Aragorn dismounted along with Legolas and Gimli. Gimli quickly ran to the pile of burning orc's and searched through it with his axe. He soon enough found one of the belts that carried the hobbits daggers. In frustration Aragorn kicked one of the helmets that lay nearby before crying out and falling to his knees. Ana left Hasufel's side as he peacefully ate the grass to go to Aragorn's side. Gently giving his shoulder a nudge Aragorn turned to Ana and gently patted her face.
"A hobbit lay here and the other one." Aragorn said quietly as he observed the ground.
Ana listened quietly to Aragorn as his voice gave away his feel of loss, but then noticed the ranger's eyes show confusion and some hope. "They crawled." he said getting up, "Their hands were bound. Their bonds were cut!" He continued following a trail that apparently only he could see. "They ran over here, they were followed." Legolas and Gimli by now were following Aragorn. "The tracks lead away from the battle and into…" Aragorn paused as he stopped at the edge of Fangorn forest. "Fangorn."
"Fangorn? What madness drove them in there?" Gimli asked sceptical of entering.
Ana ordered Hasufel to stay where he was, knowing that no harm would come to him because of the orc's burning flesh, and walked past Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli entering the forest as if to take a stroll.
"I feel down hearted that a horse would enter the forest bravely while we stay out here." Legolas said voicing his thoughts.
Aragorn grinned lightly at the elf's comment and entered the forest after Ana. Ana swiftly made her way through the forest paying no heed to the moaning that came from the trees. Gimli suddenly stopped at a bush and dabbed his finger on something to taste it.
He quickly spat it out, "Orc blood."
"These are strange tracks." Aragorn said as he knelt down to examine a larger track.
"The air is so close in here." Gimli whispered weary of his surroundings.
"The forest is old, very old. Full of memory... and anger." Legolas spoke.
More groans and echoes sounded causing Gimli to raise his axe.
"The trees are speaking to each other." Legolas said as angrier groans sounded.
Aragorn turned to Gimli noticing his axe raised, "Gimli, lower your axe."
Gimli seemed to get the point and lowered it.
"They have feelings my friend. The elves began it, teaching the trees to speak." Legolas explained.
"Talking trees... what do trees have to talk about? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings." Gimli muttered but then he watched as Ana stood in front of a tree and raised her head towards the sky. "And what in blue blazes is that lass doin?"
The tree slowly swayed and one of its branches turned to point in the direction that led deeper into the forest. Ana followed the direction having turned to the tree and bowing to it. She started walking deeper into the forest, the party watching her in wonder.
"Seems they have more to say then you think Gimli." Legolas confirmed as he followed Aragorn and Ana.
Ana suddenly came to stop in a small clearing where the ground suddenly rose a few feet as if to create a platform.
"Aragorn, nad no ennas! (Aragorn, something's out there)" Legolas said before he moved forward.
"Man cenich? (What do you see)" Aragorn asked in a whisper.
"The White Wizard approaches," Legolas said quietly and Aragorn took a deep breath notching an arrow onto his bow.
Ana pinned her ears back and backed away to hide behind some trees. She knew she couldn't fight in her current form no matter how much she wanted to.
"Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us," Aragorn whispered. Gimli had his throwing axes ready and Aragorn put his hand on the hilt of his sword. "We must be quick." Aragorn and Gimli growled as the turned and Legolas fired his arrow, but the White Wizard deflected the arrow. Gimli threw one of his axes, but that too was deflected. Aragorn dropped his sword for it burned hot in his hands.
The light the wizard gave off was blinding and the sheer force of power the wizard gave off cause Ana to freeze in her place. It was more powerful than before and she was afraid. She had been cursed once by that white wizard, what would happen if she were cursed again?
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits," the wizard said in a deep voice.
"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 answered.
"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragorn said loudly.
The light dimmed leaving the three travellers speechless. Ana peered from behind the tree but stayed behind it still in fright.
"It cannot be," Aragorn said as he too looked upon the face of their old friend who fell in Moria.
Gandalf stood before them, but he was not cloaked in grey but white, and his beard was slightly longer and as pure as his robes.
'Gandalf?! No... was he the one who?!' Ana thought now confused.
"Forgive me," Legolas said as he bowed down followed by Gimli. "I mistook you for Saruman."
'Wait... two white wizards? If Legolas mistook him for Saruman then does that mean he isn't Saruman?' Ana thought again stepping out from behind the tree slightly.
"I am Saruman. Or rather, Saruman as he should have been. Ah, Beauty. I see you've joined them." Gandalf said smiling at her but she pinned her ears back and backed behind the tree again causing him to frown.
"You fell," Aragorn breathed as he stepped closer to the wizard.
"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," Aragorn said with a smile and put his hand on the wizard's shoulder.
"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." Gimli laughed softly.
"I am Gandalf the White, and I come back to you now at the turn of the tide," Gandalf said. He made to walk away, and Legolas along with Gimli started to follow him.
Aragorn approached the tree Ana was hiding behind. "Beauty." He called softly causing Gandalf and the others to stop. "Beauty come it is time we left this forest."
Ana didn't move but only to get out of Gandalf's sight. Gandalf noticed and stepped next to Aragorn.
"Beauty, if you think I am like Saruman then you hurt me deeply." Gandalf said calmly. "Do you not remember what happened on our first meeting?"
Ana stepped slightly from behind the tree and gazed into Gandalf's eyes. Gandalf smiled his blue eyes showing no sign of wanting to hurt her. Feeling slightly safer and with Aragorn next to Gandalf she felt confidence build inside of her. Finally she stepped closer to Gandalf allowing him to touch her muzzle.
"I had wondered where I had seen your eyes before Beauty, or should I say Anastasia." Gandalf said giving a slight laugh as Ana pushed her head closer to Gandalf's chest.
Without further delay the five of them walked through the forest back to where Hasufel awaited them.
"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 from his position at the end of the line.
"We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king," Aragorn said gently and Gandalf stopped in his strides making the rest of them stop.
"Yes, and it will not be easily cured," Gandalf said quietly.
"Then we have run all this way for nothing? Are we to leave those poor hobbits here in this horrid, dark, dank, tree-infested-," Gimli stopped suddenly as the trees groaned angrily once more, "I mean, charming, quite charming forest."
Ana couldn't help but neigh in laughter. She trotted beside Gimli and reared neighing to the trees and they settled down. Ana gave another bow before returning to Gimli's side.
"Oh yes, I remember that talent of yours very well my dear and it was more than 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 with a smirk.
"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend," Aragorn said as he walked up to Gandalf, who looked at him curiously. "You still speak in riddles." The pair laughed.
"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.
"Strong? Oh, that's good," Gimli said stepping closer to Ana.
"So stop your fretting, Master Dwarf. Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be," Gandalf said and then began to lead them from the forest once more since Ana had moved along with them.
They exited the forest and Hasufel greeted Ana with a neigh to which she responded. As Legolas patted Hasufel, Gandalf let out a low whistle that echoed through the land. A neigh sounded in the distance and a white horse appeared cantering towards them.
"That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell," Legolas said quietly as the horse stepped up to Gandalf.
"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."
Shadowfax turned his gaze to Ana who bowed her head to the Mearas. Shadowfax came closer to Ana as if to inspect her. Ana stood still and let the mighty stallion walk around her and sniff her. Feeling slightly uncomfortable during the stallions close inspection Ana walked forward slightly and ears pinned to the back of her head. Shadowfax followed, this caused some unease between Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. Shadowfax being a creature of good all his life the others didn't know what the stallion would do to the mare that had a mark of evil left upon her. Ana pawed the ground trying to make it clear that she was not in the mood to be interigated for something she had had no control over. Shadowfax didn't seemed convinced and reared neighing angrily as Ana did the same flailing her front hooves. Shadowfax began to fight Ana as if she were a rival stallion and she defended herself accordingly.
"Shadowfax!" Gandalf called as the two opposite colored horses fought eachother.
Shadowfax bite Ana's neck who in turn managed to get away. The fight went on with bucks and more biting until the two horses stood face to face. Both were blowing (or panting if you prefer.) slightly but neither of them moved. Shadowfax reared up and neighed his mighty neigh displaying his authority. Ana followed tossing her mane gracefully and prancing beside the stallion who stood still. Aragorn and the others held their breath waiting for another fight to insue but recieved none. Shadowfax and Ana walked back to Gandalf and Aragorn calmly as if nothing had happened between them.
"What do you suppose that was all about?" Legolas asked confused.
"It would seem that Shadowfax was testing Beauty's loyalty to us." Gandalf answered recieving a nodd from the white stallion.
"Whatever reason for?!" Gimli asked as Legolas mounted in front of him.
"Many creatures that are good can be tainted by evil. Ana has been marked by that evil due to the spell that binds her to this form." Gandalf explained. "If tainted for too long the creature can become corrupt and turn to the darkness completely. Shadowfax was only testing to see if Beauty had suffered the same fate."
"And what is the verdict?" Gimli asked.
"Beauty is still one of the light." Gandalf smiled, "She has fought against the evil for a long time and it has yet to corrupt her soul or heart. If you watched carefully master dwarf Beauty only defended herself but never went onto the offence."
Without delaying much longer the three horses galloped on their way leaving Fangorn behind them.