Third person
A small group of riders move through the forest: Éomer, Théoden, Gandalf, Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli. They look around warily, as the low sounds of lumbering trees are heard around them. The end of the forest, followed by Isengard, comes into view. Hobbit laughter is heard. Merry and Pippin sit on top of the Isengard storeroom, feasting.
"It's good. Definately from the Shire." Merry says "Longbottom Leaf, eh?"
The hobbits nod and grin.
"I feel like I'm back at the Green Dragon..." Pippin says
"Hmm, Green Dragon." Merry says
"A mug of ale in my hand, putting my feet up on a settle after a hard day's work." Pippin says
"Only, you've never done a hard day's work." Merry says
The riders appear, and approach the crumbled gates encircling Isengard. The Hobbits spot the riders.
"Welcome, my Lords... to Isengard!" Merry says
Aragorn grins.
"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 says slightly inebriated and touched by the leaf
"Salted pork?" Gimli asks as he smiles
"Hobbits." Gandalf says impatiently
"We're under orders from Treebeard, who's taken over management of Isengard." Merry says
The group approaches Orthanc, the tower of Isengard.
"Young master Gandalf, 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 says
The group looks around, uncomfortable.
"Show yourself." Aragorn says
"Be careful; even in defeat Saruman is dangerous." Gandalf says
"Then let's just have his head and be done with it." Gimli says, at this Legolas nods snarling.
"No, we need him alive. We need him to talk." Gandalf says
A voice calls out from above, and Saruman comes into view, standing on the top of the tower.
"You have fought many wars and slain many men Théoden king, and made peace afterwards." Saruman says "Can we not take council together, as we once did, my old friend? Can we not have peace, you and I?"
"We shall have peace." Théoden says
Théoden responds softly at first, but quickly becomes more assured.
"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 dead against the gates of the Hornburg, are avenged! When you hang from a gibbet for the sport of your own crows... we shall have peace." Théoden calls to the wizard
"Gibbets and crows? Dotard!" Saruman says "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!"
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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...
