Journey’s End

Chapter 19

Edoras

After riding for the entire day, Gandalf lead us to a cliff top to rest. It was dark already, and all I wanted was to sleep, but my stomach was growling impatiently, and I remembered that I had eaten nothing for several days.

“Have you eaten anything recently?” I asked Aragorn as he helped me dismount.

“Nothing.” He muttered. I sighed. So he didn’t have any food then. I walked over to where Legolas was starting a fire and huddled beside the small flame. Deciding there was no point in staying awake, I lay down on my side, but sat up again as I heard a crunch. Curiously, I put my hand in my pocket and pulled out a slightly broken wafer of Lembas. I laughed, realising that I must have put it in my pocket back at the boats.

“I found some food.” I announced. The effect my words had was like moths to a flame. I smiled as I handed out chunks of the bread before tucking into my own portion. The taste was a little bland, but nothing could have been more heavenly right now. Well… A stew or something would have been nice…

I stopped myself before I became preoccupied with thinking about food and lay down again. I was exhausted, and this would be my first voluntary sleep since I began tracking the Hobbits. Being knocked out doesn’t exactly count as sleep.

I yawned and let my eyes close as I slowly dozed off.

***Aragorn’s Point of View ***

It was late. It seemed that everyone besides Gandalf and myself had fallen asleep, but my mind was restless. I crouched down to poke the dying embers of the fire to life, to keep my friends warm as they slept around it. Rana shivered in her sleep beside me, so I pulled off my cloak and tucked it around her gently. She smiled, as if she was having a good dream and sighed a little. I smiled and stood, noticing Gandalf standing at the edge of the cliff, looking east towards Mordor.
“The veiling shadow that glowers in the East takes shape. Sauron will suffer no rival.” He murmured as I walked up to him and looked out at the night.

“From the summit of Barad-dûr, his Eye watches ceaselessly. But he is not so mighty yet that he is above fear. Doubt ever gnaws at him. The rumour has reached him: the heir of Numenor still lives. Sauron fears you, Aragorn.” He turned to me. “He fears what you may become. And so he'll strike hard and fast at the world of Men. He will use his puppet Saruman to destroy Rohan. War is coming. Rohan must defend itself, and therein lies our first challenge. For Rohan is weak and ready to fall. The king's mind is enslaved. It's an old device of Saruman's. His hold over King Théoden is now very strong. Sauron and Saruman are tightening the noose. But for all their cunning, we have one advantage: the Ring remains hidden. And that we should seek to destroy it has not yet entered their darkest dreams. And so the weapon of the enemy is moving towards Mordor in the hands of a hobbit. Each day brings it closer to the fires of Mount Doom. We must trust now in Frodo. Everything depends upon speed and the secrecy of his quest. Do not regret your decision to leave him. Frodo must finish this task alone.” He comforted me at the end of his speech, and I smiled.

“He's not alone. Sam went with him.” I said softly.

“Did he? Did he, indeed? Good. Yes, very good.” Gandalf smiled, seeming proud of the Hobbits.

Feeling suddenly as if the wizard had taken a weight off my mind, I turned back to the camp, feeling drowsy. I lay down against a rock and allowed sleep to take me.

***Rana’s Point of View***

I woke with a grumble as I felt someone shake me gently. I opened one eye and swiped at Aragorn as he tried to wake me.

“Go away, I’m still tired.” I moaned.

“Get up.” He laughed, nudging me with his boot. I groaned and rolled over, onto an uncomfortable, angular rock.

“Ugh, fine, I’m up.” I sighed, sitting up and tousling my hair sleepily. Aragorn pulled me to my feet and nudged me in the direction of the horses. I scrambled rather ungracefully onto Hasufel’s back and sat there, yawning, as Aragorn mounted in front of me. I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my head on his back, in a vain attempt to catch some more sleep.

“We ride for Edoras with all speed.” I heard Gandalf say as the other’s mounted. “We have very little time.”

Aragorn clicked his tongue and Hasufel trotted after Shadowfax as Gandalf lead us off the cliff.

***

By late morning, I found myself looking across a wide plain, at a familiar city on a hilltop. Edoras. The Golden Hall was clearly visible, even from this distance.

“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 murmured, “Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here.” He warned us, before galloping towards the city.

As we rode up to the gate, I saw one of the banners of Rohan caught in the wind. The breeze dropped it just outside the gate as we rode through it. We walked slowly through the city. All around us, people were dressed in black and stared at us silently.

“You'll find more cheer in a graveyard.” Gimli muttered as we rode past.

We dismounted by the great stone steps that lead to the hall of the King and walked up them. As we reached the door, several guards approached us.

“Ah.” Said Gandalf, as a form of greeting. He had drawn grey robes about himself, to disguise his new appearance.

“I cannot allow you before Théoden-king so armed, Gandalf Grayhame. By order of Grima Wormtongue.” One of the guards stated.

‘Who, or what is Wormtongue?’ I wondered.

Gandalf gave us a nod and I unwillingly pulled my bow and quiver off my back and handed them over. I then unattached my sword and sheath form my belt and handed them to the guard. Aragorn coughed quietly at me and gave me a knowing look. I sighed and handed over my hunting knife, and the small dagger that Galadriel had given me.

“Be careful with those.” I warned the guards as everyone else passed over their weapons.

“Your staff.” He guard asked Gandalf.

“Hmm? Oh. No, you would not part an old man from his walking stick?” Gandalf said in an aged voice. The guard hesitated for a moment, and then allowed us to enter the hall. Gandalf gave Aragorn and myself a wink, then took Legolas’s arm and leant on both the elf and his staff. I have to say, he has a very convincing ‘old man’ routine.

As we walked through the door, my eyes instantly settled on the aged king, sitting on his throne. He had sunk so low in the chair, that if he was any lower, I would have thought he was dead. A greasy, slimy creature of a man stood at his side, and hissed something in his ear as we entered.

“The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden-King.” Gandalf called out.

Again, the man whispered something in the king’s ear.

“Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?” Théoden groaned with great effort.

“A just question, my liege. Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest.” The little man said, standing and approaching us as we walked forward. His voice was as greasy as his appearance, as was his personality, it seemed.

“Be silent!” Snapped Gandalf. “Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm.” He hissed, lifting his staff. For a moment, I saw flicker of fear in the cold eyes of the man.

“His staff. I told you to take the wizard's staff!” He cried, stepping back.

Out of nowhere, guards appeared and grabbed at us. As an immediate reaction, I elbowed one in the face, and then turned back, expecting to be scolded by Gandalf, but instead saw Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli also attacking the guards. They seemed to be trying to stop Gandalf as he approached the throne.

“Théoden, Son of Thengel. Too long have you sat in the shadows.” He said.

I kicked another guard in the chest, and swung round, punching another in the jaw. I turned and grinned as I saw we were winning, Gimli seemed to have forced the disgusting man to the ground.

“I would stay still if I were you!” The Dwarf advised him, stepping on his chest.

“Hearken to me! I release you from the spell.” I heard Gandalf say as I head butted another attacker.

The king laughed.

“You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey. Haha!” He chuckled menacingly, as Gandalf held the palm of his hand towards Théoden. Suddenly, the wizard threw back his grey clothes and Théoden was forced back in his chair by the white light.

“I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound.” Gandalf murmured calmly, lifting his staff. By some unseen force, the king was drawn up in his throne and pinned against the back of it.

I heard footsteps, I turned, ready to attack another guard, but saw that it was a golden haired woman. She looked at the king with wide eyes, and dashed forward to help him. Aragorn grabbed her and pulled her back.

“Wait.” He whispered.

“If I go, Théoden dies.” Théoden hissed in a voice that was not his own. It was Saruman.

“You did not kill me. You will not kill him.” Gandalf said, pushing him further back.

“Rohan is mine!” Yelled Théoden, again in Saruman’s voice.

“Be gone!” Cried Gandalf, and the king slumped forward in his throne. Aragorn released the woman and she ran to him, propping him up. I gasped in amazement as the aged face of the king seemed to grow younger. His eyes seemed full of life, colour returned to his cheeks, and his face became less tired looking.

“I know your face.” He whispered to the woman. “Eówyn... Eówyn.” He then looked up at the wizard that stood before him. “Gandalf?”

“Breathe the free air again, my friend.” Gandalf smiled.

“Dark have been my dreams of late.” The king murmured, looking down at his hand and flexing his fingers slowly.

“Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your sword.” Gandalf said.

The guard from the door suddenly appeared, bearing a sword. He ran up to the kings side and handed it to him. Théoden slowly drew the blade, and held it up. His gaze then dropped to the man on the ground, beneath Gimli’s foot. With a nod from Théoden, the man was hauled off the ground by two guards and dragged to the door. I jogged along behind, no wanting to miss any action.

The man was thrown roughly down the stone steps, and landed uncomfortably. Théoden slowly walked down after him, still bearing his sword.

“Ah! I've only ever served you, my lord.” The man gasped.

“Your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!” Théodengrowled angrily.

“Send me not from your side!” Cried the man as Théoden raised his sword to strike him. Aragorn left my side and dashed towards them, catching Théoden's arm before he could bring his sword down on the man.

“No, my lord! No, my lord.” He cried, “Let him go. Enough blood has been spilled on his account.”

The man stood, and dashed down the steps, pushing away the crowd that had gathered.

“Get out of my way!” He yelled.

“Hail Théoden King!” Aragorn cried, kneeling before Théoden. I followed his lead, as did the people of Edoras. The king looked around in confusion.

“Where is Théodred? Where is my son?”