Aerlinniel POV

King Theoden, Eomer, Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and I are all riding to Isengard. I am listening to all of the sounds around me, when something catches my attention. And I dismount the horse Legolas and I are riding on and run ahead of everyone.

"Aerlinniel, what are you doing?" Legolas questions, but I do not answer him.

"Aerlinniel?" I hear a voice I have not heard in a while say my name, and I stop running.

"Aerlinniel's here?" The other asks.

"Merry! Pippin!" I call excitingly. A few seconds later, I feel their arms wrap around me and I hug them back. "I have missed you both so much."

"We missed you, too." Merry tells me.

Pippin then laughs, "Ahaha!"

"Welcome, my lords to Isengard!" Merry greets the rest of them, who have just arrived.

"You young rascals. A merry hunt you've led us on and now we find you feasting and... and smoking!" Gimli [complains]

"We are standing on a field of victory enjoying a few well-earned comforts. The salted pork is particularly good." Pippin informs him.

Gimli is now intrigued, "Salted pork?"

"Hobbits!" I hear Gandalf mutter.

"We're under orders from Treebeard who's taken over management of Isengard," Pippin tells him.

I go over to Legolas and hold out my hand. He grabs it and helps me mount the horse. We go further into Isengard and I hear another voice that I have not heard for a long time.

"Hoooom, young master Gandalf, I'm glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and stone I can master, but there is a Wizard to manage here locked in his tower."

"Treebeard!" I say happily.

"Well, Princess Aerlinniel. It has been a long time since I last saw you. How come I haven't seen you and your sister in so long?" He questions.

"Our Kingdom was attacked by a dragon. My sister and I were lucky to get out alive. My parents did not make it though." I tell him a short version of what happened because we do not have enough time for me to tell him everything.

Treebeard, Elarinya and I used to talk for hours. He would tell old tales and sing songs. I have missed him, and I feel guilty that I never did come see him when I was on my many adventures. I am glad that I get to see him now, though.

"I am very sorry. Now, what are we going to do about Saruman?"

"Show yourself," Aragorn commands.

"Be careful. Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous." Gandalf warns him.

"Well then let's just have his head and be done with it."

"No, we need him alive. We need him to talk." Gandalf tells Gimli.

"You have fought many wars and slain many men Theoden King 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?" Saruman asks, his voice sound a bit far off and it sounds like it is coming from above. He must be on the top of the tower

King Theoden replies by saying, "We shall have peace. 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! When you hang from a gibbet for the sport of your own crows, we shall have peace!"

"Gibbets and crows! Dotard! What do you want Gandalf Grahame? Let me guess, the key of Orthanc? Or perhaps the keys of Barad Dur itself? Along with the crowns of the seven Kings and the rods of the Five Wizards!" Saruman guesses angrily.

"Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousands more are now at risk. But you could save them Saruman. You were deep in the enemy's counsel." Gandalf reminds him.

"So you have come here for information. I have some for you." Saruman then explains, "Something festers in the heart of Middle Earth. Something that you have failed to see. But the great eye has seen it! Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon. You are all going to die! But you know this don't you Gandalf? You cannot think that this Ranger will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor. This exile, crept from the shadows will never be crowned King. Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those who are closest to him, those he professes to love! 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. "

Gimli, get angrier and angrier with every word that Saruman says, finally snaps, "I've heard enough! Shoot him! Stick an arrow in his gob!"

"No! Come down Saruman and your life will be spared!" Gandalf promises.

"Save your pity and your mercy. I have no use for it!" He refuses his offer. I hear a wave of fire and was a little worried when Gandalf cleared it up for me. 

"Saruman... your staff is broken!"

I then hear another heartbeat next to Saruman's. It takes me a moment to place it, but I remember him from when we first arrived in Edoras.

"Grima!" King Theoden calls to him. "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 Helms Deep does not belong to you Theoden Horse Master. You are a lesser son of greater sires!" Saruman shouts, bitterly.

"Grima. Come down! Be free of him!" King Theoden tries again.

"Free? He will never be free!" Saruman yells.

"No!"

"Get down cur!" Saruman commands him.

"Ah!"

"Saruman! You were deep in the enemy's counsel. Tell us what you know!" Gandalf asks him again.

"You withdraw your guard and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner here!" Saruman decides, and next thing I know, I can't hear his heartbeat anymore.

I then hear a hit and a splash of water. Is Saruman dead? What just happened? I don't hear Grima's heartbeat anymore either. Are they both dead?

"Send word to all our allies and to every corner of Middle Earth that still stands free. The enemy moves against us. We need to know where he will strike." Gandalf instructs and there is another splash.

"The filth of Saruman is washing away. Trees will come back to live here. Young trees. Wild trees." Treebeard says. 

"Pippin!" Aragorn calls out.

"Bless my bark!" Treebeard exclaims. 

"Peregrin Took. I'll take that my lad! Quickly now!" Gandalf tells him.

"What is it?" I whisper to Legolas.

"A palantir." He whispers back.

A palantir? That can't be good.

~~~

We are back in Edoras at the Golden Hall. King Theoden is speaking.

"Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country. Hail the victorious dead!"

We all the shout, "Hail!"

I walk around for a while, not sure what to do, and make my way over to Legolas and Gimli.

"No pauses, no spills." I hear Eomer explain.

"And no regurgitation!" Gimli adds. 

"So, it's a drinking game?" Legolas questions.

"Aye!"

"Last one standing wins heh heh heh!" Gimli laughs.

A drinking game? I shake my head, I've never heard of such a thing. One thing I do know, is that Legolas is definitely going to win.

"Heh heh heh heh." Gimli laughs after a while, sounding drunk. "Here, here. Raaar, it's the dwarves that go swimming with little, hairy women. Haha."

I stifle a laugh. Why in the world did Gimli just say that?

"I feel something," Legolas says suddenly. "A slight tingle in my fingers. I think it's affecting me."

"Heh heh heh. What did I say? He can't hold his liquor." Gimli slurs and then I hear him fall over. I hope he's alright.

"Game over!" Legolas exclaims and I smile at him before walking over to Merry and Pippin. They are singing and I would really like to listen to them.

"Oh you can search far and wide, You can drink the whole town dry. But you'll never find a beer so brown, But you'll never find a beer so brown. As the one we drink in our hometown, As the one we drink in our hometown. You can drink your fancy ales, You can drink them by the flagon.  But the only brew for the brave and true, comes from the Green Dragon!" They finish and we all applaud. They are great!

I then decide to head outside to get some fresh air. When I step outside, I feel the wide blow and I exhale. It feels so nice out here. I am so glad that we get this time to relax and enjoy ourselves before the next battle happens. Becuase I feel that it is not too far off. Legolas then walks outside and comes up next to me, I hear more music start to play inside.

"Would you like to dance?" Legolas asks me.

I smile at him and reply, "I would love to dance." 

We dance around, I am enjoying being in his arms. I wish I could dance with him all night long. But, of course, the song ends. He takes my hand and kisses it before going back inside. Something weird happened when he kissed me. I saw a flash of a night sky. Confused, and guessing it was just my imagination, I also head back inside.

~~~~~~

I updated this yesterday, using my kindle and then went to bed. Today when I checked, I noticed it didn't update. So, I am updating this on the computer instead. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it! Updates are every Sunday and Thursday. 

Love you my elves from the realm of llamas,

~Ellethwen <3