Chapter 15:
A/N: Chapter Fifteen is up, I hope you enjoy it please read and review and let me know what you think.
Kieana's POV
I watch as Eomer and his men ride away across the plains kicking up a cloud of dust in their wake. Once they are out of site I turn around to face my three companions. "I hope I did not speak out of turn when I revealed your identity to Eomer and his men." I say quietly un able to make myself meet Legolas's keen blue eyes.
"Nay, you did not speak out of turn mellon-nin. I would probably be dead now had it not been for your swift thinking." Legolas says the warmth in his tone chasing away any fears that he would be angry with me.
"How did you manage to escape from the orcs? Surely they greatly outnumbered you." Gimli says.
"Aye that they did master dwarf. But there were two different bands of orcs trying to work together, the Uruk-Hai bearing the white hand of Saruman and a contingent of orcs in the service of Sauron. They had a disagreement when we were three days into our journey across the plains to Isengard and battle ensued. I took advantage of their distraction urging the hobbits to crawl to the edge of the scuffle before sending them to wait for me at the edge of Fangorn forest." I say.
"If we leave now and ride hard we should be able to make it to the forest by nightfall." Aragorn says.
"Well then lets ride." I say swinging myself up into my horses saddle and waiting while the others mount their horses, Gimli choosing to ride behind Legolas on the grey while Aragorn rides the brown.
The next few hours pass in companionable silence as we ride across the plains to the outskirts of Fangorn forest. We dismount and search for any trace of the hobbits. After about an hour of searching I hear Aragorns voice coming to us from a few metres away "I found tracks that lead into the forest." he says. "Come we have to find them."
We walk into the forest keeping close together and watching for any signs of danger. "This forest is old, full of memory." Legolas says reaching out and touching the bole of the nearest tree. "The trees are speaking to each other." he says.
"Gimli!" Aragorn calls softly.
"Huh?" the Dwarf asks a hint of fear in his tone.
"Lower your axe." Aragorn says.
"Oh." Gimli says lowering the weapon and continuing to look around nervously.
"They have feelings too my friend. The Elves began it, waking up the trees and teaching them to speak." Legolas says to the dwarf.
"Talking trees!" Gimli scoffs "What do they have to talk about hmm? Except for the consistency of squirrel droppings."
"What do they talk about?" I whisper quietly to Legolas who is standing a few feet from me, eyes closed with his hand resting on the bole of a large tree.
"They were worried about the axe...orcs near Isengard have been coming into the forest and cutting down trees for Saruman and it makes them angry." he says turning to me with a smile, his bright blue eyes breifly finding my brown ones and sending a slight shiver down my spine before he turns to scan the forest once more.
I am about to ask him something else when I see him visibly tense his hand slipping form the tree bole and inching towards his bow. "What is it?" I ask.
"Aragorn, nad no ennas." he says turning to look at Aragorn who is a few feet behind us.
"Man cenich?" Aragorn asks coming to stand just behind us.
Legolas glances at him over his shoulder before replying "The White Wizard approaches."
"S-saruman?" I ask.
"U-iston." Legolas replies in a whisper.
"Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us. We will have to be quick!" Aragorn says reaching for his sword. We draw closer together and turn around as one Gimli reaching for his axe and Legolas and I for our bows. Before we can attack however we are blinded by a bright light coming from the Wizard in front of us.
"You are tracking two young hobbits." a deep male voice says.
"Where are they?" Aragorn demands.
"They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone that did not expect. Does that comfort you?" the voice asks sounding different to how it did the first time it spoke.
"That is not Saruman." I whisper so that only Legolas can hear.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragorn demands cutting of Legolas's reply.
The light dims and I take an involuntary step back as Gandalf appears before us dressed in white robes. We bow before him looking up at him with a mixture of shock and joy.
"It cannot be." Aragorn says the surprise evident in his voice.
"Forgive me." Legolas says softly "I mistook you for Saruman."
Gandalf smiles at him and gestures for us to stand "I am Saruman. Or rather Saruman as he should have been." he says.
"You fell!" Aragorn says.
"Through fire. And water."Gandalf says "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. Darkness took me and I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead and every day was as long as a life-age of the earth. But it was not the end, I felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done."
"Gandalf!" Aragorn exclaims.
"Gandalf? Yes...that is what they used to call me Gandalf the Grey that was my name." Gandalf says with a smile.
"Gandalf!" Gimli exclaims a smile lighting up his face.
"I am Gandalf the White. I come to you now at the turn of the tide." Gandalf says throwing his old grey cloak over his new white robes. "One part of your journey is over and another begins, war is brewing in Rohan we must ride with haste to Edoras"
We follow him the edge of the forest and he whistles sharply. Almost immediately an answering neigh is heard before a tall white stallion comes galloping across the plains towards us followed by Hasufel, Arod and Tungol. "That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell." Legolas says looking up at the horse in awe as it comes to a stop in front of us.
"Shadowfax. He's the lord of all horses and he's been my friend through many dangers." Gandalf says and we all climb up onto our horses and ride back across the plains towards the Golden Hall.
A few hours later a large hall comes into view. It sits on top of a small hill and is built of large wooden beams decorated with Gold. We come to a halt on the plains a few leagues from the hill looking up at the grand building sitting proudly above the town of Edoras the chief settlement of Rohan. "Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Theoden, King of Rohan whose mind is overthrown. Sarumans hold over King Theoden is now very strong" Gandalf explains.
"What are you going to do?" I ask.
"Attempt to break that hold and return Theoden to his right so that he might rule his country once more." Gandalf replies. "Be careful what you say, do not look for welcome here." he adds before giving Shadowfax a kick and leading the way into Edoras and up to the Golden hall where we dismount and approach the hall.
We climb the stairs and are about to pull open the large wooden doors when we are intercepted by a guard. "I cannot allow you before Theoden King so armed Gandelf Greyhame. By order of Grima Wormtoungue." the mans say.
Gandalf nods and hands off his sword before motioning for us to do the same. Aragorn hands over his sword and knives, Legolas his bow and twin daggers before Gimli somewhat reluctantly hands over his axe.
"And you My Lady, you also must relinquish your weapons before you can enter the hall." the guard says.
I sigh and remove my bow and quiver from my back handing them to the guard who sets them on the ground beside the others.
"And your knives, I will need to take those as well." the mans says gesturing to my twin daggers which are still in their sheathes at my side.
"I can't give you them, but I assure you I will not make use of them." I say.
"You must hand them over or you will not be allowed before King Theoden." he says.
"Then I will wait out here." I say.
"Kieana just give him the daggers." Aragorn says a slight note of frustration in his tone.
"I can not to do that, I will not." I say turning and walking away from the group without another word. I walk to the edge of the small stone courtyard and look out over the plains of Rohan fighting back the tears that are threatening to spill from my eyes. I take a deep breath and close my eyes for a moment wishing not for the first time that I was back in the safety of Lorien with my brothers when I feel an arm wrap around my shoulders pulling me into a warm half embrace.
"No harm will come to your daggers mellon-nin." the soft voice of Legolas says quietly so that only I can hear.
"They are all that I have left of my mother." I respond in a slightly choked voice as a few tears leak from my eyes.
"No one will lay a finger on them, I will see to that myself." he says.
"How are you going to do that?" I ask looking up at him questioningly.
"I have my ways." he says cryptically. "Do you trust me?" he asks.
"With my life." I respond quietly.
"Come mellon-nin our company is not complete without you." he says removing his arm from around me and taking my hand instead.
I glance down at our linked hands and take a deep breath before looking up at him with a smile "Lets go." I say softly allowing him to lead me back up the steps to where our companions are waiting.
"Will you relinquish your blades now my lady?" the guard asks and I nod before unsheathing them and holding them out for him to take letting go of Legolas's hand in the process.
"If any harm should come to these blades I will personally see to it that the one responsible comes to regret his actions." Legolas says as the man takes the daggers from me and sets them down beside my bow. "Do you understand?" he asks looking the man directly in the eyes as he turns back to us.
The man visibly blanches at the commanding look in the bright blue eyes of the elf before him "No one will touch them." he says.
"See that they don't." Legolas says.
"No one is to lay a hand on these weapons is that understood?" the man says the nearby guards and I glance around to see them all nodding in agreement.
"Thankyou." Legolas says dropping the commanding tone and offering the man a smile. "May we now be allowed before the King?" he asks.
"Just one more thing." the man says nervously glancing at Gandalf. "Your staff."
"Eh? Oh no surely you would not part an old man from his walking stick?" Gandalf asks.
The guard looks at him for a moment before shaking his head slightly and stepping back to allow us to pass him and enter the hall. Gandalf winks at him and takes hold of Legolas's as we enter the hall. I try to hide my grin as I walk a few paces behind them and find myself walking along side Gimli.
A/N: Thanks for reading please follow, fav, and review or even PM me if you want.