Moonbreeze (Legolas x OC)

Part 22

A long ride passes before the Golden halls of Meduseld come within their sight. However, a dark shadow seems to be cast upon it. Gandalf explains as they ride to enter the king's seat upon the hill, "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. Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here." he warns.

Their company rides slowly up to the Golden hall, passing by the people of the city of Edoras. They flee and hide at the sight of them, or simply sneer before turning their backs.

"You'll find more cheer in a graveyard." Gimli mutters from behind Legolas and they can't help but silently agree.

They step down from their horses and approach the final distance to the hall on foot. Before they can enter however, they are held back by several men cloth in armor.

One speaks up, "I cannot allow you before Théoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame. By order of Grima Wormtongue." he says, clearly familiar with the wizard.

Gandalf's eyes seem to hide his thoughts as he overthinks his decision, before finally turning to those accompanying him and nodding to signal his order to disarm themselves.

They reluctantly comply and Ithilae raises a defiant brow as one man takes her weapons from her, eying her in surprise. "Would you like to speak you mind?" she asks, making him quickly shake his head, disturbed by the challenging look in her eyes.

"He he." Gimli chuckles quietly to himself. Amused at the sight. If only these unknowing fools knew that the woman can hold her own like the best of them.

"Your staff." their captain urges to Gandalf, who hasn't relinquished it yet.

Gandalf glances at his staff as if he just remembers it being there. "You would not part an old man from his walking stick?" he tries innocently, smiling in a disarming way as he hunches his back to accentuate his non-existent frailness.

The captain looks hesitant before allowing him to pass. Gandalf takes Legolas' outstretched arm to keep up his act. The other three follow behind them.

Entering the gloomy hall, filled with gloomy men they approach the throne, on which sits the gloomiest of men. The King looks in ill health. His skin pale and shriveled, his face thin and his hair white. Besides him sits a vile looking man, his stringed dark hair framing his face as his dark eyes peer from their sockets with distrust. He whispers words of poison into the Kings ear. Grima would be his name.

"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late... Theoden King." Gandalf states, his voice echoing through the hall.

The Kings near trembling form turns to face the wizard. "Why should I welcome you... Gandalf Stormcrow?" he croaks before he turns his paled and unfocused eyes to the men beside him.

"A just question, my liege." he agrees before standing up to face the visitors. "Late is the hour... in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest." he sneers.

Gandalf nearly growls at Grima. "Be silent. Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death... to bandy crooked words with a witless worm." he spits, brandishing his staff in anger.

Grima looks shocked. "His staff. I told you to take the wizard's staff!" he calls in panic, and a brawl is quickly to ensue. The warriors hold off the King's men while Gandalf makes for the King himself.

"Théoden son of Thengel... too long have you sat in the Shadows." Gandalf calls as the fighting comes to an end, no one a match for the seasoned fighters. Grima lies below Gimli's axe.

Gandalf raises his hand to Théoden, "Hearken to me! I release you from the spell!" he calls, closing his eyes in concentration.

The King or perhaps the one occupying his mind laughs mockingly at his effort. "You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey." he laughs.

In reaction, Gandalf throws aside his cloak, revealing his stark white robes and pushes back the King with his power. "I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound." he states angrily before thrusting hiss staff forward, pushing the form of the King back even further.

A distressed looking woman rushes forward to aid him, but Aragorn hold her back from doing so, telling her to wait.

"If I go, Théoden dies." a foreign voice speaks from the Kings' mouth. It must be Saruman.

Gandalf looks at him undeterred. "You did not kill me... you will not kill him."

"Rohan is mine!" Saruman shouts in a last ditch effort to keep his control.

"Be gone!" Gandalf calls before Théoden leaps from his throne towards the wizard, only to be whacked by his staff rather unceremoniously. The contact was the last thing needed to dispel the evil-gone wizard from his mind and the King slowly regains his youth and vigor.

The woman from before has shaken Aragorn off and has rushed over. The King reaches up to her face in recognition. "I know your face. Eowyn... Eowyn." he states, making her smile in relieve.

.............

It is the next day. Much has come to pass as Grima was cast from the Rohan, nearly killed by his King if it weren't for Aragorn intervening. The King's son has been laid to rest for he passed away from his injuring sustained in battle. And finally, two children from the outer reaches of the lands have arrived, starved and battered from the long ride on horseback in an effort to flee an onslaught of Orcs and Uruk's coming their way.

The matter was discussed as both Gandalf and Aragorn tried to urge the King to fight back, to have Éomer retrieved and have him and his fellow riders return home and fight. Théoden however refused and opts to flee to Helm's deep, a rough battlement set against the steep walls of the mountains, nearly impenetrable.

It is not an option anyone of the company looks forward to, but it seems when one is looked down upon for being a women, it is all the more frustrating.

..........

"What is the matter?" Legolas questions as he joins Gimli, while he looks upon the fuming elleth before them, standing before the town's smith with her shoulders squared.

Gimli grunts. "She wishes to sharped her blade. It gained a few notches last fight, however, because she is a woman, they refuse to sharpen her sword. I gather the men here feel very strongly about them having to be proper, child-rearing creatures, rather than warriors." he explains.

"Ai!" Legolas exclaims as he observes Ithilae push past the man and his student and into the workshop. He and Gimli quickly follow as the steaming smithy rushes after her, fearing a fight.

Stepping inside, they watch to their amazement as she unsheathes her blade and tosses it into the already roaring fire, before heating it even further. The smith is too baffled to stop her as she pulls the red glowing blade from the fire and takes the hammer, lifting it above her head before skillfully hammering at the edges to relieve the blade from its imperfections.

The men are caught up in their amazement as they watch her work effortlessly until she appears satisfied. She submerged the blade in water, making steam rise and the water hiss angrily.

Pulling out the blade, it appears brand new and Gimli is then the first to shake out of his stupor.

He rushes forth, holding out his axe and Ithilae smiles confidently before setting to work on it. There is something quite satisfying about proving one's self.

Legolas feels a smile pulling at his mouth as the smith sits himself down in a chair with a heavy sigh, mumbling to himself.

With a chuckle, he leans back to observe the elleth, catching her eye when he does before she returns them to her work. In that moment he could tell that she is in her element as there lay a spark in her eyes that she has not yet graced him to behold before. She looks quite happy and that in turn, makes Legolas' heart feel light.