Note the cunning way I completely sidestep the fact that Gandalf is now miraculously Gandalf the White without dying.


Nelwen allowed herself a moment to enjoy Annamir's embrace before disentangling herself and hurrying towards Aragorn's prone form. She dabbed gingerly at his bloody nose with one hand while helping him upright with the other. Even as he winced in pain, he smiled at the sight of her, bringing up his hands to rest on her shoulders. "Nae saian luume," he said warmly. "Oio naa elealla alasse," she replied with a smile.

The smile was soon replaced with a scornful expression as she turned to look at Annamir, "I leave you two for four days and you end up brawling like lusty teenagers! What the hell happened?!"

"He made disparaging comments about my rangering skills," was Anna's petulant reply.

"Everyone makes disparaging comments about your rangering skills."

"Yes but no one else was around."

Aragorn hauled himself from the ground, carefully picked his way across the roots and fallen logs of the forest to join Gandalf and Annamir on the bluff, Nelwen following closely behind. As he approached, Annamir lifted herself to her full height, expecting, perhaps, another blow. Instead he shook her hand firmly. "Our emotions were running high. We thought you dead, Bell. It was a momentary frenzy, nothing more. No harm was done," he gestured to his nose with his free hand, "no permanent harm anyway." Annamir smiled, returning his handshake with gusto.

Nelwen surveyed the assembled group before her and smiled, "the fellowship is reunited. This is a fortuitous occasion." For a moment the foursome regarded each other in companionable silence, reveling in the unexpected joy brought by their reunion. Only one month ago they had left Rivendell, an unlikely assemblage of friend and stranger. Brought together by tedium and terror, they were almost like family.

"Gandalf," Annamir said, considering her friend with open curiosity, "you look different. What has happened?"

"Gandalf?" the wizard asked, as if surprised by the moniker, "yes, that is what they called me; Gandalf the Grey. That was my name. I am Gandalf the White."

"I don't understand," said Nelwen.

"No, nor will you. Only know that I have been given renewed strength to fulfill my errand here on mortal lands."

They all looked at each other with arched brows, somewhat dissatisfied with Gandalf's cryptic answer. But they knew that there was little point in asking for more information and instead pressed him to know what business he had attended to in Fangorn forest.

"I have met with my friends, the Ents, shepherds of the forest. Saruman's ambition devastates the land and I came here to spur the Ents into action. I believe I have succeeded; even now they have convened an Entmoot, a meetings of the Ents at Derndingle. A great power has been sleeping here for many long years. This meeting will be like the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche in the mountains."

"One thing has not changed, old friend," chuckled Aragorn, "you still speak in riddles."

Gandalf smiled, rested his hand momentarily on Aragorn's forearm, before briskly marching into the forest. Startled, the rest of the fellowship followed. "I had hoped to attend this meeting, lend my voice to the debate, but your arrival draws my attention elsewhere. We must continue our path east, to Emyn Muil and then through the Nindalf to Mordor."

"Wait!" called Annamir, "what about Edoras?"

"What about Edoras?" asked Gandalf, somewhat bemused as to what the capital of Rohan had to do with their quest to destroy the Ring.

"We hear of trouble in Rohan," said Aragorn by way of explanation. "The King has fallen ill."

"Yes, and it will not be easily cured," replied Gandalf. "But the woes of Rohan do not concern us. We must continue with our quest without delay. We have already suffered a lengthy detour. The quicker the Ring is destroyed, the quicker all kingdoms of men will be made safe."

Anna bristled, dissatisfied with Gandalf's answer. "The great war to end the age is beginning. If Saruman conquers Rohan, then Gondor will be alone with enemies on all sides. Defeat will be swift and brutal. How can we hope to cross into Mordor when our enemies grow in strength and number and our allies dwindle? We must head for Edoras, defeat whatever power deceives Theoden into hopeless impotence. Only by giving our strength to the Rohirrim will our path to Mordor be made clear."

Gandalf opened his mouth to speak, to press the urgency of their quest when Nelwen interrupted, "Annamir is right. We cannot leave this kingdom to languish and die! Otherwise we will share in Rohan's downfall."

The wizard scrutinised Nelwen closely, his eyes flicking across her face as if skimming the pages of a book. She'd been subjected to his intense examination before, in Elrond's study, when Gandalf had questioned her in order to determine her suitability as Ring Bearer. He'd agreed with her then; she hoped he would agree with her again. At length he sighed and shrugged, "the Ring Bearer has spoken. We make for Edoras."

"Speaking of which," said Annamir sheepishly, her hand making for the pouch on her belt, "I believe this is yours." She pulled out the Ring on its gold chain, held it aloft for Nelwen to take. Gandalf looked at her with confusion and barely veiled consternation but said nothing; he would force Annamir to explain later. With a sad smile, Nelwen reclaimed the Ring, undid the clasp to affix the chain around her neck once more. It had been a merciful few days without it but the Ring was her responsibility to bear and she wasn't going to shirk it, no matter how great the temptation.

Tucking the Ring beneath her tunic and giving it a gentle pat, she raised her head to survey her friends, "to Edoras!"