Remains of the Banished | Aragorn || Lord of the Rings

XXVIII

Eadrid rode next to Aragorn through the depths of Fangorn Forest, led by Gandalf to finally find Merry and Pippin.

Aragorn looked over to her and saw her eyes were glazed over. "Eadrid." He said softly. Eadrid slowly looked at him, tears in her eyes. "Eadrid, are you alright?" Aragorn rode close to Aiyla so he could put a hand on her shoulder.

She nodded and sniffed. "I used to go into the village when I was younger, to teach some of the children the skills that I had and could share. One of the boys was stationed near me last night..."

Aragorn knew what pain held her and sighed deeply. "I am so sorry, Eadrid." He took her hand and squeezed it gently.

Eadrid gave a small smile and they continued to follow Gandalf. She tried to shake off her feelings of sadness. That is what battle and war is. It's not fair, it takes and destroys, giving and taking your hope along with it. Behind every success in war waits the looming soul of those you fought alongside and couldn't save. Every cheer for victory comes from the voices of your dead brothers and sisters.

They were almost through the clearing of the forest, coming into Isengard. Eadrid heard laughter and furrowed her brows. Laughter was not at the top of the list for what she would find in Isengard.

"Ahaha!" Pippin raised a mug into the air and greeted them.

Merry stood and gave a bow. "Welcome, my lords and lady, to Isengard."

Eadrid raised her eyebrows.

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

"We are sitting on a field of victory enjoying a few well-earned comforts." Pippin was clearly slurring and ate a bite of a sandwich. "The salted pork is particularly good."

Gimli was about to say something, but stopped and raised his brows. "Salted pork?"

Merry raised his hand. "We're under orders from Treebeard who's taken over management of Isengard."

Eadrid looked past him to Sauroman's tower, a great structure that seemed to emit evil from it. But standing in front of it was Treebeard, who seemed to lessen the harsh atmosphere. 

The riders approached him and came before the tower.

"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 spoke slowly, and Eadrid gazed up at him, then to the top of the tower.

"Show yourself," Aragorn called.

Gandalf held out his hand. "Be careful. Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous."

"Well then let's just have his head and be done with it." Gimli huffed and Eadrid nodded her head in agreement.

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

"You have fought many wars and slain many men, Theoden King, and made peace afterward. Can we not take counsel together as we once did, my old friend?" Eadrid's eyes narrowed as Saruman came over the edge of his tower, staff in hand. "Can we not have peace you and I?"

"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!" Theoden spat at him harshly and Saruman only shook his head.

"Gibbets and crows! Dotard! What do you want Gandalf Grahame? Let me guess... the key of Orthanc? Or perhaps the keys of Barad Dar 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 now at risk. But you could save them Saruman." Gandalf's voice softened. "You were deep in the enemy's counsel."

"So you have come here for information. I have some for you." Saruman pulled from under his robe a glowing orb. Eadrid did not know what it was, but it was dark and swirling, and seemed to imitate an eye. "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?" Saruman looked to Aragorn and Eadrid. "You cannot think that this Ranger and this Woman will ever sit upon the thrones of Gondor. This exile, crept from the shadows will never be crowned King. And this lowly thief, to reign over not just Rohan, but Gondor with it?" Saruman laughed and neither Eadrid nor Aragorn looked at him. "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."

"I've heard enough," Eadrid said in a low voice. "Rid him and stick an arrow in his throat."

Legolas reached for his bow but Gandalf stopped him. "No! Come down Saruman and your life will be spared!"

"Save your pity and your mercy. I have no use for it!" Saruman threw fire from his staff at Gandalf, who simply made the fire disappear. 

"Saruman... your staff is broken!" Gandalf raised his hands, and Saruman's staff burst into shattering pieces. 

"Grima! You need not follow him!" Eadrid followed her father's voice to see Grima, standing behind Saruman, back bent and shoulders tight. "You were not always as you are now. You were once a man of Rohan. Come down."

Eadrid met his eyes and he took a step back. He saw the murderous look in her eyes, he knew how much she wanted to kill him.

"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!" 

And now Eadrid wanted to kill both of them.

"Grima!" Theoden called. "Come down! Be free of him!"

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

Grima tried to protest but Saruman slapped him to the ground.

"Saruman! You were deep in the enemy's counsel. Tell us what you know!" Gandalf was becoming desolate in his hopes to help Saruman or receive answers.

He turned around to face them. "You withdraw your guard and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner here!" As he said this, Grima came up from behind him, knife in hand, and stabbed him twice in the back. 

Legolas grabbed his bow and an arrow, but before he could shoot it, Eadrid reached over and seized it from his hands. In a swift motion, Eadrid shot the arrow, and it landed in Grima's chest. As Grima stumbled, he pushed Saruman off the tower and finally landed on the spike of a water wheel with a thick squelch. 

"You have taught me well," Eadrid muttered to Aragorn as she turned Aiyla and led her back through the forest.