It's snowing here in Holland!!! Not the nice fluffy snow everybody loves
NOOOOO it's the mean and painful icy snow. No fun! And it melted right away
so no snowmen. :-(
Never mind me. Just wanted to say that I really liked your reviews:
Aurumlupi: Glad you like my fast update!!!!!
Quiet One: Hope you reach this chapter soon though I totally understand the homework-thing.
Arwen-evenstar: I know what you mean, I miss the details as well but then I would be writing non-stop. Happy you understand though.
Kierin: I'm not annoyed with you, thanks for pointing this out for me. As it now is I'll leave it like that, hope you'll understand that but thanks for liking my fic, it's a very nice thing to hear.
Sugar-is-sweet: I know the horn of Gondor was broken in the book but I thought it would be a very appropriate gift from Boromir to show his feelings of kinship with her. Like I said to Arwen-evenstar; I miss the details as well but I'm glad you wouldn't want me to change anything. I'll try to put more detail in this chapter.
Otaku: Nono you didn't miss anything but you may have noticed that I have Rita zoning out during the conversation between Aragorn and Éomer so that's why it is only mentioned at the end. Éomer did tell them of the forest and the battle of the orcs but she just didn't listen.
Ithilwen: I miss Elladan too!!!! I am hurrying my writing (updating every day) just to get to the part where he shows up again.
Elvish princess: Really, you think so??? Thanks!!!!!!!!
Punkpunk: Man I hope you feel better, being sick is so not fun! Just because you are sick I am now dedicating this chapter to you, in the hope you feel better soon.
Audrey: I'm trying harder to believe you but since this is my first fanfic, I'm just not so sure about myself though I am starting to because of all the nice reviews I've received.
DISCLAIMER: Forget about it, I'm not doing this again!!!!!! If you really want to know back up a few chapters and read that.
Rita held onto Aragorn as they were galloping towards Fangorn Forest, the place where Pippin and Merry supposedly died, or so she was told. She couldn't believe she had missed out that part of the conversation. *I have to stop zoning out when people are talking* she thought.
The smell of burned flesh was first smelled before they could even see the forest. When they finally reached it Rita couldn't help herself from shivering, this forest gave her the creeps.
She didn't come any closer as Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli searched the burned bodies of the orcs for any sign of their friends. Even if she wanted to, she couldn't.
As she was watching them poke around in a heap of bodies, she could feel herself slipping away again. Desperation was trying to take over again as she knew there was no way the hobbits could have escaped this cruel fate.
*First Gandalf and Boromir and now Merry and Pippin. Oh Pippin, you didn't deserve this, you were my best friend in the entire Fellowship besides Boromir. We had so much fun together*
The trance broke when she saw Gimli hold up a piece of a belt, worn by the hobbits. She could see the expressions on their faces as each of them accepted that the hunt had failed. The hobbits were dead. Suddenly made a remark that made her heart leap.
"A hobbit lay here, no two hobbits lay here. Their hands were bound but they were freed from them. They rested under this bush and ate some lembas, there are crumbs of it on the ground. Then they ran, they ran straight into. . . "
"Fangorn Forrest" mumbled Gimli "What possibly could have scared them so they would flee into that forsaken forest. We were warned against entering for even the Lord of the Golden Woods was weary about them."
Rita stared into the forest that made her shudder. When she thought about the hobbits she made a decision. "We can't just leave them on their own, we have come this far so we should get them and get out of this stupid forest."
Legolas made himself known after being silent for a long time. "This forest is far from stupid Rita. It is very old, so old it makes me feel young, and the trees have voices. I believe that if I were able to spend more time here than we can do now, I might begin to understand their thoughts."
"Voices or not, this forest is creepy!"
"I must agree with Rita elf." added Gimli "These woods seem to detest all beings who cross their paths. Yet if the young hobbits ran into them, we cannot leave them. We must find them."
"Indeed" said Aragorn. "We will follow their tracks and when we find them we will take them with us out of these woods."
They set out into the forest and Rita made sure she stayed close to the others. The air was heavy, like a thunderstorm was about to take place.
Legolas was in his element. As a wood elf he felt at home and he often moved Arod so that he could touch a tree to 'feel' its emotions. "These trees are very angry." He stated. "Yet they are also in pain." Gimli would protest every time he neared a tree.
They followed the tracks until Aragorn decided it was too dark to see them any more. They got off the horses and sat down on the ground. Gimli collected branches that had fallen on the ground as he had been warned not to cut any wood in the forest.
When the fire was burning Rita curled against a tree while she pulled cloak around her. She closed her eyes and was almost asleep when she heard Aragorn talking against an unknown person.
"Well father, what can we do for you? Come near the fire if you are cold."
Rita blinked when the old man disappeared entirely. They looked at each other, confused when Legolas suddenly shouted.
"The horses, the horses!" The sound of galloping hooves was heard while the horses ran away from them while neighing loudly. Legolas ran to catch them but was too late.
"Well" said Aragorn "They are gone. We will have to continue our journey on foot once again.
Gimli groaned at this, he had finally gotten used to the horse and now he had to walk again. His feet were sore from all the running they had done the past few days.
Rita agreed with him and let herself fall on the ground again. *Might as well get some sleep* she thought before she drifted off.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
While she was sleeping, the men were awake and alert. They had figured out that the old man had probably been Saruman and wanted to be sharp if he were to attack again.
Aragorn smiled slightly as he looked at Rita's sleeping form. *She must be very tired* he thought *Even after running for days she has not complained once, she is even stronger than I had thought she were. But then again I shouldn't be surprised at this as she has proven herself over and again.*
He focussed his attention at the trees around them as he saw Legolas tense. "What do you see my friend?"
Legolas squinted and stared into the distance before he could answer the question. "I see an old man, dressed in white."
"Saruman" exclaimed Gimli "We must kill him before he can cast a spell upon us." He raised his ax and stood ready to attack. Legolas and Aragorn also drew their weapons and they all waited until the old man was close enough for them to hit.
The elf was the first with the opportunity to do so but he seemed to freeze. The old man came closer and closer and still Legolas would not shoot his bow, not even when Gimli pressed him about it.
The old man began to speak. "You are searching for two hobbits are you not? You will not find them here for their road will lead them elsewhere. But rest assured for they are safe."
Gimli raised his ax to strike him but his weapon flew out of his hands. Aragorn seemed frozen as well and for a while they stood like that.
"You do not have to raise your weapons at me, for I mean you no harm." Said the old man.
Suddenly Legolas muttered something that made them all gasp. "Mithandrir"
Aragorn stepped forwards as he spoke in a soft voice. "Gandalf, how can this be? We saw you fall, you should be dead."
Gimli fell on his knees. "Gandalf forgive for I did not see."
Gandalf looked puzzled for a while before he mumbled. "Gandalf? Yes I was called Gandalf." Then he turned to Gimli. "Get up master Dwarf, no need to kneel."
The dwarf looked up at him with tears in his eyes. "But you are dressed all in white, I thought you were Saruman, can you forgive me?"
"I am Saruman" Gandalf said "Saruman as he should have been. I am now Gandalf the White, the head of our order."
Legolas turned to the wizard. "Will you not tell us how you were able to survive, surely it will be a grand tale."
The men saw a painful expression cross his face. "I wish not to speak of it in detail but I shall tell you the basics. When the Balrog pulled me down we battled on our way down. Even after we had fallen into the water our battle continued."
He paused taking a deep breath. "It ran but I followed it into a forgotten passageway in Moria, there I defeated the Balrog. I must confess that the rest is a bit hazy, but I was taken to Lothlorien by Gwaihir the Windlord."
By now Rita had woken by all the commotion. The men watched her as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes like a little girl. She blinked when she noticed the new arrival but jumped up within a second and yelled. "Gandalf, you're alive!" and she hugged the wizard.
He patted her back as she did and said "Now there, do not hug this old wizard too hard, you might break something." Inwardly he was smiling because she had recognized him immediately.
Rita was amazed and wide-awake as Gandalf explained that Pippin and Merry had ended up with a friend of his called Treebeard. He said they were perfectly safe with him and the other Ents.
Legolas seemed shocked at this. "Then Ents really exist? I have always thought for it to be a mere fable when people spoke of them. It explains a lot."
Rita didn't even bother to ask him what it explained and the others didn't do so either. Gandalf decided that retrieving Merry and Pippin no longer was the most important thing to do. He told them they should go to Edoras for he needed to speak to king Theoden of Rohan.
Aragorn explained to him that their horses had run away and Gandalf just gave him this mysterious smile. He whistled sharply and Legolas winced at the sound. The sound of hooves was heard and Legolas was the first to see the horses.
"There is Hasufel and my friend Arod, and with them is a steed. He is the most beautiful and grand horse I have ever seen."
"Nor shall you ever see a grander horse than Shadowfax" Gandalf said proudly "For he is the king of horses and understands humans."
Rita grabbed her pack as the others mounted and also extinguished the fire, making sure it was not still smoldering, before she let Aragorn pull her on Hasufel. They rode fast and Rita held on to Aragorn tightly.
She may have fallen asleep for awhile for one minute they were still riding in the forest and the other they were stopped by a tall blond man.
She watched as Gandalf spoke in a weird language, probably negotiating to get to the king. Finally they were granted access to the land yet were warned that the king would probably not greet them friendly. For Éomer had been imprisoned for letting them get away. Gandalf just shook his head and trotted on.
Rita ached in places from which she wasn't aware that they could ache. Riding a horse for hours on end made ones muscles protest and Rita smiled when she noticed that pains troubled even all the others as well.
They got off the horses as they neared a huge building. Rita stretched a few times to get rid of the strained feeling and noticed the approach of another man. He and Gandalf spoke in that weird language again before he lead them to where Rita figured the king was.
When they reached a door a man called Hama stopped them. He told them to give their weapons into his keeping for weapons were forbidden in the Golden Hall.
Legolas reluctantly gave his bow and Gandalf placed his sword Glamdring there as well. Rita pulled her sword and put it against the wall as well. She hesitated when he asked her to place her dagger there as well.
She glanced at Gandalf who nodded so she did as she was asked. To her surprise it was Aragorn who made a big fuss out of it.
"I would gladly place my sword here if it were a different sword than Andúril."
After some convincing from Gandalf he ultimately placed it against the wall as well but not without warning the man not to touch it for only he was able to draw the sword and live.
Rita swore she could see Hama shiver. When Aragorn placed his sword against the wall, Gimli lay his ax beside it as well, saying his ax would be in good company beside Andúril.
Gandalf had been quite calm about all the rules they had to follow until Hama asked for his staff as well. He was outraged, yelling that he was merely an old man who would not be able to walk without his staff and it was a ridiculous thing to ask.
Hama reluctantly allowed him to keep his staff and let them enter the throneroom. Rita didn't know what she had expected the king to look like but she certainly didn't expect him to look like the way he did.
The king was a very old man who was not even able to sit up straight. He was very pale and looked very breakable and weak. Next to him sat a very ugly man who was even paler.
The king greeted Gandalf though he wasn't very happy to see him again. Rita had to keep herself from sniggering when she found out why. *Never thought of Gandalf as a thief before*
When creepy man, as she had dubbed him, started to speak she shuddered slightly. His voice had the same tone as Andor had used while defending himself against his charges; it was oozing and sounded like honey.
Rita knew right away that this man was evil and trouble and after he made a snide comment to Gandalf, the wizard seemed to grow and he spoke a spell.
"The wise speak only of what they know, Grima son of Gálmód. A witless worm you have become. Therefor be silent and keep you forked tongue behind you teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a serving-man till the lightning falls."
Then a thunder and lightning were seen and heard and Grima yammered something about Hama betraying them because he had let the wizard keep his staff before he was unable to speak anymore.
Gandalf neared the king and after exchanging a few words the king seemed to grow, literally. Rita was amazed when she saw the king slowly getting up, his slumped shoulders now lifting as he took a few steps forward.
A beautiful woman suddenly stepped forwards to aid him but Gandalf held her back. "You have served your king well Lady Éowyn but you can leave him in my care for now."
When she hesitated the king added "Go sister-daughter, I am in good hands."
She lingered for a moment and looked at Aragorn in wonder before she abruptly turned and left their sight. Rita had no time to ponder about this because Gandalf and the others were moving outside. She grabbed her sword and dagger from their resting place as she followed them.
Gandalf advised the king to release Éomer from prison and the king sent Hama to do so. After merely five minutes he returned with the marshal and Éomer kneeled and placed his sword at his uncle's feet when the king could not find his own sword.
Guards were sent to fetch the sword from Grima who had held it in keeping. They returned while dragging the struggling Wormtongue with them.
When he saw his master Grima kneeled and pleaded for the king not to send him away to war but when the king told him he himself would go to war and this was Grima's chance to show his loyalty, Wormtongue's facade faltered. When Gandalf revealed that he had been working for Saruman he couldn't take it any more.
He made a dash and grabbed a horse. He rode off while guards were chasing him but Theoden called them back saying that Grima was banned from Rohan for good.
Then the king turned to the members of the fellowship, or what still remained of the fellowship. He greeted them all properly this time but was shocked to see Rita amongst the warriors. He called for Éowyn and told her to take care of the girl.
Rita looked at Gandalf and Aragorn for approval and when they nodded, she followed the woman when she walked through the corridors until they reached a room. Rita placed her pack next to a bed and followed Éowyn to another room.
What Rita saw made her smile: a bath filled with hot water. Éowyn left her alone to bathe with the message to call her if anything was needed.
Undressing quickly Rita slid into the hot water. She allowed herself to bathe for about twenty minutes and then dried herself off and when she returned to the room she noted that her pack was undisturbed (which she was thankful for) and with astonishment she saw that a dress had been laid out for her.
She scoffed and grabbed a pair of trousers and a clean shirt with long sleeves over which she wore her favorite sweater. She found some clean socks and put her boots, that were now entirely formed to her feet, on.
After brushing and binding her hair together she put her belt with her weapons on again and hoisted her pack over her shoulder before she made her way down to where her friends and the king were conversing.
When he saw her, the king frowned. "Did my sister-daughter not leave you a dress to wear my dear? And why do you have your weapons ready as if you are going to war with us. All women will remain behind and you will be able to rest after such a hard journey."
Rita was fuming. "First of all, I am not your dear! My name is Rita, Rita of Gondor and if you cannot pronounce that you can call me Milady. Second of all, I am going to war with you for I will not remain behind."
Shocked murmurs were heard as she said this and the kings eyes widened. "You do not look Gondorian Milady" the last word sounded a bit sarcastic.
"I have not been born in Gondor but I was given my name by Boromir, son of Denethor, who was a brother to me. He gave me the horn of Gondor on his deathbed."
Gandalf's eyes flashed in surprise at her words and he looked at Aragorn for an explanation but the future king merely nodded slightly.
The king had been surprised as well but was still unrelenting about letting her come to battle with the men. "I will not be responsible for you on the battlefield. You will not come and that is final, I King Theoden have spoken."
Rita's voice turned icy. "Lucky for me you are not my king. I do not have to obey your orders."
At this time Aragorn intervened, seeing that it would not take much to enrage Rita beyond words. "Maybe you should remain behind Rita, if the king wills it so."
Big mistake on his part as Rita now focussed his anger on him. "So now your true face appears king Aragorn" her tone very cynical and her eyes burning "I was good enough to join you on a quest I didn't want to join, I was good enough to fight against the cold of Caradhras and the darkness of Moria, I was good enough to fight alongside you at Amon Hen" her voice was trembling a bit as she said this but she recovered quickly "I was good enough to run for three days on end surviving on lembas and a few short breaks only and now you wish me to remain behind?"
She swallowed before she continued her voice sounding soft and almost childish. "I thought you knew me better than that Aragorn, I thought you were my friend."
The two locked eyes and stared for a long time before Aragorn nodded. "I was wrong to ask this of you Rita, you are right and you will join us in battle."
The king started to protest but Éomer was quicker. "She is a woman, she cannot battle. She is too weak to be able to hold her own in battle. Women are not capable of fighting against the evil forces without marching to her death."
This time Gimli interfered and he raised his ax. "You better take that back horse-master for I promise you I will cut of your neck before I will let you insult her again. She is a warrior and a good one at that."
Rita smiled slightly at his words but was still too angry. Legolas put a calming hand on the dwarf's shoulder.
"What Gimli means to say Milords, is that Rita is very skilled with the sword and has battled more than once against groups of orcs that severely outnumbered us. She is a part of our fellowship and I must say that if she is not allowed to battle, I shall not do so as well."
"Nor shall I" added Gimli in that gruff voice of his.
Aragorn shook his head at this but stayed loyal to his friends. "Though I wish to aid Rohan in any way I can, I will not go to battle without my friends. Our paths are bound together, especially after travelling in danger together for months."
He placed himself behind Rita and laid his hand on her shoulder, giving a calming squeeze. Rita had to fight against her emotions as they all stood behind her on this matter.
Then Gandalf, who had been silent during the entire matter spoke. "Though I understand your reluctance to take a woman to battle with you king Theoden, I must assure you that Rita is far from helpless and will be a great asset to the fight."
The king pondered for awhile but realized he needed the help of these strangers, especially the help of the future king of Gondor was needed for he was the person who represented what was to come.
"Very well Gandalf, I shall take your advice and allow her to come, though I do so with great resentment." He silenced Éomer with a motion of his hand when he turned to Aragorn "I hope this means you will be fighting alongside us Lord Aragorn?"
"Indeed Milord, and I speak for all of us when I say we will defend Rohan with our lives." The three others nodded at this.
Theoden gave a curt nod and left the room to rally his troops, Éomer and his men following close behind. Soon only the four hunters and Gandalf remained behind. The wizard turned to the others.
"The game you played could have ended very differently, though I believe the best has come out of this." He faced Rita who was still struggling to keep her anger in check. "Let it go child, though the men of Rohan are strong and proud they are unable to see that women play a more important part than they believe. Do not let yourself be bothered by their opinions."
Rita closed her eyes at this and when she opened them again all could see that most of the anger had disappeared and only a strong look of resilience had replaced it.
"I wanted to thank you for standing up for me guys" she said "It made me feel better to know you were on my side."
"Of course" huffed Gimli "You do not believe we would leave you behind in this place now do you? We have more honor than that. Besides you have battled with us and you did well, I do not see what the problem is."
Legolas agreed with him. "Besides the points Gimli gave I also knew you would follow us anyway, you are too stubborn to listen to a command you do not like." She grinned at this, how these men had gotten to know her.
Aragorn turned her around so she faced him. "I am sorry I may have given you the opinion that I didn't want you to join us Rita. I was merely trying to find a suitable solution. Can you forgive me?"
"I have to admit that it hurt when you left me out in the cold Aragorn, but you came through in the end. I have to apologize as well because what I said was uncalled for."
"I will forgive you when you forgive me." He held his hand out for her to shake. She grabbed it and both looked at each other with identical grins on their face.
Gandalf huddled them out of the room. "Now we have solved all our petty conflicts we must get ready, come there is much work to do."
A/N: Conflict, hope you liked. I tried to add more detail in this part so let me know what you think ok? I'll update tomorrow again and it will be longer than this one I promise.
Aurumlupi: Glad you like my fast update!!!!!
Quiet One: Hope you reach this chapter soon though I totally understand the homework-thing.
Arwen-evenstar: I know what you mean, I miss the details as well but then I would be writing non-stop. Happy you understand though.
Kierin: I'm not annoyed with you, thanks for pointing this out for me. As it now is I'll leave it like that, hope you'll understand that but thanks for liking my fic, it's a very nice thing to hear.
Sugar-is-sweet: I know the horn of Gondor was broken in the book but I thought it would be a very appropriate gift from Boromir to show his feelings of kinship with her. Like I said to Arwen-evenstar; I miss the details as well but I'm glad you wouldn't want me to change anything. I'll try to put more detail in this chapter.
Otaku: Nono you didn't miss anything but you may have noticed that I have Rita zoning out during the conversation between Aragorn and Éomer so that's why it is only mentioned at the end. Éomer did tell them of the forest and the battle of the orcs but she just didn't listen.
Ithilwen: I miss Elladan too!!!! I am hurrying my writing (updating every day) just to get to the part where he shows up again.
Elvish princess: Really, you think so??? Thanks!!!!!!!!
Punkpunk: Man I hope you feel better, being sick is so not fun! Just because you are sick I am now dedicating this chapter to you, in the hope you feel better soon.
Audrey: I'm trying harder to believe you but since this is my first fanfic, I'm just not so sure about myself though I am starting to because of all the nice reviews I've received.
DISCLAIMER: Forget about it, I'm not doing this again!!!!!! If you really want to know back up a few chapters and read that.
Rita held onto Aragorn as they were galloping towards Fangorn Forest, the place where Pippin and Merry supposedly died, or so she was told. She couldn't believe she had missed out that part of the conversation. *I have to stop zoning out when people are talking* she thought.
The smell of burned flesh was first smelled before they could even see the forest. When they finally reached it Rita couldn't help herself from shivering, this forest gave her the creeps.
She didn't come any closer as Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli searched the burned bodies of the orcs for any sign of their friends. Even if she wanted to, she couldn't.
As she was watching them poke around in a heap of bodies, she could feel herself slipping away again. Desperation was trying to take over again as she knew there was no way the hobbits could have escaped this cruel fate.
*First Gandalf and Boromir and now Merry and Pippin. Oh Pippin, you didn't deserve this, you were my best friend in the entire Fellowship besides Boromir. We had so much fun together*
The trance broke when she saw Gimli hold up a piece of a belt, worn by the hobbits. She could see the expressions on their faces as each of them accepted that the hunt had failed. The hobbits were dead. Suddenly made a remark that made her heart leap.
"A hobbit lay here, no two hobbits lay here. Their hands were bound but they were freed from them. They rested under this bush and ate some lembas, there are crumbs of it on the ground. Then they ran, they ran straight into. . . "
"Fangorn Forrest" mumbled Gimli "What possibly could have scared them so they would flee into that forsaken forest. We were warned against entering for even the Lord of the Golden Woods was weary about them."
Rita stared into the forest that made her shudder. When she thought about the hobbits she made a decision. "We can't just leave them on their own, we have come this far so we should get them and get out of this stupid forest."
Legolas made himself known after being silent for a long time. "This forest is far from stupid Rita. It is very old, so old it makes me feel young, and the trees have voices. I believe that if I were able to spend more time here than we can do now, I might begin to understand their thoughts."
"Voices or not, this forest is creepy!"
"I must agree with Rita elf." added Gimli "These woods seem to detest all beings who cross their paths. Yet if the young hobbits ran into them, we cannot leave them. We must find them."
"Indeed" said Aragorn. "We will follow their tracks and when we find them we will take them with us out of these woods."
They set out into the forest and Rita made sure she stayed close to the others. The air was heavy, like a thunderstorm was about to take place.
Legolas was in his element. As a wood elf he felt at home and he often moved Arod so that he could touch a tree to 'feel' its emotions. "These trees are very angry." He stated. "Yet they are also in pain." Gimli would protest every time he neared a tree.
They followed the tracks until Aragorn decided it was too dark to see them any more. They got off the horses and sat down on the ground. Gimli collected branches that had fallen on the ground as he had been warned not to cut any wood in the forest.
When the fire was burning Rita curled against a tree while she pulled cloak around her. She closed her eyes and was almost asleep when she heard Aragorn talking against an unknown person.
"Well father, what can we do for you? Come near the fire if you are cold."
Rita blinked when the old man disappeared entirely. They looked at each other, confused when Legolas suddenly shouted.
"The horses, the horses!" The sound of galloping hooves was heard while the horses ran away from them while neighing loudly. Legolas ran to catch them but was too late.
"Well" said Aragorn "They are gone. We will have to continue our journey on foot once again.
Gimli groaned at this, he had finally gotten used to the horse and now he had to walk again. His feet were sore from all the running they had done the past few days.
Rita agreed with him and let herself fall on the ground again. *Might as well get some sleep* she thought before she drifted off.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
While she was sleeping, the men were awake and alert. They had figured out that the old man had probably been Saruman and wanted to be sharp if he were to attack again.
Aragorn smiled slightly as he looked at Rita's sleeping form. *She must be very tired* he thought *Even after running for days she has not complained once, she is even stronger than I had thought she were. But then again I shouldn't be surprised at this as she has proven herself over and again.*
He focussed his attention at the trees around them as he saw Legolas tense. "What do you see my friend?"
Legolas squinted and stared into the distance before he could answer the question. "I see an old man, dressed in white."
"Saruman" exclaimed Gimli "We must kill him before he can cast a spell upon us." He raised his ax and stood ready to attack. Legolas and Aragorn also drew their weapons and they all waited until the old man was close enough for them to hit.
The elf was the first with the opportunity to do so but he seemed to freeze. The old man came closer and closer and still Legolas would not shoot his bow, not even when Gimli pressed him about it.
The old man began to speak. "You are searching for two hobbits are you not? You will not find them here for their road will lead them elsewhere. But rest assured for they are safe."
Gimli raised his ax to strike him but his weapon flew out of his hands. Aragorn seemed frozen as well and for a while they stood like that.
"You do not have to raise your weapons at me, for I mean you no harm." Said the old man.
Suddenly Legolas muttered something that made them all gasp. "Mithandrir"
Aragorn stepped forwards as he spoke in a soft voice. "Gandalf, how can this be? We saw you fall, you should be dead."
Gimli fell on his knees. "Gandalf forgive for I did not see."
Gandalf looked puzzled for a while before he mumbled. "Gandalf? Yes I was called Gandalf." Then he turned to Gimli. "Get up master Dwarf, no need to kneel."
The dwarf looked up at him with tears in his eyes. "But you are dressed all in white, I thought you were Saruman, can you forgive me?"
"I am Saruman" Gandalf said "Saruman as he should have been. I am now Gandalf the White, the head of our order."
Legolas turned to the wizard. "Will you not tell us how you were able to survive, surely it will be a grand tale."
The men saw a painful expression cross his face. "I wish not to speak of it in detail but I shall tell you the basics. When the Balrog pulled me down we battled on our way down. Even after we had fallen into the water our battle continued."
He paused taking a deep breath. "It ran but I followed it into a forgotten passageway in Moria, there I defeated the Balrog. I must confess that the rest is a bit hazy, but I was taken to Lothlorien by Gwaihir the Windlord."
By now Rita had woken by all the commotion. The men watched her as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes like a little girl. She blinked when she noticed the new arrival but jumped up within a second and yelled. "Gandalf, you're alive!" and she hugged the wizard.
He patted her back as she did and said "Now there, do not hug this old wizard too hard, you might break something." Inwardly he was smiling because she had recognized him immediately.
Rita was amazed and wide-awake as Gandalf explained that Pippin and Merry had ended up with a friend of his called Treebeard. He said they were perfectly safe with him and the other Ents.
Legolas seemed shocked at this. "Then Ents really exist? I have always thought for it to be a mere fable when people spoke of them. It explains a lot."
Rita didn't even bother to ask him what it explained and the others didn't do so either. Gandalf decided that retrieving Merry and Pippin no longer was the most important thing to do. He told them they should go to Edoras for he needed to speak to king Theoden of Rohan.
Aragorn explained to him that their horses had run away and Gandalf just gave him this mysterious smile. He whistled sharply and Legolas winced at the sound. The sound of hooves was heard and Legolas was the first to see the horses.
"There is Hasufel and my friend Arod, and with them is a steed. He is the most beautiful and grand horse I have ever seen."
"Nor shall you ever see a grander horse than Shadowfax" Gandalf said proudly "For he is the king of horses and understands humans."
Rita grabbed her pack as the others mounted and also extinguished the fire, making sure it was not still smoldering, before she let Aragorn pull her on Hasufel. They rode fast and Rita held on to Aragorn tightly.
She may have fallen asleep for awhile for one minute they were still riding in the forest and the other they were stopped by a tall blond man.
She watched as Gandalf spoke in a weird language, probably negotiating to get to the king. Finally they were granted access to the land yet were warned that the king would probably not greet them friendly. For Éomer had been imprisoned for letting them get away. Gandalf just shook his head and trotted on.
Rita ached in places from which she wasn't aware that they could ache. Riding a horse for hours on end made ones muscles protest and Rita smiled when she noticed that pains troubled even all the others as well.
They got off the horses as they neared a huge building. Rita stretched a few times to get rid of the strained feeling and noticed the approach of another man. He and Gandalf spoke in that weird language again before he lead them to where Rita figured the king was.
When they reached a door a man called Hama stopped them. He told them to give their weapons into his keeping for weapons were forbidden in the Golden Hall.
Legolas reluctantly gave his bow and Gandalf placed his sword Glamdring there as well. Rita pulled her sword and put it against the wall as well. She hesitated when he asked her to place her dagger there as well.
She glanced at Gandalf who nodded so she did as she was asked. To her surprise it was Aragorn who made a big fuss out of it.
"I would gladly place my sword here if it were a different sword than Andúril."
After some convincing from Gandalf he ultimately placed it against the wall as well but not without warning the man not to touch it for only he was able to draw the sword and live.
Rita swore she could see Hama shiver. When Aragorn placed his sword against the wall, Gimli lay his ax beside it as well, saying his ax would be in good company beside Andúril.
Gandalf had been quite calm about all the rules they had to follow until Hama asked for his staff as well. He was outraged, yelling that he was merely an old man who would not be able to walk without his staff and it was a ridiculous thing to ask.
Hama reluctantly allowed him to keep his staff and let them enter the throneroom. Rita didn't know what she had expected the king to look like but she certainly didn't expect him to look like the way he did.
The king was a very old man who was not even able to sit up straight. He was very pale and looked very breakable and weak. Next to him sat a very ugly man who was even paler.
The king greeted Gandalf though he wasn't very happy to see him again. Rita had to keep herself from sniggering when she found out why. *Never thought of Gandalf as a thief before*
When creepy man, as she had dubbed him, started to speak she shuddered slightly. His voice had the same tone as Andor had used while defending himself against his charges; it was oozing and sounded like honey.
Rita knew right away that this man was evil and trouble and after he made a snide comment to Gandalf, the wizard seemed to grow and he spoke a spell.
"The wise speak only of what they know, Grima son of Gálmód. A witless worm you have become. Therefor be silent and keep you forked tongue behind you teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a serving-man till the lightning falls."
Then a thunder and lightning were seen and heard and Grima yammered something about Hama betraying them because he had let the wizard keep his staff before he was unable to speak anymore.
Gandalf neared the king and after exchanging a few words the king seemed to grow, literally. Rita was amazed when she saw the king slowly getting up, his slumped shoulders now lifting as he took a few steps forward.
A beautiful woman suddenly stepped forwards to aid him but Gandalf held her back. "You have served your king well Lady Éowyn but you can leave him in my care for now."
When she hesitated the king added "Go sister-daughter, I am in good hands."
She lingered for a moment and looked at Aragorn in wonder before she abruptly turned and left their sight. Rita had no time to ponder about this because Gandalf and the others were moving outside. She grabbed her sword and dagger from their resting place as she followed them.
Gandalf advised the king to release Éomer from prison and the king sent Hama to do so. After merely five minutes he returned with the marshal and Éomer kneeled and placed his sword at his uncle's feet when the king could not find his own sword.
Guards were sent to fetch the sword from Grima who had held it in keeping. They returned while dragging the struggling Wormtongue with them.
When he saw his master Grima kneeled and pleaded for the king not to send him away to war but when the king told him he himself would go to war and this was Grima's chance to show his loyalty, Wormtongue's facade faltered. When Gandalf revealed that he had been working for Saruman he couldn't take it any more.
He made a dash and grabbed a horse. He rode off while guards were chasing him but Theoden called them back saying that Grima was banned from Rohan for good.
Then the king turned to the members of the fellowship, or what still remained of the fellowship. He greeted them all properly this time but was shocked to see Rita amongst the warriors. He called for Éowyn and told her to take care of the girl.
Rita looked at Gandalf and Aragorn for approval and when they nodded, she followed the woman when she walked through the corridors until they reached a room. Rita placed her pack next to a bed and followed Éowyn to another room.
What Rita saw made her smile: a bath filled with hot water. Éowyn left her alone to bathe with the message to call her if anything was needed.
Undressing quickly Rita slid into the hot water. She allowed herself to bathe for about twenty minutes and then dried herself off and when she returned to the room she noted that her pack was undisturbed (which she was thankful for) and with astonishment she saw that a dress had been laid out for her.
She scoffed and grabbed a pair of trousers and a clean shirt with long sleeves over which she wore her favorite sweater. She found some clean socks and put her boots, that were now entirely formed to her feet, on.
After brushing and binding her hair together she put her belt with her weapons on again and hoisted her pack over her shoulder before she made her way down to where her friends and the king were conversing.
When he saw her, the king frowned. "Did my sister-daughter not leave you a dress to wear my dear? And why do you have your weapons ready as if you are going to war with us. All women will remain behind and you will be able to rest after such a hard journey."
Rita was fuming. "First of all, I am not your dear! My name is Rita, Rita of Gondor and if you cannot pronounce that you can call me Milady. Second of all, I am going to war with you for I will not remain behind."
Shocked murmurs were heard as she said this and the kings eyes widened. "You do not look Gondorian Milady" the last word sounded a bit sarcastic.
"I have not been born in Gondor but I was given my name by Boromir, son of Denethor, who was a brother to me. He gave me the horn of Gondor on his deathbed."
Gandalf's eyes flashed in surprise at her words and he looked at Aragorn for an explanation but the future king merely nodded slightly.
The king had been surprised as well but was still unrelenting about letting her come to battle with the men. "I will not be responsible for you on the battlefield. You will not come and that is final, I King Theoden have spoken."
Rita's voice turned icy. "Lucky for me you are not my king. I do not have to obey your orders."
At this time Aragorn intervened, seeing that it would not take much to enrage Rita beyond words. "Maybe you should remain behind Rita, if the king wills it so."
Big mistake on his part as Rita now focussed his anger on him. "So now your true face appears king Aragorn" her tone very cynical and her eyes burning "I was good enough to join you on a quest I didn't want to join, I was good enough to fight against the cold of Caradhras and the darkness of Moria, I was good enough to fight alongside you at Amon Hen" her voice was trembling a bit as she said this but she recovered quickly "I was good enough to run for three days on end surviving on lembas and a few short breaks only and now you wish me to remain behind?"
She swallowed before she continued her voice sounding soft and almost childish. "I thought you knew me better than that Aragorn, I thought you were my friend."
The two locked eyes and stared for a long time before Aragorn nodded. "I was wrong to ask this of you Rita, you are right and you will join us in battle."
The king started to protest but Éomer was quicker. "She is a woman, she cannot battle. She is too weak to be able to hold her own in battle. Women are not capable of fighting against the evil forces without marching to her death."
This time Gimli interfered and he raised his ax. "You better take that back horse-master for I promise you I will cut of your neck before I will let you insult her again. She is a warrior and a good one at that."
Rita smiled slightly at his words but was still too angry. Legolas put a calming hand on the dwarf's shoulder.
"What Gimli means to say Milords, is that Rita is very skilled with the sword and has battled more than once against groups of orcs that severely outnumbered us. She is a part of our fellowship and I must say that if she is not allowed to battle, I shall not do so as well."
"Nor shall I" added Gimli in that gruff voice of his.
Aragorn shook his head at this but stayed loyal to his friends. "Though I wish to aid Rohan in any way I can, I will not go to battle without my friends. Our paths are bound together, especially after travelling in danger together for months."
He placed himself behind Rita and laid his hand on her shoulder, giving a calming squeeze. Rita had to fight against her emotions as they all stood behind her on this matter.
Then Gandalf, who had been silent during the entire matter spoke. "Though I understand your reluctance to take a woman to battle with you king Theoden, I must assure you that Rita is far from helpless and will be a great asset to the fight."
The king pondered for awhile but realized he needed the help of these strangers, especially the help of the future king of Gondor was needed for he was the person who represented what was to come.
"Very well Gandalf, I shall take your advice and allow her to come, though I do so with great resentment." He silenced Éomer with a motion of his hand when he turned to Aragorn "I hope this means you will be fighting alongside us Lord Aragorn?"
"Indeed Milord, and I speak for all of us when I say we will defend Rohan with our lives." The three others nodded at this.
Theoden gave a curt nod and left the room to rally his troops, Éomer and his men following close behind. Soon only the four hunters and Gandalf remained behind. The wizard turned to the others.
"The game you played could have ended very differently, though I believe the best has come out of this." He faced Rita who was still struggling to keep her anger in check. "Let it go child, though the men of Rohan are strong and proud they are unable to see that women play a more important part than they believe. Do not let yourself be bothered by their opinions."
Rita closed her eyes at this and when she opened them again all could see that most of the anger had disappeared and only a strong look of resilience had replaced it.
"I wanted to thank you for standing up for me guys" she said "It made me feel better to know you were on my side."
"Of course" huffed Gimli "You do not believe we would leave you behind in this place now do you? We have more honor than that. Besides you have battled with us and you did well, I do not see what the problem is."
Legolas agreed with him. "Besides the points Gimli gave I also knew you would follow us anyway, you are too stubborn to listen to a command you do not like." She grinned at this, how these men had gotten to know her.
Aragorn turned her around so she faced him. "I am sorry I may have given you the opinion that I didn't want you to join us Rita. I was merely trying to find a suitable solution. Can you forgive me?"
"I have to admit that it hurt when you left me out in the cold Aragorn, but you came through in the end. I have to apologize as well because what I said was uncalled for."
"I will forgive you when you forgive me." He held his hand out for her to shake. She grabbed it and both looked at each other with identical grins on their face.
Gandalf huddled them out of the room. "Now we have solved all our petty conflicts we must get ready, come there is much work to do."
A/N: Conflict, hope you liked. I tried to add more detail in this part so let me know what you think ok? I'll update tomorrow again and it will be longer than this one I promise.