The next morning, after some time of horse riding, we stop as we go over a hill and see Edoras.
,,Edoras, and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Théoden, king of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over king Théoden is now very strong." Gandalf says. ,,Be careful what you say. Do not look for a welcome here."
,,Then what's the purpose of coming here?" I turn to Gimli.
,,Because this people needs our help and we are going to!" I give him a sneer. He has been nothing but complaining all the way from Fangorn Forest and I'm done with his attitude. Gandalf calms me down.
,,Neuma is right, Rohan needs to be safe from Sauron's grasp. And you are needed here more than you think, master dwarf." Gandalf speaks and then we start riding again. We soon reach the city and ride towards the gate. The buildings are all made of wood and stone, with thatch roofs. A flag lands just outside the gate as we go through the gate. I hesitate as I ride through the gates, looking at the flag and then up from where it came from. We rode through Edoras. The people watch us in silence. I look up and see a woman, looking down upon us. We slow down as we ride towards the Golden Hall, the largest, grandest building in Rohan. Everyone looks somber and are all dressed in black.
,,You'll find more cheer in a graveyard." Gimli mutters. I look back up where the woman was standing but she's gone. We dismount, tying our horses at a pole. I feel uneasy as we are watched on our way up the stairs. Guards come out of the hall as we come to the top of the stairs. They stop us.
,,I cannot allow you before Théoden king, so armed, Gandalf Greyhame. By order of Grima Wormtongue." One of the guards says. I wince. Going into a room that I don't know anyone unarmed makes me uneasy. Gandalf turns to us and nods at us, telling us to surrender our weapons. Legolas gives his two white knives a little spin before handing them hilt-first to a guard. Gimli hesitates, but hands over his axes. I carefully set my sword and bow down. ,,Your staff." The guard gestures to Gandalf's staff.
,,Oh, no. You would not part an old man from his walking stick, right?" Gandalf looks at him innocently. The guard hesitates for a moment but leads us into the hall. Gandalf winks at me and I smile, feeling a little bit better that Gandalf has some kind of defense. I look through the room and see a greasy man kneeling next to the king, whispering something into his ear. That must be Grima. I don't trust him at all, he's probably hired by Saruman to corrupt the king. King Théoden looks old and pale, his beard is long and white, and his eyes show no emotion. ,,The courtesy of your hall has somewhat lessened, late Théoden king."
,,Why... should I... welcome you... Gandalf... Stormcrow?" The king slowly asks, his voice weak like a sick man well into his nineties.
,,A just question, my liege." Grima says, standing up. ,,Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lots spell, I name him. Ill news is an ill guest." He says, slinking around in front of the king, smiling slyly.
,,Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth." Gandalf says. ,,I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm." Gandalf raises his staff now. Grima backs away.
,,His staff!" Grima says, backing away from Gandalf. ,,I told you to take the wizard's staff!" The guards around us attack. Gimli, Legolas and I fight them. Gandalf continues forward as if nothing is going on.
,,Théoden, son of Thengel. Too long have you sat in the shadows." Gandalf says while he takes a step towards the king as the fighting goes on. I punch another guard, and as I am turned, I kick him between the legs and then knee him in the face when he doubles. I instinctively duck under a punch thrown over my head. I grab a plate sitting on one of the nearby tables and whams the same guard in the head with it. I elbow another guard in the face as he tries to get up from the ground. Gimli puts his foot on Grima's chest, stopping him from getting up. Gandalf edges closer to the king, holding out his staff. ,,Harken to me." Théoden grimaces and lets out a slight growl. Gandalf raises his hand. ,,I release you from this spell." Théoden starts laughing at Gandalf.
,,You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey!" He says. Gandalf throws off his grey cloak, revealing his white robes underneath. Théoden sits back in his chair at the sudden bright light.
,,I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound." Gandalf holds out his staff to Théoden, who slams back against the throne. Gandalf gets closer, pointing his staff at Théoden. I see that same woman that stood on top when we came into the city rush in and looks at what is happening. She startles by what she sees and want to run towards Théoden. I ran up to her and stopped her.
,,Wait." I whisper.
,,If I go, Théoden dies." The king says.
,,That's not his voice," I startled from Legolas standing next to me suddenly. ,,I recognize the foul voice in the air from Caradras." I look at him.
,,Saruman." I whisper. Now Gandalf throws Théoden back against the throne with his staff once again.
,,You could not kill me, you will not kill him."
,,Rohan is mine!" And the king is thrown against the throne again.
,,Be gone!" Théoden screams and lunges at Gandalf, but he's quick to hit Théoden with the staff. Théoden moans and slides down in the chair. The woman, who I was holding, runs forward to his side and catches Théoden. She put him back up on the throne. I watch as the wrinkles disappear from the king's face, his hair and beard become shorter and rich in golden color, and his blue eyes regain their gleam and focus. The woman smiles at him.
,,I know your face. Éowyn." He says quietly. Éowyn begins to weep. The king turns to Gandalf now.
,,Gandalf?"
,,Breathe the free air again, my friend." Gandalf says.
,,Dark have been my dreams of late." Théoden looks at his hands.
,,Your fingers would remember their old strength better if they grasped your sword." The guard comes up with Théoden's sword, which he gladly takes. I relax as the uneasy feeling around me ebbed. Gimli holds Grima before he can make his way out. Grima scowled as Théoden is still holding his sword. His gaze turns to Grima with an angry frown and orders to throw him out of the hall and down the stairs. Théoden follows behind, wielding his sword.
,,I've only ever served you, my lord." Grima pleads for his life.
,,Your witchcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" Théoden yells, stepping forward.
,,Send me not from your side." Grima grovels. My eyes widened at the sight in front of me now. Théoden raises his sword to strike! I quickly step forward and hold him back.
,,No, my lord! Let him go, enough blood has been spilt on his account." Théoden lowers his sword. Grima looks at me surprised. I offer a hand to Grima, to help him up but he spits into my palm after which he gets up and runs through the crowd.
,,Get out of my way!" He shouts as he runs away from the Golden Hall, pushing a woman to the side roughly. Hama, the guard, turns to the king.
,,Hail Théoden king!" He says, kneeling. Everyone follows his lead, including me. As we stand up again, Théoden looks around.
,,Where is Théodred? Where is my son?" He asks, his voice scared. Éowyn's face suddenly looks crestfallen.
,,Théodred is dead, uncle." She says quietly. Théoden turns to the Golden Hall and rushes in, followed by Hama and Éowyn. I look at Legolas worriedly before rushing in behind them.