Chapter Two

Grima lay awake all that night, worrying, thinking, desiring. Why lady Eowyn could barely ever look him in the eye, or speak to him in kindness he did not know. He was starting to become restless with her discourtesy.

That night Eowyn, Theodred and Eomer held a meeting in the stables.

"We must dispose of Wormtongue before he completely takes over Lord Theoden's mind."

"But Eomer, if we do what you suggest we would either hang or be banished." Eowyn didn't like this idea.

"Yes, well at least we will know that Theodens mind is no longer filled with deceit."

"But Theodred, how do we know that he's the only one? There could be a whole chain of them under our very noses?"

The situation to all three of them seemed hopeless. Grima would soon have to take Saruman's words into actions. He would begin to eliminate threats. Although Grima was considered to be an evil man, he had never caused anyone bodily harm. His evil came from mind games. He chose his first victim, a guard. He would start small. This man wasn't necessarily a threat, but Grima decided he needed to make it appear a random killing, and not just those who defied him, or people would become suspicious. But before he could kill this man he had to think of a way to point the finger at Gondor as his lord had requested. No one would ever know it was Grima, as the Guard was a doormen and the only one who was on watch at night. His plan could not fail. Now all he needed was that evidence.

Grima was puzzled as to what he could use that would point to Gondor. He spoke with the same spy that delivered his message to Saruman. His spy, who went by the name of Haladin, would ride to Gondor and get a sword, a dagger, any weapon that could kill a man and frame Gondor. Grima's attack would have to be delayed.

It would be two days at least until Haladin would return, in the mean time Grima would have to act without suspicion.

Eowyn, Theodred and Eomer argued long into the night. Grima saw a candle lit in the stables and went down to see what was going on. He heard raised voices and discerned them to be Eomer's and Theodred's. He would stay there and listen, unnoticed.

"He is pure evil Eowyn! He will throttle us all in our sleep if he knew he could get away with it! He is Saruman's spy! Evil cannot be spread here in Rohan, I will not let it!"

"Your sister understands this Eomer, she does not want somebody's death on her shoulders. One so young should not have to bear that burden, you or I shall do it."

"I will not have a part in this. Yes he is evil, but I cannot bring myself to kill him, I will feel as though I would be betraying him in a way."

"Betraying! How so sister?"

"He loves me, and it would be wrong to lead him on then turn and kill him, for I know that is what you are thinking, is it not?"

"It seemed to us that it would be the easiest way. Sister, I am sorry, I shouldn't use you for this and hurt your feelings, we will retire and speak no more of this matter."

Grima ran off to his room before they came out of the stables so they would not see him.

"Kill me?" he thought " Why? How? When? I will have to be ever on my guard." Grima was surprisingly shaken by this, a man of his stamina should not be shaken by the threat of two young boys and a girl - a young lady actually. That night once again insomnia overtook him. He crept into lady Eowyn's chamber, after the arguments of that day she had left her door unlocked in absent-mindedness. He saw her sleeping so peacefully; it took his breath away. She looked so beautiful, Grima had never loved anyone before, but seeing her there he realised he was not only in lust of her but in love with her.

He went back to his chamber and lay in his bed awake for the rest of the night. This sleeplessness was taking its toll on him and he found himself wondering the Golden Halls. He saw Eowyn there also, she must have woken up, or maybe Grima had disturbed her.

"My lord, tonight it is you who is in sleeplessness."

"Yes my lady, the Kings worries worry me also."

"And what are his worries?"

"An attack on Rohan, if these orcs that your brother sees patrol our borders, then that too is a worry."

Eowyn placed her hand on Grima's. Grima's heart quickened.

"You advise our king well, you have always done so and will continue to do so."

With that Grima kissed her on the hand and said goodnight. She smiled and left for her room. Eowyn was now very confused. If he was worried too, then how could he be evil, he seemed sincere, but then again she thought evil wore many masks.

Grima went back to his room; he slept serenely and dreamt once more of Eowyn.

Morning came and Grima went to see Theoden is his chamber. Eowyn was there also. She sat on his bed talking to him.

"Good morning my lord, I trust you slept well."

"Yes Grima, thankyou. Eomer went out to look for those orcs this morning, but he says they were all gone, so he had a look around and then he saw them all piled up in a dead heap. Arrows, arrows that were of Gondor, had pierced them all. It seems Saruman has sent us aid at last, I was wrong to think that they had betrayed us."

Grima nodded then left. Saruman would not have sent aid. Gondor soldiers must be roaming in their lands. Perhaps they had caught his spy. Grima didn't wait for them to come to Edoras, he rode out to see what he might.