CHAPTER X

Isengard Reborn

After passing through the lifeless lands of Eregion they swiftly came upon the road and following it they soon arrived at the Gap of Rohan. Passing through the narrow enclosure of the pass they turned quickly north-east, and followed the road into a valley. As the skies turned back to an ocean of blue, the sun appeared through the midst of the passing storm clouds, and as she appeared there upon the east she glimmered upon a tall black silhouette of an unknown structure. As the trio gazed far forward, they saw then the sun sitting majestically upon the summit of the Tower of Orthanc, acting like a lighthouse to wandering travellers.

Like a Lamp of the Valar it cast a great ray of light upon the plains southward, and unveiled reborn trees and fresh grass that was once trampelled and torn by the scouring and perversion of Isengard. Their steeds came then to the gate of the Circle of Isengard, and though parts were torn and destroyed, new vegetation grew upon their blackened stones. Trees flourished and embellished the once lifeless and industrialised Ring of Isengard; once the abode of the Saruman the White, the corrupted Istari, and the womb of the half-bred Uruk-hai.

As green and life found its new home here in the Ring, it was as though passing back into memory before Saruman's heart was set for machinery and mechanics. It made Gandalf smile, for now here Isengard was reborn anew into a domain to none, but guarded by the Ents of neighbouring Fangorn Forest. The once flooded Ring found small ponds around the inner sections of the Circle, where the trees drank and the ferns were greener. The forest had managed to find its way back in as nature had overwhelmed an industrialised colony.

Then to the trio's surprise, a small number of Ents trailed through the garden's youth. As they came forth towards the Foot of Orthanc there they were greeted by Fangorn himself: Treebeard, and the Hobbits were greatly pleased to see him again.

'Treebeard!' they called.

The trundling giant turned to see the trio advancing towards the Tower, and he smiled, and at length he spoke: 'Hello to you again, Master Hobbits. It has been, Baahhruuumm, many years since we last met.'

'Greetings, Fangorn,' called the Wizard. The Ent turned to see the White Rider.

'Greetings, Gandalf,' he said. 'What business brings the three of you back here?'

'We seek an item from within the chambers of Orthanc,' replied Gandalf.

'The Tower, Baahhruuumm, has been rummaged through by the King and his men,' he paused to breathe so often, and even inhaled during sentances. 'What item may still lie within the chambers of Orthanc?'

'One of great importance,' said Gandalf. 'King Elessar and his men may have searched deep within the chambers, but there is one area in which they did not find.' Gandalf dismounted Shadowfax, and he gazed up at the great Ent. 'It is powerful,' he informed, 'and ancient beyond reckoning.'

'Then proceed inside and find this item.' There the Wizard proceeded inside the Tower of Orthanc, and left the two Hobbits outside in the company of Treebeard. The Ent knelt down lower to see to them. 'Little hobbits, Baahhruuumm,' he said. 'It is lovely to see you both once again.'

'And you to,' said Meriadoc, dismounting his pony. Peregrin copied. As he did, he gazed in awe at the surroundings of Isengard; for it was no longer a heavily industrialised fortress teeming with malevolent Orcs, but was breathing with life once again.

He smiled. 'I see that you all have done a great job of flourishing this place.'

Treebeard nodded. 'It took a while but now it is alive as a beautiful garden. Welcome, Baahhruuumm, to the Treegarth of Isengard.'

'And it is most splendid,' said Merry. 'As Pippin said you've done a fantastic job.'

'It was best than to keep this Ring in the depravity it had recieved under that treacherous wizard.'

'I agree,' said Pippin. Then Treebeard lumbered towards the lake surrounding the Tower, and the Hobbits followed. Treebeard peered back at them, and he sighed.

'To think, Master Hobbits, that this would not have happened, Baahhruuumm, if you had not told us to take back Isengard.'

'Well, I'm sure you wouldn't like Saruman's servants hacking away at the rest of your forest now, would you?' said Merry, walking towards him. Treebeard shook his great head slowly.

'No, Master Meriadoc, I would not.'

As Merry and Treebeard were engaged then into a conversation, a shadow fell upon Pippin, and he gazed around the beautiful gardens with grief. All that was green, all that was coloured, and all that was beautiful, may fall into the great destruction of the creeping Shadow. Pippin sighed, and there he called to his cousin; beckoning to him. Excused from speaking to Treebeard, the hobbit approached his despaired appearing friend.

'What is it?' he asked.

'Do you suppose Treebeard knows?' said Pippin.

'Knows what?'

He did not answer straightly, but murmured: 'Well... that.'

Befuddled, all Merry did was stare blankly. It was only a moment later when it crossed his mind, courtesy to the vague hints from his cousin. Then the Hobbit frowned, and he shrugged his shoulders. 'I don't know,' he said. 'Maybe...'

'But he seems content,' said Peregrin, gazing back at the Ent. 'Maybe he doesn't know what is at stake.'

'Then we'd best not bring him despair by telling,' said Merry.

'Shouldn't he be warned?'

'Hm, maybe we should let Gandalf decide,' and then ending the conversation he returned to Treebeard's company, leaving Pippin standing with a shadowed mind. As he stood observing his friend, smiling, hiding behind the darkness, he glowered, believing in some way that the hobbit was apathetic to the circumstances, or deliberately avoiding the ill thoughts of an apocalypse. Not even the vibrant flowers managed to brighten his mood, for all Pippin could think of constantly was the beauty perishing and the world ending.

It cannot come to pass, he thought, and then gazing towards the entrance of Orthanc he proceeded inside without the others knowing, and he began a search for Gandalf through the circular and obscure chambers of the Tower.

. . .

Inside a small yet rounded hall the Wizard paced around; gallivanting in and out of different rooms. As he did, he then came towards a doorway delved within the black stone, similar to the style of the Door of Durin outside of the Mines of Moria. A dwarf opened this, he thought, and he suggested that the dwarf Gimli had accompanied Aragorn in the rummaging of the Tower. As he passed on through, he saw emptied containers: chests, crates and cabinets plundered of old contents.

'He has recovered the treasures,' he said then, implying Aragorn.

Continuing the search for the Shard, he opened every chest and investigated every crate, but all were empty. Here the Wizard began to think that perhaps the Shard was recovered by Aragorn and was taken to Minas Tirith, but then he suggested that the King may have not known what the Crystal may have been; just an ordinary, broken gemstone with dull light.

'It must be here,' he said, becoming rather irritated. 'I am positive it is.'

The Wizard's patience was thinning, and now hasty and determined he searched every corner and rummaged through everything he could see within his sight. When he had examined through every container, he sighed. 'It is not here...' he said, his voice mingled with fury, despair and stress. What am I to do?

At that moment, he heard the faint echo of footsteps trailing throughout the halls. Awaiting to see who it was he faced the doorway. There then appeared from around the corner Peregrin, and weakly he smiled at Gandalf. The Wizard returned no such amity. 'What are you doing here, Peregrin Took?' he snapped. 'I wished for you to wait outside.'

Slightly shaken by the Wizard's temper, the Hobbit timidly stepped back. 'I wanted to see,' he stammered, 'wanted to see if you had found the Shard.'

'I have had no such luck,' he replied.

'It is not here?' said the Hobbit dismayed, and his despair grew greater.

'I think not,' said Gandalf. 'I have practically plundered these entire chambers, but I have seen no sign of the Shard.'

'Perhaps I can help?' Pippin's voice was nothing more than a whisper.

'Peregrin, there is no sign of it,' answered the Wizard. 'You will not find it, for it does not lay here.'

Aggravated by Gandalf's diminishing hope, the Hobbit stepped forth boldly. 'But it must be!' cried Pippin. 'It could not have magically vanished. Have you searched every single chamber?'

'Yes,' said Gandalf.

'But you said it was here-'

'Then I was wrong!' barked Gandalf, and the Hobbit recoiled in minor fear; decreasing Pippin's boldness. They said nought to each other for many moments, and they did not look at one another either. The Wizard, somberly, left the room, brushing past the Hobbit. But Pippin stood firm and watched the Wizard sit down upon a bench behind him; hand running though his snowy white hair. The pessimism that had now passed onto Gandalf, caused more gloom to delve deeper into the Hobbit's sorrowed heart and fearful mind. Looking back inside the secret chamber, he scanned it with its eyes, and then he entered.

Here Pippin investigated every detail with both sight and hand, and even looked behind objects and within hard-to-reach areas in which the Wizard may not have managed to search through. Due to his small stature it benefited the Hobbit's search. As he reached a rather large cabinet, he gazed into the dark behind it, and squeezed his hand through. There he felt a draft, and his finger traced a ridge in the stone. He wondered what it was, and then with all his might he pushed aside the cabinet.

To his utmost surprise, there was a hidden door within the stone. Smiling, and hope lifting, he called to Gandalf. The wizard arose solemnly and entered the room. At an instant his eyes fell upon the hidden door, and he smiled at Pippin. 'Brilliant, Peregrin!' he said merrily. 'A hidden closet. Then the others did not find this.'

'Luck is on our side, then?' said Pippin.

'Well, we shall see when we open it,' and there tracing for the handle he opened the closet door.

Inside a very small room, against the wall nestling within a pedestal was the object they sought. The mirth that ensued within Gandalf was voluminous, and he patted Pippin on the back. 'Perhaps it was a good idea to have you by my side after all, Peregrin Took,' and he entered into the small chamber.

'I suppose you are glad now that you did not turn us aside?' said Pippin smugly.

'Definately,' replied the Wizard.

'Now that we have found the fourth Shard where are we to head to next?'

'To Edoras,' said Gandalf.

Pippin smiled. 'I cannot wait. But do you know where the fifth Shard lies?'

'I have a vague idea,' said the Wizard, picking up the Shard and placing it within his robes.

'Vague isn't very good,' said Pippin. 'I mean you knew the specific areas in which the others were, didn't you?'

'Basically,' he answered. 'I know only that it may be near Ithilien.'

'Ithilien?'

'The region beside of Mordor,' said Gandalf, and leaving the room he shut the closet doors, and then placed the cabinet in front. The wizard gave another smile to Pippin. 'Ill fortune?' the wizard demurred. 'I would not say so. Meriadoc is right; a klutz, but not ill fortune.'

'A fool of a Took?' smiled the Hobbit.

'You have your moments,' the Wizard laughed, and together they left the Tower.

. . .

As they returned outside into the Treegarth, they met back up with Merry and Treebeard. The Ent lumbered towards them both. 'Did you obtain what you sought?'

'I did,' said Gandalf. 'But I would not have if it were not for Master Peregrin here.' Pippin, smug, but timidly, smiled.

Merry rose an eyebrow. 'Would you not have now?'

'Indeed not, Meriadoc,' said Gandalf. 'Now we must depart,' and with that the Wizard bid farewell to Treebeard, and proceeded towards Shadowfax.

The Hobbits stalled for a moment, and then the Ent lowered. 'Now we bid farewell, Master Hobbits, Baahhruuumm; for this may be the last time that we meet.' Pippin's despair flowed back at this, and by last he wished not for it to be an ill final farewell. But Merry, less melancholy than his cousin, bid farewell also.

'That may be so,' he said. 'It was lovely to meet you again, Treebeard. I hope you and the others live a long life in serenity,' and with that, he advanced towards the ponies, leaving Pippin and Treebeard by themselves.

The Ent's gaze fell onto Pippin. 'Do not fret, Master Peregrin,' he said; 'for even if this is the final goodbye, with hope on our side, Baahhruuumm, this goodbye may not be one of departure.'

'What do you mean?' asked the Hobbit.

'Gandalf holds an enchanted stone. The hope is still there. Farewell, Peregrin,' and with that Treebeard left him be.

'Pippin!' called Merry.

'Yes?' he replied.

'We are ready to leave.'

'O, of course,' and he walked towards them and mounted his pony. He looked at Gandalf. 'To Edoras?'

'To Edoras,' he said.

Merry smiled. 'To Edoras.'