A/N: Chapter Sixteen is here! Hope you like it please let me know what you think!
Legolas's POV:
I walk with Gandalf a few paces ahead of our companions as we enter the hall. I make sure that I walk at a slow pace to keep up the pretence of Gandalfs being frail and weakened. I scan the room as we make our way closer to the throne checking for any potential threats and taking note of the guards stationed at regular intervals all around the walls. Knowing they could pose a threat once Gandalf starts doing whatever it is he has planned for the King I glance over my shoulder catching the eye of Kieana and inclining my head ever so slightly in the direction of a guard hoping she will get the message. She nods almost imperceptibly and gives me a small smile which I take to mean she has understood. Satisfied that we will be prepared for any attack the guards may muster I turn my attention back to where I am walking just in time to see Gandalf coming to a stop a few feet from the base of the stairs that lead up to where the King is sitting on his throne.
A pale man with greasy black hair and a half nervous half cunning expression on his face stands just a few feet from the throne of the King. My eyes narrow as I take him in, there is something off about this man but I can't quite figure out what it is. I shift my gaze from the pale man to the King and my breath hitches slightly in my throat as I take in his ghostly pale almost dead looking face. His skin seems to hang off his face, his hair a mess of grey almost white tangles framing a pale face with sunken unseeing eyes. He looks so close to death I almost expect him to fall onto the floor at any moment. I knew Saruman held power over the King of Rohan but I had not expected it to be this strong.
I tear my gaze away from him as I hear a stifled choking sound from beside me. Looking to my left I see Kieana standing at my side a look of mingled sadness and horror on her face as she looks up at the King. "Have faith mellon-nin. Mithrandir will help him" I whisper to her.
She looks up at me and gives me a sad smile before slipping her hand into mine and stepping a little closer. "I know." she replies softly.
"Gandalf the Grey is here. He brings ill tidings." the pale man says to the King looking down at Gandalf with hatred etched clearly on his face
"The courtesy of your haul is somewhat lessoned of late Theoden King." Gandalf says ignoring the words of the Kings pale servant.
"He is not welcome." the man croaks to his King keeping his sunken eyes fixed on Gandalf.
"Why should I welcome you Gandalf Stormcrow?" the King asks his hoarse and rasping.
"A just question my liege" the mans says exchanging a look with the ailing King before turning to glare once again at Gandalf. "Late is the hour when this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell i name him, Ill news is an ill guest."
"Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I did not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!" Gandalf booms letting go of my arm and pointing his staff at the King in one fluid motion.
The pale mans eyes widen and he glares at the guards behind us "His staff! I told you to take the wizards staff" he snarls and I hear the sound of booted feet coming at us from all directions. I drop Kieanas hand and we turn to face the oncoming guards using our superior reflexes to dispatch them quickly and effectively without causing them to much harm, after all they are only doing their job and protecting their King. Out of the corner of my eye I see that Aragorn and Gimli are doing the same just a few feet away, between the four of us we manage to keep the guards at bay allowing Gandalf to approach the King.
I glance down to far end of the hall to where the guards from outside have entered no doubt alerted by the sounds of our scuffle. One of them reaches for his sword but is stopped by the man who allowed Gandalf to keep his staff. Satisfied that they pose no threat to us I turn back around and watch as Gandalf comes to a halt just a few feet from the King.
"Theoden son of Thengal too long have you sat in the shadows" he says looking the King directly in the eye.
The pale man slips past him only to be tripped by Kieana who sticks her foot out at just the right moment. "I would stay still if I were you." the gruff voice of Gimli murmurs and I glance over my shoulder to see my Dwarf friends boot pressing down on the mans chest. I exchange grin with the Dwarf before turning back to Gandalf and the King.
"Hearken to me! I release you from this spell" the wizard says.
At this the old King starts to laugh "You have no power here Gandalf the Grey" he snarls before continuing to laugh manically.
Gandalf throws off his old grey cloak revealing the bright white ones we saw in the forest, clearly shocked by this turn of events the King leans back in his throne. "I will draw you Saruman as one draw poison from a wound" he says pointing his staff right at the King now.
A woman dressed in a flowing white dress breaks away from the small group gathered at the back of the room and dashes towards the King but is stopped by Aragorn who holds her back and whispers to her quietly "Wait" he says to her and she glances at him for a moment before complying.
"If I go, Theoden dies." The voice of Saruman says speaking through the King.
Gandalf points his staff at the King with more force than before causing him to fly back against the throne. "You did not kill me, you will not kill him." the wizard says.
"Rohan is mine!" Saruman snarls speaking through the King once more.
Theoden leaps from his chair and launches himself at Gandalf only to be thrown back hard against the throne. Aragorn releases the woman in the white dress and runs to the King whose face is slowly losing its pale deathlike quality. Gradually his hair turns to gold flecked with grey, his eyes become a bright clear blue and he looks at the woman with a smile of recognition. "I know your face. Eowyn, Eowyn" he says before turning to look at us "Gandalf?" he asks a hint of confusion creeping into his tone.
"Breathe the free air again my friend." Gandalf says smiling warmly at the King.
"Dark have been my dreams of late." Theoden says.
"Your fingers would remember their old strength better if they gripped your sword." Gandalf says gesturing to the guards at the back of the room. "Hama, bring forth the Kings sword."
The guard who stopped us at the door comes forward carrying a sword and stands in front of the King offering it to him. Slowly the King reaches out and draws it holding it up to the light and examining it before turning to the Grima the pale man who at a signal from the King is dragged by the guards to the doors and thrown out of the hall. He tumbles down the steps and falls in a heap on the grass before hastily scrambling to his knees and looking up at the King pleadingly "I have only ever served you my lord" he whimpers.
"Your leechcraft would have seen me crawling on all fours like a beast." Theoden says glaring at his former servant with anger.
"Send me not from your side." Grima begs in a last ditch attempt to save himself.
The King ignores his plea raising his sword to strike, but before he can Aragorn steps forward putting himself between Theoden and Grima "No my lord, let him go. Enough blood has been spilled on his account." he says. The King regards him for a moment before nodding and lowering his sword turning his back on his servant.
I watch as Aragorn turns slowly to pale man and offers him his hand. Grima stares at the hand and spits before pushing himself up and shoving his way through the crowd "Get out of my way" he snarls as he runs grabbing a horse and riding as fast as he can out of the city and away from Edoras.
With a sigh Aragorn wipes his hand on the grass before turning straightening up again "Hail Theoden King." he says kneeling before the King who turns around to see his people kneeling before him many of them smiling broadly clearly happy to have their King back and I find myself thinking of my own father in Greenwood and how much our people love him.
"You miss him don't you? Your father." Kieana whispers.
"I know this is where I need to be, where he would want me to be. Fighting against the evil that has enslaved our people and poisoned our lands for centuries." I say softly.
"Come. We will find rooms for you, I am sure you must be tired after your journey." a voice says and I look up to see Eowyn standing before us.
"There is no need for that, we can just sleep outside or in the hall." I say.
"It is no trouble, you have brought my uncle, our King back to us. We are forever in your debt." Eowyn says.
"Mithrandir brought him back we were merely accompanying him." I say.
"Even so, we are in your debt, too long have we lived in fear of Saruman, your presence gives us hope that we can finally be rid of him." she says.
"Truly my Lady it is not necessary to find rooms for us, we are more than happy to sleep outside." Kieana says.
"Lord Aragorn said that you would insist on sleeping outside." Eowyn says.
"That sounds like something he would say." Kieana comments with a smile.
"And the Dwarf said something about Elves and stiff necks but I did not quite understand his meaning." Eowyn adds.
"Did he now?" I ask with a chuckle. "And where my I ask is Master Gimli?"
"The dwarf? He is with Gandalf and Lord Aragorn. They are being escorted to their rooms even as we speak." Eowyn responds.
"Well if the rest of our companions are taking rooms then it would be rude of to refuse." Kieana says.
"Very good. If you will come with me I am sure we can find a room suitable for an Elven couple." Eowyn says.
"Oh no we're not a couple..." I begin to say
"We are merely friends and companions..." Kieana says at the same moment before we both lapse into an awkward silence neither of us daring to look the other in the eye.
"My mistake, please come with me I am sure we can find spare rooms for you. It is after all the least we can do." she says.
A/N: Sorry for the longer than usual wait for the new chapter! Was busy with work over Easter, had writers block but I think I have it beaten for now (knock wood) so hopefully the next chapter will be out in around a week or so, thanks for sticking with me! Hope you liked the chapter even if it is a little fillerish i assure you more will happen in the coming chapters! Please take time to review and feel free to make suggestions for what you would like to see happen! Ok that's enough from me until next time lovely readers!