Chapter Thirteen
The group of five rode into Edoras. They all immediately noticed the sombreness which was laid over the inhabitants like a blanket. They all dressed in black, and not a single person spoke as they stared at the newcomers.
Gimli commented under his breath, "You'd find more cheer in a graveyard."
Soon, they reached the steps the led to Meduseld. Legolas, Aragorn, and Gandalf dismounted with ease. Legolas turned to lift Gimli off the horse while Gandalf held his hand out to Ilmare. She took it, swung her leg over the horse's head, and slid down to the ground. As she landed, he whispered to her, "Stay hidden." He did not let go of her hand.
The group then continued to the steps. When they reached the top of the stairs, there were six soldiers waiting for them. One appeared to be a commander of some type while the rest were merely the soldiers meant to reinforce him. The leader stepped forward and said with a slight reluctance colouring his tone, "I cannot allow you before Theoden-King so armed, Gandalf Grayhame. By order fo Grima Wormtongue." The last was said almost with regret, as though he did not want to take orders from this person.
Gandalf looked over at Aragorn and nodded before doing the same to Legolas and Gimli. All three of them handed over their weapons. Aragorn handed over his very precious sword along with the rest of his weapons; Legolas handed over his Galadrim bow and long knives; Gimli handed over his cherished axe. For a second, the leader looked at her, as she had not yet moved. He seemed to be decided whether or not she was likely to have any weapons.
Ilmare looked up to Gandalf who merely nodded to her. She turned her gaze back to the commander and took a long, white dagger from under her cloak. She passed it off to the leader. As he took it, he obviously noticed her pale, slender, feminine hand and how she obviously knew exactly what she was doing with her dagger.
The commander switched his gaze from her dagger back to her. "Lower your hood," he said, hesitating slightly as he began to speak.
Her voice was cold as she spoke. "I have given you my weapon. You have no need to see my face."
At the sound of her voice and the edge on it, the man said hurriedly, "Forgive me, my Lady. I meant no offense."
He turned to Gandalf and said, "Your staff."
Gandalf thought quickly and said, "You would not part an old man from his walking stick."
The commander hesitated before turning and leading them into the hall. Gandalf winked at Aragorn before following him into the hall, holding onto Ilmare's arm 'for support'.
As they walked toward the throne, Ilmare could not help but notice that Theoden looked far older than Gandalf had said he was. The man sitting beside the king had greasy black hair, a pale complexion, and did not look trustworthy in the least. This must be Grima. Thanks to her very sensitive hearing, she heard that man whisper to the king, "My Lord, Gandalf the Grey is coming. He's a herald of woe."
Ilmare heard footsteps to the side and turned to see several men matching their pace down the hall, staring them down. The doors closed behind them forbiddingly.
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Theoden King," Gandalf said boldly. After he spoke, he dropped Ilmare's arm, allowing her to fall back and match pace with the other three.
"He's not welcome," Grima whispered to the King.
Wearily, the King looked up at Gandalf and said in a rough, aged voice, "Why...should I welcome you, Gandalf...Stormcrow?" He looked over to Grima, almost as though asking for reassurance that was the right thing to say.
"A just question, my liege," his advisor assured him before turning and walking toward the group. "Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest." He came to a stop right in front of Gandalf.
"Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!" Gandalf said forcefully, raising his staff toward the man.
"His staff!" Gria said as he clapped eyes on the long, white shaft. He backed up and glanced around at the soldiers before saying angrily, "I told you to take the wizard's staff!"
Even as he spoke, those same men that had so aggressively followed their steps rushed forward to attack. Most of them attempted to go after Gandalf. They were all stopped by Legolas, Aragorn , and Gimli, who quickly dispatched them. However, two guards went for Ilmare, thinking she was the defenceless female. They were dreadfully wrong. As the first soldier approached her, she thrust the heel of her palm up into his nose. She heard a large crunch as it connected, breaking his nose. A second later, she kicked his legs out from under him. The second guard was more cautious of her, having seen some of what she could do. However, he was not prepared for her foot coming flying into his face, which sent him sprawling to the floor. She had not even jumped to kick him.
The other three continued to fight off the guards while Gandalf walked slowly toward Theoden. Ilmare slowly copied his path while he said, "Theoden, son of Thengel, too long have you sat in the shadows."
The slimy advisor attempted to crawl away unnoticed, but he was quickly stopped by an angry dwarf's foot on his chest and a terse warning, "I would stay still if I were you."
"Harken to me!" Gandalf said commandingly. He began to mount the steps to the throne while he gestured with his hand toward Theoden. He closed his eyes as he said, "I release you from the spell."
In the following silence, Theoden began to laugh menacingly. He sounded evil in a way that Ilmare recognized instantly. The old King's eyes looked over to Ilmare before returning to Gandalf. "Neither you nor your whore has any power here, Gandalf the Grey!" he said confidently and tauntingly.
The insult to his power did not affect him, but the comment about Ilmare certainly inflamed him. Gandalf quickly threw back his cloak, revealing the white robes and light underneath. Theoden made a sound of disbelief as he was thrown back into his seat.
Gandalf advanced further toward Theoden and pointed his staff at the aging man. "I shall draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound," Gandalf said. He gestured with his staff again, sending Theoden back into his throne again.
"If I go, Theoden dies," Theoden said.
Again, he was thrown back into his seat as Gandalf said, "You did not kill me. You will not kill him."
Saruman, his voice now evident, said vehemently, "Rohan is mine!"
Once more, he was thrown back into the throne as Gandalf said seriously, "Be gone!"
Suddenly, Theoden, though clearly Saruman was controlling him, lunged at Gandalf. The wizard struck out, hitting Theoden on the head with his staff. The old man tilted to the side wearily and let out a tremendous sigh, sounding much more himself.
Quite suddenly, a white-clad woman ran forward and caught him before he could pitch forward. She helped him sit up, which let everyone in the room see the following transformation. Theoden's hair grew shorten while colour returned to the strands. His face smoothed and grew younger while his eyes became brighter and younger. The result was a man in his forties or fifties sitting before them.
The young woman gazed happily at the King while he looked as though he was attempting to remember her. After a few seconds, he said, "I know your face. Eowyn...Eowyn."
Theoden looked out at the hall and saw the wizard. "Gandalf?" he asked.
Gandalf said with satisfaction as he nodded, "Breathe the free air again, my friend."
Eowyn helped the King to stand before his eyes stared out at nothing again. "Dark have been my dreams of late," he said quietly.
"Your fingers would remember their old strength better...if they grasped your sword," Gandalf suggested encouragingly.
The very same commander from the door ran up to the king with an ornate sword in hand. Theoden reached out a grasped the hilt with quaking fingers. Slowly, he placed his fingers around the hilt before drawing it out of the sheath. He gazed at the steel before looking at Grima pointedly. Instantly, several soldiers were around him, throwing him out of the hall. Their throw was strong enough that he rolled down the stairs.
As the King walked heavily down the stairs, Grima righted himself and insisted, "I've only ever served you, my lord!" He crawled backward, looking at the King with fear in his eyes. Gandalf and Ilmare followed the King side by side.
"Your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" the King snarled.
"Send me not from your side," Grima beseeched, obviously grovelling.
Theoden raised his sword with both hands above his head, ready to strike Grima down. However, Aragorn ran quickly down and held him back, insisting, "No, my lord. No! Let him go. Enough blood has been spilled on his account."
Grima was up on his feet in an instant, running out through the crowd and yelling as he did, "Get out of my way!"
The commander called out respectfully, "Hail, Theoden King!"
The crowd quickly knelt, Aragorn amongst them.
Theoden turned back toward Meduseld. However, a thought stopped him before he had taken two steps. "Where is Theodred? Where is my son?" he asked.