Previously:
"Nice to meet you too, Shadowfax," Percy said suddenly, causing Gandalf to turn around in surprise. "No, don't you-ugh." Percy dropped his head into his hands.

"Percy?"

"Annabeth, we've got another Blackjack," Percy grumbled, his hands muffling his voice a little.

Annabeth laughed.

Hey everyone! This is the first official chapter I have written for this story since I have been back from my mission. Any others were all written before I left so I had some going while I was gone.

Let's get to it, shall we?

Their ride to Rohan was short, though with all the chatting Percy was doing with Shadowfax and the other horses Éomer had given them, it felt like an eternity. At the moment, they were talking about different types of grass-of all things!

"Percy, try not to talk to the horses too much while we're here," Annabeth whispered in his ear as they rode through the gate. She sat behind Percy on a soft, grey horse that Éomer had lent them. "We don't want to draw too much attention."

She didn't see it but she could almost perfectly imagine his pout. His lower lip would come out a little and somehow his eyes would get bigger. "Fine."

Silence met the small group as they continued to the main building where the king of Rohan was. The people of Rohan watched suspiciously as the Fellowship passed. The people were almost just as worn down as the town itself; a town that had come upon many hardships for many generations.

"You'll find more cheer in a graveyard," Gimli remarked from behind Legolas.

"Or even in the shadow lands," Boromir added from the back of his own horse. Somehow he'd gotten to have one to himself and it definitely didn't make Annabeth jealous...she'd gotten tired of hearing how sugar cubes and the dark, long green grass was the best kind of food ever.

Parting Percy from the horses was easier than keeping Blackjack from a box of donuts sitting in his stall.

"Percy, come on," Annabeth said, tugging on his arm. "You'll see them again, I promise."

As they ascended the stairs to the hall where they were to meet the king, he complained about how she had interrupted a story about the travels Shadowfax had around Middle Earth. At the top they were met by a host of guards.

"Ah," Gandalf said happily. He recognized the man, it appears.

"I cannot allow you before Théoden-King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame. By order of-" here, he looked almost pained "-Gríma Wormtongue."

Reluctantly, when Gandalf nodded, Annabeth handed over her dagger from the elves, drakon sword, and bow. She was loathe to relinquish them and let Percy give his up, but the fact that Riptide was still in it's pen form and in his pocket gave her some reassurance.

All weapons passed over, Gandalf looked at the guard expectantly but he eyed the wizard suspiciously. "Your staff?"

"Hmm?" Gandalf glances at his white staff in realization. "Oh. You would not part an old man from his walking stick?" Annabeth rolled her eyes as he winked at Aragon. Said ranger smiled wryly but kept a solemn face.

The guard looked to be having a hard time not doing the same thing but he led them through the heavy doors in any case. As they passed through, the doors shut, making loud locking noises. Gandalf was leaning on Legolas, using his arm as an apparent steadying tool. He suddenly got much older and could barely walk fast enough.

"Annabeth?" Percy whispered uneasily. The locking doors set him on edge.

"Whatever you do, don't bring out Riptide," she said in the same tone. "It would not help relations."

"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden-King," Gandalf spoke loudly across the room.

Annabeth followed the cue from Aragorn and pulled back from the group a little to survey those by the walls. There was a group of men following them from the side wall, watching their every move. They didn't seem the type to be working under a king. Common thieves and scoundrels had taken the place of many of the soldiers that Éomer had taken with him.

The greasy, pale man leaned over to whisper something to the old, haggard looking man.

"Why should I...welcome you, Gandalf...Stormcrow?" The king looked to the man Annabeth deduced was Gríma and said worm nodded.

"A just question, my liege," he stood and sauntered over to the group of 7. "Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest."

"Be silent!" Gandalf exclaimed. Then in disgust, he continued, "keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm." His staff raised threateningly in Wormtongue's face.

"His staff!" The greasy idiot backed away, looking exasperated. "I told you to take the wizard's staff!"

The group of men attacked as he spoke. Gandalf barely paid them any mind as he had his eyes fixed on the king. Annabeth and Percy engaged in this fist fight against the people who had taken the place of good, respectable soldiers. It was six against six and the question about who would come out on top was an easy one to answer. They were hopelessly outmatched by the Fellowship. Some of them went down after only one or two hits by Annabeth. Granted, she was specially trained and they were not but that wasn't the point.

"Théoden, son of Thengel, too long have you sat in the shadows," Gandalf said, walking forward, ignoring Aragorn as he ran across his path to get at another greasy thug.

Soon all thugs were accounted for and either tied up or just not conscious, curtesy of the over eager Gimli and Annabeth herself. She noticed that the real guards of the hall were standing back, watching but ready.

Gimli growled and stomped to Wormtongue who was on the floor. "I would stay still if I were you," the dwarf said angrily.

Percy crouched by his head, chuckling lightly. "I'd listen to him," he muttered. "Even without his axe, he knows how to take your head off."

"Hearken to me!" Gandalf walked closer, raising his staff with an outstretched arm and lowering his head. "I release you from the spell."

For all the dramatics from the showy wizard, nothing happened. But for the fact that Théoden started laughing maniacally.

"You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey!" he said, sounding smug and entirely too pleased with himself.

Gandalf looked up in surprise and his gaze darkens. Then he does the move that reminds Annabeth too much of Star Wars by ripping off his cloak. As it fell to the earth, a bright white light blinding all who were looking exuded from the wizard. The king falls back hard on his throne and lets out a surprised cry.

"I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound." The wizard points his staff at him and he struggles in his seat.

A girl with long blonde hair appears out of nowhere, running at him but Aragorn stops her. "Wait," he pleads.

Annabeth wished she could reassure her more but she was too engrossed in the events between Gandalf and Saruman's magic.

"If I go...Théoden dies," now Annabeth recognized that voice as not the kings.

Especially when Percy's head went to his pocket and he growled in recognition. "That's just plain creepy, Not-white-wizard-dude."

She'd almost forgotten that he had been imprisoned by him for several days before Gandalf got them both out.

"You did not kill me, you will not kill him!" Gandalf yells.

"Rohan is mine!" The darkened white wizard yells back.

"Be gone!"

And with one last push with the staff, he is pushed against his throne and Gandalf relaxes. Annabeth wished it was that easy with the eidolons.

Théoden almost falls face first but the girl yanks herself from Aragorn's grasp and catches him. Before their eyes, the king's appearance starts changing: his hair becomes less white and wispy, the wrinkles in his face lesson. He eyes the girl carefully. "I know your face. Éowyn...éowyn."

He looks to his rescuer. "Gandalf?" He says in surprise.

"Breathe the free air again, my friend," Gandalf smiles. He leans on his staff in relief.

The king of Rohan stands, his face going grim. "Dark have been my dreams of late." He looks at his hands and Annabeth notices that they are shaking a little.

"Your fingers would remember their old strength better if they grasped your sword," Gandalf said as the guard from earlier at the doors came up. He offered the sheathed sword hilt first.

With shaky hands, he grasped it and pulled it out.

Annabeth grinned widely as his gaze turned to Wormtongue. The man was being held by Gimli still and was  cowering on the ground.

"Throw him out," Théoden whispered. He followed the guards closely out the doors.

They threw him quite easily and he rolled on the steps. "I have only ever served you, my lord!"

This only served to anger the king and he advanced on the man menacingly, sword still in hand. "Your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!"

"Send me not from your side!" He was backing away on his back, groveling desperately. He dared not turn away from the angered leader.

Théoden lifted his sword with both hands like an executioner and started bringing it down but Aragorn stopped him before he could finish the act.

"No, my lord! No my lord, let him go." Aragorn whispered something now that only the three of them could hear. Then he went to extend a hand to the fallen man.

Annabeth huffed as he spit on his hand. "He shows him mercy and this is how he repays him?"

They watched as Wormtongue pushed through the crowd that had gathered and left the town.

"Hail, Théoden-king!" A guard yells and those standing kneel before him. Including Aragorn.

And Percy. Thought that may just be because Annabeth pulled him down in case he got any funny ideas.

Théoden turns and looks at those that had left the hall with him. "Where is Théodred? Where is my son?"

- - -

Clang!

Every eye in the hall turned to see where the sound came from and somehow were not surprised to see Percy bent over, some plates and bowls in his hands and on the floor. He was frozen like a deer in headlights.

"Sorry," he said through the piece of bread in his mouth. A flurry of people surrounded him, cleaning the mess he made and taking some of the dishes in his hands. Actually they took all of them and sent him to sit with his girlfriend.

Dejected, he slumped in his seat next to her and mumbled, "I was just trying to help."

Annabeth grinned in amusement, using her left hand to scratch his back. "A for effort, Percy."

They were waiting for Gandalf to get back with Théoden. Annabeth convinced everyone (including Éowyn) to leave the two alone so the king could grieve alone in peace. She knew this time was something that would help the king to find some of his resolve to not just sit there in the war.

Annabeth eyed Gimli and Legolas sitting at the next table over. For once they didn't seem to be bickering, but it could start up again any moment. She didn't trust the silence quite yet. Aragorn and Boromir were brooding and creating their own atmosphere of worry on the other side of the table she and Percy sat at. The poor duo were concerned about what Théoden would say when they had a chance to tell him what was up.

The king had been astonished to say the least when he found out the son of the steward of Gondor and the rightful king of Gondor stood before him. They hadn't a chance to do anything about it because of the funeral. Whatever Théoden decided to do about helping them would determine the fate of Middle Earth.

Of course Annabeth already knew how it would turn out. It didn't make it any easier when the doors burst open to admit Gandalf and Théoden guiding two children in to sit at an open table in the middle of the room. The following conversation, Annabeth knew was going to be slightly painful as even Percy would be able to tell the stupidity of the plan.