Here's a simple filler chapter. Thought I would upload it now instead of later. Enjoy lovelies!
"Welcome, my Lords and Lady, to Isengard!"
The inebriated Hobbit stood on the damaged rock wall before them, gesturing backwards at the wreckage that was Isengard, Saruman's home. Merry and Pippin had indeed woken the Ents, as Gandalf had predicted. The treeherders had attacked the evil fortress after finding many of their trees had been cut down by the Orcs Saruman had commanded. Now it lay in ruin, flooded by the waters of the nearby river that had been dammed.
"You young rascals!" Gimli shouted at the two Hobbits. "A merry hunt you've led us on and now we find you feasting and smoking!"
"We are sitting on a field of victory, enjoying a few well-earned comforts," Pippin said, his mouth full. "The salted pork is particularly good."
"Salted pork?" Gimli asked curiously.
"We're under orders from Treebeard who's taken over management of Isengard," Merry announced.
Anolindë could not help but smile at the state they were in. Both teetered precariously on the wall as they were hoisted onto horses. The small group, consisting of Anolindë, Legolas, Gandalf, Aragorn, Theoden, Eomer, and a few guards made their way through the crumbling wall towards Orthanc, sloshing through the flood waters. Though she had heard of the Ents, Anolindë was still taken aback by the majestic creature in front of her. He looked like a tree but two amber eyes were set in the bark above a mouth that spoke.
"Young master Gandalf, I'm glad you've come," the Ent welcomed them, in his low windy voice. "Wood and water, stock and stone, I can master. But there is a Wizard to manage here, locked in his tower."
All eyes raised to the top of the spyre.
"Show yourself," Aragorn hissed.
"Be careful," Gandalf warned. "Even in defeat Saruman is dangerous."
"Well then let's just have his head and be done with it," Gimli muttered.
"No!" Gandalf exclaimed. "We need him alive. We need him to talk."
From above them, a voice fell over them, the sound making Anolindë's skin crawl. From her position in front of Legolas on Arod, she felt his arm go around her as Saruman appeared at the top of the tower.
"You have fought many wars and slain many men, Theoden king, and made peace afterwards," Saruman spoke. "Can we not take counsel together as we once did, my old friend? Can we not have peace, you and I?"
"We shall have peace," Theoden answered angrily. "We shall have peace when you answer for the burning of the Westfold and the children that lie dead there! We shall have peace when the lives of the soldiers whose bodies were hewn even as they lay dead against the gates of the Hornburg are avenged! When you hang from a gibbet for the sport of your own crows, we shall have peace!"
"Gibbets and crows! Dotard!" Saruman spat. "What do you want Gandalf Greyhame? Let me guess, the key of Orthanc? Or perhaps the keys of Barad-dur itself along with the crowns of the seven kings and the rods of the five Wizards!"
"Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousands more are at risk. But you can save them, Saruman. You were deep in the enemy's counsel," Gandalf pleaded.
"So you have come here for information," Saruman said. "I have some for you."
From beneath his white robes, he pulled out a large glass ball. It was known as a Palantír, a seeing stone. Anolindë averted her eyes for that ball was evil.
"Something festers in the heart of Middle-Earth. Something that you have failed to see. But the Great Eye has seen it," Saruman said, placing the Palantír back into his robes. "Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon. You're all going to die."
Gandalf nudged Shadowfax forward towards the base of the tower.
"But you know this, don't you, Gandalf?" Saruman continued. "You cannot think that this Ranger will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor. This exile, crept from the shadows, will never be crowned king. Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those closest to him, those he professes to love. Tell me, what words of comfort did you give the Halfling before you sent him to his doom? The path that you have set him on can only lead to death"
Anolindë felt Legolas' muscles tighten in anger behind her.
"I've heard enough," Gimli growled. "Shoot him! Stick an arrow in his gob."
Legolas pulled an arrow from his quiver.
"No!" Gandalf commanded. "Come down Saruman, and your life will be spared!"
"Save your pity and your mercy! I have no use for it!" Saruman cried as he flung his staff forward.
A ball of fire emerged, shooting down towards Gandalf and enveloping him in flames. Shadowfax's neigh was heard as he too was surrounded by flames. But they died down quickly, revealing that neither Gandalf nor Shadowfax had been harmed.
"Saruman, your staff is broken," Gandalf said, almost wearily.
The staff in Saruman's hands burst into splinters as the Wizard looked in horror. Behind him, the slimy man known as Grima, appeared.
"Grima, you need not follow him," Theoden called to the Man. "You were not always as you are now. You were once a Man of Rohan. Come down."
"A Man of Rohan?" Saruman sneered. "What is the house of Rohan but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the reek and their brats roll on the floor with the dogs? The victory at Helm's Deep does not belong to you, Théoden Horse-master. You are a lesser son of greater sires."
"Grima, come down, be free of him," Theoden persisted.
"Free? He will never be free!" Saruman exclaimed.
"No," came the determined reply from Grima, who now glowered at the Wizard.
"Get down, cur!" Saruman shouted, raising his hand and smacking the Man to the ground.
"Saruman!" Gandalf called out yet again. "You were deep in the enemy's counsel! Tell us what you know!"
Unbeknownst to the Wizard, Grima was slowly rising behind him, brandishing a dagger.
"You withdraw your guard, and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner here," Saruman demanded.
At that moment, Grima pounced on the Wizard, plunging his dagger into Saruman's back. A look of pain and horror crossed the Wizard's face as Grima continued to stab him. Swiftly, Legolas notched an arrow to his bow and released it, hitting Grima in the chest. The Man fell backwards on impact, releasing his hold on Saruman. The Wizard plummeted downwards off the tower, impaling himself on a sharp spear sticking out of a wooden mill wheel with a loud crunch.
"Send word to all our allies, and to every corner of Middle-Earth that still stands free," Gandalf said to Theoden. "The enemy moves against us. We need to know where he will strike."
The wheel began to turn, submerging the Wizard beneath the flood waters.
"The filth of Saruman is washing away," Treebeard commented. "Trees will come to live here. Young trees. Wild trees."
A splashing noise caused Anolindë to turn her head. Pippin had dismounted from the horse he was on and was now wading through the water. Reaching down, he retrieved the Palantír that had falled from Saruman's robes. The ball was glowing a sickly orange.
"Pippin!" Aragorn called.
"Bless my bark!" Treebeard exclaimed, amber eyes growing wide.
"Peregrin Took," Gandalf called to the Hobbit, addressing him by his full name. "I'll take that my lad. Quickly now!"
Pippin handed the Palantír to Gandalf who quickly wrapped it in a blanket. The Hobbit looked ashamed as he mounted up behind Aragorn.
"Come," Theoden said to them. "We ride to Edoras with all speed."
The riders urged their horses back through the crumbling wall and into the Plains of Rohan. Night was only beginning to fall when the Golden Hall of Meduseld came into view.