The very next day (the dayafter the dawn)after thebloody battle Theoden and Eomer and their men rode for Isengard, Rohan's 'friendly' neighbor, along with Gandalf and the rest of Company.
Shay sat on her own horse besides Legolas and Gimli (she had persudage Legolas to ride with Gimli, it took a long time, and a lot of exchanges -.-').
"I suppose Saruman has no honey in his mouth left?" Shay asked as Gandalf rode up on her other side.
"He has no more power now, don't worry." Gandalf said as he sat up straight on his white horse.
"I'm sorry about Elix." Gandalf sighed.
Shay tilted her head and than smiled, "Don't worry about it, I'm sure where ever he is, he's rocking."
Gandalf raised his eyebrows, "Rocking?"
Shay nodded, "Yeah, having fun."
"I see you've changed."
Shay shook her head, "No, I haven't, I've just understand now, that's all."
"You certainly looked happier." Gimli said.
Shay turned her head to look at Gimli, "Yeah, I guess, I'm looking on the bright side."
I'm happy for you my love. Legolas said, his eyes flooded with love and care.
Shay grinned back, she knows she looked just as smitten as he does, but she doesn't care now. She's living now, and that's all that matters.
A strong place and wonderful was Isengard, that is until Saruman came and dirtied it with his little copy of Mordor. No men of Rohan had passed its gates and stil lived to tell the tales, saved Wormtongue who came in secret and told no man what he saw. But if Isengard had ever once been filthy, it is now washed clean. All about them now, as if there had been a sudden flood, wide pools of water lay beside the road, filling the hollows, and rills went trickling down among the stones.
Gandalf had rode ahead and he halted, beckoning to them; and they came, and saw that beyond him the mists had cleared, and a pale sunlight shone. The hour of noon had passed. They were come to the doors of Isengard.
But the doors lay hurled and twisted on the ground. And all about, stone, cracked and splintered into countless jagged shards, was scattered far and wide, or piled in ruinous heaps. The great arch still stood, but it opened now upon a roofless chasm: the tunnel was laid bare, and through the cliff-like walls on either side great rents and breaches had been torn; their twoers were beaten into dust. If the Great Sea had risen in wrath and fallen on the hills with strom, it could have worked no greater ruin.
The ring beyond was filled with teaming water: a bubbling cauldron, in which there heaved and floated a wreckage of beams and spars, chests and casks and broken gear. Twisted and leaning pillars reared their splintered stems above the flooed, but all the roads were drowned. Far off, it seemed, half veiled in winding cloud, there loomed the island rock. Still dark and tall, unbroken by the storm, the tower of Orthanc stood. Pale water lapped about its feet.
The king and all his company sat silent on their horses, marvelling, perceiving that the power of Saruman was overthrown; but how they could not guess. And now they turned their eyes toward the archway and the ruined gates. There they saw close beside them a great rubble-heap; and suddenly they were aware of two small figures lying on it at their ease, grey-clad, hardly to be seen among the stones. There were bottles and bowls and platters laid besdie them, as if they had just eaten well, and now rested from their labour. One seemed asleep; the otehr with crossed legs and arms behind his head, leaned back against a broken rock and sent from his mouth long wisps and little rings of thin blue smoke.
For a moment Theoden and Eomer and all his men stared at them in wonder. Amid all the wreck of Isendgard this seemed to them the strangest sight.
But before he could speak Shay had cried out,"Merry, Pippin!"
The two hobbits looked up and grinned, "Shay! Gandalf!"
Than Merry bowed very low and turned to Eomer and the king, "Welcom, my lords to Isengard!" he said. "We are the doorwardens. Meriadoc, son of Saradoc is my name; and my companion, who, alas! is overcome with weariness" - here he gave the other a dig with his foot - "is Peregrin, son of Paladin, of the house of Took. Far in the North is our home. The Lord Saruman is within; but at the moment he is closeted with one Wormtongue, or doubtless he would be here to welcome such honourable guest."
"Doubtless he would!" laughed Gandalf. "And was it Saruman that ordered you to guard his damaged doors, and watch for the arrival of guests, when your attention could be spared from the plate and bottle!"
"No good sir, the matter escaped him," answered Merry gravely. "He had been much occupied. Our orders came from Treebeard, who has taken over the management of Isengard. He commanded me to welcom the Lord of Rohan with fitting words. I have done my best."
"And what about your companions? What about Legolas, Shay, and me?" cried Gimli, unable to contain himself longer. "You rascals, you woolly-footed and wool-pated truants! A fine hunt you have led us! Two hundred leagues, and through fen and forest, battle and death, to rescue you! And here we find you feasting and idling-and smoking!Smoking!"
"You speak for me, Gimli," laughed Legolas, "though I would sooner learn how they came by the wine."
"One thing you have not found in your hunting, and that's brighter wits" said Pippin, opening an eye, "here ou find us sitting on a field of victory, amid the plunder of armies, and you wonder how we came by a few well-earned comforts!"
Shay laughed, a loud clear laugh that has not sounded since Moria, she jumped down from her horse and with a few leaps she was beside the hobbits hugging them.
The Riders laughed. "It cannot be doubted that we witness the meeting of dear friends," said Theoden. "So these are the losts ones of your company, Gandalf? The days are fated to be filled with marvels. Already I have see many since I left my house; and now here stand before my eyes yet another folk of legend, Holbytlan?"
"Hobbits, if you please, lord." Pippin said when Shay finally release them and sat down on the ruins beside them.
"Alright, where's Treebeard?" Gandalf asked, he fear if he let Pippin speak more, they will never get things done.
"Away on the north side, I believe. He went to get a drink - of clean water that is...and oh Treebeard left a message that, if Lord of Mark and Gandalf will ride to the northern wall they will find Treebeard along with food of the best, it was discovered and selected by your humble servants." Merry replied for Pippin.
"That is better, well Theoden will you ride with me to find Treebeard? And learn much about the oldest things, for he is the eldest and chief of Ents."
"I will come with you," said Theoden, "farewell my hobbits! May we meet again in my house!"
"So that's the King of Rohan," said Pippin in an undertone, "a fine old fellow. Very polite."
The Company did not follow Theoden and his men, instead they stayed with the two hobbits and they led them to a storage room full of food to feast on. The hobbits unabashed sat down to eat again, "To keep you company." as Merry said.
So that day they eat and rest, restoring energy and soul.
It was toward the late afternoon of the day when Gandalf came back, in his hands he carried something. Pippin's curiosity was lit on fire again, but Gandalf kept the mysterious thing out of sight.
They rode out of Isengard before the sunset, Shay rode with Merry while Aragorn carried Pippin.
They stopped for the night and set up camp a few leagues away from Endoras.
"Thank, God, my God that was long." Shay winced as she got off the horse and than helped Merry down.
Legolas came over and pulled her into a hug again, Shay blushed, My love, you're simply impossible.
I've missed you.
Shay laughed, I was right besides you the whole time.
Legolas said nothing, he was content to just hold her, Shay shook her head and pulled Legolas with her to set up camp, Come, I'm tired, and I need sleep. Shay sighed as she started to set up sleeping rolls.
That night Shay fell asleep happily curling against Legolas, that is until an unearthly scream awaken her.
She sat up abruptly and looked around, her dagger out in her hand, she could feel Legolas right beside her, as tense as she is.
Than she realized where the sound came from, it was Pippin, in his hand he held a black crystal ball.
Shay moved towards the hobbit, but Gandalf raised a hand to stop her, and went over by himself.
He snatched the ball away from the hobbit's hands and wrapped it around a cloth again, this time Shay ran over and place her hand on the hobbit's forehead, it was cold and clammy.
Suddenly Pippin's eyes opened wide and he struggled against Shay, "Pip, it's me, Shay, Pip!" Shay comforted.
Pippin's eyes begin to focus and he let out a wounded cry, "I...I saw him!"
Gandalf came over and asked roughly, "Who did you see!"
"Sauron!" Pippin gasped.
"What did you tell him?" Gandalf growled.
Pippin shuddered, "I saw, I saw a white tree! And than him."
"Nothing more?" Gandalf interrogated.
Pippin shuddered again, and Shay pulled him closer rocking him like a child, "No...It was horrible, forgive me Gandalf."
Gandalf said nothing, he just stood up and left.
Pippin looked up at Shay, "Shay..." he wimpered.
"Don't worry, I do believe Gandalf forgave you, you're a honest fool." Shay said.
After a while the camp went back to a fitful sleep and than the next morning came.
They arrived at Endoras the next day.
Gandalf didn't stay long, by midmorning he had taken Pippin and rode away to Gondor, apparently Pippin had told nothing, instead he had seen Sauron's plan, the Dark Lord moves to attack Gondor. He had heard the heir of Isildur had returned, and he is frightened. Therefore the hammer will fall the hardest on Gondor, the White City.
Shay kept Eowyn company, she had seen the maiden set her eyes on Aragorn often...and she knew it is not to be. Often she tried to reach the subject, but she's no counselor, she dared not to hurt her friend.
So she spend most of her days either with Eowyn or Legolas. She treasure those days, though they were like the calm before a horrible storm.
Than the storm came when the beacons of Amon Din was lit, and Rohan caught the fire. At first Theoden was reluctant to go to the aide of those who had not come to their aide. But at last fellowship won, and he consent that Rohan will answer Gondor's call for aide.
Hence, only a few weeks after the awful battle of Helm's Deep they prepared for another, equally if not more, dangerous trial.
They rode out of the city again, to Dunharrow, to gather men for a battle to Gondor. Eowyn rode with them, though she did not tell Shay why, Shay could guess.
The girl was in love with Aragorn, deeply.
They arrived at Dunharrow and set up camp at the top of the plateau, though only a few thousand came, Theoden claimed more will come.
That night Shay wandered around the camp, well that is she wandered until Legolas found her, Why do you not rest?
Shay shrugged, I'm looking for the stars. she said as she raised her head, but above them clouds had gathered and hidden any light from heaven. She did not say she was trying to avoid him, even now she feared of discovery, she could see herself fading away little by little, even now, it takes most of her will to make herself clear and solid.
I do believe Lord Elrond came. Shay said, steering away from the topic.
Legolas nodded, He went into King Theoden's tent.
You know of what he asks?
Legolas nodded again, We have not enough men, Aragorn must go into the Paths of the Dead.
You must follow him than. Shay said as she looked up.
Yes.
Go now than, before he leaves, I will not be going with you, my path bades me to stay. Shay said calmly.
Legolas remained silent for a second before nodding and he tilt Shay's head up and kissed her, not on the cheek but rather right on her mouth. And instead of the usual chaste kiss, this one was full of love, sweet, undying love.
At last Shay broke away and pushed him away, Go now, before I change my mind.
Legolas nodded and left, disappearing into the dark.
For a moment Shay stood there unmoving than with a swirl of her cloak she walked toward Eowyn's tent.
When she went in she found the poor woman weeping silently.
"Eowyn, tis I, your friend, Shay."
Eowyn looked up with a tearstreaked face, "he loves me not."
Shay sighed, she knew it would come to this, and she hates being a conselor too, but she said, "Eowyn, you're young, this is but a fraction of your life, let it go."
Eowyn shook her head, "I love him, I really do."
Shay sat down next to the woman and stroke her head, "I know you may think that now, but soon you'll meet someone else who's even more wonderful, trust me."
Eowyn made no sound, and Shay continued, "Trust me, I beg of you, I have never led you astray, and I shall not now."
Eowyn looked at her, than after a while she nodded, "Good, now dry your tears and be brave for the hour has come whence eveyone should be strong, for Rohan, for Gondor, and for mankind."
Once again a hidden fire is lit insdie Eowyn's soul and she slowly stood up with the help of Shay.
"I know, you will ride tomorrow, and I can do nothing to stop you. Yet, I want you to know that, I will be proud to fight beside the Shieldmaiden of Rohan."
Eowyn smiled, if not a little tearfully, and with tha Shay gave her a hug. They stayed together that night, for company and for courage, because who knows what tomorrow will bring?