On the plains of Rohan, Gandalf, Aragorn, Ed, Legolas and Gimli stop as Edoras comes into view. Ed whistles at the elaborate design of the village around the king's palace.
"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld," narrated Gandalf. "There dwells Théoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong. Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here." With that, the riders made their way to the gates of the city.
As Aragorn and Ed passed the entrance to Edoras, the flag floated down to land near them. Aragorn stared, looked for a bare pole, but could not see one.
Ed shivered at the dead and blank stares as they entered. Edoras was silent and somber, with everyone dressed in black and staring at the newcomers in wary silence. Aragorn looked up at the hall and spotted a lady in white standing on the steps. He looked around at more somber people. Ed kept his gaze on the lady. Swiftly, she turned and went back into the hall, her gaze cold and upset.
"You'll find more cheer in a graveyard," commented the dwarf dryly.
Not quite, Ed thought. He followed the others as they dismounted the horses and climbed the stairs to the top of the Hall. There, they were met by a small group of about five guards. Gandalf recognized them.
"Ah, Háma!" said Gandalf warmly.
The man, Háma, looked uncomfortable about confronting the Wizard. "I cannot allow you before Théoden-King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame... by order of Gríma Wormtongue."
Gandalf looked confused for a moment, but then nodded in understanding and signaled for the others to surrender their weapons. Aragon handed over his sword and knives with nothing more then a "be wary" glance. Ed carefully removed the sheath and dagger from his waist and warily handed it to them. Legolas gave a little twirl to his knives before he handed them over to the guards. Gimli handed over his axes reluctantly, grumbling at the mere idea.
Háma continued to look at unease as he spoke to the Wizard once more. "Your staff."
"Hmm?" asked Gandalf with innocence. He glanced at the staff in his grasp. "Oh, you would not part an old man from his walking stick?" The innocence dripped from his lie. Ed stifled a laugh behind his metal hand. The steel glinted from between his sleeve and glove.
"Sir, you must remove all arms and weaponry," said one of the guard. "That includes armor and all shields."
"What?" Ed was confused, but then looked at the gap and realized the confusion. "Oh, no. I can't take this off. See, it's my arm." To prove it, the alchemist pulled up the sleeve and moved the automail. The guard was speechless but kept his mouth shut and nodded.
Háma hesitated at this for a second, but then gestured that they follow him into the hall. Gandalf gave Aragorn a tiny wink and entered the hall, leaning on Legolas' arm. The other's follow silently. At the front of the hall sat the king upon his throne, with what could only be described as a leech by his side. The king was worn and seemed near death by his looks. It was a sad sight to see. The man next to him was no better. He was pasty white skin, no eyebrows and wore long black robes.
The manleaned down and whispered to Théoden. It was useless, since it echoed in the silent hall. "My lord, Gandalf the Grey is coming. He's a herald of woe."
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden King," said Gandalf loudly. The five of them approached the throne, but Aragorn and Gimli pulled back to examine the people in the hall. A small group of men followed the travelers, their steps full of hostility.
"He's not welcome," said the man.
The king spoke slowly, as though dying as he breathed. "Why should I… welcome you, Gandalf… Stormcrow?" he asked, looking to the man for confirmation.
"A just question, my liege," the man said. He patted the king's arm and moved towards Gandalf. "Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell spell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest."
"Be silent, Wormtongue! Keep your forked tongue behind you teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!" cried the Wizard, raising his staff against him.
Wormtongue wilted away. "His staff! I told you to take the wizard's staff!" he cried to the guards.
The hostile guards waiting in the back attacked the group. Aragorn, Legolas, Ed and Gimli engaged them in a fistfight as Gandalf continued to approach Théoden. Ed decided to keep his blade under wraps, but continued to fight with his right hand and left foot. They knocked down the guards and they stayed down. Gríma tried to crawl away unnoticed, but Gimli caught him and pinned him to the floor.
"I would stay still, if I were you." Wormtongue froze under his foot. Ed faced the door and watched the halls for more soldiers, keeping his blade out and ready to fight. Gandalf continued with the king behind him.
"Hearken to me! I release you from the spell," said the Wizard.
A strange voice came to the alchemist's ears. He turned from his post to investigate that the king had opened his mouth. "Hahahhhahahahah!" he croaked loudly. "You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey!" Ed watched until he felt a tug on his arm. He turned, but froze at the blade across his throat. With a start he realized it was his own automail.
"Shit." Ed turned himself around slowly, blade still poised at his jugular.
Gandalf threw back his gray cloak, exuding a blinding white light. Théoden was thrown back against his throne, crying out in pain.
"Argh!"
Gandalf pointed his staff towards Théoden. "I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound."
"Let me go. I kind of need that back," Ed grunted softly. He couldn't pull away too far without a stinging pain in his upper arm muscles.
"Never. You have threatened lives here."
"I've threatened lives? We all have. You're only picking on me cause I'm half your size and you could get hold of my weapon," Ed said, twitching at having to point out about his height.
"Let him alone!" said a female voice. Ed could not turn anymore but felt his arm being pulled from its position. After he was released, the woman turned and gasped as she saw her uncle threatened, and she left the alchemist to go to him, but was held back by Aragorn.
"Wait," he whispered quietly. Ed moved forward as well to get a better view of the magic at work.
"If I go. . . Théoden dies," the king whispered, his voice different from before.
Gandalf moved his staff sharply and Théoden was pressed harder against the chair again. She struggled but Aragorn held her firm. Ed also reached forward and held her shoulder with his right hand. She jerked against the cold touch and glanced at him sadly.
"You did not kill me," Gandalf grunted, "you will not kill him!"
"Rohan is mine!" the king shouted.
"Be gone!"
Gandalf smacked Théoden as he lunged at him. Théoden was thrown back into the chair. For a moment, he was frozen, but then Théoden let out a moan and slumped forward in the chair. The woman ripped her arm from Aragorn's grasp and Ed released his grip before she hurt herself by his steel grip and ran to her uncle's side as he fell. Théoden's head rose again and his face began to change gradually into that of a much younger-looking man. Clarity and recognition returns to his eyes. Ed felt his eyebrows rise as he watched the impossible magic occur.
Théoden looked closely at the people surrounding him- the unknown strangers and then to the one beside him. "I know your face. Éowyn… Éowyn." She nodded and wept with joy. The king turned to the wizard. "Gandalf?"
He nodded. "Breathe the free air again, my dear friend."
The hall was to be filled with light again, as everyone marveled at the rejuvenation of the king. Ed was surprised at the sudden light show, and wondered how exactly something like that could work.
Théodenstood up unsteadily and looked around him. "Dark have been my dreams of late," he whispered to himself. He looked down at his trembling hands, seeming to marvel at their lack of strength.
"Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your sword," pushed the wizard. Theoden smiled and nodded.
One of the guards, Háma, ran up with his sword. Théoden reached for it with trembling hands. He wrapped his fingers around it slowly and then drew it, gazing upon the shiny steel. Eowyn was all smiles, like a child on their birthday. Ed felt his own face pull into a small grin. In a corner, Gríma trembled and tried to escape but was pulled back by Gimli. Suddenly, Théoden's gaze turned to Gríma.
"You lying traitor! I will kill you!" he roared. Eowyn visibly jumped at his side.
With a wave of his blade, the king had his guards throw Gríma from the hall and down the stairs. Everyone followed outside. Ed grimaced in the bright sun, but kept his eyes glued to the scene with the king in the lead.
"Argh!" Gríma screeched dully. "I've only ever served you, my lord!" He crawled pitifully away from the swiftly advancing king.
Wasn't he like, half- dead five minutes ago? Wondered the alchemist silently.
Theoden advanced towards Gríma, holding the sword firmly in his hand. "Your leechcraft," he grunted, "would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!"
"Send me not from your side! I was loyal to only you lord! Spare me!"
"Damn…"Ed truly felt the asshole deserved to die, but some part of him- the part that refused to kill and hated the thought- told him this was wrong. At least that he was defenseless.
Théoden raised his sword to kill Gríma.
"NO!" screamed Ed. Both Legolas and Gimli looked at him in surprise. Eowyn stared at him with something indiscernible on her face.
Aragorn must have also felt the same way, for he held him back roughly. "No, my lord!" he called. "No, my lord. Let him go. Enough blood has been spilt on his account." They shared a meaningful look and Theoden dropped his sword to his side. Aragorn offered Gríma his hand, but Gríma just spit into it, scrambled to his feet and pushed through the crowd.
"Get out of my way! Move!" He cried, running for the stables. Five seconds later, a cream colored horse sped through the city gates. Ed laughed at the sight of a scared shitless grown man.
"Hail, Théoden king!" called one of the guards.
The crowd kneeled in homage before Théoden. Aragorn kneeled also. Behind them, all the people on the steps bowed their heads. Even Ed, who never gave recognition to even the Furher, saluted Theoden.
As Théoden turned to go back into the hall, he looked up, as though a thought just struck him.
"Where is Théodred? Where is my son?" he asked, curious.
Ed felt Eowyn stiffen beside him. Ed realized this meant the kings' son was dead. Aragorn must have also known, for his faced showed it as he looked to Gandalf. The wizard nodded sadly and Aragorn whispered something to the king. The old man fell to his knees. Eowyn tried to go to him, but Ed grabbed her arm with his left hand.
"No. Not yet," he said softly. She looked at him and started to cry. He grabbed her and held her close as she broke down.
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Thanks for all the reviews!
SupremeHyren- It might, but who says Ed has to show pain? If you interpret the right way, the tear could have been from re-attachment.
Kiete- My secret of how I know everything will be revealed later. But I have a very reliable source, and no I do not copy straight from the books. That'd be too hard.
Lunatic Pandora 1- Meh, he fell wrong. Al just never hit it in the wrong position. And it wasn't really broken, just jammed. Like when you hurt your finger or something. Just what happens.
Thanks to everyone! I'll try to update faster next time! Have fun!