Chronicle 6
Nienna held her sword low as she crept through the undergrowth of Fangorn Forest. Legolas pulled a branch back allowing her to pass. She smiled in thanks and caught up with Aragorn.
"Orc blood!" Gimli called out from behind, rubbing his fingers together.
The others looked back while Nienna moved onwards. Soon she noticed something on the forest floor. "Aragorn?" she called to him, "What is this?"
"These are strange tracks…" Aragorn looked down.
"The air is so close in here." Gimli commented.
"This forest is old… very old." Legolas murmured, "Full of memory… and anger…"
Nienna walked forward, her skin prickling. Sounds filled the forest. "The trees are speaking to each other." Legolas said, his eyes turning to meet her own. He knew she could feel something… he could feel it too. He moved to beside her.
"Gimli!" Aragorn looked at Gimli.
"Huh?" Gimli replied.
"Lower your axe…" Aragorn whispered.
Silence fell upon the group as all listened. "Aragorn, nad no ennas!" Nienna whispered.
"Man cenich?" Aragorn asked.
"The White Wizard approaches…" Legolas murmured. Nienna's head shot round towards him and she knew he spoke true.
"Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us," Aragorn wrapped his hand around his sword. Legolas slowly lifted his bow, Gimli his axe and Nienna pulled out her twin blades.
"We must be quick," Aragorn murmured.
They swung to attack when a bright light emanating from the White Wizard blinded them. Nienna instinctively threw her blades which he easily deflected along with Gimli's axe and Legolas' arrows. Aragorn yelled in pain and dropped his sword.
Nienna dropped into a defence stance as the White Wizard spoke, "You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits."
"Where are they?" Aragorn demanded.
"They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"
Nienna's brow furrowed as he spoke and she felt a shiver of anticipation run up her spine. She tried desperately to place his voice.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragorn cried.
Nienna squinted as the light faded and her eyes widened. She gasped and fell to her knees, the others following. "Gandalf…" she whispered.
"It cannot be! You fell!" Aragorn tried to comprehend the situation.
"Through fire and water," he told them, "From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought him, the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside… darkness took me… and I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead, and everyday was as long as the life age of the earth… but it was not the end. I felt light in me again. I've been send back until my task is done."
"Gandalf!" Aragorn cried.
Gandalf looked at him in puzzlement, "Gandalf?" Realisation dawned on him, "Oh yes. That's what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name."
"Gandalf…" Gimli muttered.
"I am Gandalf the White." Gandalf told them, "I come back to you now, at the turn of the tide. Come."
They followed him out of the forest to the clearing. "One stage of your journey is over, another begins." He told them, "War has come to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras with all speed."
He whistled and in the distance a white horse appeared across the plain.
"That is one of the mearas," Legolas exclaimed, "unless my eyes are cheated by some spell."
"Shadowfax." Gandalf smiled, "He's the lord of horses and has been my friend through many dangers." He swung up onto Shadowfax and waited for them.
Gimli moved towards Arod when Aragorn placed a hand on his shoulder. Gimli looked at him, his brow furrowed. Aragorn pointed at Nienna and then nodded at Legolas. Gimli smiled and nodded in silent agreement. He turned and climbed onto Hasufel and Aragorn swung up in front of him.
Nienna turned towards them and stopped, puzzled. She looked around at Legolas who sat upon Arod and walked towards him. He held his arm out, grabbed her hand and pulled her up behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and he kicked his heels into Arod's sides.
Nienna looked up at the village above her and saw a figure clad in white. She smiled, knowing who it would be.
"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld," Gandalf caught her attention, "There dwells Théoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong. Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here."
"You'll find more cheer in a graveyard." Nienna smiled at Gimli's comment.
Inside the city walls they dismounted and climbed the steps. Nienna stood between Gimli and Aragorn as guards approached them and the leader spoke, "I cannot allow you before Théoden kind so armed, Gandalf Grayhame- by order of Grima Wormtongue."
Nienna looked at Gandalf for guidance and handed over her weapons at his signal.
"Your staff." The guard said.
"Eh? Oh no, you would not part an old man from his walking stick?" Gandalf smiled innocently. The guard sighed and nodded him through and he took Legolas' arm.
They entered the hall and Nienna instinctively took note of how many were around them. She looked at Gimli and then ahead. She noticed a small man sitting beside the old, decrepit remains of her grandfather's friend, Théoden. Her skin crawled as she looked him and she reached out and grabbed Aragorn's hand, fright taking her.
He looked at her, concerned, "What is it?"
"That… thing… that man… I can feel the evil seeping from him… infecting all around him."
"Be strong, he will not hurt you."
The man whispered something to Théoden as Gandalf began to speak, "The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden King."
"Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?" Théoden slurred his words.
"A just question, my liege," the man stood up, "Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill news is in ill guest."
"Be silent!" Gandalf hissed, "Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy gird words with a witless worm!" He raised his staff.
Grima's eyes widened, "His staff! I told you to take the wizard's staff!"
Guards lunged at them and Nienna caught one of them with a punch to the face. She punched another hard in the stomach, causing him to double over, and brought her elbow down between his shoulder blades pushing him to the floor. She looked up and saw Grima trying to escape. She kicked a guard out of the way and spun in front of him, "Don't even think about it." He reached up to punch her and she blocked it, grabbed hold of him and threw him to the floor.
Gimli stood over him, "I've got him." Nienna nodded and moved to Aragorn's side, watching the exorcism.
"Théoden, son of Théngel. To long have you sat in the shadows." Gandalf walked towards him, "Attend to me. I will release you from this spell."
Théoden began to laugh, "You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey." He continued to laugh until Gandalf threw back his cloak, revealing his white clothes. Théoden started and leant back into his throne.
Gandalf pointed his staff at Théoden, "I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound."
Théoden cried out. Nienna felt someone try to push past her and she turned as Aragorn stopped Éowyn. "Wait!" he whispered.
Éowyn looked at her and tried to place her, "How do I…?"
Nienna took her arm, "Our families are old friends."
Realisation dawned on Éowyn's face, "Nienna-"
Her words were cut short as a voice not of her uncle's came from deep within his throat, "If I go Théoden dies."
Gandalf pointed his staff towards Théoden, who flew backwards, "You did not kill me- you will not kill him."
"ROHAN IS MINE!" Saruman's voice thundered throughout the hall.
"Be gone!" Gandalf returned.
Théoden sprang towards Gandalf and, with a loud yelp, was flung backwards.
Éowyn broke free of Aragorn's grasp and ran to her uncle's side. Nienna watched bewildered as Théoden's body changed; growing younger. Lines on his face smoothed out and his eyes became brighter. In a few seconds he had changed from an old man to a young one, becoming the King he was supposed to be.
He looked at Éowyn in confusion, his speech soft and hesitant. "I know your face…" he murmured, his eyes lighting in recognition, "Éowyn… Éowyn!" He looked around the hall and his eyes fell upon the group in front of him. He looked at the wizard, "Gandalf?"
"Breathe the free air again." Gandalf replied, reassuring him.
Théoden stood up slowly, "Dark have been my dreams of late."
Gandalf took a step forward, "Your fingers would remember their own strength better… if they grasped your sword."
The leader of Théoden's guards stepped forward and held out the King's sword sheath. Théoden drew his sword and held it in his hands, feeling strength surge through him once more. His gaze fell upon Grima, who lay at Gimli's feet. He pointed at him, "Guards! Seize him!"
They followed Théoden outside where the guards threw Grima down the stone steps of the village.
"Aargh!" Grima exclaimed. He scrambled to his knees, "I've only ever served you my lord!"
"Your witchcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" Théoden yelled down at him, anger boiling to the top.
"Send me not from your side!"
Nienna felt Aragorn push past her as Théoden raised his sword to strike Grima. "No, my lord!" Aragorn grabbed his hand, "No, my lord. Let him go. Enough blood has been spilt on his account."
Grima scrambled to his feet and pushed through the crowd.
"Hail, Théoden, King!" Aragorn exclaimed, as the crowd knelt before their king.
Nienna watched Grima ride off into the distance, knowing that he rode to report to his master; Saruman. She followed Legolas and Gimli inside.
"Lady Nienna? Of Ered Luin?" Cálena turned at Éowyn's voice.
"Yes, it is I." Nienna replied.
"Why… why have you journeyed so far?" Éowyn asked, "I cannot believe that it is simply to heal an old man."
"Come with me," Nienna took her arm and led her into the main hall. They sat at a bench facing one another, "Lady Éowyn, your people are in great danger. A terrible power rises in the East. At Mordor, an old evil rises once more.
We, once ten, set out from the Elvin city of Rivendell and have traveled a long and treacherous journey. We have lost one friend, a human by the name of Boromir of Gondor to death. Another two, hobbits named Merry and Pippin, were captured by Urak-hai but have since been saved. Two more, hobbits by the names of Frodo and Sam, we were separated from at Amon Hen. Frodo is the ring-bearer and he alone holds the power to destroy this evil.
Éowyn, we are old friends so I will be frank; there are servants of Lord Sauron of Mordor who will move through these villages, raping and pillaging. I do not yet know if it has begun but it will reach this place and your people will not stand a chance. We must move them; call together an army and get the children to safety."
"My uncle would never stand for it." Éowyn replied.
"You must convince him."
"Nienna, I-" her words were interrupted by shouting outside. They rushed to the door to see guards lifting two small children from a tired horse.
They looked at one another and hurried to the children, each taking one in their arms. "We will care for them." Nienna told the guards.
"They had no warning," Éowyn told them, "They were unarmed."
Nienna stroked the young boy's hair and looked up, "Now the wildmen are moving through westfold, burning as they go, every rick, cot and tree."
"Where's mama?" the girl asked, frantically.
"Hush!" Éowyn placed her hand on the child's head.
"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash." Gandalf gestured towards the children, trying to convince Théoden, "All the more potent for he is driven mad by the fear of Sauron. Ride out and meet him head on. Draw him away from your women and children. You must fight."
"You have 2000 good men riding north as we speak." Aragorn joined in, "Èomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king"
"They will be 300 leagues from here by now. Èomer cannot help us." Théoden argued, "I know what is that you want of me. But I would not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war."
"Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not!" Aragorn exclaimed.
Théoden walked towards Aragorn until they were eye-to-eye, "When last I looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan."
Aragorn gritted his teeth.
"Burp!" Gimli's inappropriate timing caused Nienna to smirk and roll her eyes.
"Then what is the king's decision?" Gandalf asked.