Chapter 5
"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld." Gandalf began, slowing Shadowfax from a gallop into a trot. "There dwells Theoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Theoden is now very strong."
Adrianna frowned and looked up at Aragorn as the three horses rode through the gates. They all dismounted, and Adrianna transformed back into her elleth-like form. As they walked slowly through the town, the villagers watched them intently; pondering who these strangers were. A banner from one of the flag poles floated down in the breeze to land by Aragorn's feet and the ranger looked up towards the large staircase, setting his eyes upon a young woman in a white dress.
"You'll find more cheer in a graveyard." Gimli stated.
Legolas stepped into stride beside Adrianna, seeming to sense the faye's discomfort. "I guess they don't receive many visitors?" She whispered.
"I guess not." The elf replied, his clear blue eyes darting around the villagers on alert.
They ascended the stairs, and upon reaching the top they were met with armed guards. Slightly startled from their sudden appearance, Adrianna stepped closer towards the elf Prince and away from the tall man in Rohan attire.
"I cannot allow you before Theoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame. By order of Grima Wormtongue." The first guard stated, gesturing for the guards to remove the travellers weaponry. Upon noticing the guards beginning to take weapons from Aragorn and Gimli themselves, Legolas turned to face Adrianna and gestured for the faye to remove her own weapons, save for the guards to do it themselves. Reluctantly, the chestnut haired Princess removed her quiver, and handed over her bow, glaring at the guard when his hands moved towards her to see if she had any weapons hidden on her person.
A pale hand stopped the gloved ones from touching the faye, and Legolas stepped in front of Adrianna. "I don't believe it is necessary for you to touch her." He stated in a calm demeanour. The guard didn't reply, but acknowledged the elf's statement with a firm nod of his head.
Before the five could step inside, the first guard blocked their path, "Your staff." He stated to Gandalf.
"Hmm?" Gandalf glanced at his staff from under his hood. "Oh. You would not part an old man from his walking stick?" He looked up at the guard with innocent eyes, and the man held his gaze for a second before finally allowing them through. Gandalf shot Adrianna and Aragorn a small wink before leaning on Legolas' arm for support as they all made their way into the Hall.
"The courtesy of your Hall is somewhat lessened of late, Theoden King." Gandalf began to speak as they stopped in the centre of the Hall. Around them, was a dark, dusty, dreary stone room. The drapes had covered the windows to allow as little light in as possible, and the chestnut haired faye felt as though she was underground once again.
Adrianna could see a pale, ill-looking man kneeling beside the throne of the King, who appeared to be centuries old. His face was ghostly and his hair was so thin and silver it looked like cobwebs. Her eyes narrowed when she noticed the sly looking male whisper something into the King's ear. Upon hearing footsteps, Adrianna glanced behind her to see that the guards had followed them into the Hall with an aura of hostility, and she slowly stepped closer towards Gimli who also seemed to notice the guards presence.
"Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?" The King asked in a weak, raspy breath before turning to the man at his side, almost looking for confirmation.
"A just question, my liege." Adrianna narrowed her eyes at the sly man as he began to walk towards Gandalf, his eyes flickered towards her for a split second and the Princess grimaced when he licked his lips. His attention then returned to Gandalf and Adrianna shivered, "Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest."
"Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind you teeth." Gandalf growled, speaking with an aura of power. "I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!" He raised his staff against the man, and Adrianna stepped backwards - sensing the power surging through the intricately carved white wood.
"His staff!" The man growled towards the guards, also backing away from the wizard. "I told you to take the wizard's staff!"
The guards turned hostile and rushed towards Gandalf. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli began to attack them, and Adrianna's eyes widened as she turned her back to Gandalf, looking around to see if anymore guards were coming towards him.
"Theoden, son of Thengel, too long have you sat in the shadows." Gandalf began to exclaim, holding his staff into the air as power surged through him.
Adrianna noticed the pale man trying to escape and rushed after him. She grabbed hold of his black feathered coat and pulled hard on it, she then kicked under his legs in an attempt to knock him onto the ground - but the man was surprisingly strong! He turned on her, and grabbed a fistful of her chestnut mane and prepared to pull hard on it. But Adrianna shivered once again when he stroked the side of her cheek and took a deep breath of the scent of her hair.
The pale man then disappeared, and Adrianna took a shaky step back to see that Gimli had thrown his entire body weight into the black coated snake, and was currently pinning him to the floor with his axe held threateningly close to his face. "I would stay still, if I were you." The dwarf growled.
"Hearken to me! I release you from the spell." Gandalf commanded.
The King began to laugh which caused Gandalf to open his eyes in surprise, "You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey!"
With a blinding white light, Gandalf shred himself of his grey cloak and Theoden was thrown back in his seat; inhaling a pained, sharp breath. "I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound." He pointed his staff towards the King. "You did not kill me, you will not kill him! Be gone!" Gandalf smites Theoden as he lunged for him which caused the King to be thrown back into the chair. Theoden lets out a moan and slumps forward to which the white dressed woman runs to her uncle's side as he falls.
The atmosphere in the room becomes noticeably brighter, and the thick air upon which the five members of the Fellowship had been breathing in became much, much clearer.
The King raised his head again, and Adrianna was shocked to see that the old age gradually disappeared from his face. Eventually, he resembled a much younger looking man. Recognition flashed across his face as his eyes fell upon his niece's fair face. "I know your face." He whispered as he cradled her cheek gently. "Eowyn." At the sound of her name, the blonde began to weep with joy. "Gandalf?"
The wizard audibly sighed, "Breathe the free air again, my friend." He stated.
The guards in the room bow towards their King as he stands to look around him. "Dark have been my dreams of late." His hands began to tremble, to which Gandalf notices.
"Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your sword." Gandalf stated, stepping aside to allow a guard to through with the King's blade in his hand. Theoden reached for it with trembling hands, but as soon as his fingers wrapped around the hilt, he drew it slowly and gazed upon the shiny steel. He then notices Grima trembling in the corner; trying to escape from the dwarf. In doing so, the man frightened the chestnut haired woman standing near him, who moved herself away to stand beside the blonde elf.
Suddenly, Theoden stormed towards the pale man and gripped him by the collar of his jet black coat; dragging him out of the hall before throwing him down the stairs.
The man cries, "I've only ever served you, my lord!"
The King advances towards him, holding his steel blade firmly in his grasp, "Your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" He growled, infuriated.
Grima trembled again, "Send me not from your side!" He grovelled.
The King ignored his plea and raised his sword ready to bring it down upon the snake. "No, my lord! No, my lord. Let him go. Enough blood has been spilled on his account." The man quickly scrambled onto his feet and pushed through the crowd, fleeing from the village and retreating out from the gates; cursing as he did so.
One guard raises his head and bowed to Theoden, "Hail, Theoden king!" He bellowed.
The entire crowd kneels respectfully down to their King, including Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Adrianna and Gandalf. Theoden turns to go back into the hall, but he looks up upon noticing that someone was missing, "Where is Theodred? Where is my son?"
A/N: Thank you to all the lovely reviews I have been receiving! :D
To the dear 'Guest': I am better at writing in 3rd person rather than 1st :/ therefore I will not be doing other POV's...my apologies xx
I shall not change anymore details of the story from now on, sorry this is is any inconvenience but I have pre-written the entire story and I am very happy about the outcome :) Just a quick question though:
If Legolas and Adrianna were to be married, where would you want to wedding to be? Mirkwood or The Glade of Tarasara?
Please review! :) x