Gandalf, Gimli, Legolas and I are riding to Isengard after we had some amazing breakfast. I ride behind Gandalf and Legolas have Gimli on his horse. From this distance, I can see the ground soaked with water. A stone wall runs alongside the edge of the area and the two short people sit on the top of it. We approach them and Merry stands up.
,,Welcome, my lords and ladies, to Isengard!" He exclaims, throwing his arms above his head.
,,You young rascals!" Gimli scolds. Merry smirks. ,,A merry hunt you've led us on and now we find you feasting and smoking."
,,We are sitting on a field of victory, enjoying a few well-earned comforts." Pippin leans on his knee and chews exaggeratedly. ,,The salted pork is particularly good."
,,Salted pork?" Gimli licks his lips. I shake my head, just grateful that the two are safe.
,,Hobbits." Gandalf mutters under his breath.
,,We're under orders from Treebeard, who's taken over management of Isengard." Merry points towards the tall tower ahead of us. We slowly and carefully ride forward and I watch in amazement as a giant tree walks over to us.
,,Young master Gandalf." It says, his voice slow and raspy. ,,I'm glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and stone I can master, but there's a wizard to manage here, locked in his tower." I look up to the top of Orthanc.
,,Show yourself." I whisper.
,,Be careful. Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous." He tells me.
,,Well, let's just have his head and be done with it." Gimli insists.
,,No! We need him alive. We need him to talk."
,,You have fought many wars and slain many men, Théoden King." As we look up, Saruman appears at the top of Orthanc. ,,And made peace afterwards. Can we not take counsel together as we once did, my old friend? Can we not have peace, you and I?"
,,We shall have peace." I look over at Théoden before looking back up at Saruman. ,,We shall have peace when you answer for the burning of the Westfold 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!" I totally agree with Théoden's anger, since Saruman slaughtered the people or Rohan. ,,When you hang from a gibbet for the sport of your own crows, we shall have peace." Théoden finishes.
,,Gibbets and crows? Dotard!" Now Saruman turns his gaze on Gandalf. ,,What do you want, Gandalf Greyhame? Let me guess. The key of Orthanc. Or perhaps the keys of Barad-dûr itself along with the crowns of the seven kings and the rods of the Five Wizards!"
,,Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousands more are at risk. But you can save them, Saruman. You were deep in the enemy's counsel."
,,So, you have come here for information. I have some for you." Saruman lifts up a black sphere and gazes into it. ,,Something festers in the heart of Middle-Earth. Something that you failed to see. But the great Eye has seen it." He puts the black sphere back down. ,,Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon. You're all going to die." Gandalf rides a little bit closer to the base of Orthanc. ,,But you know this, don't you, Gandalf? You cannot think that this Ranger, Aragorn's sister, will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor."
,,I won't have to because Aragorn will defeat Sauron and claim the throne." I yell and Gandalf gives me a sad look.
,,Oh, you haven't heard? Your brother is dead. He was slain by my Uruk's. He got trapped and fought bravely but got defeated." I look over at Gandalf, who sadly nods. Wait, Aragorn is dead? Oh, my God! That means I am the only heir left and that Sauron will now come after me. ,,The heir of Isildur is dead. There's no chance that the people of Gondor will let a woman, an exile crept from the shadows, claim the throne and be queen." Saruman looks directly at me. ,,Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those closest to him, those he professes to love." He speaks once again to Gandalf and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Gandalf was right, Saruman is still intimidating. ,,Tell me, what words of comfort did you give the halfling before you sent him to his doom? The path that you have set him on can only lead to death."
,,I've heard enough. Legolas, shoot him. Stick an arrow in his gob." Gimli tells the elf and I see him slowly reaching for an arrow.
,,No." Gandalf quickly says and I think that he's trying to save that man's life. ,,Come down, Saruman, and your life will be spared."
,,Save your pity and your mercy. I have no use for it!" Saruman answers and I can feel myself getting annoyed by this once so great wizard. Saruman sends down a giant fireball towards Gandalf. A giant flame surrounds where Gandalf is. We go backwards a little, startled by the sudden murder attempt.
,,Saruman, your staff is broken." Gandalf says and not a minute later, Saruman's staff breaks into his hands into many pieces. Now a doubting Grima appears behind Saruman. Théoden notices him.
,,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 in the reek and their brats roll on the floor with the dogs? The victory at Helm's Deep does not belong to you, Théoden Horse-master. You are a lesser son of greater sires." Saruman says.
,,Grima, come down. Be free of him."
,,Free? He will never be free." Saruman argues with Théoden, before knocking Grima down.
,,Saruman, you were deep in the enemy's counsel. Tell us what you know!" Gandalf tries to reason with Saruman again.
,,You withdraw your guard and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner here." Now Grima appears once again behind Saruman, but this time he stabs the wizard several times. Legolas releases an arrow, hitting Grima. Grima winces in pain and falls back, making Saruman plummet off the tower and towards the ground. He lands on top of a spear on one of his own devices. I look away in disgust.
,,Send word to all our allies and to every corner of Middle-Earth that still stands free." Gandalf says to Théoden as the wheel spins, sinking Saruman into the waters. ,,The enemy moves against us. We need to know where he will strike."
,,The filth of Saruman is washing away. Trees will come back to live here. Young trees. Wild trees." Treebeard says, but my eye is on Pippin who suddenly jumps off Gandalf's horse and reaches into the water. He pulls out the black sphere Saruman was holding and eyes it curiously.
,,Pippin." I say.
,,Bless my bark." Treebeard says when he sees the black sphere. ,,A palantír. One of the seven seeing stones."
,,Peregrin Took! I'll take that, my lad." Gandalf appears at his side. ,,Quickly now." He says. Pippin hesitantly hands the palantír to Gandalf, who quickly wraps it in his robe. ,,Let's ride back to Edoras." He announces now and we all agree, following him back to the city of Edoras.

When we get back to Edoras, we make our way into the great hall. Éowyn stands in front of Théoden, who has changed into different clothes, just like I did. Éowyn bows to Théoden, giving him a cup.
,,Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country." Théoden raises his goblet. ,,Hail the victorious dead!"
,,Hail!" The people shouts back, as they drink together and celebrate. I watch Merry and Pippin dance and sing on a table. Éowyn approaches me with a cup.
,,Westu hál, Rebecca ( Good health to you, Rebecca )." She gives the cup to me. I drink some and give the cup back to her. She smiles at me. I bow my head lightly before I walk to stand beside Legolas.
,,Why are you giving that poor girl hope? I mean, she's obviously into you." He tells me the moment I stand beside him. I look at him, accepting the cup he's holding out to me.
,,Eowyn is just being nice. She gave Theodén before me and now she's handing a cup to another man who fought. She's taking care of the Rohan people."
,,Neuma, if Lostariel was here -" I stop him right away.
,,Lostariel has sailed to the Undying Lands. I'm never seeing her again. I wish it could be different but that's the way it is now. Please, don't bring her into a useless conversation because Eowyn is not trying to win me over." Luckily Legolas respects my wishes and leave my alone, just to take part in a drinking game with Gimli. I sigh and think about my beloved. It's good that she's in the Undying Lands, because this battle might be over and the people of Rohan are safe and free again, but the war itself has yet to be waged.

Legolas' point of view

I walk away from Neuma after warning her for not letting Eowyn persway her. She doesn't believe me and I got angry at me for bringing Lostariel in the conversation. I left her alone, but now I'm close to Eowyn and Théoden. My curiosity gets the overhand so I take a step closer, without them seeing me. I sit down on one of the benches close to Éowyn and listen to their conversation.

,,I am happy for you." Théoden tells Éowyn, who looks down smiling. ,,She's an honorable woman."

,,Yes, she is but you are also an honorable man."

,,It was not Théoden of Rohan who led our people to victory." Éowyn looks at him, not understanding. ,,Ah, don't listen to me. You are young and tonight is for you. Go find her and tell her how you feel." Oh, hell no! I push myself by bumping into King Théoden. I pretend to excuse myself before getting over to Gimli who is in some sort of drinking game. Not far from us are Neuma and Gandalf, who start to whisper but since I'm an elf, I can hear them.

,,No news of Frodo?" Neuma asks Gandalf.

,,No word. Nothing."

,,We have time. Every day, Frodo moves closer to Mordor." Gandalf turns his gaze towards Neuma now.

,,Do we know that?" Neuma looks at Gandalf.

,,What does your heart tell you?" She asks the wizard.

,,That Frodo is alive. Yes." I look at him and see him doubting a little bit. ,,Yes, he's alive." Now Gandalf turns to us. ,,Get some sleep. Tomorrow is a big day." She nods and makes her way over to me. Neuma just looks at the way Gimli drinks with a worried expression on her face. I look at her and start to whisper.

,,What's wrong?" I ask her.

,,I'm worried about Frodo." She honestly tells me. ,,I need to think. Do you mind?" I shake my head no, knowing I can't change her mind. If Beca needs to think alone, she needs that time. I watch her closely as she walks away before going to the bedroom that is appointed to me.