The hall seemed dark and warm. The hall is long and wide, with shadows and half-light. Huge pillars support the high roof. However, through the tall windows under the deep eaves on the east side, beams of bright sunlight shine in, making the light and shadow look mottled.
Through the skylight on the roof, above the curling wisps of light smoke, the sky showed a light blue. The ground was paved with colorful stone slabs, and crisscrossed runes and strange patterns were tangled under the feet.
The pillars glowed with dull gold and other indistinguishable colors, and were richly carved. In addition, there were many brocades hanging on the walls. Figures from ancient legends marched on the broad cloth, some of which were dimmed due to age. Blurred, some hidden in the shadows and appearing gray.
But there was a piece of tapestry illuminated by the sun. On it was a young man riding a white horse. He was blowing a big horn, and his golden hair was fluttering in the wind.
The white horse held its head high, its nostrils were big and red, and it was neighing loudly because it smelled the scent of the distant battlefield. Green and snow-white water splashed against its hooves, rolled and splashed around its knees.
This was young Eorl, the ancestor of all the Rohirrim. This is how he rode from the north, long, long ago, to the battle of the Fields of Celebrant.
But Éomer had no intention of reliving the glory of his ancestors. He passed by the long stove with bright flames burning with wood in the center of the hall and stopped.
"My king."
He stroked his chest and bent down, saluting.
In front of the stove and at the end of the hall, there is a platform facing north and facing the main door on three steps. There is a huge gilded chair in the center of the stage, and sitting on the chair is an old and stooped man, almost like a dwarf. However, he wore a thin golden crown on his head, with a shining diamond in the middle of his forehead. His white hair was long and thick, braided into many thick braids, and fell beneath a golden crown. His beard was as white as snow and hung down to his knees.
He was Théoden, son of Thenger. One of the heroes of mankind who emerged from the Battle of the Onodero River Crossing.
It was he and Éomer's father, Éomund of Aldburg, who destroyed the army led by King Ian II of the Chariot People from the East at the Battle of the Onodro River Crossing, and briefly restored Rohi. The territory of the Er people.
But now, he is already very old, and the power of time is sharper than swords. They have carved wrinkles one after another on Théoden's face. The old hero's eyes are no longer sharp now, and his expression is even more dazed.
And his former comrade-in-arms, Eomond, had long since passed away in the continuous wars of the long Dark Ages; even Théoden's heir, Prince Théojed, died in the battle at the Eshin River Crossing, leaving nothing behind. He is a gray-haired old man, struggling alone in this hopeless world.
Sitting on the steps in front of his feet was a thin man with a pale and shrewd face and heavy eyelids. Like a coiled snake, he stared at Éomer with evil eyes.
He is Gríma the Tongue, chief advisor to King Théoden.
There was silence in the palace. The old man sat motionless in his chair.
It wasn't until the snake-like man whispered something in King Théoden's ear that King Théoden said, "Eomer, if you're not at the front line, why are you back here?"
His voice was weak and hoarse, like that of someone seriously ill and dying. Éomer looked carefully and finally heard what the king was saying.
Ah, could it be that the heroes of old cannot escape the torment of time in the end?
Éomer thought sadly. He was very worried about the old man. But the doctor who treated the King of Horseshoes had been controlled by the thin man, and no third person knew the specific condition of the disease.
Moreover, asking about Lao Wang's condition is a very sensitive matter. Although Éomer had a hot temper and hated that man, he still did not dare to step beyond the limit. There were far more people at court loyal to the Hussar than anyone else in the country. If he acts too hastily, he will inevitably be criticized.
The struggle for power and gain will never go out of style in the human world.
"My king, although the war on the front line is very difficult, we are still persevering." Éomer said: "The reason why I returned to Meduseld Palace is because I heard about a story that is important to all of us. , it’s all the best news.”
"The horn of the north has been sounded, and Elpera has sent out its troops!"
Éomer's voice echoed in the dim Meduseld Palace, and almost everyone who heard it couldn't help but turn to look at him.
"Yes." Éomer waved his hands excitedly, "The supreme king declared war on the darkness not long ago. His army has gone south, vowing to clean up the chaos of the world. Western mankind will usher in the aftermath of the catastrophe. Dawn!"
Everyone was stunned. That name seemed to have magic power, and almost everyone who heard his name couldn't help but open their mouths, raise their hands high, and shout: "Praise the Silver King, praise Turka Aracano."
This shout was so loud and full of hope, like a sharp sword, splitting through the darkness before dawn, letting light fill the earth.
Niji was extremely frightened. Maybe he wasn't bad at first, but now his heart has long fallen into darkness. He is nominally the chief advisor to the King of Rohan, but secretly works for the White Wizard.
And he knew exactly what Saruman had done.
Since the supreme king in the north has declared war on the darkness, he will definitely not be calling to play house. He has a hunch that his master's conspiracy and plan will soon come to nothing, leaving the white-robed wizard with nothing but trial and death. , there will be no other choice - yes, even Saruman's minions do not think that his master will be that adult's opponent. After all, in the past few decades, the legend about the King of the North has never stopped.
Even at the end of the Dark Age, almost everyone was hoping that someone could save the human world. And this candidate is undoubtedly the King of the North who expelled all the public enemies of Central Continent from the continent decades ago. It has the meaning of the Chinese version of "If you can't dig out the stone, what will happen to the people".
"The North has severed its alliance with us a long time ago." Tongue whispered in King Hussar's ear in fear, "They are not here to rescue us, they are here to destroy us."
It is said that at that time, this despicable and shameful spy was not only for his master, but also for himself. Because he knew that if he really waited for the army of light to overthrow the rule of the white-robed wizard, the ending left to him would not be too good either.
Therefore, he kept spraying his insidious and vicious juice on the comatose king in an attempt to prevent that day from coming.
King Théoden numbly followed the eloquent words, and said slowly: "So what? Don't forget, who did not send a single soldier when we faced the enemy's thousands of troops, and let us Die alone! Who, when we need help the most, ignores us, hides in their safe forests and castles, sings and enjoys it! As if all the dangers and sorrows in the world have nothing to do with them. Elves ! Dragonborn! None of them can be trusted! The Rohirrim can only rely on themselves, and only themselves!"
"Close the western passage and call everyone back. We must defend Edoras! The descendants of Eorl must protect themselves. Just like we did before!"
Éomer and some of the other courtiers were stunned to hear such evil words coming from the king.
"As a result, our defense line will completely collapse." Éomer expressed strong opposition: "Edolas and Helm's Deep cannot accommodate all the people, and we don't have that much food to feed that many people."
He stared at Ning Yan with anger and disgust, the fire in his eyes almost burning. He touched his waist, but forgot that his sword had already been left outside the palace gate.
"This is the king's order." The chief advisor said sadly: "Eomer, son of Éomund. Listen to the order and get out."
"I don't understand!" Seeing in the dark corner, the gangsters and thugs summoned by the poisonous snake began to press over, the king's nephew shouted to King Theoden angrily: "My king, you know, this is wrong! We should answer the call of the Silver King and reaffirm the old alliance, so that the descendants of Eorl can rise again!"
"You talk too much!" Yanshi saw that his biggest opponent had been controlled by his gangsters and thugs, and he dared to come down from the steps. He leaned close to the ear of the tall Éomer, with a sinister smile on his pale face: "The son of Éomund, you have too much control! Do you think you can save this country? No, the facts will tell you. , Rohan will surely be destroyed, and all of you will inevitably die!"
Then he cried loudly: "Eomer has charged against the king, and is condemned to be banished from Rohan! Never to return!"
"No, you can't do this!" Éomer shouted angrily.
"I can." He said with a smile, "Because this is the king's order."
On the throne, King Théoden turned a deaf ear to his nephew's pleading. He nodded numbly and said, "Yes, what Grima said is my order!"
