Return to our Destiny.

9. The White Rider

Aragorn, Thilia, Boromir, Legolas and Gimli are in the Fangorn Forest. Gimli tastes some liquid on a leaf, then spits it out. "Orc blood!" Thilia smacks him up side the back of his head, "What did your mother say about putting strange things in your mouth." he looks at her with a skewed helmet and a look of pure offense. Legolas is trying not to laugh and is able to avoid making noise. "Thilia, these are strange tracks." Aragorn says as he called to her, 

"That's because they came from Ents, this forest is old enough that they would be found here." she said, "so don't say anything that will offend them." she said throwing a teasing look to Gimli who was fixing his helmet. "The air is so close here." Gimli said a bit breathless as they moved through the forest. "This forest is old. Very old. Full of memory... and anger." Legolas says, "I can tell," Thilia says as she looks around, 

She can feel their eyes on her as they speak in Entish about her being in their forest. "They don't like me in here, my Draconic connection to fire is very off putting for them," she said and Legolas nodded as if agreeing that they weren't wrong. Bass voices are heard from the trees. Gimli raises his axe. "The trees are speaking to each other." Legolas says as he looks around then tosses a look to Thilia, 

"Is it so bad that your in here?" Boromir asked and she looked at him and smiled softly, "to them, yes it is, but don't worry pet I don't plan on being hostile to the forest," she said then kissed his cheek. Aragorn turning to see Gimli with his ax up, hissed at him softly, "Gimli!" the dwarf looked at the ranger and leg out a startled, "Huh?" waving his hand, Aragorn said, "Lower your axe." Thilia rolled her eyes when all that Gimli could say was, "Oh!"

"They have feelings, my friend. The Elves began it: waking up the trees, teaching them to speak." Legolas said and Thilia shuddered with the feeling of the Ents watching her, talking about her. "Talking trees. What do trees have to talk about, hmm? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings." Thilia quickly put her hand over Gimli's mouth, "Uhin i!" she hissed. Gimli grunted under her hand and looked to be struggling to breathe.

She's gotten distracted by the feeling of something or someone coming. "Creolnali ui confnir, Legolas." (Something is coming,) she warned and Legolas turned to Aragorn, "Aragorn, nad no ennas!" (Something is out there!), releasing Gimli, Thilia moved over to Boromir, he shifted his shield to his arm and held his hand close to the hilt of his sword. "Man cenich?" (What do you see?) Aragorn asked and Legolas jerked his head to the side.

"The White Wizard approaches." Legolas said, "Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us!" Aragorn said, Thilia hovered her hand over her weapons, Boromir shifted his shield more and put his hand on his sword, Aragorn wraps his hand around the hilt of his sword, Gimli tightens his hold on his axe, and Legolas fingers his arrow. "We must be quick." Aragorn says and everyone gets further into a battle stance. 

The five turn around to attack, but are blinded by a bright light emanating from the White Wizard. "Argh!" Gimli shouts as he throws his axe. But both Gimli's axe and Legolas' arrow are deflected and Aragorn drops his sword as it becomes hot in his grasp. Thilia was blinded by the bright light, and was unable to draw her weapons, Boromir could only use his shield to block the deflected arrow and axe. 

"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits." the wizard said, his voice doubled and hard to recognize. "Where are they?" Aragorn shouts, his hand held in front of his face. "They passed this way, the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" the wizard said, "Who are you? Show yourself!" Thilia roars. The light dims, revealing Gandalf, dressed in white.

Legolas bows before Gandalf, Gimli following him. Thilia falls to her knees, as she's beyond shocked. "It cannot be!" Aragorn says, "Forgive me. I mistook you for Saruman." Legolas says as he lifts his head, "I am Saruman. Or rather Saruman as he should have been." Gandalf says, "You fell!" Thilia gasps out, "Through fire. And water." Gandalf says with a nod. "From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought him, the Balrog of Morgoth." Gandalf says,

The look in his eyes says he's reliving the moment, "Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside." Thilia was finally able to see properly after her eyes adjusted to Gandalf's glow, "Darkness took me. And I strayed out of thought and time." Gandalf turned his head to the side a bit as he continued one with his story and the memory in his mind. "Stars wheeled overhead, and every day was as long as the life age of the earth."

"But it was not the end. I felt light in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done." he finished as he focused back in on the five before him. "Gandalf!" Aragorn gasped out with a smile and wonder in his eyes. Gandalf frowned for a second, "Gandalf? Oh yes. That's what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name." Aragorn nodded, "Gandalf!" Gimli said gleefully.

Gandalf looked at the others and smiled, "I am Gandalf the White. And I come back to you now, at the turn of the tide." They walk along the forest. Gandalf is now wearing the extra cloak they'd been given by the Lothlórien elves. "One stage of your journey is over, another begins. War has come to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras with all speed." Gandalf says as everyone follows behind him, "Edoras? That is no short distance!" Gimli called from the back,

"We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king." Thilia said as her and Aragorn stand beside Gandalf. "Yes, and it will not be easily cured." Gandalf says with a nod. "Then we have run all this way for nothing? Are we to leave those poor hobbits here in this horrid, dark, dank tree-infested..." The trees rumble and Thilia growls at Gimli. "I mean charming, quite charming forest." Gimli corrects.

"It was more than mere chance that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn. A great power has been sleeping here for many long years. The coming of Merry and Pippin will be like the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche in the mountains." Gandalf says which makes, Thilia, Aragorn and Boromir smirk. "In one thing you have not changed, dear friend." Aragorn says with a smile, 

"Hmm?" Gandalf muses, "You still speak in riddles." Thilia explains and the four of them laugh, "A thing is about to happen here that has not happened since the Elder Days. The Ents are going to wake up and find that they are strong." Gandalf explained. "Strong? Oh, that's good." Gimli gasps, "So stop your fretting Master Dwarf. Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be." Gandalf teases, 

"This new Gandalf's more grumpy than the old one." Gimli mumbles, and Boromir pats his shoulder as he walks by.

***

Outside the forest, everyone has their own horses, except Gimli who has to share with Legolas because there horses are too tall for him, Gandalf whistles piercingly. An answering neigh is heard and a white horse appears from the plain. "That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell." Legolas says from beside the white wizard. The horse stops in front of Gandalf. "Shadowfax." Gandalf bows before moving to the horse,

"He's the lord of all horses, and has been my friend through many dangers." he says while petting the horse's cheek and neck, mounting up, Thilia check in with Boromir, "How are you, my love?" she asks and he thinks for a moment and with a little wiggle, he smiles, "Much better," she nods, "You tell me the moment you stare to feel any kind of pain." she said and he nodded. They ride across the plains.