Disclaimer: See Prologue.

Chapter 37

Snake in Edoras

"He is not so mighty yet, that he is above fear. Doubt ever gnaws at him... The rumors have reached him; the heir of Nོཾmenor still lives, and with him, is his other prize... Sauron fears you, Aragorn..."

Arodwen thought she was still dreaming... That sounds so much like Gandalf... How I miss that dear wizard... Wait...

Her eyelids slowly parted, blearily trying to discern where in Eru's name she was. The last thing she could remember was talking to Legolas... Or, had that been part of her dreams too?

"We must be careful... Sauron's spies are all around us now. The Ring remains hidden and on its way to Mount Doom, but, he has other plans he can carry out. To destroy the heir of Nོཾmenor is one thing, but it would not serve purpose enough now as it would have done years and years ago. No... He wants Arodwen. So he may divulge information about our doings, and then break her - the only daughter of a Valar. The grief it would bring to Yavanna and A྄le would be great - as much as when the Light of the Two Trees was destroyed. We must protect her - not only for her sake, but for our own, and for the Valar."

Arodwen felt the pain of her wounds. She felt so very cold, even though she was truly burning with fever. But all this was dulled by the sheer happiness she felt at realizing that the Istari was only a few feet away from her.

"Mithrandir...?" She called out weakly, straining her neck to try and see Aragorn and Gandalf.

Her call brought a sudden bustle of movement; Aragorn and Gandalf turned sharply to her, small grins lifting their lips as they came hastily over to her. Legolas, who'd been keeping watch nearby, hurried from his post with concern taking over his once unreadable features. And, Gimli grunted and rolled over in his sleep.

Arodwen then looked at Legolas in surprise as he knelt down, her eyes widening in disbelief and joy. Mouth slightly agape, she reached out with a carefully bandaged hand, gently laying it on his pale cheek. He smiled back at her, blue eyes alight, and caught her hand in his own to hold it in place.

"I thought you'd died; I saw it - " she whispered, her voice cracking slightly.

Legolas just grinned and shook his head. "That is what you said last time you woke, maethoreth nin. Just bad dreams again, mel nin. Heed them not, we are all here and alive." (my warrior) (my dear)

Arodwen then turned to look upon the reborn Istari - smiling brightly. "I am very glad to see you, Mithrandir. Your council and guidance was greatly missed."

The White Wizard chuckled softly, settling back on his heels as he used his grand staff for support. The famed twinkle was still in his eyes. "Guidance and council, however, is not what you need now, Valariell," (Daughter of Valar) he said sternly. "Healing, I am sorry to say, is not prominent among the gifts I was bestowed with."

"Which is why we must make haste, to Meduseld. Gandalf must free the King from Saruman's treachery before the kingdom yields to Sauron's forces. We must also seek aid for Arodwen," Aragorn said, picking up Hasufel's saddle and going to tack up the sorrel stallion.

"I'll be well soon," Arodwen protested, "Don't burden yourself - "

"Your survival and health, Arodwen, is not a burden to any," Gandalf intoned sternly, calling Shadowfax to him.

Arodwen sighed wearily, "Very well. But there shall be not more stops on my account; I can rest just as easily on a horse as I may on the ground."

Arodwen was set before Legolas at the insistence of Gimli, who did not begrudge the switch of riding partners. The dwarf claimed to not want to separate the lovebirds so soon. But Arodwen knew better; he just wanted to tease the life out of them.

So, while she was not drifting off into a feverish sleep, she was watching the tips of Legolas's ears redden brightly, and his lips purse into a thin line.

"So lad, what exactly did you do for that time you spent in the Lady's world?" Gimli asked, broaching the subject that had never before been touched.

Legolas answered without emotion, "We hardly ever left her home."

"Ahh," Gimli said with a raised furry eyebrow, obviously coming to his own (not to mention wrong) conclusion, "I see."

It was a few moments before Legolas understood what the dwarf was implying. His head jerked around to gape at the smirking dwarf as he sputtered, "Gimli! I - we - that's just - we never! - You are despicable!"

Aragorn laughed aloud at the scandalized look on Arodwen's face, and the reddening face of Legolas.

"Gimli! That's vile!" Arodwen reprimanded, though failing to conceal her amusement after a few second's silence, and laughing loudly. Much to the dislike of Legolas.

Gandalf soon interrupted their humorous banter by calling out, "We are nigh upon the city!"

Aragorn heard Legolas sigh loudly. Looking over, he saw that the elf had an expression of great relief upon his face, and his eyes were closed in sudden contentment.

Soon, they would be able to help Arodwen heal. And perhaps sooner, defeat Saruman.

The villagers stared at them as they passed; some with blank looks, others with expressions of resentment or disgust, and some with mild curiosity tinged with a sense of wariness.

None in the city had ever seen an elf; and now there were two! Two warrior elves, one in the arms of the other, trotting leisurely past on a horse of Rohan. Needless to say, the phrase "These are strange days indeed," came up frequently.

Arodwen noticed some of the resentful glares she and her companions were receiving, and tried to forget them. But the looks of scorn burned into the back of her head even after they had passed the main villagers, and were heading up the steeper slope to the Golden Halls of Meduseld.

Legolas's voice suddenly whispered in her ear, making her start a little, and tense up. "Do not speak to anyone; we shall handle this mel nin. You are very ill. If you strain yourself more than you should, you will become lost to any of our aid. Please, just hold on a little longer..."

Arodwen didn't need to answer him, she knew he was right, and he knew she would understand and see sense.

When they reached the steps, Aragorn came over to take Arodwen in his arms while Legolas dismounted. The ranger gave the elleth a reassuring smile, and winked at her with brotherly affection before carefully passing her back to Legolas.

"I cannot allow you before Theིཾden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhem (A/N: is that how you spell it? I honestly don't remember...), by order of... Grima Wormtongue." The guard, Hུma, declared to the five when they reached the top stair. The name of the King's advisor was obviously like a foul taste on his tongue when the door warden said it.

Aragorn was loathe to part with Andོཾril, commanding that no man should touch it, before relinquishing it to the Rohirric guards. The weapons of Legolas were handled with reverence, and Gimli's axes were given reluctantly.

The Halls opened to them, and they began their way inside. The moment Legolas carried her over the threshold of the room, Arodwen felt a great wave of foreboding and fear wash over her. A servant of the dark lord was here... Saruman was waiting...

Arodwen barely had enough strength now to lift her head and look around. The moment her eyes fell upon the loathsome creature that was Wormtongue, dread filled her. Weak though he was, he still held influence over all of the guards, servants, and even the King himself. His beady black eyes locked with hers, and she swore she saw a glint of glee shining their. What did this snake know about her?

"The courtesy of your Hall is somewhat lessened of late, Thེoden King." Gandalf stepped forward, walking calmly and slowly to the throne; all faux weariness and weakness gone.

Arodwen heard Legolas whispering to her, softly and urgently, "Can you stand?"

She reluctantly nodded, answering wearily, "For but a moment..."

He set her on her feet gently, a firm grip on her arm until he was sure she could hold herself up.

"Late, is the hour in which this - conjurer - chooses to appear! Lathspell I name him! Ill news is an ill guest..." Grima hissed menacingly, clutching his robes as he stepped away from his liege toward the wizard.

"A witless worm you have become, Grima son of Galmond," Gandalf said in a powerful voice, "Therefore be silent, and keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a serving-man till the lightning falls." A great roll of thunder could be heard as the wizard threw aside his grey raiment, and revealed her bright white robes. All was cast in darkness, so only Gandalf was seen.

Yet from the darkness hissed Grima's voice; "Did I not warn you to forbid his staff! Seize them! Bind them!"

Arodwen stumbled backward to a pillar, and she leaned on it for support as she watched in fear, her companions fighting back the guards to allow Gandalf an unhindered path to the King.

"Not all is dark! Take courage, Lord of the Mark; for better help you will not find. I bid you come out before your doors and look abroad... Too long have you sat in the shadows and trusted to twisted tales and crooked promptings," Mithrandir counseled, taking his staff in hand, "I release you from this spell..."

Arodwen felt her strength waning as she slipped farther and farther down the pillar. Then all at once, she was pulled up sharply and pressed tightly against someone she knew was not her love.

She hissed in pain against the onslaught of her wounds; the pale hands clutching too tightly around her abdomen.

Then she heard his voice, as menacing as a snake's, and even more untrustworthy. "You are a fair enough prize for my failings here, Daughter of Yavanna," Grima whispered in her ear, as he clamped his other hand firmly around her mouth and pulled her behind the pillar; shielding her from view.

Arodwen tried to cry out from under his grip; but her screams were no more than muffled whimpers.

When she continued to struggle, she earned herself a swift punch in her stomach; Grima's fist connecting with one of her lacerations. She screamed as loud as she could from the agony, and blackness seeped in around her vision as she found herself fainting...

Well? What do you think? Will she make it? REVIEW PLEASE!