éowyn returned with a tray of soup, rolls, and water. She laid it down in front of the children and sat with them. The little girl began to eat immediately, but the boy was weak and had to muster up all of his strength to lift the spoon to his lips.
"Can you tell me what has happened to you, little ones?" asked Éowyn.
"Our village got attacked and burned," said the boy in a voice that was just more than a horse whisper.
"Where's mama?" asked the girl.
"Shh," said Éowyn, hugging the small girl gently. She got up and went back to find more refreshments for the rest of her guests. Legolas, Gimli, and Allegra sat down at a separate table than the children while they waited for Éowyn to return. Allegra untied her hair for the time they rested, and Gimli removed his helmet. Allegra was annoyed to find that her hair had grown to the length it was when she first woke up in Rivendell. Those Elven oils must be more potent than I thought, she thought to herself. Théoden had come back and sat down hard on his throne. Gandalf came an sat by him. He gazed at the hungry children for a moment and then spoke.
"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash," he said. "All the more potent for he is driven mad by his fear of Sauron. Ride out and meet him head on. Draw him away from your women and children." Allegra watched as Gandalf leaned over towards Théoden and put a hand on his throne. "You must fight!"
"You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak. Éomer is loyal to you. His men will return to fight for their King," said Aragorn. Éowyn returned with meals for each of them. Allegra, who had not been eating correctly for the past week, was overjoyed to have a good meal.
"They will be three hundred leagues away by now. He cannot help us. I know that is what you want, but I will not bring further death to my people," said Théoden grimly.
"Open war is upon you. Wheather you would risk it or not. It cannot be avoided," returned Aragorn. Allegra knew that this was escalating quickly into an argument. She cast her gaze down and focused on the meal in front of her.
"When last I looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was King of Rohan," he said. Gimli, who had little to no table manners whatsoever, took a gulp of beer, losing half of it into his beard. He belched as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, not clearing away most of the spill. Allegra did not mind, but Legolas's nose wrinkled at this. A rare thing it was for an Elf to show much emotion at all. Allegra was surprised at him.
"Then what is the King's decision?" asked Gandalf. Théoden thought for a moment, contemplating what it was he wanted to do.
"We will make for the refuge of Helm's Deep. All of us. Not one citizen must be left in Edoras," said Théoden slowly with a nod.
"Shall I tell the people, my King?" asked the head guard.
"Yes. Gather them together in front of the Hall. Tell them to leave behind what they can, and take only the necessary provisions," said Théoden.
"Yes, sire," said the guard, walking out of the Hall. The company was left to finish the last of their meal. They retrieved their weapons from the corner of the Hall where they had been set by the guards and armed themselves with them. Gimli set his helmet back on his head, and Allegra tied her hair back into a pony tail, not wanting to bother with it anymore.
"Come with me to the stables," said Gandalf to them. Legolas, Gimli, and Allegra followed him outside to the stables in which Shadowfax had been stored for the afternoon. Allegra watched the people of Edoras pack their things and collect their children from their games as they prepared to leave their homes. I hope my home is still there when I get back, Allegra thought.
"Helm's Deep!" cried Gandalf with irritation in his voice once they were in the confines of the stable. "They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight. Who will defend them if not their King?"
"He is only doing what he believes is best for his people. Helm's Deep has saved them in the past," Aragorn pointed out.
"Where is Helm's Deep? I don't remember seeing it on any maps," said Allegra.
"It is small on most maps. Unnoticeable for those who are just spilling over them in their free time. It is only sixty miles or so from here. It is a stone fortress built into the side of the mountains," Gandalf explained. "But there is no way out of that ravine, should they be cornered there. I believe that Théoden is walking into a trap. If they are attacked there, which I am almost certain they will be, it will be a massecre.Théoden has a strong will, but I fear for him. And the survival of Rohan. He will need you before the end, Aragorn. The people of Rohan will need you. The defenses have to hold!"
"They will hold," Aragorn promised as they approached Shadowfax. Gandalf stroked the beast's neck.
"The Grey Pilgrim. That is what they used to call me," he said. Allegra was not quite sure whether he was speaking to them or to the horse. "Three hundred lives of men I have walked this earth, and now I have no time. Good luck," he said turning to the company. "My search will not be in vain. Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east," he said to Aragorn. Gandalf mounted Shadowfax and Aragorn held open the door.
"Go!" cried Aragorn. Legolas jumped out of Gandalf's path as he rode out of the stables faster than when Allegra saw him leave the Shire that day in September. Aragorn lead them back up to Meduseld where they were to wait for further instruction. Allegra watched as Éowyn removed a sword in a sheath from a chest. She unsheathed it and held it for a moment before practicing a little. Aragorn approached her from behind and blocked her swing with one of his knives as she turned around.
"You have some skill with a blade," he observed. She swung her sword around swiftly and rendered Aragorn vulnerable. She stepped back and replaced her sword in its sheath.
"Women of this country learned long ago that those without swords may still die upon them," said Éowyn. "I fear neither death nor pain."
"What do you fear?" asked Aragorn curiously.
"A cage," she said. "To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them, and all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire."
"You are a daughter of Kings, a Sheildmaiden of Rohan," said Aragorn putting his knife away. "I do not think that will be your fate." He bowed to her and left. She stared after him as he went. All of Erodas had congregated outside Meduseld. King Théoden mounted his horse and took the front of the group, leading them out of his city. Allegra and Gimli both sat atop a horse for the trip to Helm's Deep. Towards evening, Gimli was entertaining Éowen with an amusing story about the Dwarves.
"It's true you don't see many Dwarf women. And in fact, they're so alike in voice and appearance," he said with a grin and a chuckle, "that they're often mistaken for Dwarf men." Éowyn smiled merrily and looked back at Aragorn. Allegra looked back in time to see him gesture to his chin and whispered to her,
"It's the beards..." Éowyn laughed happily.
"And this, in turn, has given rise to the popular belief that there are no Dwarf women. And that Dwarves just spring out of holds in the ground!" This time Allegra joined in laughing. Gimli chuckled. "Which is of course ridiculous...," he said. All at once the horse reared and sped off. "Whoa!" cried Gimli, who promptly fell out of the saddle and landed with a thump. Allegra laughed as she managed to catch the reigns and turn the horse back around to her normal place in line. As she rode past the fallen Gimli, she heard him saying,
"It's alright, it's alright. Nobody panic! That was deliberate, it was deliberate!" Allegra laughed.
"Look at this! A Hobbit riding a horse! Wait until I tell Merry and Pippin!" cried Allegra happily. Éowyn took the reigns again after helping Aragorn push Gimli back into the saddle.
"Do your kind not ride horses often?" asked Éowyn.
"Well, it's not that, we're too small!" said Allegra. "Except for one Hobbit. He was called Bullroarer, and he could ride a horse. But he was over four feet tall. Most of us can ride only ponies."
"Where do Hobbits hail from?" asked Éowyn.
"The Shire. It's...north-westish from here," said Allegra. She became nostalgic upon speaking of it.
"You miss it?" she asked.
"Yes," sighed Allegra. "All the time."
"Your mind seems heavy today," said Éowyn.
"It is. I cannot sleep most nights. This journey from Edoras has been one of the only fun times I have had," said Allegra with a smile. "Especially when Gimli fell off the horse."
"Hey now!" cried Gimli.
"That was my favorite part as well," Legolas chimed in with a small grin.
"Now wait just a second!" said Gimli. Éowyn laughed again at Gimli's frustrated sputterings.
Night fell on the people of Rohan. Allegra found herself lying awake again. She missed Pippin. She missed all of them. She was glad that Éowyn had come along. She made Allegra feel less lonely, now that she wasn't the only female on the quest that could actually wield a sword. Éowyn saw that Allegra was laying wide awake.
"What's the matter?" she asked softly.
"I miss him," Allegra whispered.
"Who do you miss?" asked Éowyn.
"Pippin," sighed Allegra. "Pippin Took."
"You spoke of him before. Is he friend of yours?" she asked.
"Yes," Allegra replied simply as she stared up into the star filled sky. She could see dark clouds silhouetted in the distance. "And also the only one I've ever loved. I miss him a lot."
"Where is he?" asked Éowyn.
"I don't know. Somewhere in Fangorn Forest, I'd imagine. That is the furthest we were able to track them. Pippin and one of my best friends, Merry. We were separated in Parth Galen. One of our number died, and the rest were split up. Frodo and Sam, two of my other friends, headed towards Mordor alone, and Merry and Pippin were captured by Orcs. They escaped into the Forest," Allegra explained. "I hate not knowing where those four are. It makes me feel insecure."
"You will find them again," said Éowyn. "Love is like that, you know. Whether it is the love of a friend or otherwise."
"I hope so," said Allegra sadly as she rolled over and shut her eyes to sleep. She had only one dream that night. She dreamed that Pippin was lying beside her, his arms around her, and his cheek nuzzled affectionately in her hair. She felt so happy and warm in his arms. But then Allegra started awake, and found that she was alone and freezing cold. She shifted her weight, freeing her blanket out from under her, and wrapped it around herself miserably. This isn't fair..., she thought to herself before falling back asleep.
At the sun's first light, the people of Edoras were roused. They collected their things and began their march again towards Helm's Deep. Around midmorning, The head of the guards and one of his fellows came to the front of the line. The head of the guards seemed to have sensed something wrong.
"What is it?" asked his fellow. "Háma?" Every horse out of the plain became restless. The horse that Allegra was riding on (Gimli had chosen to continue on foot) became skittish. It whinnied nervously and chewed its bit with anxiety. Háma, the head of the guards looked around.
"I'm not sure...," he said. Allegra's attention was suddenly taken away from Háma by an unearthly howl and a savage war-cry. She looked up and saw an Orc descend from the hill beside them riding atop a Warg. A beast that reminded Allegra of both a wolf and a bear. The Warg leaped onto Háma and killed him with a brutal slash of its claws. The Orc directed its monstrous steed towards the other guard, but Legolas was too quick. He shot the Warg with an arrow and killed the fallen Orc with one of his knives.
"A scout!" shouted Legolas to Aragorn.
"What? What's the matter?" asked Théoden, who could not see what was going on.
"Wargs! We're under attack!" shouted Aragorn. The people of Edoras became frightened, then. They cried and held their children close, trying to prevent them from panicking.
"All riders to the head of the column!" Théoden commanded. Gimli struggled to get onto the horse that Allegra had just jumped off of.
"Come on, help me up! I'm a rider! Argh!" he groaned, trying to make it up to the saddle. Legolas helped him onto the horse and directed his watchful eyes to the many Warg-riders that were headed in their direction. Théoden then looked down at his niece.
"You must lead the people to Helm's Deep! And make haste!" he told her.
"I can fight!" Éowyn protested.
"No! You must do this," he said. "For me." She held his gaze for a moment, then reluctantly turned to refugees.
"I want you to go with her," Aragorn told Allegra.
"What? No, I'm staying!" cried Allegra, who had already drawn her sword.
"Please, Allegra. There will be many more battles to fight. Go help Éowyn with the people," Aragorn said. "You must help to protect them." Allegra paused, thinking it over. Not wanting to argue any more with Aragorn, she decided to follow his orders.
"Don't die, okay?" said Allegra. Aragorn grinned slightly.
"I won't. Go on, now!" he said, his voice raised. Allegra ran after Éowyn, who was shouting to the people.
"Come now! To Helm's Deep! Hurry!" The people of Edoras turned to find an alternate route to Helm's Deep, leaving the Warg-riders behind. Luckily they weren't followed, but Allegra took up the rear to make sure that no one was left behind.
"Come on, lad, don't lag. This isn't the time, nor the place to be lagging," said Allegra trying to heard a boy of about thirteen back to the main group.
"Quit bossing me! You're too small to be bossing!" said the boy grumpily, though Allegra could tell he was tired and scared above anything else.
"I may be smaller than you, but I'm about fifteen years older than you, so that means I have authority over you," said Allegra sternly. "Please join the rest, I don't want to see you get hurt." He sighed and joined the column again. Éowyn lead them towards the mountains, and in about two more hours, they arrived at the stone fortress. Allegra had to admit, it looked pretty sturdy. It was no wonder that the people felt safe there. However, she also saw Gandalf's reasoning. If they were attacked, they would be cornered. Helm's Deep was a refuge. It was not built for war.
"We're safe!" cried the people. A woman hugged Éowyn, thanking her for saving them. The gates were opened for them by other peoples of Rohan, whose homes had already been destroyed by Saruman's wild men. People lined the corridors, some crouching, other standing, all looking equally frightened and hopeless. Except for the two children they had nursed back to help at Meduseld, who found their mother in the throngs of people inside Helm's Deep. Not a moment after that, a guard came into the keep.
"Make way for Théoden!" he shouted to the people who had gathered in the keep. Upon hearing this announcement echo off the stone walls, Allegra made her way through the people in the crowded hall beside the keep and went to meet Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. Everyone moved out of the way before Théoden entered the hall on his horse. Allegra smiled as she saw Legolas and Gimli enter Helm's Deep after him. However, her smile faded when she noticed that Aragorn was no where in sight, and very few of the Rohirrim had returned from the quarrel with the Wargs.
"So few," said Éowyn to her uncle. "So few of you have returned." Théoden dismounted and turned to her.
"Our people are safe. We have paid for it with many lives," he replied. Allegra approached Gimli and Legolas with hopeful eyes. Gimli turned to Éowyn.
"My lady...," he said slowly.
"Lord Aragorn," she said. "where is he?"
"He fell," said Gimli, his voice wavering. Allegra fell to her knees, too broken to utter a sound. Gimli put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Allegra."
"Damn him!" cried Allegra angrily, tears spilling down her face. She beat her fist on her leg helplessly. "He told me he wouldn't die!"
"It couldn't be helped," he said.
"If he would have just let me say, maybe I could have done something," said Allegra.
"Don't even start blaming yourself!" cried Gimli. "It had nothing to do with your staying or going. Up with you, now, lass. We don't have much time to grieve." Allegra felt old and tired just then. Her heart could not take much more death of those that were close to her. When I get back to Pippin, he will find me an old woman, too tired to get married or have children! She thought sadly. Gimli helped her to her feet and they waited for further instruction from Théoden. Not an hour later, cried of joy erupted in the keep.
"He's alive!" they cried. Allegra looked up, a knot forming in her stomach. "Aragorn is back!" Gimli looked up upon hearing Aragorns name. He dashed towards the keep, plowing through the people of Rohan.
"Where is he?" he shouted. "Where is he? Get out of the way! I'm going to kill him!" Allegra followed in the path that Gimli had cut through the sea of people. Allegra stopped in front of the horse that bared a wet, dirty Aragorn. "You are the luckiest, the canniest, and the most reckless man I ever knew!" cried Gimli. "Bless you, laddie!" Allegra crossed her arms and looked up at Aragorn with an irritated look.
"This is a plot to make me get old before I'm supposed to, isn't it?" she asked. "You're all just going to keep faking death until I just keel over, aren't you?"
"Why are you angry? I kept my promise," he pointed out.
"So you did," said Allegra with a nod.
"Where is the King?" asked Aragorn. Gimli pointed to the stairs before them. Just as he started towards the stairs, he ran into Legolas.
"Le ab-dollen," said Legolas. You're late. Allegra smiled, and Aragorn stifled a little chuckle. Legolas's brow furrowed slightly as he looked Aragorn over. "You look terrible..." Legolas extracted a necklace from his breast pocket. It was Aragorn's present from Arwen. She had heard the tale of their love before, and knew that he was carrying the Evenstar, a symbol of Arwen's immortality given to Aragorn to keep forever. Legolas handed Aragorn the necklace, and Aragorn took it. He smiled and clapped Legolas on the shoulder.
"Hannon le," said Aragorn. Thank you. Allegra saw Éowyn standing nearby, her eyes full of tears. Allegra knew that feeling that Éowyn's face expressed. Her heart was broken.
Author's note: Okay, revisions are complete. For those of you that have read the story already, you're probably wondering when the hell I'm ever going to get around to getting new stuff up...unless of course no one that's reading this now has ever read it and it's all new to you...anyway, I'll be posting some new chapters soon, I just have to section them off from the master copy of doooom! Right then. I'll be back in a bit...