Chapter Twenty-Four
The following morning, Theoden's entourage was somewhat surprised to find a new member of their party, though most accepted it without any questions. Gimli was beyond startled that she was there, but he had welcomed her warmly nonetheless. Legolas had bowed his head to her before returning his attention to his horse. Aragorn merely nodded.
The group travelled well into the afternoon before meeting a pair of hobbits "guarding" the ruined entrance to Isengard. Ilmare only exchanged glances with Haldir as to the effectiveness of these sentinels. From there, the majority of the group was more than a little surprised to be led to the main tower of Isengard by an ent. This was, however, not the first time she had met him, so she did not share their awe.
"Young Master Gandalf, My Lady, I'm glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and stone, I can master, but there is a wizard to manage here, locked in his tower," the ent said.
"Be careful. Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous," Gandalf warned them all.
"Let's just have his head and be done with it!" Gimli said from behind Legolas.
"No," Ilmare protested.
"Leave him alive. We need him to talk," Gandalf whispered.
"You have fought many wars and slain many men, Theoden King, and made peace afterwards. Can we not take council together as we once did, Old Friend? Can we not have peace?" Saruman said from atop his tower.
"We shall have peace. We shall have peace when you answer for the burning of the West Fold! And the children that lie dead there! We shall have peace when the lives of the soldiers whose bodies were hewn even as they lay dead against the gates of the Hornburg are avenged! When you hang from a gibblet for the sport of your own crows we shall have peace!" Theoden yelled in anger.
"Gibblet and crows! What do you want Gandalf Greyhame? Let me guess: the key of Orthanc, or perhaps the keys of Barad-Dur itself along with the crowns of the seven kings and the rods of the five wizards! And why do you bring her with you?!"
"Saruman, I came to see if you meant what you said," Ilmare spoke, projecting her voice over the distance.
"Lower your hood if you wish to speak with me, my lady," Saruman bit back.
"You and I both know I cannot do that," she said softly.
Gandalf took this moment to draw Saruman's attention away from his beloved. "Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousands more are now at risk, but you can save them, Saruman. You can save her. You were deep in the enemy's counsel."
"So you have come here for information," Saruman began with a wry smile. "I have some for you." He held up a round stone both Ilmare and Gandalf instantly recognized as a palantir. "Something festers in the heart of Middle Earth, something that you have failed to see. The Great Eye has seen it. Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon."
Gandalf nudged Shadowfax forward. Ilmare looked on worriedly, knowing it would only be a matter of time before Saruman addressed her.
"You are all going to die. But you know this, don't you, Gandalf? You cannot think that this ranger will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor. This exile, crept from the shadows, will never be crowned king. Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those closest to him, those he professes to love." Saruman hissed. "Tell me, what words of comfort did you give the Halfling before you sent him to his doom? What did you tell her before you left her to die in Helm's Deep?"
"I've heard enough!" Gimli growled from behind Legolas. "Shoot him. Stick an arrow in his gob," he prompted Legolas, who seemed all too happy to oblige.
"No!" Gandalf insisted.
Ilmare nudged her horse forward and called, "Come down, Curumo! We will spare your life if you come down."
"Save your pity and your mercy, Ilmare! I have no use for it! Remember: you chose your fate and his!" Saruman yelled, raising staff and sending a ball of fire right at Gandalf. Instantly, the fire surrounded him, but after only a few seconds it dissipated, leaving Gandalf unharmed and unmoved.
The thoughts that had been driven from Theoden's mind by alarm came back in a rush. The men of Rohan may have been more uneducated and simple then the elves, but they had heard of some things. They knew of Eru, of Elbereth, of Manwe, and of Ilmare. That explained much of the mystery surrounding her, except how Saruman spoke of her so fondly yet so bitterly.
"Saruman, your staff is broken," Gandalf said evenly. Even as he spoke, the black staff splintered and exploded.
In the silence that followed, a small, pale man in black robes crept up behind Saruman. All of them recognized him.
Theoden used this opportunity to call out to the man. "Grima, you need not follow him. You were not always as you are now. You were once a man of Rohan. Come down."
"A man of Rohan? What is the house of Rohan but a thatched barn where brigands drink and reek, and their brats roll on the floor with the dogs! The victory at Helm's Deep does not belong to you, Theoden Horsemaster. You are a lesser son of greater sires!"
Theoden attempted to ignore the slanderous insults and again prompted, "Grima, come down. Be free of him."
"Free? He will never be free!"
"No," Grima said.
They all heard Saruman yell as he slapped Grima hard enough that he fell.
"Saruman! You were deep in the enemy's counsel. Tell us what you know!"
"You withdraw your guard, and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. But you will not save her! He will find her! You cannot protect her from him again!"
Even as he spoke, Grima came up behind him, grabbed him, and stabbed him in the back with a dagger.
In a second, Legolas had let his arrow fly. It pierced Grima. He fell back, and Saruman fell forward off the tower. He tumbled through the air before landing on the spike of one of his machines. Ilmare looked away, mourning for the man she had once called friend.