Chapter 1: The road to Isengard
Ana
That day we got on horse, I was on a white mare that Théoden insisted that I take as my own. I was riding next to Legolas and Gimli who still shared the same horse, Théoden, and Eomer accompanied us. The woods had returned to being quiet and peaceful. Soon we saw two familiar shirelings, Merry and Pippin saw us and stood smiling at us. "Welcome, my lords and my lady… to Isengard!" Merry greeted pointing to the tower in the background that seemed to sizzle and steam with whips of smoke every once in a while coming from it. "You young rascals! A merry hunt you've had us on…and now we find you feasting…and smoking!" Gimli exclaimed. I shared an amused look with Aragorn. "We are sitting on a field of victory… and are enjoying a few well-earned comforts. The salted pork is particularly good." Pippin said. "Salted pork?" Gimli said.
"Ok don't tease Gimli with food, wouldn't want to make Legolas's life harder than it already is having to share his horse with the noble Dwarf." I said nudging my horse forward, briefly sharing an adoring look with Legolas. "Hobbits." Gandalf muttered to himself. "We're under orders from Tree bread…who's taken over management of Isengard." Merry told us. "Who's tree bread? Is he an Ent?" I asked Legolas. "Yes." He said. While Merry and Pippin were put onto horses, and we rode through the water towards the tower. Then a giant walking tree came into view. "Young Master Gandalf. I'm glad you came." Said tree bread in greeting. "Wood and water, stock and stone I can master. But there's a wizard to manage here…locked in his tower." Tree bread told us.
"Show yourself." Aragorn said looking up at the tower. "Be careful. Even in defeat Saruman is dangerous." Gandalf warned. "Well, let's just have his head and be done with it." Gimli said. "No. we need him alive. We need him to talk." Gandalf said. "You have fought many wars and slain many men, Théoden king…and made peace afterwards. Can we not take counsel together as we once did, my old friend?" Saruman asked Théoden appearing to us from the top of his tower.
"Can we not have peace, you and I?" he asked. My skin was crawling just looking at him. "We shall have peace. 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 Horn burg are avenged! When you hung from a gibbet for the sport for your own crows…we shall have peace." Théoden said. We all looked up at Saruman. "Gibbets and crows? Dotard! What do you want, Gandalf Greyhame? Let me guess. The Key of Orthanc. Or perhaps the keys of Barad-dur itself…along with the crowns of the seven kings and the rods of the Five Wizards!" he yelled down.
"Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousands more are now at risk. But you could save them, Saruman. You were deep in the enemy's council." Gandalf yelled back to him, as he moved closer to the tower. I fallowed a little closer to him at the same time. "So you have come here for information. I have some for you." Saruman said pulling out the pillar stone and held it before himself in plain view. "Something festers in the heart of Middle-earth. Something you have failed to see. But the Great eye has seen it. Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon." He said. Gandalf continued to move forward on his horse but Aragorn grabbed onto my horses reins to keep me from moving closer to Gandalf. "You're all going to die. But you know this, don't you, Gandalf? You cannot think this Ranger will never sit upon the throne of Gondor." I glared up at Saruman. Wanting nothing more than to shoot him down with one of my own arrows. "This exile, crept from the shadows, will never be crowned king. Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those closest to him…those he professes to love. Tell me, what words of comfort did you give the Halfling…before you sent him to his doom? The path that you have sent him on can only lead to death." Saruman said tauntingly down to Gandalf.
"I've heard enough! Shoot him down. Stick an arrow in his gob." Gimli told Legolas with a nudge. Legolas got his bow and arrow set and aimed ready to fire. "No." Gandalf ordered quickly looking back at Legolas before turning back to Saruman. "Come down, Saruman…and your life will be spared." Gandalf said. "Not for Bloody long will he live if he comes down and I get my hands on him." I said to Legolas. "Save your pity and your mercy." Saruman answered. "Smart man." Aragorn commented. "I have no use for it." Saruman said thrusting his staff down, send a ball of fire down on Gandalf, who was able to absorb it. "Saruman, your staff is broken." Gandalf said as said staff blew apart in Saruman's hands. Grima appeared behind Saruman.
And for a moment I saw the man of Rohan. And Théoden saw him too. "Grima, you need not fallow him. You were not always as you are now. You were once a Man of Rohan. Come down." Théoden called up to him. Grima bow to him and made out to leave when Saruman spoke. "A Man of Rohan? What is the house of Rohan…but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the reek…and their brats roll on the floor with the dogs? The victory at Helms deep does not belong to you, Théoden Horse-master. You are a lesser son of greater sires." Saruman said. Théoden ignored him and looked to Grima. "Grima…come down. Be free of him." Théoden pleaded.
"Free? He will never be free." Saruman said. "No!" Grima yelled, Saruman turned to Grima "Get down Cur!" he told Grima then slapped him hard enough to make him drop from our view. I suppressed a gasp. "Saruman! You were deep in the enemy's council. Tell us what you know!" Gandalf demanded. "You will with draw your guard, and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner here." Saruman demanded. I saw Grima come up behind Saruman, then there was a look of surprise came across Saruman's face. Grima pulled a dagger from Sarumans back then stabbed him again. Legolas shot an arrow into Grima's chest and killed him. Sarumans body fell forward and impaled onto the spikes on the wheel. Merry let a little gasp out.
"Send word to all our allies…and to every corner of middle earth that still stands free. The enemy moves against us. We need to know where he will strike." Gandalf said. The wheel turned making Sarumans body go towards the water feet first. The stone fell from a sleeve of Sarumans tunic and fell into the water as his body completely disappeared into the water. "The filth of Saruman…is washing away. Trees will come back to live here. Young trees. Wild trees." Tree bread said happily. "Pippin!" Aragorn called to the hobbit. I looked over and saw that Pippin had the ball in his hands. "Bless my Bark!" Tree beard exclaimed. "Peregrin Took!" Gandalf called. Pippin looked up from the ball and at Gandalf. "I'll take that my lad." He said as he reached down to the hobbit. "Quickly now." He said when Pippin wouldn't hand it over. Pippin sighed at placed it into his hand. Gandalf quickly wrapped it in a piece of his old cloak.
I pulled Pippin onto my horse and we turned and around and headed back to Rohan. Were Eowyn was waiting for us. After setting Pippin down off the horse I rode her back into the stable then walked into the hall.