They had stopped for the night, the group getting some much needed rest. Aragorn stood atop a rock, his blue eyes surveying the stars and the moon in the sky. He had been standing by himself for a few minutes when he felt a presence beside him. Looking to his left, he finds Gandalf. Their eyes meet briefly before Aragorn returns to gazing at the moon. It had become somewhat of a habit now, him sitting or standing and gazing up at the moon at night. Boromir, Legolas and Gimli never questioned him for they knew who it was that his mind thought of so they allowed their leader and friend some much needed rest with his thoughts.
"The veiling shadow that glowers in the East takes shape. Sauron will suffer no rival. From the summit of Barad-Dûr his Eye watches ceaselessly. But he is not so mighty yet that he is above fear. Doubt ever gnaws at him. The rumor has reached him: the heir of Númenor still lives. Sauron fears you, Aragorn. He fears what you may become. And so he'll strike hard and fast at the world of men." Aragorn stared intently at the moon before looking at the old Wizard and shrugging his shoulders in response.
There was a clear look of surprise of the Wizards face. "I do not fear him Gandalf," he said. "So he may try and strike the world of Men with everything he has but we will strike back just as hard."
His blue eyes found the back of the slumbering Boromir. A person that Aragorn can admit that he had only ill feelings for at the beginning but he had proven himself a great warrior, companion and friend. "There is strength yet in the world of Men, Boromir has taught me that," he remarked, his voice filled with conviction. "He did not forsake his own people unlike me and even though the Ring called to him, he did not answer. He instead pushed Frodo to leave with it."
"Gandalf, if he wishes for a fight then he shall get one. Eleniel believed in me, it is time that I believe in myself." He told his old friend, his eyes briefly glancing at the pendant around his neck.
"You are not the Ranger that I have known for these past many years." Gandalf said curiously, looking at him intently as if trying to understand who he is. Aragorn could only nod his head in agreement.
"That's because I am not him anymore, Gandalf." Aragorn turned away from the Wizard and focused once again on the moon, his hand firmly clenched around the sarnithil pendant. So focused was he on his thoughts that he did not notice the proud smiles of the now awake Man, Dwarf and Elf, none more proud than Boromir, son of Denethor.
They rode all day the next day until they saw it, a kingdom sat on a tall, green hill. "Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Théoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong." Gandalf told them as their horses stopped for a moment before continuing on.
They were almost at the gates of the city when Gandalf said to him, "Do not expect a warm welcome. Rohan is not as you remember it Aragorn." He nodded before riding in and seeing the state of Edoras and its people. It was as if the very happiness was stolen from everything in sight. There were no laughing children nor smiling people, welcoming them. Glancing towards where the King and his kin resided, the Golden Hall of Meduseld, the group saw a fair skinned girl with blonde hair stood there, looking right at them.
"Does she not look like Legolas?" Gimli whispered to the group causing Legolas to glare at the dwarf and his laughing friends. The group received many suspicious looks from the people or sidelong glances from the overly suspicious villagers. There was no cheer in Edoras.
Guards approached the company as they walk up the stairs towards the Hall. Their leader spoke to them, "I cannot allow you before Théoden king so armed, Gandalf Grayhame. By order of... Gríma Wormtongue." He spat the persons name as if it left a bad aftertaste in his mouth. The group briefly glanced at each other before immediately removing their many weapons from their bodies.
The leader, Háma, looked pointedly at Gandalf's staff. "Oh. No, you would not part an old man from his walking stick?" Háma looked at him with a knowing look in his eyes before nodding for them to continue into the Hall. Gandalf winked at the group while Legolas really went a step further and even moved to his side and looked as if he was preparing to catch him if he fell.
Aragorn shook his head. Those two were natural born liars.
They entered the Hall to see an extremely old man sitting on the throne. Too old to be the King but after taking a closer look, Aragorn began to recognise the features of a young Théoden in his face. What ever had happened to him? He most definitely was not this old the last he had seen of him. Next to King Théoden was a man that Boromir could only describe as an eel. He looked like a slimy eel, that set him on edge immediately especially after seeing the several Men shadowing their footsteps.
"My lord. Gandalf the Grey is coming. He is a herald of woe." The eel said to the King, whispering in his ear. "He is not welcome."
Gríma stood and walked towards them, speaking, "Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill news is in ill guest."
Gandalf angrily raised his staff and pointed it in Gríma's now petrified face. "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!" He exclaimed watching as horror appeared on the eels face as he complained loudly of the incompetence of the guards that were supposed to take the wizards staff, his pitiless eyes staring at the smug Háma and the rest of the kings guards.
Gríma's little bodyguards attacked Aragorn, Legolas, Boromir and Gimli. They quickly fell to the much more skilled Fellowship as Gríma tried to escape before being knocked over by Gimli. "I wouldn't move if I were you." Gimli sneered at the eel, Boromir smirking over his shoulder at the terrified man.
"Théoden, Son of Théngel. Too long have you sat in the shadows." Gandalf glided closed towards the King. "Harken to me! I release you from this spell." Nothing happened and everyone watched as the King began to laugh, his laugh filled with a certain amount of smugness while eyeing Gandalf and telling him that he had no power there.
The King continued to laugh in the dead silent Hall when Gandalf throws aside his grey robes, revealing his white clothes. Startled, Theoden leans back into his throne. Gandalf points his staff at the King again before saying, "I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound.". The King was now glaring at Gandalf as he squirmed, fighting against Gandalf's magic. "You shall do no more harm to Théoden."
The group watched as the girl they saw earlier ran into the room and tried to go to Théoden. Not wanting her to break whatever concentration or trance that Gandalf had fallen into, Aragorn reached out and stopped her from going any further. She squirmed and fought against his hold until he tightened his grip. "Wait! Watch, Gandalf only wishes to help your King, not harm him." She finally stopped fighting against him and they turned back to watch Gandalf realising that they had missed the whole ordeal as she rushed to Théoden, his face slowly changing until he looked normal again.
"I know your face. Èowyn, my darling Èowyn." His hands reached out to caress her cheeks lovingly. The King smiled brightly at the girl while she threw her arms around him and sobbed into his shoulder.
The King glanced around the Hall at his kneeling subjects until his eyes saw Gandalf, surprised. "Breathe the free air again, my friend." The Wizard said as he gestured for Háma to bring the King his sword.
Háma reverently knelt in front of his King as he brought his sword before him. Theoden reached out for the blade before drawing it. His eyes examined the hilt and blade before his angry gaze found a cowering Gríma still being held down by Gimli. His eyes promised vengeance.
All of Edoras were in mourning for the Kings son and heir was dead. None more than the King himself felt such grief for this lost. 'No parent should have to bury their child' he had said to Gandalf and he was correct. Why should the young die while the old linger?
The group were currently in the Hall, Èowyn feeding and comforting two children, a boy named Èothain and a little girl, Freda was her name. The little girl had called for her mama and wanted to know where she was but no one had any idea. Legolas feared for the worst, that the mother had died while ensuring that her children lived. Such a sacrifice reminded him of Merry and Pippin and Eleniel. He missed the rest of the Fellowship.
So lost in his thought was Legolas that he did not hear the conversation that was going around until the last uttered words by the King. "We will ride for Helms Deep!"
"Háma, Gamling, gather the people and tell them of my decree. We must empty Edoras and make haste. I will not risk bringing further death to my people."
Gandalf nodded curtly at Theoden before storming away, the group following after him. They follow him all the way to the stables with them wondering where exactly it was that he was going. "He flees! Théoden, he thinks he is leading them to safety but he only leads them to their deaths and the fall of Rohan." Gandalf said, preparing his horse.
The Wizard stops suddenly before looking over them, his eyes settling on Aragorn. "He will need you before the end, Aragorn. The people of Rohan will need you. The defenses have to hold." The White Wizard told him before glancing at the others. "They will need all of you. I fear for what will happen if their defenses to not hold." He shook his head as if trying to clear his mind of bad thoughts.
The group looked at each other before nodding at the Wizard. "They will hold." They announced as one, each of them silently praying to the Valar for strength and guidance in their time of need.
Gandalf climbed onto Shadowfax. "I shall seek out Èomer. Look to my coming, at first light, on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East." He nodded at them before Shadowfax sprinted out of the stable and out into the plains until he disappeared from sight. They each went their own way, each of them wishing to have some alone time and rest. Legolas went to the shooting range, Boromir went to see if he could find some food and Gimli decided to go rest for a few hours before they had to leave.
Aragorn decided to return to the Hall, the villagers were running around, frantically trying to pack as quick as they could. When he walked in he found Èowyn with a sword in her grasp. Walking slowly towards her, he quickly brought his sword up to block her swing.
"You have some skill with a blade." He said to her, genuinely curious. Èowyn nodded yes before removing her blade from his. He lowered his in response.
"I learnt in secret. Those with no skill with a blade may still die upon one," she told him, putting the blade back into the chest she had removed it from. "I fear neither death nor pain."
Out of curiosity, Aragorn found himself asking her the next question. "What is it that you do fear, my lady?"
Èowyn eyed him suspiciously, wondering why it was that he wanted to know before answering him, "A cage, my Lord Aragorn. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them. And all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire."
He shook his head at the woman's words. "You are a daughter of Kings. A shieldmaiden of Rohan and although, you may not be found dying for a great cause on the battlefield, I do not think you have anything to fear."
"I do not think you will allow any cage to contain you." He told her before turning and walking off to his room to rest. If he had but just turned around then he would have seen her eyes follow him and a wistful almost loving smile appear on her lips as she gazed after him.
Edoras was emptied just a few hours later. If anyone noticed the King glancing back every so often then no one mentioned it.
Getting closer to the battle of Helms Deep. Things will be slowly picking up and yes, still no Eleniel in this chapter either. Èowyn is here and will be becoming her lovesick self. I feel bad for her though but sis better step away from Eleniel's man. Also if you read A Different Time then I have decided that I will be finishing this story before I continue with A Different Time. I'm not going through writers block but since Estel is based around LOTR then there is no need to change too much or I'll be straying from the story that I love which is something that I will not allow lol. Also since A Different Time is based in the Marauders Era, there are no set events that I have to put in so I am mainly writing from my imagination which makes it harder than Estel but still manageable. Anyways, tell me your thoughts on this chapter please? I could use a little feedback x