Disclaimer:

I owe nothing, everything belongs to mister Tolkien, who had created the wonderful fantasy story 'the Lord of the Rings'. Also I took some lines from the movie, as you might notice, they of course belong to Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.

Hama's Daughter

Chapter 5

Edoras, March 2st.

Today was Theodred' funeral. Today Lathwen would have to face the truth. Her beloved was dead, and she would have to continue on alone. She was standing in the Golden Hall, dressed completely in black staring to one of the tapestries that she had been cleaning once, before Theodred had come home.

Yesterday, when she had gone out riding with Éowyn, had been a good day for her. She had shared her memories with her friend. Never before had she shared her memories of Theodred with someone else then her father. It had been good to talk about him. And she had told herself that she had to remember him in her fond memories. Not the bad ones.

Her father entered the hall, and he wasn't supposed to be there. No he was supposed to keep watch, he made for the dais where the king sat on his thrown and bowed.

"My lord, three riders approach. The man have reason to believe that Shadow fax is one of the horses," Háma had spoken.

But out of a corner, close to the King a man came. Dressed in filthy black robes, his greasy black hair almost in front of his eyes.

"They are to be brought before the King unarmed," his voice, as slimy as ever, echoed through the now silent hall.

Háma was confused, he wasn't supposed to take orders from counsellors, so he looked to his King again who nodded slowly. Háma did not dare to speak up now so he bowed and walked out of the Golden Hall again, but first he nodded grimly to his daughter who seemed distressed over the situation.

Today should be a day of mourning and of celebrating Theodred life, but instead, visitors were greeted. And although Háma knew that matters of the state always were more important then a funeral, he still felt sorry for his daughter.

Four man ascended the stairs, up to the platform that lay in front of the Golden Hall. Háma was surprised to see an elf, a man and a dwarf in company of the wizard. Yet he greeted them formally and then said; "I cannot allow you before Théoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame. By order of..." he hesitated for a moment and then said, "Grima Wormtongue."

Three other guards stepped forward, taking the various weapons of the four travellers. Finally all the weapons had been given to the guard… except for…

"Your staff…" Háma hated to say this, but Wormtongue had specifically said to take the staff as well."

It was the first time that Gandalf spoke, "You would not part an old man from his walking stick?"

Háma hesitated a moment before he nodded to them. The guards opened the doors for them and the four travellers enter.

In the mean while inside Lathwen had sat down for a moment, it seemed that the funeral had been post phoned, she rubbed her weary eyes and only looked up as the four travellers entered again.

It was Gandalf! Perhaps now everything would be alright, for there seemed to be a determent look on his face. There was an elf there as well. Lathwen almost stared to him, she had never seen an elf before. And a dwarf! Amazing, those beings were barely seen in the Mark. The human that travelled in the company seemed no more then a ranger, yet to Lathwen it seemed that this man was wise.

The four of them approached the throne and Lathwen, actually quite curious, followed them along with the rest of the court at a respectable distance. The worm was sitting next to the King, whispering in his ear. It was Gandalf who broke the silence.

"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden King."

Grima hissed something in Théoden' ear, but it was heard all over the hall, because of the stiff silence that had fallen, "He is not welcome."

The King spoke, his voice wasn't what it used to be and Lathwen was stuck by the fragility of this old man. "Why… should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?" Lathwen noticed that the King seemed to ask for approval to the worm who was now rising.

"A just question my liege." Lathwen shivered as she heard his voice, this man had send her beloved to his death.

"Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name you. Ill-news is an ill guest."

That simply had been rude! True, usually when Gandalf came to Edoras he took bad news with him, but he had warned them several times and because of those warnings they had been able to stop those things.

Gandalf held his white staff in front of Grima' face and said, "Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm."

This was when Grima became angry, if he did not act quickly everything would be discovered. Even though Gandalf did not have as much power as Saruman, he still was a wizard.

"His staff!" Grima exclaimed while he walked back, " I told you to take the wizard' staff!"

What happened then surprised Lathwen and she took a step back, her hand in front of her mouth. The lackeys of Grima moved towards Gandalf but were stopped by the other three who knocked them all down. In all this chaos Gandalf walked forward his hand reaching to Théoden.

"Théoden! Son of Thengel. Too long have you sat in the shadows."

Finally all the lackey and Grima had been knocked down and the dwarf had his foot on Grima who was laying on the ground. Would things finally be alright? Lathwen was praying to Bema that he would help Gandalf in whatever he was about to do to stop the King from this madness.

"Hearken to me. I release you… from this spell." And Gandalf closed his eyes in concentration, the hall had fell silent again and everybody was surprised when the King started to laugh. Yet Lathwen did not recognise his voice. It seemed to her that it wasn't the King who was speaking, but someone else.

"You have no power here… Gandalf the Grey!"

Gandalf threw off his cloak and Lathwen was surprise to see that under his grey cloak he was wearing white clothes.

The wizard' voice was determent as he said, "I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound."

The King head moved from side to side and he seemed to be in great pain, that was when Éowyn entered the room and made for her uncle, but she was stopped by the human, what he said to her, Lathwen did not hear, but Éowyn ceased her struggles to get to the King.

"If I go, Théoden dies."

Théoden said, but that could not be. It truly was someone else, talking through Théoden' mouth. It frightened Lathwen and she looked to her father who was looking grimly to the King who was still struggling.

"You did not kill me. You will not kill him."

"Rohan is mine!"

"Be gone!"

Théoden King who had stood up in this exchange fell back into his chair, this was the point where Eowyn broke free and ran to her uncle. What happened then in front of Lathwen eyes, she could barely believe it. The look of extreme old age that first was seen on Théoden began to disappear. His beard grew shorter and the many wrinkles faded away. His eyes, which first had been troubled were now as clear as ever.

Éowyn had tears in her eyes and her uncle spoke to her at first, " I know your face… Éowyn. Éowyn."

A true smile broke free on Lathwen face. Theodred would have been so happy to have his father back. With her smile tears also broke and rolled down her cheeks, but her smile remained where it was.

Then Théoden turned to Gandalf.

"Breathe the free air again, my friend," the wizard said with a smile on his face as he stepped back.

"Dark have been my dreams of late," the King said, carefully standing up and looking around. He had almost muttered it, but again everybody heard it.

"You fingers would remember their old strength better, if they grasped your sword."

Her father looked quite nervous and happy at the same time when he presented the King' sword Herugrim to his lord. Slowly the sword was pulled from its scabbard, the ring of metal was clear to be heard. Then his eyes land on Grima who backed away even further, but was stopped by the dwarf. Finally the Worm would be punished.

"Throw him out!" was the first command that the King gave, as he was back in his right mind.

Everybody followed when Grima was thrown down the steps and Théoden all the quicker. He followed him down the stairs with his sword drawn. Lathwen was standing next to Éowyn with a look of grim satisfactions on her face.

"I've only, ever, served you, my lord." Wormtongue was on his back now, crawling down the steps while trying to stay away from the King' sword.

Lathwen shuddered at his words, served the King, right. He had made sure that people had died needlessly. He had been in contact with Saruman. And it was Saruman who had killed Theodred. Serving indeed.

"Your leech craft would have had me crawling on all fours like a best!" The King was angry, that much was obvious.

"Send me not from your side…" Grima was pleading now, but Lathwen knew that he was pleading to death ears. Théoden would never listen. As the King raised his sword Lathwen hoped that the man would be killed, but it was the ranger (of Gandalf' travel companions) who had ran to the King and grabbed his hand, stopping Théoden from killing the beast.

"No, my lord! No, my lord. Let him go. Enough blood has been spilled on his account."

Grima, who was not one to not see an escape root when there was one. He scrambled on his feet and ran towards the gates. Lathwen was boiling with anger inside, but she kept it in check. The King knew what he was doing, it probably was the best way… Yet she wanted to see someone punished for Theodred death.

Villagers had collected around the steps and Grima had to make his way through it, "Get out of my way!" were the last words that Lathwen ever heard from him. As silence once again was present in the city one of the villagers yelled, "Hail! Théoden King!"

It did not take long for everybody to kneel and with tears in her eyes Lathwen did so as well. But when the King turned to look up at the people around him again and said;

"Where is Theodred? Where is my son?"

She couldn't bare it much longer, soon she was on her feet again, tears running over her cheeks. She saw the King looking her way and decided that was the sign to run. So she turned around and stormed back into the Golden Hall.

TBC...

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