Chapter 9
When they got there they dismounted there horses and Gimli went over to the burning pile and started shifting through the dead bodies. Aragorn screamed and kicked a helmet in anger and everyone else just looked around looking for hope of any kind that they were still alive.
Suddenly, Aragorn spotted a trail on the ground and stood up quickly.
"A hobbit lay her. Their hands were bound." He followed the trail a little further and found the cut rope beneath the grass everyone following him. "Their binds were cut." He stood and began to run. "Their tracks lead away from the battle and straight into Fangorn forest." He stopped has did everyone else looking into the dark forest.
"Fangorn? What madness drove them in there?" Gimli asked as he looked at the ancient trees.
"What wrong with the forest." Rosalie ask.
"It's told that the Ents live there. Moving and talking trees. They say the forest is evil." Gimli told them and the Cullen's eyes widen at the thought of talking and moving trees.
"This place gets weirder and weirder." Emmett mumbled.
"Well regardless of what drove them there, we are going to have to follow. The horses will have to stay." Bella said running to the horse and grabbing her bag, slings it over her shoulder and returned to the others. Aragorn nodded to her.
"Let's go find our friends." he replied and lead the group through the forest.
They followed the tracks into the forest for several hours before Gimli spotted a dark substance on a leaf. He touched some with his finger and brought it to his mouth tasting it, then he spit it out.
"Argh! Ork blood!" he shouted.
Suddenly moans and creaking noises were heard. Gimli raised his ax and Legolas stiffened as did the others.
"The trees are speaking to each other," Legolas said. "This forest is full of memory," he paused and his eyes widened, "and anger." Everyone looked wide eyed at Gimli.
"Gimli, lower your axe." Bella told him. Gimli looked at her then slowly lower his axe and the moans stopped.
"They have feelings my friend. The Elves began it; waking up the trees, teaching them to speak," Legolas told Gimli.
"Talking trees, what do trees have to talk about? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings?" Gimli asked and everyone chuckled.
Legolas stood still and was listening for something.
"Aragorn, Something is out there" Legolas told him.
"What is it" Aragorn asked as he walked over to Legolas.
"The white wizard approaches." Legolas said and everyone was on alert. Legolas reached for his bow as did Bella while the others held onto their weapons, standing very still.
"We must be quick. Do not listen to him speak or he will put a spell on us," Aragorn said as he drew his sword, everyone else followed his lead, listening to the footsteps approach.
"Now." Aragorn yelled and everyone spun around. Bella and Legolas fired arrows as Gimli threw an axe. The wizard that was bathed in bright white light deflected them all. Aragorn and the Cullen's hissed in pain as their swords heated up and they were forced to drop them and stare at the light, even the Vampires couldn't see who it was.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits," the wizard ask.
"Where are they?" Aragorn demanded.
"They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" the wizard replied and Bella snorted.
"No it doesn't. If you've done anything to them.." Bella warned taking a step forward but Legolas put and arm around her to stop her.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragorn said loudly. The light dimmed slowly and everyone gasp. Bella wiggled out of Legolas' arms and ran full speed at the Wizard.
"GANDALF." she yelled throwing herself into his arms. He laughed as he caught her and hugged her back while everyone else stood dumbfounded.
It cannot be," Aragorn said looking at their friend they all thought dead.
"I'm so sorry. I should have tried to save you." Bella cried. Gandalf released her and looked at her.
"No my dear. You could not have. It was not meant to be. I had to fall to become what I am now. Stop blaming yourself. I knew it was meant to happen." Gandalf told her. She nodded and wiped her eyes before hitting Gandalf hard in the arm. He gasp and looked at her.
"Don't you ever do that to me again, or I swear I'll show you some magic." Bella told him and he nodded a little frightened.
"Still a spit fire I see." Gandalf told her and everyone laughed. Bella went back to stand with everyone else.
"Forgive me," Legolas said kneeling. "I mistook you for Saruman." Gandalf looked at the elf then back at Bella.
"I am Saruman. Or rather, Saruman as he should have been," Gandalf said. He looked at everyone and smiled.
"And how are my friendly Vampires fairing." he ask them.
"We are well Sir." Edward told him and he nodded.
"You fell," Aragorn breathed still not believing his eyes.
"Through fire and water," Gandalf said. "From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought with the Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me. 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. I've been sent back until my task is done." Gandalf explained.
"Gandalf." Aragorn said smiling.
"Gandalf?" the wizard questioned slightly confused before recognition shined in his blue eyes. "Yes... That was what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name." Gimli chuckled.
"Gandalf," he said softly. Bella saw the Cullen women clutching their Husbands in happiness.
"I am Gandalf the White, and I come back to you now at the turn of the tide," Gandalf said seriously and everyone listened.
"Come we must move." He said and turned to lead them through the woods.
"One stage of your journey is over, another begins. We must ride to Edoras with all speed," Gandalf said as they neared the edge.
"Edoras? That is no short distance!" Gimli exclaimed.
"What's Edoras?" Alice ask.
"How of the King of Rohan." Aragorn told her and she nodded.
"What about the Hobbits." Rose ask Gandalf. He looked at her and smiled.
"They are safe with an Ent friend of mine." Gandalf said and she nodded sighing with relief.
"A thing is about to happen that has not happened since the Elder Days. The ents are going
to wake up ... and find that they are strong," Gandalf said.
"You have not changed, my friend. You still speak in riddles." Aragorn said chuckling as did everyone else.
They came to the edge of the forest and Gandalf whistled. A beautiful white horse appeared running towards them with several other horses, plus the two Rohan horse they already had.
"That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell," Legolas said quietly as the horse stepped up to Gandalf. Everyone looked on in awe at the horse.
"Shadowfax," Gandalf said with a smile as he ran his hand down Shadowfax's face.
"He's the lord of all horses and he's been my friend through many dangers. And he brought friends for everyone. We will have to double up to ride." He said as he mounted his horse.
"We could just run." Edward said and Gandalf shook his head.
"No, People can tell you are Vampires by looking at you. But to keep tradition and not scare those who still are afraid you need to seem as normal as possible, until they can trust you as we do." Gandalf said and The Cullen's nodded.
Bella got on the horse with Legolas again as did Aragorn and Gimli. The Cullen's pair up with their mates and Edward got the last horse for himself. To Bella's surprise the horses took to the Cullen's well and to their surprise too, for animals normally shied away.
They rode hard until night fall. Bella listened to Alice whoop and laugh at the thrill of riding a horse. They stopped and made camp and the Cullen's hunted before coming back to take watch.
"I'll tell you what. The animals here taste a hell of a lot better than the ones back home." Emmett said when they came back and sat by the fire with everyone else. Bella laughed at him.
"I don't think I ever ask. But why do you drink from animals and not humans." Aragorn ask them.
"We don't want to hurt humans. We don't want to be monsters. We did not chose this life and we wanted to make the best of it." Carlisle told them.
"That's very honorable." Aragorn said and the Cullen's smiled at him.
"Did you know that when Vampires use to live here long, long ago before they left for a different world, that some people believed that those who were turned and not killed where meant to be Vampires. That it was their destiny. You may not have wanted it or like it but there is a reason, a greater design for everything." Gandalf told them. The Cullen's looked at him thoughtfully.
"At least that was what Wizards were taught." Gandalf finished.
"Elves too." Legolas told them.
"We never thought of it like that." Carlisle said and everyone went back to making small talk before they went to sleep with the Cullen's watching.
They rode all day and finally, the city of Edoras came into view. "Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here, the mind of the king has been poisoned. We must release him from his hold," Gandalf said as he urged Shadowfax. Everyone nodded and followed then into the city.
The feel of the city was depressing to say the least. Edward and Jasper had to block out the thoughts and feelings of the people as they past. For it was not pleasant.
"You'd find more cheer in a graveyard," Gimli mumbled and everyone silently agreed.
They got off their horses and made their way up the stairs to be stopped by guards. They eyed the Cullen's for a moment and decided that if they traveled with a Wizard, Elves and man then they must be ok.
"We cannot allow you to meet with the king so armed Gandalf Greyham by order of Grima Wormtounge," a guard stated, sneering at the name of Grima. Edward could hear that they didn't like him very much. Whoever he was. Gandalf nodded and handed his sword and everyone followed. Bella took off her bow and arrows as well as her knives and handed them to the guard.
"My father gave me these knives and they mean the world to me. Make sure nothing happens to them." Bella told him forcefully.
"I promise my lady." he said and she nodded and handed them over.
"Your staff," the guard said motioning towards it.
"Hum. Oh, you would not deprive an old man of his walking stick?" he asked as he acted old and unable to walk without it. The guard nodded and led them into the hall but not before Gandalf looked at Aragorn and winked taking Legolas' arm for balance. Bella bit her lip to not laugh as they all went inside.
They were led into the hall, Legolas still helping Gandalf walk inside. Everyone could see the king on his thrown and he looked to be near death, there was an ugly man with dark hair sitting with him.
"My lord, Gandalf the Grey is coming. He's a herald of woe," the man with dark hair said and it took them all of two seconds to realize that he was Grima Wormtounge. However, he did not know that under the grey cloak Gandalf wore, was a powerful white wizard.
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden King," Gandalf said as Legolas let go of his arm and he walked a few steps ahead of the group. Everyone else stayed close to him, well aware of the eyes of the guards on them.
"He's not welcome," Grima hissed to the king.
Why should I… welcome you, Gandalf… Stormcrow?" Theoden asked his voice slow, sluggish and struggling.
"A just question, my liege," Grima said as he stood and walked to Gandalf. "Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell spell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest."
"Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind you teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!" Gandalf said before he raised his staff and held it against the sniveling man. Grima cowered back and shook.
"His staff!" Grima hissed. "I told you to take the wizard's staff!"
The guards started to come after Gandalf but the others took care of them as Gandalf made his way to the king. The men went for the women first thinking they would be easy to beat. However, the Vampire woman and Bella quickly had them on their knees. Grima tried to run but Bella dropped to the floor and tripped him while Gimli stood on his chest.
"I'd stay down if I were you." Gimli hissed.
"Théoden, son of Thengel, too long have you sat in the shadows," Gandalf said.
"Hearken to me! I release you from the spell," Gandalf said as he held his hand out and closed his eyes. However, his limited magic spell had no effect on Theoden who started to laugh menacingly at him.
"You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey!" Theoden said. Gandalf threw off his grey cloak and everyone was blinded by white light.
"I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound," Gandalf said and raised his staff. Aragorn stopped a blonde woman in a white dress from rushing forward to the king.
"If I go. . . Théoden dies," came Saruman's full voice from Théoden's lips. Gandalf moved his staff closer and Theoden fell back more in his throne.
"You did not kill me, you will not kill him!" Gandalf exclaimed.
"Rohan is mine!"
"Be gone!" Gandalf said and charged forward striking a rising Theoden on the forehead with his staff. Theoden fell back limply before he swayed in his chair. Gandalf sighed heavily and stepped down from the steps. The woman escaped Aragorn's grasp and rushed forward to the king, bracing him and stopping him from falling forward. Slowly the aged and sickly pallor left the King's face and his older, but youthful face was once again his own. The woman smiled at him with tears in her eyes. The kind smiled at her.
"I know your face. Éowyn… Éowyn," Theoden said with a smile, his voice weak, but his own. His blue eyes left the woman before him and swept across his hall to rest on Gandalf with confusion. "Gandalf?" The wizard smiled at him and bowed his head.
"Breathe the free air again, my friend," Gandalf said and Theoden took a deep breath as he slowly stood and looked about his hall. His eyes landed on Gandalf's company widen slightly at the Vampires and the She-elf. But when he saw they had helped and kick the guard's ass he bowed his head in respect and they bowed back.
"Dark have been my dreams of late," Theoden whispered flexing his fingers.
"Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your sword," Gandalf said and the man that had stopped them at the door stepped forward with the large blade of the Rohan king. Theoden slowly wrapped his hands around the hilt and pulled the thick and heavy metal from the beautifully crafted sheath. The blonde girl cried in happiness when he held his sword.
The king caught site of Grima being held down By Gimli and Bella and narrowed his eyes and charged him. Grima got free and tried to run but the guard stopped him and dragged him outside tossing him on the steps as the king and everyone else followed. The king had murder on his mind and Edward and Jasper could feel it.
"I've only ever served you, my lord!" Grima pleaded, but Theoden paid no heed as he walked down the stairs and advanced on the groveling man.
"Your leech craft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" Theoden said with anger and hatred clear in his voice.
"Send me not from your side," Grima pleaded and Theoden growled before he raised his sword to kill Grima when Aragorn stopped him.
"No, my lord! No, my lord, let him go. Enough blood has been spilt on his account," Aragorn said as he held onto Théoden's hands.
Theoden looked at him and lowered his sword. Aragorn let go of the king and moved to help Grima to his feet when the man spitted on his hand and took off shoving his way through the crowd of people that had gathered at seeing their king for the first time in many months.
Bella gasp in anger at Grima spitting on Aragorn and disrespecting the king. She took off down the stairs after the man but Legolas and Edward quickly stopped her just as she reached where the king and Aragorn stood.
"Let me go. I'll kill that filthy snake myself for spitting on my friend that just save his life and disrespecting his king." Bella yelled and Aragorn put a hand on her shoulder.
"Do not worry about it Bella. Let it go." Aragorn said she looked at Aragorn then the king who was looking at her with respect and disbelieving eyes and sighed.
"Fine." Bella hissed and relaxed. Edward let go of her but Legolas kept an arm around her.
"I don't think I'd want to make her mad." the king whispered to Aragorn and several other of the guard agreed.
"You have no idea. My lord." Aragorn told him smirking. Bella just rolled her eyes.
"Get out of my way!" Grima yelled and charged to the stable where he took his horse and was gone.
"He will go to Saurman." Alice said looking far away.
"What do you see Alice." Bella and Jasper ask her and she shook her head.
"Just that he goes to the Wizard. Beyond that I don't know yet." she said and they nodded.
"Hail, Théoden king!" a voice called Bella, Legolas and Gandalf bowed there head while everyone else dropped to their knees. The king looked around for someone but couldn't find them.
"Where is Théodred? Where is my son?" Theoden asked quietly looking a Éowyn. She looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"He is dead, my lord." she said and the king looked wide eyed at her before following her to the body of his son.
An hour later the Fellowship was cleaned and changed and showed to spare rooms while the King grieved for his son and arranged the funeral. Then they were called into the throne room with the king.
Legolas stood with an arm around Bella as they waited for the king.
"I am sorry about not greeting you properly before." the king said as he took his seat with Éowyn by his side.
"No need to apologize my lord. We understand." Esme told him and he nodded.
"Now, Gandalf would you please introduce your friends. And explain why you have women in danger." he ask and Bella raised a brow at him. Legolas tightened his hold on her waist.
"Aragorn you know already. This is Prince Legolas of Mirkwood and his betrothed Isabella of Rivendell, she is also an Elf-Witch. Gimli son of Glóin and the Cullen family, Carlisle, Esme, Alice the seer, Jasper the empath. Edward the mind reader and Rosalie and Emmett. They are Vampires but they are not a danger to anyone. They drink only animal blood and were sent here from another world to help and are friends of Isabella. The women are very capable of taking care of themselves. They can take on the best of any man I assure you. They will continue to stand and fight with us as they have been doing these many months." Gandalf said and the king nodded.
"If that is there wish I will leave it at that, they are obviously not normal women. And you are all welcome. We can always use friends now days." the king told them and they all thanked him.
The funeral was later that day and it was a sad occasion. Once it was over everyone left Gandalf and the king by the tomb and went inside.
"I feel so bad for him." Esme said as they all sat around the table with the Fellowship.
"He is extremely sad. It was almost unbearable to feel." Jasper said and Edward nodded.
"I have a feeling he's not going to have time to grieve much. There is a reason Gandalf wanted us here. He said one stage of our journey is over and another begins. I think were about to see some serious shit." Bella said from between Legolas and Edward. Everyone nodded at her words wondering what was going to happen next.
