Chapter 1: Fangorn's Portal

A.N: Of course if you're reading this: please review! Oh, anyone who's played LotR: The Third Age will know our friends Idrial, Berethor, Hadhod, Elegost, Morwen, and Eaoden. This part follows our Middle Earthian (is that correct?) friends, as the quest begins.

(11/7/09- More editing. This time I've adapted some of text, changed minor details. Plot remains the same, of course.)

Disclaimer: I wish I owned LOTR and Harry Potter. I really do, but I'm not rich or nearly as talented.

Gandalf wasn't often wrong. In fact, excluding Moria, the old wizard had never come out worst. Even Moria didn't count in that respect. Due to that fact, that he was never actually wrong, this time everyone remaining in the fellowship was positive he'd cracked.

He had only recently narrowly escaped death -due to the Balrog being unwilling to go alone- and then only thanks to the timely arrival of a mysterious group who had promptly joined him in the fight against the Balrog.

This would, however, merely have been very brave but stupid if it hadn't been for one particular member- Idrial. In its weakened state, the Balrog had only been able to feebly grasp the wizard's ankle. Idrial had quickly cast a water spirit at its paws in panic, and had thus successfully saved the wizard's life.

Idrial, a man called Berethor, and a dwarf called Hadhod were sitting a little way from the rest, conferring with Gandalf. "But you could make your way to Osgiliath until I get back?" Gandalf was saying. "Yes," replied Idrial impatiently. "Berethor already had us clear it out again. But I thought you would want us to mark Frodo."

Gandalf shook his head. "Boromir already offered. I didn't refuse him because of the incident at Amon Hen, I did it because two hobbits won't attract any more attention than is unavoidable. But imagine how the Eye would be drawn to two hobbits with a guard consisting of one man, much less you three!"

Berethor could see Idrial preparing herself to answer and start what he just knew would be a massive argument and decided he really wanted to avoid it.

"Yes, yes. We'll do it, but hurry back, OK? Osgiliath won't remain clear for long. The orcs want it." he said hastily and without another word pulled Idrial to her feet, and motioned to Hadhod to follow. The three mounted their horses -Idrial managed to do this sullenly- and were soon beyond even Legolas' eyes.

Boromir had resumed teaching Merry and Pippin sword-fighting. Once again he was underneath two hobbits who were bent on sending him to bed with serious bruising. Aragon, Legolas and Gimli were watching this, laughing and occasionally pulling a hobbit off him. Gandalf sat on a boulder and looked around.

There it was. Two trees on either side of a large boulder had shining runes visible only to him on their trunks. 'Enter ye who hath eyes to see the gate we keep. Raise your staff and enter.'

Obviously this was a gate made by and for wizards.

Aragorn, seeing Gandalf rise, bellowed, "Close your eyes!" Legolas and Gimli dived for cover and Boromir and Aragorn tackled the hobbits. All except the hobbits knew exactly what would happen if any eyes were exposed.

And sure enough, as Gandalf raised his staff there was a literally blinding flash. When all was quiet and Gandalf called "It's safe!", Boromir and Aragorn received kicks in areas of a sensitive nature.

"Get off us you great lummoxes!" Legolas and Gimli simultaneously exploded with laughter and winced in sympathy. "I'm-gaaaah!-choking!" Gimli gasped, face contorted.

Once the two men had sufficiently recovered and glared at the hobbits -who were in remarkably un-remorseful moods considering recent events- Gandalf gathered them round. "You six can't all come. Boromir, you don't mind watching the hobbits do you?"

The big man grinned. Defending the hobbits -with Berethor and Hadhod's help- had created a bond. "No," he replied. "I'll teach the little ones how to fight." The 'little ones' took the liberty of a few kicks to his back.

Gandalf turned to the other three. "And you lot can't come looking like you're off to kill a few orcs. Lose the weapons, and I've got robes which shall look more acceptable in an area of wizards of my friend's calibre."

The three exchanged amused glances. Legolas smirked and asked, "What's Gimli then? A wizard with height issues?" Gimli arched an eyebrow. "And you? A human with disfigured ears?"

Both grinned, then followed Aragorn's example and pulled on their robes. All three felt strange without weapons.

Boromir and the hobbits didn't help as sword-fighting resumed. The swords rang loudly in the background, reminding the three painfully of what they were missing.

"Look, can't I just have a hunting knife?" "No." "What about a throwing axe?" "No!" "My bow wouldn't be seen." "No weapons! If you don't drop it, I'll roast you in a fire that would put Mount Doom to shame!"

Even Boromir and the hobbits let off fighting. Merry, in the middle of a particularly enthusiastic blow with the flat of a sword, laid into Boromir's stomach without meaning to. Boromir howled.

Gandalf was quickly distracted and consequently forgot he was supposed to be lecturing the three seasoned warriors.

Suddenly a loud noisefilled the air, the vibrations shaking the earth. "Treebeard!" the hobbits yelled happily, seeing the old Ent who smiled at their words. "Merry...Pippin... what a wonderful surprise."

He spotted Gandalf and the portal at the same time.

"I was worried it wouldn't open." he remarked. "With Saruman still here, wouldn't his spells affect it?" Gandalf shook his head. " Not if I wished to break them. I mean to see about Saruman too."

Treebeard nodded. "I came to update you, as you requested if you remember." Gandalf nodded and Treebeard went on. "He has attempted bribes. He has tried to say no trees will die if he can go, but if not, Fangorn shall wither. Here his eyes hardened. "His honey tongue has soured. We needed not his assurances of his broken power-that was clear, nor Bregalad and his cries of 'Tree Killer!' That also was clear."

He shook his head as though ridding himself of unwelcome thoughts and added by way of farewell; "I am on my way. Goodbye and good luck!" Legolas' eyes shone. "An Ent! The Ent! I never dreamed of meeting a tree guardian!"

They now faced the portal. The boulder between the trees now had a sizeable hole in the middle. It was so smooth it might have melted through the rock. A shining veil hung over it, like a waterfall.

It shimmered and every now and then a blue spark would fly from the edge. Gandalf stepped through and the other three followed.

"Up for sword-fighting?" "No."