This chapter could also be titled, "The Difference in Color" or "Contrast in Shade". None the less, this doesn't actually doesn't matter.
On with the story!
Chapter 3: The Black, the Grey, and the White
The group of four, consisting of Harry Potter, Cedric Diggory, Frodo Baggins, and Samwise Gamgee began their journey towards Rivendell with the current source of their future woes nestled safely within the top pocket of the Hobbit, Frodo Baggins.
Cedric glanced up as the four of them hiked out over the gentle Shire Countryside. It truly was beautiful as he enjoyed the many views the area had. The peaceful, shallow stream. The beautifully carved stone walls. Before he knew it, the time was in the afternoon and the two Hobbits were heating a kettle over a small fire getting ready for tea.
"Hobbits…" Harry sighed, shaking his head, "Always with their stomachs, and never their minds…"
"We've only been with Hobbits a scant few days before our leaving those seventeen years ago." Cedric said as Harry scoffed.
"And yet, we shall be made to spend much time with them until we reach Rivendell." Harry said, "And already I can see that they are ruled by their bellies."
Cedric laughed as he and Harry watched the Hobbits drink their tea before they moved on. It was not long after that they saw Samwise, or Sam, stop short to take stock of the surroundings while they passed through a field. Sam looked back from where they came as Harry and Frodo stopped to see what was keeping the hobbit.
"This is it." Sam said as Frodo gave him a look.
"This is what?" Frodo asked as Sam looked conflicted.
"If I take one more step… it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been." Sam confessed as Frodo moved back to Sam, giving his fellow hobbit a pat on the shoulder.
"Come on, Sam. I need you." Frodo said as Sam took a deep breath and stepped forward, his brown, furry foot hitting the ground. Frodo and Cedric smiled while Harry merely shook his head in amusement.
"Remember what Bilbo used to say…" Frodo said as he and Sam came up to Harry with Cedric just behind them, "He said, "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door...you step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's not knowing where you might be swept off to…" I think he was right." Frodo said as the four continued on their journey.
Harry's mind, however, was not on their own journey, but on that of Gandalf's ride to the valley of Isengard. He could just see it, Gandalf's horse galloping along the outskirts of the ancient forest of Fangorn. The tall black tower of Orthanc nestled into the basin at the foot of the distant Misty Mountains, as clear among it's surrounds as a pillar of smoke.
Gandalf sped his horse along as it galloped through the gate, into the fortress of Isengard. He rode in the great ring-wall of stone, a mile from rim to rim, which enclosed the beautiful trees and gardens of the land; all watered by streams that flow down from the mountains.
The strange tower of Orthanc hewn from a solid pillar of black obsidian rose up in the center of the Isengard Circle. Gandalf knew it well.
Gandalf dismounted his horse, petting the noble steed as it drank from a well bucket before turning to the tower, continuing in the stable as he continued toward the tower on foot.
"Smoke rises once more from the mountain of doom… the shadow takes shape in the darkness of Mordor; the hour grows late… and Gandalf the Grey rides to Isengard seeking my counsel…" said a man garbed in white robes as he descended down the steps just as Gandalf arrived at the foot of the Orthanc Stairs. This man was Saruman, the White Wizard of their Order. Saruman swept down the steps in a regal fashion, his gaze easy on Gandalf as he continued to speak. "For that is why you have come, is it not, my old friend?"
Gandalf wasted no time, moving quickly towards Saruman, grimy and weary from his long ride. "Saruman! I bring ill news!"
Gandalf and Saruman walked slowly between the beautiful trees of Isengard, Saruman's clean, white robes contrasting greatly with Gandalf's own dusty worn grey ones.
"Are you sure of this?" Saruman asked, his tone careful as Gandalf nodded.
"Beyond any shadow of a doubt." Gandalf said quietly as Saruman stroked his beard.
"Hmm… So, the ring of power has been found…" Saruman said thoughtfully as Gandalf sighed.
"Yes, and all these long years it was in the Shire!" Gandalf said, shaking his head, "Right under my very nose."
Saruman rounded on him, his eyes hard as his gazed locked upon Gandalf, "And yet you did not have the wit to see it! Your love of the Halfling's leaf has clearly slowed your mind."
Gandalf at least had the decency to look ashamed before shaking his head clear of thoughts. It was no time to feel shame. They had to act quickly!
"We still have time…" Gandalf said, "Time enough to counter Sauron if we act quickly!"
"Time?" Sauron sneered, turning on heel toward the tower as Gandalf followed his hastened pace, "What time do you think we have?"
They continued their conversation all the way up to the antechamber of the tower. Saruman and Gandalf seated themselves in the small, cluttered room to the side of the cavernous central chamber.
"Sauron has regained much of his former strength. He cannot yet take physical form… but his spirit… His spirit has lost none of its potency." Saruman said as Gandalf nodded, knowing for a fact that what his superior said was true, "Concealed within his fortress, the Lord of Mordor sees all. His gaze pierces cloud, shadow, earth, and flesh. You know of what I speak, Gandalf… The great Eye; lidless and wreathed in flame."
"Yes… The eye of Sauron." Gandalf said softly, closing his eyes briefly.
"He is gathering all evil to him. Very soon he will have summoned an army great enough to launch an assault upon Middle earth." Saruman said as Gandalf looked startled that Saruman knew so much more than he and Harry did. Could what Harry said be true? No! It couldn't! Saruman was a wizard as noble as he and Harry.
"You know this? How?" Gandalf asked carefully as Saruman stood, pacing the floor, his back to Gandalf as he answered.
"I have seen it." Saruman replied softly, "Come."
And with that, Saruman guided Gandalf through Orthanc toward a stone plinth on which a sphere like shape is draped with a cloth. Gandalf instantly knew what it was, and grew to fear that Harry might have held some true to his words. Saruman might not be as noble as he would like to have thought.
Though surely Saruman would not join Sauron. No, that would simply be impossible. The Saruman which Gandalf knew would rather stand aside than side with a destroyer of man, beast, stock, and stone.
Gandalf chose his next words carefully, wanting to know exactly where Saruman's allegiance laid, "A palantir is a dangerous tool, Saruman." Gandalf said deliberately as he watched Saruman lift the cloth to reveal the Palantir.
"Why, old friend? Why should we fear to use it?" Saruman said, giving Gandalf nothing as to which side, if any, the White Wizard might be on.
"They are not all accounted for, the lost seeing-stones…" Gandalf explained, even though they both already knew the fact, "We do not know who else may be watching." Gandalf threw the cloth back over the Palantir, but an image flashed through his mind's eye.
An image of a great fiery eye. Gandalf turned swiftly to where Saruman had been standing, but saw the wizard retreating to instead sit upon his throne. Gandalf never did understand why Saruman had recently taken to having such a thing around, but he was steadily starting to see that perhaps his visit to Isengard should not have been.
Perhaps he should have listened to young Harry after all…
"The hour is later than you think, Gandalf. Much later… I have seen much in your absence. Like the two boys; the ranger and the young wizard you guide under my nose."
"You knew?!" Gandalf asked, startled as Saruman made no move to rise from his throne.
"How could I not when he obtained ancient and forgotten power just outside of my own tower?" Saruman said nonchalantly as he leaned back onto his throne, "I have heard the rumors as well. About the wizard in black. His billowing black robes imposing to any that service evil's purpose. And that tales of the mighty knight in the wizard's service; going about the kingdoms of Man, helping them and teaching them how to better themselves." Saruman's face hardened as Gandalf said nothing at all. It was no time for finger pointing or childish bickering.
"Sauron's forces are already moving…" Saruman said, seeing that Gandalf would not give him any insight about the wizard in black, "the Nine have left Minas Morgul."
"The Nine!?" Gandalf exclaimed in shock as Saruman leaned forward upon his throne.
"Yes, the Nine. They crossed the river Isen in Midsummer's eve, disguised as riders in black. Not much different from your little friend masquerading as a wizard in black…"
"They have reached the Shire?" Gandalf asked, alarm written on his face. Saruman only shrugged.
"They will find the ring… and kill the one who carries it." Saruman said, his face set like stone. Gandalf backed away in horror, turning swiftly to run to the door… and was horrified to see the doors suddenly slam shut in his face in every direction, "You did not seriously think a hobbit could contend with the will of Sauron? There are none who can."
Gandalf slowly turned to Saruman, a look of dawning horror etched into his features as he now saw that Harry had been right and that Saruman was lost to them.
"Against the power of Mordor, there can be no victory. We must join with him, Gandalf. We must join with Sauron. It would be wise, my friend." Saruman said as Gandalf found himself disgusted, his eyes narrowing into a glare as he stood ready against the fallen leader of his Order.
"Tell me, friend, when did Saruman the Wise abandon reason for such madness?" Gandalf asked in a deadly tone as Saruman narrowed his own eyes.
It was at that moment Gandalf found himself suddenly blasted across the room! He slammed against the wall, pinned there by some unseen force. It was with tremendous effort that Gandalf wrenched himself off the wall and swung his staff at Saruman, blasting the White Wizard off his feet.
Gandalf and Saruman battled, throwing powerful blasts of unseen energies at the other as they knocked one another across the room. Gandalf, summoning much of his strength, swung his staff forward as he bowled Saurman over and out of a set of doors that the White Wizard had previous locked with a powerful spell. Tired and emotional drained from the betrayal of his oldest and dearest friend, Gandalf hobbled past the downed wizard, but was taken by surprise when his staff was suddenly wrenched from his grasp. He looked back, seeing the object of his magical powers flying across the chamber into the Saruman's hand as the darkly turned wise wizard's eyes blazed with new fire. Then Saruman slammed both staves down, an invisible force flinging Gandalf to the cold floor where he was trapped under the unseen power.
"I gave you the chance of aiding me willingly, but you have elected the way… of… PAIN!" Saruman snarled in fierce anger.
Gandalf's breath came in harsh gasps as he lie trapped on the floor. The look of madness in the eyes of Saruman was too much for him. He kept his eyes pinned to the marble floors beneath him just as his body was. Commanding two staffs now, Saruman laughed manically as he sent Gandalf into a sickening spin. Gandalf shut his eyes to the whirling world as he tumbled toward the top of the chamber. Even as he screwed his eyes shut, Gandalf concreted on the very last dregs of his powers. These few sparks of vitality would be just enough. He rocketed toward the roof of Orthanc, thinking of only three words.
Deliberation. Divination. Destination.
Harry's head shot up from where he was hobbling along with his staff in hand, using the entrustment of his power as a humble walking stick.
"Somethin' the matter, Harry?" Cedric asked, placing a gentle hand on his friend's shoulder.
"I sense a disturbance in the balances…" Harry said, a faraway look in his eye as he gazed into the makeup of the world. "The balance of power has shifted. In which direction, I could not say, but… I predict dark times ahead of us…"
"Well, good to know," Cedric smiled tightly as he clapped Harry on the shoulder once. "Ya know, all because we're guarding the You-Know-What from You-Know-Who. Couldn't have possibly foreseen that sorta stuff without your star-gazin'."
"Cedric, I'm completely serious." Harry scowled as Cedric moved past him looking supremely unconcerned, "I think something's gone wrong with Gandalf's meeting Saruman."
"Didn't you expect as much?" Cedric shot back passively, "Didn't we expect as much?"
"Yes, but I had hoped we were wrong and Gandalf was right as elders usually are." Harry sighed as they continued down the country lane which bordered Farmer Maggot's Fields. The old farmer would skin any alive if he caught them in his fields.
"Well, this isn't the time of old. A new age is on the horizon," Cedric said, looking up into the clouds of the day, "I can feel it. Can't you? A new wind blowing through."
Harry allowed the breeze to take up his hair and sway the untamed mane in any and all direction. He gently closed his eyes as the cool winds ran past his ears and through his clothes. It was nice, but yet and still so far off. It was like the foretelling of spring right before a long and harshly cold winter.
"Yes, yes, I can feel it. And it feels nice, Cedric." Harry said as he opened his eyes and smiled at his more optimistic friend.
"Glad to hear it, Har." Cedric and Harry continued up the path, Sam and Frodo now well ahead of them.
"Mr. Frodo." that sounded like Samwise, "Mr. Frodo!" and the boy sounded panicked for some reason. Harry and Cedric exchanged a look before jogging forward to catch up to the two hobbits. Just as they arrived, Frodo had turned in surprise as Sam, Harry, and Cedric came running toward him.
Sam breathed a worried sigh of relief, "I thought I lost you, Mr. Frodo."
Frodo looked at Sam suspiciously. Sam glanced down, embarrassed now that three sets of eyes were upon him. Harry looked annoyed while Cedric seemed much more amused.
What are you talking about, Sam?" Frodo teased.
"It's just something Gandalf said back when we were packing…" Sam muttered as he stared down at his bare feet.
"What did he say?" Frodo asked, curious of what Gandalf might have told Sam. Harry and Cedric were curious as well.
Sam looked up, meeting their gazes seriously, "He said..."Don't you leave him, Samwise Gamgee."… And I… I…" here he looked at Frodo intently, "And I don't mean to."
Despite all the emotions he felt from that last determined statement from his friend, Frodo laughed, "Sam, we're still in the Shire. What could possibly happen?"
Harry was about to make a disbarring comment about constant vigilance when suddenly a figure came crashing out of a hedgerow sending Frodo flying. Cedric unsheathed his blade, the silvery metal gleaming in daylight as though it were forged just yesterday. Harry held Cedric's blade at distance before he brought up his staff, and stabbed the blunt end at the figure when he noticed bare and hairy feet. Frodo picked himself up, only to be knocked back down again by another hairy-footed figure.
"Frodo! Merry, it's Frodo Baggins." the second figure said as it sat atop Frodo.
"Hello, Frodo!" the first figure, Merry, said as he, Frodo, and the still unnamed hobbit figure picked themselves up... a variety of vegetables now scattered at their feet and everywhere else.
"What is the meaning of this!?" Harry bellowed as he poked the still un-introduced hobbit with his staff.
"Ow! That hurts!"
"Pippin, its one of th-them!" Merry uttered as the second hobbit, Pippin, looked up at the dark robes Harry wore and then to the staff he carried.
It was beautiful. Carved finely of Holly wood from far-off woodlands, standing a few inches taller than Harry and thickly made. Atop it rested four figures the Hobbits had never seen. A bird of some kind and three others which never crossed their paths in life. Atop the creatures was a green gem of some sort they could not identify, and in glittered in the sun's rays as if freshly polished.
"You've been into Farmer Maggot's crop!" Sam accused as Merry shoved a large cabbage into his arms.
"Little weasels, huh—?" Cedric was cut off as angry shouts came racing toward them along with a large pitchfork.
"Who's that in my field? Get out of it! Get out of my field, you young varmits! I'll show you...get out of my corn!"
Merry and Pippin hurriedly gathered their booty and raced away without a second glance backward… leaving Frodo and Sam to quickly start at their heels.
Harry sighed, "I'll handle the irate farmer. You give those two knuckleheads a good wrapping on their noggins." Cedric nodded, "Go quickly, before they cause more trouble."
"As you wish, my liege lord." Cedric gave a mocking bow while dancing away to avoid Harry's swipe at him.
"Blasted son of a Diggory!" Cedric laughed as he ran after the Hobbits, following their messy trail with great ease while Harry took a tongue-lashing from Farmer Maggot.
Due to his long strides and now years of conditioning, Cedric easily caught up to the four Hobbits who were still on the run.
"I don't know why he's so upset, it's only a couple of carrots." Merry said as he glanced behind them.
"And some cabbages...and those three bags of potatoes that we lifted last week. And then the mushrooms the week before." Pippin said mockingly.
"Yes, Pippin, my point is, he's clearly over reacting." Merry said, and just to have a little fun, Cedric stopped and hid before pulling out a wooden whistle. He gave it a blow, and out from it came the sounds of large dogs baying at the heels of the Hobbits.
"Run!" Pippin shouted, jumping as he and the others heard dogs at their backsides. Cedric laughed as he went back to catching up to the frightened hobbits. Harry would surely scold him or even thrash him for his sport, but it was well worth the merriment in Cedric's eyes.
And they had so little merriment these days…
Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin in their fright were not slowing nor paying attention to the path before them. In this effort, they tumbled head over heels down a bank and onto a dark, wooded road. Cedric stopped at the bank, before jumping down smoothly, allowing his feet to slide down instead of rolling like a sack of potatoes as the Hobbits did.
"Having fun there, boys?" Cedric asked as he stopped with the four little men at his feet.
A winded Pippin looked up at him, "You've slid in horse droppings…" then his face went back into the dirt while Cedric made a disgusted face as he realized Pippin's words were true. Luckily, it was only at the side of his new boots, and did not require much to rid from the dung and swipe his boot in the dirt to rid it of the offensive excrement.
Pippin redoubled his efforts to get up, "Well now, that was close." he said while Frodo picked himself up with the help of Sam. Frodo glanced around quickly.
Merry got up groaning, "Ow... I think I've broken something." Cedric watched as the young Hobbit pulled a large carrot from his back pocket. The thing was almost broken through in the middle.
"Be luckily it wasn't your other carrot, boy-o." Cedric said as he took the carrot from the boy.
"Huh…? Oh!" Merry had only just gotten the reference when Sam turned to him and Pippin.
"Trust a Brandybuck and a Took." Sam said as though it were an insult.
"What? That? That was just a detour." Merry said as Pippin nodded.
"Yeah, a little shortcut." Pippin stated proudly as he and Merry hooked arms.
Sam looked woefully uninspired, "A shortcut to what?"
"Mushrooms!" Pippin said, after spying the fungus under the trees on the far side of the road. Cedric turned, amused with the littlest Hobbit's antics as he saw the small, brown mushrooms growing amongst the Loamy undergrowth. Sam, Merry, and Pippin raced toward the mushrooms!
"Is something the matter, Frodo?" Cedric asked, seeing the fair Hobbit was tense and watchful.
"We're… we're on a wooded road…" Frodo said as Cedric's smile fell. They were on a road.
Then his eyes widened in realization. THEY WERE ON A ROAD!
Cedric took up Frodo with not a second thought as he moved to cross the road. Scattered leaves rose into the air, whirling down the road as if blown by an invisible wind. Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves filled the air.
"Off the road! Off the road, now!" Cedric shouted lowly as he briskly made his way toward the others. A long drawn wail came down the wind, like the cry of some evil and lonely creature. Snatching up Pippin while Sam took a hold of Merry, Cedric jumped down another bank on the side of the road and threw them down to hide under a mossy log while he stole behind a fallen tree.
The sound of hooves drew ever closer. A sinister darkness littered the air as Cedric peeked through the underside of the fallen tree. There along the road was a dark rider mounted atop a snarling black horse with insane and furious eyes. The figure was clad in evil black robes compared to that of Harry's faded and humble ones. The figure was hooded and faceless and Cedric found himself pinned in fear of being caught.
Cedric glanced ahead of himself, seeing the hobbit Frodo frozen in terror. The dark and sinister rider paused right beside their hiding place. Cedric watched him carefully, seeing how he sat very still with his head bowed, listening for them. The deathly silence around them gave way to a sniffing noise, which Cedric could clearly tell came from inside the hood of the dark horseman. It was as if this menacing huntsman were trying to catch an elusive scent; his head turning from side to side.
Turning back to Frodo, Cedric saw that beads of sweat were now decorating the hobbit's brow. The evil jockey suddenly slid off his horse, leaning over the mossy log, peering suspiciously into the woods. Cedric's heart plummeted when he saw Frodo draw the ring out of his pocket with trembling hands. Frodo's face fevered and he sweat as if in the grips of some terrible internal struggle. Cedric reached just out of sight and held Frodo's hand closed over the ring while screwing his courage to the sticking place. The horseman's menacing sniffs came again, this time more intensely than the last as his head darted from side to side like a bird of prey.
Cedric screwed his eyes shut while Frodo squeezed his closed as well. Their minds now assaulted with images of utter evil like waves crashing against the shore.
EVIL DARK TOWER…
A GREAT EYE…
A BURST OF FLAME…
As quickly as they came, the images went with the huntsman's absence as well. The dark rider spun at the sound of birds down the road and lights flaring in distance. The hooded figure darted down the road with frightening speed toward the flaring images. Frodo and Cedric instantly slumped as the darkness in their minds left them.
"What was that?" Merry asked as soon as the sound of hooves was well enough away. Frodo stared in space, a look of shock on his face as Cedric's hand slid weakly from over his own, making visible the little golden ring which lie in the palm of his hand.
"Come, up! The wraiths are upon us!" came Harry's voice as he dropped in front of them, scaring the Hobbits while Cedric looked up toward him through bleary eyes. "Have you the strength to move?"
"I have a will, sir." came Cedric's mocking tone and smile as he sluggishly stood upon his limp limbs.
"Then you've more than enough." Harry nodded, "Now come, I shall cloak us as best as I can whilst we flee."
Night quickly descended upon them as they fled the scene and tore in the direction of the ferry. Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin hurried through the trees, slipping and sliding on the muddy ground. Harry and Cedric were behind them, keeping their backs safe and their eyes ahead of the little Hobbits in case of danger.
"What's going on?" Pippin asked, scared as Merry moved past him to Frodo when they had stopped to scout out the ferry pass.
"Anything?" Sam asked while Frodo looked ahead.
"Nothing," he replied just as softly as he was questioned.
Merry watched Frodo intently. Sam kept looking around nervously.
"The Black rider was looking for something… or someone… Frodo?" Merry spoke while eatching for Frodo's reaction.
Before Frodo could answer, Harry and Cedric stepped into the grove. They stood in relative silence for a moment before Harry spoke up.
"Come. We must go." he said with authority.
Frodo stood frozen for a few moments before turning to the blonde-haired Pippin. "I have to leave the Shire. We have to get to Bree."
"Right" the blonde Pippin nodded in one quick movement.
They stepped carefully through the undergrowth, trying to stay out of the view of the riders which seemed to increase in numbers as they moved further toward the river. With the appearances of these dark figures, so did their approach to the Buckleberry Ferry become even more cautious. Every step was taken in complete anxiety and there was always someone keeping an eye out for a rider. All around, they heard the signs. Theblack horse hooves beating against the dirt path… The snarling horse mouths as they were driven faster and faster to their prey… a fleeting black cowl as a rider would pass them by mere inches as they crept and lay silent so as not to be detected.
"There's another one!" Merry whispered in fright.
"This way!" Cedric urged onward in the same hushed tone.
Cedric led the rest of the way and now stood on the ferry, which turned out to be a number of logs tied together in a small raft with a pike.
"Get the ropes, Merry." Cedric instructed as he hopped aboard the ferry. Merry undid the ties of rope which connected the raft to the river bank and Pippin was preparing to push away from the shore with the pike. Sam arrived shortly after waded into the water to push the raft away from the bank. Harry was last, having arrived behind Frodo to make sure the Hobbit did not fall too far behind.
Harry stood one the bank and saw Frodo about to board the ferry.
"Harry, behind." Cedric said, a hand clasped around the handle of his sword. Harry turned away from the river, and what he saw gave him pause in fear.
Hot on their trail was a black rider.
Harry, acting almost on instinct, raised his staff before moving it in a full circular motion. He stamped the rod into the ground, causing it to shake as colors came into being in front of him.
"By the powers that be and those that will come, I cry… STAY!" Harry incanted. A thin barrier of light illuminated the space between him and where the black riders was forced to stop as his horse impacted the shield. The rider's horse reared up in fear and, seizing the opportunity, Harry picked up Frodo by the scruff of his neck before heaving the young Hobbit onto the raft with strength that betrayed him before jumping onto it himself.
The wraith pulled up on the end of the wharf, shrieking with rage! The Hobbits covered their ears to the vile wail of anger.
"You okay?" Cedric asked, knowing that mystic shields against mystical foes weren't Harry's expertise.
"It's been a long time since I've had to fight any darkness like that…" there was no trace of the refined Middle Earth tone to Harry's words, showing just how shaken he was by the experience. "We've got to hurry to Bree."
"Right you are, mate." Cedric said, knowing that Harry's causal tone was only reserved when he was either especially at peace, or especially worried.
Harry, Cedric and their four hobbit companions watched as the black rider, now joined by several others, spurred their horses away and galloped along the Brandywine river bank, quickly disappearing into the fog.
"Wh-What was that thing?"
"How far to the nearest crossing for them?" Harry asked as he sat up from where he had thrown himself onto the little raft.
"The Brandywine bridge… twenty miles from here…" Merry supplied as Harry sucked in air and expelled it in a calming manner.
They were safe… if only for the moment…