Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Alan, and Wesley went further into the woods. Gimli took a stain on a leaf then brought it to his mouth. "Orc blood!" the dwarf spat.
"These are strange tracks," Aragorn saw large footprints.
"We're not alone in this forest," said Alan.
"Merry and Pippin must have bumped into someone or something else," Wesley muttered.
"These are strange tracks," Aragorn spoke about large footprints.
"The air is so close in here," Gimli muttered.
"This forest is old. Very old. Full of memory and anger," said Legolas.
"Did you hear that?" Alan asked as there were groans causing Gimli to ready his axe.
"The trees are speaking to each other," the elf replied.
"Gimli! Lower your axe," Aragorn said to the dwarf.
"They have feelings, my friends. The Elves began it. Waking up the trees, teaching them to speak," said Legolas.
"Talking trees. What do trees have to talk about? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings," Gimli muttered impatiently.
"This is starting to get interesting," Alan muttered.
Aragorn and Legolas spoke in elvish. "The White Wizard approaches," the elf spoke Common Tongue.
"Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us," Aragorn readied to draw his sword. Legolas readied his bow and Gimli had a throwing axe. Alan and Wesley turned off the safety of their pistols. "We must be quick."
The elf released an arrow and the dwarf hurled the axe at the luminous White Wizard, however he deflected the projectiles quickly. Before the V.S.S.E. agents opened fire, the White Wizard pointed his staff at the pistols and did a gesture sending them flying from their hands. Aragorn drew his sword but the White Wizard caused it to become blazing hot forcing the Dunedain to drop it.
"He's quicker than I thought," Alan muttered.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits," the White Wizard spoke and the light emitted was so bright that his identity was concealed.
"Where are they?!" Aragorn shouted.
"They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"
"Show yourself! No funny business!" Wesley shouted.
"It cannot be," Aragorn spoke in disbelief as a familiar face appeared..
"What? No way," Alan muttered in disbelief.
"Forgive me. I mistook you for Saruman," Legolas spoke in an apologetic tone as he and Gimli bowed.
"I am Saruman. Or rather, Saruman as he should have been," said the White Wizard.
"If you're Gandalf the White, how did you survive the Balrog?" Wesley asked noticing the difference in the wizard.
"Through fire and water. 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 every day 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 recalled.
"Gandalf," said Gimli.
"Gandalf? Yes … That was what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name," said the wizard.
"We're glad that you came back to us," said Alan.
"I am Gandalf the White and I come back to you now … at the turn of the tide. One stage of your journey is over, another begins. We must ride to Edoras with all speed," Gandalf re-introduced himself and resumed leadership of the group.
"Edoras? That is no short distance!" said Gimli.
"We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king," said Aragorn.
"We had an unexpected encounter with the Rohan riders. Their leader said that Saruman corrupted their king so that he and his men were banished for being loyal to Rohan," said Wesley.
"Yes, and it will not be easily cured," Gandalf spoke as he could remedy that condition and knew the difficulty.
"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 whined until there were more groans being heard. "I mean, charming, quite charming forest."
"Gimli, you better watch your tongue. You don't want to piss those trees off, do you?" Wesley said to the dwarf.
"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 stated the fact.
"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend. You still speak in riddles," Aragorn. He and Gandalf laughed a bit.
"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 stated another fact.
"Strong?! Oh, that's good," Gimli muttered.
"So stop your fretting, Master Dwarf. Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be."
"This new Gandalf's more grumpy than the old one."
"I really hope that the Ents would keep Merry and Pippin safe," Alan muttered.
"Of course they will, no need to worry about them for now," said Gandalf.
The group got out of the forest and Gandalf whistled. "That is one of the Mearas unless my eyes are cheated by some spell," Legolas spoke as a white horse without a saddle and reins arrived.
"Shadowfax. He is the lord of all horses and has been my friend through many dangers," Gandalf recognized the horse and stroked it.
The six companions mounted on the horses and began riding for Edoras.
At night, everyone had a resting point. Aragorn and Wesley joined Gandalf who was looking at the horizon. "The veiling shadow that glowers in the east takes shape. Sauron will suffer no rival. From the summit of Barad-dur, his Eye watches ceaselessly. But he is not so mighty yet that he is above fear. Doubt ever gnaws at him. The rumor has reached him," said Gandalf before he turned to Aragorn. "The heir of Numenor still lives. Sauron fears you, Aragorn. He fears what you may become." The wizard turned to Wesley. "The Ringwraiths have spoken about you and Alan. Sauron fears both of you for what and who are you. And he'll strike hard and fast at the world of Men. He will use his puppet Saruman to destroy Rohan. War is coming. Rohan must defend itself, and therein lies our first challenge for Rohan is weak and ready to fall. The king's mind is enslaved, it's an old device of Saruman's. His hold over King Theoden is now very strong. Sauron and Saruman are tightening the noose. But for all their cunning, we have one advantage. The Ring remains hidden. And that we should seek to destroy it has not yet entered their darkest dreams. And so the weapon of the enemy is moving towards Mordor in the hands of a Hobbit. Each day brings it closer to the fires of Mount Doom. We must trust now in Frodo. Everything depends upon speed and the secrecy of his quest. Do not regret your decision to leave him. Frodo must finish this task alone."
"He's not alone, Sam went with him," said Aragorn.
"Did he? Did he, indeed? Yes, very good," said Gandalf.
"Two hobbits are better than one. If something goes wrong with Frodo, Sam might be our last resort," Wesley muttered.