When they arrived in Edoras, Leila was a bit disappointed. In that place, it almost seemed as if no one could be cheerful again. People did not smile, children did not laugh or play. It was the gloomiest place she had ever been, aside from the mountain. When they arrived at the Hall of Théoden, they were first greeted by a man named Hama.
"I cannot allow you before Théoden King so armed," he began. "By order of Grima Wormtongue."
Leila willingly gave up her swords. They were merely an extension of her arm, and she felt as though she could fight with or without them. After everyone's weapons were collected, Hama looked at Gandalf. "Your staff," he said.
"Oh, you would not part an old man from his walking stick," Gandalf protested. Hama reluctantly agreed, and they entered the Hall.
Leila was shocked by the state of the King. He looked much older than his actual age, and sat hunched over. His body was weakened as his mind was poisoned.
"He looks awful," Leila whispered to Soriel, who nodded.
As they approached his throne, with Gandalf leading them, a group foul-looking men filled up the room. They were all armed and they looked like they could have been soldiers, but they clearly did not belong in Rohan.
"The courtesy of your Hall has somewhat lessened of late, Théoden King," Gandalf said, approaching the King.
The King could only wheeze and return, "Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?"
"A just question, my liege," said a greasy man, sitting next to the King, and no rose from his chair.
"Ugh," Leila felt herself say out loud, so unpleasant was this man. He absolutely disgusted her.
"Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear," the man, Grima, added. "Ill news is an ill guest."
"Be silent," snapped Gandalf. "Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth."
"His staff," Grima said, finally noticing the wizard had maintained it. "I told you to take the wizard's staff!"
The foul-looking men now lunged for Gandalf and Leila sprang to meet them. The first one she ran the base of her hand upwards into the bridge of his nose. He crumbled as the blood started to pour from it. The next one took a swing at her, which she ducked to avoid, and she came up, hurled her first into his stomach, causing him to double over in agony. She whipped around as one approached Soriel. Leila hurled herself at him, full force, tackling him to the ground. The man wrestled her so she was under him, and Leila felt herself in an all too familiar situation with this. She started to panic as she struggled against him holding her wrists to the floor. She looked in his eyes and saw the hunger of men that she so detested. Feeling rage boil up inside of her, she brought her knee up into his crotch, which made him grip her slightly tighter, but her turned his head away. She opened her mouth and closed her teeth around the cartilage of his ear, making him cry out, but also release her wrists. When he went to strike her, she rolled away from him, causing him to slam his fist on the ground. She heard his bones shatter, and he collapsed on the floor in pain. When she looked up, Théoden became younger before her very eyes. She had not seen a woman enter the room, but she was attending to him.
"I know your face," said the King as she touched his cheek. "Eowyn."
Leila joined Legolas as the lady and the King embraced. Théoden then looked out at the crowd now looking at him.
"Fingers would remember their old strength better," Gandalf began. "If they grasped their sword."
Hama and another soldier approached the King, the other soldier carrying the sword. He knelt and offered it to Théoden, who took it. He then bid the soldier rise, and he removed his helmet, revealing himself to be Eomer. The same man that had confronted them when they first entered Rohan. He had secretly returned to Edoras in hopes that the king would soon be better. He joined Eowyn next to the throne. It was then that Théoden banished Grima Wormtongue. Leila could not help but notice the look of immense relief on the woman, Eowyn's face. Leila felt she knew why Eowyn was so relieved.
Finally the king turned and asked the question many people were dreading. "Where is Theodred? Why is my son?" Everyone in the hall seemed to not want to answer this question. When it was revealed that Theodred had been slain by orcs, Théoden wept for him, and stayed with his son all night. They had the funeral the following morning.
That day was somewhat uneventful for Leila. She wandered around Edoras, admiring the beauty of Rohan. Now that Saruman's hold on Théoden was gone and Grima was banished, the place seemed much more lively. Happiness looked good on the people of Rohan.
"How are you?" asked the voice of Legolas.
Leila turned around and smiled at him. "Well, I suppose," she began. "I am happy that Saruman has been driven away, but I am sad for the King. Losing his son cannot be easy for him."
Legolas nodded. "Yes, there are many emotions in this kingdom right now."
"How are you?" Leila asked him.
He sighed. "I fear the worst is yet to come," he told her. "Just because Saruman was driven out of the King's mind does not mean that the people here in Edoras, or Rohan in its entirety, are safe from his treachery."
"What do you suppose we do?" Leila asked.
"Even I cannot say," Legolas admitted. "I just feel uneasy."
Leila went and stood before him. "I think you are right to feel this way. The battle for the King's mind is not the last. There is still much left to be done."
Legolas sighed and leaned forward, resting his head on her chest. She lifted her hand and stroked his hair. "I fear for our friends," he confessed.
"I know," she whispered to him, giving him a comforting squeeze. "I do as well." Now she pulled away from him to look him in the yes. "And we must have courage for them."
"And for you?" he asked, cupping her cheek.
"You may be anything you wish for me," she said, giving him a smile.
"And what do you wish for me to be?" he asked.
"Only yourself," she replied, placing her hand atop his. He leaned in, and Leila went in as well. Her heart pounding, her mind racing, and her chest heaving, she felt the heat between them. His lips barely grazed hers when someone else entered the Hall.
"Legolas!" Gimli shouted. "Aragorn wants to talk to us about something. You better come along too, Leila. It seems important."
Legolas chuckled, and met Leila's eyes. "We should go," he said, and he turned and started to leave the Hall.
Leila took a couple of deep breaths, in shock. "Yes," she agreed, and followed them.
What Aragorn had to tell them was what Legolas and Leila feared. Two children had ridden in the night from the Westfold, with a horrifying tale of Uruks burning villages and slaughtering the people there. Everyone was greatly disturbed. Théoden was not sure what to do. Aragorn insisted they gather the Rohirrim, but Théoden had other ideas. They decided to take some time to think and prepare for attack.
They spent about a month in Edoras, to Leila's discomfort. As much as she was enjoying the city, she was ready for someone to make a decision. She wanted to know if they were going to stay in Edoras and fight or go to Helm's Deep. In that time, Leila found herself wandering down the halls, past Lady Eowyn's bedroom where she heard strange noises from inside. Leila saw that the door was slightly ajar, so she peeked in. Inside, was Eowyn, a sword in hand, brandishing it. Leila found that Eowyn was not bad, but she needed better technique and precision. She knocked.
Eowyn quickly hid the sword beneath her bed sheets, and bid Leila enter. "Oh, Leila," she sighed with relief. "I thought you might be my brother or uncle."
"I saw what you were doing," Leila told her. "You are not horrible."
Eowyn blushed. "I always wanted to be properly trained," she admitted. "But my uncle would not hear of it. He said I need not worry my head with such matter as sword fighting."
"If you want some help, I can show you," Leila offered, causing her to brighten up.
"Would you?" she asked.
"Of course," Leila said. "I think all women should know something about fighting at least. Show me your stance again."
Eowyn took her sword out and took her stance. Leila spent the rest of the afternoon teaching her, and Leila saw immediate improvement in her. By the time dinner was to be served, Leila and Eowyn were very sweaty, but also feeling as if they were becoming great friends. They chatted along as they made their way to the Hall.
"I have something weighing on my mind, but I fear I may come across in a way that is most unfavorable," Eowyn told her.
"What is it?" asked Leila. "There is not much I find unfavorable," she joked.
"This Soriel woman," Eowyn began. "What is she like?"
Leila smiled at the thought of her friend. "Soriel is one of the kindest women I know. She is caring, nurturing, and also incredibly smart and strong. I admire her fiercely," Leila explained. "Why do you ask?"
Eowyn nodded, and after a moment answered, "I was merely curious. It seems as if my brother has taken particular interest in her. I only wish him happiness."
"I think Soriel could make Eomer very happy one day. Not by tomorrow or the next day, but soon," Leila assured her.
"That is reassuring," Eowyn said. "I hope she may find her happiness in him as well. He is a most noble man."
"I can see that," Leila agreed, and they joined the others at the long table. It was there that Théoden announced that the people of Rohan would flee to Helm's Deep.