meleth nin

Chapter Nine- Freedom for the King

We continued to walk through Fangorn Forest, still tracking the hobbits.
Gimli felt the leaves and tasted the scent, "Orc blood", he spat.
"This forest is old, really old", Legolas looked around.
"How do you know?", Gimli questioned ,
"He is a woodland elf", i replied rolling my eyes slightly, beginning to get annoyed by Gimli's thoughtless questions.
"Full of memory, and anger", he said whilst feeling one of the trees.
There was a roar coming from the trees, Gimli whipped out his axe ready to fight whatever there is.
"The trees are speaking to each other", Legolas exclaimed,
We all turned around to look at Gimli, he was at the ready but scared.
"Gimli, lower your axe", i whispered
"They have feelings my friend", Legolas said, "The elves began it, waking up the trees, teaching them to speak", Legolas said in awe looking around.
I walked up to him and stood by his side, i felt comfort the closer i was to him.
He turned around to see me and smiled.
"Talking trees?", Gimli said sounding in disbelief
"Something approaches", Legolas said carefully looking ahead.
I ran further and stopped to take a closer look,
"Alena, What do you see?", Aragorn questioned.
"The white wizard approaches", i said, seeing a white cloaked figure not too far from us.
"Do not let him speak, he will put a spell on us.", Aragorn said slowly drawing his sword,
"We must be quick." Aragorn said ready to use his sword.
I placed and arrow into my bow and Legolas followed.
Legolas brushed over the feathers of his arrow, i watched closely as his finger stroked them softly.
Gimli had his axe at the ready.
We shot an arrow but it was deflected, Gimli threw his axe but it shattered and Aragorn's sword glowed red and burnt.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits", The wizard began, "Where are they", shouted Aragorn, we all sheltered our eyes from his blinding white light.
"They passed this way, the day before yesterday", the wizard replied.
"Who are you", I asked still covered the light.
"Show yourself!", Aragorn demanded.

His light faded and to our surprise, it was Gandalf.
"Forgive me, I mistook you for saruman.", Legolas said kneeling down on his knees",
We all followed. He told us his story of killing the Balrog, he fought above the Mountain before killing his enemy and casting his ruin on the mountain side.
"Gandalf", i began, smiling.
"Gandalf?, that was my name, I am Gandalf the White". He replied.
"We must go ahead", Gandalf stated beginning to walk forward.
"So we walked all this way for nothing?", Gimli exclaimed, annoyed by the all the walking.
"We should continue to find those poor hobbits, save them from this horrid, dark, dank forest", The trees began to growl again, " I mean, charming, quite charming forest", Gimli said looking around.
"I feel that the Ents will wake up", i said feeling the bark of a tree, brushing my hand down it.
Aragorn gave me a look before Legolas came to me and felt the bark too, "I feel it too", he said looking up then to my eyes.
"Honestly, i don't understand how they feel these 'talking trees' , makes no sense to me", Gimli exclaimed. Aragorn chuckled, "They are elves", he replied bluntly.

We got the beginning of the forest again before Gandalf whistled out to the grasslands.
I heard a neigh from the distance. A beautiful pure white horse came galloping towards us.
"That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell", Legolas said softly.
The horse came trotting towards us, it was beautiful.
"Shadowfax", Gandalf reached out to stroke the horse.
"He is the lord of all horses.", Gandalf smiled, "And has been my friend through many dangers."
"We must go", Gandalf said, mounting Shadowfax.
"Gimli, ride with me", Aragorn said whilst helping him up.
"Will you ride with me?", Legolas asked,
I nodded and got on, "Shall i take the reins this time?", i smirked. "Maybe next time", Legolas said returning a smile.
We galloped across the valley, i wrapped my arms around Legolas' body and placed my chin on his shoulder.
He turned to the side and whispered in my ear, " Hold on", whilst brushing his nose across my cheek.
I felt butterflies form inside of me, his voice, his touch. It was all surreal.

We stopped to rest for the night where we were sheltered by rocks and bushes.
We sat down and made a fire, Aragorn was talking to Gandalf up ahead and Gimli sat with me and Legolas.
"I'm so hungry!", said Gimli, not stopping talking about anything and everything, "Why don't we make a roast, or maybe a chicken!", he exclaimed. "Maybe even some roast potato's!", he said licking his lips at the thought.
"He won't stop talking", Legolas whispered.
I giggling and continued to add wood to the fire.
"Or mayb-, i think i will go", Gimli said realising me and Legolas werent listening anymore but staring at each other.

"I think our lad Legolas has found himself a wee little lady by the looks of things", Gimli said to Aragorn and Gandalf. They started to laugh, "I believe so", Aragorn said looking over at us.
I could hear them from where we were sitting.

"Thank you for letting my ride with you today", i said honestly.
I was laid down next to him, my head rested on the rocks behind us, propped up by my elbows.
"Of course, Brennil nîn", he said smiling.
"Mae carnen Amon Hen", he said looking down at me.
I laughed, "And what was the final count this time?", i joked, not expecting an answer.
"34", he replied with a proud grin.
I opened my mouth wide with shock.
"Gosh, i wasn't expecting that many", i said laughing.
He leaned down still sitting by the fire and placed his hand round the side of my face.
I reach up and placed my hand on his thigh and planted a kiss onto his lips.

"Oooo".
We turned to look at Aragorn and Gimli.
"Shut up ", Legolas yelled over in an embarrassed tone.
"Don't mind us", laughed Aragorn, holding his weed pipe.
Legolas turned back to look at me.
"Thîr vain chîn darn thulen", he said as his eyes wandered down my face and body.
He leaned down once more and tried to kiss me.
I placed my fingers over his lips. He opened his eyes, confused.
"We must rest", i whispered, running my hand down onto his chest, "We travel far again tomorrow", i said whilst sitting up a little more.
"Your right", "Come, sleep here", he said patting his thigh.
He laid down and i lay next to him, my eyes started to close. I wrapped my arm over his chest and he caressed my hand softly. I never wanted this feeling to end.

~

We rode the next morning, arriving in the City of Edoras.
I rode with Legolas again, and Aragorn with Gimli.
We stopped in front of the City, "Be careful what you say", Gandalf said with caution.
"Do not look for welcome here".

We rode into the wooden gates of the City,
"You would find more cheer in a graveyard", Gimli said looking around.
It was quiet, the people looked sad and hopeless.
We put the horses away and walked up the stairs towards the Kings hall,
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late", Gandalf said, raising his voice a little.
I saw a pale man, with dark black, greasy hair sitting next to the King, He whispered words into the King's ears like he was speaking for him.
"Why should i welcome you?", King Theoden asked slowly, clearly having little energy.
He walked up to us, "His staff", he said in shock.
"I told you to take the wizards staff!", he yelled angrily stepping away from Gandalf.
Guards came running at us. We had no weapons, they were taken from upon arrival.
Aragorn and Legolas punched the guards and fought them with no weapons.
I stood there watching out of embarrassment.
A guard ran at me and stopped, he hesitated wether or not to throw his fist, i assume because i am a woman.
I grabbed his arm and cracked it behind his back before throwing him into the floor and placing my foot of it.
"Pathetic", i said whilst twisting my foot into him.
Gandalf walked towards the throne, casting his spell,
"Too long have you sat in the shadows",
"I release you from this spell", Gandalf said, holding his hand out at Theoden.
The King began to laugh, "You have no power here, Gandalf the grey".
Gandalf took off his cloak to reveal the white robes he wore underneath."I withdraw you Saruman as poison is drawn from a wound". He held out his staff, pushing Theoden back into his throne.
A young lady, pale and fair came running into the room. She tried to make her way towards The King.
"Wait", Aragorn grabbed her arm, she stared at him in shock.

He began to fall before the girl ran to him and caught him.
"I know your face, Eowyn", the King said, staring at her.
Gandalf brought out his sword and a guard handed it to him.
He drew it carefully and examined it after a long time of not seeing it.

The servant of Saruman was thrown off the stairs.
Theoden came walking towards him and swung his sword behind his head ready to kill Grima.
"No my lord", Aragorn grabbed hold of the King.
"Enough blood has been spilled on his account.
Aragorn offers Grima his hand. Grima spat on it and began to flee.