We walked as silently as we could through the Fangorn Forest, looking for the slightest signs of where Merry and Pippen could have gone. Legolas and I strained our ears to try and hear familiar sounds, but to no avail.
Gimli stopped short, and bent down to look at a low-hanging branch of a tree. He dipped his finger in something and brought it to his mouth. He instantly spat out whatever he had just tasted. "Orc blood." he simply stated. I wasn't sure if that was a good sign or a bad sign.
Aragorn than kneeled down and looked at a mark made on the soft dirt. "These are strange tracks." he observed. "There are more of them." I said, walking over to him and pointing at a trail of the same marks. "The air is so close here!" Gimli muttered, not enjoying himself.
Legolas than spoke for the first time in a while, in a soft, low whisper as if we might be heard by someone. "This forest is very, very old." He left us with that.
All of a sudden, the trees began to creak and groan, and one or two of them moved. It scared me, so I quickly drew one of my knives and held it at the ready. But nothing came at us, nor did the trees do anything. "Gimli, Ryanne, lower your weapons." Aragorn said to us in a hushed voice, looking around wildly. I noticed Gimli had drawn his axe, and he lowered it slowly, seeming reluctant.
I watched Aragorn move around us, almost as if he was searching for something. What was he doing? I wondered. Why aren't we moving forward anymore? We still need to find the Hobbits.... I had a lot of questions as to what we were doing. Legolas than quietly came up besides me and took my knife out of my hand, and back into it's place on my thigh. I looked up at him, sort of embarrassed that I hadn't already done that. "Thank you." I whispered, not really knowing what else to say.
He didn't respond, just put a finger to his lips, indicating me to be silent. I nodded and tried to listen for any threatening sounds.
Ahead of us, a brach snapped loudly and suddenly, making me jump. Legolas heard it too and ran over to Aragorn. "Aragorn, something is out there!" He said in elvish. Aragorn nodded, already knowing what was coming. "The White Wizard approaches." He said, loud enough so Gimli and I could hear it too. I heard Gimli muttering, annoyed. "Don't let him speak!" He stated. "He will put a spell on you!" Isn't that what he said with Lady Galadriel? But I knew the White Wizard was much different, so I drew an arrow, and held it to my bow. Aragorn had drawn his sword, Gimli, his axe, and Legolas had done the same as me with his arrow.
"We must be quick!" Aragorn told us. That was the last thing I heard before I was blinded by a great white light. Gimli threw his axe at the Wizard, but he deflected it, shattering it into many pieces. I fired my arrow, and so did Legolas, but the Wizard waved his hands and those bounced off as well. I turned to see Aragorn's sword turning bright red, and he dropped it, acting as if he had gotten burned. I shielded my eyes, as the bright light was almost blinding. Than, to my surprise, the White Wizard began to speak to us.
"You are tracking two Hobbits through this forest." He said. I wondered how he knew that, as Legolas and I would have known if we were being followed. But than again, he was a wizard. "Where are they?" Aragorn demanded, his voice hard and serious. The Wizard turned and looked at him. I couldn't see his face, so I couldn't tell who he was, or how he was looking at Aragorn. "They past through here the day before yesterday." He answered. That lowered my spirits considerably. We were that far behind them? "They ran into someone they did not expect to meet." He continued, speaking in rhymes, which were always frustrating to me. "Does that comfort you?" he asked Aragorn. I didn't think it did at all.
This seemed to annoy Aragorn. "Who are you?" he said. "Show yourself!" The light dimmed and who was standing there, but Gandalf. Except...Gandalf was dead. Right? But right now, I didn't care, as long as he was back with us. "It cannot be." Aragorn whispered. Legolas than bowed on one knee. "Forgive me." he told Gandalf. "I mistook you for Sarumon."
Gandalf chuckled. "I am Sarumon." he answered Legolas in a calm tone. I instantly got very confused, because no, no he wasn't. Obviously. But he wasn't finished talking. "Or, Sarumon as he should have been." Oh. But I was still confused. How in Middle-Earth did he survive?
Aragorn got to my question before I could, though. "But...you fell." He said in an astonished voice. Gandalf smiled a light smile. "Through fire and water, from the highest peak to the lowest dungeons, I fell. Until, finally, I threw down the Balrog of Margoth and smite his ash upon the mountainside. Than darkness took me, and I strayed out of time and thought. Stars wheeled overhead, and each day was as long as the life of Earth, but it wasn't the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is completed."
We all looked at him with wonder in our eyes, as he finished his epic story. I sighed, so relieved I hadn't lost one of the most important people of my life. "Gandalf!" I said happily. He turned to me confused, and my smile faltered slightly. "Gandalf?" He asked himself, as I he didn't recognize the name. "Ah yes! Gandalf! That was what they used to call me! Gandalf the Grey."
I got confused. What did he mean 'used to'? But he wasn't finished. "But I am Gandalf the White. I have come back to you at the turn of the tide." He motioned us to start walking with him out of the forest, and we did.
As we walked with him, Gandalf began to speak to us again.
"One stage of your journey is over." He told us. "And another one is about to begin. We must ride to Edoras." I wondered why Edoras, but Gimli interrupted my thoughts. "Edoras?" He questioned. "That is no short distance!" He was right, it would take a matter of days to get there. I wasn't sure if Frodo had that time. Or Merry and Pippin. "We heard of bad news in Rohan!" I spoke up. Aragorn nodded. "It goes ill with the king."
Gandalf seemed to take this in consideration. Than, he acted as if this was not new news. "Yes, it will not be easily cured." He murmured. Gimli seemed to still be confused. "But are we supposed to leave the Hobbits here?" He spoke with a gruff voice, almost as if he were angry. "In this dark, dank-" Around us, the trees moved and creaked, telling Gimli they were listening. I looked at the very surprised Dwarf. "I mean nice, very nice forest." He smartly finished.
Gandalf looked at him as well. "It was not a chance that our two Hobbits entered this forest." He explained. "A great power sleeps here. And Merry and Pippin's arrival will be like the falling of the small stones that creates an avalanche in the mountains." Aragorn smiled up at the Wizard. "There is one thing about you, my friend, that hasn't changed." Gandalf looked at him and raised his eyebrows. "You still speak in riddles." Aragorn finished.
I heard Legolas chuckle, and I smiled at Aragorn.
Gandalf stopped at a tree and smiled up at it. "Something is about to happen here that hasn't happened scince the Old Days." He spoke softly, but we still heard. "The Ents will awaken and find that they are strong as ever." He acted as if it was a good thing, so I didn't worry.
I grew up hearing rumors about Ents. They were trees, basically. But they were alive and a very powerful force to have on our side.
If they were on our side. Which was the problem.
I heard Gimli muttering about the Ents, but I ignored him, seeing Gandalf shooting him a glare.
We reached the end of the forest, and found ourselves in a very large meadow. There were colorful flowers scattered here and there. A gentle breeze played with my hair, as our horses walked up to us. I was about to ask Gandalf where his horse was, when he whistled a very high note, than a lower one.
I watched him, wondering what he was doing, when I heard a soft whinny. Looking around, I caught sight of the most beautiful horse I had ever seen. It was pure white, down to it's hooves. It trotted towards us, and up to Gandalf.
"Unless my eyes are cheated by some spell, that is one of Mearas." Legolas spoke from behind me. Gandalf reached out and stroked the horse. This is Shadowfax." He said, in a caring voice. "He is the horse lord, and has been my friend through many dangers."
Did I know there was a horse lord until now? No. Did I know how Gandalf had managed to befriend it? Also no.
Gandalf swung onto Shadowfax, and I took that as a sign that we were going to leave soon. I walked over to where Legolas was already on Arod. He offered me a hand, and I took it, hopping up behind him. Aragorn and Gimli were on Haseful. Shadowfax began to trot north, towards Rohan. Legolas steered Arod after him, and spurred him into a light canter.
Looking back, I saw Aragorn right begin us. He shot me a knowing smile and I scowled playfully back at him.
I wrapped my arms around Legolas and leaned my head on his back. I closed my eyes and thought about our journey so far. None of the Hobbits were with us, and that made me worry. After all, I wasn't completely sure that Merry and Pippin could fend for themselves out here. I told myself it would be alright.
I started thinking about my family back in Rivendell. What would happen when we get back? I doubted that my life would be the same after this whole experience.
Than a thought hit me.
Wouldn't Legolas have to go back to his home, in Mirkwood? Would I ever see him again after this journey?
But I couldn't worry about that now. We have a mission in front of us, that needed to be finished. And I couldn't let my feelings override that.
I let myself relax, and, before I realized it, I had fallen asleep to the comforting movement of Arod.
----///----///----///----///----///----//
A/N: And as you can tell.....I am back. From my little vacay.
It was awesome, but very tiring. I got home today, like, really early and worked on this chapter.
Funny Story: During my vacation, since I didn't have wifi and couldn't update, I would think of what I would put in my book when I got back. I was just constantly zoning out in my spare time.
Anyway.
I want to give a shout out to: BambiTheLightCaster for voting for my story. Thank you so so much!!!!
I have no clue when I will be updating again so please be patient. You guys are good about that.
VOTE!!!! COMMENT!!!! FOLLOW!!!!
Bullseyes,
XXbowandarrowsXX