Chapter 22: The Golden Hall
Special thanks to Michelle for editing the first half of this chapter for me. My apologies if there are mistakes in the second half.
Gandalf remained standing alone while his companions slept. All walked the land of dreams peacefully except for Legolas.
Casting a look past the slightly burning remains of what was once a small fire, the white wizard frowned at the sight of the Elf standing beside Kaitlyn's sleeping form.
Legolas stood with his arms crossed over his chest, his fair colored hair blowing in the light wind around him. The Elf would occasionally gaze out over the dark land, but for the most part his focus was on the mortal woman who lay sleeping in the grass at his feet.
Gandalf had not heard what had transpired between Legolas and Kaitlyn, but he knew that things had gone ill. The two had returned from talking and Kaitlyn had lay down to sleep. There had been no further words between them, only tension and awkwardness. The Mirkwood Elf had watched the mortal woman fall asleep some hours ago and he was standing beside her like a sentinel.
Gandalf sighed deeply and turned away in the direction of Mordor. The dark night sky was not so dim over Sauron's domain. The fires of Mount Doom made the clouds appear orange. Gandalf had been pleased to learn from his discussion with Aragorn that Frodo had not gone on the journey to destroy the ring alone and that Samwise was traveling with him. The wizard prayed that time and fate would help them see their task through.
There was a startled cry and Gandalf spun quickly toward the camp, his hand positioned on his sword. He frowned, but was relieved to learn that there was no attack from an enemy. Kaitlyn was tossing and turning in her sleep. Gandalf sighed when he realized that more disturbing dreams were plaguing her. He knew that her problems could not be solved overnight.
Legolas was well aware of the situation and took action. He crouched down immediately, his hands reaching for the woman. He combed his fingers through her hair and spoke soothingly in Sindarin until she settled in sleep. Soon she was breathing evenly, having never awoken from her latest dream.
Even though it was apparent that Legolas was no longer needed to soothe her bad dreams away, he did not leave her side. The Elf sat upon the ground, his legs drawn to one side, his fingers not leaving her hair, the backs of them smoothing over the skin of her face in a repetitive motion.
Gandalf watched the Elf with interest. Legolas remained with Kaitlyn despite the tension that still lingered like mist on an early morning. The wizard sensed a bond between them. Upon Gandalf's return he noticed that they had formed a close friendship when earlier there had been much fear on Kaitlyn's part. The friendship that they shared continued to strengthen even when uneasiness hung between them.
Gandalf watched Legolas for a few moments more. His mind was whirling with possibilities. "Let us test just how strong this bond is," Gandalf whispered to himself with a smirk.
"Legolas," the wizard called.
Legolas looked up at the elderly wizard, his fingers not once stopping their path through Kaitlyn's dark tresses. "Aye, Gandalf," he called back softly.
"I wonder if you would take an old man's place and keep watch for a while," Gandalf said.
Legolas' body went rigid at the words, but he nodded in agreement. He was slow to rise and even slower to bring his fingers away from Kaitlyn's hair, but he did as he was asked and hid his disappointment and concern behind a pale blank mask.
"She will be all right," Gandalf assured him as the Elf approached the wizard. "I will watch over her so that no further dreams will disturb her."
Legolas nodded and some of the tension faded though Gandalf could see and feel that the Elf was not pleased with being drawn away from the woman.
Gandalf sat cross-legged in the grass beside Kaitlyn. The mortal woman was sleeping peacefully now as if her dreams had never haunted her. Casting his eyes upon the Elf, who now stood watch a few yards away, Gandalf realized that Legolas was another story altogether.
Gandalf had seen Legolas take watch on many occasions. He was often the eyes of the Fellowship. On the path south as well as before and during their venture into Moria, Legolas had shown the patience and dedication of a true Elf warrior. Not much could distract him. Not even Merry or Pippin when they played noisy foolish games could cause the Elf's concentration to be broken.
It was incredible how things could change with time.
Unlike all of the previous times when Gandalf had observed him, this time Legolas was becoming easily distracted. The Elf's keen ears listened to every breath, every sigh or sound uttered by the mortal woman and on more than one occasion when Gandalf pretended that he was looking away, Legolas turned to make certain that Kaitlyn was well. His carefully schooled mask was slipping rapidly with each passing moment to reveal a worried soul.
Gandalf removed his pipe from the small pack within his white robes, filled it with long bottom leaf and lit it. He drew a few puffs, letting the smoke rise before he continued to watch Legolas. Despite the tension he sensed between Legolas and Kaitlyn, Legolas was deeply dedicated to her. Like all of the Fellowship, each was dedicated to their companions, and Legolas was no exception.
The slow burning long bottom leaf dimly lit Gandalf's face as he took another puff and the wizard grinned.
The Elf was dedicated to his companions indeed, but his attention and energy lingered on one companion quite a bit more than the others.
Crossing his arms over his chest and continuing to smoke his pipe, Gandalf was intrigued by his new discovery. He wondered what it was that drew these two together. Sighing, the wizard knew that only time would tell.
The night had been unbearably long to an immortal Elf of the north. Legolas had not remembered a time when he had felt so impatient to see the dawn.
Gandalf had asked him to keep watch for a short while and Legolas had ended up taking it for much of the night. Legolas realized that keeping watch was normally something that he would enjoy, but this night it had made him irritable and impatient.
Legolas felt a strange feeling course him as Gandalf leaned over to rouse Kaitlyn from sleep. The Elf watched as the two began to speak in hushed whispers and he frowned. Legolas had hoped to speak with Kaitlyn when she awakened so that he could understand exactly what had gone wrong between them. He wished to patch any misunderstandings so that the pain he felt from being separated from her would recede."You dreamt again," Gandalf stated softly, watching as the mortal woman sat up.
Kaitlyn nodded and rubbed her sleep filled eyes with her fingers. She gave a small yawn before she spoke. "I think that I did. I'm not really sure. I don't remember the details of the dream, I only remember that it frightened me and as quickly as it came it went."
"This should be joyous news, yet you seem troubled," Gandalf said, stroking his long white beard.
Kaitlyn sighed. "Someone spoke to me outside of my dream. I have no idea what they said. And someone stroked my hair. At least I think they did." She shrugged. "That could have been a dream too."
"It could have been, but it was not."
Kaitlyn smiled. She realized that Gandalf appeared to have spent much of the night beside her. The grass all around him was flattened from the weight of his robes. "It was you, wasn't it?" she asked.
Gandalf shook his head. "Nay, it was not I," he told her and Kaitlyn frowned in confusion.
The wizard cast his gaze away and Kaitlyn followed it, her eyes settling upon the tall lithe form of Legolas.
The Elf was standing very still, his arms crossed over his chest and his hair was drifting gently around him.
Blue eyes met green ones and Kaitlyn swallowed at the intensity of his stare. Flushing, Kaitlyn looked away and to Gandalf.
The wizard had not missed what had taken place and a small smile tugged at the edge of his lips. Something was definitely stirring between these two.
Kaitlyn ignored the expression, feeling that the wizard was teasing her for her discomfort. "Where are we going again?" she asked, abruptly changing the subject.
"Edoras," Gandalf stated and at her look of confusion he added, "It is the city where the King of Rohan resides."
One of the horses snorted loudly and stomped its hoof and both Kaitlyn and Gandalf turned to look at it. Aragorn was already saddling his chestnut horse.
"Aragorn is impatient to leave," Kaitlyn noted as her eyes settled upon the Ranger. "And so is Hasufel," she added when the horse began to paw at the earth.
"Aye, and with good reason. We still have a long way to travel. Eat some lembas quickly so that we may depart." The wizard got to his feet and patted her shoulder before he went to join the others.
Kaitlyn was so tired of eating the Elvish bread that she didn't bother pulling it from her pack. She felt that she'd rather go hungry today then eat another piece of it.
Aragorn was already astride his horse, which made things far too easy for her. She was purposely avoiding Legolas, even though doing so bothered her. She disliked how she was behaving, but she could not seem to stop. The feelings that had flooded her the previous night, as well as the tone of Legolas' voice, had startled her. She was not ready to deal with what she believed could be happening.
She walked to Aragorn, who nodded his head in greeting before he hoisted her up behind him. She stared at his cloaked back, too nervous to look elsewhere. She fidgeted as she sat, digging dirt from beneath her fingernails and playing with the ends of her long hair. She did anything to keep her mind from last night and from Legolas.
The sound of another horse approaching interrupted her thoughts and without thinking she looked at it. When she saw the horse and the riders that it bore on its back, her heart began to pound madly in her chest.
Legolas had ridden Arod up beside Hasufel and it was clear that the Elf did not intend to be ignored. His brows were drawn low over his eyes and he appeared deeply anguished as well as confused. He did not speak, but continued to gaze at the mortal woman whose silence was torturing his heart. Why would she not say something to him?
Legolas was about to part his lips to greet her 'Good Morning' when Kaitlyn glanced away. Legolas felt his heart twist in his chest. Kaitlyn seemed afraid to look at him or speak with him and it hurt him. He feared that their friendship was going backward instead of forward.
Kaitlyn looked away from Legolas as quickly as she could. The sight of the handsome Elf made her heart race and filled with anxiety. Her eyes had fallen upon Gimli, who sat behind Legolas, and held onto the Elf tightly. Gimli raised his brows and smirked as if to say, 'Here we go again.'
Kaitlyn felt Aragorn urge his horse forward and she gripped him tightly to keep from falling. The sight of the Elf, Dwarf and their gray steed disappeared for the time being. She held on tightly to Aragorn and wished the lump in her throat and the aching in her heart would leave her be.
She was so lost in her troubled thoughts that Kaitlyn did not see the beautiful scenery that normally would have taken her breath away. She did not see or notice the fact that Legolas rode his horse close to Aragorn's and that the Elf's eyes had barely left Kaitlyn's form since they had set out hours ago. Nor did she see the city on top of the hill that appeared in the distance. It was not until the men pulled their horses back to a halt that she looked forward to see what loomed ahead.
Kaitlyn held her breath at the sight. The city that she was expecting was something quite different. When she had pictured Edoras in her mind, she had seen tall buildings of glass and iron like the ones from back home. As her eyes settled on much shorter wooden buildings with thatched roofs, she realized that despite the huge difference she was happy to see civilization.
The city sat atop a large hill that had a backdrop of snow capped rocky mountains. There were several larger wooden buildings at the very top of the hill and many wooden homes situated within a tall wooden fence. Each of the buildings had a thatched roof that shone like gold in the afternoon sun.
"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld," Gandalf announced as they all gazed ahead.
Kaitlyn looked toward the direction of the wizard's voice and nearly jumped when she saw Legolas had ridden Arod directly beside her and Aragorn. The Elf was not peering at her, though it was obvious to Kaitlyn that he had positioned Arod where he had in order to gain her attention.
He was looking forward, his eyebrows lowered, and Kaitlyn could tell from the intensity of his stare upon Edoras that Legolas sensed something was wrong.
Aragorn sat deeply in the saddle, one hand resting on his thigh as he gazed at Edoras. Gandalf was speaking but he was not paying attention to the words. Kaitlyn was slightly restless behind him and when Legolas and Gimli approached she had gripped his waist tightly in what seemed like surprise.
The Ranger knew that something was wrong between Legolas and Kaitlyn. He had known it the moment he had awakened that morning.
"There dwells Theoden, King of Rohan," Gandalf spoke again. "Whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Theoden is now very strong."
Kaitlyn was gazing at the city again, marveling at how such large wooden buildings could have been created on such a steep hill without heavy machinery. She did not understand what Gandalf was talking about. The names he spoke were unfamiliar to her as most of the names in Middle Earth were.
"It's been ages since I've seen a city," she said aloud, her lips curling into a slight smile. "What I would do for a hot bath and meal as well as a soft bed to sleep on," she admitted.
"Be careful what you say," Gandalf warned. He gazed at Kaitlyn who tilted her head back so that she could see the wizard behind Legolas' form. "Do not look for welcome here." Gandalf raised a brow and drove Shadowfax forward.
Kaitlyn frowned and felt all hope of a bath and meal fade away.
Her companions drove their horses into a gallop and she limply held onto Aragorn as she watched them go. Legolas and Gimli rode ahead with Gandalf and Kaitlyn actually felt disappointment when Legolas did not turn to gaze at her.
The Elf rode tall and straight in the saddle, his hands were light on the reins and the bit. On toward Edoras he rode without a backward glance in her direction. It was almost as if he meant to ignore her and Kaitlyn realized that the shoe hurt when it was on a different foot.
She couldn't blame him with how she had been treating him. She deserved much worse than the loss of his attention after he had constantly been so kind to her. She lowered her head, feeling like a miserable wretch.
It was not long before the gate of the city came into view and the walls loomed above the riders. A green flag with a white horse on it drifted and blew among the tall grass. Only Aragorn paid it any mind as he slowed Hasufel and the others advanced forward.
The gate was old. Made of stone with planks of wood that had grayed and dried in the sun over the years. The road they traveled on was a dry yellow dirt and was not paved or cobblestone. There were people who walked about, some leading horses, others sweeping or hanging clothes.
They were dressed in dark clothes and their hair was wild and untamed in the wind. They were human such as Kaitlyn and Aragorn. No one spoke a word and the eerie silence did not put Kaitlyn at ease. She held on to Aragorn tightly.
The companions rode their horses at a walk. They traveled up hill toward the summit where several large buildings were situated. As they rode higher the scenery did not change. People quietly went about their business, their eyes following the strangers that rode along their street.
"You will find more cheer in a graveyard," Gimli said glumly.
They rode on until they could ride no more. A great hall loomed above them, decorated with gold designs that reminded Kaitlyn of something Celtic from back home.
The men dismounted and Aragorn helped Kaitlyn down though her eyes were still drawn to the hall. They tied Arod and Hasufel to a wooden post. Shadowfax waited patiently beside them.
Kaitlyn followed her companions up the stone steps that led to the building, her eyes drawn to the banners that blew in the wind and the ornate carvings of horses and symbols. As soon as they reached the top of the steps, two large wooden doors with gold designs upon them, swung open and a group of soldiers wearing metal armor and green capes stepped through.
Kaitlyn frowned at the sight of them, the one who led them looked fierce, but Gandalf stepped forward with a smile.
"Ah!" the wizard called, leaning heavily upon his staff.
"I cannot allow you before Theoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame," the leader spoke.
Gandalf's smile faded.
The leader raised his head a bit and looked directly into Gandalf's eyes. "By order of Grima Wormtongue," the man finished. He had long reddish hair and a thick bushy beard though it was much shorter than Gandalf's.
As Kaitlyn glanced at the other soldiers, though they wore helmets, she could see their hair was also long and they, too, had beards.
Gandalf nodded to Aragorn and Kaitlyn and then to Gimli and Legolas who stood on either side of him.
Two soldiers stepped forward. One stood in front of Aragorn and Kaitlyn and the other stood before Legolas and Gimli.
Kaitlyn frowned not understanding and her frown deepened when Aragorn raised his brows at her and gestured for her to do as he was doing.
The Ranger was unbuckling the belts that held his weapons and she watched as he, as well as Legolas and Gimli, began tohand over their weapons to the soldiers.
She felt that this was a bad idea. Being without weapons was dangerous, especially in a place that did not exactly seem friendly.
Realizing that the soldiers were looking at her and waiting for her to comply, she said, "Oh," and began to hand over her own weapons. Handing over her dagger and especially the bow that Legolas had given to her was hard but she did as she had been instructed. She felt naked without the weight of them.
The leader looked thoughtfully at Gandalf when the weapons of the wizard's companions had been collected. "Your staff," the man said plainly and he raised his brows over his chocolate colored eyes.
Gandalf scowled. "Hmm. Oh. You would not part an old man from his walking stick?" the wizard asked and he leaned more heavily upon the white wooden staff.
Gimli grinned.
The leader pursed his lips, but nodded and then he gestured for Gandalf and the others to follow.
Gandalf turned toward Kaitlyn and Aragorn and winked at them. Aragorn grinned and Kaitlyn's brows drew together in confusion. What exactly was going on?
She watched as Legolas offered his arm to Gandalf for support and suddenly Kaitlyn realized that Gandalf had formed some sort of plan. She smirked as she stepped past a few of the guards, wondering what chaos would befall Edoras before they left it. One of the guards smiled in return, watching as the woman walked past him.
The expression faded as they entered the magnificent hall with high ceilings and horse banners and carvings. The companions became grim at the sight of a very old man sitting in the throne far across the room. He was hunched over in his throne and his golden crown sat crooked upon his head. A man dressed entirely in black sat beside the old man and whispered things into his ear.
Kaitlyn thought that he was the ugliest man she had ever seen. He was tall and gangly; his hair was dark, curly and greasy looking. His face was pale with a large wart above one eye and his eyes were menacing.
The companions continued to walk inside and Kaitlyn kept close to Aragorn. The hall was beautifully decorated but she was far too nervous to appreciate the craftsmanship of Rohan.
The great doors slammed closed behind them and then were locked. They realized that they had nowhere to go but forward.
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Theoden, King," Gandalf called out as he walked still leaning upon Legolas.
The strange man with the dark hair whispered something to the old man once again and then the old man spoke very slowly.
"Why… should I welcome…you…..Gandalf Stormcrow?" The old man looked to the man beside him when he was finished speaking and the man nodded.
The man dressed in dark robes stood and turned to face the strangers. "Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear."
Gandalf and Aragorn peered at each other and it wasn't until Aragorn cast a glance at Kaitlyn and then to the side that the woman realized other men dressed in dark clothing were walking up the side aisles of the hall, stalking the movements of her companions and herself. She hung closer to Aragorn, fear coursing her veins.
The odd looking man walked slowly toward the companions like a predator stalking its prey.
"Lathspell, I name him!" the man called as he came closer. "Ill news is an ill guest!"
"Silence!" Gandalf cried. "Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth!" the wizard commanded.
Kaitlyn did not know whether to cheer for Gandalf or hide under the nearest rock. This place seemed hostile enough without throwing gasoline onto the fire.
The pale man's eyes widened at the words and tone.
"I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm." Gandalf thrust his staff forward in a forceful motion.
Hearing Gandalf's words, Kaitlyn realized that this must be Grima Wormtongue. The very man who had ordered for their weapons to be taken away.
Grima's eyes widened even further and he looked frightened. "His staff…" he whispered in shock. The wooden staff was only mere feet from his face. He looked away, his gaze falling upon the soldiers who still remained by the locked door. He backed away quickly and the men who had been stalking the companions rushed forward, surprising even the soldiers.
"I told you to take the wizard's staff!" Grima cried out angrily at the King's soldiers.
Gandalf continued walking toward the throne even as men rushed toward him in an attempt to stop him. The men did not get far as Legolas and Aragorn began to punch and knock them to the ground.
"Theoden!" Gandalf called, extending a hand to the old man in the throne as he moved forward. "Too long have you sat in the shadows…"
Kaitlyn felt her heart begin to pound. Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli were making short work of the men dressed in dark clothing, but they were far too busy protecting Gandalf to protect her, too. Three men were closing in toward her and she had no weapons to defend herself.
She swallowed as they approached, but two of the men never made it. There was a flash of fair blond hair and of a green tunic as Legolas knocked them easily to the ground as if they were flies. Despite the tension that lingered between Legolas and Kaitlyn, the Elf had come to protect her.
There was still one man left closing in toward Kaitlyn and Legolas was now occupied with several men that moved to attack him.
Her companions were taking on these men alone while she stood and let them protect her. She felt badly and she was tired of being weak while the men were strong. If she was going to survive in this world she needed to stop allowing others to fight her battles.
Kaitlyn's eyes widened as an idea entered her mind.
Feeling courage course through her veins, she waited. She waited until the third man was almost upon her. He was tall with shoulder length dark wavy hair. His eyes were dark, as were the leather armor and cloth that he wore.
She balled her hand into a fist and feigned that she was going to hit him in the face. As the man went to block her blow and throw one of his own, Kaitlyn swung her leg back and then forward and kicked him between his legs as hard as she could.
The man cried out loudly, his hands immediately going to cover himself. His face was red as he fell to the floor writhing in pain.
Gimli's eye's widened and Legolas, who had just finished knocking a man to the ground, was bewildered at what Kaitlyn had just done.
"Remind me never to make her angry," Gimli said, gazing at Legolas while raising his bushy brows.
The Elf grinned heartily, his eyes settling on Kaitlyn, who appeared proud of herself. The Elf's heart began to race when Kaitlyn smiled in return and she flushed slightly at the approval in his eyes.
Gimli saw a flash of dark from the corner of his eye and he rushed after Grima, who was crawling on his hands and knees attempting to escape.
"Rrrr!" Gimli growled and the man turned and fell onto his back, a look of horror upon his face.
"I would stay still if I were you!" Gimli called, pressing his foot upon the man's chest.
"Hearken to me!" Gandalf cried out to the old man on the throne and all who were gathered in the Golden Hall gave their attention to the wizard.
The old man tilted his head and gazed at the wizard through angry ice blue eyes.
Gandalf extended a hand forward. "I release you from the spell," he said in a softer tone.
Aragorn's brows drew low over his eyes and he shifted his weight as the old King began to laugh.
Kaitlyn frowned not understanding what was happening.
"You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey," the King snickered.
Gandalf stood taller and in one motion pulled the gray cloak that he wore from his shoulders and tossed it to the ground. His white robes were exposed for all to see and it was if the sun had broken through the clouds after a long dark storm. It appeared as if light was emanating from him.
Legolas looked up, his blue eyes clear with wonderment.
The King's eyes widened in surprise and then fear. He clutched the armrest of his chair tightly.
Gandalf spread his arms. "I will draw you Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound!" Gandalf thrust his staff forward into the air and the King flew back into his chair with a cry.
The King held tightly to the armrests and groaned as if in terrible pain.
Kaitlyn felt Legolas tense beside her and then the Elf turned. A woman with long wavy blond hair, dressed in white and gold, pushed past him and rushed in the direction of Gandalf and the King.
Aragorn quickly intercepted her and held her. "Wait," he bid.
She frowned at him but ceased her struggling.
"If I go, Theoden dies," the old King croaked.
Kaitlyn frowned in confusion. Wasn't this old man King Theoden? And if he wasn't, who was he?
"You did not kill me, you will not kill him!" Gandalf called. He thrust his white staff forward again and the old man cried out as his body hit the back of the chair.
The man persisted. "Rohan is…mine!" he growled.
Gandalf moved the staff forward again and the man fell back. "Be gone."
The old man's face twisted in pain for several moments and when he attempted to lunge forward at Gandalf, the wizard thrust his staff forcefully and the man fell back into the chair.
Gandalf lowered his staff to his side and inhaled and exhaled deeply.
The old man slumped forward with a moan, and the woman that Aragorn held cried out and broke away, rushing toward the throne.
Kaitlyn covered her mouth with her hand. She was terribly confused and now the old man appeared to be dying because of Gandalf. What had the wizard done?
Sensing her distress, Legolas buried the hesitation that rose within him and put a hand on her shoulder.
The woman in white caught the man from falling face first onto the stone floor of the hall. She pushed him back and he sat in the throne. He squinted and peered into her face.
What happened next shocked Kaitlyn and many others.
The features of the old man who appeared to be in his hundreds faded as the seconds passed and left a younger looking man in his 50s. He had blond hair though it was much darker than Legolas'. His eyes, though still blue, lost the icy appearance that they had held earlier.
The man looked to the woman beside him and recognition flared in his eyes. "I know your face….Eowyn."
The woman laughed, her hazel eyes filling with tears.
"Eowyn," he repeated and she put her hands on his face.
The man suddenly noticed that the hall was full of people though his eyes fell immediately upon the man dressed in white robes who stood a few feet from the throne. "Gandalf?" he asked softly.
Gandalf smiled. "Breath the free air again, my friend."
The man tried to stand and the woman helped him to his feet.
Kaitlyn watched as some of the people around them began to bow their heads. As she gazed intently at the man who stood before the throne she realized that this was indeed the King. There was an air about him that was absent before. She was thoroughly confused about why he had been old and how he suddenly could be younger, but she kept the whirling thoughts in her mind.
"Dark have been my dreams of late," the King said. He gazed down at his hands.
"Your fingers would remember their old strength better if they grasped your sword," Gandalf told him.
The man who had taken the weapons of the companions at the door stepped forward and bowing deeply presented a sword with two horse heads above the handle to the King.
Slowly the King's fingers moved over the handle and then he pulled the sword from its sheath.
Grima Wormtongue, who was still on his hands and knees, tried to pull away, but Gimli held onto him.
The King held the sword up before him and gazed in wonderment and recognition at the length of the blade. Then his eyes fell forward upon the people and immediately they focused on the figure of Grima.
Without being commanded the guard from the door and several other soldiers pulled Grima harshly to his feet and dragged him to the door. They tossed him down the stone steps and he rolled, his body hitting each stair with a sickening sound.
The King moved slowly, his sword still in hand, as he stalked the figure of Grima who lay toward the bottom of the stairs.
I've only…ever…served you, my lord…" he moaned in pain. He clutched his side and then began to back pedal down the remaining stairs as the King and a few soldiers moved toward him.
"Your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" the King yelled loudly.
The soldiers and the companions filed out to watch what was taking place. Many who had been in the streets nearby the Golden Hall were now standing near the steps watching.
Kaitlyn stood between Legolas and the woman dressed in white. Gandalf stood not far from them and Aragorn was situated a few steps down from the wizard.
"Send me not from your sight," Grima begged.
The King's face grew white with anger. He raised his sword and bared his teeth, preparing to kill Grima.
"NO, my lord! No, my lord." Aragorn yelled and he grabbed the King's arm, stopping him from following through. "Let him go." Aragorn said to the struggling King.
"Enough blood has been spilt on his account."
Grima sat up, his blue eyes wide with disbelief.
Aragorn bent toward him and Kaitlyn frowned when she saw the Ranger extend a hand to the strange looking man.
Grima started to get to his feet and spat upon Aragorn's palm. Hastily the darkly clothed man raced away, pushing past the crowd that gathered and disappearing into the stables.
Aragorn grit his teeth and wiped the spit upon the leg of his pants. "Hail Theoden, King!" he called out loud and clear.
Immediately everyone began to lower their heads or get to their knees.
Kaitlyn followed their example and lowered her head. Legolas and Eowyn did the same.
Aragorn bent to one knee and bowed to the King.
Theoden grimaced and looked around. His eyebrows lowered over his eyes as he took in the sight of the soldiers and the people gathered around him. His Marshal of the Mark was missing. And where was…? A terrible feeling appeared in the pit of his stomach.
"Where is Theodred?" he asked in a broken voice. "Where is my son?"
To be continued…
Most sincere apologies to my readers for taking so long to get this chapter finished and posted. Real life has truly been kicking my behind. Summer is a difficult time for me with writing because of work, my horses as well as me just not wanting to sit at the computer for long periods. Please be patient with me. This is NOT a dead fic. I have already started writing the next chapter and I hope to have it posted much sooner than this one.
As always, I 'd like to thank everyone for taking the time to review or comment. I'm so pleased that most of you are enjoying the story. And Hello to the new reviewers! You're most welcome here!