This story has been inspired from a passage in the fellowship of the ring in witch Gandalf tells in the council of Elrond how he went to Rohan and of the present plight he faced needing to find a swift horse to bring him back to the land of the Halflings. This episode is also adapted fore radio in the BBc radio drama “The Lord of the Rings” witch I highly recommend. Of course I have made a few changes to the radio drama’s adaptation but what I have written is still with in the frame of Tolkien’s own writing. Enjoy.
With a resounding clunk the doors of the golden hall of Meduseld opened wide to reveal the ragged old form of an elderly man dressed in grey and baring a staff. The figure stepped in to the torch light and lifted his rod to the guards standing on either side of Théoden king of Rohan as a salute and then abruptly brought the wooden staff down to the tiled floor with a hard crack. Flabbergasted twelve armed guards rushed forth to apprehend the wizard fore wizard he indeed was but Théoden ordered them to halt and be silent “Fore Gandalf the Grey is often eager to draw our attention threw odd means” explained the king looking at his guest with a wicked grin the madness placed with in. long Théoden had listened to his councilor Gremer that all save the king named the wormtongue and it was Wormtongue who was really ruling Rohan in the name of his true lord Saruman poising the lord of the Mark’s brain with self born doubts and faulty judgment. At last Gandalf spoke and his voice was like a trumpet in that wide hall of beauty and of light. “Behold Théoden king of the Mark the storm is drawing upon Rohan if your own guards are frightened of your greatest ally.” In response it was Gremer and not the king who spoke and the Wormtongue’s words where the sly sharp edges of a blade slowly slicing threw a large chunk of wood to reveal at last a carved image loathsome and twisted by the hands that wielded the tool of making. “You are no ally of ours.” “Ever you have come baring the tidings of woe master sorcerer.” “When ever anything turns ill you come to us offering advise and while that seems well I wonder if it is not well . . . . . suspicious.” The whey the councilor of Evil said this last word “suspicious” was carefully aimed at master Gandalf. It incriminated the grey wonderer while not doing so in manner that might draw disbelief at once fore such a comment’s abruptness. No Gremer was clever very clever and his words more perilous then any other man’s on all of Arda save fore Gremer lord Saruman’s own oral art of persuasion. The words of Saruman where all to convincing and Gremer was in the end but a subject of his master’s greatness but of all the mortals he was the most knowledgeable in the wizard’s art of persuasion threw speech an art long desired by power hungry politicians before or since. Giving a dark look in the councilor’s direction and then looking at the king the wizard asked “”does Gremer still speak fore Théoden hear or am I mistaken?” This made the Wormtongue stare with pure malaise at the Estari and almost lead to an open debate but at last Théoden intervened saying “Gremer is my chief advisor and is not to be undermined by any be that person be wizard or elf or man of noble birth.” “I did not come hear to argue” counteracted Gandalf avoiding humiliation fore challenging one of power and angering the king. “I came to worn you O mighty king of your peril.” “In the east the dark lord is moving indeed but your neighbor Saruman is now a servant of Mordor and wishes to become lord of all your lands.” “Saruman is massing an army bent on your destruction my lord and if you do not fight against this threat soon then all hope may be lost of ending a bloody war quickly.” Gandalf was not sure if it was possible to end such a conflict swiftly at all but it was still a possibility. The horseman of the Mark would stand a much better chance by driving off the Orcs before they where fully diploid against Rohan’s villages but of course Gremer would have none of it. “I say that Saruman is our ally against Sauron” the Wormtongue said turning to the king of the mark. Théoden’s face now bent in an expression of indecision. “who is to depend on the protection of Meduseld if her riders do not ride forth at once” barked the wizard seeing an opportunity. Yet then it seemed as though the king had made up his mind and he said at length. “Rohan does not need the war monger.” “I can not risk open war if it will lead to death.” “Also I do not believe orcs will come from Isengard fore the wizard of that land has always been our ally.” “He was your enemy last time I met with him Théoden when he captured me and nearly dragged me to the black land betraying his true purpose” counteracted Gandalf now seeming disappointed his wrinkled face now growing more grievous. Gremer scowled at the wizard and Théoden only shook his head receiving reassuring looks from Wormtongue soon afterwards. How could anyone trust this ragged stranger from out of the wild? Who was to say he wasn’t lying? Of course Gandalf was telling the truth and was only doing his best to try and save Rohan but if Théoden wouldn’t budge then he had to do what he could best and get away to his friends among them the ring barer Frodo. “If war comes” the Estari said after a long tense pause “Then others then I will draw its bloody sword.” “but I am in need of haste.” “I seek a horse to bare me back to the land of the Halflings though it may seem strange to so lordly a king as you and your little councilor.” He said this last part looking at Gremer and not at Théoden giving the councilor an overwhelming stare that cut threw the spy’s true purpose. “Very well” said Théoden his face now far more relaxed as though pleased that this meeting had come to its end. “take a horse and be gone.” And with that last command Gandalf left the Golden Hall and found Shadow Fax prince of horses and the servant of Saruman was troubled by even more concerning tidings. Gandalf had been captured by his master and had escaped? How is this possible he frantically contemplated. Who had aided the enemy in his bold escape and how did he know that he was a spy? Did he see me? Did he see me when . . . Gremer took a deep breath and then made ready to leave Meduseld asking to leave fore Isengard with messages. Saruman was not going to be pleased.
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