Author's Note: Just wanted ya'll to know that there won't be anymore Author Notes after this one, or at the end of chapters so... Yea, onto the chapter!
Previously: The four hunters and Gandalf rode across the plains to Edoras with Axel, as a wolf, by their side.
"Elvish"
Thoughts
Flashback
"Voice over"
On the plains of Rohan, Gandalf, Aragorn, Axel, Boromir, Legolas and Gimli stopped as Edoras came into view while Gandalf spoke, "Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Théoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong."
In the Hall, Éowyn knelt before Théoden, holding his hand in hers, "My lord, your son, he is dead. My lord? Uncle?"
Théoden just sat and stared ahead, his eyes clouded and unseeing.
"Will you not go to him?" Éowyn wept, "Will you do nothing?"
"Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here," Gandalf looked back at his company before they rode on toward Edoras.
At Edoras, Éowyn was weeping at the dead Théodred's bed.
She kissed his hand as Gríma appeared at the door, "Oh, he… he must have died sometime in the night. What a tragedy for the king to lose his only son and heir."
He sat on the bed and put a hand on Éowyn's shoulder as he continued to speak, "I understand his passing is hard to accept, especially now that your brother has deserted you."
Éowyn jumped back and threw off Gríma's hand with a shrewd glare, "Leave me alone, snake!"
Gríma rose from the bed and moved ever closer to Éowyn, "Oh, but you are alone! Who knows what you have spoken to the darkness. In bitter watches of the night, when all your life seems to shrink, the walls of your bower closing in about you, like a hutch to trammel some wild thing in."
He put a hand on her cheek and moved it down to her throat, "So fair, so cold, like a morning of pale spring still clinging to winter's chill," Éowyn and Gríma stared at each other intently.
"Your words are poison!" Éowyn spat as she ran out of the hall.
Weeping, she looked away into the distance, a flag came off its pole and was carried by the breeze before Éowyn saw riders coming toward Edoras.
As Axel passed the entrance to Edoras, the flag floated down to land near him. Edoras was silent and somber with everyone dressed in black and staring at the newcomers in a wary silence. Axel looked up at the hall and saw a lady in white standing on the steps.
He looked around at more somber people as Gimli muttered, "You'll find more cheer in a graveyard."
Axel looked up to the hall again but the lady had disappeared. The company climb up the stairs to the hall and was met by guards.
Gandalf saw Háma and sighed, "Ah."
"I cannot allow you before Théoden-King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame. By order of Gríma Wormtongue," Háma spoke clearly.
Gandalf nodded in understanding and signaled for the others to surrender their weapons. Aragon handed over his sword and knives, Legolas gave a little twirl to his knives before handing them over to the guards, Gimli handed over his axes reluctantly, and Boromir gave up his sword with a disgruntled growl.
Axel handed over his sword with a small grin, "Be careful with that and only touch the sheath."
One of the guards snorted and touched the handle but cried out in pain as the sword hilt burned his hand through his glove.
The other guards raised their swords and pointed them at the wolf as he raised his hands, the sword clattering to the ground, "Hey! I told him to be careful! He didn't listen to me!"
One of the other guards picked up the sword again by the scabbard and wasn't burnt by it so they put down their swords.
Háma gestured to Gandalf, "Your staff."
"Hmm?" Gandalf glanced at his staff, "Oh. You would not part an old man from his walking stick?"
Gandalf looked at Háma innocently and the man hesitated for a second and then gestured that they follow him into the hall. Gandalf gave Aragorn a tiny wink as Axel snorted at his acting and entered the hall, leaning on Legolas' arm.
Gríma leaned down and whispered to Théoden, "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," Gandalf said as he approached Théoden; Aragorn, Legolas, Boromir, Axel, and Gimli pull back and surveyed the hall and its hostile occupants as a group of men started to follow their steps with hostility.
"He's not welcome," Gríma whispered to Théoden.
"Why should I… welcome you, Gandalf… Stormcrow?" Théoden looked to Gríma as if for affirmation.
Gríma grinned as he walked toward Gandalf, "A just question, my liege. Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell spell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest."
"Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind you teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm! Gandalf raised his staff against Gríma who backed away from Gandalf while addressing the guards, "I told you to take the wizard's staff!"
The hostile guards attacked and Aragorn, Legolas, Boromir, and Gimli engaged them in a fist-fight while Axel shifted into a wolf and knocked a few guards out as Gandalf continued to approach Théoden. Gamling tried to go forward but Háma holds him back.
"Théoden, son of Thengel, too long have you sat in the shadows," Gandalf bellowed.
Gríma tried to crawl away unnoticed but Axel pounced and pinned him to the floor, his teeth inches from the man's neck as Gimli growled out, "I would stay still, if I were you."
"Hearken to me! I release you from the spell," Gangalf gestured with his hand.
Théoden laughed menacingly as Gandalf opened his eyes in surprise, Hahahhhahahahah! You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey!"
"Argh!"Gandalf threw back his grey cloak, exuding blinding white light forcing Théoden back against his seat.
Gandalf pointed his staff towards Théoden, "I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound."
Éowyn rushed in, seeing her uncle threatened, and she tried to go to him but was held back by Aragorn, "Wait."
"If I go. . . Théoden dies," Théoden spoke in Saruman's voice and Gandalf moved his staff sharply, making Théoden fly back against the chair again, "You did not kill me, you will not kill him!"
Théoden roared in Saruman's voice, "Rohan is mine!"
Gandalf smited Théoden as he lunged at him, "Be gone!"
Théoden was thrown back into the chair and elsewhere, Saruman flew backwards from the Palantír which he used to manipulate Théoden. He landed hard on the floor of Orthanc, bleeding from a gash in his forehead. In the hall, Théoden let out a moan and slumped forward in the chair as Éowyn 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 returned to his eyes as Théoden looked closely at Éowyn, "I know your face. Éowyn… Éowyn."
Éowyn wept with joy as Théoden turned to Gandalf, "Gandalf?"
Gandalf smiled with a huff, "Breathe the free air again, my friend."
The hall was shown to be filled with light again, as everyone marveled at the rejuvenation of the king.
Théoden stood up and looked around him, "Dark have been my dreams of late," He looked down at his trembling hands.
Gandalf leaned against his staff, "Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your sword."
Háma ran up with his sword and Théoden reached for it with trembling hands before wrapping his fingers around it slowly and then drew it, gazing upon the shiny steel. In a corner, Gríma trembled and tried to escape but was pinned back down by a growling Axel. Suddenly, Théoden's gaze turned to Gríma who was thrown out of the hall and down the stairs, Axel shifting quickly to human out of sight before appearing near Legolas.
"Argh!" Gríma backed away, beseechingly to Théoden, "I've only ever served you, my lord!"
Théoden advanced towards Gríma, holding the sword firmly in his hand, "Your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!"
Gríma grovelled, "Send me not from your side."
Théoden raised his sword to kill Gríma but Aragorn held him back, "No, my lord! No, my lord. Let him go. Enough blood has been spilled on his account."
Gríma scrambled to his feet and pushed through the crowd, "Get out of my way!"
"Hail, Théoden king!" Háma shouted as the crowd knelt in homage before Théoden.
Aragorn knelt as well while Gríma rode out of Edoras. As Théoden turned to go back into the hall, he looked up, "Where is Théodred? Where is my son?"
A white flower was held up by a hand before it was released and spiraled down to land among similar flowers, in front of a tomb.
Simbelmynë. Ever has it grown on the tombs of my forebearers, "Théoden looked at Gandalf, "Now it shall cover the grave of my son. Alas, that these evil days should be mine. The young perish and the old linger. That I should live to see the last days of my house."
"Théodred's death was not of your making," Gandalf replied, gently gripping the mourning King's shoulder.
"No parent should have to bury their child, "Théoden started to weep.
"He was strong in life. His spirit will find its way to the halls of your fathers. Be-thou well. Go-thou, Théodred, go-thou," Gandalf turned to go back to the hall and left Théoden to grieve in private.
Elsewhere, Axel spotted two children on horseback near the city gates. He rushed towards the horse and quickly caught the boy who collapsed against his chest before hushing the girl softly and leading the horse into the city.
Later, inside the Golden Hall, the two children were eating at a table with Axel and Éowyn was with them, "They had no warning. They were unarmed. Now the wildmen are moving through the Westfold, burning as they go. Rick, cot and tree."
"Where's mama?" The little girl, Freda asked softly.
"Shh..." Éowyn cooed softly as she gently pet her hair.
"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash. All the more potent for he is driven now by fear of Sauron. Ride out and meet him head on. Draw him away from your women and children," Gandalf leaned forward and put a hand on Théoden's chair as the King Théoden looked at his hand warily, "You must fight."
"You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak. Éomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king," Aragorn spoke.
Théoden sighed, "They will be three hundred leagues from here by now. Éomer cannot help us. I know what it is that you want of me. But I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war."
Gimli took a bite of his bread as he watched the exchange between Aragorn and Théoden, Boromir sitting next to him with some meat as Axel walked over to them with Legolas.
"Open war is upon you. Whether you would risk it or not," Aragorn growled out, frustrated.
Théoden glared down at him, "When last I looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan."
Gimli took a drink and burped as Boromir laughed and Axel sighed in disgust, Legolas chuckling at the Wolf King's reaction.
"Then what is the king's decision?" Gandalf asked softly with a sigh.
Háma was shouting throughout the city, "By order of the king, the city must empty. We make for the refuge of Helm's Deep. Do not burden yourselves with treasures. Take only what provisions you need."
People were moving about, gathering their belongings and preparing to move as Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Boromir, Axel, and Gimli walked toward the stables.
"Helm's Deep! They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight. Who will defend them if not their king," Boromir huffed.
"He's only doing what he thinks is best for his people. Helm's Deep has saved them in the past," Aragorn replied as they entered the stables.
"There is no way out of that ravine. Théoden is walking into a trap. He thinks he's leading them to safety. What they will get is a massacre. Théoden has a strong will but I fear for him. I fear for the survival of Rohan. He will need you before the end, Aragorn. The people of Rohan will need you. The defences HAVE to hold," Gandalf sighed.
"They will hold," Aragorn nodded confidently.
Gandalf turned to Shadowfax and stroked him, "The Grey Pilgrim... that's what they used to call me. Three hundred lives of men I've walked this earth and now I have no time. With luck, my search will not be in vain. Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East."
Aragorn opened the stall gates, "Go."
Legolas jumped back as Gandalf rode out of the stable and over the plains of Rohan.
Axel watched his silhouette slowly disappear, "Well... That happened..."
"What did you expect from the White Wizard?" Legolas grinned at the wolf who blushed a bit.
"Ahem... Well, I have to go... Do a thing... Bye," Axel grinned before dashing away to the amusement of one elf and the confusion of two men and a dwarf.
Axel hid behind a stone house before looking around, "Keira, are you there?"
A hand appeared on his shoulder which made him jump as someone laughed, "I'm here, what do you need?"
"I need you to take me back to the Mines of Moria," Axel replied to the shock of the Eagle Queen, "What?! You want to go back there? You're insane!"
The Wolf King huffed, "No I'm not, I just need you to take me to the tomb room where Balin died, it won't take long."
Keira rolled her eyes but nodded before clapping her hands, "Fine you suicidal wolf."
Axel grunted as he landed on the ground, looking around before snatching up the frayed and torn tome (Big Book) that Balin was writing in, "Aha!"
"Did you find what you were looking for?" Keira asked as Axel nodded, "Yep, now take me back?"
She sighed and rolled her eyes before transporting him back to where he was a few minutes ago, "I swear, you wouldn't be able to do anything without me."
Axel grinned, "You just found that out?"
Keira chuckled before ruffling his hair, "Nah, I've known that for a while."
"Great! Come on, you're coming with me," Axel laughed as he dragged the winged woman along with him to where his company was in the hall.
The two entered the great doors and moved towards the table where Boromir, Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn were.
Keira sat down next to Boromir as Axel tapped Gimli on the shoulder, the book behind his back, "Hey short stack."
Gimli growled as he turned to Axel, "Watch yerself Axel or ye might end up a rug."
The wolf just laughed and presented the book to him, "Aww and I thought you might've liked this."
"W-Where did ye get this?" the dwarf gaped as he grabbed the book with trembling hands.
"Back at the Mines," Axel shrugged.
Gimli looked up and there was a faint smile under his beard, "Thank ye lad."
"It was no trouble at all. Now, I have to go find myself and my sister some horses, excuse me," he grinned before walking away as Keira moved to get up but sat back down when Axel gave her a look that said: Stay there.
He walked out to the stables and noticed that the stable hands were having an issue with a new horse that had just come in. He rushed over and stood in front of the horse, hands stretched out as he waved the stable hands to get back before gently reaching for the horse's snout.
"Calm yourself here, it's alright," he cooed softly, gently patting its neck as it calmed down in his hands, "What is it?"
One of the stable boys came forward, "I-It's a female Clydesdale, Sir. It has no name."
"Perfect... Banethfael, that will be your name my brilliant beauty," he smiled as the horse nudged his cheek, "Good girl."
Éowyn opened a chest in which lay a sword that she unsheathed and began to practice.
She swung around and was met by Axel, who blocks her parry, "You have some skill with a blade."
With a swift move, Éowyn swung her sword and rendered Axel vulnerable, gaining the upper hand.
"Women of this country learned long ago: Those without swords may still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain," Éowyn stepped back and sheathed her sword.
"What do you fear, my lady?" Axel asked as he walked over to pick up his sword.
Éowyn sighed deeply, "A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them and all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire."
"You are a daughter of kings, a shieldmaiden of Rohan," Axel sheathed his knife, "I do not think that would be your fate."
He bowed and Éowyn gazed after him as he walked away.
The people of Rohan were moving out of Edoras towards Helm's Deep, with Théoden leading the way.
At Isengard, Gríma conferred with Saruman, holding a cloth to his mouth, "Théoden will not stay at Edoras. It's vulnerable, he knows this. He will expect an attack on the city. They will flee to Helm's Deep, the great fortress of Rohan. It is a dangerous road to take through the mountains. They will be slow. They will have women and children with them."
Saruman's eyebrows rose in response as he walked through the depths of Isengard and gave orders to an Orc, "Send out your warg riders."
The Orc smiled and in a pit behind him, ferocious growls were heard and shadows danced.