Spirit Wolf: LOTR

Isengard

Serena's POV

Gandalf and his company sit on their horses. While I stand beside them as we look at Mordor."Sauron's wrath will be terrible, his retribution swift.The battle for Helm's Deep is over. The battle for Middle-Earth is about to begin. All our hopes now lie with two little hobbits. Somewhere in the wilderness" he tells us. Before leading us to Isengard to retrieve Merry and Pippin.

(Isengard)

I smell salted pork as we hear Hobbit laughter. I run ahead of them to see Merry and Pippin on a all wall. Drinking, smoking and eating. They spot us as we exit the forest."Welcome, my Lords and Dear Spirit Wolf... to Isengard!" Merry announces. I race over and jump onto the wall. Pippin smiles giving me some salted pork.

"You young rascals! A merry chase you've led us on, and now we find you feasting and... and smoking!" Gimli exclaims.

"We are sitting on the field of victory, enjoying a few well-earned comforts. The salted pork is particularly good" Pippin tells him.

"He's not wrong" I state as I continue to ate facing the others.

"Salted pork?" Gimli asks smiling.

"Hobbits" I hear Gandalf grumble.

"We're under orders from Treebeard, who's taken over management of Isengard" Merry states. "He wishes to see you all" he explains. I tell him to lead the way. Wepproaches Orthanc, the tower of Isengard.

"Young master Gandalf and mistress Serena, I'm glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and stone I can master, but there's a Wizard to manage here, locked in his tower" Treebeard states. Papa orders Saruman to show himself and Gandalf tells him to be careful.

"He's right, even in defeat Saruman is still dangerous" I state.

"Then let's just have his head and be done with it" Gimli says.

"No, we need him alive. We need him to talk" Gandalf tells him.

"You have fought many wars and slain many men Théoden king, and made peace afterwards" Saruman says as he appears at the top of his tower."Can we not take council together, as we once did, my old friend? Can we not have peace, you and I?" he asks.

"We shall have peace... when you answer for the burning of the westfold, and the children that lie dead there.We shall have peace, when the lives of the soldiers, whose bodies were hewn even as they lay deadagainst the gates of the Hornburg, are avenged!When you hang from a gibbet for the sport of your own crows... we shall have peace" Theoden tells him.

"What do you want Gandalf Greyhame? Let me guess: the key of Orthanc, or perhaps the key of Barad-dûr itself,along with the crowns of the seven kings and the rods of the five wizards" Saruman says looking at him.

"Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousands more are now at risk,but you could save them Saruman. You were deep in the enemy's council" Gandalf states.Realizing he has something to bargain with, Saruman grins while I growl watching him closely.

"So you have come here for information. I have some for you" Saruman states.From his robes, Saruman whips out a glowing Palantír, and stares at it raptly."Something festers in the heart of Middle-Earth. Something that you have failed to see. But the Great Eye has seen it. Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon" he explains.

"Hurry up and finish" I snarl growing impatient.

"You're all going to die.But you know this don't you, Gandalf" he says. Then he sneers at Papa. "You cannot think that this Ranger will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor. This exile, crept from the shadows,will never be crowned king.Gandlaf does not hesistate to sacrifice those closest to him,those he professes to love. Tell me... what words of confort did you give the halfling before you sent him to his doom?" he asks. "The path that you have set him on can only lead to death" he states.

"I've heard enough" I state and Gimli nods his head in agreement turning to Legolas.

"Shoot him. Stick an arrow in his gob" Gimli tells him. Legolas reaches for his quiver but is stopped by Gandalf.

"Come down Saruman, and your live will be spared" Gandalf assures him.

"Save your pity and your mercy; I have no use for it" Saruman tells him.Saruman shoots a fireball from his staff. The flames engulf Gandalf and Shadowfax. But I blow the flames away.To reveal an unscathed Gandalf, to Saruman's surprise.

"Saruman, your staff is broken" Gandalf states. Saruman's staff shatters in his hand.From behind Saruman, a hunched figure approaches and I recognize him as Wormtongue. Theoden tries to convince him to come down, but Saruman stops him. In the end Wormtongue kills Saruman with a knife while Legolas shoots him.Saruman falls off the tower and is impaled by the spoke of a large wheel.

"Send word to all our allies, and to every corner of Middle-Earth that still stands free. The enemy moves against us. We need to know where he will strike" Gandalf tells us.The wheel turns, sliding Saruman's body under the water. The Palantír drops into the shallows as Treebeard returns.

"The filth of Saruman is washing away. Trees will come back to live here. Young trees, wild trees" he declares. Pippindismounts Papa's horse and heads to the shallow water.

"Pippin" Papa and I call.Pippin picks up the Palantír. Treebeard says 'bless my bark'.

"Peregrin Took, I'll take that, my lad. Quickly now" Gandalf tells the young hobbit. Pippin reluctantly hands Gandalf the orb. Gandalf covers it up, and with a sidelong glance at Pippin, turns away. Pippin gets back onto papa's horse and we return toEdoras.

A/N

Gif above of Merry and Pippin on the wall outside of Isengard.