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Author's note: I really enjoy your reviews, thank you for those, and I hope you get a kick out of this chapter.
Chapter 20: That is all that Ever Mattered
As told, they traveled to Isengard the next morn. Legolas had decided to join them and thought greatly upon the words that Aragorn had bestowed upon him.
A most welcoming sight was before the group traveling towards Isengard, as they met two whom they did not expect, but were most glad to.
"You young rascals! A merry hunt you've led us on, and now we find you, feasting and… smoking!" said Gimli, beaming with relief and happiness.
"We are sitting on a field of victory, enjoying a few well-earned comforts. The salted pork is particularly good." said Pippin with his mouth full.
Gandalf shook his head in mock disgust, "Hobbits."
"We're under orders, from Treebeard, who's taken over management of Isengard." said Merry, sitting happily next to Pippin amidst the ruin.
The rest of the group rode in, and Aurel was most happy to hear the two little hobbit's voices. She rode up to them quickly and jumped off her horse, picking them both up in an embrace.
"Lady Aurel!" squealed Pippin.
She set them back down and checked over them.
"I can assure you that no harm has come upon them." said Treebeard observing Aurel, "It is a great honour to have one of Elrond's children here among us."
Eomer, who had not known she was of Elrond's line, looked surprised.
She smiled up at him.
"Young Master Gandalf. I'm glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and stone I can master. But there is a Wizard to manage here, locked in his tower." said Treebeard.
Aragorn rode a little closer to the door of the tower, "Show yourself." he whispered.
"Be careful. Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous." Gandalf warned Aragorn.
Gimli looked up at the tower, "Well, let's just have his head and be done with it.!"
"No, we need him alive. We need him to talk."
It was then that Saruman's voice could be heard coming from above the tower. Aurel mounted her horse and held a look of contempt for the wizard as he approached the tower's edge and looked down upon the group.
"You have fought many wars and slain many men, Theoden King, and made peace afterwards. Can we not take counsel together as we once did, my old friend? Can we not have peace, you and I?"
Theoden gritted his teeth, "We shall have peace. We shall have peace when you answer for the Westfold and the children that lie dead there! We shall have peace when the lives of the soldiers whose bodies were hewn even as they lay dead against the gates of Hornburg, are avenged! When you hang from a gibbet for the sport of your own crows, we shall have peace." He tightened his hold on his horse's reigns.
"Gibbets and crows? Dotard! What do you want, Gandalf Greyhame? Let me guess. The Key of Orthanc. Or perhaps the Keys of Barad-dur itself along with the crowns of the seven kings and the rods of the Five Wizards!
"Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousands more are at risk. But you can save them, Saruman. You were deep in the enemy's counsel." replied Gandalf.
"So you have come here for information. I have some for you." He raised the Palantir he held and gazed into it. "Something festers in the heart of Middle-Earth. Something that you have failed to see. But the Great Eye has seen it." He covered the Palantir with his grey tattered robe and wickedly smiled at the group down below him. "Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon. You are all going to die."
Gandalf dared to move closer to the tower of Orthanc.
"But you know this don't you Gandalf? You cannot think that this Ranger will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor. This exile, crept from the shadows, will never be crowned king. Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those closest to him, those he professes to love. Tell me, what words of comfort did you give the Halfling before you sent him to his doom? The path that you have set him on can only lead to death." He coaxed.
"I've heard enough! Shoot him. Stick an arrow in his gob." said Gimli to Legolas.
"No." said Gandalf to Legolas, "Come down, Saruman, and your life will be spared."
"Save your pity and your mercy. I have no use for it!" Saruman raised his hands up in the air and sent down a giant fire-ball towards Gandalf. The giant flame surrounded him, but with a shield of his own to protect him, Gandalf was not hurt, and Saruman's power had no hold over him.
"Saruman, your staff is broken." said Gandalf
Saruman's staff broke into pieces as soon as Gandalf had said those words. An unexpected face showed itself as Grima walked up behind Saruman.
Theoden looked up upon his expression with fear with pity. "Grima, you need not follow him. You were not always as you are now. You were once a Man of Rohan. Come down."
"A Man of Rohan? What is the house of Rohan but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the reek and their brats roll on the floor with the dogs? The victory at Helm's Deep does not belong to you, Théoden Horse-master. You are a lesser son of greater sires."
Theoden ignored Saruman's words, "Grima, come down. Be free of him."
"Free? He will never be free."
"No." whispered Grima.
"Get down, cur!" yelled Saruman, knocking Grima down.
"Saruman! You were deep in the enemy's counsel. Tell us what you know!" shouted Gandalf; he could see that Grima was slowly approaching Saruman with a look of disdain
Saruman took no notice of Grima. "You withdraw your guard, and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner here." said Saruman.
Suddenly Grima pounced on Saruman, taking out a small dagger he had hidden and stabbing Saruman several times.
Legolas, do something! , thought Aurel looking up at the scene before her.
Legolas took an arrow and released it, hitting Grima and causing him to fall away from Saruman. But Saruman was already gravely injured and fell forward, off the tower, and down onto a spear. Aurel looked on in disgust, as his speared body lay there in front of all the riders.
Disappointed in not having accomplished anything, Gandalf turned away from Saruman's body. "Send word to all our allies, and to every corner of Middle-Earth that still stands free. The enemy moves against us. We need to know where he will strike." He looked back upon Saruman's body sinking into the very filth he had created Isengard into, wishing he understood why such a faithful friend had turned into one of the greatest traitors of Middle-Earth. The Palantir Saruman held within his robe slid out and Pippin was mesmerized by its bright orange glow. He went to search for it.
"The filth of Saruman is washing away. Trees will come back to live here. Young trees. Wild trees." said Treebeard.
"Pippin!" said Aragorn, who had caught him holding the Palantir for only few seconds.
"Peregrin Took! I'll take that, my lad. Quickly now."
Pippin handed over the Palantir to Gandalf, who carefully wrapped it and put it away from sight.
"Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country. Hail the victorious dead!" said Theoden.
"Hail!" responded the crowd, lifting their drinks up into the air and then drinking.
Legolas put the ale that was given to him down. He dared not drink any more of it. It had tasted fouler than he had imagined it to be. Aurel had not attended and he felt excluded in his lack of understanding at the Men's celebration. Days ago their fathers, brother, sons, friends, had died in a gruesome battle and now they were drinking ale and laughing, unaware of the danger and threat they were in.
"Not enjoying yourself?" asked Gandalf smiling; he looked at the troubled expression on Legolas's face. "You do not understand the ways of Men. I suppose it must be confusing the first time for a being such as you."
"I do not see the want or need for celebration. People are still dying."
"For many here it will be the last time for laughter and drinking. They do not have time to linger over the dead or dying. Not all are gifted with immortality."
"I am not immune to death, nor do I view the world as an Elfling away from home." Legolas had been a little insulted by his insinuation of not understanding, simply because he was an elf.
Gandalf changed the subject. "How is the Lady Lothluin?"
"Near death."
"That is most saddening news, I am sorry." Gandalf observed Legolas; he looked as if he was suffocating. "Go, go, this is not a place for you. Go out to the stars, they were made for the firstborn."
Legolas gave a tilt of the head and quickly walked out the large doors of hall.
"Where does he go?"
"Out to the open air. It is not his place her, and Aurel did not show herself tonight."
"Of course not. You know her; a place like this would only make her feel trapped."
You stink of Ale and human!
He smiled, "I think I am beginning to get used to it."
Not even in jest.
"Why did you not attend?"
What? She wore a cloak that covered her head, and it kept her face hidden in the shadows. She held on to the large stones that made up the northern wall, it gave view to a dark land that howled in rough winds. It was not my place there. Her eyes shined in the darkness. And you? The festivities have not ended, why have you left?
"There was no reason to stay."
Legolas, I want to take Lothluin to Lothlorien.
"What for?"
To heal.
"She is not your priority, you are needed here. And—she cannot be moved, you know this."
She cannot be moved only if she is not constantly looked after; I can do that for her, I can make sure she makes the journey to Lothlorien. I will ride back when I know she is safe.
"Alone? Are you mad? What is compelling you towards such foolery?"
You are not well. You are worried for her. And you cannot leave, if she dies, the regret will stay with you for a very long time, living can be unbearable with regret such as that.
"Your selflessness in this matter touches me Aurel, but no. I do not give you permission to take her anywhere."
Why not? It would be for her better.
"There are many reasons why not, she is very weak, you cannot properly look after her and yourself, not when you are riding alone….with Sauron's army at your tail, the worry of your making journey's end would be greater for me, no."
Do not be so stubborn, this may be her only chance.
"And it may be her undoing. The fading has gone too far."
The fading had gone too far when I first reached Lothlorien, do you not remember? And I recovered.
"You said yourself your fading was for a different reason."
What is the matter with you? I have done all I can, there is nothing more than can be done by any others here…give her this chance. Galadriel will be able to help her. At least give her some hope for survival.
"Hope? What do you know of it?" said Legolas harshly.
Aurel turned away, angered at his stubbornness and his defensiveness when all other forms of discussion were not useful to him. I will not let what you just said affect me Legolas, you speak too rashly.
"And you speak of foolish things! Risking your life so that she might have some chance of survival from fading? What can be done for fading? There is nothing that can be done for her unless I---." Legolas stopped himself, he did speak too rashly.
Aurel cocked her head to the side. Unless you what?
"Nothing."
Tell me.
"There is nothing to tell."
Aurel approached him and tried to get a grasp of his hand. You are trembling. There is something. Stop trying to hide from me. She pulled the hood of her cloak back. Why are you so worried for me? You know I can do this. I want to do this for you, to repay you for all that you have done for me.
"You owe me nothing Aurel."
What is it that burdens you?
"I fear you will not understand."
Put your fear aside, I am not rash to judge. What is it?
Legolas remembered his dream from before; the look on her face when she had heard that Lothluin was Legolas's betrothed. He shook his head. "Do you love me Aurel?"
Aurel's heart stopped at the question, but she had always been honest about how she felt. Of course I love you.
He closed his eyes and sighed, "I fear that what I have to tell you will hurt you." He opened his eyes andreached into the pouch he had with him and took out the ring that Aurel found in the hand of Lothluin. He held it the palm of his hand for a moment, before placing it in Aurel's. "This ring is significant to the Royal house of Mirkwood. It was given to me, to give to the one I wished to marry."
At first Aurel did not understand what he had said to her, and she stared at the ring placed so gently in the palm of her hand. Lothluin held it...
Legolas nodded.
Then it dawned on her. Lothluin held this. She looked up at him. She is your betrothed?
And the look that he had feared so much appeared on her face; the look of complete shock, hurt and sadness overwhelming every feature that she possessed. Why did you not tell me of this before? Tears formed in her eyes, and began to run down her cheeks.
"How was I to tell you?"
And what would it have mattered to me that you are betrothed? You think that the very sole of my existence depends on yours? She wiped away the tears and placed the ring on the top ledge of the stone wall beside her, she was seething in anger.
He could feel the anger that overwhelmed her and he backed away.
Lothluin came looking for you, didn't she? Why did you fear telling me Legolas? Because of my fading? Or did you think that I would mistake your actions for that of one a lover would make? You are betrothed!? She turned away only to be faced with the ring on the ledge. Her anger subsided for a moment and it was replaced with a great sadness, she placed the hood back on her head. I am sorry if led you to believe that you had to love me so that I would not fade. That is not the way things are. You do not have a responsibility towards me any longer. She is the one you should apologize to, she is the one who will fade without your love…don't you see Legolas, don't you realize? She looked at him, her eyes brighter than they had ever been. You are standing here before me alive and well, that is all that matters…that is all that ever mattered to me.
