Still feeling the dirty taint of the collar she found her way to a small stream and plunged into its icy depths. She bristled at the water as it stung her wounds but after a few moments she laid in its sandy depth and felt the blood and grim wash away taking gulps of water she relished the cool crispness that her parched throat was desperate for. When she felt clean again she finally made her way back to her companions shaking off the excess water before joining them by the firelight.
"Your wounds, how bad are they?" Aragorn asked.
"Most are already healed, just small cuts and scrapes the only one left is on my hind leg and even it is not bad. Did…did you bury Boromir?" Vega asked.
"We gave him an honorable sending off. He told me to tell you he was sorry and to ask for your forgiveness and that he was honored to fight beside such a strong and graceful warrior."
"I'm glad, I will miss him even though we never saw eye to eye till the end. And Frodo and Sam where are they?"
"They are gone, their fate is no longer in our hands." Aragorn said then filled in everything she had missed while tending to her healing leg, it was mostly healed by now but he placed some Aphalise on it to aid in the final healing. Vega rested deeply that night finding peace surrounded by her friends and woke refreshed and starving she scarfed a whole piece of Lambas before continuing on there journey to Edoras. They arrived some time after midday and they halted to let the horses rest once the wooden castle came into view.
"Edoras, home of the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Theoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Sarumon's hold over him is very strong now. Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here." Gandolfe warned before he urge his mount into a swift walk again.
"Gandolfe, how close to the full moon?"
"Tomorrow is the first of the three days." He answered and Vega nodded, she had hopped tonight was the first then she could have entered the city in her true form, in this one she was going to frighten them. Gandolfe seemed to know her thoughts. "Keep close to us my dear, the people will not be so excepting as others." She bobbed her head and sidled up to Arod, she found it odd that both Arod and Hasufal didn't seem worried about her. She had often heard that the Rohan's horses were uncannily smart and brave so maybe she shouldn't have been surprised.
"You find more cheer in a graveyard." Gimily remarked, as the faces of the people around them were angered, suspicious, fearful, and full of despair. The others silently agreed as they dismounted and a young stable boy took them away casting her a fearful glance even though she tried to look harmless staying at the heals between Aragon and Gandolfe like any well trained dog. She continued to act dog like staying close to Aragon and Legolas as they climbed the stairs sitting beside Legolas as the guards stopped them.
"I can not allow you so armed before the king Gandolfe Greyhame. By order of Grima Wormtounge." The guard said though he looked a bit reluctant. Gandolfe nodded to his companions and they handed over their weapons, Legolas showing off he was a capable fighter as he handed his dual daggers over with a flourish and Gimily his ax reluctantly. "They beast must stay here." Vega eyes narrowed darkly as a man came forward with a rope to tie her with, she had had enough of ropes and bonds as of late and she was no beast. Her tail lashed angrily and she growled at the man showing her fangs.
"Touch me and I'll gut you." She warned the man, they jumped back and grabbed for there weapons.
"Vega." Aragon said in a chiding voice and she growled at him even though she could see the humor in all of her companions' eyes.
"The feline is not a beast, she is our ally." Legolas said and laid a hand on her head gently, despite her agitation she purred and leaned into his touch craving more of it. Her eyes closed in enjoyment as his fingers slid threw her fur and scratched behind an ear. She completely missed the knowing glance shared between the wizard, dwarf and her brother, along with smirks.
"She will do you no harm." Aragon said and they seemed to believe him as they watched the gentleness between elf and beast.
"Your staff." The guard said when they were still not allowed to go further.
"Oh, you would not part an old man his waking stick." Gandolfe said and the guard relented as Legolas walked up beside him and Gandolfe took his offered arm and leaned on it playing the part of an old man and Vega walked beside Aragorn.
"you two seem close." Aragon spoke quietly in elvish.
'what do you mean?'
"You and Legolas."
"We are friends, I trust him and him me, I don't see what you are trying to get at' Vega said and her brother just looked at her with that look that said 'come on now'.
"He is a good man." Aragon said and left it at that Vega could feel herself heat up, was her feelings for the elf really so obvious? She desired the elf she was well aware of that. But no matter how much she desired the elf there was no way he would feel the same, not to a creature such as her. She shook the depressing thought away but it still clung as she walked with the others into the throne room.
There sitting on the throne was not the strong king she had heard about but a weaken and senseless old fool. Beside him a much younger man with black hair and slippery eyes spoke into the kings ear. Vega couldn't help but let her lip curl back in disgust and a low growl rumbled out of her throat, apparently it wasn't as low as she thought as those around her moved away in fright. The sour sent of fear filled the room and burned her nose.
"The curtsey of your hall has lessoned of late Theodian King." Gandolfe said.
"Why should I welcome you Gandolfe Stormcrow." The old king said then looked to the side like a puppet waiting for its strings to be tugged.
"A just question my liege." The greasy haired man said quietly only those near him could hear the words. "Late is the hour that this conjurer chooses to appear."
"Silence. Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth." Gandolfe said as Vega sidled up next to him not liking the slippery snake was getting so close to her friends. Gandolfe thrust his staff in his face and the snake recoiled. Vega liked the fear that entered his scent and took a threatening step growling and displaying her fangs.
"The staff I told you to take his staff and his familiar away." The man said and Vega briefly glanced at the wizard.
"Familiar?" she said in a humored tone and saw the wizards lip twitch in a smile. But then the thugs in the room surged forward as did her friends as Gandolfe walked to their king to release him from his impressment. Vega jumped at a nearby thug that was going for her brother batting him away with her large paw he skidded several feet and cracked his head on the stone floor. She turned and jumped on the back of one that was going for the wizard, her muscled mass forcing him to the ground by then the fist fight had been quelled. She smiled at the guard who had stopped them outside as he held back his men from joining in the fight. Vega spotted the snake trying to get away and left her perch and approached him from behind as Gimily stepped on his front. When he went to make a move her shadow fell across him and he turned to be face to fangs only mear centimeters between her teeth and his head.
The snakes eyes rose from her teeth to meet her eyes and she growled ears flattened eyes cold and fangs gleaming dangerously in the light. Her ears picked up the silent laughter of the dwarf as he enjoyed her frightening the snake. But when Gandolfe yelled they both looked toward him and they saw the evil influence of Saroman leave and the king revert to his old self. It was fascinating Vega thought, it was as if the old man simply melted away. The clouded and witless eyes became clear and bright, the spotted and bagged skin became bright smooth and taught, the wirer hair returned to thick and smooth dirty blond length.
A woman that Vega had not noticed her brother holding pulled free of his grip and went to him.
"I know your face. Eowen." He glanced around and saw the wizard. "Gandolfe."
"Breath the free air again my friend."
"Dark have been my dreams of late." The king replied.
"Your fingers would remember there own strength better if they grasped the hilt of your sword." And the king did grasping it and pulling it from it's sheath he looked another ten years younger now holding his sword, then a look of rage came over his face as he stared at the snake.
"Expel him immediately." The king ordered and the guards did as followed with glee taking him from their grasp and pitching him out the halls doors. The group followed the king as the snake tried to reason with him.
"I have only ever served you my lord." He pleaded.
"Your witchcraft would have me crawling on all fours like a beast." The king said enraged.
"Send me not from your side." He tried again but the once witless king strongly raised his sword and began a killing blow.
"No, my Lord." Aragon said catching it before it became fatal. "Let him go, enough blood has been spilled on his account." Vega came closer to her brother.
'You are kind and forgiving brother, he dose not deserve it, but you are right.' She said and got a startled look from the king as he noticed she was there but didn't ask anything…yet. The king nodded to Aragorn and made his way back up the stairs, and Aragon being the honorable man he is offered the snake a hand up from the ground. The fool returned the jester by spitting on it, that Vega would not stand for and lurch forward with a growl at the man, terror light his face as Vega chased him to the bottom of the stairs and out the gates as he rode out of the city, his horse in a mad gallop as it feared for it's life as Vega chased them with a growl and threatening swipe of her claws. But stopped well before the gates and made her way back to her friends head held high pleased with her chase.