"Pft. Orc blood!" Gimli said as he spat the liquid from his mouth.
Titus raised an eyebrow at that "How DO you know what orc blood tastes like?"
Rin shook her head at this but saw something very disturbing on the ground.
"Uhh... People. I found... something." She said as she used her foot to nudge the squished body of the orc.
Aragorn bent down and observed it "These are strange tracks."
"The air is so close here." Gimli stated.
"This forest is old. Very old. Full of memory… andanger."
As soon as the Elf Prince said that, the group heard creaks and voices.
Gimli, spooked, readied his axe and looked for an unseen enemy.
"The trees are speaking to each other." Legolas revealed.
"Gimli!" Aragorn called for the dwarf's attention "Lower your axe." He whispered.
The dwarf slowly lowered his axe as he looked to the trees.
Titus slowly loosened his grip on his Gladius, but kept a weary eye on the forest that surrounded them.
"They have feelings, my friend." The elf said to the dwarf "The Elves began it: waking up the trees, teaching them to speak."
Rin was confused by this "What? How would the elves do that? I mean, the three of us have seen trees moving and fighting before but what do they even wanna talk about?"
"Aye, the lass is right. What do trees have to talk about? Hm? Except for the consistency of squirrel droppings." Gimli said as he followed the rest of the group.
Legolas suddenly became alert and said to Aragorn "Aragorn, nad no ennas!"
The elf had his eyes search the surrounding forest.
The Ranger went to stand beside him and ask "Man cenich?"
"The White Wizard approaches."
Everyone went full alert but did not show any sign that they knew the presence of the wizard.
"Do not let him speak." Aragorn ordered "He will put a spell on us."
The Ranger and the Gondorian wrapped their hands on their respective blades. Gimli tightened the grip on his axe and Legolas readies an arrow. Aéd went into a defensive form, his senses sharp. Titus and Rin were back-to-back, subtly. Rin's grip tightened around her Dual Katana, her lone eye roamed around in search for any sign of the wizard. Titus fingered the Pugios attached to his belt.
Simultaneously, the group faced the wizard only to be blinded by a white light.
Legolas let his arrow go, Gimli threw a smaller axe and Titus threw one of the Pugios he had. All three were deflected.
Aragorn, Boromir, Aéd and Rin prepared to charge only to drop their blades as it grew too hot for them to touch. Rin could've used her Wakizashis but couldn't risk of having a repeat with her Katanas.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits." The wizard's deep voice announced.
"Where are they?" Aragorn demanded.
"They passed this way, the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"
"Show yourself, Saruman!" The Gondorian yelled while trying to cover his eyes from the blinding light.
The light deemed and revealed a very familiar face.
Legolas bowed and was followed by Gimli and Boromir.
Titus, who had silently unsheathed his Gladius, dropped his blade in shock.
Rin's mouth dropped and the straw fell. She rubbed her remaining eye to make sure this was real.
Aéd showed no surprise but if one were to look closer, they could see his eyes widen by a fraction.
"It cannot be!" Aragorn said in disbelief.
"Forgive me." Legolas said "I mistook you for Saruman."
"I am Saruman." Gandalf said, his expression showing no offense at the Elf's assumption.
"Wait, what?" Rin voiced.
"Or rather Saruman as he should have been." Gandalf continued.
"You fell." Aragorn stated rather than question.
"Wow. Way to be blunt." Rin deadpanned as she picked up her Katanas.
"Yeah. He beat you to it." Titus said as he pulled the Pugio that buried itself on a tree.
"Through fire and water." The wizard voiced as he recalled to them what happened with him and the Balrog "From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought him, the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside." There was something in the wizard's eyes that Rin couldn't identify.
"Darkness took me. And I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead, and every day was as long as the life age of the earth. But it was not the end. I felt light in me again."
He turned to the rest of the group "I've been sent back until my task is done."
"Gandalf."
A spark of recognition passed across the wizard's face "Gandalf? Oh yes. That's what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name."
"Now I am Gandalf the White. And I come back to you now, at the turn of the tide."
~Line Break~
Once they were outside the forest, Gandalf whistled.
They heard a neigh and in the distance, saw a majestic white horse.
"That is one of the Mearas" The elf stated "unless my eyes are cheated by some spell."
The horse stops in front of Gandalf and the wizard stroked the steed's hair.
"Shadowfax." Gandalf said "He's the lord of all horses, and has been my friend through many dangers."
"Huh. White robes, white staff and white horse. Anymore white on you and you'll be as white as snow, old man." Titus remarked jokingly.
Gandalf smiled at the Centurion before helping himself up the horse.
~Line Break~
As the group walked through the path that lead to Meduseld, Titus could feel the stares given to them by the people of Edoras. Almost all of them had the look of suspicion but others had fear in their eyes.
It was probably because of Aéd's imposing figure, Rin's tattoos and Titus' scarred face mask. Add the fact that Aéd's Claymore was as tall as a human being.
When they reached the entrance of Meduseld, they were stopped by acompany of guards. The three other-worlders noted the similarities of the guards' helmets to that of some of the Warborn soldiers.
"I cannot allow you before Théoden king so armed, Gandalf Grayhame. By order of…" The man's, probably the captain, expression turned sour "Gríma Wormtongue."
He turned to Boromir "Even you, my Lord."
Gandalf nodded at the group who begrudgingly complied and gave their weapons to the guards.
Rin smirked before dumping her Katanas, followed by the Wakizashis and then the Tantō, in the guards hands.
Titus saw this and decided to have a little fun. He dropped his Gladius in the same guard's arms before the man could hand Rin's weapons over to a fellow guard. His Pugios followed then his helmet. He winked at the guard with a smirk on his face before going inside.
A shadow loomed over the guard as Aéd stood in front of him, his Claymore resting on his shoulders. He decided to give pity to the man but made a split-second decision to intimidate the guards. He planted his Claymore on the ground with enough strength to actually bury the tip on the stone floor.
The Highlander scoffed before entering the Golden Hall.
~Line Break~
What Titus expected from a King of the Golden Hall was not this.
The man sitting on the throne looked like a literal walking corpse. The King's eyes were glazed over, his skin like a corpse and he seemed to stare at nothing. Beside him was a pale man that Titus knew was trouble, just by looking at him.
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden King." Gandalf said as he addressed the King.
"He is not welcome." Gríma whispered to the King's ear.
The King slowly set his glazed eyes to Gandalf "Why should I welcome you, Gandalf... Stormcrow?"
"A just question my liege." The snake of a man said as he stood up "Lateis the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill news is in ill guest."
"Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth." Gandalf warned as he stared at Gríma in the eye, his gaze unyielding "I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!"
The Wizard raised his staff, causing the man to stumble back.
"The staff!" Gríma stared at Háma as he spoke "I told you to take take the wizard's staff!"
A group of soldiers tried attack the group but was repelled.
Gamling reached for his sword but was stopped by Háma.
Titus had a bloodthirsty grin on his face as he grabbed a man by the collar of his cuirass and slammed his forehead on the man's nose. He dropped the man when someone grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him around and sent a punch to his face. Titus retaliated by tackling him to the ground and sent punch after punch to the man's face.
Rin dodged a punch and spinkicked her attacker on the back of their head. She kneed another one in the gut and slammed her elbow hard on his back. She ducked from a swing and used her palm to send an uppercut that knocked the man off his feet. She scoffed and crossed her arms.
Aéd looked at the two that tried to take on him but stopped in their tracks. He scoffed before kicking the one on his left so hard it sent them flying. He grabbed the other one by the neck and threw him at Gríma, knocking the snake down on the ground. He turned to Titus and pulled him off the man he was beating to death and slapped him on the back of his head.
"Keep yourself under control, lad." He grunted.
Before Gríma could rise up, Gimli puts his foot on the snake's chest.
"I would stay still if I were you." The dwarf threatened.
While all this happened, Gandalf slowly walked to the King.
"Harken to me! I release you from the spell."
The King let out a creepy laugh as he slowly faced Gandalf "You have no power here Gandalf the Grey." He continued to laugh but gasped in horror when Gandalf parted his grey cloak and revealed the white robe underneath.
"I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound." Gandalf declared as he pointed his staff at the possessed King.
"Aah!" Théoden looked like he was in physical pain and reeled back.
A golden haired woman tried to rush to the King's side but was held by Rin and Aragorn.
"Wait!" Aragorn ordered.
Théoden looked at Gandalf and spoke with a voice not of his own.
"If I go — Théodendies." He threatened.
"You did not kill me. You will not kill him!"
"Rohan is mine!"
"Be gone!" Gandalf yelled as Théoden lunged at him only to be pushed back to his throne.
The woman wriggled away from Rin and Aragorn's hold and ran to King's side.
Théoden face begin to change. His white hair became shorter and golden. His face, once pale, now seemed to have color in them. His eyes began to clear and he looked around, confusion clear on his face. He looked to his side and said "I know your face. Éowyn - Éowyn."
He then looked to the wizard and recognition crossed his features.
"Gandalf?"
"Breathe the free air again, my friend."
"Dark have been my dreams of late." The King stated.
"Your fingers would remember their old strength better — if they grasped your sword."
Háma walked to the King and presented him a sword.
Théoden grasped his sword and examined it before his gaze set into the cowering Gríma.
~Line Break~
Titus had a smile on his face as he and Aéd threw Gríma down the stairway and watch him roll.
"Argh!" Gríma stopped rolling and crawled to his knees "I've onlyever served you my lord."
Théoden glared at him "Your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!"
"Send me not from your side!" Gríma begged.
Théoden raised his sword to strike down the worm but was stopped by Aragorn.
"No my lord! No my lord. Let him go. Enough blood has been spilt on his account."
Théoden looked at the crowd that was gathering and relented.
Aragorn holds out his hand for Gríma to take.
The man spat on it and ran off.
"Out of my way!"
Aragorn stared at the crowd and declared "Hail, Théoden, King!"
The crowd knelt before their king.
Despite that, there was something bothering the King's mind.
"Where is Théodred? Where is my son?"
~Line Break~
Aéd watched from afar as the ceremony took place. Seeing this brought the memory of loosing his eldest son, Áedán. He remembered the helplessness that washed over him as he held his dying son amidst the war torn battlefield. The way he roared to the heavens when Áedán's hand went limp and his eyes stare into nothingness.
He remembered watching his son's killer stare at him with defiance in his eyes, but still see the underlying fear in them.
He remembered making sure the man screamed 'til his throat was dry. Making him beg for death only for Aéd to prolong his suffering.
He remembered the words he said to the man before he finally killed him.
"This pain is nothing compared to what you have brought upon me when you killed my son. Consider this death my mercy to you."
He was strayed from his memories when he heard the King's niece, Éowyn, sing the last lines of a song as the King's son is placed in a tomb.
He stayed until only Gandalf and the King were left.
He stood beside Gandalf and watched as Théoden let a white flower fall from his hand.
"Simbelmynë, ever has it grown on the tombs of my forebears. Now it shall cover the grave of my son." The King lamented. He turned to look at the two before he continued "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 reasoned.
"No parent should have to bury their child." Théoden replied before finally breaking down.
"He was strong in life. His spirit will find its way to the halls of your fathers."
Aéd walks over to the weeping King and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Westu hál. Ferðu, Théodred, Ferðu." Gandalf muttered and turned his head just in time to see two children riding in horseback.
When they grew closer, one of the children fainted and fell off the horse.
This alerted the two men and rushed to help the children.
Aéd grabbed the child and set her down.
"What happened, lass?"
"W-wildmen. They came through the west fold." The child answered.
"Bring them to Meduseld. Quickly!" Théoden ordered.
Aéd nodded before placing the girl back on the horse and taking the boy from the King's arms.
Together, the group rushed to the Golden Hall.
~Line Break~
"When last I looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan."
Théoden declared as he looked at Aragorn in the eye.
"BURP!"
Rin slapped Titus and Gimli on the back of their heads as the two burped.
Gandalf ignored this and asked Théoden "Then what is the King's decision?"