Aragorn wraps his hand around the hilt of his sword, Gimli tightens his hold on his axe, and I finger my arrow.
"We must be quick." Aragorn says
The three of us turn around to attack, but are blinded by a bright light emanating from the White Wizard.
"Argh!" Gimli cries
Gimli's axe and my arrow are deflected and Aragorn drops his sword as it becomes hot in his grasp.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits." A voice says
"Where are they?" Aragorn asks
"They passed this way, the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" The voice replies
"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragorn orders
The light dims, revealing Gandalf, dressed in white. I bow before Gandalf, Gimli following me.
"It cannot be!" Aragorn exclaims
"Forgive me. I mistook you for Saruman." I say
"I am Saruman. Or rather Saruman as he should have been." Gandalf says
"You fell!" Aragorn says
"Through fire. And water." Gandalf says "From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought him, the Balrog of Morgoth."
"Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside." Gandalf continues "Darkness took me. And I strayed out of thought and time. 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." Gandalf finishes "I've been sent back until my task is done."
"Gandalf!" Aragorn says
"Gandalf? Oh yes. That's what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name." Gandalf says
"Gandalf!" Gimli says
"I am Gandalf the White." Gandalf says "And I come back to you now, at the turn of the tide."
We walk along the forest.
"One stage of your journey is over, another begins. War has come to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras with all speed." Gandalf says to us
"Edoras? That is no short distance!" Gimli says
"We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king." Aragorn says
"Yes, and it will not be easily cured." Gandalf says
"Then we have run all this way for nothing? Are we to leave those poor hobbits here in this horrid, dark, dank tree-infested..." Gimli says
The trees rumble.
"I mean charming, quite charming forest." Gimli corrects himself
"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
"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend." Aragorn says
"Hmm?" Gandalf asks
"You still speak in riddles." Aragorn tells him
Aragorn and Gandalf 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 says
"Strong? Oh, that's good." Gimli says worried
"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 says
"This new Gandalf's more grumpy than the old one." Gimli grumbles
"What of Lyra? What has happened to my wife?" I ask the wizard
"Ah yes, I congratulate you on your marriage. And as for what has happened to her, she is Saruman's prisoner in Isengard" Gandalf says
Outside the forest, 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." I say looking at the horse
The horse stops in front of Gandalf.
"Shadowfax." Gandalf says "He's the lord of all horses, and has been my friend through many dangers."
We ride across the plains.
Third person
Gandalf and Aragorn survey the night sky.
"The veiling shadow that glowers in the East takes shape. Sauron will suffer no rival. From the summit of Barad-Dûr his Eye watches ceaselessly. But he is not so mighty yet that he is above fear. Doubt ever gnaws at him. The rumor has reached him: the heir of Númenor still lives. Sauron fears you, Aragorn. He fears what you may become. And so he'll strike hard and fast at the world of men." Gandalf says and looks at Aragorn "He will use his puppet Saruman to destroy Rohan. War is coming. Rohan must defend itself and therein lies our first challenge, for Rohan is weak and ready to fall. The King's mind is enslaved. It's an old device of Saruman's. His hold over King Théoden is now very strong. Sauron and Saruman are tightening the noose."
"But for all their cunning, we have one advantage. The Ring remains hidden, and that we should seek to destroy it has not yet entered their darkest dreams. And so the weapon of the enemy is moving towards Mordor in the hands of a hobbit. Each day brings it closer to the fires of Mount Doom. We must trust now in Frodo. Everything depends upon speed and the secrecy of his quest." Gandalf continues "Do not regret your decision to leave him. Frodo must finish this task alone."
"He is not alone. Sam went with him." Aragorn says
"Did he? Did he indeed? Good. Yes, very good." Gandalf says
Translations:
nad no ennas! - Something is out there!
Man cenich? - What do you see?
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Skin-Walker (#Wattys2017)
FanfictionLyra Lane is the last of her race the Skin-Walkers of Middle-Earth. Lord Elrond takes her in after learning her dark past and that she is alone in the world. He then asks her to join the Fellowship four years later. She accepts though some of them a...
Chapter Twelve: Unexpected Return
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