Chapter 2: Evil Happenings
Riding horses, much better than walking. Funny though, I find that once we are able to ride instead of walk, we have a further distance to cover. After Gandalf had called upon Shadowfax, all five of us rode off into the terrain. I with Legolas and Gimli with Aragorn. During the ride, I on accidently fell asleep, which didn't seem to bother Legolas. But it felt as if I had only slept for a few minutes when Legolas gently woke me up.
"Wake up Shadow." He said across his shoulder. My eyes opened but immediately shut.
"Yes, dear Shadow, you must awaken." Gandalf persisted. I did as commanded, happy to hear Gandalf's voice again. "For you see, Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld lay before our very eyes." When he said that I had then gazed upon a somewhat village/supposed-kingdom. "There dwells Theoden, King of Rohan, who's mind is overthrown." Gandalf stated.
"Overthrown by whom?" I asked.
"None other than the advocate of the greatest evil, Saruman. His hold over the king is very strong at this point." Gandalf replied.
"Every time I hear that man's name, the more I grow to hate him." I commented.
"From his first point of devistation, I think everyone shall agree with you." Aragorn retorted, anger in his voice.
"Aye. My skin crawls by the mention of that very name." Gimli said.
"Enough talking. We shall ride on. But head my warning. Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here." Gandalf said and rode off. We four then followed.
"Sounds like my kind of town." I said in Legolas' ear. He laughed.
"You never cease to bring a smile to my face." Legolas stated. I then hugged his back. Weird, yes, but you would do it to if you were me.
Okay, now when Gandalf had said to not look for welcome in this place, I thought he was just over exaggeratting, but come to find out, he spoke the truth.
Right as we entered the so called "kingdom", which I will currently call it a town, Gimli said the correct statement that almost every person in our small group felt.
"You could find more cheer in a graveyard." We all couldn't reply due to the fact that it would have been rude, or maybe dangerous on our behalves.
We dismounted our horses and headed up toward the front of the hall. Gandalf seemed to recognize the body guards, but welcome was not even close to how he greeted us.
"Ah." Gandalf spoke, if you call that a word.
"I cannot allow you before Theoden-King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame. By oreder of Grima Wormtongue." The man ordered. He didn't seem that fierce, but I knew he meant business.
Gandalf then nodded and signalled us to disarm ourselves. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to release all of your security to strangers unless you try it sometime. After we all disarmed ourselves, the bodyguard turned to Gandalf.
"Your staff." He summoned.
"Hmm?" Gandalf then glanced at his staff. "Oh. You would not part a man from his walking stick?" Gandalf looked so innocent that I had to smile. The man seemed to hesitate, but then he finally gestured us to follow him into hall. Gandalf then gives Aragorn and I a tiny wink as we all entered the hall, Gandalf leaning on Legolas' shoulder. Smart man.
Up ahead a dark man stood in front of Theoden, who might I say looked like a nightmare, not saying the dark man did either. The dark man leaned to the King and whispered something in his ear, nontheless trying to poison the King's mind.
"The courtesy of your hall has somewhat lessened as of late, Theoden King." Gandalf spoke with sure confidence. The dark figure then whispered more terrible things into the King's ear. He just gave me the creeps. Just then the old man rebounded to what the figure said.
"Why should I...welcome you Gandalf...Stormcrow?" The King gasped in a voice that reminded me of a horror movie. The King then looked to the figure for affirmation. It was like watching an old dog looking to his master, which was so far from right. I was about to say something, when-
"A just question my leige." The man, I then figured out was Grima Wormtongue, began walking towards Gandalf. "Late is the hour in which thus conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell spell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest." I had the sudden urge to spit on that man's face.
"Be silent!" Gandalf roared. "Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!" Gandalf was my hero. He then raised his staff against that nasty excuse for a person. Oh, but the worm seemed to be alarmed as if he had seen a bird.
"His staff!" Grima backed away from Gandalf as he addressed the guards. "I told you to take the wizard's staff!" He was such a coward!
Just then we were attacked by the guards. Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and I then fought the guards as Gandalf continued towards the King.
"Theoden, son of Thengel, to long have you sat in the shadows." Gandalf amplified. Grima tried to crawl away unnoticed, but you know I just had to. I ran over and pinned that worm to the ground.
"Get off me you female!" Grima spat. I nearly laughed maniacally.
"I would stay still if I were you. You wouldn't want to be turned into ash, now would you?" I threatened. It seemed to do the trick. As Legolas fought, he kept a close eye on me. Such a gentleman.
"Hearken to me! I release you from the spell!" Gandalf then motioned his staff towards Theoden. Theoden then laughed menacingly.
"Hahahahahaha!" Gandalf had a look of surprise on his face. "You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey!" Theoden belched. On the contrary!
Gandalf then trew off his grey cloaks to reveal his new astounding white attire. Theoden was then thrown back against his seat.
"Argh!" Theoden gnarled. Gandalf pointed his staff at Theoden.
"I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound." Gandalf's voice echoed through the hall. Right then a blonde woman ran in, but Aragorn stopped her. "Wait!" Aragorn motioned. Theoden then did something that scared the living bajeezes out of me. In Saruman's voice, Theoden bellowed, "If I go...Theoden dies." Wow, third person! Gandalf then moved his staff and Theoden slammed against his chair again. Than had to hurt!
"You did not kill me, you will not kill him!" Gandalf yelled.
"Rohan is mine!" Saruman shouted. Theoden plunges at Gandalf who merely throws him back. Theoden hit the chair, moaned, and slumped forward in his menacing chair. I would never touch that chair to save my life. Okay, maybe! The woman broke out of Aragorn's arms and ran to Theoden's side as he fell. Theoden's head rose and the most miraculous thing happened. In mere second that fould looking King changed into a younger-looking man. Clarity and recognition came to his eyes at that moment. He then looked to the woman, who I later find out is his neice. "I know that face. Eowyn. Eowyn" He said, his voice normal. I sighed in relief. Eowyn sobbed by his side. Theoden looked up to see Gandalf.
"Gandalf?" Theoden questioned.
"Breathe the free air again my friend." Gandalf said, and as soon as those word escaped his mouth, the room seemed to illuminate itself, making everyone, even myself, gasp. Theoden stood up and looked around himself.
"Dark have been my dreams of late." He stated. I would've hated to have been in that position. The King then looked down at his trembling hands.
"Your fingers would remember their old strength better...if they grasped your sword." Just then a man walked up to the King to reveal a sheathed sword. Theoden then slowly wrapped his hand around the sword and took it out of it's sheath. That, my friends, was a moment of glory. Theoden looked just as a king should. Just then, Theoden looked down to me and Grima. Theoden frowned.
"I am sorry to have troubled you, but you may release this menacing fool into my hands now." Theoden said, helping me off the gound. I bowed to him and he made a gesture of thanks to me in recognition. Then Theoden looked to Grima with anger.
"I only ever served you my lord." Grima cried. Theoden didn't listen and grabbed Grima's arm and dragged him outside the hall. One outside, Theoden threw Grima onto the steps and said, "Your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" Theoden yelled in anger.
"Send me not from your side!" Grima groveled. Try saying that ten times fast. Theoden then raised his sword to kill Grima when Aragorn stopped him.
"No my lord! No my lord. Let him go. Enough blood has been spilled on this account." Aragorn headed. Grima scrambled to his feet and pushed through the crowd of citizens.
"Get out of my way!" Grima screamed.
"Hail, Theoden King!" The bodyguard, known as Hama, preached. Everone then kneeled before the King, even Aragorn. Right as Theoden walks toward the hall, he turns and looks up.
"Where is Theodred? Where is my son?" Theoden asked. I nearly cried. Legolas took my hand and kissed my forhead. We would soon have to take part in a funeral of a lost son to the tragedy that Saruman has brung upon so many. Oh how much I hate that man right now!