Chapter 2
Éowyn bit back a gasp of surprise. No. It cannot be. Grima Wormtongue cannot be standing a mere few feet away from me, she thought. She whirled around abruptly, feeling ill. Haldir turned to her.
"Did you see that?"
"See what?" she asked, feigning a countenance of ignorance.
"Grima Wormtongue. Saruman's faithful servant is here at the back…"
Éowyn sighed. "Haldir, I know. Do you suppose he's a spy now?" Haldir stared at the figure that was now making his way towards the newly crowned king. Éowyn gestured towards the direction in which he was heading.
"Perhaps we ought to warn Éomer. Remember the trance Grima managed to put your uncle in…" Haldir said hurriedly. Éowyn could only remember too well the dreadful times, and she had been delighted when they had ended. No way could she possibly go through more months of that, wondering if any of his soul was left, and how much of him was actually untainted and uncorrupted by his lies and deceit…
They walked to Éomer's side. "Good evening, Éowyn, Haldir," he said, but faltered at the sight of the matching looks of worry on both their faces.
"Your Majesty," Haldir said with appropriate pomp and circumstance, "Grima Wormtongue, a traitor of the kingdom of Rohan, has the audacity to turn up at this coronation," he said.
"We must find out what he wants. There cannot be much that he wants from us, now that the Ring has been destroyed, and he and his master cannot possibly still harbour thoughts of ruling Middle-Earth again," Éomer said firmly.
"We must not assume anything at this point of time, " he added. "And Éowyn, I must insist that you stick close to Haldir, and do not let Wormtongue get within five feet within your radius," he emphasized.
As they spoke, Grima appeared before Éomer and said revently, "Your Majesty," Éomer gave him a quick glance before letting his eyes wander to Éowyn and Haldir, who both looked disturbed at the interruption.
"Rise, Grima Wormtongue," Éomer said slowly and deliberately. He could not afford to betray any uncertainty, worry or hesitation. Grima's eyes darted around wildly, his nostrils dilating in either fear or nervousness.
"Your Majesty," he repeated, "I come to seek refuge in this noble country, alone," he said, bowing. "I come under no orders, and of my own free will. This, you can have my word that I mean no malice," he said.
Éomer stared at him hard. As diplomatically as he could, he gave Grima a curt nod. "I will return shortly to discuss this matter with you," he said coolly.
"Éowyn, Haldir, may I have a word?" he asked hurriedly. "Would it be advisable to let him stay first and then discover the plot he is hatching, or do we choose not to let him stay at all?" he asked tersely. The last thing he needed was to awaken one morning to find Rohan under siege…again.
Haldir shook his head. "I think we ought to let him stay, then worm the truth out of him,"
"I am obliged to agree. We do not want him to know that we suspect he is up to some vile plot of his again," Éowyn said.
Éomer sighed. "Then, it is settled,"
As Éomer walked back to speak to Grima Wormtongue, Haldir and Éowyn left for the side of the room and watched the strange exchange between the two men. As Éomer spoke, Grima made repeated bows before turning around, a faint trace of a smile appearing on his bloodless lips.
Haldir motioned to Éowyn. "I have a feeling there is someone instigating these deeds. I think I ought to spy on him for the time being…"
Éowyn's face clouded over momentarily. "Haldir, can you imagine? Perhaps he's got an entire horde of people with him?"
"Look, Éowyn, I'll be fine, I promise I'll take care, and always be on top of the situation," he said, giving her a kiss on the cheek. Putting on a cloak, he stepped out into the chilly air of Rohan nighttime, and heard voices coming from a seemingly abandoned shack a distance away.
"Remember, Grima, you are not to tell anyone about my presence here," a voice said. The voice was warm, tempting and even welcoming.
"Yes, Master. We shall not be foiled this time," he said. Master? Haldir thought. Surely Saruman couldn't be here?
"The first part of the plan is complete. Now that you are here, we shall remove this incompetent king from power. Not even the fool Gandalf can save them now," the other voice said, before bursting into soft, hypnotic laughter.
