Disclaimer in chapter 2 3.

Chapter 4 – White Wizards and Witches

Even the wonderful smell coming from my riding companion couldn't block out the horrid stench which rose from the pile of burning orc bodies.

Legolas dismounted quickly and held his hands up to assist me. I swung my left leg over the horse and slid off, careful to not allow the point of the Scythe to injure our mount.

Yes I could have landed just fine.

No I didn't need Legolas' help but he didn't know that.

And so what if I "stumbled" a bit and needed him to "catch" me so I wouldn't fall. So what if this caused him to wind his arms around me and hold me briefly against his body as I struggled to regain my "balance".

I smiled up at him as I straightened, but his eyes told me that he clearly saw through my ruse. He quirked a smile back and I grinned, blushing.

Wait…I don't blush. How come this Elf-guy can make me blush?

I stepped back from him some regret and turned towards the pile of charred orc-flesh. Lovely. The riders had even marked the place with an orc's head on a pike. Its black tongue lolled out of the rubbery lips, baking in the sun.

Gimli was using his axe to dig through the pile of smoking carcasses while Aragorn searched the ground. I took in the scene as best I could, my eyes falling on the dense and creepy forest off to the far right.

The Dwarf gave a dismayed cry and pulled from the smoldering heap a belt and scabbard, obviously belonging to one of the Hobbits.

"It's one of their wee belts," he said, voice nearly breaking in shock.

Legolas placed a hand over his heart and began to murmur strange words in a beautiful, wispy lilt," Hiro îth… ab 'wanath...".

Aragorn lashed out with his foot, kicked a discarded helmet and let out a frustrated cry. The helmet flew in a way that reminded me briefly of a football flying towards a field goal but even I couldn't find the humor in that observation right then.

Aragorn wheeled on his feet, sinking to his knees, holding his head in his hand. This was the most obvious display of raw emotion that I had seen from him so far and it affected more than anything else had. My breathing hitched and for the first time I saw what a good person Aragorn was. Yes he was gruff with me, but that didn't mean he had no feelings at all. He truly cared for these two Hobbits. I had misjudged him.

"We failed them," Gimli said numbly, his eyes wide with disbelief.

I bowed my head, tears stinging my eyes. If the Hobbits were gone it was a pretty good bet that Willow was dead as well. My shoulders started to quake as sobs threatened and I tried to comprehend my friends death. She had been an anchor in my life after joining the Slayers at home and I felt more than cast adrift knowing that she was gone.

Then Legolas put a hand on my arm, the heat from his hand seeping through my clothes as he continued to mumble. I felt slightly better knowing that my new companions were with me, but I knew none of them could make up for the loss of Willow in my life.

"A Hobbit lay here," Aragorn's voice said, shaking me out of my melancholy. "And the other," I heard him continue.

I dashed the tears from my eyes and watched as he examined the ground beneath him on his hands and knees. "A woman next to them…here."

"Willow." I said, hand over my heart.

"They crawled, the three of them," he said. "Their hands were bound."

He crawled further in the grass fingers working in intricate patterns over the disturbed turf.

"Their bonds were cut." Aragorn scrambled across the ground, briefly holding up a much abused length of rope before dropping it and continuing to follow the path that only he could see.

"They ran over here," he said rising to his feet and running along with the tracks. "They were followed. The women pushed the hobbits before her as they fled."

"Sounds like Willow," I commented, hope rising in my voice as I quickly followed Aragorn, watching his progress carefully.

"The tracks lead away from the battle...into Fangorn Forest," he concluded, the forest yawned huge in front of where he came to a sudden stop. Too intent on looking at the ground, I nearly collided with his back when he stopped short. Swerving at the last minute I came gracelessly to a halt next to him.

"Fangorn," Gimli breathed. "What madness drove them in there?"

I sniffed loudly, hopeful again that there was a chance they were still alive. "I imagine it was better than the bloodshed out here."

"The dangers of the forest are a poor trade for the battle they ran from," Aragorn said. "We now have our path," he said and he plunged into the forest, between the huge trees.

We quickly moved to follow them, my heart lighter now despite Aragorn's dire warnings of the dangers of Fangorn. As I stepped carefully in and around the raised and gnarled tree roots I couldn't understand what could be so bad in here, besides the inevitable wild animal. What could be worse than an Uruk?

We walked for what seemed to be a long time, the forest dark around us and I stumbled more than once when the light failed me. Luckily I didn't fall flat on my face. I couldn't tell the passing of time because of the dense trees.

There were strange stains spattered the ground and foliage at odd intervals. Gimli fingered one of the dark stains and then brought the stuff to his lips. He grimaced and immediately spit it out. "Orc blood," he declared.

"These are strange tracks," Aragorn mused, looking at the ground. I tried to look as well but all I saw were leaves and dirt. I could tell that something had passed this way but I wouldn't define it as 'tracks'.

"The air is so close in here," Gimli observed suddenly. I could tell he was getting nervous. The forest was too quiet, no sounds of birds or chatter of squirrels or anything.

"Feels like a hot house," I agreed. I couldn't shake the feeling that something loomed near to us. It felt heavy on my shoulders and neck like an unseen weight.

Like we were being watched.

"This forest is old," Legolas said, voice full of pride and wonder as he took in the surroundings. "Very old. Full of memory, and anger."

I could hear the anger! An odd sound was coming from the trees. It was like the sound of wood groaning to its breaking point but it also held the low thrum that reminded me of whales sounding. "What's that noise?" I asked momentarily panicked. The sound was not a friendly one even though I had no basis for comparison.

"The trees are speaking to each other," Legolas answered eyes wide, voice an awed whisper.

Gimli, startled by the threatening noises, took a defensive posture, raising his axe to his shoulder and turning around in frantic circles. The trees groaned all the louder and I flinched.

"Gimli!" Aragorn said quietly, "Lower your axe!" He gestured and Gimli complied reluctantly. My own hands longed to feel the Scythe in them, but I contented myself with flexing my right hand around the hilt of my short sword.

Legolas said something to Aragorn in that odd language I heard him use before. To my surprise Aragorn answered, but I couldn't understand a word of it. I wondered if Gimli knew Pig Latin…

"The White Wizard approaches," Legolas replied eyes shooting to Aragorn.

The group tensed up at the mention of the White Wizard. "Do not let him speak," Aragorn instructed quietly. "He will put a spell on us."

I reached for the Scythe but stopped as a small ball of light came floating out of the trees to hover in front of my nose. The pulsed with white brilliance and hummed soothingly. I looked at it, uncertain at first. I had seen something like this before but at home.

It reminded me of one of Willow's locator spells.

As if Willow sent it out to find me.

Was Willow with the White Wizard? She might be in trouble!

I pulled the Scythe from my back and turned to face the group, brushing off the small glowing ball of light, only to be momentarily blinded by a brilliant white light shining out from atop a small rise in the forest.

I cried out in surprise. Legolas' arrow was deflected, Gimli's axe clattered to the ground, deflected as well. Aragorn's sword grew too hot in his hand and it was dropped as well. Only I retained my weapon, but I made no move to use it.

"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits," a deep voice said, coming from within the light.

"Where are they?" Aragorn asked, even as he shielded his eyes from the overwhelming brightness before us..

"They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" the voice asked, amused.

"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragorn commanded, and the light faded at his request.

An old, white haired, bearded man, clad all in white and carrying a white staff stood at the top of the hill, looking down at us.

"It cannot be." Aragorn breathed. "You fell." Legolas fell to his knees, one fisted hand covering his heart. Gimli bowed low to the man but I just stood there, not knowing what to do. Who was this guy?

"Through fire and water, from the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought with the Balrog of Morgoth," the old man said walking down the hill towards Aragorn. "Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside."

"Darkness took me," he continued eye going blank with memory. "And I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead and everyday was as long as a life-age of the earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again."

He stopped and then his eyes refocused on Aragorn. "I've been sent back until my task is done," the old man concluded.

"Gandalf!" Aragorn said in amazement.

"Gandalf?" the old man questioned, "Yes... That's what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name."

He paused, finally looking at me, a twinkle in his eye. "I am Gandalf the White," he explained nodding his head towards me, "and I come back to you now at the turn of the tide."

Then a familiar voice called out, hesitantly, "Um…can I come out now too?" Gandalf looked over his shoulder and nodded before he moved to join Aragorn and the group further down the hill.

A petite red-head crested the hill looking dirty and disheveled but otherwise fine.

"WILLOW!" I shouted and ran at her. On top of the hill I caught my friend in my arms and swung her around as I hugged her tightly.

"Hey! Put me down!" Willow begged. "I'm dizzy!" Laughing, I set her on her feet.

"Are you okay?" she questioned suddenly serious. "I saw that orc-thing swing at you."

I shot her a look. "ME?" I asked, surprised. "Yeah I'm fine!"

Willow shrugged and smiled. "Well you've got blood dried in your hair. I wanted to, you know, check."

I grinned wider. "I'm alright, seriously. How are you? Those orcs didn't hurt you did they?" I asked, checking her over for injuries.

"The ropes hurt my wrists," she pouted, showing me where her wrists were abraded, "But other than that, I'm okay."

I shrugged. "That's enough for me. All orcs are D E D dead!" My grin turned wicked.

"I thought they already were," she pointed out, remembering the battle they had run from several nights before.

"Oh those are yeah," I said, "But there are apparently lots more!"

"OOoo! You could behead them like you did to that first one!" she said, excited. "That was wicked cool!"

"Thanks!" I said, proudly. "I was hoping you liked that."

"Yeah too bad I couldn't stick around," she grumbled.

I hugged her again, gently this time. "No sweat, babe. You're back in the fold now. All is well. AND I found the Scythe!"

I held it up proudly for her to see.

"NEAT!" she said loudly her fingers briefly running over the flat of the large blade. "Oh but…I'm not sure we want to go home with that, though. Gandalf and I have been talking and…funny…it turns out that Middle Earth has a Slayer myth too."

I put my arm around her and we walked down the hill to rejoin our group. They were shooting curious looks at Willow anyway so I thought it was time to introduce them to her. "Yeah…I figured as much. It seems like they're up to their eyeballs in crap. We should help out, you think? You know before we go home."

I eyed Willow, checking for a reaction. She smiled. "I was hoping you'd say that!"

"Excellent!"

We walked up to the others and I gave a sweeping bow. "Guys! This is my friend Willow!" I started the introductions. "Willow, this is Aragorn, son of Arathorn, Gimli, son of Gloin (he's a Dwarf), and Legolas of the Woodland Realm (he's an Elf)!

She nodded and smiled at each of them then turned to whisper to me, "He's a hotty! A serious hotty. A Hotty McHot Hot!"

"Hey! I thought you didn't swing that way!" I whispered back. "Besides I saw him first."

"Doesn't mean I can't look," she said primly.

"It is good to finally meet you, Willow," Legolas said, stepping forward with a glint of humor in his eye. Could he have heard us? "Kestrel was very upset when she discovered you were taken. It gladdens me to see that you are unharmed."

Willow couldn't help but blush at Legolas' words, lesbian or not.

"Now that we are all together we can discuss what to do next," Aragorn said, "Gandalf has made known his desire for our next step, but I would hear of your plans now that you are reunited." His hands rested on the hilt of his sword, waiting for us to answer.

Willow and I looked at each other and she gestured that I should speak. Stepping forward I said, "We talked about it and have decided that we'd like to stay here and aide you in your quest to overcome the evil which plagues Middle Earth!" I paused and then added, "That is…if you'll have us."

"OF COURSE WE'LL HAVE YOU!" Gimli exclaimed, stepping up between Willow and I and grabbing each of our elbows. "The MORE the MERRIER!"

I looked at Aragorn, for his opinion of this plan. I felt, for some reason, like I desperately needed him to approve of me and our presence here. He held my gaze for a long moment, searching my eyes. I relaxed my body and my mind, allowing him to see everything without reservation. I let my trust in him and my desire to help come to the forefront of my thoughts as we looked at one another.

After several moments he nodded and said, "It would be an honor to have the Dagnir and her companion fighting with us against the enemy."

I bowed my head in respect and said, "Thank you, Aragorn. You won't regret this."

"I know," he said, before turning and walking back out of the wood.

"See!" Gimli said, clapping me on the back, "He's warming up to you!"

I smiled as we followed him out of the forest.