The wind swirled my hair back as we passed through the gate of the city of Edoras with our horses. The whole town was a single mourning case, the few people going about their work in the open either kept their heads down or stared at us as if we were animals in a zoo. But each one could clearly see their hopelessness. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see a young woman with blonde hair disappear into the golden hall.
"Even in a churchyard, the mood is more cheerful." Gimli scowled and looked around.
At this I could actually understand the people around me "They have no hope Gimli, their land is being sacked by orcs and their king remains inactive, how would you feel."
I jumped off my horse as we arrived at the entrance to the golden hall. Aragorn tied up the two horses, Gandalf whispered something in Shadowfur's ear, whereupon the horse joined his fellows and began to eat the graze with relish. I kept somewhat in the shadow of Aragorn and Legolas as we climbed the stairs, at the end of which the King's guards were already waiting for us. Although I hardly believed that the people knew who I was, I wanted to attract as little attention as possible, for if they had the slightest suspicion of who I was, what I could do, they would not allow me to go before the king.
Gandalf nodded in a friendly way to the leader of the guards.
The latter, however, did not look as if he had received many kind words lately "Armed like that, I am not allowed to let you go before the king. By order of Grima Serpent-Tongue."
Gandalf seemed to consider for a moment, then gave us a barely perceptible nod. Rather reluctantly, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli laid down their weapons.
Promptly one of the men looked at me, for my weapons were not visible through the knee-length black cloak I wore "Do you think we assume she is harmless just because she is a woman?"
I shrugged my shoulders in agreement. First I unbuckled my sword belt, then I pulled my daggers from my back and all the knives I carried "You're right, I'm anything but harmless." I grinned at the guard who was staring with widened eyes at the number of weapons I had. I spread my cloak a little to show that I carried no other weapons, that I was a Living Weapon myself, none of the men could know.
Gandalf tried to step through the door but was stopped again by the captain of the guards "Your staff, please."
Almost excessively, Gandalf leaned on his wand "You wouldn't want to take away an old man's support, would you?"
The excuse seemed to work on the horse-man and he finally let us pass. I shook my head slightly at Gandalf's ruse, which earned me a wink from him.
As soon as we had all passed the door to the king's hall, it closed with a loud bang. Only a small click indicated that it was locked. I looked around inconspicuously; apart from the king's guard, there were nearly two dozen dubious figures gathered at the sides of the hall. Even the biggest fool could tell they were in Saruman's service.
"The level of civility in your hall has slipped a little, after all." Gandalf walked up to the King without showing any emotion "Thèoden King!"
The king was merely sitting on his throne, but his eyes were dull, like those of a blind man. His hair was long, greying and beside him stood Grima Serpent's Tongue. He whispered something in the ear of the controlled ruler, who then addressed his word to Gandalf in a croaking voice "Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?"
I clenched my hands into fists as I watched two men place their hands on their sword hilts. Not exactly thrilled, I exchanged a glance with Aragorn and Legolas, who, just like Gimli must have had the same thought as me, it wouldn't be long before the whole hall would be upon us.
Gandalf did not get to answer the king. Grima took over the role of mouthpiece assigned to him "That is a very fair question my lord and master." he murmured to the King and then walked towards us "Late is the hour you come on the scene and yet you bring only evil with you." he stepped to within a few inches of Gandalf, I was about to dash forward but the hand of Legolas held me back "Bad news is a bad guest!" Grima bared his teeth.
"Silence!" Gandalf's command made the man in front of him wince "Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth." contemptuously he looked at the traitor "I have not gone through fire and death to exchange words with a simple-minded worm!" Gandalf twitched his staff and nearly poked Grima's eye out with it.
The serpent got a panicked look in his eyes "His staff!" he slowly backed away from Gandalf "I told you to take the wizard's staff!"
The dusky figures started to rush. I ducked under a sword and rammed my knee into my opponent's stomach. With a somersault, I dodged a low attack and landed wide-legged on the man's torso, knocking him unconscious. Then my eyes fell on Grima, I slithered across the floor and kicked his feet away. He slammed onto his back. I put a foot on his torso "I wouldn't move if I were you." to make it more dramatic I snapped before creating fire in my hand and holding it close to his face. When I was sure he wouldn't launch any surprise attacks, I looked up again. Almost all the men were defeated, for some reason the King's men had not joined the fight, perhaps they knew deep in their hearts that the person sitting there on the throne was no longer their King. Without looking, Legolas punched a man who was attacking him from behind in the face with a clenched fist.
Gandalf was oblivious to all this, he stood in front of the possessed king and held out his wand "Thèoden I release you from the spell!"
Suddenly the King began to laugh, low and croaking "You have no power here. Gandalf the Grey."
Gandalf stripped off his grey cloak with a dramatic movement. Light flooded the room. I couldn't help grinning and held the fire a little closer to Grima's face as he made an attempt to escape.
Gandalf walked with firm steps towards Thèoden "I will suck you Saruman like poison from a wound!"
The man turned on his throne "If I go Thèoden dies!" tried Saruman to find a last loophole, for the renegade wizard was far inferior to Gandalf.
Gandalf shattered the threat into dust "You didn't kill me either!" and continued to point his staff at Thèoden.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see a young woman trying to intervene, she was held back and placated by Aragorn.
Gandalf twitched his staff one last time and finally drove Saruman out of the king's mind. Debilitated, Thèoden slumped on his throne. The young, blond-haired woman rushed towards him and raised him up again.
One could literally see the influence of Saruman falling from the man, his hair became short and blond, just like his bard. His eyes cleared more with each passing second. "I know your face." murmured Thèoden, looking at the woman before him "Èowyn." Thèoden smiled.
Tears came to Èowyn's eyes "Uncle."
The King looked around the hall, his eyes lingering on Gandalf "Gandalf?!"
"Breathe the air of freedom again my friend." Gandalf leaned casually on his staff.
Suddenly the King's face darkened and his gaze moved to Grima. Quickly I let the fire die out of my hand and moved out of the King's way as he dragged Grima to his feet and thrust him into the hands of Two Guards "Get him out of my hall!" his voice trembled with rage. The Two Guards dragged the whimpering Grima behind them. Thèoden took his sword, which was held out to him by Gandalf, and went after the two men with quick, firm steps. Hastily I followed the men out, I could just see Grima rolling down the stairs and lying with a bloody lip.
"I have only ever served you, my lord." his greasy black hair hung in his face as he begged his king on his knees.
But he only came towards him with his sword raised "Your miracle cures have made me crawl almost on all fours like an animal!" he shouted in rage.
I began to play with my mother's necklace hanging around my neck. Grima still hadn't realised that he had lost, although I highly doubted that the man was still one hundred per cent himself. Surely he was influenced in some way by Saruman, because any rational person who saw the murderous gleam in Thèoden's eyes would flee to save his life.
"Please do not send me from your side." Grima propped himself up on the ground.
With a growl, Thèoden brought his sword down on him.
But just before the stroke could be fatal, the sword was intercepted by Aragorn "No my lord, enough blood has been spilt on his cause already." he looked urgently at the king.
I could see how much control it cost the king but he put the sword down.
Aragorn offered his hand to the prone man. But instead of taking it, instead of being grateful to the one who saved his life, Grima spat at Aragorn's hand and ran away.
With a twisting motion I closed my hand into a fist and opened it again, causing a tiny fireball to explode over Grima's head, no one disrespected my friends and got away scot-free. With his hair slightly singed, Grima rode off.
"I'm afraid it was a mistake to let him go," I'd have to guess I'd say Grima rode straight for Isengard.
"That remains to be seen." Legolas also looked after Grima with worry lines on his face. I quickly drove the human from my thoughts, we had enough problems as it was.
The king seemed to be searching the crowd for someone "Where is Thèodred?" tears were gathering in Èowyn's eyes, I could guess what had happened but Thèoden was still looking around searching "Where is my son?"