Chasing Away Fear

Edoras was on the great path provided by doom. Eowyn, the king's niece, the Shield maiden of Rohan was aware of this very fact. Over a short span of time, so many things had taken place in her uncle's kingdom that altered the atmosphere. With her uncle not as he once was, her brother exiled and the prince dead, the shield maiden was truly on her own. Her uncle would not listen to her words of reason and she knew it was because of Grima.

Grima Wormtongue was her uncle's advisor. He had been doing a lot more advising than usual these days. The streak of darkness that had spread over months, Eowyn was sure was because Wormtongue had something to do with. Her home no longer held the warmth it once had. A certain coldness now overtook

the halls to the point where it sickened her. With all that was

happening she did not know how it had come to be. She did not know how anything had gotten to the point that it had.

Often, to clear her head she stood outside and just gazed at the landscape. It reminded her of times that were worth smiling over. Memories filled with joy would come back to her for the briefest of moments and then she would settle back into reality. When inside she would fight off the lust filled stares and looks given to her by

Wormtongue. Just to think of the man made her skin crawl.

Eowyn would have given anything to escape it all. She wished that something- anything could be done to help Edoras return back to what it once had been. During these days, nothing sat right with her and with her brother gone things only worsened. It was on no particular day that she happened to stand outside,

looking at the scenery that a flag came loose from its pole. At the time the shield maiden thought nothing of it. Whether it caught her attention or not, the flag served as a sign. A sign that things were to change in the land and that help whether it be in small form or big was on its way.

Three horses came to a halt as each of its riders took a moment to look at what would be ahead for them. All five of the travelers were looking at the city they had yet to enter. It was a city that was steadily declining as it was under a misguided rule. What lied in the city of Rohan undetected like an invisible visitor?

Gandalf looked on, things were going on within his head that none of his companions would began to understand. The wizard was back in his old robes as to not draw attention to his new identity. If they were to

enter into Edoras without much effort it would have to be that way.

"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld," Gandalf finally spoke. "

There dwells Théoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong." Gandalf pushed his horse forward. He knew all too well what he must do. He also felt what was ahead for all of them.

It was not going to be an easy road at all. Everyone was going to have to push themselves and give more than they could offer. All this had to happen when the time arose. Everyone's fate now lay in the hands of the Valar.

Amara felt uneasiness creep into the veins as they rode forward into Rohan and as a result she held onto her brother a bit tighter. Aragorn sensed nothing within his sister and just brushed it off as her not liking the horse they were beneath. It was true, Amara did not enjoy riding at all but that was not what was bothering her. She was getting closer to the enemy, the enemy who had plans for not just Frodo and the one Ring but her as well.

This she kept to herself.

It would do no one any good to put worry forth into this journey. Besides, she could hold her on. More than anything she was sick and tired of having to deal with problems concerning herself. Why could she just not focus on someone else and their problems? Amara wanted to forget herself and do something else, not have to be the target.

Boy did she miss Pippin and the small jokes he would tell to her.

Amara fiddled with the retainer she put in her mouth earlier that day. She didn't know why she bothered with it anymore. She did not have to wear her glasses anymore and she wondered if it would be the same for her retainer, but out of habit she wore it anyway. To take her mind off things, which it so desperately needed, she ran re-runs of Stargate-SG1 in her head. It was one of her favorite shows when she was on Earth and they ran it non stop of the SCIFI channel so it was what she watched when she was depressed.

"You'll find more cheer in a graveyard," Gimli piped up as he looked around on his perch behind Legolas.

Amara felt her and Aragorn's horse come to a slow trot and looked up. A flag, carried by a harsh wind floated past them. Looking to where the flag had come, Amara saw a woman dressed in white before she walked off. Everyone around them had a somber looks and stared up at them. It made Amara feel even lousier.

Gandalf dismounted after a minute a ways from seeing Hama. Everyone followed suit and stable boys came over to take their horses. Gandalf motioned for Amara, a look of sternness in his eyes. Amara did not hesitate in going over to the wizard.

"Yes Gandalf?"

"I want you to go into the stables with the horses." He spoke this quickly, every now and then glancing up to where Hama was. Legolas watched Gandalf and Amara conversing. He knew that it was something important that they were discussing so he did not dare interrupt. The elf only

watched and decided he would ask later.

"When everything is well and over then I will send someone to retrieve you. I need not explain why. Am I understood?"

Amara nodded at the sheer intensity in the wizard's voice. She knew exactly what it was all about. Beyond the halls lied Grima Wormtongue who had direct connections with Saruman. Saruman being the wizard who wished to use her solely as a tool. Without a glance back at everyone, Amara followed the horses that were being led into the stables. Gandalf rejoined the group feeling slightly lighter.

"Gandalf," Aragorn spoke. His voice was filled with question. Both Legolas and Gimli had the same thing floating around their heads. 'Why was Amara not joining them?' All looked to the wizard for an answer to a question not spoken.

All he would say was," It is for her own safety." And no one questioned him further on the matter.

The four of them took to the stairs, towards Hama. Hama, a slightly tall fellow with a shaggy beard looked at the travelers. There was a reluctance in his voice on what he was about to say next. "I can not allow you before Théoden-King so armed. Gandalf Greyhame. By order of Grima Wormtongue." To say those words 'By order of Grima Wormtongue' made him feel like there was sludge in his mouth.

Nonetheless, Gandalf nodded pretending like he understood. He gestured for the others to place their weapons with Hama and his men. Aragorn handed over his sword and knives reluctantly. Legolas handed over his prized bow and knives, trying to trust that nothing dreadful would happen to them. Gimli followed suit with the rest of them and gave a man his axe with a slight growl.

Hama waited for a second for Gandalf to give him his staff. When he made no attempt he then spoke up. "Your staff," he gestured to the long elegantly crafted piece of wood Gandalf held in his hand.

"Hmm?" Gandalf feigned as if he did not know what Hama was speaking about.

"Oh. You would not part an old man from his walking stick?" He gave the soldier and innocent look that only Gandalf himself could pull off.

For a second, Hama appeared to be thinking. He then gestured for them to follow him towards the hall. Gandalf gave Aragorn a tiny wink before they did

so and took the arm Legolas offered to 'assist' him in walking.

A vile of a creature was stooped next to King Théoden's thrown whispering in his ear. It could be none other than Wormtongue himself. He had a pasty deathly look to him. It appeared like he had never seen the light of day. The group entered, their strides somewhat quick but not quick enough to deem suspicious. Whatever Wormtongue was saying to the king it could not at all be good.

Gandalf stopped in front of Théoden's thrown.

"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden King."

Gimli, Aragorn and Legolas fell back behind Gandalf. Each of them viewing the men that were behind them. There was aura around the sketchy group that was not at all right. It was as if they did not belong in the king's hall.

Grima took a look deep into Gandalf's watery eyes. He twisted his head as he realized something. In the king's ear he whispered that Gandalf was not welcomed.

"Why should I...welcome you, Gandalf...Stormcrow?" The king asked in a scratchy withered sounding voice. He looked to his advisor as if he wished to see he was on the right path. It was then quite clear to everyone that the situation before them was not right at all.

"A just question, my liege," Wormtongue declared. He shot a nasty look in the

direction of the visitors. He then left that side of Théoden to walk closer to Gandalf. An air of putrid authority was about him and was given to him unjustly. He eyed Gandalf close up as if to say he were equal or better yet more powerful than he. Little did he know that this was not the case at all. Wormtongue thought that since he had Saruman on his side, nothing could go wrong. Everything that happened would flawlessly be overridden to his advantage.

He strongly believed that the side of darkness would triumph. In a quick flash, though, things took a turn for the worse or a least it had for him. The air that was Gandalf's had suddenly become a lot stronger than he could have imagined. All too soon he was yelling at the guards for not have taken the wizard's staff. Wormtongue was left backing away from Gandalf and with a slight nod, he signaled for the guards to attack.

The guards that were behind the ranger, the elf and dwarf now jumped into attack. There orders being to take out anyone who had not been on the side of Saruman. With the sudden distraction, Grima tried to stealthily make his way from the thrown room but failed all too miserably by being captured by the dwarf. It seemed that luck did not rest on the side of evil.

Amara sat quietly on a bail of hay. No it was not exciting. She did not get to see Gandalf perform an exorcism on King Théoden and she did not get to join in kicking some butt with Aragorn, Legolas or Gimli, but at least she was doing her part. Her part being to stay out of the way of the clutches of evil. Just to have her on their side would mean complete destruction.

Gandalf was completely right by sending her to the stables. No one could no that she was here while Wormtongue was still in the premises. Amara played with a piece of hay in her hand and wondered how long it would take to over come the dark side.

'I sound like I'm living in Star Wars instead of Middle Earth,' she chided mentally.

The stable boys had

thought it a bit odd that she stayed in the stables instead of accompanying her party, but they had said nothing. She knew it was what they were thinking. Amara sighed and thought how each of the hobbits was doing. She thought about whether or not they were on the right path, following the right schedule or off getting themselves into trouble. She thought about them for almost a half an hour before she claimed it unhealthy to think about one thing for so long. So she began to think about other things, things more pleasant to keep her mind from dark thoughts.

She thought about sleeping beneath warm blankets and eating hot food followed by a bath with bubbles. Had things been exactly how she wanted them, she would be reading a brand new Physics book in bed as it rained outside. God, she hadn't soaked up any new information about worldly things in so long and that she missed, along with Fruit Loops. Amara wished Middle Earth had Fruit Loops or even a generic brand of some sort. Amara concluded in her head that compared to what she was doing right now none of that was important.

"I am sitting on a bail of hay," she said out loud.

A horse neighed at her as if it was responding.

Amara stood and stretched. "Staying behind is very important! You go in there and it'd be like announcing yourself to the whole freakin' world." She began to pace and look at each of the horses. She did not enjoy riding them but they were wondrous to look at. It all boiled down to her being

bored.

Being bored in a barn.

"Can my live get anymore interesting," the empath asked allowed.

"You did not kill me, you will not kill him!"

Gandalf appeared as if he were bathed in white. He pointed his staff in the direction of Théoden. Saruman was reigning over Rohan threw the king. A devious plan that would have gone unnoticed if it were not for Gandalf. He had to be expelled from the king's mind at once if things were ever to go back to normal. Things would only progress for the worst had not Gandalf and the others shown up.

Everyone was watching this battle between Gandalf and Saruman threw Théoden's body take place. Aragorn held back the blonde shield maiden from disturbing what was going on. No one doubted Gandalf's ability to rid Saruman from the king and if they had it was all erased by the fact that Gandalf was no longer Gandalf the Grey but Gandalf the White. Gandalf was much more powerful than he had ever been. He would not fail.

"ROHAN IS MINE!" Saruman declared before he was pulled forcefully from the King's mind. The evil wizard no longer saw the world threw Théoden King of Rohan's mind any longer. It still did not keep him harming the land though and this Gandalf had already thought of.

The King lurched back

into his chair and let out a low moan.

Saruman was gone.

It had been an hour.

An hour.

A solid hour.

A whole hour.

A complete sixty minutes.

Amara had done everything a person could possibly do in a barn. She fed some of the horses carrots left over by a stable boy. She had brushed some of them too. She did everything but muck out the stables. That was where she drew the line. Amara took down her pony tail and re-fixed it while wondering how much longer she was going to have to wait. Thoughts that something had gone terribly wrong popped into her mind.

She was pretty sure that she was just worrying herself and that nothing was happening. Amara returned to the bail of hay she had been sitting on before and took a seat once more.

"My guitar would sure have passed the time," she said. "Or a portable DVD player."

She kicked at some dirt and watched it scattered over the ground. A few more times she performed this action before

she stopped and stood from the bail. Alertness had entered into her body and that special power that she had jumped to life. Someone was coming towards the stables and their intentions were not of good. Quickly, Amara looked around for a place to hide.

'A place to hide, a place to hide, a place to hide. A place to hide?'

She shook her head. Whoever was coming she would not hide. It was time to face the problem head on and eliminate it, no matter who it was. So bravely, she slid her sword slowly from its sheath and waited for whoever it was to come.