Author's note: Thank you very much for reading. Please review :)
By midday they had arrived at Edoras. They stopped and looked at the hill where the town was.
"Edoras, and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Théoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is over thrown. Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong."
It felt that what Eomer had told them was right. A flag was ripped and blown by the air, landed next to their horses. They entered the gate. The townspeople were silently watching them as they rode towards the Golden Hall of Meduseld. It seemed like the hope had indeed abandoned this place.
"You would find more cheer in a graveyard" said Gimli as he looked around. The climbed the stairs. The guards stared at their arms suspiciously.
"We cannot allow you to stand before Theoden King so heavily armored" they stated. They frowned. Ithilwen gave reluctantly her bow and quiver, her sword and her dagger, and looked at the rest who did the same half-hearted. The guards pointed at Gandalf's staff.
"You would not part an old man from his walking stick" said Gandalf. The guard nodded and allowed the five to enter.
The Hall was half-lit. In the past it must have full of life, but now it was a miniature of what they had previously seen at the town. Guards were standing across the Hall, and at the end was sitting King Theoden, or at least what was left of him. Next to him was sitting Grima Wormtongue who was whispering at the King. Ithilwen felt uneasy and was looking with the corner of her eye at the guards. She could sense the shadow that was hanging over the Hall and its people.
"The courtesy of your hall has somewhat lessened of late Théoden King" said Gandalf.
"Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?" asked King Theoden and looked at Grima for his reassurance.
"A just question my liege. Late is the hour in which this conjuror chooses to appear. Lots spell I name him, ill news is an ill guest", said Grima. "Be silent", adressed Gandalf to Grima.
"Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crude words with a witless worm." Gandalf pointed to him his staff. Grima stepped back and told the guards that they should have taken the Wizard's staff. The guards tried to stop Gandalf, who was now getting closer to King Theoden, but Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Ithilwen fought them off. Gandalf started speaking to the King trying to release him from the spell he was under.
At this moment a young, beautiful woman entered the Hall and tried to approach the King, but Aragorn stopped her. Ithilwen looked at her. She noticed a fire in this lady that could not be unseen. Theoden screamed and Gandalf hit him with his staff. Theoden fell from his chair and the young woman went close to him and helped him to sit back again. Theoden's face and stature began changing. He looked younger and healthier and looked confused around him, until he saw the woman next to him.
"I know your face. Éowyn" said Theoden and looked dearly at her. He, then, turned his face and looked at them. "Gandalf?" he asked as he saw the White Wizard's face.
"Breathe the free air again my friend", said Gandalf with a smile on his face. They gave Theoden his sword, to remember his power. He took his sword and felt life coming back to his veins. He turned to Grima, who cowardly tried to leave. He was thrown out of the Hall and left from Edoras. The Rohirrim bowed to their King. Theoden looked around, searching for someone.
"Where is Theodred?" he asked. "Where is my son?"
The Rohirrim were carrying Theodred's body to his last residence. The women of Rohan were singing heartfelt laments.
Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas and Ithilwen were standing behind looking at the procession.
"And more death is yet to come to these people" said Gimli gloomy.
"They are strong" said calmly Aragorn. "They will fight against the shadow of Mordor."
"Otherwise, death will meet us all" added Ithilwen.
The tomb was shut and the people scattered. Only Theodred was left standing outside the tomb holding a white flower. Gandalf went close to him and consoled the weeping king. Ithilwen was feeling a heavy burden in her heart. She thought of her parents who buried too their son, and their unbearable sorrow led them to the West. She had only woken up when Lord Elrond announced to her that her parents had sailed to the Lands of the Undying. This was the cruel nature of war. Parents burying their children.
Her trail of thoughts was interrupted by the galloping of a horse. She turned her head and saw two children on horse. They looked worn out, and the boy fell off the horse. Immediately They run to them. Aragorn took the boy into his arms and Legolas helped the little girl get off the horse and carried her to the Hall of the Meduseld. Immediately everyone took care of the children, who informed that their village was burnt.
"This is but a taste of the terror Saruman will unleash" said Gandalf to Theoden. "Ride out and meet him head on. You must protect the women and children."
"Éomer is still loyal to you" added Aragorn. "He is riding north with two thousand good men as we speak. He will answer to your call." Ithilwen was sitting next to the children. She thought of Éomer and the mumakils, but her thought was quickly swept away by Theoden's response.
"Éomer cannot help us. I know what it is you want of me, but I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war."
"Open war is upon you", said Aragorn "whether you would risk it or not."
"When I last looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was King of Rohan" replied Theoden.
"Then what is the King's decision?" asked Gandalf.
They would head to Helm's Deep.
"This is madness", said Legolas to Ithilwen in elvish, as they were helping at the preparation of the long route to Helm's Deep. Ithilwen nodded.
"An open battle could be handled much better, and with Éomer's help there could be chances of winning. There we could be trapped" she said in elvish. She was packing a chest. "But, Theoden is doing what he thinks best of his people." She lifted her head and saw everyone moving around in hurry, trying to pack their most important belongings. She noticed Lady Éowyn sheathing a sword. "At least I understand that they would do everything they could to protect their lands." She continued in elvish. Legolas turned his head to Éowyn and nodded.
"What are you doing both here?" Gimli's voice was heard. They turned to him. Ithilwen smiled and pointed at the chest. "Now lassie this should be carried! Come!" he turned towards Legolas, "let's take it outside along with the other trunks". Ithilwen followed them with her eyes and proceeded helping an old lady to put her grandchildren's clothes in a bag. She learnt that their mother had died long ago, and their father was killed during a fight against Orcs. The old lady seemed to feel comforted while talking to her. Ithilwen was happy to help. She felt that solidarity was one of the only things left in this world, and one of the few that could lead to the final victory.
She lifted her gaze and noticed that Aragorn had come back to the Hall and he was talking to Éowyn. Aragorn was checked her sword and gave it back to her.
"She is a very strong Lady", said the old woman, who noticed that Ithilwen was looking at them. "Both she and Éomer have been tested through life. They are very kind souls. And King Theoden loves them as if they were his children." Ithilwen smiled at her and closed the bag and handed it to her.
"You are ready my sweet lady", said Ithilwen.
"Bless you my child", she replied and left. Ithilwen was left standing and looked around to help someone. Aragorn went next to her.
"Gandalf has gone" he said to her. Ithilwen looked at him confused. "He told me to look to the east, at the dawn of the fifth day."
"Sometimes I think that he loves to puzzle us" she said and they shared a laugh. "I hope that everything will turn out well."
"I share the same hope" he said and shrugged. "Come, we must leave."
They both left the Hall. King Theoden and Gamling were still there. "We will return", said Theoden and they left too.