Chapter 11:

Gimli put a finger on a blood stained leaf and tasted it. He spat it out in disgust. "Orc blood."

Aragorn, Legolas, Valéa, Boromir and Gimli then continued to run through the forest. Aragorn paused to examine the ground. "These are strange tracks."

Gimli shuddered. "The air is so close in here."

Valéa nodded her agreement. Legolas looked around. "This forest is old. Very old. Full of memory and anger."

Deep groaning was heard. Gimli raised his axe in defence.

"The trees are speaking to each other." Valéa whispered.

"Gimli! Lower your axe." Aragorn hissed.

Gimli suddenly seemed to realise what he meant. "Oh!" He then did as asked.

"They have feelings, my friend." Valea said with a smile. "The elves began it. Waking up the trees, teaching them to speak."

"Talking trees. What do trees have to talk about? Except the consistency of squirrel droppings."

Legolas suddenly tensed. "Aragorn, nad no ennas." Something's out there. Valéa tensed, and then she too saw what he meant. Someone was coming. Someone in white.

"Man cenich?" Aragorn whispered.

Legolas looked deep into the forest. "The White Wizard approaches."

"Do not let him speak." Aragorn whispered. "He will put a spell on us."

Aragorn gripped his sword, Gimli grasped his axe and Legolas loaded his bow with an arrow. Valéa continued to watch the man as she drew both her blades. Boromir also unsheathed his sword.

"We must be swift in our attack," Valéa said quietly.

They quickly turned around and were greeted by a brilliant white light, that was so bright it was almost blinding. Gimli threw his axe, which was deflected. Legolas fired an arrow, again deflected, and Aragorn, Valéa and Boromir's weapons turned red hot, so they had to drop them.

"You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits," the wizard spoke.

"Where are they?" Aragorn demanded, despite being unarmed.

"They passed this way the day before yesterday." He answered. "They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"

"Who are you? Show yourself!"

Gandalf stepped out of the white light and revealed himself, all dressed in white robes with a white staff. He even had a white beard, but he wore the same kind expression he always did.

"It cannot be." Aragorn breathed, stepping forward.

"Forgive me." Legolas breathed, as he, Gimli, Boromir and Valéa bowed down. "I mistook you for Saruman."

Gandalf smile sadly. "I am Saruman. Or rather, Saruman as he should have been."

"You fell." Aragorn's voice was cracked and dry with emotion.

"Through fire and water." Gandalf said lowly. "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."

Aragorn moved forwards. "Gandalf."

"Gandalf?" He looked puzzled, then apparently remembered. "Yes. That was what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name." He smiled.

Gimli choked up. "Gandalf." Valéa gently placed a hand on his shoulder in a friendly way, before kneeling down to pick up her blades, which were surprisingly cool. She sheathed them.

"I am Gandalf the White. And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide."

Valéa stepped forward, her eyes filled with tears. "Ada," she whispered.

Gandalf shifted his gaze to hers, and a soft smile spread over his face. "Valéa, my dear girl. I am glad you have been told."

Valéa smiled at him, before stepping forward once. Gandalf opened his arms and embraced the girl. "You knew about me before? Who I was?" She asked into his chest.

Gandalf chuckled, his laughter vibrating through his chest. "Yes, I knew. I didn't want to tell you while we were so focused on other things. It could have been a distraction."

When they pulled back, there was a spark of excitement in her eyes. "When there is time, Ada, I wish to learn more about my powers."

Gandalf chuckled. "In time, I will show you what you desire to learn."

All six of them walked through the forest. Gandalf pulled on a grey cloak over his white robes.

"One stage of your journey is over. Another begins. We must travel to Edoras with all speed."

"Edoras?" Gimli questioned. "That is no short distance!"

"We hear of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king." Aragorn said.

Gandalf nodded. "Yes, and it will not be easily cured."

"Then we have run all this way for nothing?" Gimli grumbled. "Are we to leave those poor hobbits here in this horrid, dark, dank, tree-infested-?" Groans were again heard in the forest, cutting him off before he hastily changed what he was going to say to "I mean, charming... quite charming forest."

"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 replied.

"In one thing you have not changed, dear friend." Aragorn said. Gandalf looked curious. "You still speak in riddles." They all laughed, glad to have their old friend back.

"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 sighed.

"Strong?!" Gimli moaned. The forest groaned again. "Oh, that's good."

"So stop your fretting, Master Dwarf." Gandalf said. "Merry and Pippin are quite safe. In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be."

Gimli muttered to himself, but the elves both heard him. "This new Gandalf's more grumpy than the old one."

"The situation is far more dire than it was then, Gimli," Valéa whispered to the red-head as she passed him.

They were outside the forest now. Gandalf whistled, long, high and loud. From the distance a great white horse came galloping towards them, followed by another, this one a chestnut brown.

"That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell." Valéa said breathlessly. Her eyes drifted to the chestnut. "Oh, you're kidding me." She grinned.

Gandalf greeted the white horse, bowing his head to him and stroking him. "Shadowfax. He is the lord of all horses and has been my friend through many dangers."

Valéa gently ran her hands down the neck of the chestnut. "What are you doing all the way out here, Sofie?" She whispered.

"I had Lady Galadriel send her here." Gandalf said, smiling at the elleth. "I knew you would need her."

Valéa smiled at Gandalf. "Thank you, Ada." She then placed her foot in the left stirrup and swung her right leg over Sofie's back, seating herself in the black saddle.

Everyone else also mounted their horses, Gimli once again seated behind Legolas. "We must make for Edoras with all haste." Gandalf said gravely. "Saruman's hold on the king strengthens with every passing moment."

A collective nod, before all five horses began galloping towards Rohan's capital.

...

Valéa lay on the ground, trying to get some rest, but sleep eluded her. She heard soft footsteps pass her, but they weren't quiet enough to be those of an elf, nor heavy enough to be a dwarf. She guessed it was Aragorn, but did not turn to see if her suspicions were correct.

"The veiling shadow that glowers in the east takes shape." She heard Gandalf say. "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 rumour has reached him. The heir of Numenor still lives." There was a brief pause. "Sauron fears you, Aragorn. He fears what you may become. And so 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." A small sigh sounded, deep and guilty. "Do not regret your decision to leave him. Frodo must finish this task alone."

"He's not alone. Sam went with him." Aragorn said softly.

"Did he? Did he, indeed?" Gandalf's voice held the hint of a smile. "Good. Yes, very good."

Valéa heard no more of their conversation. Instead, someone moved to the bedroll beside hers and lay down, while the other stayed where they were.

Yay, finally, it's the holidays! Alright, so I should be able to update more often now (provided I don't have to do loads of chores and stuff, which unfortunately is likely). I would like to give out a MASSIVE thank you to all my viewers. This is by far my most successful fanfic (over 4,500 views) and I'm not even half done yet!

Thanks to you all.

Doubly love you! Xxx