Promises (A LOTR/Legolas Love Story) *Completed*

Chapter 22: Edoras

Estelwen (Alastegiel) POV

“It cannot be." Aragorn voices my thought.

“Forgive me." Legolas says then bows, “I mistook you for Saruman."

“I am Saruman. Or rather, Saruman as he should have been."

“You fell." Aragorn says, still not believing his eyes. I just stand there hiding behind  Aragorn. The White Wizard has not noticed me yet.

“Through fire," The White Wizard starts to speak of what happened. “And water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak I fought with the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me and I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead and every day was as long as a life age of the Earth. But it was not the end.  I felt life in me again. I've been set back until my task is done."

“Gandalf!" I said. It was my first time speaking for a long time. I ran up to him and gave him a hug. “Alastegiel! I am so glad to see you are alive. I never doubted you." He said giving me a smile. I am so glad to know that he is alive. I am also glad to find out Merry and Pippin are alive, too.

I backed away from the hug, “Gandalf." Aragorn says.

“Gandalf? Yes. That was what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey.  That was my name." He says then smiles.

“Gandalf." Gimli can't help but say it.

“I am Gandalf the White." He adds. “And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide."

Gandalf starts to lead us out of Fangorn. “One stage of your journey is over. Another begins. We must travel to Edoras with all speed."

“Edoras? That is no short distance." Gimli says.

“We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king." Aragorn tells Gandalf.

“Yes, and it will not be easily cured." Gandalf states.

“Then we have run all this way for nothing? Are we to leave those poor Hobbits here in this horrid, dark, dank tree-infested--?" The trees start to make the groaning noises again as Gimli says this. “I mean, charming quite charming forest."

“It was more than mere chance that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn. A great power has been sleeping here for many long years. The coming of Merry and Pippin will be like the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche in the mountains"

“In one thing you have not changed, dear friend." Aragorn says to Gandalf. “You still speak in riddles." They both laugh. I give a small smile.

“A thing is about to happen that has not happened since the Elder Days. The Ents are going to wake up and find that they are strong." Gandalf says looking at the trees.

“Strong?!?!?" Gimli exclaims. The trees start to groan again. “Oh, that's good."

“So stop your fretting, Master Dwarf. Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are fer safer than you are about to be." Gandalf says to Gimli.

“This Gandalf's more grumpy than the old one." Gimli says to himself.

Soon we exit Fangorn. Gandalf whistles for his horse, and I whistle for mine. Both horses come riding up to us. That is one of the Mearas unless my eyes are cheated by some spell." Legolas says about Gandalf's horse.

Then he realizes something. Legolas turns to me and says, “I did not notice your horse was one of the Mearas." I was so shocked that he talked to me that all I did was one my head.

“Shadowfax. He is the Lord of all Horses and has been my friend through many dangers. Alastegiel's horse is Whitefox, she is Shadowfax's daughter. I gave Whitefox to Alastegiel When she was little." Gandalf puts on some grey robes.

We all mount our horses. Aragorn, Gandalf, and I all have our own horse. And Gimli rides with Legolas. We take off on the long ride for Edoras.

Finally we reach Edoras. Gandalf says to us, “Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Thèoden, king of Rohan whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over king Thèoden is now very strong. Be careful what you say.  Do not look for welcome here."

While walking through the streets of Edoras, I notice how sad everyone is. I feel so bad for them. “You'll find more cheer in a graveyard." Gimli says to no one in particular. I look over to Gimli and glared at him to show I was angered by his comment.

We get off of our horses and climb the stairs up to the Golden Hall. When we reach the top, there are some guards. One of them begins to speak, “I cannot allow you before Thèoden king so armed, Gandalf Greyhame. By order of Grima Wormtongue."

Gandalf nods to us, saying to give them our weapons. I quickly hand them my bow and arrows and my daggers.

“Your staff." The same guard says to Gandalf.

“Oh, you would not part an old man from his walking stick." Gandalf convincingly says to the guard. Good thinking Gandalf. I thought to myself. Gandalf is very clever. I am so glad to have him back!

We walk into the Golden Hall. I see king Thèoden he looks very, very old. Someone is standing next to him. He is very creepy looking. He must be Grima Wormtongue.

“The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late Thèoden king." Gandalf says to him.

“Why should I welcome you Gandalf Stormcrow?" Thèoden king asks him.

“Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Láthspell I name him. Ill news is and ill guest." Grima says walking closer to Gandalf.

“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." Gandalf says while holding up his staff to Grima.

“His staff. I told you to take the Wizard's staff." When Grima say this, the guards attack us. Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and I fight off the guards so Gandalf can save king Thèoden.

“Thèoden, son of Thengel, too long have you sat in the shadows." Gandalf says while moving closer to king Thèoden.

Gimli throws Grima to the ground. Grima tries to get up, but Gimli puts a foot on his chest and says, “I would stay still if I were you."

“Hearken to me! I release you from the spell." Gandalf says while holding his hand up.

King Thèoden starts to laugh. “You have no power here Gandalf the Grey. He starts to Laugh again as Gandalf takes of the Grey robe he was wearing, to reveal white ones.

“I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound." He points his staff at king Thèoden.

I notice someone running, I turn to see Aragorn stopping a young woman from running to the King. “Wait." Aragorn says to her.

“If I go, Théoden dies." Saruman's voice says.

Gandalf points his staff at king Thèoden again, “You did not kill me, you will not kill him."

“Rohan is mine."

“Be gone." King Thèoden tries to lunge at Gandalf, but Gandalf points his staff at him one more time.

He starts to fall but the woman Aragorn had stopped before caught him before he could hit the ground. She helped him sit back up. I watched as the king's face started to look younger, until he was his former self again.

He looks at the woman that helped him, “I know your face. Éowyn. Éowyn."

He then looks to Gandalf and says, “Gandalf?"

“Breathe the free air again, my friend." Gandalf says to him.

~~~~~~

If I have enough time, I will write another chapter later today.

                                        ~Ellethwen <3