If we don't defend our country, Saruman will take it by force.
GW Grima Wormtongue
That is a lie. Saruman the white has forever been our friend and ally.
Th?oden (mumbling weakly): Gríma... Gríma...
[Gríma kneels before Th?oden, surveying him intently]
Orcs are roming freely across our lands. Unchecked, unchallenged, killing at will. Orcs bearing the White Hand of Saruman. [throws a helmet, bearing the white hand at Gríma's feet]
GM Gríma
Why do you lay these troubles on an already troubled mind? Can you not see? Your uncle is wearied by your malcontent, your warmongering.
Warmongering? [grabs Gríma by the throat] How long is it since Saruman bought you? What was the promised price, Gríma? When all the men are dead, you would take your share of the treasure? [sees Gríma looking at Éowyn] Too long have you watched my sister. Too long have you haunted her steps. [Gríma smiles. several men come from behind and seize Éomer]
GM Gríma
You see much Éomer, son of Éomund. Too much. You are banished forthwith from the kingdom of Rohan, under pain of death.
GM Gríma
Oh, he must've died s-sometime in the night. What a tragedy for the King to lose his only son and heir. I understand. His passing is hard to accept... especially now that your brother has deserted you.
[He places a tentative hand on Éowyn's shoulder. She shakes him off in disgust and stumbles hurriedly to her feet, shaken]
Leave me alone, snake!
GM Gríma
Oh, but you are alone. [he stands, circling her like a predator] Who knows what you've spoken to the darkness, in the bitter watches of the night... when all your life seems to shrink, the walls of your bower closing in about you... a hutch to trammel some wild thing in. [he touches her cheek lightly and her eyes flutter closed] So fair. So cold. Like a morning of pale spring still clinging to winter's chill.
[She opens her eyes and looks into his for a long moment]
Your words are poison.
[She leaves him]
HM Háma
I cannot allow you before Theoden King so heavily armed, Gandalf Greyhame. By order of... [he pauses disgustedly] Gríma Wormtongue.
HM Háma
(Gandalf nods. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli proceed to remove their weapons and give them to the soldiers. Háma pauses, as if waiting for something.)
Your staff.
Oh?... You wouldn't part an old man from his... walking-stick?
GM Gríma
[Gandalf turns, and gives a quick and nonchalant wink to Aragorn. Aragorn grins back. They enter the hall. The doors and windows close, and extra guards casually prepare for fighting] [whispering in Th?oden's ear]
My lord, Gandalf the Grey is coming. He is not welcome.
The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Th?oden King.
TO Th?oden
[weakly]
Why... should I welcome you... Gandalf Stormcrow?
GM Gríma
[to Th?oden]
A just question, my liege. [rises] Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear! Láthspell I name you. Ill news is an ill guest.
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.
GM Gríma
[Shoves his staff in Gríma's face]
His staff! I told you to take the wizard's staff!
[A brawl ensues between Gríma's men and the heroes; Gríma and his men are quickly subdued] [to Gríma, having seized him]
I would stay still if I were you!
GM Gríma
Helms Deep has but one weakness. Its outer wall is solid rock, but for a small culvert at its base, which is little more than a drain. [Saruman is pouring black powder into a metal container. Gríma approaches, holding a lit candle] How? How can fire undo stone? [Saruman firmly pushes Gríma's candle away.]
If the wall is breached, Helm's Deep will fall.
GM Gríma
Even if it is breached, it would take a number beyond reckoning, thousands, to storm the keep.
GM Gríma
But my lord, there is no such force! [the two emerge, revealing the ten-thousand strong Uruk-hai army]
[to the army]
A new power is rising! Its victory is at hand! This night, the land will be stained with the blood of Rohan! March to Helm's Deep! Leave none alive! To war! [to Gríma] There will be no dawn for Men.
