I do not own
They enter the woods following the tracks of the hobbits that lead them deep in the Forest. Gimli saw some black blood on a leaf and when he tasted it he spit it right out because it was Orc blood. They continued until Aragorn stop when he saw Shippo looking at some tracks.
"I have never seen tracks like these before." Shippo said
"Nor have I." Aragorn said
Legolas and Kagome looked around the woods when they heard whispers in the trees. For Kagome she was looking for something. Ever since they got here she felt something familiar here.
"This forest is old." Legolas said listening to the trees. "Very old. Full of memory and anger." Then the trees started to groan which scared Shippo a little and ran over to his mama and Legolas. "It's okay Shippo. It's just the trees speaking to each other."
Gimli was in panic and lifted his ax. Aragorn notice it and said. "Gimli, lower your ax." Then the dwarf obeyed.
"Aragorn, something over there." Legolas said when he notices something in the forest. Then he notice Shippo and Kagome gone. "Kagome!? Shippo!?"
"Kagome!?" Aragorn shouted, looking around and started to worry about his companions. "Shippo!?"
Not far from them Kagome and Shippo walked to where they saw the figure go. They listen carefully to the whispers. It was like the trees wanted to show them what was hiding.
"Mama, this feeling. It feels just like…" Shippo said
"Kagome! Shippo! There you are. You had me worried" Legolas said embracing them. "Why did you disappear like that?"
"There's something here Legolas. It's watching us." Kagome whispered and then nod her head slightly behind them and Legolas knew what she met, for he too felt it. But then it disappeared again when Aragorn and Gimli came.
"There you two are." Aragorn sighed in relief but then notice how the three elves had tensed. "What do you three see?"
"The White Wizard approaches." Legolas whispered back, sensing the being is behind again.
"Do not let him speak, he will put a spell on us." Aragorn whispered as he went to drawl his sword from its sheath. Then the others followed his action. With his signal they turn to attack the White Wizard only to be blinded by a white light. The wizard deflected Legolas' arrow, destroyed Gimlis' ax, blocked Kagome ice powers and Shippos' fox fire, and burned Aragorn's' sword in his hand.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits." The voice sounded like Saruman yet it was different somehow.
"Where are they?" Aragorn demanded
"They passed this way." The wizard nodded "They day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"
Kagome looked at the wizard when his voice started to sound familiar. "Who are you?" She asked
"Show yourself." Aragorn shouted
Once the light had gone down Kagome gasped and a few tears of happiness slip down her cheek. Standing in front of them was her beloved godfather, Gandalf. She and Shippo ran up to him and gave him a hug.
"It cannot be." Aragorn said as Legolas kneeled before the now Gandalf the White, and Gimli lowered his weapon. "You fell."
Gandalf's face looked back at the others with a serious look. "Through Fire and Water." He said "On the lowest dungeons on the highest peak. I fought him, the Balrog of Morgroth." He told them about how he defeat the Balrog and how he died doing it. But then he was brought back by an unknown source. "And then I was sent back till my task is done."
"Gandalf." Kagome smiled, whipping her tears always.
"Gandalf?" He thought as if it was an odd name. "Yes, this is what they used to call me." Kagome and Shippo nodded. "Gandalf the Grey, that was my name. I am Gandalf the White. And I come back to you now. At the turn of the tide."
The group walked through the forest as Gandalf filled their minds with new information.
"One stage of your journey is over, another begins. War has come to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras with all speed." Gandalf said
"Edoras? That is no short distance!" Gimli said
"We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king." Aragorn said
"Yes, and it will not be easily cured." Gandalf said
"Then…then we've done all this for nothing? We're going to leave the hobbits in those woods?" Gimli shouted
The trees seemed to shake around them.
"It's not a bad thing Gimli, the trees can protect them." Kagome said
"Yes, it was more than a mere chance that brought Merry and Pippin to Fangorn. A great power has been sleeping here for many long years. The coming of Merry and Pippin will be like the falling of small stones that starts an avalanche in the mountains." Gandalf said
"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend." Aragorn said "You still speak in riddles."
The group laughed at this and it seems to lighten the mood. Legolas smiled and wrapped his arm around Kagome and she smiled at him.
"A thing is about to happen here that has not happened since the Elder Days. The Ents are going to wake up and find that they are strong." Gandalf smiling
"Strong? Oh that's good." Gimli said sarcasm dripping from each word.
"I wouldn't be laughing if I were you Gimli." Kagome warned him. "You'll be surprised."
They reached the edge of the forest and the group who seemed to relax for a few minutes. Then Gandalf let out a loud whistle and seconds later a white mare rode over the hills towards them.
Legolas recognized the beauty. "That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell."
"Shadowfax." Kagome laughed and ran up to the horse to pet him like she did in the old days.
"Shadowfax." Gandalf said "He is the Lord of all Horses, and he has been my friend through my dangers. And has been Kagomes friend since she was a little girl." He chuckled at the last part when the horse brushed his head to Kagome, for her to continued petting him.
"It looks like Legolas has some competition." Aragorn laughed
Legolas just gave him a dry look, not amused by him comment. Kagome smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
"Don't be jealous love." She smiled
Legolas smiled back and kissed her back.
"Ew." Shippo whined covering his eyes. "That's gross mama."
Everyone laughed that.
Time has passed and they finally reached Rohan.
"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld." Gandalf said as they came to a stop a few miles outside of the village. "There dwells Théoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong." Gandalf looked at his companions. "Be careful of what you say, do not look for welcome here."
They urged their mounts to the walls. This was their stop before the battle against Saruman the White. Aragorn and Gimli were first to show up at the gates, followed by Legolas, and Kagome with Shippo who were followed by Gandalf. Aragorn watched as the banner of the Horse Master's fell to the ground in a heap, blown and tumbled in the wind. They rode through and saw how the people suffered because of Saruman's poison upon the king. As a miko Kagome wanted nothing more than to cleanse this place. Just being here made her shivered.
It did not take them long to reach the castle which rested upon the mountain. Gandalf lead the way and were parted by mounted soldiers. They walked up and they were greeted by the guards.
"Ah." Gandalf smiled
"I cannot allow you before Théoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame." The guard said "By the order of Grima Wormtongue."
Gandalf nodded at this, gave a looked to the others to do what they say. Everyone hesitated at first but quickly agreed and removed all their weapons. Kagome wasn't worried since she could use her powers if anything were to happen. As everyone disarmed themselves the guards look up at him.
"Your staff." The guard said
"You would not part an old man from his walking stick." Gandalf asked
The guard looked disbelief at that but he agreed to it and let them in.
"Very sneaky godfather." Kagome smiled as she helped him into to room.
Gandalf smile with a wink and put up a finger to lips. "Sshh…"
'This is going to interesting.' Kagome smirked
When they enter they saw a man dress in black and he was whispering things to the king.
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late." Gandalf said as he approached the thrown with Kagome by his side. "Théoden King."
The dark man whispered to him again.
"Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormscrow?" Théoden asked
"A just question, my liege." The man in black said and then stood from his seat. "Late is the hour, in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest." Then he eyed Kagome up and down and she made a disgusted look when he did. Aragorn almost had to hold Legolas back when he saw the man eyed his mate with lust.
"Be silent." Gandalf glared at the man "Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm." Then brought up his staff.
"His staff." Warmtongue said horror "I told you to take the wizard's staff."
Guards came in to attacked but Kagome let out her powers. The whole room started to become solid ice and freeze the guards to their feet.
"Théoden…" Gandalf called out walking on stone ground that Kagome laid out for him. "Son on Thengel, too long have you sat in the Shadows. Hearken to me!" He spoke softly. "I release you … from the spell." He concentrated on the magic.
Théoden laughs. "You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey."
Gandalf removed his grey cloak to show his white. Théoden jumped back in his chair in fear.
"I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound." He said as the power flared around him. He pointed his staff at the king and Théoden attempted to tighten his firsts to relieve the pain. Aragorn stopped a woman, telling her to wait as Gandalf continued.
"If I go, Théoden dies." Said Saruman voice
Then he was pushed back again by Gandalf's' powers.
"You will not kill me and you will not kill him." Gandalf said
"Rohan is mine." Saruman said
"Begone!" Gandalf said
Then Théoden body went to attack him but Gandalf pushed all his powers to send Saruman mind out of the kings. The king was flown back into the thrown and his age started to change back to normal. That's when Kagome unfrosted the room and the guards as well. Then Aragorn let go of the woman and she ran towards the king.
"Eowyn." Théoden smiled "Eowyn." And then looked at Gandalf. "Gandalf?"
"Breathe the free air again, my friend." Gandalf said
"Dark have been my dreams of late." The king stood before his court.
"Your fingers would remember their old strength better." Gandalf said "If they grasped your sword.
A guard came forward and held the sheathed sword before the king. Touching it lightly, before he grasped it, he slowly drew the sword from its sheath. The moment he unsheathe his sword he could feel his strength returning. Then he turned to Wormtongue with a glare and the said man was scared for his life. By the order of the king his men threw the man out of the throne room.
"I've only ever served you my lord." Wormtongue said as he was backing away from the King who still had his sword in his hand and had a murder look in his eyes.
"Your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" The king sneered
"Send me not from your sight." Wormtongue begged
The king bought up his sword to kill until Aragorn rushed over to stop him.
"No, my lord! No my lord!" Aragorn said as he stopped the king from striking. "Let him go. Enough blood has been spilt on his account."
That gave Wormtongue enough time to run away.
"Hail, Théoden King!" the crowd announced and bowed before him.
