LoTR: The Advent of the King (3) -- The Beta Board

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Date Posted: 19:36:42 03/14/03 Fri
Author: ~delle
Subject: LoTR: The Advent of the King (3)
In reply to: ~delle 's message, "Non LFN Story" on 18:32:51 03/03/03 Mon

�owyn stood at the foot of the throne, gazing up at her uncle. �Your son is badly wounded, my Lord.�

�He was ambushed by Orcs. If we don't defend our country, Saruman will take it by force.� �omer stood behind �owyn, his tone defiant. Grima Wormtongue was at his usual post at the King�s elbow, whispering into Th�oden�s ear.

�That is a lie! Saruman the White has ever been our friend and ally.� In Grima�s pale face, his dark eyes were black pools of hate as he stared down at �omer.

The voice of Th�oden King was only a thready whisper. �Grima� Grima��

He hadn�t heard her, or he didn�t care. �owyn stepped back, stunned and disbelieving her uncle would not immediately rise to visit his mortally injured son, that he would continue to sit on the throne of his fathers, listening to the lies pouring from the mouth of Grima Wormtongue. Before she could say or do something disrespectful, she crossed the hall, away from the men.

A crash behind her made her whirl around, her hand instinctively reaching for the non-existent blade at her side.

�omer had dropped an Orc helmet on the floor. It spun in lazy circles, revealing the crude mark of a white hand. �owyn backed further away, nauseated. Saruman will take our land by force, �omer had said. She had complete faith in her brother�s assessment; if �omer said it was so, it was so.

Why is our uncle so disbelieving of his blood kin? Before the King, her brother and Grima were exchanging heated words; at one point they both turned and looked at her. Uncomfortable with their scrutiny, she retreated towards Th�odred�s sick room.

Suddenly she heard Grima�s voice, ringing clearly through the hall. �You are banished forthwith from the kingdom of Rohan, under pain of death.�

�No!� She whirled and ran back to Th�oden King, tumbled to her knees before him. �My lord, this you cannot allow. �omer is ever faithful to you and to Rohan. You must not allow this!�

Th�oden sat on his throne, unmoving, unspeaking. �owyn grasped his thin, aged hands. �My lord!�

�The King understands his nephew is driving Rohan to war, against the King�s will.� Grima�s voice was smooth and very well pleased.

Driven by desperation and frustration, �owyn shook the King�s hands. �Uncle! You must not do this.�

Th�oden King blinked slowly, his opaque eyes misty, as if waking from a dream. His voice was feeble. �Whatever� whatever Grima decides.�

All was lost. �owyn stumbled to her feet, darted to her brother�s side. �omer�s formidable temper was rising; twin red blots grew on his cheeks and his breathing was heavy, as if he had run for leagues in full armor. �owyn threw herself at him and he wrapped his arms around her instinctively.

�I must go, my sister,� he ground out. �I cannot stand against Grima, not now.�

�Where will you go?� she whispered, aware of Grima�s penetrating eyes on them.

�It is best you do not know,� he answered. �I will gather what men wish to stand with me; we will guard the borders of Rohan against any and all that try to raid her.�

She nodded. �Have a care, my brother. I cannot lose you too.�

�And you, my sister. Have a care of the Wormtongue; his eyes follow you too often for my liking.� He kissed her forehead, her eyes and her lips.

She kissed him back, cheeks and mouth. �I know. I will be careful. You must go, before he takes more action against you.�

With a final glance to the debilitated King on his throne, �omer turned and left the hall of his ancestors.

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[> [> well, that's embarressing. double post. sorry. -- ~delle, 20:28:34 03/14/03 Fri

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